February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

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!

Comments

Luz Noceda | Owl House | Familiar

[luzer]

A. Get Sharked, Nerd

You are soooooo cute! [Any other poor person being held hostage by the shark will have to endure Luz. Luz excitedly rubbing the shark's belly as she coos at it.

The enclosed space of the cave is just made smaller by the fourteen year old bouncing around, doting on the shark.] Awww, look at you! You're such a widdle guy!!! A baby!

[The shark definitely looks happy as Luz continues rubbing its belly. She probably should be more concerned about losing time since she was last here and you know, being kidnapped, yet...] I don't care if you stole me, you're cute enough to get away with it! You better not be nefarious, mister!

B. Spread The Shark Love

Okay, okay, okay- [Were you innocently wandering these tunnels? Were you minding your business?

Not anymore.]

I need you, I need you to meet Sharkratio! [A very excited fourteen year old is bodily dragging her fellow Star Child towards a waiting very delighted shark. A shark covered in stickers.]

Sharkratio is obviously the coolest shark here, but, don't tell the others, cause they are all super cute too, but- they aren't my new bff.

Please shake his fin, he's a gentleman. [Luz is looking at your blorbo expectantly. What will they do?]

A

[atoastontitan]

[There is another Star Child being held by the shark! Out cold in a corner of the cave, barely visible with the way he's curled up beneath a quilted blanket, he begins to stir at the sound of a familiar voice.]

Weh..... Luz, can ya keep it down? I'm trying to...

[...Wait. He sits bold upright, the blanket falling off him. Stares directly at Luz. Blinks. Aaand jumps over to her with a chorus of little "nyeh"s.]

Luz! I foooound you!

[luzer]

Kiiiiiiing! You found me! [Sorry Sharkratio, abandonment issues begin now. Luz immediately scoops King up to spin him around. Someone is being lovingly spun around.] I didn't even see you over there!

Did Sharkratio kidnap you too?

[atoastontitan]

Weee! [Who's being spun? It's King! King is being spun! And he's sticking real close to Luz's ankles once he's set down, too.]

Kidnap? Who's been kidnapped? I came here of my own free will, you know! Because I'm a mature boy who makes his own decisions!!!

[He was kidnapped. The shark got him good. But he did follow the Fox of his own free will, so... Fifty/fifty truths.]

B

[woenesday]

[ Wednesday was in fact innocently (for her) wandering the tunnels attempting to mind her own business. More accurately she was very clearly attempting to do absolutely everything and anything in her power to ignore her lonely shark who had kidnapped her.

Somehow this irritating shark had managed to remind her from someone she'd left behind in her own world. Someone who was equally desperate for affection and approval. Someone that Wednesday most assuredly did not miss. If she didn't miss this person (she didn't!) then she most assuredly was not going to succumb to what this shark wanted from her.

She also most assuredly was not going to be pleased with being dragged to meet another Star Child's shark. She glared at Luz then at poor Sharkratio. Wednesday's own shark was swimming behind them both, swirling around and waiting expectantly for the love it clearly deserved! ]

Release me if you place any value on your hand. [ Look, she doesn't like to be touched at all. Which makes her shark sad, because it desperately wants to touch her! ]

I will not be shaking any fins.

[luzer]

Oooh, you're a little bit of a sour lemon drop, huh? [The fourteen year old isn't particularly intimidated. She releases Wednesday's hand though. She pats her own shark fondly. Sharkratio seems pleased with the attention.]

Not a fan of the sharks?

[woenesday]

A sour lemon drop? [ Really? What kind of insult was that? One that definitely wasn't untrue. It described her perfectly. ]

I'm not a fan of things that attempt to force themselves upon me. [ She actually likes sharks, but these seem decidedly less shark like than she would have expected. It was mildly disappointing! ]

B

[myownprice]

No, no, I just did this—

[ Naturally, Boba's first assumption upon being grabbed again is that it's yet another shark looking for scritches and pats, and given he'd just escaped his own shark's cave less than an hour ago, he's not happy about being hauled off for round two. He twists in his new captor's grasp, enough to see that it's no shark dragging him along this time—rather, it's a teenage girl he doesn't recognize. A teenage girl who seems hellbent on introducing him to a very colorful shark. ]

Um.

