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

Simple sounds right up my alley. [Dee answers without pausing to consider the other option. She already knows she doesn't want to hang out with nerdy magical weirdos who look like they've walked out of a D&D manual.

Not that she knows anything about D&D, because that's totally for dorks.]

I think I've dealt with enough weird fantasy for today, and that pony bar sounds real nerdy anyway.

[Yeah, he figured. She already struck him as the sort of person who doesn't waste much time on the magical aesthetic of it all and instead just dives straight into it.]

Yeah, it's nerdy. But it's got some high quality booze, so it's worth a try some day when you're in the area. [He shrugs his shoulders, gaze straying down the street.] Let's see... There was a good one about two blocks down in that direction, I think. Did you bring your spoon?

[He's unaware of just how fresh Dee really is right now, so he assumes she knows the basics of how to buy things around here. Won't he be surprised?]

[The promise of high quality booze is tempting, and maybe she will check it out sometime, but right now, all she wants is to sit in some shitty dive bar and down vodka shot after vodka shot. Maybe if she drinks enough of them, she'll wind up back home.

That's possible, isn't it? Drinking enough to send yourself back to the real world? She... doubts it, but it'd be nice?

She shoots him a bemused look, her brow furrowed. She stares at him for a moment, like she's expecting him to reveal that he's joking.]

My... spoon? [She says cautiously, tilting her head.] Are we... going to an ice cream bar?

[Similarly, he stares back at her with an expectation that she's joking. Doesn't seem like she is. ...Oh boy.]

Man, you really just got here, huh? Check your pockets, you shoulda gotten a big spoon from the fox.

[There's a brief moment of silence where Dee continues to stare at him, waiting for the punchline. She feels like he's messing with her, and yet he doesn't seem to be joking. She moves her left hand and hesitates, letting it hover just over her pocket for a second before she checks it.

Nope. Nothing in there.

She checks her right pocket and feels something cool brush against her fingers. She pulls out a standard, metal spoon -- the kind one might find at Paddy's. This one is larger, though, and has a bird engraved in the handle.

Very funny.

She holds it up, and quirks an eyebrow.]

Okay. Here's my spoon. What do I do with it?

[The skepticism is noted, but it doesn't faze Marc too much, since he knows he's right. The spoon is one of the first things people here are going to have to deal with, one way or the other, and it's a good way to let the reality of the situation sink in.]

Okay, this is gonna sound absolutely batshit, but just remember, a magic fox lady brought you to another world. It's anythin' goes at this point. [He digs through the right pocket of his jacket to pull out his own spoon.] These things are like... magic wallets. They store energy, and the energy is what we use to pay for stuff.

[He has a point. He has a very good point and she can't help smiling a little, twirling the spoon idly in her hand. She can probably expect weird and weirder from now on, and this spoon thing is pretty weird. It isn't magical fox lady weird, but it's up there.

Looks like this is... pretty real, after all. This has really happened, the guys didn't actually do anything to her.]

And how do you get energy? I don't think I can just... plug this baby into a wall socket, right?

[She's trying to make a joke, but it's stupid and she knows it. Why can't she be funnier?]

[Okay cool, she's still taking it in stride. That's good. If she were to be overcome with disbelief or denial, he's got a trick or two up his sleeve to make sure she comes to terms with the magic reality of it all, but it looks like so far she's giving this whole thing the benefit of the doubt.]

Nah, it's easier than that. Arguably. Depends who you ask. [The spoon is slipped back into his pocket.] You've gotta talk to people. This whole realm runs on us bein' social. But the good news is any kinda social works. You could shitpost on this place's version of the internet and that counts. Or just flip someone off.

[Live your dreams of being an influencer, Dee. There's good money in it, and it doesn't matter how bad your videos are as long as they start a dialogue.]

[She would love to deny the situation, but everything about it feels and smells and looks real. She may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, at times, but she's pretty quick to accept what she can see with her own two eyes. It's going to take a while for her to get used to the magic thing, though. She doesn't know how she'll react if someone shoots an icicle at her, or sets her cocktail on fire with a mere snap of the fingers.

...She kind of wants to see the cocktail thing.

Dee mirrors him, pocketing her own spoon as she listens.]

...Really? [The cogwheels begin to quickly turn in her head. She doesn't seem to believe him, at first, but that uncertainty quickly turns into intrigue and, perhaps, hope. She's realising that this place could be good for her!]

...You mean I could get rich by talking to people? I won't have to work in a shitty bar ever again?

You definitely don't have to work in a shitty bar again. Or work any job.

[Marc's been unemployed for like a year already. He spends his days watching TV, napping, sparring and running around in his cat form. He feels kind of guilty about it, actually. Trouble is, there's no proper jobs he can do here, so now he's useless.]

Just so you know, bein' rich isn't all it's cracked up to be around here. This realm isn't exactly a capitalist hellscape, so... Sure, you could buy a mansion, but nobody's gonna be impressed by it.

[That sounds incredible to her. A life of chilling out, focusing on her acting, maybe even writing and directing a play? That's something she's always wanted to do. She tried directing once, and it didn't really work out, but there's no one around to ruin it this time! She could actually make it happen. She could do something cool!

That seems like a lot of effort, though...

