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August-September 2024 Test Drive Meme
August-September 2024 TDM
Introduction
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.
All TDMs are game canon and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’
TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.
Playing and interacting with the TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain a canon item from home, especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.
🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.
and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.
🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.
Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.
Content Warnings: Potential Wilderness Survival, Potential Death
New Star Children arrive in Amrita Academy, the largest school in Folkmore. They might arrive in the medical wing, or they could arrive in areas of the school that don't look like a school at all: forests with animals to hunt or gather, including for their medicinal properties; rocky crags with climbing routes; fields full of growing grains; meadows with sheep covered in soft wool; lakes and rivers with unusual denizens. It's like a miniature of Folkmore all in one school.
A fox with a clipped ear and a few scars greets each Star Child upon arrival. She explains that while things can be summoned with Lore, the best survivors learn to scavenge and to find what they need. New Star Children haven't earned much Lore yet, so that surely applies to them double. In fact, as befits a survival school, there are items that will help Star Children survive hidden all around and immediately outside the school. Star Children are directed to make a list on their Relic of everything they think they need to survive. Once made, the list cannot be changed. They will be more likely to find those items than others (though it will not be impossible).
Race, jog, or stroll around the expansive school in search of these items: clothes, bags, first aid kits, tents, survival supplies, etc. They might be harder to find than expected as they will be miniature and in little cubes aka survival squares (a misnomer). These cubes may be tucked away above, below, beside, or inside something. They also may float against a rock face or in the air among tree branches. The most likely locations are those densest in Lore. The longer Star Children explore, the more they will realize that these cubes are best and most easily obtained by working together. In fact, they will try to dodge and avoid the grip of a Star Child more than ten feet away from any other Star Child. Perhaps that's because two Star Children interacting are creating Lore and a Lore dense location? Once two Star Children touch the cube at the same time, the cube will disappear, and the item inside will grow to full size. Congratulations on being one step closer to survival. Remember to share.
Come mid-September, few cubes will remain inside the school. Star Children will have to check the perimeter of the school to find more survival squares. That task grows exponentially harder as the cubes are in the molasses-thick moat of concentrated Lore surrounding the school. Should anyone dip their spoon in the moat, in the Lorasses if you will, they will find that it tastes sweet, a rich spicy sweetness. Amazing! Less amazing? It is impossible to get past the moat of Lorasses. No matter how strong a swimmer or oarsman, it is impossible to make headway through or atop the Lorasses. Anyone attempting to fly across the moat will find themselves slapped by a giant sticky slappy hand rising like a goliath from the depths with perfect aim. Star Children can find themselves slapped anywhere from the shore to the center of the school. Star Children are free to get creative with ways to dig the survival squares out of the Lorasses, but beware! They'll have difficulty freeing themselves on their own from the sticky substance, should they fall in.
Since Star Children are likely to find themselves in sticky situations quite literally, they may be pleased to know that Amrita Academy has showers available for use. Unfortunately, due to one student's experiment, the shampoo is all made of beer. That's right, beer. It's good for one's hair! Or so the study should demonstrate. Be sure to fill out a feedback card outside the locker rooms.
New Star Children arrive in Amrita Academy, the largest school in Folkmore. They might arrive in the medical wing, or they could arrive in areas of the school that don't look like a school at all: forests with animals to hunt or gather, including for their medicinal properties; rocky crags with climbing routes; fields full of growing grains; meadows with sheep covered in soft wool; lakes and rivers with unusual denizens. It's like a miniature of Folkmore all in one school.
A fox with a clipped ear and a few scars greets each Star Child upon arrival. She explains that while things can be summoned with Lore, the best survivors learn to scavenge and to find what they need. New Star Children haven't earned much Lore yet, so that surely applies to them double. In fact, as befits a survival school, there are items that will help Star Children survive hidden all around and immediately outside the school. Star Children are directed to make a list on their Relic of everything they think they need to survive. Once made, the list cannot be changed. They will be more likely to find those items than others (though it will not be impossible).
Race, jog, or stroll around the expansive school in search of these items: clothes, bags, first aid kits, tents, survival supplies, etc. They might be harder to find than expected as they will be miniature and in little cubes aka survival squares (a misnomer). These cubes may be tucked away above, below, beside, or inside something. They also may float against a rock face or in the air among tree branches. The most likely locations are those densest in Lore. The longer Star Children explore, the more they will realize that these cubes are best and most easily obtained by working together. In fact, they will try to dodge and avoid the grip of a Star Child more than ten feet away from any other Star Child. Perhaps that's because two Star Children interacting are creating Lore and a Lore dense location? Once two Star Children touch the cube at the same time, the cube will disappear, and the item inside will grow to full size. Congratulations on being one step closer to survival. Remember to share.
