dagung | TDM: MARCH

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TDM: MARCH

Test Drive: March

All threads can be considered game canon,

the prompts and test drive itself will be

• Reserves Open Today! If you're interested in securing a character, put one in! This time around, reserves will expire after the first 48 hours of applications being opened. Those first 48 hours will be open to those who have reserves only, so we recommend placing one. It will not guarantee you a spot, but it will guarantee you can post your app immediately when they open.
• Applications Open The 24th! There will be a cap of 30 applications accepted this round, and apps will close whenever we've reached that cap. If there are slots left after the reserves-only period, apps will open to those without reserves. The application page can be found here.
• If you have any questions about the game or the world, please refer to the FAQ page; if you still have questions, feel free to ask them! For questions specific to the test drive, please ask them on the appropriate thread.
• For the purposes of the test drive, your character will have access to all magics taught by the Coven if they're a Witch, and as much of their shifted form as you'd like if they're a Monster. Feel free to play around and experiment with each!
• Test drive threads can be used as samples for your applications!

You feel like you're floating. Around you, colors and sounds and smells swirl as if trapped in a whirlpool, vibrancy and hue ever shifting. The more you watch them, the less solid they are; they only become clear out of the corner of your eye. The area around you begins to feel more solid as well, until your feet are on the ground, the wind brushes playfully against your face -

and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that.

The Underground

Take a moment. Let your eyes adjust to the dark, your ears to echoing silence, but for the steady drip of condensation down the stone walls that surround you. The tunnels down here are wide, the ceilings high, but they are dim, devoid of sunlight and breeze. The only light, in fact, comes from the shards of softly-glowing shards of quartz lining the ground and the bio-luminescent algae that smears the stone in long, blue veins, pulsing gently, pushing breathable air into the otherwise-stale passageways. The air is damp, but the temperature is moderate - almost comfortable. The tunnels fork off and meander from where you are, some narrowing and some widening, but none seem to lead you to the surface, no matter how long you wander. Is it a trick of the light, that the algae glows a little brighter, pulses a little quicker, when you head in a particular direction? It's hard to sort your senses so deep underground, far from the world above where things make sense. Hopefully you've found a friend by now.

The Crystal Cavern
Many of the tunnels, both wide and narrow, lead to the same place: a massive chamber hewn out of the stone by time, and the drip-drip of water from the ceiling into the central lake. Perhaps you came out toward the bottom, and the ceiling is a thousand feet above you, or maybe you came out toward the top, and the lake is a thousand feet below. There are a hundred or more holes in the sloping stone walls that lead to more tunnels, and something like natural steps down from most of them. In a way, it resembles a beehive, this room acting as a central hub of sorts.

This is also the first place you find signs of life. Short, tough little tufts of grass growing from the thin soil, bone white in color, having long abandoned photosynthesis and chlorophyll. More of the glowing algae. Small, skittering insects - beetles, grubs and worms. The occasional albino rat, much larger and louder than rats have any right to be. Ruffled and capped fungi growing on the wet rock like parasites, some as large as a grown man. Blind, slimy cave fish wriggling around in the still waters of the lake.

And milling around the great stone cavern, slurping up the glowing algae that covers the rocks and grows in lacy sheets across the water, are dozens of great beasts, bigger than horses. Shaped like worms, but with dozens and dozens of stubby, fleshy legs, these creatures are huge, with velvety, multi-colored hides, and though their antennae wave in curiosity when approached, they don't seem aggressive. At least, as long as you avoid the big silk-wrapped bundles stuck to the walls and ground all over the cavern. These are their egg sacs, and if their young are threatened, they'll quickly shoot jets of viscous slime, a quick drying adhesive, that can slow and trap even the strongest adult. If you find yourself in a sticky situation, you better hope someone can wrench you loose - the worms seem content to eat algae, until they've caught prey. Each worm has a long, hooked, chitinous blade concealed within its fleshy jaws to tear and shred, and a nightmarish round mouth full of multiple rows of teeth.

Navigate carefully. There at the bottom of the lake, where it feeds into an underground stream that leads down another wide tunnel, there are a few small rowboats, some missing oars, certainly not enough for everyone. You'll have to share if you want to get out of here. Or you can keep hanging out with the giant wormipedes.

The Procession
As you proceed down the stream by boat, the lighting grows just a little brighter, seeming a little more purposeful in how the glowing algae is planted, how the softly glowing crystals are placed. You start seeing a new type of moss, greyish-green and growing in ragged sheets from the ceiling of the tunnel. Watch your head - it's near impossible to cut through this stuff should you get tangled. For a while, you only hear the soft splashing of the gentle stream, but then... there is a flash of torch light, up ahead.

