July 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

JULY 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
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. You can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Each TDM will provide a scenario for how characters arrive in-game that particular month.

Playing 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 allowed to have in-game characters react to TDMs via the Network or make a log with the prompts. Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!

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

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

Paper Rings

Content Warnings: Unwanted romantic/sexual attention from a monster, optional sexual themes, optional monster fights, giant insects in 'accidents' prompt.

YOU'RE THE ONE I WANT

Folkmore has many lakes and streams. You wake up suddenly beside one, the world coming into sharp focus the moment you do. It's sunny, and the sounds and sights are warmly nostalgic for the very idea of summer.

You can sit and relax a while. Maybe lounge in the shade. Let your mind drift, and relax. There's a few people around, some still sleeping and some awakening the same as you, but it's far from crowded here.

Suddenly a shadow falls over you. You turn and are greeted by a monster: it looks sort of like an avocado covered in kelp, with oversized hands and a huge mouth. It also looks like it's entirely made of rubber - even its eyes appear to be only painted on.

This monster waves its arms threateningly. “Gaaaaah!” it says. Its voice is muffled. “Gaahhhhhhhhh!”

Somehow this creature is a lot faster than it looks, and the next thing you know it has enfolded you in its embrace.

“You will be Greg’s bride!” the monster shouts, regardless of your gender identification. It looks at whoever happens to be in your general vicinity. “Who this?”

Struggling, you realise that Greg is stronger than any creature you’ve ever encountered before. You can’t seem to get it to let go of you, and it's rocking against you in such a way that it makes a sound like the soles of sneakers on a gym floor. On the plus side, it doesn’t have any genitals that you can see, so at least it’s not as bad as it could be? Still, desperate times call for desperate measures! “That’s my partner!” you claim before you can think about how stupid an idea that is.

“You bride? PROVE IT!"

Oh shit. Now you’re stuck - you and whatever innocent bystander you've dragged into this have to convince Greg that you're a couple! You could admit to something true about love or intimacy under the guise of it being about the other; Greg’s lie detecting abilities are good enough to call you out on untruths, but not good enough to know who you’re talking about.

Or you could just start making out, I guess. Whatever works.

If you're a terrible actor, Greg will abduct you and pull you beneath the water. You better hope your fake partner will try to rescue you!

If you manage to convince him that you're a couple, he will shed a tear from his unblinking eyes before either slinking away or flying into a murderous rage.

If you choose to fight Greg, either in the water or on land, you will find that he's pretty tough for a rubber monster. Any blows to his back or sides will land harmlessly, and the kelp on his body may grab whatever you hit him with. And that big goofy mouth of his hides rows of deathly sharp fangs!

However you get rid of Greg, once he's gone you will find a trunk shaped like a koi fish. Open it and you will find some canon items from home. Clothes or weapons, maybe. Lucky you!

I HATE ACCIDENTS, EXCEPT...

You don't necessarily have to complete the One I Want prompt to find these koi trunks! They seem to be dotted around Folkmore and you might find them just by virtue of exploration! The trunks seem to mysteriously know who is opening them so you won't find someone else's stuff by accident. There are also some unenchanted weapons sticking out of the ground in random places: basic swords, guns, shields, etc. They have no magic, but they're usable!

But be warned: the second you take one of these weapons, you'll have to use it.

As soon as you have pulled a weapon from the ground, a high whining buzz sounds, swelling in volume as somethings come barreling out of the sky at you. They are short humanoid creatures about three feet tall with the heads and wings of cicadas. They are also wearing human clothes - what sort depends on what part of Folkmore you're in. If you're in Wintermute they might be wearing cute sweaters, but if you're in Cruel Summer they might be dressed like your suburban dad on summer vacation. How cute! Except they have very sharp talons and the sound they make can incapacitate you. Better take them down fast!

Or run even faster.

TIME OF MY LIFE

Content Warnings: Mood altering substances, optional alcohol use, optional suggestive themes.

I LIKE SHINY THINGS

Summer isn't all about getting bitten by mosquitoes out at the lake, or sweating your way up a mountain in uncomfortable hiking boots. For the less outdoorsy types, there's still plenty of fun to be had... and all within walking distance of an air conditioner when the weather gets too humid. Close to Epiphany, there appears a gem of a spa, nestled comfortably by a beautiful waterfall. The lobby is spacious and cool, with a distinctly mid-century modern sensibility. The gentleman working the front desk wears a crisp suit of burnt orange with a small golden fox pin on his lapel. He is more than happy to direct you to any of the spa amenities.

There are massage tables, hot tubs, and steam rooms. You can get yourself a manicure, pedicure, or facial. There's a full salon for anything you might want to do to your hair - maybe it's time for a kicky summer 'do? Any kind of pampering you're after, you can find it here! If you need to lie down, there are even some hotel rooms on the upper levels that you can rest in.

There is also a tea room - all soft pinks and sage greens, with plush chairs in sets of two or more around small round tables. You will be seated with someone else, as the tea room is designed to encourage conversation. The waiters in this delightful space are all flamingos - they move around the room with a sort of gangly grace, carrying trays on their backs or with their beaks. Unconventional, but they seem to have no problem understanding people's orders. Speaking of, what's on the menu? Seems every kind of tea has a different effect...