Come mid-September, few cubes will remain inside the school. Star Children will have to check the perimeter of the school to find more survival squares. That task grows exponentially harder as the cubes are in the molasses-thick moat of concentrated Lore surrounding the school. Should anyone dip their spoon in the moat, in the Lorasses if you will, they will find that it tastes sweet, a rich spicy sweetness. Amazing! Less amazing? It is impossible to get past the moat of Lorasses. No matter how strong a swimmer or oarsman, it is impossible to make headway through or atop the Lorasses. Anyone attempting to fly across the moat will find themselves slapped by a giant sticky slappy hand rising like a goliath from the depths with perfect aim. Star Children can find themselves slapped anywhere from the shore to the center of the school. Star Children are free to get creative with ways to dig the survival squares out of the Lorasses, but beware! They'll have difficulty freeing themselves on their own from the sticky substance, should they fall in.
Since Star Children are likely to find themselves in sticky situations quite literally, they may be pleased to know that Amrita Academy has showers available for use. Unfortunately, due to one student's experiment, the shampoo is all made of beer. That's right, beer. It's good for one's hair! Or so the study should demonstrate. Be sure to fill out a feedback card outside the locker rooms.
- All new Star Children arrive in Amrita Academy.
- Star Children are greeted by a fox who prompts them to write a list of what they need to survive. These lists cannot be changed once made.
- Star Children search for tiny cubes with survival supplies, especially ones on their lists.
- Star Children must work together to catch & open the cubes.
- Come mid-September, Amrita Academy is surrounded by a Lore-rich molasses moat—Lorasses. Thou shalt not pass.
- Once the moat arrives, most cubes are in the moat. Shower to get clean afterward with beer for shampoo.
Content Warnings: Forced Close Contact, Coerced Behavior
It can be stressful to arrive in a new place among strangers and strange things. It can be even more stressful, sometimes, to be among people one knows. The fact remains that in Folkmore, no one is an island. The Shattered Spoon Shrine is a testament to that. Interact or perish. Those interactions usually don't even have to be positive. An emotionally charged argument generates Lore same as a touching reunion. However, Amrita's iteration has taken charge of Folkmore this month. She values cooperation and connection.
What does this mean for Star Children? It's time to get along.
When Star Children fight—physically, vocally, emotionally—they get stuck together in a magical t-shirt. This plain white t-shirt has 'This is our get along shirt' written on it on both sides, one in each Star Child's handwriting. (If a Star Child does not have handwriting, Thirteen will invent a handwriting she feels best represents them). The shirt works exactly as written on the tin. Until the two Star Children can get along, they will be stuck together in the shirt. Getting along can look a few different ways. It could be working through the reason they were fighting. It could be cooperating to accomplish something else. It could be helping someone else together. It could be large or small. Somehow, Star Children will have to get along to accomplish something.
The shirt will disappear, leaving them standing next to each other, only to reappear duplicated in each of their hands, perfectly sized to fit each individual. Should they so choose, either can be used for a repeat performance, with both of them trapped inside again. While the same condition will apply—they must get along to get out of the shirt—the shirt will now make it easier for them to work it out. Note: only the two people who originally wore the shirt can put it back on. No one else can wear these shirts.
One time only, a Star Child's cooperative escape will have an additional prize: their souvenir t-shirt will be wrapped around an item from either their home universe or their partner's. That's right, getting along can get a Star Child something from another universe.
It can be stressful to arrive in a new place among strangers and strange things. It can be even more stressful, sometimes, to be among people one knows. The fact remains that in Folkmore, no one is an island. The Shattered Spoon Shrine is a testament to that. Interact or perish. Those interactions usually don't even have to be positive. An emotionally charged argument generates Lore same as a touching reunion. However, Amrita's iteration has taken charge of Folkmore this month. She values cooperation and connection.
What does this mean for Star Children? It's time to get along.
