folkmeme | February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

*tdm

February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

February-March 2024 TDM

Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.

All TDMs are game canon and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’

TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.

Playing and interacting with the TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.

Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!

🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.

and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.

🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.

Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.

[ Soon You'll Get Better ★ Netfox & Chill]

Soon You'll Get Better . ★

Content Warnings: Power Nullification, Potential Kidnapping, Potential Animal Spirit Harm

The island of Never Fade can no longer be seen in the sky from elsewhere in Folkmore, enclosed within a large purple tinted cloud. Within that cloud, the island is under water—a dreamy purple underwater that all Star Children can breath in if they breath and function in if they function on electricity, so on and so forth. It causes no more difficulties than reduced visibility and greater effort to walk. It's even possible to swim underneath the island, so long as Star Children make sure to make landfall before they get too exhausted and… well… fall.

Friendnapped

The purple water has streaks of silver shot throughout it. Beware, these silver streaks neutralize powers, canon and role abilities alike, for at least an hour. A neutralized Legend won't be able to sense others in danger. A neutralized Myth won't sense danger coming. A neutralized Familiar won't be able to shapeshift to help others. That may set of a danger alarm but not any spidey-sense. These silver streaks are harbingers of spirits recently returned to Folkmore thanks to donations at the Shattered Spoon Shrine: lonely sharks.

The source of the silver streaks in the water, these silver gray sharks swim up and gently bite people. These bites make people go instantly limp but otherwise don't do any damage. They won't even break the skin. Once limp, the lonely sharks take their ~~prey~~ new best friends down to a cave or grotto off the underside of Never Fade. These caves are full of silver water, saturated by the magic of lonely sharks, and the entrances are covered by a thin silver barrier that prevents Star Children from leaving. That means should a Star Child track down where someone is being kept, should they enter its home, they too will be trapped there.

Being held by the lonely sharks isn't the worst experience. These spirits will try to please their new friends, giving them their favorite foods and perhaps even an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic of these items will be neutralized in the shark's cave. It is possible to fight a lonely shark, even to kill one, but that will only be a temporary measure. Star Children will remain trapped and have to wait for the lonely shark to revive—with even more golden cracks than before. In the end, the only way to escape are hugs, cuddles, and other measures of friendship. Once all the golden cracks have thinned and disappeared, Star Children can leave.

Spread the Love

By the time mid-March comes around, most of the lonely sharks have been fully healed and no longer kidnap Star Children. Instead they swim the None of the Above tunnels below the island's surface, where they provide guidance to Star Children who ask them how to get somewhere. If Star Children have nowhere particular in mind, the lonely sharks encourage Star Children to make their way toward the Shattered Spoon Shrine.

The lonely sharks still create silver streaks in the water that neutralize powers, but they will accompany Star Children and warn them of some of the dangers. When voices call their names, the sharks will snuggle up against Star Children to provide comfort. They're devoted to helping Star Children reach the shrine. Once there, they will encourage the Star Children to donate Lore to one of the broken spoons there, each spoon representing spirits who have left, spirits who became shells of themselves from lack of lore, or ghosts.

Star Children who donate Lore will find their companion lonely shark presenting them with an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic will be neutralized until the Star Child has spent at least an hour away from the silvery water lonely sharks create. Lonely sharks will happily spend as much time with Star Children as they're willing but will show the way back to the surface either via LIM (Lavender Institute of the Mind) or the None of the Above tunnels.

Never Fade is underwater within a cloud.
Silver streaks in the water neutralize powers, both canon and Role based.
Lonely sharks kidnap Star Children and take them to caves on the underside of Never Fade.
Star Children who find those caves are trapped too.
Escape by hugs, cuddles, and being friends.
By the second month, most lonely sharks are healed and found in the tunnels.
Lonely sharks guide Star Children to the Shattered Spoon Shrine to donate Lore to help others.
Either when captive or once donating Lore, lonely sharks will give Star Children an item from home.

Netfox & Chill . ★

Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Potential Secret Revelation, Potential Coerced Physical Intimacy

With the wide range of Star Children from many different worlds, sharing similarities, it's no surprise when moments of deja vu happen. That sense of the familiar with the new, the sense of something that happened before without quite being able to place it… or perhaps it being impossible. Regardless, when that connective moment happens, the Star Children involved are transported to a windmill home from the Cloud Colonies. They land together on a couch before a large television with all the makings of a movie night. There could be wine and cheese. There could be soda and popcorn. There could be tea or other hot beverages. There's a cozy blanket (only one). The movie has already been selected, and it starts playing.

