folkmeme | February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

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*tdm

February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

February-March 2024 TDM

Introduction

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
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

Obviously I w—

[ Diluc is about to reassure Kaeya when suddenly Kaeya is… a pretty huge wolf. He notices the way the eyepatch stays and doesn’t quite cover all of the scar that lies beneath. Diluc’s eyes fade to a blue-gray and after a moment, he also sighs and removes his gloves so that when he puts his hand back on his head, this time actively petting the ears is more personal.

Kaeya’s fur is thick, a true wolf’s coat for the winter. Even if he knows that this large animal is Kaeya, it’s difficult for his mind to accept that and he reacts like he would to any dog. Diluc had always loved animals and he and Kaeya grew up around plenty. Horses, tortoises, cats, dogs, fish, birds… So it only feels natural to him to bury his fingers into the wolf’s thick pelt and stroke downwards along his neck.

It’s surprisingly easy to forget it’s Kaeya he’s petting, but he gives in. At least this way, it is easier for both of them— easier for Kaeya to ask for affection and easier for Diluc to give it. ]

[This is what he needed. He hasn’t known how to put it into words until Diluc touched his ears. He presses into the strong hands with a tired sigh. He shifts closer, his claws scraping on the bench.

He doesn’t care. His tail wags hard as he shuffles until he is pressed against him. He is big. He could probably be a wolf blanket for Diluc if he ever felt like it. If allowed he will tuck his head up against Diluc’s shoulder and forget he’s a person for a few minutes.]

[ Diluc wasn’t expecting Kaeya to react to his small gesture of affection by practically leaping on top of him as an oversized wolf, so he nearly falls off the bench from the sudden weight dropped on top of him with a slight “oof” sound. He tightens the muscles in his legs and core in order to keep his balance as the wolf climbs on him, arms wrapping tight around the animal’s middle so they don’t both go slipping off the bench and onto the ground.

He sighs as Kaeya presses his face against his shoulder, wet nose bumping his neck in the scramble and causing him to shiver at the cold. He doesn’t push him off though or tell him to get down. He instead holds the big wolf against him and just scratches the base of an ear continuously for a while as they sit there in silence. All of this really alarms Diluc, because he knows that Kaeya would never go this far in trying to get his attention normally. The fact that he is pretty shamelessly taking that inch offered to him and drawing out an entire mile from it speaks volumes as to how his emotional state when it comes to this topic is in shambles. He rests his cheek against the wolf’s neck and frowns, but pats his back with his other hand. ]

…Kaeya, it will be all right. Don’t be afraid.

[He is aware of how often he has done this. Which is never. When they were kids he wouldn’t seek out comfort like this. It was how he grew up before the winery. You didn’t seek those things out.

Their kingdom had fallen and the pieces were holding together by being strong. When things were too much he usually retreated or sat near by. Not this.

Well he did it. Too late to pull back. He doesn’t want to. Warm strong arms are around him. They’re both safe. Diluc has something soft in his hands. He sighs.

There is a lot he could say. But he doesn’t. He doesn’t have it in him to say it. And Diluc is new here. He cuddles closer and says softly.] I’ll try.

It’s just been a lot. So figure out those wings of yours. Be a little safer.

[ Diluc is grateful that Kaeya can’t see the look on his face right now. It would easily give away how Kaeya’s behavior is making even him a little scared now. He runs his fingers down through the fur from between Kaeya’s ears to his back a few times, trying to soothe whatever is so upsetting that he has to forgo all his usual pretenses.

It’s true that Kaeya never looked for comfort when they were little, but the Ragnvindr family never needed him to. Small and quiet as he was even, they could tell when something was wrong and Diluc was usually there to comfort him. His first real lesson in empathy and offering solace, Kaeya taught him that the best way to comfort sometimes was not by trying to make someone happy again, but by simply being there. Certainly there were moments where distractions and humor could work, but Kaeya had always seemed to deal with unspoken fears that couldn’t be shooed away so easily.

It’s a wonder Diluc never suspected Kaeya had secrets he was afraid to share sooner. ]

Kaeya, you… [ He takes a breath. ] …you don’t have to be an animal right now. You can be just yourself.