When Star Children fight—physically, vocally, emotionally—they get stuck together in a magical t-shirt. This plain white t-shirt has 'This is our get along shirt' written on it on both sides, one in each Star Child's handwriting. (If a Star Child does not have handwriting, Thirteen will invent a handwriting she feels best represents them). The shirt works exactly as written on the tin. Until the two Star Children can get along, they will be stuck together in the shirt. Getting along can look a few different ways. It could be working through the reason they were fighting. It could be cooperating to accomplish something else. It could be helping someone else together. It could be large or small. Somehow, Star Children will have to get along to accomplish something.
The shirt will disappear, leaving them standing next to each other, only to reappear duplicated in each of their hands, perfectly sized to fit each individual. Should they so choose, either can be used for a repeat performance, with both of them trapped inside again. While the same condition will apply—they must get along to get out of the shirt—the shirt will now make it easier for them to work it out. Note: only the two people who originally wore the shirt can put it back on. No one else can wear these shirts.
One time only, a Star Child's cooperative escape will have an additional prize: their souvenir t-shirt will be wrapped around an item from either their home universe or their partner's. That's right, getting along can get a Star Child something from another universe.
- When Star Children get in a fight of any kind, not just physical, they get stuck together in a magical t-shirt.
- The shirt says “This is our get along shirt” front and back in characters’ own handwriting (or imagined handwriting).
- As written on the tin, Star Children are stuck until they figure out how to get along
- When they separate, both partners will get a copy of the t-shirt that fits them. They can choose to get back into said t-shirt together to figure out how to get along easier in the future.
- One time only, Star Children receive an item from their home universe or their partner’s.
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But she hasn't, she's here, although Rose can't truly rest until Sharon's physically in her grasp. She's nodding quickly, wiping the sleeve of her cardigan against her face. )
I'm safe — I woke up here not long ago. In a medical facility — part of some kind of school?
( By now, she's wandered out into the wooded area of the survival-oriented academy to embark on that quest from the fox, and while she's managed to find a few of the items on that list, can't say that her heart's been in it at all. All she could think about was Sharon. )
There are woods here. I'm in there— but I can leave. I'll come find you.
( She can see a glimpse of that soft light behind Sharon as her daughter moves from what appears to be a home — bright, warm. Still, her heart pounds with adrenaline. )
Are you safe?
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Rose’s immediate offer to come find her doesn’t surprise Sharon in the least; it’s so like her mother. But the question—Are you safe?—catches Sharon off-guard for some reason. Whatever frantic, tear-stricken expression she had dissolves into a gentle, almost tender smile. Her fingers tighten around her Relic, heart swelling so much it feels like it might burst. She missed this. Missed how Rose worried over her. Missed the questions after a long day. Missed the way her mother’s presence felt like an unspoken comfort following her everywhere.
God, she missed it all. ]
Don’t worry, Mom [ Sharon says, voice soft but firm. ] I’m safe. And I’m coming to get you. [ This time, she would find Rose. Protect her. ] You’re actually pretty close to the burrow. I don’t even need to hop on a train. [ It's difficult to maintain a conversational tone, emotion slipping in between the words.
She hesitates, glancing down at the screen, her heart twisting as the image of Rose fills her vision again. Every time she sees her mother, it’s like a hand gently gripping her heart. Her eyes grow hot again. ] Can I... [ Sharon pauses, her voice small but steady. ] Can I ask what you remember last?
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Her daughter sounds assuring. Despite the emotion layering everything, the gloss in her eyes, Sharon sounds like she knows exactly what to do, where to go. 'The burrow' she says; she clearly knows her way around this place. How long has she been here? (And what "version" of Sharon is she?)
It's a concept they must both be wondering, judging by her next question, and although it's so immensely difficult for Rose to stay put, she nods, willing her resolve to trust Sharon. To wait for her this time. Her heart is pounding, throat unbearably tight as she stays where she is, though paces the area, unable to stay still. )
I was... in a world called Trench. You and I were there together, for a long time. ( But not long enough, her heart reminds her, and she swallows tightly. )
This all might sound very strange, but... we came from the ocean. And one day the ocean called me back into it. That's where I just was. I was walking back to it, I'd— I'd just said goodbye to you. ( It might sound insane if this Sharon isn't familiar with any of that, and Rose tries yet again to keep it together, but her shoulders are shaking, and something in her voice catches. The memory is so fresh that it still burns deep in her soul, some awful aching place. Saying goodbye to that version of her daughter was the hardest thing she'd ever done. Rose closes her eyes, head dipped as she relives it again and again. )
We'd found multiple versions, or... different timelines of each other before. We kept finding each other.
