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February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme
February-March 2024 TDM
Introduction
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.
All TDMs are game canon and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’
TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.
Playing and interacting with the TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.
🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.
and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.
🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.
Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.
Content Warnings: Power Nullification, Potential Kidnapping, Potential Animal Spirit Harm
The island of Never Fade can no longer be seen in the sky from elsewhere in Folkmore, enclosed within a large purple tinted cloud. Within that cloud, the island is under water—a dreamy purple underwater that all Star Children can breath in if they breath and function in if they function on electricity, so on and so forth. It causes no more difficulties than reduced visibility and greater effort to walk. It's even possible to swim underneath the island, so long as Star Children make sure to make landfall before they get too exhausted and… well… fall.
Friendnapped
Spread the Love
The island of Never Fade can no longer be seen in the sky from elsewhere in Folkmore, enclosed within a large purple tinted cloud. Within that cloud, the island is under water—a dreamy purple underwater that all Star Children can breath in if they breath and function in if they function on electricity, so on and so forth. It causes no more difficulties than reduced visibility and greater effort to walk. It's even possible to swim underneath the island, so long as Star Children make sure to make landfall before they get too exhausted and… well… fall.
Friendnapped
The purple water has streaks of silver shot throughout it. Beware, these silver streaks neutralize powers, canon and role abilities alike, for at least an hour. A neutralized Legend won't be able to sense others in danger. A neutralized Myth won't sense danger coming. A neutralized Familiar won't be able to shapeshift to help others. That may set of a danger alarm but not any spidey-sense. These silver streaks are harbingers of spirits recently returned to Folkmore thanks to donations at the Shattered Spoon Shrine: lonely sharks.
The source of the silver streaks in the water, these silver gray sharks swim up and gently bite people. These bites make people go instantly limp but otherwise don't do any damage. They won't even break the skin. Once limp, the lonely sharks take theirpreynew best friends down to a cave or grotto off the underside of Never Fade. These caves are full of silver water, saturated by the magic of lonely sharks, and the entrances are covered by a thin silver barrier that prevents Star Children from leaving. That means should a Star Child track down where someone is being kept, should they enter its home, they too will be trapped there.
Being held by the lonely sharks isn't the worst experience. These spirits will try to please their new friends, giving them their favorite foods and perhaps even an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic of these items will be neutralized in the shark's cave. It is possible to fight a lonely shark, even to kill one, but that will only be a temporary measure. Star Children will remain trapped and have to wait for the lonely shark to revive—with even more golden cracks than before. In the end, the only way to escape are hugs, cuddles, and other measures of friendship. Once all the golden cracks have thinned and disappeared, Star Children can leave.
Spread the Love
By the time mid-March comes around, most of the lonely sharks have been fully healed and no longer kidnap Star Children. Instead they swim the None of the Above tunnels below the island's surface, where they provide guidance to Star Children who ask them how to get somewhere. If Star Children have nowhere particular in mind, the lonely sharks encourage Star Children to make their way toward the Shattered Spoon Shrine.
The lonely sharks still create silver streaks in the water that neutralize powers, but they will accompany Star Children and warn them of some of the dangers. When voices call their names, the sharks will snuggle up against Star Children to provide comfort. They're devoted to helping Star Children reach the shrine. Once there, they will encourage the Star Children to donate Lore to one of the broken spoons there, each spoon representing spirits who have left, spirits who became shells of themselves from lack of lore, or ghosts.
Star Children who donate Lore will find their companion lonely shark presenting them with an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic will be neutralized until the Star Child has spent at least an hour away from the silvery water lonely sharks create. Lonely sharks will happily spend as much time with Star Children as they're willing but will show the way back to the surface either via LIM (Lavender Institute of the Mind) or the None of the Above tunnels.
- Never Fade is underwater within a cloud.
- Silver streaks in the water neutralize powers, both canon and Role based.
- Lonely sharks kidnap Star Children and take them to caves on the underside of Never Fade.
- Star Children who find those caves are trapped too.
- Escape by hugs, cuddles, and being friends.
- By the second month, most lonely sharks are healed and found in the tunnels.
- Lonely sharks guide Star Children to the Shattered Spoon Shrine to donate Lore to help others.
- Either when captive or once donating Lore, lonely sharks will give Star Children an item from home.
Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Potential Secret Revelation, Potential Coerced Physical Intimacy
With the wide range of Star Children from many different worlds, sharing similarities, it's no surprise when moments of deja vu happen. That sense of the familiar with the new, the sense of something that happened before without quite being able to place it… or perhaps it being impossible. Regardless, when that connective moment happens, the Star Children involved are transported to a windmill home from the Cloud Colonies. They land together on a couch before a large television with all the makings of a movie night. There could be wine and cheese. There could be soda and popcorn. There could be tea or other hot beverages. There's a cozy blanket (only one). The movie has already been selected, and it starts playing.
