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

[ The sudden furry wolf tail in his lap surprises Diluc enough to cause him to pause as he brings a forkful of bread to his lips and he glances down. He arches a brow at Kaeya, but doesn’t push the tail off of his thighs. Instead, he gives the tail a slow stroke with his free hand, feeling the thick fur. Kaeya clearly takes great care in keeping it neatly groomed and conditioned. Already Diluc feels warmer for it laid over him.

He’s considering teasing him when Kaeya answers his question with what is so undeniably and obviously a simple truth. Even Diluc feels deep down to his very bones rather certain that, yes, he would still talk to Kaeya in an altered state of mind. Kaeya might be the only one capable of calming him, in fact, and the way Kaeya insinuates this with his response means he’s picked up on the telling signs that Diluc still cares for him a great deal.

The realization makes Diluc’s cheeks flush. There’s nothing he can say, caught off guard by it as he is. The idea of denying it makes him feel uncomfortable and he can’t think of any witty retorts to make either. ]

…You may be fast, but I have caught you before.

[He beams, a radiant smile on his face. He presses a hand to his chest. This is what not dancing gives him.

It’s quite nice.] You have.

The point is, I wouldn’t let you become or act like something you are not. I know you’d do the same for me.

[There is an implication here. You are the only one who could calm me.]

[ It doesn’t go unnoticed. The words make Diluc redder, his face turning nearly the same shade of red as his hair. His fingers anxiously curl into the thick fur of the wolf tail still splayed over his lap, subconsciously trying to self-soothe and again forgetting that that is a part of Kaeya’s body.

This time, he swallows thickly and as he turns back to eating his breakfast, he makes a feeble attempt to downplay how right Kaeya is and how significant it is that they are each other’s first, best choice when it comes to saving them from themselves. ]

…It would be more trouble to let you run amok and clean up the mess later.

[ Of course I wouldn’t leave you to do anything you would regret. Of course I would save you. ]

Your food is going to get cold. Eat.

Of course, of course. [He returns to his breakfast with a little bit of color on his face too. Diluc would save him. Because he cares. He sips his drink with a little happy wag of his tail.]

Anyway, that’s why there’s a lot of apple here. It’s a good idea for you to do the same.

[ The happy tail wag reminds Diluc that it’s Kaeya’s fur he’s got his fingers curled around. He still holds to it for a bit longer before he finally lets go. He allows it to remain in his lap though, enjoying the additional warmth and, secretly, also the bit of extra closeness to Kaeya. Diluc has been a little bombarded with so many emotions that make his heart yearn for the days of their childhood. He feels sentimental enough to want that little bit more of physical closeness with the other man. The hand-holding from earlier… if only they could do it again, but with the intent to hold hands. ]

All right. I’ll buy apples.

Only during the autumn, that’s when those specific apples showed up. [The tail curls a bit, seeming to wrap a little around the hand on it.]

Autumn events keep changing though. Maybe we’ll get a relaxing autumn this year.

[ Diluc gives what he thinks is a subtle stroke to the tail in response. Perhaps it could be seen as accidental? It’s definitely not, but maybe… ]

Is there ever an easy time? You don’t seem to have much opportunity to relax, despite the easy schedule.

[ An even less subtle admission that he hasn’t forgotten Kaeya’s distress. ]

There are nicer times. The last one was worse than most for a lot of reasons. [His ears lower a bit but right themselves. He takes a bite of bacon.] And the last intense one before that was a lot.

I lived through many, many lives. It took some time to sort all the memories out. I sat out walking into my own mind and sorting an issue out.

It was good I did.

Mm.

[ He thinks about what he’s been piecing together silently in his mind. He thinks about how tightly Kaeya held onto him. He doesn’t want to consider it, but it seems obvious now when Kaeya says the last time was the worst.

He is glad to hear Kaeya gave himself a break after what he thinks he’s been through. ]

Why was it good?

[He looks at his drink. The truth? Yes. Honesty was his promise and he would stick to it.] Someone important left. Again.

[He shakes his head.] The traveler and Albedo have been and left. Jean has been and left. I’m the one that remains every time. It was too much.

[ Diluc is quiet, for a long time. They sit in silence. Diluc feels certain he knows who left. He debates telling Kaeya. Instead, he takes a long drink of his cider. ]

…I’m sorry.

[ He drags his fingers through Kaeya’s fur and strokes from as close to the base as he can to the tip. ]

I’m sorry too. You’ve arrived to quite the mess. [He lifts his mug in a toast with a lopsided smile. The petting is soothing the part of him that’s felt so raw.]

But, Venti and I are both glad to have you here. You were missed, Diluc.

[ Diluc hasn’t heard Kaeya say those three little words to him in so long, he forgot how warm they made him feel— both inside and out. His cheeks grow hot and his hand stills on Kaeya’s wolf tail, suddenly finding himself at a loss for words.