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Fuck. ]
The Pthumerian Ocean... I know. I remember. [ Her voice cracks, and the words are almost lost in the soft, shaky sob that follows, punctuated by a frustrated sniffle. ] It was August. You had to go back, and I hated it, but I knew... I knew you'd be safer out there. [ Her voice falters as the memory washes over her, Trench, that hellish place, a nightmare even on its best days. Every month brought a new kind of suffering, and Rose didn’t deserve any of it. She had been through enough already.
But now, knowing this is the same Rose... Sharon’s mind spins. Thirteen is either an incredibly manipulative bitch or foolishly kind. She’s not sure which thought unsettles her more. ]
It’s been... [ Sharon’s breath hitches as she gathers herself. She forces herself to think, to calculate how much time has passed. ] For me, it’s been about two years since then. And I’ve been here, in Folkmore, for a little over a year now. [ The words feel surreal as they leave her mouth. Time had slipped through her fingers like water, but here they were, together again, even if only for a moment. ]
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'I remember.'
The words almost send her reeling, but she maintains her tight grasp on the device in her hands, eyes locked on, hardly daring to believe what she's hearing — and yet believing it immediately. Maybe she's a fool, or too desperate, but Rose doesn't care right now. If this is some trick, she'll deal with the consequences later. All her heart can possibly do is believe every word that Sharon says. Believe that this is her.
It's her. Her Sharon from Trench. If only she could reach her, hold her right now — the distance is almost unbearable, though any heartbreak that her heart feels is simultaneously countered by the sheer joy, the relief. )
Baby. ( Rose whispers the word, voice as wet as her eyes as it catches tight and thick in her throat. The only thing keeping her from crumbling into an outright sob is the strength to try to hold it together for Sharon. ) I knew I would come get you again. Something told me that it wasn't— wasn't really a goodbye.
God, two years.... ( It's devastating to think about Sharon existing without her, missing her, though she knows that for this version of her daughter, such a thing isn't new. She'd learned how she'd been trapped in Silent Hill while Christopher took care of their daughter for all that time. Is she damned to be kept away from Sharon again and again?
Even if that happens, she'll always find her. She'll come back to her, and fight anything that stands in her way. )
For me, it's been just... just a few minutes. I just left. ( She takes a soft breathless gasp. ) I'm sorry, Sharon. I'm so sorry for leaving you for so long.
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Sharon quickens her pace, urgency propelling her forward. ]
Mom, you don’t have anything to apologize for. It’s okay. [ Somehow, she keeps her voice steady, a feat she can’t quite comprehend. ] Plus, you’re here now. You found me. Even if I was upset when you left, how could I feel that way now?
[ She doesn’t slow down as she enters the school, determination in her stride. ] I’m here; you’re still in the survival area, right? [ She doesn’t wait for an answer, already moving purposefully in that direction. ]
no subject
But she can't dwell on that, or her guilt and horror and loss. She nods, closing her eyes tightly shut for a moment before opening them again. )
I'm here. ( She repeats, meaning it in more way than one. She's here, she found Sharon, she isn't going anywhere again. And she's also here, in that school, the survival area. Quickly, Rose nods once more, and turns the device in her hands to pan around the forest. Survival area, Sharon calls it. )
Yes — I've moved to where the forest starts. I'm not far from the main part of the school, I think.
( Her heart pounds as she moves closer to it, so that she'll hopefully be able to see Sharon approaching her. )
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Hot, fat tears well up, again, and cascade down her cheeks before she can stop them, blurring her vision and making Rose almost hard to see. She feels like a child, small and vulnerable, and it seems so ridiculous, she feels ridiculous, but the emotions are too raw to control. She wipes at the tears with the heel of her palm, but they just keep coming. She tries to walk, to stay composed, but her resolve shatters the moment she gets close, and she rushes forward, closing the distance in a heartbeat. Her arms wrap around Rose with a fierce, almost desperate love, clinging to her as though she might disappear.
When she finally pulls back, finding the strength to meet her mother’s eyes, she’s smiling through the tears. Rose Da Silva is here. No trick, no illusion, no cruel Trial. The joy surges through her, almost overwhelming. ]
Mom... Shit. [ Her voice cracks as she wipes at her eyes again, laughing weakly through the tears. ] You have no idea how much I needed you... I’ve missed you so much.
