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February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme
February-March 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 canon items from homes 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: Power Nullification, Potential Kidnapping, Potential Animal Spirit Harm
The island of Never Fade can no longer be seen in the sky from elsewhere in Folkmore, enclosed within a large purple tinted cloud. Within that cloud, the island is under water—a dreamy purple underwater that all Star Children can breath in if they breath and function in if they function on electricity, so on and so forth. It causes no more difficulties than reduced visibility and greater effort to walk. It's even possible to swim underneath the island, so long as Star Children make sure to make landfall before they get too exhausted and… well… fall.
Friendnapped
Spread the Love
The island of Never Fade can no longer be seen in the sky from elsewhere in Folkmore, enclosed within a large purple tinted cloud. Within that cloud, the island is under water—a dreamy purple underwater that all Star Children can breath in if they breath and function in if they function on electricity, so on and so forth. It causes no more difficulties than reduced visibility and greater effort to walk. It's even possible to swim underneath the island, so long as Star Children make sure to make landfall before they get too exhausted and… well… fall.
Friendnapped
The purple water has streaks of silver shot throughout it. Beware, these silver streaks neutralize powers, canon and role abilities alike, for at least an hour. A neutralized Legend won't be able to sense others in danger. A neutralized Myth won't sense danger coming. A neutralized Familiar won't be able to shapeshift to help others. That may set of a danger alarm but not any spidey-sense. These silver streaks are harbingers of spirits recently returned to Folkmore thanks to donations at the Shattered Spoon Shrine: lonely sharks.
The source of the silver streaks in the water, these silver gray sharks swim up and gently bite people. These bites make people go instantly limp but otherwise don't do any damage. They won't even break the skin. Once limp, the lonely sharks take theirpreynew best friends down to a cave or grotto off the underside of Never Fade. These caves are full of silver water, saturated by the magic of lonely sharks, and the entrances are covered by a thin silver barrier that prevents Star Children from leaving. That means should a Star Child track down where someone is being kept, should they enter its home, they too will be trapped there.
Being held by the lonely sharks isn't the worst experience. These spirits will try to please their new friends, giving them their favorite foods and perhaps even an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic of these items will be neutralized in the shark's cave. It is possible to fight a lonely shark, even to kill one, but that will only be a temporary measure. Star Children will remain trapped and have to wait for the lonely shark to revive—with even more golden cracks than before. In the end, the only way to escape are hugs, cuddles, and other measures of friendship. Once all the golden cracks have thinned and disappeared, Star Children can leave.
Spread the Love
By the time mid-March comes around, most of the lonely sharks have been fully healed and no longer kidnap Star Children. Instead they swim the None of the Above tunnels below the island's surface, where they provide guidance to Star Children who ask them how to get somewhere. If Star Children have nowhere particular in mind, the lonely sharks encourage Star Children to make their way toward the Shattered Spoon Shrine.
The lonely sharks still create silver streaks in the water that neutralize powers, but they will accompany Star Children and warn them of some of the dangers. When voices call their names, the sharks will snuggle up against Star Children to provide comfort. They're devoted to helping Star Children reach the shrine. Once there, they will encourage the Star Children to donate Lore to one of the broken spoons there, each spoon representing spirits who have left, spirits who became shells of themselves from lack of lore, or ghosts.
Star Children who donate Lore will find their companion lonely shark presenting them with an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic will be neutralized until the Star Child has spent at least an hour away from the silvery water lonely sharks create. Lonely sharks will happily spend as much time with Star Children as they're willing but will show the way back to the surface either via LIM (Lavender Institute of the Mind) or the None of the Above tunnels.
- Never Fade is underwater within a cloud.
- Silver streaks in the water neutralize powers, both canon and Role based.
- Lonely sharks kidnap Star Children and take them to caves on the underside of Never Fade.
- Star Children who find those caves are trapped too.
- Escape by hugs, cuddles, and being friends.
- By the second month, most lonely sharks are healed and found in the tunnels.
- Lonely sharks guide Star Children to the Shattered Spoon Shrine to donate Lore to help others.
- Either when captive or once donating Lore, lonely sharks will give Star Children an item from home.
Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Potential Secret Revelation, Potential Coerced Physical Intimacy
With the wide range of Star Children from many different worlds, sharing similarities, it's no surprise when moments of deja vu happen. That sense of the familiar with the new, the sense of something that happened before without quite being able to place it… or perhaps it being impossible. Regardless, when that connective moment happens, the Star Children involved are transported to a windmill home from the Cloud Colonies. They land together on a couch before a large television with all the makings of a movie night. There could be wine and cheese. There could be soda and popcorn. There could be tea or other hot beverages. There's a cozy blanket (only one). The movie has already been selected, and it starts playing.