Dee scoffs because people are absolutely impressed by mansions. She finds it hard to believe that no one would be at least a little impressed. A mansion would show the world that she's likable and fun, and surely that would make more people want to be friends with her! It would certainly show those dickholes in Philly that she's capable of being popular.]

I dunno, guy. I'm having a hard time believing that. Being rich would be awesome, no matter what world you're in. And here, it would show that you're popular, right?

[He shrugs his shoulders, eyes rolling ever so lightly to match the gesture.] I dunno. It could show the opposite too, 'cause arguments count just as much as praise. You could be the most hated person here and still get rich off it, so long as you get people to yell at you about it.

[The reason Marc knows this is because of the dragon meat controversy he accidentally caused a while back. Most responses were negative, but boy did he end up with a lot of lore on his spoon.]

Huh. Yeah. Guess that's true.

[She'd rather be liked than hated, of course, but if people dislike her then at least she'll still be able to get that sweet mansion, right? She'll still have somewhere fancy to live, and she'll laze about and laugh at the guys because they're not experiencing this with her.]

Well, whatever. I just want a mansion, so I can shove it in Dennis's face if that dickhead ever shows.

[Will people hate her? Surely not!]

And I hope he never does, because he sucks. He sucks so much.

[Marc can't stop himself from smiling at that. What an attitude. Amazing.]

You know what? I support your mansion dream. Gettin' back at someone by livin' your best life is the best way to get back at 'em. Doesn't matter if he shows or not. You've still got your mansion. Bonus points if it's got a pool.

[Dee beams, grinning widely. And she can't help but let out a small, high-pitched laugh as well because all she can picture is Dennis's stupid, miserable face.]

Exactly! You get it! I'm sitting pretty, no matter what, but if he does show? I'll have everything I need to get under his skin. [She giggles again. God, she loves this.] And a pool is mandatory. A pool that that dickhead is preemptively banned from using!

[Marc low-key loves it when someone's petty in a mostly harmless way. As soon as it escalates into violence, it's gone too far, but just rubbing something in someone's face? He supports that. (And enables it a little, because it's funny.)]

If you've got enough lore, you can probably put a magic spell on the pool. Make it so he bounces right back out the water if he tries to jump in, or somethin'. Maybe you don't even need lore for that. There's plenty of magic users in this place who might be up for enchantin' it if you ask around.

[Unfortunately, Dee's very good at being harmfully petty as well, but this is pretty low-key for her. And she also finds it hilarious. Dee's eyes light up, and she's practically beaming at that suggestion.]

Goddamn, that would be perfect! [She says with a gasp, followed by another high-pitched giggle.]

I'm gonna take that suggestion, okay? God, I wanna see him go sky-high. And... Oh! What about a barrier!? I could do a barrier around the house to stop him from getting in!

I mean, yeah, sure. But that's kinda basic, isn't it? It's magic. Make it so whenever he tries to get in... I dunno, his skin turns blue. Or he gets covered in fur. Sky's the limit, is what I'm sayin'.

[Because surely nothing bad will come from feeding someone hilarious troll ideas. Surely.]

Yeah...

[She speaks in a low voice and looks into the distance, narrowing her eyes. There's something a little sinister about that glint in her eyes and about the smile on her face. The wheels are turning in her head -- she's imagining a spell where he gets turned into a goose, or goes bald, or instantly grows older by at least two decades. Oh, those are great ideas. Top notch. Hilarious. For her, not for him.]

Yeah, it is, isn't it? I gotta say, I think I'm gonna like this place!

[Hang on, did he just catch sight of something malicious, or was that his imagination? He's not sure. His tongue runs along the back of his teeth as he mulls it over, then finally, he tisks.]

Okay, full disclosure, it's not all fun and games here. There's gonna be trials from the Fox, and they're gonna suck. It could be you who gets covered in fur some day, and the only way to get rid of it would be to... I dunno, let someone else brush it with a magic brush or some shit. The Fox likes to bully us into bonding exercises.

[Her face drops as soon as Marc mentions trials, and soon she's crinkling her nose up and wincing at him.]

Seriously? We can't just... opt-out?

[BOY he wishes it was that easy. Just file a complaint with the Fox and be done with all this.]

Not of our own choice, no. Sometimes you can get lucky and not be thrown ass-first into all that bullshit, but it's a roll of the dice. Or maybe the Fox's 'mercy', I dunno.

Goddamnit. [She says, sounding disappointed. She tosses her hair back and places her hands on her hips, and rolls her eyes.]

Why is there always a catch? I did not sign up for magical... [She huffs.] ...group therapy.

Most of us here didn't. Trust me. [He does not like to be perceived, and he definitely doesn't like to have his trauma exposed for other people to see.]

Guess that's the real price you pay for your magic mansion.

[Dee would 100% understand that. She tends to keep her true emotions bottled up and hides behind a mask so no one can see how sad, lonely, and afraid she truly is. She has... so much baggage and trauma, and doesn't need some magical asshole showing it to people.]

Yeah, no kidding. I mean... I think the Fox said some shit about reaching your potential. I'm guessing forced group therapy is how she thinks people are gonna... reach it?

[God, this is stupid.]

Sounds dumb.

February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

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Dee Reynolds | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

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why... did i put that in the subject line earlier? lmao sorry about that

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