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Sharon— ( she gasps, managing to slip her own Relic into her pocket before her trembling fingers can drop the thing, and then she's moving, rushing to meet the younger woman just as Sharon starts moving more quickly towards her. They meet hard and fast and warm, Rose's arms winding around her daughter's body just as tightly, holding her flush and secure. Breathing her in — the same Sharon she'd parted ways with in Trench, a couple of inches taller than her (she has to lift just slightly on the toe of her boots), beautiful and strong. Rose buries her face against the side of Sharon's head, feeling her own tears leaking. She has her back, again. She got her back. )
My baby. ( When she pulls back just a little bit too, enough that she can see Sharon's face, she can't help laughing just as weakly in response, the sound wet and thick due to the tears she can't stop crying. Both of her hands lift to the girl's cheeks, cupping her face, thumbs brushing back against the moisture there. She sniffles, loudly, and smiles, willing her voice to continue. )
I've missed you, too. For all the time I was without you, every second in any universe, I've missed you. ( No matter that for her, she last saw Sharon barely a few hours ago now — for however long Sharon was without her mother, on her end, Rose knows that she missed her daughter. Time doesn't have to make sense; whether it was seconds or days or years.... any version of herself would ache unbearably with missing her daughter. Rose knows that wholeheartedly. )
God, let me look at you. You're so beautiful. ( She's smoothing her hands down the sides of Sharon's hair now, lovingly. ) You've been here for a couple of years, you said? How old are you now? You're— twenty?
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Twenty [ she repeats, her voice thick as her head bobs in an almost frantic nod. Twenty. And soon, in less than six months, she’ll be twenty-one. (And older, so much older than that in some ways.) ] God, mom, there’s so much I need to tell you, so many people you have to meet.
[ Friends—people who’ve become like family to her. And a boyfr—no, fiancé. Her breath catches in her throat, the excitement and emotion making it hard to breathe. But she doesn’t want to overwhelm Rose, not yet. It’s too early for that. There’s time. ] We’ll get you settled first. Before anything crazy [ she promises with a smile, the rush of words tapering off into something softer.
Taking one of Rose’s hands in her own, Sharon leads her gently out of the wooded area and toward the school grounds, her grip firm, almost too tight, as if afraid to let go—as if Rose might disappear again if she loosened her hold. Their fingers lace together, and Sharon gives her hand a small, nervous squeeze. ] There’s someone you have to meet before anyone else, though [ she says, her voice quieter now but no less thick with emotion. ] I met someone. We just got engaged, actually, so…
[ She trails off, not from nerves exactly, but from the weight of it. This is a big moment, one she never thought she’d have. A part of her had accepted that she’d never get to share this with her mother. But here they are. Sharon laughs, the sound soft and full of disbelief at the reality of it all. ]
no subject
She's laughing tearfully again as she meets Sharon's nod with a series of her own — she'll meet anyone she knows, she'll settle in first, she'll do anything. Just as long as Sharon's by her side. Rose keeps her own grasp on her daughter's hand, and she can't help being reminded of how Sharon would hold her hand like this when she was younger, Rose leading the shy, nervous little girl around. Now Sharon's grown, she's confident and bold, guiding her. Rose follows her lead, stepping carefully back towards the school. If there's any lingering thought this could be some cruel trick, it's completely gone. She doesn't care. She'll follow Sharon anywhere.
Though her words cause Rose to pause for a moment, head turning to look at her, brows lifting up as her wet eyes widen. The words come a little breathless, a sort of disbelief of her own exhaled outwards. ) You're engaged. Oh my god, honey.... You met them here? Are they from another world, too? Or is it someone from back in Trench?
( Her mind, already swirling, starts flying through the people Sharon had been close to, before. )
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Oh my god, Rose whispers, and Sharon mouths the words back, as if a part of her still can’t believe it herself. ] We met in Trench [ Sharon begins, voice soft but brimming with excitement. She's practiced this a million different ways in her head, in her daydreams. ] Just a couple of months after you left. He's from another world. His name is Johan but he goes by his family name, Mayerling. [ Her expression softens, warms as she thinks of her fiance. The beads he uses to frame his face, the pale blue bow he always ties his hair back with. She smiles secretively. ] He's different. He's kind, and thoughtful, and deeply philosophical. Handsome. [ Her smile grows then, tips of her teeth showing, cheeks pink. ]
I didn't think I'd ever meet someone who could make me feel like I'm... [ She shakes her head, the words stuck in the back of her throat, caught on the nest of emotions in her windpipe. Special. Beautiful. Strong. She swallows, unable to finish the thought, and then clears her throat. ] I met him in Trench and we found each other again here. I don't believe in fate or anything, but...
