dagung | TDM: MARCH

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* tdm

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Well, Akechi's most likely observant enough to figure it out immediately. Akira has absolutely no idea what he's talking about, and it shows. He's too worn thin to wear the solid mask. And too sure of some theories that make hiding everything a little meaningless.

So, his jawline sets, brow furrowing just enough as his gaze shifts - confusion, uncertainty... ]

Shido's... Palace?

[ One hand drags over his face and he forces out a slow, unnecessary breath. He shakes his head. ]

Last I remember [ eyes narrowing a bit, mouth a thin line for a few seconds ], I was being interrogated.

[ Akira could have slapped Akechi and gotten a less vehement reaction. His eyes widen and his lips part the moment he hears the confusion in Akira's voice. He closes his mouth and stops short of gaping at him, but he can't quite control his expression enough to keep uncertainty, unease, and something resembling indignation from showing through when Akira mentions the exact last thing he remembers. ]

I see.

[ His tone seems calm enough, but his voice is soft. ]

Even before I arrived here, that happened nearly a month ago.

[ Maybe he should have opened with the dying thing after all. ]

[ ... Strangely, seeing that flurry of emotions somehow reassures him. While he doesn't completely relax, he seems a little less on-edge. ]

A month...

[ He looks at the ground, shaking his head ever-so-slightly, his expression making it clear he's trying to make some logical sense of this. Usually, he can work through things, break the problems down in some way, approaching things step-by-step. Sure, he's no Makoto Niijima or Futaba Sakura, but...

Okay, deep breath-- ... uh. Holding a blink and pausing for a moment. Sure, that works just as well.

(No, it doesn't).

The growing, frustrating burn of something resembling hunger isn't helping matters - but, fortunately, it isn't so bad he can't mostly ignore it. Not that it doesn't have him tensing and pausing a while before his next sentence. ]

So, either I'm missing a month of memories... or I'm from your past.

[ Even the Metaverse always had something about it that made some sense. Some vague - some literal, in some cases - connection to things from the real world. The disconnection within all of this is way more. ]

[ Despite his usual observational skills, Akechi doesn't even notice Akira's shift from 'tense' to 'slightly less tense'. He just notices that Akira doesn't seem to disbelieve him, which is... something. Probably better than he coudl have hoped for, if he'd seen this coming.

The shock finally fades from his expression, replaced by worry-tinged contemplation - though rather than Akira's situation, he's worrying about his own. What on earth is he even supposed to do? In his mind there's no way Akira would believe him if he explained everything else that had happened between now and then - and he'd rather take the secret to his (second) grave and deal with the tension than share it and risk being accused of lying. ]

I've met three other people that know of Earth. One of them is from three hundred years ago, another is from 2038, and the last is from so far in the future that humanity has launched manned missions to Pluto.

[ Lance hadn't given him an exact year, but he suspects that's also a pretty dramatic difference in time. ]

You're the only person I've met that's even from the same decade.

[ And while he won't directly say whether he thinks memory loss or actual time displacement is more likely, he's already got his money on the latter. ]

[ He bites his tongue on making a terrible joke about what could have his memory altered. The only kinds of jokes he feels like making carry a dark humor to them... but he still has enough common sense to know better. Instead, he lets out a quiet sigh while he shakes his head. Even if the look in his eyes carry the look of someone changing his mind and deeply considering quite a bit. ]

After everything, maybe such big timeline differences shouldn't sound like the craziest thing.

[ Even though a part of him still feels like it might be. ]

Three hundred years ago, though. [ clicking his tongue a little ] I can't imagine how surreal a new world must have felt.

[ Some part of him might be latching onto a distracting topic. Going with the flow has always made it easier for him, after all. ]

[ Akechi is used to people not telling him things - he did do some real detective work, in amongst all of the fabricated cases - so he doesn't miss that Akira is holding something back.

But given the circumstances and what he chooses to move onto, Akechi just lets it go.

(Rather, he's too unnerved to try to push the issue, though of course he doesn't think of it that way.)

