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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!
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Can't... say I know what a film is. Just... the town looked familiar is all. [Fjord shook it off with a wry chuckle, shaking his head.] Suppose you see enough and they all run together eventually.
[It wasn't an unfamiliar scene- children could be rough to each other and there were plenty of dark-haired children. It had nothing to do with him, and the redheaded half-elf who seemed to be heading the gossip group wasn't familiar in the least. Just coincidence! Pure happenstance!]
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Ah, do not fear. I did not know what a film was before I left my home either. Or television. Or phones. Or the internet! And while I am no expert on any of those, I feel confident enough to teach. A film, in particular, is a play acted out as you might see in any theatre, but then it is captured in a way that anyone at any time or place might watch said play. It is like moving pictures, images captured to be viewed later.
[They gesture a massive paw at the screen daintily, towards that poor child being left out of the games.]
What we see on the screen right now was filmed earlier at some point, but now it is here! Ready for us to watch. Isn't that marvelous?
[So far this is not the thrilling drama that Rue normally would enjoy watching, though their heart already aches for the lonely child.]
I imagine so. It couldn't be the place that you knew, could it?
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Oh. I can't say I know what any of that is, so I definitely appreciate the rundown. Sounds like a... fancy bit of magic, don't it? Catchin' images and sounds like that and makin' 'em move around like that.
[At least none of the unease is in his tone. Everything is fine they're just talking about weird new tech! But there's definitely tension in the set of his jaw, wolfish ears pinned flat in his hair as they observed the way the group's giggling grew more quiet before one of them shouted to the dark-haired boy, an invitation to come play 'adventurers' with them. It sounded sincere enough that the child couldn't help the way his expression shaded from alert wariness towards cautious hope as he glanced towards them, especially when other children were chiming in their agreement, a pair even darting over to catch him by the hands to try and tug closer to the rest of the group. A move he slowly started to accept, unable to help the tentative smile as he did. (Had his eyes always been yellow like that?)]
Definitely couldn't be. Wildmount doesn't have any of that film stuff.
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[Especially if it means dragging another man kicking and screaming into watching reality television shows with them. The Bachelor, here they come!]
Hm - [It's impossible to miss that tension, even though they are near strangers. Perhaps a distraction would be kind of them, back to something familiar, away from this film.] Tell me about Wildmount. What was it like growing up there?
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[And honestly as much of a disaster as his life was, watching other people self-destruct for a change might be entertaining. He might not do as much kicking and screaming as expected.
A little for his image to be sure, but that's about it.]
Growin' up? Ah, nothin' special really. [It wasn't quite the distraction Rue was hoping, but Fjord would take the excuse of the question to tear his gaze away from the screen and the game starting among the children. The dark-haired boy was for the moment folded into the group, and outwardly it seemed so very sweet and friendly, but the glances stolen when he wasn't looking, and the edge to some of the giggles belied that well enough.] Did a lot of swimmin' which honestly, bein' out in the ocean was nice.
[Shit, how to differentiate what he said from what was on the film? He didn't have enough context of 'normal childhood' to feel confident coming up with something whole cloth beyond a brief gloss, and the truth was just...
No thank you!]
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The characters on screen are shifting a little, colors brightening, faces becoming a touch more clear. And is it just Rue or does that little boy - Wait a moment!]
Is that meant to be you?!
+7 ON DECEPTION MEANS NOTHING IF IT'S A CRIT FAIL BAYBEEEE
Nah, couldn't be. [A faint gesture towards the screen as he forced himself to look at it again.] He's got tusks, for one. Accent's all wrong for another.
[True enough, it wasn't at all the same sort of drawl.] The resemblance is uncanny though, isn't it?
[Totally nailed it, smooth as goddamn silk-
'Fjord! What are you going to be?'
Fuck, even film-Sabian was out to fuck him over!]
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Absolutely uncanny, now that you mention it.
[And then it is rather spelled out directly in the script, as one of the figures calls out after the boy by name. HM. VERY SPECIFIC.]
Fascinating! Do you think Thirteen made this as some direct kind of call out to you? But why? Here, we should watch it with all of our focus to decipher it's true meaning.
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I- [He sucked in a breath in an attempt to steady himself, expression a bit pinched with strain as he found himself fairly well exposed thanks to the wonderful timing of the script, with no hope of trying to pretend it was anything but what it seemed.
'I'm gonna be an adventurer!' The half-orc child's cheerful response just had the rest of the children stopping to stare at him, utterly silent other than a few poorly-stifled giggles and whispers.