[He remembers where he is. The person he’s tucked up against him. He could stay a wolf. But, Diluc struggled to give the offer.

He is far enough along in interactions with Diluc that he knows how much it takes for Diluc to give it.

His form ripples then reverts and Kaeya curls his tail around Diluc’s side. He wraps his arms around him to keep from slipping off his lap. He doesn’t move his face.] …thanks.

[He pats Diluc’s back. This is something he couldn’t have done a few years ago. He wouldn’t have even done the first things he did when seeing him. It would have been an awkward experience over all.] Sorry about nearly sending you over the bench. I didn’t think that one through.

[ As much as he does not regret making the offer, Diluc didn’t really think it through. He kind of expected Kaeya to reposition himself a little before shifting back to his real self, so when he ends up with a lap full of the other man instead, his face immediately turns as red as his hair, irises of his eyes a bright, vivid, magenta.

Diluc clears his throat and glances down at the tail curling around his waist and he tries to ignore how hot his face is. Kaeya is really clinging to him and apparently very comfortable somehow with just sitting in his lap like this. He readjusts his arms so he can fit the much slenderer young man in his embrace comfortably. It’s tempting to keep rubbing those ears, but Diluc does feel a bit shy about doing so. ]

It’s… fine.

[ He answers softly. Strange how clear his memories of hugging Kaeya are. He feels less warm now, his skin cooler to the touch. It’s been so long since they shared so much close physical contact. Hugs with Kaeya have changed. The realization makes Diluc hold him a little closer, a little more tightly. ]

I will get those wings. I promise, Kaeya.

I’m holding you to that. [He says as he settles comfortably. Sitting on Diluc’s lap again after way too long without that is a bit of a shot of heat to his heart. His face is darker as he sits back in no apparent hurry to move from his spot.

It’s been since the first time Diluc arrived that he’s sat on him.] I mean it. Work with me again. I’ll show you everything I’ve learned here.

[ Diluc is perfectly accommodating as Kaeya makes himself at home right where he is, but in his heart, he feels such turmoil. Even were they on better terms, he feels certain that this isn’t a position Kaeya would so easily take up of his own accord and it isn’t one that Diluc would naturally adapt to. The way they sit currently is a pose more suited for lovers, not estranged childhood best friends, and the thought makes Diluc’s pulse quicken, the magenta of his eyes shimmering brightly.

He curls into himself a little, chin resting on Kaeya’s shoulder in an attempt to hide how fiercely he’s blushing. It isn’t so much of a comfort to see that Kaeya’s cheeks are also glowing, because unlike him, the other man seems to feel entirely at ease settled there on his lap, ears no longer drooped and arms wound around Diluc’s neck snugly. The intimacy of the moment they're sharing is warm and even as Diluc feels a pang of guilt and remorse that tells him he should let go, he really, really doesn’t want to.

“Work with me again.” Kaeya doesn’t leave him much choice. With how he’s perched on his lap right now, snuggled up to his neck, that look of such keen desperation in his face and warm, rosy bloom in his cheeks, Kaeya could ask for the moon and Diluc would be hard pressed to deny him it. ]

I already agreed to accompany your familiar practice. I might as well go along with the rest as well… Our people and our archon are here.

[He would blind if he didn’t realize Diluc is hiding his face. He winds his fingers in strands of red hair. He missed this. The strength of Diluc around him. The warmth of him so close.

‘Our people’

A faint echo of another life. The memories of several color the back of his mind. But Diluc is here. It grounds him in now. He slowly unwinds his fingers as he says,] Let me down. I want to finish my tart.

[It’s an excuse for them to get back to a more reasonable seating and give Diluc an out to not talk about this. His tail uncurls but stays draped over Diluc’s side.] I can also teach you how to use the scale, if you’d like. It’s quite useful!

[ The sensation of fingers tangling in his hair draws a shiver from Diluc— a warm, exciting tingle of pleasure that skitters up his spine. Diluc closes his eyes as he rides out the reaction his body has to a gently intimate touch, forcing his breathing to be deep and slow so as not to be overly sensitive to the feeling.

