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

/denies...!

[coagmentatio]

[ Well, said blur is enough to get his attention, given he's actually never seen so much as a living fish, beyond the occasional still photo. So, yes! He wants to see whatever this is, up close and personal!

Soooo don't mind him crouching down to get a closer look..... ]

tf?

[makejapangreat]

[The disturbance of water is enough for Shido to realize that there's something behind him. He spins around just a little too fast...

And causes his tail to smack solidly against Aiden's legs. Timber!]

thanks Shido... you're the best. at nearly killing him...........

[coagmentatio]

[ TIMBER, INDEED...

Fortunately, when he's knocked over, he doesn't smack his head against any debris. Unfortunately, that sure is the sound of his arm cracking under his weight; he hits a thick piece of wood just before rolling right on over into the water.

While he has one hell of a pain tolerance, this is the first time he's completely snapped his arm in two. So... guess what that interferes with?

Swimming.

Enjoy him struggling to stay above the water, buddy. You have ensured that today is not his day... ]

i didn't ask for this

[makejapangreat]

[?!?

It takes a moment to realize that his tail had hit... something. Someone, and he also heard something that sounded... rather painful?

Oh hell, they're struggling.

Fueled by adrenaline, Shido swims over and grabs the young man around the torso, then undulates his tail behind him as best he can to propel them back toward the surface. As soon as they've breached? Shido is going to be swimming back towards the shallows with him.

...he'd ask him if he was alright, but he's probably busy hacking up a lung, so for the moment he's just going to focus on getting back to the shore...]

dicebot sure as hell made sure it's a thing tho... sob

[coagmentatio]

[ And the struggling doesn't stop, especially when he feels that arm winding around him. Aiden may only have one arm, but that doesn't stop him from starting to kick and shove - until he realizes he's being dragged towards the shore. He doesn't sense any animosity...

... or ill will, in general.

It is true that's he's coughing and gasping for air a lot during the trip back, though. Give him a minute. Or ten. He'll get there. ]

[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.