Fjord's gaze was towards the screen again as the silence stretched on, long enough to be uncomfortable, long enough that the boy's exuberance at being included was fading to uncertainty.
But Rue might note that he wasn't really watching, just about staring through the screen without really noting what was happening.]
Thirteen's got a real odd idea of what makes a good film. [His tone was a bit gruffer, wolf ears pinned flat, almost vanishing against the black of his hair.
'Don't be so stupid, the half-elf child spoke up with a mean smirk. 'Beasts can't be adventurers.'
'Fjord's the monster!' One of the girls shrieked in delight as the half-orc flinched as if stung. 'Everyone run before he eats you!']
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Without even realizing it, Rue's paw finds Fjord's hand and gives a gentle, reassuring squeeze.
It does not make sense to Rue. When they are called a beast, there is some truth to it. An owlbear is a beast, a vicious animal that would tear through anyone in it's way. But an orc is just another humanoid race among the mortals, are they not? Why would these children call him such names? Simply because he looks differently than they do?
No one would bat an eye at the sight of him back in Faerie, not among the water spirits and bird-people and satyrs.]
I hope you know they are wrong. You are anything but. And forgive a near stranger's opinion, but you look quite like an adventurer to me.
no subject
Shoulders lifting slightly as he shoved hands in pockets to start moving away from the others, trying to ignore the other's protests, ignoring Sabian's smug assertation that it just proved he was too stupid to understand the rules of civilized games.
Fjord himself didn't really need to watch the screen to know what was going on, but it also meant he could avoid looking at his companion, could avoid the revelation of whatever their opinion would be. What he hadn't been expecting though was the warmth of that feathered paw engulfing his hand, the encouragement of the squeeze offered to fingers that might be trembling a bit.
Canine ears pricking faintly in surprise as his gaze darted towards the owlbear, at a loss for what to say as they added their response, an undeniably supportive one that just had the freckled shift of darker to lighter green along his cheeks darkening subtly as he turned his gaze away sheepishly.]
That... that's mighty kind of you to say. [Did he believe it himself? Not entirely. But it was a kindness all the same, unexpected and wanted for all he told himself that he didn't need it. Rue would surely notice the faint ease of a bit of the tension in the set of his jaw at this point, for all he didn't look back at the film at the moment.]
no subject
My husband and I are the same, in a sense. He is a bugbear and I am, well, as I am. We have faced the same prejudices that you have, no doubt, we've been met time after time with the cruelty of others.
[To be seen as nothing more than their physical form, Rue understands how deep that hurt goes, how impossible it sometimes feels shake off.]
But you'll find that here, in Folkmore, that there are many more like us. We are not the minority. There is space for you here, room to be yourself, to grow into whomever it is you would like to become.
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The idea of being free to be himself though alternately took his breath away and terrified him.]
Not... sure if it's better or worse, [Admitted in a rough, quiet tone. Should he be talking about this? Hell no! But at the same time... would it be so bad to talk about it for once, with someone who undoubtedly understood?] Bein' treated like... well. It's bad enough when it can just be excused as blind prejudice. Assuming I even know what myself is...
[What happens when he is himself, whatever that ends up being, only to find that it isn't good enough either?]
no subject
But now they know. It just took time. Fjord can get there too, the first step is always the most difficult.
Forgive Rue, but being a mother has become such a large part of their life, so it's only natural that they open their wings in offering for a hug, ready to mother the man a little.]
Come here.
no subject
But there was an almost uncomfortable sort of genuine air to Rue's compassion. Something that made it almost dangerously easy to allow it to wend past defenses at least a little. Encouraged the half-orc to open up even a small bit.
And it wasn't like he'd never experienced affection in his life. But it was always couched in more boisterous, casual sorts of efforts. A slap on the back, a rough pat to a shoulder or arm, rather than anything gentle or soft. So it took him a moment to register what it was Rue was offering, and there was a flash of surprise in his studying gaze. But whatever he saw in them, it just had him huffing a faint sigh, maybe a bit shakier than he would ever admit here or elsewhere, as he shifted gingerly to let the owlbear put wings around him. Rue might be amused at the delicacy of the motion, as if the half-orc were loathe to somehow be too rough, or hurt them on accident in the process.
It wouldn't hurt anything. And who would even believe them if they did tell anyone about this?]
no subject
So as the half-orc falls into their embrace, Rue returns that gentle touch as they engulf him completely in their wings, allowing the young man to simply be held. Nothing needs to be said, they can just have this moment of comfort together, for as long as he'll allow.]
no subject
But that was suddenly a concern so very far away as those warm feathery wings wrapped around him. The way they all but hid him from the outside world was a comfort he didn't realize he'd needed as some unknown tension in him eased as seconds ticked by, nothing else happening other than the faint tickle of feathers. And if after another couple moments, there was a cautious, light move of arms to return the embrace however tentatively, he didn't think Rue would begrudge him that in the moment.]
no subject
A gentle squeeze of their wings around the man, feathers tickling all over, but Rue's embrace not lessening in the slightest.]