[ But fate is what brought Rose to that orphanage outside of Silent Hill. It was fate that Rose chose Sharon. It was fate they found each other again, and again, and again. Maybe fate is real. For some special people. ]
no subject
It seems that no matter what, she was never going to be physically there for Sharon through her adolescent years, that it was Christopher who had to be both mother and father, raising her alone, protecting her. She can't be more grateful to her husband for that. And so though some part of her heart might ache from learning that she's once again missed out on so much of Sharon's life, it's countered by the other part that's flooded with joy that she gets to be a part of it now. Maybe this is how it was always going to be — losing Sharon, but never really. Never for long. Each time she finds her, she's finding a new, older version of her daughter. And each time she's unspeakably grateful.
So she feels a glowing warmth as she watches her daughter speak of this man that she clearly loves. Rose remembers feeling that way, once, before... before things became darker between her and Chris. The almost girlish glow that practically shines in her daughter's eyes, the soft flushes, the little smiles. Though she's still startled by all of this, she's finding herself smiling too, drawing to a slow stop for just a moment so she can reach up and cup Sharon's face with her free hand. )
I think it's fate. Or maybe something a lot like it. ( Her smile warms to her eyes, and maybe alters the colour of them a little, pale blues almost cerulean. ) It sounds like you were meant to be with him.
( Of course, she'll need to do some Momma Bear checking out of this man for herself.... but she trusts Sharon's judgment, trusts her heart. She's still here to protect her daughter, but she also knows Sharon (and the Alessa part of herself, something Rose is just as protective of) can protect herself just as much. That is something she knows deep down in her heart.
Rose's smile turns a little teasing, and she gives another wet sniffle, still a mess of tears and joy, as she lowers her hand to keep walking. ) Handsome, huh? What's he look like? You have to give me all the details so I can prepare myself not to swoon too much when I see this handsome man of yours!
no subject
When Rose's eyes soften with agreement, Sharon feels that spark of hope. Maybe this is the kind of fate she can believe in. She leans into Rose's touch, and as her mother lowers her hand and starts walking again, Sharon stays close, their shoulders brushing with every step.
She's not sure she buys into the idea that things are meant to be. It feels too certain, too fixed. But the thought of it, of this, makes her smile. When Rose begins prodding her for details, Sharon's smile grows wider. ]
He's taller than me [ she says, biting her lip as she thinks of Mayerling. She doesn't even have to close her eyes to picture him—she's drawn his face and figure more times than she can count. ] Broad-shouldered, strong... Some days I think he's more beautiful than handsome, if that makes sense. Maybe it’s because he’s a vampire—he’s got that supernatural attractiveness going for him.
[ She glances at Rose, waiting for the reaction she knows is coming, and adds quickly ] But don't worry, Mom. He doesn't bite. He’s... vegan.
no subject
She isn't entirely sure how to feel about it, but around Sharon's smiles and the glow that surrounds her as she describes this person, Rose is inclined to lean towards something positive, at least in this moment. No matter how it is, she believes that "fate" isn't something that humans should try to touch, or control. They twist it for their own gain, mutilate it, and can justify doing any thing to anyone.
But not this. Not something like this. Finding Sharon again, holding onto hope... and learning that her daughter has fallen in love. Her heart couldn't be warmer, though— something hitches, pauses in startle at Sharon's words.
A vampire...? The woman's mouth parts, a soft exhale of surprise leaving her lips, brows lifting. She's become pretty damn used to supernatural things in general, given the variety pack to be found in Trench, but a vampire is new. Still, she doesn't question the concept of him being a vampire at all, rather— )
Vegan...? Doesn't he have to have blood to... to live?
( Okay, she's definitely a little concerned. Is this the equivalent of finding out your daughter's fallen for the "bad boy" rockstar with all the piercings and tattoos? She's very new to this kind of thing! )
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[ She gives Rose’s hand a reassuring squeeze. ] He’s a good person, Mom. If he weren’t safe, he wouldn’t let me near him. Or anyone else, really. [ Mayerling would rather suffer alone than risk hurting anyone undeserving. It’s part of what made her fall for him. ]
And he sees me. Accepts all of me—even the worst parts. [ Like you do, she wants to say. He's been pulled into the Otherworld. He's seen what she can do. And still... ] He knows what it's like to feel people’s judgment just for what he is, knows that loneliness. [ Her voice catches. ] Some days, I don’t know how I got so lucky to meet someone like him. [ A beat and then she says, softly, almost a whine to her tone. ] He built me an art studio.