Headliner
Remake
With the wide range of Star Children from many different worlds, sharing similarities, it's no surprise when moments of deja vu happen. That sense of the familiar with the new, the sense of something that happened before without quite being able to place it… or perhaps it being impossible. Regardless, when that connective moment happens, the Star Children involved are transported to a windmill home from the Cloud Colonies. They land together on a couch before a large television with all the makings of a movie night. There could be wine and cheese. There could be soda and popcorn. There could be tea or other hot beverages. There's a cozy blanket (only one). The movie has already been selected, and it starts playing.
Headliner
The movie is roughly based off one of the Star Children's lives, specifically for the Star Child that experience deja vu and triggered this experience. Regardless of the moment of deja vu, the plot of the movie is based off of some real or potential relationship—romantic or queer platonic—in their life. That Star Child can recognize some similarities immediately. If they had any doubts, they get a text message on their relic as the movie starts:
You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!
It's possible to ignore the message, at least for a while. The longer the movie plays, the more apparent it becomes that it's based off that Star Child. The starring character's clothes will change to resemble theirs. The cadence of their voice will shift to imitate theirs. Their facial features will shift. These changes will become more and more heavy handed as the movie goes on until even the most clueless companion will have real trouble not picking up on it. It may get harder and harder to distract them from talking about it! There's no pause button, and the only way to mute the movie is to *ahem* distract themselves from it until it becomes an indistinct background murmur.
Remake
If any Star Children thought this experience might have been a Valentine's Day prank, they'll be poorly mistaken come mid-March when it continues with a twist. The movie less closely resembles any one Star Child's life (whew?)… because it blends the lives of all those present together into a new story. One character is based off each Star Child, and it fits the other Star Child into the role of someone who was or could have been emotionally and/or physically intimate with them. If they had any doubts, each Star child gets a text message on their relic as the movie starts:
You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!
Not only does each Star Child have to decide what approach they want to take, but the other Star Child may pick up on what they're putting down! One Star Child may want to talk it out, but the other one desperately doesn't. Oh noes, how shall it be resolved? Well, the longer it takes, the more clearly the film demonstrates one way they could resolve it—a fictionalized ending, happy or sad or bittersweet or anything else, between the characters as they more closely resemble those watching them on the sofa. No one's free until they have a heart to heart or a something to something else. Any physical intimacy can do.
- Experience a moment of deja vu and get transported to a cozy living room in a Cloud Colony windmill.
- For the first month, the 'host' Star Child gets a text letting them know to get intimate—emotionally or physically.
- For the second month, all Star Children get that text.
- For the first month, the movie is based on the 'host' Star Child's experiences, what did or could have happened. As the movie progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that's the case.
- For the second month, the movie is a story blending Star Children's experiences together. That too will become more obvious over time.
- Some form of intimacy is the only way out!
Headliner
He winces at the death of an undead Captain America. ]
So things aren't great in your universe, huh? [ He knows the shield and he kinda knows the arm. ] Did you get the serum in your universe instead of me? No, wait, that doesn't make sense if that zombie was Cap.
[ If that zombie was him. ]
Hi.
no subject
No, they aren't, [he offers quietly], but we were trying to repair the damage done. There's a cure, just gotta make it to Wakanda.
[God, he hopes the kid, T'Challa, Lang and Banner made it there.
He shakes his head:]
No, you did get the serum. I mean, he did, [he adds as he looks up, nodding towards the TV where the zombie Captain rolls out on the train tracks. Bucky turns fully to Steve, leaning against the wall behind as he crosses his arms over his chest, his brow furrowed lightly as he gives the other man a guarded look:]
Steve. You're small again.
[He's confused, but he's not going to admit it out loud.]
no subject
I was never big. [ He makes his way over to the couch in front of the television leaning heavily on a cane. He sits slowly. His body is still full of aches and pains. ] In my world, Peggy got the serum when I couldn't make it back to the chamber after trying to stop Hydra.
[ He idly twirls his cane between his hands. ] She's known as Captain Carter. She's amazing at it. Howard built me a flying suit of armor to pilot, the Hydra Stomper. That's how I fought in the war. A fighter pilot. Technically.
There is a big Steve, a Captain America. You'll probably meet him eventually.
no subject
He watches Steve walk slowly and painfully to the couch and he frowns lightly. This may not be the Steve he knew, but seeing him suffer still stirs concern in his chest:]
What happened? [He asks as he nods to the cane. This is new to him, seeing the blond with a walking aid.
He manages to hide pretty well the tick of his jaw when Howard is mentioned, the guilt still heavy at what he's done, and his eyebrows raise slightly at the knowledge of Stene being a fighter pilot:]
You mean like the Ironman suit?
There's two of you in this world? [There's a very faint hint of a smile on his lips as he adds on:] I don't know if I should impressed or concerned about that.
no subject
It's an old war injury that's real bad right now because I was trapped in that suit after the war. After the Red Room captured me. [ His smile fades and he looks away towards the TV. ] You might see it on the screen there eventually. My story. It gets real bad after the water.