Headliner
Remake
With the wide range of Star Children from many different worlds, sharing similarities, it's no surprise when moments of deja vu happen. That sense of the familiar with the new, the sense of something that happened before without quite being able to place it… or perhaps it being impossible. Regardless, when that connective moment happens, the Star Children involved are transported to a windmill home from the Cloud Colonies. They land together on a couch before a large television with all the makings of a movie night. There could be wine and cheese. There could be soda and popcorn. There could be tea or other hot beverages. There's a cozy blanket (only one). The movie has already been selected, and it starts playing.
Headliner
The movie is roughly based off one of the Star Children's lives, specifically for the Star Child that experience deja vu and triggered this experience. Regardless of the moment of deja vu, the plot of the movie is based off of some real or potential relationship—romantic or queer platonic—in their life. That Star Child can recognize some similarities immediately. If they had any doubts, they get a text message on their relic as the movie starts:
You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!
It's possible to ignore the message, at least for a while. The longer the movie plays, the more apparent it becomes that it's based off that Star Child. The starring character's clothes will change to resemble theirs. The cadence of their voice will shift to imitate theirs. Their facial features will shift. These changes will become more and more heavy handed as the movie goes on until even the most clueless companion will have real trouble not picking up on it. It may get harder and harder to distract them from talking about it! There's no pause button, and the only way to mute the movie is to *ahem* distract themselves from it until it becomes an indistinct background murmur.
Remake
If any Star Children thought this experience might have been a Valentine's Day prank, they'll be poorly mistaken come mid-March when it continues with a twist. The movie less closely resembles any one Star Child's life (whew?)… because it blends the lives of all those present together into a new story. One character is based off each Star Child, and it fits the other Star Child into the role of someone who was or could have been emotionally and/or physically intimate with them. If they had any doubts, each Star child gets a text message on their relic as the movie starts:
You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!
Not only does each Star Child have to decide what approach they want to take, but the other Star Child may pick up on what they're putting down! One Star Child may want to talk it out, but the other one desperately doesn't. Oh noes, how shall it be resolved? Well, the longer it takes, the more clearly the film demonstrates one way they could resolve it—a fictionalized ending, happy or sad or bittersweet or anything else, between the characters as they more closely resemble those watching them on the sofa. No one's free until they have a heart to heart or a something to something else. Any physical intimacy can do.
- Experience a moment of deja vu and get transported to a cozy living room in a Cloud Colony windmill.
- For the first month, the 'host' Star Child gets a text letting them know to get intimate—emotionally or physically.
- For the second month, all Star Children get that text.
- For the first month, the movie is based on the 'host' Star Child's experiences, what did or could have happened. As the movie progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that's the case.
- For the second month, the movie is a story blending Star Children's experiences together. That too will become more obvious over time.
- Some form of intimacy is the only way out!
no subject
None of these kids looked like him, Shinjiro thought initially. Except - the taller one did kind of have scraggly hair like him at that age. And, well. The shorter boy had cuts all over his hands and bandages on his face like Aki did. And little girl - she wore her hair like Miki used to. When she was alive.
And then a scene change - smoke was filling the hallways of the orphanage. It's still all lit like this was a flashback ...
He scowled, gritting his teeth, and turned back to Toge. "This whole thing's bullshit. And what - you had to sit through a whole movie 'bout you, too? What the hell are they thinking?"
no subject
Ratted me out on all the pranks I pulled in the dorms, nothing too serious. The trial before that she made me repeat it until I cleared it. That was a lot more traumatizing.
no subject
Both he and Akihiko tried to go back for her. The adults stopped Aki. Shinjiro chickened out when he saw the giant wall of fire. Both of them would've died if they'd gone in, but - they were little kids. There was nothing they could've done. What happened, happened.
Didn't change that it was shitty. Or how they reacted at the time. When you're little and faced with something hopeless, Shinjiro knew it was almost a relief to blame yourself for it. To swear you'll get stronger to protect people.
What's the point of this? He learned that lesson - not worth dwelling on the past. So Shinjiro's really not watching the screen - he's fixing Toge with a look. (He'd ... parse through the 'salmon' thing in a minute.) "It's not just my past - its theirs. So let's just ignore this stupid crap."
no subject
That, and as requested he did close his eyes, although that wasn't a very good long term solution, it would work for then at least.
He did miss Shinjiro's death glare, but he could probably reapply it when Toge would open his eyes again.
no subject
Dare or impediment or not - the stranger seemed like a decent guy, because he closed his eyes. After a moment - there's screaming and sirens on the screen, too - Shinjiro shut his own eyes with a sigh and got up. It's not fair to ask Toge to keep his eyes shut for - how long was this movie, an hour? Two? Some went for three hours these days. "You're not gonna want t' keep that up. I'll just fix it."