Headliner

The movie is roughly based off one of the Star Children's lives, specifically for the Star Child that experience deja vu and triggered this experience. Regardless of the moment of deja vu, the plot of the movie is based off of some real or potential relationship—romantic or queer platonic—in their life. That Star Child can recognize some similarities immediately. If they had any doubts, they get a text message on their relic as the movie starts:

You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!

It's possible to ignore the message, at least for a while. The longer the movie plays, the more apparent it becomes that it's based off that Star Child. The starring character's clothes will change to resemble theirs. The cadence of their voice will shift to imitate theirs. Their facial features will shift. These changes will become more and more heavy handed as the movie goes on until even the most clueless companion will have real trouble not picking up on it. It may get harder and harder to distract them from talking about it! There's no pause button, and the only way to mute the movie is to *ahem* distract themselves from it until it becomes an indistinct background murmur.

Remake

If any Star Children thought this experience might have been a Valentine's Day prank, they'll be poorly mistaken come mid-March when it continues with a twist. The movie less closely resembles any one Star Child's life (whew?)… because it blends the lives of all those present together into a new story. One character is based off each Star Child, and it fits the other Star Child into the role of someone who was or could have been emotionally and/or physically intimate with them. If they had any doubts, each Star child gets a text message on their relic as the movie starts:

You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!

Not only does each Star Child have to decide what approach they want to take, but the other Star Child may pick up on what they're putting down! One Star Child may want to talk it out, but the other one desperately doesn't. Oh noes, how shall it be resolved? Well, the longer it takes, the more clearly the film demonstrates one way they could resolve it—a fictionalized ending, happy or sad or bittersweet or anything else, between the characters as they more closely resemble those watching them on the sofa. No one's free until they have a heart to heart or a something to something else. Any physical intimacy can do.

Experience a moment of deja vu and get transported to a cozy living room in a Cloud Colony windmill.
For the first month, the 'host' Star Child gets a text letting them know to get intimate—emotionally or physically.
For the second month, all Star Children get that text.
For the first month, the movie is based on the 'host' Star Child's experiences, what did or could have happened. As the movie progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that's the case.
For the second month, the movie is a story blending Star Children's experiences together. That too will become more obvious over time.
Some form of intimacy is the only way out!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Uhm? Yes, I have.

[ The shark is really lonely. It's looking up at her with sad eyes and nosing at her hand again.

Carefully, Rin pets the tip of its head a little. The shark leans into it. ]

... oh!

Just so. [Makie reaches out a hand as well to lay it on the shark's side, just a gentle touch.] Careful with it, however. The skin is very rough.

[Unlike certain other characters might have you believe.]

Hmm, I'm noticing.

[ Which just means that Rin will just lightly stroke across the shark's skin, who seems to be having a great time with this. ]

... awww. It likes this.

It wants affection. They all do, I think. [She is as amused as she is bemused, because her knowledge of sharks is very limited, but she's pretty sure they don't make friends with humans back home. Also, she has noticed their gold cracks that tend to heal up over time. By the time she left her own shark, the cracks were gone.

There is likely a connection.]

Show it enough, accept its gifts, and you can be on your way. If you wish to be.

I do accept the gifts, but... well, all these sweets are getting a bit much even for me.

[ She smiles at Makie. ]

Would you like some?

[The offer no longer startles her, honestly. Rin has been surprisingly friendly for the most part. She does look them over. (Is there dango? She does like dango...)]

You could probably take them home with you for later. [Makie pets the other side of the shark from Rin, wondering if that will speed things along. No, they're in no danger, but how long do you want to be stuck in a small cell for?]

[ On Rin's side, she is no less surprised that Makie has been so friendly. After the bomb Rin dropped on her during their time in detention, Makie would be well within her rights to pursue Rin for revenge... or, well, at least want nothing to do with her. Yet it seems more like Makie has been seeking her out.

And yes, there are some dango among the sweets. ]

That's right, I could put them in the refrigerator.

[ She says that like it's still a novel and unbelievable thing to her, because it is.

Meanwhile, she tries scritching the shark under what seems the most like its chin, given that it doesn't really have one. It seems to enjoy this. ]

[HMM. Tempting dango. Unfortunately, you have just distracted her with yet another unknown word, and she glances back to Rin, still gently petting.]

What is a refrigerator?