It’s hard not to be when Kaeya is right here though, seemingly so blissfully unaware of the effect he’s having on the redhead. He’s concentrating so hard on keeping calm that when Kaeya tells him to let him down from his lap, he sits up straight immediately again and frowns, blurting out before he can stop himself: ]

Can you not do that from here?

[ Ah. That was… not a private thought he should have voiced aloud. Diluc again tries to cover his embarrassment by this time turning his head away from the other man. ]

Fine.

[Oh. His tail curls back around Diluc. He reaches out and snags his tart. He doesn’t leave the warmth of Diluc’s lap.

He takes a bite of the tart.] Alright, I’ll stay right here.

[He ignores how hot his face feels. Diluc voiced his opinion on the matter. He hadn’t wanted to leave anyway.] …do you have anything you want to ask me? You might as well ask.

[ There is, in fact, a few important questions forming in Diluc’s mind, but he doesn’t dare ask any of them. He’s not sure if he’s more afraid to ask for the effect the questions might have on Kaeya, or for the effect the answers might have on himself.

Instead, he swallows thickly when Kaeya so casually wraps his tail back around his waist and begins to do exactly what Diluc indirectly suggested he do. Diluc watches him eat his tart out of the corner of his eye and he chews his bottom lip a little, his fingers itching as they rest on Kaeya’s hips.

…He really does look so beautiful with his hair so long, dressed in those sleek, dark clothes. They suit him almost too well. ]

What scale?

[He stuffs his tart in his face and opens his coat. He pulls out a hand-sized gold dragon scale. He holds it out.] Now, familiars can change into things. But this allows anyone to become a dragon.

You focus magic through it like a vision and the result is a dragon form. At first try it’s only ten minutes. Far longer than that for me. I use it for size and bulk. I have a dragon form already.

[ Diluc is really trying to focus on what Kaeya is telling him, well aware that it is highly important and valuable information he’s relaying to him here, but his mind keeps wandering off as the other man continues to just sit there on his lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world. His heart is pounding and the magenta coloring of his eyes keeps shimmering to that paler bubblegum pink as he watches Kaeya eat his almond tart with sideways glances, hoping not to look obvious how he’s getting so easily fascinated with the smallest of details.

Kaeya is visibly older now, more mature. His facial features are sharper, more defined, much of the soft curves of his youth melted away. Since he’d removed his gloves earlier, Diluc could feel how much more muscle he’s put on while they were embracing. Even now, his fingers keep restlessly twitching on his hips as the slightest movement from Kaeya makes Diluc very, very aware how firm his rear-end and thighs are. He keeps thinking about how the tail is curled around him with a note of possessiveness and he can’t help but wonder… is this what they would be like now all the time if he hadn’t lost his temper? If Kaeya’s timing had been better? If Father had never died? It’s hard to say, but if it is… well, Diluc feels like he’s in mourning all over again. What a sweet future they might have had once. Now, he’s not sure if it’s really forgiving Kaeya that’s holding him back or just the matter of forgiving himself. ]

Tsk… such a messy eater.

[ Diluc notices crumbs on Kaeya’s face from how fast he wolfed down his tart and though his voice is gruff and seemingly annoyed, when he reaches out to dust them away, his hand is gentle, soft, almost affectionate. He says nothing about the scale Kaeya has been talking about. He’s too distracted. ]

[He is having a devil of a time thinking. He is aware of every twitch of Diluc’s fingers. The hard thud of his heart drums in his ears. If he ever needed evidence that he and Diluc had been dancing around their feelings for years.

He has it. What has been a moment of vulnerability has exposed a hidden door he thought he was clever about hiding. Now, he has to wonder. What kind of gossip goes on about them behind closed doors of the people who see their dancing for what it is? Mondstadt loves to gossip about anything romantic.

And his thoughts derail as a warm hand brushes crumbs from his face. He leans into it a little. He tries to be subtle about it. He flicks an ear.] It’s a flaky pastry. When has there not been crumbs from one of those?

I seem to remember someone pointing that out when Adelinde gave us Valberry tarts as a treat.

Hah, making a mess as a child and making a mess as an adult are two different things. It’s because you still eat too fast. It’s not going anywhere, you know. This is not a race.