[ MOM HE BUILT HER AN ART STUDIO ]
no subject
Synthetic blood.. ( She echoes quietly, mind spinning with thought. She's never even heard of such a thing — is that a resource easily found in this place? But coming straight from Silent Hill and Trench, two worlds that challenged her senses of "reality" and "normalcy", Rose knows she has a lot to learn about what's "normal" in this one.
Her mouth presses into a tight, thoughtful frown as she watches Sharon, listening to her words. She can't help a soft thing that flutters around in her chest at the clear emotion to her daughter's voice — knows what it is to feel judgment. Knows loneliness.
'he accepts all of me — even the worst parts'
She chews on that for a long moment, before the part about the art studio makes her features relax a little, even for just a moment, and it's her turn to softly squeeze Sharon's hand. ) He sounds like a very kind person. I think you wouldn't put up with someone who wasn't.
( She gives a little smile, almost light-hearted for a moment, before more Questions are pouring in. )
He knows.... about Alessa?
( She's always careful bringing it up, but... Sharon said he knew about the "worst" parts of herself, so does that mean.... And Rose is extremely protective of that part of her daughter's history. )
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Alessa. Hearing the name—the one she used to bear, the name that still echoes in the corners of her mind—pulls something tight in her throat. It’s not a name she hears often. It’s not one she easily brings up. Too many memories there, some too raw to touch. ]
Mmhmm [ she hums softly, her voice carefully measured. She and Mayerling had spoken of Alessa soon after she arrived, right before they made their Familiar/Legend Pact. ] He knows about Alessa, the fire…all those years in the basement. The things I’ve done. [ The murders, the choices, the darkness inside her she sometimes couldn’t control. ] He knows the parts of me I can barely speak about to anyone... except you. [ Rose would always be the one person exempt from all her rules, the only one she would never turn away, and now, she thinks, Mayerling is, too. ]
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It's difficult, to trust others with her daughter's well-being, with all of those parts to her history, with the things that Rose is so fiercely protective of and would do anything to keep safe. It's... terrifying, actually. She's still terrified, but she's also willing to listen, and try, and see this for herself.
After all, her role is to support and love Sharon no matter what. To protect her daughter also means protecting what makes her happy.
She smiles again, eyes a little freshly tearful as she gives the girl's hand another tight squeeze. )
In that case, it sounds like he and I have a lot to talk about.
( She does not mean this as a threat! But she's having to be both mother and father here and... yes, she definitely needs to talk with this Mayerling. She means it softly though, her smile warming. )
And I'm happy to meet him. ( Beat, as she has another thought— ) Will he be... awake right now? In the sunlight?
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At Rose’s question, Sharon nods quickly. ] Mmhm, he’s awake [ she replies, her voice soft but sure. ] He can’t be out in the sun without his wings to protect him, but inside, he’s fine.
[ She can’t help but appreciate Rose’s consideration, even amid the whirlwind of their reunion. It’s a lot to process—her daughter, once eighteen, now twenty, with a vampire fiancé. And then there’s the whole matter of being swept away by a fox into a world that feels ripped straight out of a Disney film. Sharon’s life has been nothing short of extraordinary, but she knows Rose’s hasn’t exactly been normal since Silent Hill either.
As the path to the burrow comes into view, its dome covered in the lush green grass of late summer, Sharon takes a steadying breath. Inhale. Exhale. The butterflies don’t disappear, but they settle just enough. She glances at Rose, a small, nervous smile tugging at her lips. ] Ready to meet him? [ she asks, voice tinged with a mix of excitement and vulnerability. ] He’s waiting for us.
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...Or if there is anything that might feel like fear, it quickly reshapes itself into something Rose is able to work with, instead. She's no stranger to that feeling. She was never without fear through those worst parts of Silent Hill, or Trench. She was scared for her life. It's just— Sharon's meant more than even her own. She could do anything if it was for her daughter's sake. Do anything, face anything. Or die trying.
So — all right, yes, Sharon's met a guy who's not exactly human and probably doesn't look entirely human, given the wing situation (of course, Rose is aware not-so-deep-down that she's changed in some ways since waking up here too, but.... now's not the time to address the ruffle of white feathers she glimpsed spreading from her own spine). This is fine! Completely fine. She's here no matter what.
