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October-November 2025 Test Drive Meme
October-November 2025 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: N/A
Drizzly Willow is where newly arrived Star Children touch down, touching down gently in the soft moss beside a grand lake, or a babbling brook. The leafy strands of weeping willow trees flow gently in the breeze. All would seem calm, and yet, something prickles the back of Star Children's necks. Goosebumps erupt along skin and a sense of unease settles in the pit of the stomach. Some sort of invisible tension pulsates through Willow, and the closer one comes to the border shared with Exile, the worse it gets. It's almost as if something foul is drifting in from the neighboring marsh lands, affecting Leshy and Talaria in particular. Still, if one were to cross this border and enter Exile proper, all the tension dissipates. If one were to ask Baba Yaga, the iteration of Thirteen who rules over these marshes, she'll smile mysteriously and shake her head before vanishing.
Curious.
Amrita, the one in charge of Willow, has a plan to be rid of these uncomfortable vibes infiltrating her domain. All along the border shared with Exile, within walking distance of both Leshy and Talaria, Amrita has set up communal gardens. Not only are there wide, open spaces of freshly dug soil, there are a few lavish greenhouses. The glass panes are all squeaky clean and any sunlight to pass through almost seems to be filtered, removing any harsh glare and leaving only a pleasant glow. A warmth, almost. Within these greenhouses, that nasty prickle wafting in from Exile cannot be felt at all.
Veteran Star Children, the ones who would normally have no reason to visit Willow, are extended an invitation through their Relic to help tend to the gardens. Not only will it cleanse the area of that curious tension and be a valuable learning experience regarding agriculture, a small reward may be in it for those who participate!
Step right up, dear children! Pick up a spade or a watering can, there are more than enough to go around. More importantly, there are seeds, sprouts and bulbs of all types of plants. Fruits, vegetables, grains, certain spices… And yes, even flowers. Greenhouses and fields are both available, though one may need to do a little research on which option would be best for which plant. Either ask a friend, or consult one of the few books on gardening on loan from Amrita Academy.
Getting these gardens up and running isn't as simple as planting a seed in the correct location and watering it, though. No, instructions from Amrita are quite clear: Once planted, the seed (or sprout or bulb) must be watered with a watering can that's been infused with Lore. Only then will the plant grow at supernatural speeds, poking up through the soil and transforming rapidly into its full potential. A large pumpkin, an apple tree, a colorful rhubarb… Or maybe a banana tree? Or a patch full of potatoes, ready for eating! For those curious about the reward Amrita mentioned, this is it: delicious, fresh, homegrown food. Anything grown here won't go bad for a good long while, either. All fruits of labor will retain their size and hardiness for a whole month, if not longer, so harvesting need not happen any time soon.
The more plants grown in these gardens, the more the strange tension from Exile will decrease, almost as if the air is being purified by the flora.
Watering with Lore-infused tools isn't as easy as it sounds, though. It never is, as veteran Star Children will be able to guess. With these gardens being communal, the focal point to get the watering cans powered up is talking to others about community. What makes a community, or even just a team? What does it take to feel accepted by others? Reminiscing about communities one has been a part of in the past works just as well, of course.
Drizzly Willow is where newly arrived Star Children touch down, touching down gently in the soft moss beside a grand lake, or a babbling brook. The leafy strands of weeping willow trees flow gently in the breeze. All would seem calm, and yet, something prickles the back of Star Children's necks. Goosebumps erupt along skin and a sense of unease settles in the pit of the stomach. Some sort of invisible tension pulsates through Willow, and the closer one comes to the border shared with Exile, the worse it gets. It's almost as if something foul is drifting in from the neighboring marsh lands, affecting Leshy and Talaria in particular. Still, if one were to cross this border and enter Exile proper, all the tension dissipates. If one were to ask Baba Yaga, the iteration of Thirteen who rules over these marshes, she'll smile mysteriously and shake her head before vanishing.
Curious.
