folkmeme | February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

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*tdm

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

[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?

It was a one time deal. They haven’t been back since. [That worries him. But the dragons weren’t harmful. He turns the scale over in his fingers and finally puts it away.

He taps his fingers on the edge of his coat.] Trials don’t really repeat. We’ll see if that holds true in the future. But for now it is true.

Hm.

[ Dilic sighs, watching Kaeya put the dragon scale away. He catches sight of the large owl feather the other man took from his landing spot earlier as he closes his coat. ]

I take it that is a good thing? It doesn’t sound as though most of these terrible events are incidents we want reoccurring.

[ Judging from how traumatized Kaeya has become as a result of them — or at least one of them — Diluc feels this is both something to be grateful for and something that puts them at a disadvantage. The lack of repetition means they can’t overly rely on their past experiences. They won’t exactly know what’s coming before it happens.

He puts his hands on Kaeya’s waist finally and gently starts pushing him up so they both can stand. It’s not that he wants to part ways with Kaeya, but they can’t stay there forever. At least not as long as neither of them want to admit to something that’s been between them for practically a lifetime, that is. ]

Well… it’s getting late. Is there any place else you think I should see? Otherwise, I should let you be on your way.

[It’s so subtle it could seem Diluc’s imagination but Kaeya’s breath catches. It has been a while since Diluc’s hands wrapped around his waist like this. He lets himself be pushed gently off so they can both stand.]

…yes. It’s best you know where I live. Let’s head out of the village. I need a big enough clearing.

—-

[And that leads us back to the present. The Llama that looks like Lisa drifts over to a pillow on the couch. Kaeya busies himself with pouring some of the non-alcoholic cider into a mug. As if the chaos hasn’t happened. He flicks an ear and sets up the teapot.]

…I’ll show you how the scale works when I take you back to Venti’s. So you know what to expect if you get one with lore.

All right… I suppose that’s—

[ Lisa the llama eying the pillow like that makes Diluc furrow his brow and his mild concern turns quickly into horror. The llama gets too close to the sofa, opens her mouth, and—

Chomp! ]

Hey!

[ Diluc marches over and grabs the pillow, trying to tug it away from the llama. He’s forgotten all about his cider and breakfast. ]

Let go. That’s not for eating!

[Kaeya keeps working on breakfast. His shoulders shake suspiciously, he is holding it in but the laughter is in his eye. He takes out a soft loaf of bread and sets about carving off a section of it.

He busies himself with making French toast. The Llama keeps trying to eat the pillow. She is making an effort for it, but not as hard as she could be. Kaeya covers his mouth and makes small snorting noises.]

[ Diluc doesn’t notice that Kaeya is laughing at his struggle with the llama at first, but as Lisa continues the fight, he’s forced to double his efforts. He can’t give it his all or he risks tearing the pillow in half, so he keeps trying to pry it out of the llama’s teeth. This results in nearly having his fingers bitten off. ]

Such terrible manners. Even your human counterpart is better behaved than you!

[ He gives one more final tug to the pillow, pulling hard enough that if she decides to let go now, Diluc will certainly stumble. This is when he hears Kaeya’s snorting laughter and he looks back at him in surprise. Which gives Lisa the upper hand momentarily. ]

[She lets go when he looks back. If there’s an opening as Kaeya devolves into wheezing laughter she snags the pillow back.

Kaeya has to set the knife down. No accidents in his kitchen. He internally salutes himself as he manages,] Oh, we both know the real Lisa would enjoy this too.

Lisa would join you in—

[ His moment of being distracted gives the llama that opening and Diluc gets jerked forward as he reflexively doesn't release his grip on the pillow at the next pull she makes. He nearly slams into her, but thankfully manages to stay on his feet at least and not make a complete fool of himself.

But he can see that Kaeya is really having a good laugh and the last time he saw the other man smile so easily was at dinner during Weinlesefest. It’s hard not to feel that at least fighting with a stubborn llama over a throw pillow like an idiot is the least he can do to cheer Kaeya up. ]

—in laughing at my expense. But I imagine she would find this struggle—

[ He gives the pillow one last yank. ]

—too much effort. I don’t know how much lore all of this cost.

Not that much. Lore is from talking and making friends. I can make it back without a problem. [He wipes his eye and resumes cutting the bread into slices.]

Having wings makes it quite easy to travel many places. [He waves a hand and sets up a bowl. Lisa the llama doesn’t let go. She takes a few steps to keep her grip.

Kaeya glances back and snorts again.] And a relic is quite handy for long distance chats. Make sure to read the manual. If Venti doesn’t have it. I have a copy of it here.

[ At this point, Diluc gives up. He gives the llama a dirty look, as if to say, “You’ve won this round, but don’t get used to it”, right before he relinquishes the pillow and goes back to Kaeya behind the kitchen counter. He nods to acknowledge Kaeya’s advice about the relic. It’s a strange contraption, but Diluc has looked his over. ]

They’re a bit bulky, in my opinion. But I can see them being useful.

[ He doesn’t ask abiut or comment on Kaeya’s claim that he can make lore back so easily. Something about it sticks in his mind though. ]

[Kaeya puts slices of bread into the bowl to soak up the egg mixture. His tail is tucked neatly to the side in case he makes any sort of mess.

He has an apron hanging on a peg on one side of the kitchen. He doesn’t need it for this. He motions to the cider.]

The relic is a little bulky. Not that bad when tucked into an inner coat pocket. The buttons are claw friendly.

[He checks the heat of his pan and adds soaked slices to the pan. More bread goes into the bowl as the sizzle adds pleasant background noise to their conversation.]

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