She keeps following her daughter's lead, taking in the sights and unable to suppress a soft exhale, eyes widening at how beautiful and charming the scene is. )
I'm ready. ( She nods seriously, turning her head to look over at the younger woman, squeezing her hand again. ) Though I'm probably a pretty rough sight after all this crying. ( She smiles, she wouldn't change a thing about her reunion with Sharon, reaching up with her free hand to tuck a wayward layer of blonde behind her own ear in some quick attempt to fix herself up a little. )
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It’s as if Rose has absorbed the very holiness Alessa once saw in her. ]
Mom [ Sharon says softly, her voice tinged with affection ] even puffy-eyed, you're beautiful. [ She smiles, her words carrying the weight of admiration. Growing up, Sharon had always wanted to look like her mother—bold, beautiful, and strong. Rose had never been just a housewife or mother to her. She was a hero. ]
And trust me [ she adds, a note of reassurance in her tone ] Mayerling will think it’s sweet. He won’t judge. [ If anything, it would just underscore the depth of Sharon’s bond with her mother.
With a deep breath and a small, nervous smile, Sharon opens the door to the burrow. Mayerling already knows they’re here—of course, he does—but she still calls out with playful enthusiasm. ] Alright, Mayerling! Time to impress my mom!
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The parlor is set up in a casual fashion, so far as vampires are concerned, with tea and a few kinds of scones, cookies, and other treats, so that Rose may find something she likes whatever her preferences. Everything is comfortable, and no one will sit directly across from each other. He stops fussing over it ten seconds before they enter so he's not mid-adjusting the position of a pillow when Sharon opens the door.
To avoid stepping into the shadows, he raises one of his nearly entirely clear wings before him to block the sunlight from the door. People, in his experience, often have negative reactions to the stereotypical vampire coming out of the darkness entrance (a shame, given its wondrous dramatic potential), so he stands in full view, visible behind his wing:
Mayerling wears the starry outfit Sharon gave him for Christmas the year prior, his hair pulled back, and bows deeply to Rose once she appears in the doorway. The bow reveals three other wings on his back, the matching clear wing that glimmers and a set of batlike wings underneath. ]
It is a pleasure and my honor to make your acquaintance, ma'am. [ He cannot help but keep a few formalities. He straightens back up and motions them both inside. ] I have tea and treats prepared, though should you need anything more substantial, that is no trouble at all.
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Rose smiles tearfully, but the tears are happy ones, not sad. They're full of love. She nods again, quickly, and clears her throat as she tries to collect herself a bit more.
There's something that had stuck out — Sharon telling her that Mayerling knew they were here — but she hadn't questioned it. Now as she hears Sharon call out for the
man, she can't help wondering about it, the mystery about him simply building.
And then there he is. Rose has to take a moment to almost process the image of the man standing there: a truly ethereal sight, from his attire to the wings, to his features themselves. She blinks widely, a little stunned as he bows to her so politely and speaks so formally — oh, he really is like something from a fantasy, isn't he? There's very much an inhuman quality to this man, though she's not afraid by it. She's known inhuman beings before, in Trench, and— her own daughter is, of course, very much not a typical girl.
No, she isn't afraid of anyone so blatantly not human, but his presence is extremely striking and it does surprise her a bit. But she's dipping her head towards him, offering a smile that's soft, but friendly. )
Hello! The pleasure's mine — it's so nice to meet you. Sharon's already told me much about you.
( She sends her smile over to Sharon, before her brows are lifting a bit at mention of tea and treats. Such things weren't so easy to acquire back in Trench. )
Tea would be lovely. It feels like so long since I've had any.
( As she steps further into the space, she's looking around it a bit, unable to hide the soft delight that brightens her features a little, before she has to ask, curious. )
You really... knew we were coming?
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Rose's question draws a soft, fleeting laugh from her lips, but she decides to leave it to Mayerling to answer.
She gently guides her mom into the parlor, her hand still clasped in hers, almost entirely unwilling to release her. There’s no danger here, not within the absolute safety of the burrow, but that doesn’t stop the protective instinct from anchoring her beside her mother. Even when everyone finally settles into their seats, she hovers just a little longer, reluctant to stray too far. Before sitting, she snags one of the treats from the table, though she barely takes a bite. It becomes less a snack and more a distraction, nibbled on absentmindedly, her mouth and hands just as tuned in as her ears. ]
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