Besides, there's a thread of conversation worth focusing on in there, anyway. ]

Maybe less strange than it would for someone from our time period.

[ Not for them specifically, of course. They know all about other worlds. ]

Aefenglom looks like something out of a Victorian England period piece.

[ Yeah, honestly... when you've been inside "Egyptian pyramids" and moved through "space"? In a way, weird becomes the norm.

But, momentarily, his focus falters. The dryness of his throat makes it difficult to swallow, and he tightens his hand into a fist while tearing his gaze away from Akechi. Augh... For this to be a dream, it feels too painfully real.

He closes his eyes for a second and shakes his head. And then proceeds to try pretending that moment of struggle didn't happen. ]

Victorian England... Too bad I can't send a postcard to Haru...

[ It's dryly said, though something flickers in his gaze. ]

[ Akechi's not usually someone to notice or mind when a conversation takes an awkward turn (else he wouldn't have blurted out his backstory to a near stranger and total stranger) but it suddenly strikes him that this conversation is... rather uncomfortable. Especially once he's reminded that really is just the two of them here.

It doesn't help that he can't really read what Akira's reactions are about. With his recent arrival and such minimal physical changes there are a few Monsters Akira could have ended up as, so Akechi can't even guess if that's related or not. ]

... Aefenglom itself is much better run and maintained than this place, and far more accommodating to newcomers. I don't think you'll have a hard time adjusting once we wake up.

[ He gives a dim smirk at the mention of it being more accomodating; when is the last time he ever felt accommodated by society? Being viewed as a criminal doesn't exactly leave room for it, and Japan doesn't exactly see minors as worth accommodating.

But that's not a thought he should be focusing on. He fixates on the last part and nods his head. Some snark flares. ]

Such praise... I am unworthy.

[ Truthfully, Akechi had been similarly wary of Aefenglom, and it's certainly far from perfect in its handling of the Mirrorbound what with the whole mass kidnapping and torture thing he showed up immediately after. If called on it aloud he'd still stand by what he said.

He's not criticized out loud, however, though he hardly needs to be when that bit of snark is enough to turn his mood in a more negative direction. ]

Think of it like that if you want. It's just an observation.

[ Even if there's respect or admiration mixed up in the impossibly complicated mashup of emotions he feels towards Akira, something inside Akechi (it's the pride) rebels against idea of openly praising him outside of shallow encouragements shouted during battle. ]

[ He gives a dim smirk in response to that before he looks away. ]

Of course...

[ Mmmm he knows he's being a bit hostile, but he wouldn't consider it to an unfair degree. Not after everything. But... that doesn't make it smart, does it? Letting himself get riled up probably won't help his focus any.

Akira dials back on the sass, though, easing his tone back into something he'd normally use in the cafe. ]

So, Mr. Detective... Anything else you find noteworthy about this place?

[ The fact that the sass has been dialed back but not banished completely is in no way lost on Akechi. He doesn't relax, but that defensive feeling fades. As for other noteworthy things... ]

Our Persona can't be used here - in fact, there's no means of reaching the Metaverse whatsoever. [ Just in case Akira was assuming that was a limitation of the dream. ] But in exchange, Witches have access to magic, and Monsters have access to... well, more monstrous skills.

[ He frowns, but then he doesn't look too surprised overall. ]

Monsters...

[ MMMMM... ]

... Like vampires?

[ Between the fangs, the desire for blood, and the way he can't stop Noticing Akechi's pulse? Yeah.

... Yeah... ]

[ Well, Akira may as well have just yelled 'I'm a vampire for all the world to hear. It's good to have that confirmed, at least. ]

That's one of the possibilities. There are also werecreatures, merfolk, shapeshifters... some of them make Shadows seem innocuous in comparison.

[ He pauses a moment... ]

Do they?

[ Now he's dragging a hand over his face. ]

Is there any rhyme or reason to this place slapping a monster label on someone?

None I've ever heard of. There are theories, but not any that hold up. The only consistency is that Witches are less common.

