TEST DRIVE 004

[phantasmods]

Hello and welcome to the fourth test drive for Phantasmal Rift!

Test drive threads are assumed to be game canon for accepted characters unless otherwise noted, so don't feel like you'll have to introduce yourself a second time to everyone you meet! As an added bonus, participation in the test drive comes with the chance to earn up to two items of loot for your trouble! Characters who are accepted can earn one item for having a top level, and one for tagging out to someone else's top level! Your SWEET LOOT will be included with your acceptance notice.

Additionally, characters currently in game can earn themselves a piece of bonus loot for the dungeon by tagging people's top-levels on the test drive! Existing characters get their bonus loot along with the rest of their loot at the conclusion of the dungeon.

This test drive takes place in Keystone Reef, a water-influenced Fissure to the northeast of the station. It is home to numerous fish and coral species, as well as a very interesting magical effect...

OPTION ONE: FINNY FUN

Under the water is where you woke up, and under the water is where you might be stuck for a while. The magic is lodged in you and has changed your form -- maybe a little, maybe a lot. Perhaps you only have gills, but you may also have a full set of changes, fins and no feet to speak of. Don't panic, you'll surely be fine if you just keep swimming...

Aside from the strange changes, it's a pretty cool place to be. If you've ever dreamed about scuba diving on a coral reef, the place that you've found yourself is perfect for that (minus the needing to scuba part). Curious fish swim up and then dart away into rock crevices, coral growths, and even down to bury themselves in the layer of sand at the bottom. The water is also fairly shallow, allowing you to surface if you so desire.

Even the sharks are friendly and just want to have as much a look at you as you want to look at them. Don't harass the glowing eels tucked into cracks between the rocks, though, they bite and don't particularly let go.

OPTION TWO: WORLD'S SMALLEST JUNGLE

This must certainly be an oceanside jungle - in spite of the humidity, the smell of salt on the air is strong. Brilliant greens and the occasional bright flowers, accompanied by island birdsong... It could be a nice place to spend an afternoon. There's not even that many bugs that want to drink your blood (though bugs in general are, well, quite plentiful).

Eventually, though, however far you go, you'll reach the beach and be met with the expanse of the ocean - blue, uncaring, and real big. While one side of the little island thankfully has land visible in the distance, the outer side just overlooks a near-endless expanse of blue. If you're a very good swimmer, you could probably make your way to land past the rocks of the reef itself... Otherwise, though, you might be just a bit stuck on your jungle island paradise.

At least until someone brings a boat.

OPTION THREE: SHIPWRECK

Both above and below the waterline are the remains of ships crashed upon the rocks, just waiting to be explored. Even though it has clearly been an incredibly long time, the chunks of wood and metal are still in fairly good condition, and the chance of finding something nice tucked in with them among the rocks is surely tempting to anyone with an adventurous spirit.

The wrecks beneath the waves also grow coral and seaweed, and provide havens for larger fish, dragon eels, and sharks. Those along the rocks above the waterline, on the other hand, provide a home for seabirds of all varieties. Most notable is the hulking shell of a shipping craft in the distance, looking very much modern if ruined by some centuries of exposure...

For right now, though, you'd best contend with the flotsam a bit closer to you, and the wildlife that might not take too kindly to your exploring. Below the waterline, the dragon eels found in a few places don't take kindly to being disturbed; above, you might run afoul of some overprotective seabirds protecting their nests. Maybe even an invisible seagull (normal sized) - how ridiculous would that be?

Comments

[nor_iron_bars]

[You can't hide from the truth forever, Phi.]

[She lowers her arm, leaning back to rest casually on her own scaly coils, like she's using her long snake tail as a seat.]

So, you got anything I can call you? I mostly go by Jailbreak, myself.

[nonono7]

[ Nono is glad that Lal'C likes it. The sky, it's part of their - okay, Nono's really - dream.

She wasn't sure what to think when she showed up here - she was worried and confused as to what was going on, even as she explored the place curiously - but with Lal'C here it seems pretty obvious. However confusing it was, however much did or didn't make sense, they were here now, together, so that they could be together.