Amrita, the one in charge of Willow, has a plan to be rid of these uncomfortable vibes infiltrating her domain. All along the border shared with Exile, within walking distance of both Leshy and Talaria, Amrita has set up communal gardens. Not only are there wide, open spaces of freshly dug soil, there are a few lavish greenhouses. The glass panes are all squeaky clean and any sunlight to pass through almost seems to be filtered, removing any harsh glare and leaving only a pleasant glow. A warmth, almost. Within these greenhouses, that nasty prickle wafting in from Exile cannot be felt at all.
Veteran Star Children, the ones who would normally have no reason to visit Willow, are extended an invitation through their Relic to help tend to the gardens. Not only will it cleanse the area of that curious tension and be a valuable learning experience regarding agriculture, a small reward may be in it for those who participate!
Step right up, dear children! Pick up a spade or a watering can, there are more than enough to go around. More importantly, there are seeds, sprouts and bulbs of all types of plants. Fruits, vegetables, grains, certain spices… And yes, even flowers. Greenhouses and fields are both available, though one may need to do a little research on which option would be best for which plant. Either ask a friend, or consult one of the few books on gardening on loan from Amrita Academy.
Getting these gardens up and running isn't as simple as planting a seed in the correct location and watering it, though. No, instructions from Amrita are quite clear: Once planted, the seed (or sprout or bulb) must be watered with a watering can that's been infused with Lore. Only then will the plant grow at supernatural speeds, poking up through the soil and transforming rapidly into its full potential. A large pumpkin, an apple tree, a colorful rhubarb… Or maybe a banana tree? Or a patch full of potatoes, ready for eating! For those curious about the reward Amrita mentioned, this is it: delicious, fresh, homegrown food. Anything grown here won't go bad for a good long while, either. All fruits of labor will retain their size and hardiness for a whole month, if not longer, so harvesting need not happen any time soon.
The more plants grown in these gardens, the more the strange tension from Exile will decrease, almost as if the air is being purified by the flora.
Watering with Lore-infused tools isn't as easy as it sounds, though. It never is, as veteran Star Children will be able to guess. With these gardens being communal, the focal point to get the watering cans powered up is talking to others about community. What makes a community, or even just a team? What does it take to feel accepted by others? Reminiscing about communities one has been a part of in the past works just as well, of course.
- New Star Children land in Willow. Veteran Star Children are sent an invitation by Amrita (Willow's Thirteen) to come tend to gardens.
- Amrita has set up several communal gardens, fields and greenhouses near Talaria and Leshy with all the necessities to get started.
- Special watering cans powered by Lore can have plants grow to full size immediately. In order to invoke this Lore, Star Children must have conversations about the concept of community.
- Meanwhile, a strange, uncomfortable tension seems to be seeping out from Exile. The plants from the gardens absorb this tension to cleanse it. When entering Exile itself, the tension can no longer be felt.
Content Warnings: Violence
After a few successful days of gardening, the outer rim of Willow is decked out with lush fields and fully-populated greenhouses. The assortment also includes a few patches that play host to huge pumpkins, rutabagas, turnips and other such big roots and gourds, perfect for carving in this fall season. And wouldn't you know it, there's tables nearby with carving kits, all set up and ready to go. From the child-friendly kind to the extra sharp tools for skilled adults, there's a kit for every preference. Star Children who look upon these kits feel a strange inclination to use them, even when they normally wouldn't bother with this.
They take hold of a small saw, a paring knife or even a gutting spoon and get to work on carving a pumpkin, or any other root vegetable that strikes their fancy. The mood becomes intense, like it's a competition. A battle with great stakes. A sour tang is in the air. Chunks of pumpkin begin to fill up the little waste buckets.
But wait! Any pumpkin (or other gourd or root vegetable) that's received a finished face comes to life. It grows until it's larger than the average Star Child, thick roots and vines springing to life along its bottom to serve as limbs. Whatever emotion its expression was originally meant to convey makes no difference; the newly born plant creature is angry. Like Frankenstein, being the creators of these monstrosities does not shield Star Children from hatred and hostility, making them instant targets. Vines attempt to wrap around arms and legs to keep Star Children in place, and don't you regret putting so many sharp angles in their mouths now? If given the chance, these plant monstrosities will attempt to 'eat' whoever they get a hold of. They won't get very far, since they don't have a digestive system, but being forcibly pulled into an enormous, wet pumpkin maw is still not a good time.