[ The shark in question is covered in stickers and looks very happy about this fact. Boba, whose experiences with animals up to today have mostly involved watching them kill other animals, watching them get killed by other animals, or trying to avoid getting killed by them himself, is a bit at a loss.

He looks up at the girl, the menacing gaze of his helmet's visor significantly undercut by his perplexed tone. And the fact that he has to look up at her in the first place. ]

Why does it have so many stickers on it?

[luzer]

[The fourteen year old just grins back at him.] Because, Sharkratio deserves a little razzle dazzle. Look at him!

[Sharkratio seems like a very happy shark.]

C'mon, I'll let you pick a sticker to put on him next!

[myownprice]

[ Boba looks at the shark. It does indeed look very happy. One thing he's quickly learning about this world: animals here are weird. They'll paralyze you, drag you off to their lair, and then not try and eat you. It's madness, really. Still, he supposes he can't complain.

And, well, he'd be lying if he said the novelty of it all wasn't a little fun, even if part of him is still waiting for the other shoe to drop. ]

Okay, [ he says, deciding to play along. He tells himself it's just to keep the shark happy. Happy sharks don't drag people into caves. ] What have you got?

B

[bossyboiler]

[ She had been minding her own business. The Narration doesn't know about innocent, however. Coming to Luz just after donating Lore to the shrine, she isn't sure what to make of the overly energetic teenager. Was she like this once?]

You named one?

[ Oh, it's covered in stickers too. If she were to voice it, she would say that the shark looks like Lisa Frank gone awry. ]

Um...

[ By now she's figured out that the sharks are harmless so Kate reaches out and pats Sharkratio on top of his head. She's careful though. Sharks have smooth rough skin. ]

[luzer]

It'd be rude to not name him! He also looks like a Sharkratio! [Luz gestures widely at the be-stickered shark.]

Where is your shark? Did you get a cute shark? What are they liiiike?

I love her, your Honor.

[bossyboiler]

Your logic seems sound. Manners are important.

[ But naming something meant getting attached to said something. How is Luz going to feel when the shark eventually goes back to where it came from? It is slightly worrying. ]

My shark left once we became friends. It did bring me a box of my grandmother's recipes though which was nice of it.

B

[untilibecomestronger]

[Kotarou was wandering. And attention is not necessarily an unexpected thing to him back home. Until this absolute stranger comes up and grabs him and starts dragging him away.

At first, he freezes, not at all sure what's going on or what to do, especially without his (plastic) sword.]

Unha--

[But then Kotarou shuts up. That... that is definitely a shark. Covered in stickers. ...What?

And Luz is telling him to shake the thing's fin. He looks up at her, deadpanned yet perplexed.]

Why?

[Look. The Shark is no Tonosaman. And Kotarou is fascinated by the stickers, but nothing more.]

[luzer]

Why not? [Is Luz's easy question in turn. She releases her old on Kotarou to gesture widely at the stick laden shark.]

The shark's skin is a little rough, but, Sharkratio is super friendly!

[untilibecomestronger]

[Kotarou looks from Luz to the shark again. He supposes those stickers are interesting. And how many people can say they got to shake hands with a shark? Perhaps it would even be a better story (and a true one) compared to saying his parents are ninja.]

Why not, indeed!

[His voice is louder, though still flat. But he does end up sticking his hand out to shake Sharkratio's fin. Feeling the sensation. A shark's skin is much different than he had imagined.]

Hello, Sir Sharkratio. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Kotarou Satou.

[He wonders if maybe he should buy some tissues and bring them to Sharkratio. Luz most certainly, but do sharks use tissue? Especially in this world.]

Wildcard!!