Nono couldn't put it properly into words, but that's what they were.

She gave pause at Lal'C's question, any internal thoughts screeching to a halt. ] Eh?


....Are those birds? [ She's heard that sound in videos, when they shared a room and watched documentaries or programs on birds. But never in real life. ]

[foolishjustice]

That skill defaults to targeting everyone in the area who I don't consider a threat. I wasn't really thinking about the fact that it would include you, too.

[He's lying through his teeth, but Shido can't prove that...despite the fact that he was clearly thinking about something.

There's a definite look of enthusiasm in Goro's own eyes when Aiden recognizes his power. He moves forward slightly, lifting a bit more out of the water than he really should be able to...only to pause and reach to cover one of the sets of slits between his ribs in discomfort as his ear fins droop and the fins in his hair flatten to his head. It's a lot less humid, all of a sudden...even his Persona is looking distinctly uncomfortable.]

It is. I'm surprised you recognize it...but I only have a mid-level healing skill. It really would be more reliable to set the bone normally.

[nonono7]

What? I was in the water earlier and I didn't get a tail.

[makejapangreat]

[... yeah, Shido doesn't really buy that reasoning Akechi is giving him. He is just. Getting an eyebrow raise in response. And... oh... alright. Shido... disarmingly raises his hands?? And the heat and dry air both have him wincing as he draws back from Aiden.]

I only want to help. But if not me, you do need to get someone to do it. The sooner, the better...

[He coughs a little from the combined heat and sudden lack of humidity.]

[sorcerer_rebooted]

You're talking to a fish right now and you even have to ask?

[nonono7]

Um! [ Nono isn't quite sure how to react to this! Invasion of space! Which is a thing she always does but don't tell her she's being a hypocrite. Either way though, she just kind of. Lets him do his thing.

Her hands, by the way, appear completely human. Perfect skin-feeling skin with no creases or breaks, squishy flesh, the whole nine yards. ]

Um, I'm not sure exactly how old I am? I don't remember anything before a few years ago. [ OKAY so the government people who ran all those diagnostic tests on her said some things but they weren't positive either, so she doesn't mention that. ] My legs are pretty strong though.

[moonlightglory]

Better than nothing, I guess.

So, what do we do now?

[coagmentatio]

[ Wow, that sure is a lie. Aiden's brow tenses and he narrows his eyes at the younger man for a moment. Only for a short moment. Because he quickly decides to follow the old rule of thumb that he forgets way more often than he'll ever willingly admit; other people's drama is not his concern.

He looks tense, suddenly, after seeing the discomfort (and feeling his own). There's a slow, discreetly heavy exhale as he lifts his hand slowly. His fingers brush through his hair at a steady pace as his gaze rests firmly on an object in the distance.

In that same, short moment, the moisture is back in the air. The heat increase is gone. Aiden resumes talking, his gaze flicking between the young man and Shido. His voice is quiet, and it's clear he's torn between what he wants to say and what he feels safe in revealing... ]

Ah... someone who goes by Joker is the reason I learned about Personas, at all. [ he's not fond of him; that look in his eyes is a lie ] It was Morgana who explained everything about the Metaverse.

[ BUT... a sigh and he looks between the pair one more time, his gaze coming to rest on the younger of the two before he speaks again. Sorry, Masayoshi, but... ]

... Do you know how to?

[foolishjustice]

[And he's going to proceed to completely ignore those suspicious looks. His hand falls from his gills as the moisture comes back, and Kushinade-Hime relaxes visibly. Enough to rest a hand on her hip and sigh, but she doesn't say anything against her summoner's claim.]

Did you meet him here, or is this not your first experience with alternate worlds?

[He glances at the arm, thoughtfully.]

I have some first aid experience, but I've never treated a broken bone outside of the Metaverse. I can't guarantee it would go smoothly.

[dubiouslychthonic]

Thanks. [Her smile is tight-lipped over dentition that's a bit more fang-like than the human norm, and when she takes a seat, it's far enough to be out of easy grabbing distance for either of them. Other than that caution, though, she seems comfortable enough with Freyja's company.] I haven't seen you back at the station - you've just arrived, haven't you?