The boat ahead is longer than the one you use, better kept, and full of people - three Monsters, all whose forms are based on creatures that thrive underground, in pieces of armor, holding spears, and one very elderly Witch woman, seated in the middle, wrinkled hands folded primly in her lap. Her milky gaze stares straight ahead, with something soft and proud in the set of her face. One of the Monsters holds the torch, the other rows the boat, and the third settles down next to her; they speak in hushed voices, with little smiles.

After a while, the rowing Monster slows the boat, before they can bump into a thick, heavy, impenetrable curtain of grayish-green moss that stretches across the whole tunnel, blocking the way, like a gate. The other two help the woman to her feet, and guide her toward the front of the boat - and the curtain of moss. She reaches out for it blindly, and they help her step onto the edge. There is something almost ritual or reverent about the movements, the way they regard the Witch as she touches the curtain of moss... and is wrapped into it quickly, swallowed up, absorbed. After twenty minutes of gentle pulsing, the lump that used to be the Witch is no more, and the whole of the moss pulses with light and magic. The Monsters watch this whole process vigilantly, and once the lights die down, they continue on. The moss parts to allow the boat through, brushing against the Monsters but not swallowing them.

The procession happens a few more times, in separate boats, with separate victims - but all are very, very elderly, and seem proud, even happy to meet their fates. Trying to follow them further after the ritual will have the same thing happen for your boat - the moss will part, and brush over those in the boat without causing harm. If you happen to be infected with the Cwyld, however... you might meet the same fate as the old woman, with the moss reaching and grabbing for you. The procession can be stopped, but drawing attention will draw the ire of the Monster guards, and, strangely, the victims themselves, who will fly into a distressed rage at the interruption.

The Marketplace
Beyond the veil of moss lies... civilization? The cavern is enormous, big enough to contain a city at least as big as Aefenglom, if not larger, though the population at a glance seems to be much smaller. Twenty thousand people, perhaps, give or take. Buildings have been carved out of huge stone spires, or formed by draping cloth around and between the natural stalactites and stalagmites. Monsters tend to be quite tall or bulky, possessing obvious physical strength, while Witches and humans tend to be shorter than in Aefenglom. They all mingle on the streets together, with no immediately obvious class difference. Since there is no weather to dress for, some don't bother to dress at all, though humans at least tend to wear flowy silks or simple clothes made from wormipede hides. The streets are wide and the buildings far-spaced, and many get around on the backs of those worm creatures, having made them saddles and reins.

The stream ends in a lake right next to a marketplace, with many small boats docked on its pebbled shores. The stalls sell all kinds of goods: clothing made from fine silk and worm hide or rat fur, skewered meat (It's bug.), weapons, armor, jewelry made from chunks of beautiful stone. Your arrival is bound to cause a stir though, so keep your head down, and maybe it's time to snatch a disguise from one of the clothing stalls.

Monster guards, occasionally flanked by Witches, patrol the streets and keep the peace, and stopping to talk to anyone will make one thing clear: they are not at all used to outsiders. They won't believe a word you say about being from above ground, and they've never heard of your world or Aefenglom. You're nomads from the tunnels, right? Of course, don't be ridiculous, you can't fool them with tall tales! At least they're usually willing to talk - briefly, of course, everyone is very busy down here, it's morning and many will be heading to tend to the herd soon.

Those who are subtle and pointed in their questions can learn a lot about the vast but also small civilization below the surface of the world. Strength is valued here - the stronger the Monster or more powerful the Witch, the higher their rank in society, and the closer they live to the center, largest spires of stone. Monster-Witch Bonded pairs are the be-all-end-all, and often wear matching wrist-guards or pendants proudly. Pretending to be Bonded to another will put many of the natives at ease, though Monster-Monster pairs get snide comments about how you have to team up to find a good Witch, and Witch-Witch pairs will get odd looks and assume you both have a very strong Monster partner somewhere. It must be quite rare for Witches to go un-bonded here, and any who pass through without an obvious partner may be propositioned by young Monsters showing off their various talents. Unbonded Monsters may be nudged in the direction of any strange, unbonded Witches - usually fellow Mirrorbound - in a poor attempt at matchmaking. Those poor unbonded Witches need protection, right? Or so the locals think.

It's too bad trying to go any farther than the Marketplace will get you stopped by guards and turned back, however. They don't allow nomads into the inner city.

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"Partner, c'mon, this is not the time for your usual weirdness!" Yosuke said exasperatedly. Normally, he was not one to touch others but after the snoot boop, his hands went to either side of Yu's face. This was definitely a canine face, a wolf maybe? The fur was really soft... wait, no, get it together Hanamura!