[ And speaking of which... there's a pause before Akechi speaks again, though he's at least gathering his thoughts rather than debating whether or not to speak. ]

Despite the disparity in numbers, Witches and Monsters are required to form Bonds to keep them stable - and it's Witches that have a greater ability to go without.

[ He quietly considers Akechi for a moment... ]

Witches... Like you?

[ He doesn't look like he's taken on any externally monstrous qualities. And, frankly, he can't see this guy forming an honest bond with anyone. He pauses a moment. ]

Like me.

[ Akechi's tone is easy enough, but his thoughts are racing. He's absolutely not intending to offer a Bond to Akira. If they were operating with the same amount of knowledge, then maybe. But when he's sure Akira would decline the offer without a second thought? Not a chance.

But rejecting him without discussion doesn't feel right, either. Whatever tenuous connection they may have had before doesn't count for much right now, but that doesn't mean it never existed. Akechi can't feel any more comfortable with closing the door on that option forever than he could with making it prematurely.

So he'll just... avoid both. ]

There may be more Monsters than Witches, but there's hardly a shortage of the latter. Even if we can rely on familiars for some time, we'll need a proper bond eventually.

I can't imagine something like finding reliable allies will pose much trouble for you.

[ His lips thin briefly and he falls quiet for a moment. No way is he going to be the first to jump at asking more about forming that kind of Bond with Akechi...

... But it'd go against everything he is to simply deny that this is the closest thing to a friend from home that he has. Everything aside, regardless of how much 'everything' amounts to, there is some kind of bond there. Even if it pisses him off to think about everything that stands for and everything it led to.

Things to ask about and to talk about later...

. . . He casually doesn't respond to the very last sentence. ]

Have you personally seen what happens if either side goes without forming a bond for too long?

[ Akira's decision to ignore that particular elephant in the room might be annoying in another situation, but right now Akechi can only be relieved. ]

I haven't, no. Most people here are extremely cautious to avoid such a thing. I've heard enough consistent accounts to not doubt the validly of the claims, however.

[ It's actually a pretty pressing concern for him, be he knows he has a few more months to stall. ]

[ Were this any other situation, there might have been a lot more elephants shoved to the center of the room by now. Frankly, his focus is too set primarily on ignoring weird, new urges to bite people. ]

Claims of things like what?

[ He's still learning, so all he knows at this point is it's probably just bad. ]

Monsters on rampages and Witches literally exploding are the two I've heard most often.

[ He may as well get the big stuff out of the way. ]

Those are the extremes, however. Though you'll hear about them most, it seems the most common ones are irritability, aggression, paranoia, failure to control magic, monstrous instincts exerting too much influence...

Truthfully, it sounds quite similar to someone suffering from an excess of stress in their daily life, albeit it with more disastrous side-effects.

[ Witches literally exploding? Briefly, the image of Akechi blowing up fills his mind, and... hm. He can't figure out how that makes him feel. At one point, death wasn't the worst thing he could imagine for an enemy, but is Goro Akechi really and truly a full-on enemy?

Mmmm... Thoughts for another time, maybe. ]

... Doesn't sound too far from what distorted cognition could cause, yeah. [ a sigh ] Monstrous instincts, though - we could say those might apply to any species, right? Even humans.

[ AKA he doesn't like that word being used to strictly describe an inhuman. ]

[ Despite actually agreeing with Akira on his observation, Akechi shakes his head. ]

You're thinking in terms that are too vague. It's true that many become more violent, but it's not just that. Dragons might find it harder to resist the urge to hoard things or compulsively steal livestock, whereas one of the Fae might want to throw a lavish party or take disproportionate revenge for a petty slights.

[ Actual problems he's heard people complain about in regards to those specific Monsters, though none he's witnessed himself. ]

Of course, those are risks that even Bonded Monsters have to deal with during the full moons.

[ Wow. ]

Not sure what's vague about distorted cognition.

[ If he was a cat, his tail would probably be swishing back and forth right about now, yet his expression remains composed. ]

Is "Monster" the only word people have for it around here?

TDM: MARCH

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