[moonlightglory]

More or less.

[Ohhhh that's nice. It's not the worst injury she's ever had, but it's definitely the worst one she's had while fully submerged in saltwater.]

I was pretty certain on the 'enemy mage' explanation for what the fuck, but I feel like it'd be a lot more dangerous in here if that was the case.

[moonlightglory]

It is.

[skylalc]

[ As authentically blue as the sky appears, Lal'C isn't at all convinced that this is Earth. Do uninhabited island like this exist? Ones with no signs of civilization at all? On top of that, there's the surreal aspect to everything that makes it feel different. There's some investigating to be done, but for now… ]

Sounds like it. I wonder if you can make some friends.

[ Teasing, but she's pretty sure it's something Nono is going to try regardless. Whatever they are can't be any more dangerous than seagulls, right? Right. ]

[freedomofmovement]

[Yeah, whatever her new companion is - they're something new.]

There's a station? Guess it's well camouflaged.

[no freyja]

[karappo]

It is not. But if you make a scene, you might be noticed by something far less easily dealt with than birds.

[And these seagulls are no joke, man.

Karamatsu looks over at the dog, his expression softening a little. God, since when was the last time he saw a dog? Gundam didn't really have dogs that he knew of...mostly just cats and reptiles and things.]

Did you just wake up on the beach here?

[coagmentatio]

[ Oh... That's a Persona?

There's a small frown as he goes quiet for a moment, but then he decides to follow his gut. ]

... Do you know anyone named Akira Kurusu?

[meowna]

I..... well, yeah. He's my best friend. Why?

[How does he know Akira? And more importantly how does he know Akira and still think coffee is some weird, novel thing?]

[darlingpoopsies]

Why, that's right!

How did you know?

If we don't get home soon--

--Mother will be worried.

What brings you here?

[coagmentatio]

[ There are no signs of surprise anywhere on his face. In fact, there's a bit of bitter frustration as he says the first sentence. ]

I guess you could say that Akira Kurusu went to school with me. [ WELL... I MEAN ] ... This is my third world. We were locked in a school and encouraged to demonstrate our greatest strength... And the title they gave him was Prospect of Vigilantism.

[ But he sure as hell isn't volunteering his own title. Also there's a small shrug before he adds: ]

I was there for a week before arriving here, so I can't say what happened to anyone.

[ There's a lot of frustration ghosting over his face, in spite of that shrug. And he shakes his head as a belated response to that last thing Goro said. ]

That's fine, though. I'm tougher than I look.

[plentyfriendly]

Call me Phi.

[She's not going to question that, alias or no, not after several even more riduculous names have turned out to be perfectly legitimate.

Plus, at least she's not a Zero.]

[foolishjustice]

[Locked in a building, in a world that wasn't his own...that description is unsettling enough, but at the mention of titles...there's no way it's a coincidence. His fins go stiff, ears spreading out, hair standing on end, and spines glinting among his dorsal fins and digging into the sand from under his longer abdominal fins.

Kushinade-Hime's reaction shows similar shock and anger, drifting back slightly and clenching her fists. There's a noticeable drop in air temperature around them, ice crystals forming around the Persona and a chilly wind blowing over the beach.]

Did they expect you to kill each other?

[Goro's tone is as cold as the air around him, but his voice is wavering. He's trying hard to sound calm, but isn't entirely succeeding.]

[coagmentatio]

[ Ah-- ]

You reminded me a little of someone from the academy.

[ He doesn't... understand people who are able to just do things for others, without seeming to think much of it. Yet... apparently? Outside of Daeseon?

...there are... ]

Why does it make you happy?

[coagmentatio]

Warlock?

[ What's that...? And what's this about pacts? ]

I've never heard of that.

[coagmentatio]

[ ... For some reason the mention of "best friend" has something in his stomach twisting unpleasantly; what even is a best friend? Is that essentially declaring that this friend is far more valuable than any others you declare a friend? ]

Ah... [ expression remaining steady ] He was in the school with me before I arrived here. He had "Personas" and "Phantom Thief" on his profile.