As if sensing the need for them, weapons begin to sprout from the ground nearby, similar to ripe carrots. Swords, pitchforks, spears… Even weapons a Star Child may recognize from home. These are free for the taking, and will be a helpful asset when fighting the overgrown, living gourds.
Squash those squashes!
After a few successful days of gardening, the outer rim of Willow is decked out with lush fields and fully-populated greenhouses. The assortment also includes a few patches that play host to huge pumpkins, rutabagas, turnips and other such big roots and gourds, perfect for carving in this fall season. And wouldn't you know it, there's tables nearby with carving kits, all set up and ready to go. From the child-friendly kind to the extra sharp tools for skilled adults, there's a kit for every preference. Star Children who look upon these kits feel a strange inclination to use them, even when they normally wouldn't bother with this.
They take hold of a small saw, a paring knife or even a gutting spoon and get to work on carving a pumpkin, or any other root vegetable that strikes their fancy. The mood becomes intense, like it's a competition. A battle with great stakes. A sour tang is in the air. Chunks of pumpkin begin to fill up the little waste buckets.
But wait! Any pumpkin (or other gourd or root vegetable) that's received a finished face comes to life. It grows until it's larger than the average Star Child, thick roots and vines springing to life along its bottom to serve as limbs. Whatever emotion its expression was originally meant to convey makes no difference; the newly born plant creature is angry. Like Frankenstein, being the creators of these monstrosities does not shield Star Children from hatred and hostility, making them instant targets. Vines attempt to wrap around arms and legs to keep Star Children in place, and don't you regret putting so many sharp angles in their mouths now? If given the chance, these plant monstrosities will attempt to 'eat' whoever they get a hold of. They won't get very far, since they don't have a digestive system, but being forcibly pulled into an enormous, wet pumpkin maw is still not a good time.
As if sensing the need for them, weapons begin to sprout from the ground nearby, similar to ripe carrots. Swords, pitchforks, spears… Even weapons a Star Child may recognize from home. These are free for the taking, and will be a helpful asset when fighting the overgrown, living gourds.
Squash those squashes!
- Willow's communal gardens soon hold patches with huge pumpkins, other gourds and root vegetables. Tables with carving kits appear near them.
- Star Children who look upon these kits feel a strange inclination to use them
- Any pumpkin (or other gourd or root vegetable) that's received a finished face comes to life and attacks.
- The living plants can't actually digest anyone, but they will try to 'eat' Star Children by stuffing them into their mouths anyway.
- Weapons (local and from home) sprout from the ground to help fight the plants off.
no subject
I see. Well, that much isn't possible to determine from your notes given that you haven't time stamped any entries...
[ Another twitch of his eyebrow in gentle chiding, but he can't fault the effort. He closes the notepad and hands it back to Charles with a softer smile, one of appreciation rather than scrutiny. ]
But, this is as good a start as any. And something is better than nothing. Admirable effort, Charles.
[ His hand goes to his own breast pocket, tapping the emptiness there before realising he's yet to put his glove back on, and busies himself with doing so as he continues. ]
I haven't been able to keep any notes of my own as of yet. It appears everything that was in my pockets upon leaving our world is no longer there. Perhaps I shall have to complete some arduous quest in order to regain them, the same way you retrieved your backpack.
no subject
What was? Was the way he absolutely brightened for Edwin's praise, the appreciative little smile. That would never fail to win delight from him, and he accepted the notebook back with a bright, sunny grin.
And hearing Edwin's lament that he didn't have a notebook, he immediately offered his notebook back, other hand diving into his coat pocket to pull out the ragged little pen that Edwin would recognize from the dentist office they'd had a case at the year before, offering that too.]
Here- You can borrow 'em until we get your notebook back, yeah?
[He knew how much comfort Edwin derived from being able to note things down, like it helped him focus that brilliant mind whenever thoughts whirled too fast and wild. The opposite of how Charles dealt with racing thoughts.]
no subject
It shouldn't shock him, really, because he's always been the better and more avid note taker, but something in his archaic sensibilities feels oddly touched by Charles extending something of his own to make Edwin feel more at home. It's no great sacrifice, doesn't even come close in terms of scale to what Charles has already done for him, but it's no less touching, and Edwin feels himself oddly flustered by it. Curse this new tenderness that's awoken in him... ]
Thank you.