Finally, he stabs his last piece of syrup-drenched eggy bread a little more aggressively than he needs to. ]

Hmph. Who else is going to keep you two out of trouble.

[ He finishes his breakfast. ]

When you are done, I will wash the dishes.

Alright. [He focuses on his breakfast. His tail is wagging a little bit. His face colored with his embarrassment. But he is pleased.

And now it is best to say.] …There is one bit of this you need to know. I’m not the only Khaenri’ahn around. Dainsleif is here too. I know you’ve spotted him before. Blonde hair. Half mask. He’s a pure blooded Khaenri’ahn. And I trust him.

He thinks father left me in Mond to be raised far away from the mess my clan have made and the wreckage of what was. He has no designs on me. Quite the opposite. He opposes the abyss order, as do we all.

…he doesn’t want to stay in our world when he finishes with that. I don’t blame him. You have to hold onto happiness when you find it.

[ Diluc freezes up halfway to bringing his mug to his lips. He doesn’t take the sip, but instead he puts the mug down. ]

I remember. He came into Angel’s Share when he passed through Mondstadt.

[ He listens to Kaeya explain, but his expression is grim, serious. To him, this is one of the worst things that could happen, a fear that’s lived inside of him since Kaeya told him the truth of his origins. He didn’t expect his fear of another Khaenri’ahn finding Kaeya to become reality in a place that wasn’t even Teyvat. ]

…I knew what he was the moment I saw his face. I spent almost my whole life looking into your eyes. There was no mistaking it.

[ He'd been so relieved that that happened to be a day Kaeya didn’t come to the tavern at all. And now Kaeya is telling him he trusts the man and he has no ill intent towards Kaeya. Opposes the Abyss Order. ]

He is Khaenri’ahn, Kaeya. And not the way you are. He hates the gods as much as the Abyss Order, does he not? We are Mondstadters. Our god still lives and frequents our family tavern. How much have you trusted him with?

[He takes a breath. This is an awkward topic. But it is one that Diluc needs to know about.] I haven’t said anything about Venti nor do I intend to. I won’t let harm come to him. But Dain won’t do that.

[He looks at Diluc. He has to say it all. Nothing left out.] Here, I trust him. According to him, I was placed in Mondstadt as a refugee. I am aware his memory is not reliable.

He is aware of that too. Here we both have been exposed to many things and it has shifted some of his views. We became friends.

[It feels like walking naked but he keeps going.] At home, I don’t trust he will make the best choices. He is blinded by a cause. In both places he dislikes the gods and wants nothing to do with them.

But there he carries a darkness and a rage that is blind. It’s not so here.

[Here we go. He squares his shoulders, lifting his head. For a moment he looks like the prince he might be.] Mondstadt is my home. I will do everything I can to return to it. No matter where I go for a time, the wind will guide me back.

[Back to you. He softens,] …He isn’t a threat, D. And it’s nice to not be the only one. He feels the same.

[ Diluc is silent. He listens to what Kaeya has to say and squares his jaw, his teeth set on edge. He knows that, rationally, he can’t really judge whatever bond Kaeya has with this man. He could never understand— not just because he isn’t descended from a line supposedly cursed by the gods, but because he hasn’t been here. Or at least he doesn’t remember being here.

But Diluc is a man beholden to his emotions often and he feels them much more strongly in this place. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like the way Kaeya says it: “…it’s nice to not be the only one”. It makes him feel a distance between them that he felt most sharply the day Crepus died, when Kaeya told him about all of this and why he thought he was left in Mondstadt. Diluc doesn’t like that this is a part of Kaeya’s life that he can’t truly understand, no matter how much he tries. He doesn’t like that this situation reminds him so much of the choice that has dominated Kaeya’s life. ]

I will trust him when I see he can be trusted. Not before.

[ Because there’s nothing more important to him than Kaeya’s safety. Venti’s is a close second and he didn’t immediately trust even the Traveler. He has no proof but Kaeya’s word that he should trust Dainsleif and if Kaeya’s longing to be understood, his need for fraternity, has blinded him to the truth, Diluc has to know. Better safe than sorry. ]

He was civil enough in Mondstadt, but I do not know him.

[That regality fades away and he just is. He reaches out and covers Diluc’s hand with his. He could fight him on this. But he knows better here.

The way through is,] I know. I wanted you to know because it’s important. Whatever way you fall on this, thank you for listening to my thoughts on it.

[He smiles a little, a smile that is for Diluc and Diluc alone.]

[ Diluc is effectively caught off guard by the touch and in spite of himself, his fingers relax under Kaeya’s hand, no longer balled up into a tight, tense fist. That smile completely disarms him, the same way it always has. Diluc has always been weak to Kaeya’s charms, but he’s even more powerless when faced with Kaeya’s sincerity. He’s never been much good at telling a wide-eyed, sweetly smiling Kaeya no. ]

I know…

[ He swallows thickly and struggles to get the words out. His throat feels dry. But he turns his hand and takes hold of Kaeya’s, rubbing his fingers gently, slowly. ]

…I know this is important to you.