[ He's still recovering from that, hence his need for the cane. ]
Interesting is probably the best word for it. Steve and I haven't caused that much trouble and he's helped rescue me a time or two. [ Some fondness shows in his tone. He does like his other self. He's a good man. ]
There's a lot going on here I could tell you about. We should probably figure out how to leave first.
no subject
But that very faint smile disappears quickly when Steve mentions his capture:]
The Red Room? Doesn't it normally deal with female assassins? [He knows about the Red Room and the Widows more than he lets on, but that's for another time, maybe] Why would they capture you?
[He gives the screen another look, in time to see Hope die after saving their lives, and he shakes his head:]
We don't have to watch if you don't want to talk about it. I'm sure we can find a way to turn the TV off or something.
[It's not that he doesn't want to know about Steve's story, he does, but only if it's on Steve's terms. He's already on edge because of his own multiple friendships loss being exposed without his consent, he doesn't want Steve to go through that.
He still manages a small amused smile at the mention of the other Steve's hero complex, noting the apparent fondness:]
Yeah, well, you tend to do that a lot. Saving people.
[Himself included. More than once too. And even before the serum, Steve has always been a good person, caring and wanting the best for everyone. The serum has only given him the tools to achieve those goals on a larger scale. It doesn't as a surprise that even here, either Steves have been doing the same.
And as if on cue, his device dings with a notification for a text message, and Bucky pulls it out as he nods:]
Yeah, I'd like that. I don't really like being all cooped up. [For a multitude of reasons.
He looks at the message he's just received, and frowns lightly as he reads it out loud for Steve too, his mood darkening just a little:]
Great. What am I supposed to talk about?
no subject
[ Steve takes a deep breath and braces himself for saying it. He hates the idea of Bucky, any Bucky from any universe, knowing just what he had done but he can't hide it from his best friend. ]
In my universe, I'm you. I don't get a name like the Winter Soldier but I was the one controlled and used in the suit. [ He gestures to himself. ] That's part of why my health is so bad right now. It was keeping me alive between missions.
[ It's out and Steve feels a nervous sort of shame admitting it to Bucky even though he would know everything Steve feels having been through it himself. ]
This conversation might do it. Talking about our different universes.
no subject
Still, when Steve mentions how their histories are similar, Bucky can't help the very short-lived look of shame that passes on his face: even if the Steve in his world had been very understanding about the whole brainwashed assassin thing, it's nothing that Bucky has ever been proud of. And he's not exactly sure how he feels about another Steve knowing what he did as the Winter Soldier.
But it breaks his heart, all the same, to hear it all out loud, and Bucky moves from his spot on the wall to the other end of the couch where Steve sits.]
I'm sorry, Steve. No one should go through that, least of all you. [He hates the idea of a good man like Steve being all broken like he is. He doesn't deserve it.
Bucky knows the shame of this burden all too well, and he gives the other a look meant to be comforting, even if it doesn't exactly reach his eyes:]
What you did all those years, it wasn't you. You didn't have a choice.
[Steve's words feel less hollow on his tongue than Bucky expects them to. Maybe part of him is starting to believe them too. And maybe, in time, this Steve would start to believe them too.
He nods once:]
Sure. Though it feels like you already know more about my universe than I do yours.
[He can't help but wonder how Steve knows about the Winter Soldier.]
no subject
[ Logically, he didn't have a choice. He knows that. Knowing is very different from feeling. Steve feels like he did it. It feels like he carried out each mission personally with the same fervor he hunted down Hydra with. It feels like the blood is on his hands and he'll never get it off. ]
I don't know a thing about your universe but you look a lot like another Bucky that's here. [ Steve wonders why there would be two Steves and two Buckys in the same place. He thinks Thirteen might be trying to tell them something? Or that business about the end of the line was true no matter what. Hard to say.
He nods his head towards Bucky's arm. ] He's told me about what happened to him. How he ended up with a prosthetic arm and a little of what happened to him. I've learned other things from Steve and Tony. I guessed since you look similar the same stuff happened to you.
[ It's not a huge leap in logic. It felt like a very safe assumption to make when he saw Bucky. ]
The Bucky who's been here awhile, his universe definitely doesn't have zombies in it. Neither does Steve's. If you don't want to talk about it, I can tell you more about mine. Before all... this happened to me. [ He gestures to himself to indicate his poor health and scruffy beard. ]
no subject
There's another me here? [It can't be helped: Bucky frowns lightly at that. He doesn't trust himself not to be a danger to the people he knows, another him is no different.] His arm, is it like mine or is it silver?
[Even if they have a similar background, Bucky feels imperative to know if the other him can still be activated or not. Not that there's anything he can do to prevent that and if the other Bucky is like him, he would be careful as well, but it's never wrong to be prepared for the worse.
It feels weird, almost invasive, that his past has been discussed already, but Bucky tries to reason that it's not just his past either. But clearly, there are some holes in his story, and as much as he might hate it, this might be a good thing. Having to talk about what happened in his universe. It might do him some good to debrief the whole thing.]
No, it's okay, I can talk about it. [It doesn't sound very convincing, but he braces himself for the questions:] What would you like to know?
I....I'd like that. To know what you've been up to, before you got here. [Before the Red Room got to him.]