[ He nods, taking the notepad to slip it into the pocket that normally houses his own journal, and exhaling a steadying, comforting breath once he feels it's weight there. Back to rights, at least a little. ]
You seem to have had a much more interesting time than I have thus far, however. Changing the course of a river sounds rather thrilling compared to my efforts. Though- [ He picks up the book again, eyes gleaming, and gives a little tap-tap with a finger at the sticker on the spine. ] I have determined there is a library, and a school, somewhere.
[ But then, another question raises it's head in Edwin's mind. ]
If you were somewhere else before this, this place with a changing river, how did you find me here now?
no subject
If the roles were reversed, he knew that Edwin would do whatever he could to help him in kind, in his own way. It was just what they did.]
Well, Exile's a whole lot of miserable, yeah? [He unshouldered his bag to pluck out the device, flipping it open to tentatively call up the map as he shifted to stand shoulder to shoulder with Edwin so they could both see the screen.] This thing has a map on it, so I was heading out- then I heard there were newcomers showin' up here, and well I figured if you weren't in Exile, you'd be here. Was worth a look, at least.
no subject
He peers at the map with clear interest, reaching out to take the device for himself despite the fact that Charles put it in his eye line so that he could see it, and he could absolutely get his own out of his pocket and open it to the same screen-- ]
Looking at these little machines wasn't a high priority for me, as I assumed we wouldn't be able to interact with them. But they respond to us as easily as they would for a living person...?
[ His voice has taken on a slight tinge of wonder, like it did that one time he was caught mesmerized by the neon lights in Jenny's butcher shop. Hopefully this doesn't awaken anything in him. ]
no subject
Not a conscious decision, but even in the few hours he'd been here alone, he'd felt his friend's absence keenly. He likely would have adapted if Edwin for some inconceivable reason hadn't shown up, but he wouldn't have been happy about it.]
Yeah! I've been keeping it in the bag just in case long-term exposure messes it up, but it's been pretty reliable so far. Figured I'd experiment with keeping it on me directly after I'd gotten somewhere a bit more civilized, yeah?
[A clear sign he'd been anxious without Edwin if he was taking the time to plan ahead like that. As was the curl of his tail around the nearest calf.]
no subject
[ He murmurs, nodding his head eagerly, his eyes sparkling bright and shimmering green as they focus on the intricacy of the machine; the way the pieces fit together, the way the screen responds to his touch and seems to anticipate his will. He's seen modern technology, but he's never managed to be this close to it without some kind of terrible feedback causing either Edwin's spectral energy to flare, or the technology itself to short out, so obviously he's quite entranced by getting the opportunity now. ]
I suppose you've learned your lesson from getting too close to Crystal's communication device often enough that— [ He looks up then, the thought of their mutual friend and recent business partner bringing him out of his technology fuelled reverie and back to some of what Charles had written in his notes. He snaps the screen shut, making a mental note to study the map later and perhaps sketch it in his book in the event that he's unable to use the device or it becomes lost somehow (and so that, predictably, he can make notes on things he finds in each location), and hands it back to Charles. ]
You deliberated that the Fox has a multiverse at her disposal to choose new recruits from, yet she seems to be showing favour to Earth... and, at least in our case it seems, to those who don't wish to be parted. I expect we'd better keep an eye out for Crystal arriving after us, then. I can only imagine the earful we'll get if we don't.
[ And now, since he's out of the spell cast upon him by the magical little device, and is thinking more in the room, he notices a strange sensation around his leg, and looks down to see the misty coloured band of Charles' new tail wrapped comfortably around his calf. The fact he can feel it so succinctly is a surprise, but then his world view has been somewhat opened up recently to what he can and can't feel when touched by another ghost — or, perhaps, Charles specifically — so maybe it's the fact that it's touching him at all, so forwardly and without inhibition, that's surprising him. ]
Ah, it seems your— appendage, is trying to get my attention. [ His eyes flick back up to Charles' face. ] Is everything alright?
no subject
And it's second nature when the device is snapped shut, to offer a hand for Edwin to place it into, so it can go back in the bag for the moment, until one of them needs it again. And if Edwin wants him to carry his as well, he's ready to take that too if needed, but his attention was caught by the shift in topic, a slow nod as Edwin was catching onto a thought.]