[oweschildsupport]

[The good thing about Folkmore is there's always something to explore. Thus far Draxum has mostly been drawn to the biomes that embrace nature, but now that he's gotten more comfortable with the setting, he's finally making his way through Luan Street. It's noisy, but the street food is delicious. Draxum enjoys a kebab as he crouches over his newest find. He's hardly looked at any of the shops around here, but that's because he'd gotten distracted by the birds.

These feathers they're dropping—they're mystical, he's sure of it. Draxum picks the feathers up off the ground, collecting quite the handful and not caring for who he inconveniences by stopping in the middle of the street. Foot traffic has to walk around him, and should anyone not be paying attention to where they're going, he presents something of a hazard!]

[luzer]

[Luz predictably is distracted. There is a lot to see in Luan Street. She knows some bits from walking around herself, talking with Casey and Hunter.

It doesn't mean she isn't just walking whilst staring at something a bit too long. She walks directly into Draxum. She smacks into him startling backwards hard enough she hits the ground with a startled sound. Okay, she was so not paying attention. Oop.]

Iiiiii did not see you, sorry-? [It takes her a second to put together that Draxum is just grabbing feathers off the ground.]

Did you drop something?

[oweschildsupport]

[Draxum's a tree of a yokai, so he didn't budge when Luz ran into him, but it did jostle his elbow enough that he lost hold of his handful of feathers. He sighs, and turns to glare (mildly, without heat) at her from over his shoulder.]

Yes. [No thanks to you!] But it's no bother. Just watch where you're going in the future, human child.

[It's just feathers, they're not hard to pick up. He opens his palm and starts gathering up his collection again.]

B.

[traaaaaash]

[ You know what? That entirely tracks. Eda's been swimming through this breathable water, which, for all her worldy experience, is pretty novel. It's not actually every day that you just wake up in an entirely different dimension, but here they are.

She's been looking for the kids, so she's relieved seeing Luz, and even more so that Luz is in bright spirits as ever. Can't be that bad here if that's the case -- though, knowing Luz's remarkably indomitable cheer, she's still got to be on the lookout for dangers. Whatever, Eda can handle it. ]

Luz! There you are!

[ Eda follows the girl gamely to meet Sharkratio. ]

And already making friends, I see. Pleased to meet you, Mr. Gentleshark.

[ And Eda indeed reaches out to shake the shark's fin. ]

[luzer]

[As expected the shark finshake is a bit limp, but Sharkratio is trying in his own way. Luz brightens up several notches at Eda's presence.]

I mean, he only kidnapped me a little, but we made up! [As always, her level of forgiveness is a little too high, but c'mon, look at this shark covered in stickers.] Maybe don't let him bite you though, it'll paralyze you!

[traaaaaash]

Kidnapped her, uh huh?

[ Eda gives Sharkratio a stern look for a moment, but then waves dismissively. ]

Eh, we've all been there.

[ She looks around. ]

So, this is Folkmore, huh? You know, the moment I saw that fox, I knew that if you met her, you'd be following her. And was I ever on the money with that!

I mean now I gotta - B!

[therewerefifty]

[Young girl, check. Hood with cat ears, cute. Uh, I mean check. Makie watches bemused as Luz reaches out and-- uh, latches onto a hand? It's only because she's a child and Makie recognises the description that she doesn't fight it, letting herself be dragged on.]

You're-- oh.

[Another shark. Well, she can only smile faintly at this one, but Makie has spent her life humouring young girls, even if this one is older than most.]

...hello, Sharkratio. [Probably mangled that name, b/c what's with all those consonants I'm Japanese, gosh--] It's nice to meet you.

[She doesn't shake the fin, but she gives it a gentle stroke. Seems less violent to do so, honestly.]

everybody loves the shark

[luzer]

Sharkratio is happy to meet you too! [Luz says easily. The large sticker covered shark waggles his tail happily.]

Did you get a shark too? What are they like? Are they just as friendly as Sharkratio? [And here comes the questions. Rip.]

[therewerefifty]

[Oh help that is so many questions--]

I did. They were... quite friendly and brought presents. I've only just met Sharkratio-san, so I will have to see.

[Here's one of her own:] There is a lady with long white hair looking for you. Do you know who that is?