[ Diluc’s retort is given right before he retaliates for Kaeya’s cheek by giving that cheek a quick sharp pinch, a little embarrassed by both his impulsive action and the other man’s teasing. Most people are too smart to let Master Diluc or Sir Kaeya catch a whiff of the gossip that revolves around them and their fractured relationship, but that doesn’t really extend to those in their inner circle. Jean still keeps Diluc abreast of Kaeya’s activities within the order, as if he’s still interested (he is), and Lisa still finds reasons to send Kaeya to the winery or to Diluc directly. The offhanded remark here and there about how no one knows the minds of the men better than each other is hardly a coincidence. Diluc can feel when the other knights are trying to push them together.

It might be the only reason they’ve managed to get past the stage of regarding one another with outright hostility. If they could see them now… No doubt Lisa would have a coy comment to make, joined by Jean and Rosaria. Diluc is a little glad they’re not here to see them wrapped around each other right now like lovers. ]

[He focuses on Diluc’s fingers like a cat considering a swipe. It’s a bit sad. If he and Diluc were lovers he would catch his fingers in his mouth.

He recognizes that would be way too far right now. Instead he snorts.] I’ll have you know I know how to take time. A fresh tart deserves to be eaten while it’s still warm.

[He sniffs. He gets a good whiff of the food around them.] There’s a difference in the flavor.

[ Diluc catches the glint of mischief in Kaeya’s face as he eyes his fingers and he can tell that he’s considering something. It makes him feel like maybe he’s actually poked at a real wolf here, but in the end, Kaeya decides to spare him and Diluc finds himself actually a bit relieved. Those questions forming in his mind have him thinking that there’s no limit to what it would have been. ]

Very well, wolf-boy. But at the dinner table, I hope you do slow down.

[ He returns this hand to its original place twitching on Kaeya’s hip. ]

So, this dragon scale of yours. Where do I acquire one? I imagine it must be bought.

[Those fingers. He is aware of every twitch. Man it has been a while.] It is possible you can purchase one with lore.

Mine was a trial reward. You get things like that sometimes. Sometimes it’s just more magic. [He turns his hand palm up and water fills it. Water that was summoned exactly like he calls his ice forth.]

Well, technically it wasn’t a trial. Dragons are very different here. We had to convince them to let some of us go.

[ Diluc looks down and watches the water gather with an arched brow. How intriguing. More magic? So the Fox’s magic doesn’t limit them as to what they can do the way a Vision does. Must be about “reaching potential”. Diluc puts two fingers in the puddle of water and tries to call forth pyro energy. Nothing happens. He withdraws his hand and huffs. ]

Either way, it will take some time for me to get anywhere in this field.

[He freezes the water and lets it break apart into nothing. But he doesn’t look away from Diluc’s face.]

For now. It’s you. You’ll have what you decide you need and more before too long. [It’s a direct compliment but today is about honesty. It worked so well.]

[ It takes Diluc a moment to figure out that Kaeya is stroking his ego with utter sincerity, but once he does, his cheeks color a little. This is far from the first time someone has said something to this effect to him. Diluc would not normally be flustered, but Kaeya is looking at him so earnestly right now and they’re cuddled up so close to one another… It’s hard not to be a little affected by Kaeya’s reassurance, his words proof of his respect and admiration. Diluc doesn’t know how to respond to it. He swallows thickly and has to break eye contact with Kaeya’s his face heats more. ]

We’ll see. Until then, I’m more a burden than anything. I’ll have to work fast.

You’ll get up to speed in no time at all. [He is confident of that. He leans back a bit to scratch behind his ear. Claws are so useful.]

It’s a good time to arrive. We’re in a lull. And your assistance while I experiment with forms will be invaluable. I’ll warn you when I shift to something massive.

I think I might be more concerned about you turning into minuscule forms.

[ Kaeya with a snout and claws and a tail was one thing, but the notion of Kaeya as a tiny little mouse, for example, upsets him. He won’t be able to easily keep an eye on him if he’s so small, for one. ]

But as I said— I will accompany you. No matter what you choose to practice turning into.

[ He nods to the scale. ]

Do you often find yourself held hostage by dragons here?

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