[ OMG MAKIE, LET HER TELL YOU ABOUT THE REFRIGERATOR. ]

It's a big box that's cold inside! You can stick your food in it and it will spoil much more slowly. Apparently it's standard equipment in the kitchens in Satori Hills.

[Oh, an ice box. Or... probably some future approximation of one. Sounds handy.]

Those apartments seem stocked with all manner of strange inventions.

They are! It's kind of amazing. Although, uh, I'm going to be careful about trying them out.

[ Promise!

Rin has been absentmindedly petting the shark. Her gaze now sweeps over it, and -- ]

I think those gold lines on it are getting... less?

[ Shark seems very happy with its situation. If sharks could purr, it would be purring. ]

Mmm. I noticed it with the shark I met before this one.

[It feels weird, like an injury; though there's no blood. So as with everything else in this place Makie can't explain, she files it under 'magic weird stuff' and rolls with it.]

The barrier came down for me once the gold disappeared.

[ Rin smiles. The path seems clear now. ]

Then we should work to make that happen, I guess.

[ More shark pets, even though Rin doesn't quite put together why this is. ]

[Hah. Her smile is wry.]

It is a... less onerous task than most.

[Rin will get it, she thinks. For once the only thing being asked of her is affection. Companionship? That, she can do.]

You can say that again!

[ Truly, there should be more problems that can be fixed with cuddles. Though, of course, a lot of problems in Rin's life came about because the people causing them were decidedly not the cuddly kind.

... better not to think about that too hard.

And why should she, when the shark is leaning into her hand and she is very busy gently scratching its side now? ]

[...she may as well satisfy her curiosity while they are busy... uh... being friendly.]

That sword is familiar. Was it your father's?

[She vaguely remembers Rin saying something about trying to get it.]

[ Rin's eyes fall on the sword lying on the floor and she reddens. ]

Ah, no...! It used to be Doa's. She gave it to me before she and Isaku-san left Edo, since she says she wants to give up fighting.

[ It's also the sword Rin killed Anotsu with, but she has just about enough tact to not say that out loud. ... probably Makie can guess, anyway. ]

Wait. You must've known Doa, right?

[Oh, that's where she's seen it. Makie nods, giving a wistful smile.]

I knew Doa. Not well, but... I was a little sorry to hear her decision. But also... glad. If she can find a way not to fight, I wish her well.

[Bullet dodged!]

Hmmm. I was a bit sad to see them leave, too. I guess we bonded!

[ Invading Edo Castle together does that to you sometimes. ]

But... yes. It's good that she's not fighting anymore. I mean, sheesh! Anotsu Kagehisa certainly did nothing to curb her violent tendencies!

[ Just as Rin would expect of him!! ]

[And just as before, mentioning his name introduces a slightly awkward pause into the conversation. She's not ready to discuss Kagehisa. She may never be, especially not with his killer.

But you know what. Makie won't look at Rin right now, but she does respond to that after a moment gently, arms folded and staring vaguely at the wall.]

It was not his place. Doa had her own demons to fight, just as you had yours.

Ah... !

[ Oh shit, there she goes putting her foot in her mouth again! But it is Makie's words that humble Rin. ]

Mmmh. You're right, she did. [ A small moment in which Rin briefly licks her lips, then she continues: ] Doa never told me a lot about what her life was like before she came to Edo. But Doa and Isaku-san... they came all the way from Ezo, right? And Doa's so young. There must've been a reason.

[ She smiles wistfully. ]

Those two were adrift, clinging only to each other. They remind me of Manji and me.

I did not know them well. [She smooths her hand over the shark's flank, watching another gold streak thin and fade away.] She seemed impetuous. Isaku-san seemed... different to the others.

[She's quiet a moment, and then:] It was good that they left when they did.

[Before the Shogunate's forces came down and shattered what was left of the Itto-Ryu to pieces. Kagehisa's movement was not her own, but she can grant that much grace.]

... yeah, it was.

[ As if Rin isn't gonna agree with that. She's glad they got away from Anotsu and his dreams of war. Maybe now they have a chance at a good life, down in the south.

But thinking of the friends she made along the way makes her more inclined to be affectionate, so she starts petting the shark in longer strokes and the experimentally gives it a scratch behind its dorsal fin. ]

Do you think they like that? Maybe it's like scratching cats behind their ears.

Yes. [Hooray, lighter topics, and she looks faintly amused.] It's so strange. I assume the sharks we have in our own world do not secretly behave like this.

I don't think I want to try finding that out.

[ Said while petting. Shark is happy. ]

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