She's gonna blame us you realize, [Not that he sounded upset by that- Charles was relieved that Edwin had shown up- anyone else would be a happy bonus.] Or she'll fight the Fox when she shows up.
[And his tail looks quite comfortably settled where it is, clinging to Edwin's calf like it is. Calling attention to it had Charles blinking down at it a moment, a faint splash of color darkening his ears as he chuckled sheepishly, willing the appendage to unwind it's grasp- it does, however reluctantly that movement might be.] Nah, think I'm just glad to see you, yeah? Don't quite have a handle on controlling this thing just yet-
no subject
Charles' tail thankfully distracts him from thinking about that too much, and he watches as it unfurls from his leg, marvelling at the change in sensation. ]
But it is something you can control?
[ He asks, shifting that laser focus to the new addition to his best friend as it curls idly in the small gap between them. Charles had reached out so easily to touch the new start of feathers at his wrist, and this tail seems eager to touch him as well, so Edwin quickly reasons that it will be fine for him to reach out a gloved hand and run curious fingers across what section of it is closest. ]
But not the intensity of it, I assume? I could barely see it or your horns through the mist when I first saw you, but when I threatened you they became less opaque, as though they were reacting to your mood.
no subject
[Charles wasn't entirely sure how to feel about the additions just yet honestly. Casey had already reassured him that being a Myth didn't say anything bad about him, and hearing that from someone who knew more about this place was reassuring, but it didn't stop that worried little voice that whispered what if in this case. Especially not with the traits he bore being so 'demonic' in appearance. And he'd never admit as much, but Edwin's initial response had only gave that worry a bit more weight.
But his response now, the clear interest and curiosity did help. And despite the foggy limb seeming almost insubstantial in the light haze of fog, Edwin would find it just as solid under his fingers to the touch, a slight give of skin under gloved fingers despite the icy look of the appendage, that just twisted lightly to have the spade end plopping against his forearm.]
I was way more interested in gettin' out of Exile and finding you, honestly. [As if that was any real surprise out of him.] We'll have to experiment with that, yeah?
[Without reflections to work with, Edwin's keen eye would be excellent for noticing any differences while they figured out what about his new additions Charles had control over.]
no subject
He doesn't retract his touch, letting his fingers still so that the ever active movement of Charles' tail can slide across them as it flicks back and forth, pushing the sharp end softly against the fabric of his sleeve. ]
I would rather not have to threaten you again or otherwise cause you emotional distress to see how it affects the tangibility of this new part of you, if it's all the same. Once was quite bad enough. I'm sure it wasn't the welcome party you were expecting upon leaving such a rotten place.
[ Which isn't an I'm sorry, exactly, but is very much an I feel bad, which is sometimes as close as Edwin can get if he feels his actions were warranted at the time. ]
But I will keep an eye on you. Should I notice anything, you will be the first to know. [ As if only just thinking of it, he takes Charles' notepad out of his pocket, flips to a page that only has minimal doodling around the binding, and titles it with Charles' name and a few brief bullet points on his physical changes. ] You should let me know if any sensation is particularly noteworthy.
no subject
And it was entirely unsurprising that Edwin spoke up about that initial incident. Definitely not Charles' favorite part of the day, he'd honestly take more St. Hilarion memories over Edwin withdrawing, or speaking to him so coldly as he had. Which meant he knew it bothered his friend too, especially if he was giving about the closest thing to an apology he could when he was honestly not wrong to have been cautious.
Regardless, Charles smiled warmly, shaking his head.]
Wouldn't work if I knew you didn't mean it anyways. But I'm with you there, definitely not lookin' for a repeat.
[If Edwin looked, he'd likely be able to suss out which case they'd been on depending on what sorts of doodles had found their way to the margins on each page of the notebook. Not a perfect system, given Charles train of thought often skipped some strange ways, but of everyone, Edwin would be the one able to figure it out.]
