folkmeme | February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

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February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

February-March 2024 TDM

Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.
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.

Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!

🦊 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.

[ Soon You'll Get Better ★ Netfox & Chill]

Soon You'll Get Better . ★

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

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 their ~~prey~~ new 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.

Netfox & Chill . ★

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

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I don't know about that." Kiyotaka comments a little wryly. Weirder? He kind of doubts it. Everything is a test to him.

"What are the rules around here, then?"

Baph looks over at the kid. He is gonna have to share some of the rules where he is from if he thinks a school can compete with a fox-ruled domain. It makes him curious. Japanese schools can't be that much weirder than British ones. Brits are fucking weird. He'd know. He is one.

"For starters, there are no laws. None. Zip. Nada. However, each trial will have its own rules. Usually not explained. You have to figure them out. Plenty to do with sharing your secrets, whether it's you being forced to or, you know," Baphomet motions to the screen where the punk hits on the shy "background" character instead of the obvious love interest, "done for you. If you pick up a weapon, there will be violence. If you die, you'll come back. And of course, the 'money' here is Lore, based off interaction.

"That's the most basic rule here: interact or die."

Kiyotaka’s expression hasn’t changed but he looks like he’s listening. He is. It’s always important to know what the rules are. A lack of basic laws seems unrealistic, but a situation where they’re all deciding what’s socially acceptable? That seems plausible.

“I don’t want people to pry into my life.” Kiyotaka says. “That’s my only rule, if you will.”

He’s not volunteering much information about himself.

"You're going to have a lot of trouble with trials then," Baphomet says. "Whether you want people to pry or not, Thirteen makes a lot of trials about intimacy, about sharing. This seems like one of them, and I'll be honest, you're too young for me to be comfortable making out with."

At least in the movie on screen, the characters that resemble them are the same age. No such luck out here on the couch. This kid is in high school, and Baphomet's been in Folkmore long enough he wouldn't even still be in uni if he hadn't dropped out.

If he was looking for a reaction from Kiyotaka, he might be surprised to find there isn’t one, even at the quip about his age. “That’s unfortunate for her, but I’m more than willing to listen to your sharing if you want.”

He sounds cool and detached, and perhaps like he’s not going to use it against Baphomet. He would. At the most opportune time.

“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the task.”

Baphomet chuckles. It feels like being stuck in detention with Power again. What is it about high schoolers?

"Thanks but no thanks. You'll get as much from me as I get from you," Baphomet says. He sets down his snacks and relaxes with his hands behind his head. "I've been stuck many a place before, and I am willing to stay here however long it takes to get quid pro quo. I'm a lot more used to that than you are."

"You share, I share. I promise." He swears it brings out the stubborn teenager in him, even this many years later.

Kiyotaka raises his eyebrows slightly. "And if we don't? What, are you suggesting we'd be stuck here indefinitely?"

That can be a problem, but he's never been pressed this way before. Kiyotaka is glancing around, eyes calculating while trying to look like he's not sizing everything up.

Baphomet shrugs. "A few months ago, we were all getting placed in detention. Until you confessed what you did and expressed remorse, everyone in the room was stuck there. Think I heard of one group stuck there for years. Mind you, no matter how long it took, it was four hours on the outside."

He stays relaxed, calm. Unbothered by the idea of spending ages and ages with this kid. "Don't worry, if you turn convincingly eighteen, we can snog."

To further explain, Baphomet shakes his relic. "If you didn't see them, read the instructions."

“I don’t have remorse for anything.” Kiyotaka says. “I suppose I would’ve died there.”

That seems likely if that’s the condition to getting out. He snorts lightly. “I doubt we’ll be here that long.”

He does take up his relic though to read the instructions.

"And they say detention doesn't kill," Baphomet chuckles. Not school detention anyway. He's amused but not terribly worried. They're here together. They create Lore. They aren't about to fade away to nothing. Tech's still there, a connection Baphomet can feel even when he's stuck in here with someone else. So long as that's the case, he's good.

"We'd be the best of friends and the worst of enemies if it did. So, tell me what you think." He motions toward the kid's relic. Baphomet probably could get them out if he weren't such an ass. But it takes two to tango like that. Kiyotaka could do the same, and Baphomet won't blink first.

“Do they?” Kiyotaka’s never heard that, but it’s difficult to say what he knows or doesn’t know.

“Sounds like a waste of time.” He points out. “Considering it’s not exactly specific as to what we’re talking about, just what happened, or whatever it was supposed to happen. What, like, a day in my life or something?”

He’s being obtuse on purpose, he’s incredibly guarded about everything. He’s not sure exactly what it is he could say about his history.

Baphomet rolls his eyes.

"You are not that stupid. I've just met you, and I can tell that much. Try again."

He picks up a new snack and opens it loudly, the plastic crackling and crinkling. Baphomet doesn't know what details he's missing exactly, but he can tell they aren't being shared.

“I’m not that interesting, I get a 50 in every class.” Kiyotaka points out, which is very underperforming, incredibly overwhelmingly average as a grade.