[ But you are important to me. We’re just beginning to get each other back. ]

Promise me you are not letting your emotions cloud your judgement. That you will protect yourself.

[He takes care not to scratch Diluc with his claws as he gently squeezes his hand. The unspoken words are loud and clear.

His expression softens further.] I promise I’m being careful. He has earned my trust. I am checking into things on my own too. Here and there. Especially there.

[He has begun to once more dig into the buried past. Because he can’t let it go. Not with what he wants to know.] I’m not going anywhere, D.

[ Kaeya addressing Diluc’s unvoiced fears causes the redhead’s heart to stutter in his chest. His fingers squeeze around Kaeya’s, the only bit of his immense fear and vulnerability he’s willing to show. He’s so used to Kaeya being safe in Mondstadt. While he was gone, he could rest easy knowing Kaeya was safe at home with their friends. Adelinde and Elzer would always watch out for him. Adelinde had said as much in her letter to him, even.

This new situation is… unexpectedly difficult for Diluc to face. Just the mere thought of Kaeya’s past coming back for him is… terrifying. He wants so badly to trust that this Dainsleif only has good intentions for Kaeya, but he can’t help being afraid. He looks down at their joined hands. ]

While I was away from Mondstadt… I was nearly killed. In those moments that I thought were to be my last, I regretted everything. I never realized you were so burdened with secrets. Or maybe I just didn’t want to see it. I don’t know. I just wished I could have been someone you trusted. But even when you decided to trust me, I still proved you couldn’t.

[ He closes his eyes and inhales deeply through his nose. It’s hard to say… but not as hard as it felt when he first came home. ]

If we are going to work together here, you can’t keep more secrets from me. You can’t, Kaeya. Especially not about this. It’s too dangerous. I don’t care how bad it is, I want to know. Otherwise, I won’t be able to help. And I’ll… I’ll work to be worthy of your trust.

[By the seven. He takes Diluc’s hand in both of his. Well. If that’s what he wants.

He says,] That’s why I’m telling you these things. I kept getting it wrong the past few times you’ve been here. I decided that this time, I wouldn’t try to pretend I haven’t been shaped by this place.

I’m a mess. But I’m a still a functional knight. [There it is all in the open. He squeezes Diluc’s hand as he continues.] But I want to make one thing clear. It isn’t that you proved you couldn’t be trusted. It was that you were already holding on by a thread and I cut that thread. I should have waited until you were calmer and told you then. But I felt guilty and I didn’t process grief well.

I won’t keep secrets from you. I don’t think either of us are up for a deep discussion about why I kept things silent. And the reality of being from Khaenri’ahn. Just know, that if you get into trouble here I need you to reach out. I need that from you. No matter the hour. You let me know you’re in trouble. I know you’re capable. But I can’t not know. I can’t.

[His voice is a desperate whisper by the end.]

[ Diluc allows it— in fact, it feels like a balm to his heart, to have Kaeya close to him without anger or resentment between them, to feel again the things they never needed to say aloud to one another after spending a childhood worth of memories together. Diluc is so nearly calmed by it.

Until Kaeya absolves him of all blame for that terrible night, at least. Then, Diluc’s face becomes strained and he presses his lips together tightly. He doesn’t say it, but it’s plain on his face: “Don’t. Don’t do that. You can’t know that for sure.” After Crepus’s death, after the way Ordo Favonius denied his father the respect he’d always deserved — the respect he’d died for — Diluc knew only anger. It would be nearly two years later before he could feel anything else and another yet before he could even consider returning home.

The dark truth that pierces Diluc’s heart like an arrow made of ice is that he feels it’s likely he would have reacted the same way no matter how much time had passed if he’d stayed in Mondstadt and Kaeya had confessed his secrets then instead. It would have made no difference. The people of the network are the ones who changed him so he could even be sat here with Kaeya at all, holding hands, after all the mess they had made of their relationship. ]

I told you I would. I am in no hurry to see myself to Death’s doorstep again. I came home, didn’t I?

You did. [He holds his hand between his, shifting his fingers a little so the claws don’t threaten to dig into skin. He lets the silence linger for a little bit.

They need a moment. Then he whispers,] Since I’m not keeping secrets, I knew you were a legend because your eyes are changing colors with your moods. And those feathers we examined are too large for a regular owl. Too small for a giant owl.

[ Those eyes, which had been as green as limes and then that same sad blue-gray as earlier, immediately go as wide as saucers in response and they flash to the pale yellow-green of anxiety. Diluc flushes darkly, mortified to learn that his eyes have been betraying the stoicness of his facial features, and Kaeya has been able to track all the emotional turmoil he’s been feeling. ]

I— That…

[ Diluc’s breath catches in his throat. Kaeya whispering this news and leaning close makes him feel faint. He has no idea what to even say. ]

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