With you on the case, we'll figure it out right quick. [And at the prompting, he tilted his head, giving a genuine moment's self-assessment as he shook his head.] Nothin's standin' out as weird. Tail feels like the rest of me does, the horns don't feel like much of anything unless I poke at 'em which I'm guessing is normal? Vision's normal too, even with-
[A vague gesture towards the strange new color to his eyes.]
Suppose that's a good thing, yeah?
no subject
[ Edwin's eyebrows twitch as he regards his friend, because while he's glad that Charles isn't particularly bothered by the new additions to his form, he doesn't think Charles' easy manner should bleed over into thinking everything is normal, when it most certainly isn't. ]
I am still struggling to understand why these changes have taken place at all. The fact that they aren't uncomfortable, I agree, is at least a positive, but I think the Fox might have some kind of riot on her hands if they caused any kind of deeper distress. What is the purpose of giving a ghost horns and a tail, what reason is there to change your eyes if your sight isn't altered? Why on earth am I sprouting feathers from my wrists?
[ He taps the pen against his lower lip, staring at the page, then letting his eyes fall upon the obediently still fork of Charles' tail where it sits against his arm. ]
It may not be an immediately negative experience, but I still don't trust it. I don't trust her.
[ Which, really, shouldn't be a surprise — because there's only one person in this universe or any other that Edwin truly trusts, and he raises his eyes to look at him now. The dark, reflective pools had been off-putting before, but now that he's looking closer, Edwin finds he can still see a little something of Charles in them, even if it's much harder to read than it had been when they were deep and brown. He'll just have to learn to read these too. He smiles, in a way he hopes is reassuring. ]
But I'm relieved that you are still recognisable as yourself, now that I'm really looking at you.
no subject
Are the feathers on your wrists all of it? I mean, you didn't feel those ones until they were pointed out, yeah?
[And at the idea of trusting the Fox, Charles couldn't help an inelegant snort of a laugh in response. Just because he was looking for some silver lining in this situation, to keep his own mood up to keep Edwin's morale up in kind didn't mean he thought things were just fine.]
No argument there, mate. She's way too fae-seemin' to trust.
[Fae at least didn't always mean danger, but it did mean potential problems.
Edwin's smile though, Charles returned readily, cheerful in a way that read clearly even with the strange reflective darkness of his eyes.]
Glad to hear it. Be a right shame if the Fox messed up my face with all this nonsense.
no subject
Yes, what a fortunate turn of events. I'm not sure the Agency would stay standing without the glue of your charming appearance to keep it all together.
[ It's sarcasm, but only for the sake of familiarity, because there's also a certain amount of truth in it; it's not like Edwin could do any of this alone, after all, and there's been more than one occasion where clients have opted to hire them purely because of Charles' efforts smoothing things over with them after Edwin accidentally (or not) said something they took offence to. Without a best friend to smile and be generally pleasing to interact with, Edwin isn't certain that he would have been even half as successful in many of his endeavours. ]
As for my own transformation, I'm not sure.
[ His hand has found its way to his wrist without him being particularly conscious of the movement; the same way it would when he'd been wearing that ridiculous bangle clamped on his wrist by the Cat King, and he'd find himself tracing a thumb over the closure as though trying to find a seam he could pry open. Now, he's feeling back and forth over the soft bump beneath the leather covering his wrist. ]
Like you, I haven't had much time to investigate. But I take it from your question that I don't have feathers sprouting from my head, or a beak, or anything horrifying like that.
no subject
[While Charles knew that sometimes he had to play referee, smoothing over some unintentional (or intentional) slight from Edwin towards potential clients, he also knew as well as they did that the Dead Boy Detectives were damn good at what they did, and he attributed the lion's share of the credit there to Edwin and his sharp intellect. Not that he minded it either- it was always thrilling to see his partner in his element, putting together the puzzle of a case, or pulling some near-impossible hat-trick off to solve it.
It was only as Charles was tilting his head one way then the other, studying Edwin that the tail left his wrist to curl up behind his back not entirely unlike an inquisitive cat's might as he hummed. Even though he already knew he hadn't clocked any other visible changes in his friend, he also knew it would help settle the other if he made a point of looking for them at least once.]
