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

[makejapangreat]

[He grits his teeth through the struggling, even as he feels some particular blows land some hits that are definitely going to have him bruising... shit, this guy is strong, but at least... the struggling doesn't last too long.]

Sorry, I'm still getting the hang of this...

[He helps Aiden sit up on the shore, somewhat dragging himself onto it, when he notices the limp arm, the... holy shit that bend is not supposed to be there? Did he seriously cause that?! Fuck.]

Damnit... [He swears under his breath, grabbing for the small device attached to his headset. Fuck, he needs... someone who can help.

He isn't sure why he thinks of Akechi first, but... if he can't help, he can think of a couple of others to call...]

[coagmentatio]

That's my line.

[ The "damnit," he means. He genuinely appreciates the help, but it didn't take him long to figure out that this is the one who likely knocked him into the water in the first place. So... there's definitely some bristliness to his expression as he stares hard at this random guy. ]

First, I'm held against my will in Hell Academy, and then I'm nearly murdered by a merman who's bad with his fish half.

[foolishjustice]

[And Shido's going to get some more bristliness when Goro answers his phone, immediately taking on an exasperated tone. There's a definite reverberating quality to his voice, suggesting he's somewhere underwater.]

What is it?

[makejapangreat]

I'm sorry, alright? I wasn't trying to kill you.

[Shido........]

I— I'm in the shallows with a young man. I accidentally hit him with my tail and he broke his arm because of me. Can you help?

[coagmentatio]

[ ... He's quietly sighing and shaking his head as he cradles his arm carefully. Just focus on something other than the pain.

Augh, he doesn't want to focus on the guy responsible, but-- ]

... Aiden. "Young man" makes me sound like a teenager...

[foolishjustice]

[After a pause, the sound of moving water picks up in the background.]

...I have one healing ability that might work. It's not perfect, but I can cast it more than once if I have to.

[makejapangreat]

[A sigh of relief.] Good. We're at... [He describes the surrounding location using landmarks.]

[coagmentatio]

[ HE WILL THROW A GODDAMN ROCK AT YOU IN THE NEXT SEVERAL SECONDS, IF YOU DON'T INTRODUCE YOURSELF BACK, MERFAIL. ]

[foolishjustice]

I'll be there in a few minutes. Try not to cause any more accidents until then.

[makejapangreat]

[He winces a little.] ... right.

[He ends the call, then, and looks to the man glaring at him.] Aiden, was it? I'm Masoyoshi Shido, and I'm normally a human. Hence the... ineptitude with a tail.

[coagmentatio]

[ Well that's one hell of a name... It reminds him of a lot of the names he heard in that school. And he'd say it's nice to meet the guy, for the sake of the hint of politeness he learned in that place, but-- ]

Okay. Masayoshi, it is. [ hi guess who never learned about Japanese name formalities ] That makes two of you, so far, who have said that.

[ He's staring at the water as he asks: ]

Is it a curse, then?

[makejapangreat]

Something like that. A curse that only affects a certain region. Leaving that region will allow us to revert to our original forms, presumably.

["""Presumably""", as in, he got tired of having a tail exactly 1 minute after he gained one, and really hopes that his legs will be coming back, thanks?]

[coagmentatio]

Wow. I've never heard of any kind of form just reverting back to normal, but... good for you guys if it does happen.

[ Oh. That's a bit of...

... bitterness slipping into those words, isn't it?

Whoops. But, he's going to look away and try to slide the path of the conversation towards something else-- ]

Do weird things normally happen around here?

[makejapangreat]

[He definitely does pick up on that bitterness, but doesn't pursue it when he's changed the topic. He'll just quietly tuck that response away in his mind.

Though, at his next words, he gives a bit of a wry smirk.]

I suppose that would depend on your definition of "weird". For what some may consider extraordinary is completely mundane to several of those here.

[coagmentatio]

[ Nope, you are to forget everything about this counter as soon as it's over. ]

Ah...

[ Does it seem like he's actually struggling to imagine a difference...? ]

You make a fair argument.

[ ... That's-... that's it; that's all he's got to say in response. ]

[foolishjustice]

[It's at this point that something bright and colorful comes into view under the water, as Goro swims into the shallows. When he breaks the surface, it becomes evident that he's wearing a red, long nosed mask on his face. It actually matches the color of his stripes very well.

He takes one look around, tapping his chin as his shoulder fins settle over his arms.]

Get into a fight with the rocks?

[Yeah, he's looking at you, Shido.]

[makejapangreat]

... not quite.

[But his voice suggests it's a fair assumption to make. Listen. Being a merman is Hard.

The mask is... it's something??? ... is it a Tengu mask? ... it's, at least, less stifling than what he wore when summoning Loki... But still somehow...???

...

anyway just heal the man already]

[coagmentatio]

[ That... sure is a mask. Aiden's mouth opens, only to close right after.

... HM.

As for that question, he glances over to Masayoshi, eyebrows lifted. Oh... He was kind of rough on him, wasn't he? He looks distinctly uncomfortable for a second; for the super observant, it might be a little visible that he's immediately determined to be careful with his wording. ]

I wasn't thinking clearly while he was saving me from drowning. [ he clears his throat quietly before talking directly to the old man, deliberately allowing something sheepish to enter his tone: ] Adrenaline does crazy things... Sorry about that

[foolishjustice]

Impressive, that you managed that much with a broken arm.

[Fine, he'll just heal the man already. The fins on his ears and head twitch slightly, as if he's thinking about something, then he touches one hand to his mask as blue fire shimmers over it.]

Kushinada-Hime!

[His mask dissolves into blue fire, as the Persona appears in the air in front of him. She waves one hand, and threads of white light curl around all three of them. There's no visible effect for Goro, but Shido's bruises vanish and the pain reduces to a fraction of what it had been, while Aiden's arm immediately stops swelling, as though all the bruising and soft tissue damage caused by the bone breaking is gone.]

Ah...I was afraid of that. I'm going to have to do this in steps.

[makejapangreat]

It's fine. You were in a panic, after all. ... though, from what I can see, it doesn't seem you were actually in danger.

[Why couldn't he have had a mild change like that, instead of having this stupid deadly tail?? His focus is on Aiden during the healing, though when he realizes he's being healed, too, there's a questioning, slightly surprised glance sent Akechi's way. His attention then returns to Aiden as he surveys what the magic had healed.]

It's probably for the better anyway. It looks like the fracture needs to be set. ... you might want to bite down on your shirt, if you'll allow me.

[coagmentatio]

Really? I've read plenty of stories of people being able to do remarkable things in the heat of a dangerous moment.

[ There's a questioning look at the mention of him having not actually been in danger? ]

What do you mean?

[ But, that's asked just in time for the sudden appearance of the-... is that another Persona? This would make three total. He doesn't even hesitate - no, he looks outright awe-struck as he quickly asks: ]

A Persona, right...? A power that's awakened in the Metaverse, but is able to be freely used here due to the level of instability?

[ EXCUSE THIS FLASH OF EAGERNESS AND EXCITEMENT...? ]

No.

[ That, however? Is to Shido. It's said with an equal amount of zero hesitation, and it might seem someone flipped a fucking switch. He looks... guarded beneath the sudden eerily calm mask he's wearing on his face. The air somehow feels... remarkably dry around him, given the level of humidity around here. Not only that, but it's now suddenly hotter... around Shido.

His eyes might read, loud and clear: Don't. Fucking. Touch me. ]

[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.

[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.]

[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.