"Why would I dream of you being a werewolf? With bat wings? And... oh geez, are those horns?!" He had to stand on him tip toes to reach up to feel that, yes, those were definitely horns. "Are you okay, partner?"

"I'm not trying to be weird this time," he replied back, equally exasperated. Although now that they had more time to well - think and not just panic, Yu took a good look at himself more carefully. With Yosuke running a hand across his face (that felt nice wait no not the time to think about that), Yu repeated the movement with his own hand which was clearly bigger than Yosuke's now, the pawed ends moving just enough for him to see claws peeking over.

"I don't know..." he added. "I've dreamed weirder things but usually I don't realize I'm dreaming." That's what's bothering him the most about this. If it's a dream, his brain came up with a pretty dang good Yosuke facsimile. He took his right hand to knock on one of his horns.

"I feel fine. Actually, better than usual....like I just had three cups of Dojima-san's coffee before heading off." Something he had been looking forward to, since he had been on his way to Inaba before waking up here. And no Igor with cryptic messages either. "I don't see any fog either...and I can't summon my Persona. What about you?"

Yosuke saw the paw pads even in the lighting and he reached up to take that big hand. It reminded him of that one Destiny movie, with that beast character who had paw pads on his hand. Yu was not at all the same kind of furry though, since it seemed most of him was wolf but... He sighed. "Yeah, I don't normally realize it either. Nor would I dream about you lookin' like this!"

He let go and stepped back to cross his arms in thought, hip cocked to the side as he also looked around again. "You feel like you've had too much caffeine? How strong is Dojima-san's coffee?"

But Yu was right, no fog and he couldn't really reach for Jiraiy either. It wasn't like he wasn't there either, there was something still in the back of his mind. But there was no way to really communicate with the usual inhabitant there. It was like he was locked away. He shook his head in confirmation. "Nothing."

"It's pretty black and strong, the type a hard-boiled detective would take" he replies, his good-nature returning now that he's not panicking as much as before (not that it really shows with Yu's...Yu-ness). He lets Yosuke look at his paw before using it to scratch the back of his neck and oh! the felt pretty good.

Both of them lacking a Persona was a rather huge issue right now.

"I don't have a sword on me either." He said, even as he moved his claw back. "I think the nails might be able to do something?"

Tentatively, he moved the wings behind him, causing the wind to pick up.

"Oh! Maybe I could fly? I don't know how that will help us, mind you."

Yosuke snorted at that, of course he'd say something like that. He didn't have his knives or kunai on him either. But it looked like Yu still had a way to defend himself. Without Jiraiya or his weapons, he had nothing. He frowned at the wind picking up, reminding him of his own magic.

"You'll just hit your head, partner," He sighed and then gave Yu somewhat of a pained smile. "Guess you'll be the one protecting me though, huh? I got nothing on me."

he felt useless now.

"Yeah or look like a fool trying to fly." If this was a dream, it certainly was taking a very weird twist and he grinned back at him...before putting a hand over his teeth when he felt pointed needles where his canine teeth were. Guess they really were fully canine now.

He wasn't going to let Yosuke put himself down, however, and put a hand (paw?) on his elbow.

"Just for now. I'm sure we'll figure out something for you soon. If I look like this, something's bound to happen to you...well good things, I mean. Or maybe you're my beauty to my beast."

Yu, please.

“But flying would be so cool, you gotta admit,” Yosuke found it hard to believe that Yu could look like a fool doing anything. He rocked a girl’s school uniform for chrissakes! Nonetheless, he did feel a little better when Yu put his hand (paw?) on his arm. Wow, it was really big and he felt so small compared to Yu now and—

“Partner, please!” Red-faced and looking away, Yosuke wasn’t sure if he really want to be considered a “beauty” to Yu’s “beast” especially because he wasn’t a girl but more importantly, he wasn’t sure he liked the thought of being the one without powers of some kind.

...not that he was totally sure he wanted to look like whatever his partner had going on right now. He waved his hand with a shake of his head. “I’m not that special, partner, it’s—"

And that sure was a little spark flying from his hand to hit a bit of algae on a nearby stalagmite. He jumped and, already being lightly held by Yu, went further into the embrace as he yelped. “What the hell?!”

Despite Yosuke's sudden closeness (and how more snugly he fit now compared to that last hug which seemed like years ago at this point) Yu was able to move his hands just enough to give him an encouraging clap. At least hoping to calm him down somewhat.

"I don't know what happened, but maybe it's a video game situation where you can use magic? Or you really as a Magician."

Big toothy grin once more.

"Wanna try it again?"