You are not alone, dear. And here, with me, you are safe. Safe to let your guard down and to speak your mind, whatever it is that you need in this moment. It will not leave this room. I promise you.
no subject
But it seemed good things were not allowed to last in the moment. Safe to let your guard down-
Rue would certainly feel it when the tension all but slammed back into him, a faint stiffening of the spine, a slight draw up of shoulders. Like bracing for a blow, no matter physical or otherwise. But he still kept himself still a moment longer, the light rumble of a chuckle that followed holding no sign of that self-same tension.]
It's... kind of you to offer. [A subtle shift, as he drew back in a wordless sign that the hug was done. Slowly so as not to be rudely yanking away in any manner that might make the moment memorable, and perhaps more reluctantly than he'd ever admit in words.
'Letting your guard down, revealing yourself, can get you killed by your own crew for nothing.' Vandran's words echoing in his thoughts, and so at a loss in such an unfamiliar place, he'd cling to the one familiar mainstay he had.]
Perhaps we should... try and sort out what's expected of us here? Can't say I'm especially thrilled with being trapped anyplace. Never been one to stay in one place like that long, makes me antsy. [With the half-smile and friendly, apologetic tone of that altogether reasonable excuse, the mask was quickly slipping back in place in a way Rue would surely recognize after so much experience with artifice.]
no subject
It was just a much needed hug. If Rue read anything further into that shared moment of comfort, there isn't a single hint of it on their face or in their posture. If he is ready to move along without acknowledging it, Rue is happy to oblige.]
I suppose you are right! As comfortable a trap as this is for Thirteen, I really would like to return to my family. The last thing either of us want is them deciding to knock down the walls here just to save me.
[But also, wouldn't that be so incredible to watch?]
I wonder what the purpose of this trial is meant to me. Usually there is a reason for why she picks what she does.
no subject
Their comment about their family's potential rescue attempts just earned faint smile, and a low, quiet chuckle.]
Sounds like it'd be quite the show.
[A brief glance at the screen showed that at least the torment hadn't continued-Fjord had been allowed to separate from the other children, found a spot a ways down the beach where he almost couldn't see the others to perch on some of the rocks there, frowning out at the waves as the wind picked up a bit.]
Well what usually satisfies the requirements? Maybe if we start from there we might think of somethin' and it'd probably help improve my baseline knowhow for this stuff if it's gonna keep happenin' here.
no subject
Well, [Rue continues on without even noticing.] In one of the last, we were required to share a wrongdoing of ours that Thirteen picked out for us and to apologize for it. Needless to say, it was an utter waste of time.
no subject
[It took Fjord a moment to notice the shift in the film himself- about the same time that the small half-orc roused from his sulk enough to notice the item bobbing in the waves, which put the little green figure just in his line of sight.
Definitely not one of the children he'd come here with, which is probably what had him gingerly picking his way from his little perch and padding over to the feathered figure to see if they were okay.]
Rue... [A light gesture towards the screen.] That's definitely not what happened.
no subject
I know! My so-called crime was utterly ridiculous! And the fact I had to fake an apology makes it even worse! What an absolute mess it was. And another thing -
[But thankfully, they are cut off before they can really get into their tirade over detention, just in time to see the little owlbear worriedly watching their pretty hat float away in the water.
Oh. That snaps Rue's beak shut immediately.] ...I suppose not.
no subject
Maybe they could indulge in that tirade later, as for now the film had definitely shifted, Fjord watching as their younger selves interacted- the half-orc child looking from the little owlbear and their worried face, and the hat bobbing in the waves before he offered a crooked grin, all enthusiasm and shy friendliness as he gave a light illustrative thump to his chest.
'I can get that for you, easy! Wait right here!' Without hesitation, he was off like a shot- floundering a bit once he got to the water, but definitely earnest in his awkward swimming/paddling towards the lost hat.
Fjord, despite everything, couldn't help a low, wry chuckle at the sight.]
Lucky for that hat, if it was just a year earlier there's no way I'd be able to get out that far. At least as old as I'm guessin' I am there. Any older and Grankton'd have me divin' for salvage with the older kids. [Because sending children diving for ocean salvage was absolutely responsible and safe child-minding, right?]
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