Shinjiro's just going to try and pick up the TV and turn it to the wall. It looked like a flat-screen - how hard could that be?
no subject
He did open his eyes after a moment to see what Shinjiro was doing. He wasn't sure the fox would make it so easy to avoid the trial.
Was there a way to take control of the story? Perhaps they could switch it to him, he didn't really care.
no subject
"What the hell do they make TVs out of here?" Shinjiro swore once he gave up, scowling at the screen. Flashback over, apparently. Now the kids - who looked more and more like him and Akihiko - were in middle school uniforms.
At least his efforts trying to move the thing distracted everyone from them watching Miki's death. That - that's just a bad time.
This didn't seem much better, but. At least it's only shitty for him. Shinjiro's ears were flat against the top of his beanie, his tail bristled.
Both human and canine body-language said loud and clear that Shinjiro was furious - but he only clenched his fists, slowly released them, and took a deep breath. Shinjiro shook his head, as if to clear it.
"Fine. Guess there's not a lot we can do 'bout this shit anyway." Shinjiro finally went to flop back down on the couch. "Yours was just - pranks you pulled?"
no subject
Toge's lips pressed together, he made a small sound. "Mm." Some kind of affirmative noise.
Specifically the pranks I got away with. Maki only hit me twice though so I survived the experience. Then she hit Yuta for enabling me.
no subject
The other kids at the dorm, though ... rather than lose himself to nostalgia (it's dumb to miss them already, he told himself), he glanced at Toge. Ears pricked in his direction - it's clear that his anger hadn't been directed at the stranger in the room.
"Your friends - they're all here with you?" Shinjiro observed aloud. "You weren't brought in alone."
no subject
With Shinjiro seeming to calm down a bit and it less likely that it might be taken the wrong way, he munches on some more popcorn again.
no subject
(It really wasn’t good, but like most things in his life, he’s powerless to stop it. Lashing out at Toge would be pointless, and he’d only feel worse after.)
“They all … so even more beyond the two guys you talked about?” Shinjiro asked before shrugging. “Not that it’s any of my business.”
A brief pause. Talking about this might be better than what came up in this movie, though, even if it felt gossipy and intrusive. “But … I know for some people it makes it easier, having people you can trust to watch your back in a strange place like this.”
(On the screen, the actor for Akihiko’s getting scouted by someone who does look eerily like a young Kirijo. Her wig was perfect. Next they’re going to show his lookalike stubbornly tagging along, insisting on fighting next to his friend.
Shinjiro would make all the small talk in the world to ignore all of this replaying.)
no subject
No, that's it. There's only three other students in my class. I go to a technical school. There's two students in the year above me who aren't here, and three first years who aren't here either. There's some other people I know, but this place is weird. My teacher is here, but he's also a teenager, and his friend, and a co-worker is here too. He's an adult.
Unlike the rest of the unruly sorcerers. Poor Nanami. Also there was Haibara, but he wasn't entirely sure how he fit into the equation.
And another second year from our sister school. I don't know him particularly well.
no subject
“So you’re saying … this place screws with time?” Shinjiro asked him. “You got past versions of people you know here … are you the past version for anyone else?”
Messing around with time … wasn’t that what Kirijo’s grandfather originally trying to do? It felt dangerous, unnatural. Except if that’s the natural state of this weird place …
no subject
Not that I know of. I mean, I guess I'm a few weeks behind Yuta, but that's it. He's filled me in, so it's not like I don't know what happens. Oh, but you can't change the future, unfortunately. We tried that.
you get one cw per thread about evokers re si imagery
Unacceptable.
But on the other hand … “Guess nobody can blame you for trying, though. Everybody’s got regrets. And plenty of people have somethin awful enough happening they’d want fixed.”
Still. What happens, happens. It’s just how the world worked.
(On the television, the sky was green and the streets were bleeding - and the actors were using Evokers to summon persona for the first time.
It’s perhaps a blind spot of Shinjiro’s, that he’s been a little too preoccupied about the personal fuckups which will later come in this movie … that it slipped his mind that kids shooting themselves in the head with things that looked just like guns might be alarming.)
Okay deal.
It wasn't even that, it was trying to prevent a disaster, but going back briefly, I didn't remember while I was there. So the consequences were still the same.
He was still pretty nonplussed about the personal consequences of the event. What he dealt with didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.
no subject
For all he’d felt about how time probably shouldn’t be messed with - even he’d have a hard time holding his tongue there. Situations were usually more complicated than the survivors of a disaster remembered. So one guy getting told all that shit …
“That’s still a lot to place on one guy,” Shinjiro pointed out. “Even if you could remember everything that you’d been told.”
no subject
Averting disasters is literally our jobs so. Not really, it would've given us time to plan so it didn't go down like that, but instead of that, I completely forgot and everything that Yuta predicted would happen, did. I came back with the same injuries I was expected to get.