Yosuke was trying real hard himself not to notice how warm and comfortable it was like this and once Yu was finished congratulating him on his random newfound powers, he stepped away. And felt a little cold but focused on what he had done before.

"I'm not a Magician, partner," He rolled his eyes. Yu told him once about the Arcana stuff but it never quite understood it. Tarot cards were a whole other beast that he didn't really want to fall into. He put his hand to his chin for a moment, then tried to do what he did before. Nothing happened and he frowned. "Ugh, c'mon."

Two times, three times, ugh, nothing! He thought back to the various anime and cartoons he watched with magic, what did they do? He made a fist and and thought about the lightning (which was weird, he was a wind guy!) and then opened his fist and suddenly, there was a fireball and it shot out to the algae again. Yosuke backed up again as it lit on fire. "Holy shit!"

It's the fluff Yosuke. Just the fluff. It was strange, the feeling of being constantly wrapped inside of a blanket.

Well than and technically having three new appendages that he could somehow control.

"A-huh," he replied a little too calmly like he didn't quite believe him, but didn't want Yosuke to be too annoyed by it. Directly went into encouraging him right after. "You can do it."

He watched in silence as Yosuke (good for him) kept trying again and not giving up until a massive fireball shot out in the air, and caught Yosuke in his arms before he fell down from his own spell.

"That was amazing, partner!"

The encouragement really did help, and even as he sort of hung there in Yu's arms watching in amazement as the algae lit up on fire, he flushed from the praise. "I don't really get how I did that but..."

But he did do it. And it was pretty freakin' cool! He just wished he understood just how it was done. He looked up at Yu. "Maybe we should find a way outta here and see if I can figure out how this magic works in the process."

Oh, he was still in... Yu's arms. Yosuke scrambled a bit to right himself, cheeks still flushed but for a different reason now.

Thankfully (?) Yu wasn't going to tease him about it. Just smile and place a hand on his elbow...before grabbing him with both his arms.

"Oh! You're a lot lighter than I remember."

That could make things a little easier. He put him down again and moved back and forth to see if the wolf-like legs gave him a better speed to move. It was...

"Huh..."

He was having a small case of the zoomies briefly before he stopped, looking pleased at himself. Definately stronger and faster, and Yosuke could shoot fireballs. This should be a piece of cake.

"Need a lift?"

"Waahh, p-partner!" The hell was he doing?! It didn't hurt, thankfully. Yu seemed to have control over his strength but he certainly wasn't expecting it. But then, he was put down as if he hadn't just been lifted like a child and then... "Uh... "

Seriously? The zoomies? Now? Yosuke waited until Yu was finished and tilted his head. "You sure we should be running around here at top speed like that?"

"That was just a warm up."

Oh cool, so not even his top speed.

"Like I said, the power of three of Dojima-san's coffees. That could wake up the dead at that point." He laughed, but honestly with the both of them, he wasn't as worried as when he first came to this place alone. While waiting for Yosuke to decide if they'd just walk, he added;

"If we're not dreaming, and this doesn't feel like the TV world, where do you think we are?"

"Sheesh, how about we cut back on the coffee then?" Yosuke chuckled lightly, a hand on his hip as he looked around. "Your guess is as good as mine, dude. It feels like a dream but at the same time way too real. I know we've seen a lot but I'm pretty sure my brain isn't this creative. What about you?"

"I've had my share of weird dreams, but nothing like this. Even when I dreamed of the fog when I arrived in Inaba...this feels different somehow. Like we've lost a connection. I don't know if I'm making any sense."

He boops his own nose to confirm, that yes, that is a snout and not a human one.

"Besides, if I had a choice, I'd want to be a cat, not a dog. Wolf? Maybe I'm a wolf."

Also maybe lunchadore masks but he already mentioned that. Yosuke doesn't deserve a weird reminding of that detail.

"Maybe if we find an exit we can wake up."

He knelt down this time. Maybe that would be more friendly for him?

"No, I think I get it," Yosuke sighed, but then waved a hand to gesture in getting a move on. May as well see if they could find a way out. He picked a direction and got moving. "Or how about none at all? I prefer you looking human."

But if this weird dream was intent on making him a monster of the week, then he was just going to have to deal. He was still Yu, after all. His partner. That wasn't going to change. "Maybe there's a full moon out."

"I'd prefer to be a human too, partner." Well mostly admittedly. There was something interesting about being this tall? And the energy that came from it. However if it upset Yosuke Yu woud wish to return to normality at any cost, that was for sure.

"That's true. We can't see anything right now."

Realizing that Yosuke hadn't quite understood what he had meant, Yu got close to him again (surprisingly easy to do) and indicated his back.

"Do you want to hop on? It might be faster if I run."

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TDM: MARCH

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