Nothin' else I can see that's different. [Declared in a pleased tone, hands lifting to smooth out the other's lapels with a light little tug before he gave a pat to his shoulders.]
no subject
Well then, hopefully that does not change any time soon. I will keep notes on my experience, too.
[ He flips the page, and titles it with his own name, before a thought takes him that stills his pen... ]
I know that we promised to be more open with one another after Port Townsend, and that primarily we meant to talk about things that bother us, but I think this experience should be included in that. If things are to be as vague as they have been thus far, we don't know what could be relevant later down the line. Even the smallest detail might hold some insight.
no subject
But then Edwin's speaking, and he has to stop, a confused little frown crossing his face, brows drawing slightly in confusion.]
Hold up a tick there- [The hand on his bag lifting in the universal gesture of 'slow down' as he tries not to consider what might have encouraged that sort of promise.] What do you mean after Port Townsend? Mate, aside from this little field trip, that's where we were.
no subject
Charles, it has been three months for me since we left Port Townsend and returned to London.
[ His voice is careful, but firm: giving the information he has in a clear, curt way, leaving no space for emotion to tinge his meaning, even though his mind is racing with thoughts of what this means. He raises that same wrist from before, to show that it is completely free of gold. ]
No bracelet here, do you see? We were able to leave as expected, though not as conveniently as I would have liked, since we accompanied Crystal. All cases there have been closed.
[ Well, except for one, but he doesn't want to bring that up right away, as it makes his heart hurt even to think of it. God, does Charles even know about that? How long has it been? He wants to clench his fingers, rub them together, do something to expend some of this nervous energy thrumming through his spectral form... but, since he's holding the notepad and pen, all he can do is tighten his hands on both, feeling only slight satisfaction from the sound of the leather flexing. ]
What is the last thing you remember before arriving in this place?
no subject
[Did Edwin want another look at how the tail and horns worked? Because the sudden uncertainty of this situation definitely had them looking a bit more substantial again. Subtle at first, but the effect was noticeable in a way that it hadn't been when he'd been amused with things and they'd been a comfortably foggy sort of haze in comparison.
Gaze flicking to the bared wrist, before back to Edwin's face, uncertainty in his expression.]
Thought the Fox just took it, like she took the bag and my bat, yeah?
[Or maybe that whatever part of them she separated to follow, leaving the rest to continue on in their stead, wasn't shackled by that binding somehow.
And he didn't entirely want to think about the moment he'd been pulled from. That whole thing had been miserable, and at the question, his tail drops, curling around his own leg in something of a self-soothing motion.]
We'd just left the Devlin House.
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[ A rush of memory assaults Edwin's senses — remembering Charles stuck in the loop of repeated failure, of being unable to do anything to help anyone, remembering the genuine fear he'd felt himself at the idea of losing Charles to the house forever... and then, the inevitable fall out not a day later, the weight of hiding what he'd been hiding from Charles, everything Charles had confessed to feeling, his insecurities and-- and Edwin's confession too. Hell, the rescue, the stairs, the explosion, Niko. Charles didn't remember any of it, because for him, it hasn't happened yet.
Edwin isn't sure what his face is betraying about the way he feels, because he isn't sure how he feels in the first place. So, naturally, he leans back on logic. ]
You already surmised that the Fox can dip her hand — or, paw, rather — into a myriad of universes, so I suppose it's to be expected that she can also arrive at different times in any given universe at once.
I— [ He's about to suggest that he give Charles the run down on what they went through, but that's a rather large ask and there's a great deal in it that will surely bring about yet another souring of the mood between them. But, at the same time, it feels strange to keep anything from Charles. His eyes fall to Charles' horns, manifested and more tangible than they have ever appeared. Edwin almost wants to reach out and touch one, but he refrains.
He also backtracks and changes topic, at least for now: ]
I don't suppose it changes anything, however; we are still both from a universe where we know one another and where the events of Port Townsend happened, after all. A little discrepancy in memory doesn't mean that we are strangers to one another.