“There must be a way to turn this test to our advantage.”

He glances around the room again, looking for anything strange or out of place but...he’s coming up empty.

"I don't care and I doubt Thirteen cares either about your grades," Baphomet says. He instead points to the screen where the surprise romance between the goth and the seeming background character continues. It's really easy to see that's how Kiyotaka casts himself, and Thirteen went right along with it.

"Have you ever dated anyone?" Because buddy, you have to have heard of whatever the Japanese equivalent is to watching a movie and making out. Anime & f*ck?

He waves a hand. "We're in one of the windmill colonies homes."

“How novel.” Kiyotaka comments a little dryly and at the question, he raises an eyebrow. It’s kind of personal isn’t it?

“I have a very obedient girlfriend.”

Have they gone on a date? No, but he doesn’t need to at the moment. She’s just happy having a boyfriend, that’s enough for now.

“Then it shouldn’t be hard to leave.”

Kind of personal could be the tagline to most any of these trials. Welcome to the show.

Baphomet's eyes flare up, made of flames with what would be otherwise an incredible wing tip make up made of them.

"Very obedient girlfriend?" he repeats. "Why does your girlfriend need to be obedient?"

Congratulations, Kiyotaka, to stepping on an emotional landmine.

Perhaps surprisingly, Kiyotaka doesn’t necessarily look bothered by Baphomet’s visible display of anger. He looks just as bored as he has been.

“She speaks to everyone, which is good for information gathering and she reports back to me. Her boyfriend broke up with her and she’s a disaster when she doesn’t have someone to latch her attention on.”

Their relationship is mutually unhealthy, frankly.

Yes yes resting bored face. Baphomet has met Sekhmet. Rest in peace, Sekhmet. They deserve better. All of them. Even... even Marian.

"She needs to learn how to exist on her own, and you're enabling her worst tendencies."

For his own gain, as well. What is he, a spy? Why does he need information gathering? He didn't give off the vibe of a busybody or teen gossip merely for the sake of it. Perhaps for competing in that high pressure rich crusty vibe school of his. This guy could be Gilgamesh from the right franchise.

Kiyotaka always looks incredibly bored, mostly because the people around him haven’t earned any other expressions, Baphomet included. It’s probably a strange thing to think of.

He offers half a shrug in response to that. “That isn’t my problem.”

He very much is using her, and unapologetically so. His school isn’t just cutthroat, it’s downright nasty and full of unseen tests. Knowledge is power, and he wants to be the shadowy puppetmaster.

A wiser person might hold their tongue. Wiser people don't wind up gods.

"You're a real piece of shit," Baphomet says. "From pure utility, you could still be better off helping her. Make it so she doesn't turn off the faucet the moment she finds a more appealing boyfriend. Which, honestly, sounds like it could happen any time."

Get her better off. Earn her loyalty. That information will keep flowing. It's like the way Charm Person always wears off, and the one subjected knows what's been done. Not a one to one match up, but close enough.

Kiyotaka doesn’t look too bothered by his judgment. He’s not. Frankly, he doesn’t care what Baphomet thinks about him.

“Why would that bother me?” Kiyotaka asks, tilting his head a little bit. “She had another boyfriend before. She’ll work with me regardless, we have an agreement.”

He’s pretty confident in that, mostly because Kei needs people. She’s like a parasite.

Oh if he were still in his wrathful god stage (not a real thing), Baphomet would strike Kiyotaka dead, being stuck in this building for an interminable time or not. The urge is there. The sense of justice. The most accurate method would be to inflict some disease on him. That's the kind of god of death he is. Nergal. Yet that was the first improvement to his healing abilities he took on in Folkmore. Inflicting disease is more satisfying in the moment, but unlike a swift death, you have to watch the rest of it happen. Great for the sadistic or vindictive. Baphomet's only posed at that.

"May she find a better boyfriend who helps her become healthy," Baphomet toasts. Though that also toasts Kiyotaka losing what he selfishly gets out of this arrangement. "You're fucked up."

"I say that as a rich British boy."

"Not sure that's possible. She's got a serious inferiority complex, and she tries to make up for it by being everyone's friend. Then when they find out she's not all she appears and she gets bullied she cries about it." Kiyotaka comments, a little more bored than anything discussing the psychoanalysis he's run on Kei. It's not like she doesn't dish it out though. He's just come out on top.

"I could be." Kiyotaka says a little dryly.

"Maybe it is. Maybe it isn't. Plenty of people thought I couldn't change. Wouldn't change. Or didn't care whether or not I did." One person did. Dio did, and Dio's dead. "I walked away, and I got better, and I've found better."

Not that he was like this girl. Baphomet's issues are his own.

"If you can't see it, that's even more fucked up."

“It doesn’t really matter if I’m fucked up or not.” Kiyotaka answers. “I’m just playing around with her anyway, I wasn’t planning on getting a girlfriend. Seemed like a waste of time.”

February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

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