[ ... Right? ]
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But whatever was wrong, Edwin still fell back on logic. A decent enough barometer of the state of things- if he'd been unable to, it was truly dire straits to be sure. So Charles would take this as a tentatively good sign. Or at least a neutral one.]
I don't know if you looked back when you left with the Fox, but I did, and saw myself continuin' on like nothing was strange. So... I suppose it tracks then, that she could pull people from different times? At least it'd explain how no one realized.
[It wasn't a comforting idea, clear enough in the way his tail stayed mostly stiff other than the wild twitching and curling of the end at the moment.
The unease didn't stop him smiling regardless, a hand reaching again to clap onto Edwin's shoulder in a small bit of contact to soothe the both of them.]
Nah mate, you're still stuck with me.
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I'm glad. [ He smiles, small but honest. For anyone else, it would have been perfectly understandable to feel a little like a stranger in light of this news... but not Charles. Not Charles, who decided Edwin was stuck with him after only an hour or two of being in his company; Charles who gave up the chance of Heaven for him; Charles who went to Hell for him. Or will. ]
I didn't look back, no. [ Something something Orpheus and Eurydice. It flashes into his mind in a way that both makes him want to laugh, and makes him want to ball his fists. ] I was too entranced by my own compulsion, it seems. But I agree that your experience lends credit to the theory. I wonder if there are others like us here, familiar faces from different times, or even from different versions of the same reality — a reality where a friend who died didn't die, for example.
[ His thoughts obviously turn toward Niko, but he doesn't see the need to share that particular hurt just yet. There will come a time, he's sure. ]
I should like to find out if there is some kind of census taken when new arrivals touch down. Surely there must be records somewhere. Mysterious and Fae-like the Fox may be, but I know for a fact that the Fae are sticklers for information.
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Edwin is here. He's pleased to see Charles, and Charles in turn is so relieved that his partner is here with him, that he's not alone here, that any other uncertainties or strangeness was more than worth it. And honestly, it would remain worth it for the presence of his best friend, giving him that little smile.]
It makes sense... would be kinda weird thinkin' on it now, with bunches of worlds and times to pick from for her to pick from one specific time for everyone in a group. How would she even tell who belongs to what group in that case? Gets messy quick, that.
[He's mostly just speaking the train of thought that he's got going now, but sometimes it worked- he would throw out countless comments, some related, some not, and Edwin would see the spark of an idea, a solution, a plan in the middle of the mess and pluck it out where even Charles was surprised to find one.]
We know the Fox is talkin' about 'meeting potential' as why she's bringing people here yeah? [A tilt of his head.] What has her pickin' when she takes someone?
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Obviously I cannot speak for the greater population at large, but as far as our experiences go... The Devlin House was a moment of great emotional unrest for you. Things were brought to a head, and so followed an almost— [ He does a thing in the air with his hand, a kind of twist of his fingers, a little spiral. ] —turning point, of sorts.
[ He isn't overstepping or divulging too much future-knowledge, in his opinion; Charles' unrest was clear as day — even to someone as emotionally stunted as Edwin can be — from the moment they woke him up from the death loop. ]
And as for myself… I experienced something similar when we left Port Townsend. Nothing quite so— [ He'd been about to say 'traumatizing' but going to Hell and having your feelings rejected and then being captured by a witch and tortured for your energy and then losing one of your closest friends during her efforts to save you... can be pretty easily considered as traumatizing, so he adjusts his tact. ] Well, I don't feel quite as sore about all of it as you no doubt did upon leaving that house, but I can say that I am still in a rather... transitionary period. Perhaps that alone is enough to fall into the realms of her arrival conditions.
[ Those at the beginning of some great change to their personhood, unlocking a greater potential given the awareness of its possibility. Could it change what happened to Charles? Make it easier for him to accept who he is, that he is a good person, without the fall-out they'd faced in Port Townsend? Will Edwin find it easier to know who he is in this place than he might have back in London, where it would have been so much simpler to fall back into familiar routine and forget that anything at all had changed? ]
I think that should be our first item in compiling information for this case. If there isn't a census already, we should make our own, and add to it the answers to all these questions. At least then we can get a better idea of the overarching plot afoot here.
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