Black tea hypes you UP! Who wants to stay sitting around with a bunch of birds?! Let's go party!
Green tea brings a sense of great peace and mental clarity. You will find it easy to talk about emotional subjects without being overcome with feelings.
Oolong tea calms you and relaxes you deeply. You might even find yourself nodding off!
Milk tea inspires feelings of affection - whoever you're sitting with now seems like they could be your new best friend. (Or more?)

Spending time in the tea room really does encourage you to open up to other people one way or another, and all the other spa activities tend to put people in the mood to open up a little bit.

IN DIRTY DREAMS

If you tire of such relaxing pursuits but you still don't fancy wandering off into the woods, you could always poke around behind the spa, where there is a smaller separate building. If you listen you can hear loud music playing, carried faintly on the summer wind. Some kind of party? Why not check it out? Okay, so there's a big old 'STAFF ONLY' sign on the side of the building, but you could just wander in and come up with an excuse if someone spots you. Or sneak in through the bathroom window or something if you're that worried.

Once inside it becomes apparent that this building functions as a private club for the spa staff. The interior is dark and wood paneled, lit only by some old hanging lights with warm bulbs. At the far end is a bar, and beyond that the glow of a small kitchen. A few tables are scattered along the walls, but the bulk of the long room is taken up by a dancefloor.

And boy oh boy are people getting down.

The music is so loud that you don't have to be able to hear to feel the beat - it pounds through the floorboards like a pulse. It's a compelling rhythm that urges you to join the throng. Even if you lack any and all natural grace, the urge to dance is strong enough that you can cast off your reluctance. You can even find yourself a dance partner, although you might want to keep it a little more G-rated than some of the couples around.

If you tire, you can hit the bar. The bartender isn't checking any IDs, considering they think everyone present is a staff member. Just don't blow your cover!

Comments

Feel free to ignore if too old!

[yilingdaddy]

He doesn't let himself sigh his relief when his brother agrees, sour or not. Wuxian nods and, with a conscious decision, turns his back to Jiang Cheng. His wings are certainly still too battered to carry even one person in flight, so he's left with walking in terms of leading the way.

He's still learning his way around, but he can at least figure out which direction might get them to safety. He listens and watches as they go, doing his best to keep from glancing back at Jiang Cheng every few steps.

"What have you figured out about this place so far? I know what they tell us at first."

<3

[fennu]

It's strange, the disconnect between them; the tension had been ever-present since all the truths came out, of course, but it had never been quite as bad as this. Jiang Cheng can only assume he's done something wrong, that something has come along and offended his brother once again, and it leaves the scowl fresh on his face as they march forward.

He's not going to apologise, no matter what might have happened.

"Not much," he admits. "Only that there is some form of magic, and that people are happy to fight."

[shadowsincryo]

I understand. [He does. He found a home but there are others who never will. They come and go through Mondstadt like leaves carried by the breeze. He leads the way outside as he says,]

There is a place not far from this tea shop. And where I live there are places to stay for a day or two not far from the local markets. I’m usually in the market closest to our home usually every day. A good place to listen and learn things.

[He smiles at that. He is not always in human shape when he wanders the market. It’s a good training ground for a wolf nose.]

[oversleep]

Okay.

We should be friends.

_{[ And just like that-- ]}

[tenshadows]

( Now that he's more alert, Megumi is confident that if something does happen, he can take care of it with his Shikigami. And the help of this guy if it really comes to that. He'd been willing to help before, he doesn't think it'd be a stretch that he'd be willing to do so again.

But he nods at the question, watching Eren. )

Similar in ways, worse in others. They're born out of negative emotions. Sometimes they're harmless and small and cause humans some discomfort. Other times they're larger, more dangerous. The kind of monsters you'd need the power equivalent of larger, military grade weapons to take down.

( He's reminded briefly of one of the last special grade he'd come across, how easily it had taken down one of his divine dogs... )

Not the kind of things that want to marry you, though.

<3!

[yilingdaddy]

...His brother is sulking. The scowl is just expected at this point. And Wei Ying finally huffs, dropping back a few steps to walk next to Jiang Cheng. Getting within easy stabbing distance, but he'll deal with that if he gets stabbed.

"Of course we're expected to fight," he barbs, mustering up some of the old mask those who know him expect from him. "Just coming here states we're willing." To make a difference. To keep doing the impossible.

[intheblood]

You're welcome to it. I'd rather enjoy my time on the surface, if it's all the same, and anyway I'm not very academically-minded. I'd likely only get in the way.

[ He knows what his strengths are, and they are simply not in uncovering the mysteries of the multiverse. But he doesn't seem to take offense, either; it takes all types. He thinks it would be a miserable existence if everyone had their faces buried in books all the time. ]

Though... do try not to worry yourself too much. Pursuit of knowledge is fine and all, but you'll still have to exist here otherwise. I don't think anyone has ever been harmed by a little bit of comfort.

[forleaving]

That's fine. There's nothing to be ashamed of if you just want to relax.

[Adam wouldn't know how to relax if it hit him in the face, though. And as far as not worrying too much went- he smiled. Worrying was more or less his default state of being.]

I'll do my best but I can't make any promises. I've been told I'm no fun, before.

[fennu]

Jiang Cheng doesn't attempt to stab Wei Wuxian; he just begins to walk with him without too much pause, letting himself glance over at his brother every now and then, taking him in. He doesn't know what to say, which isn't unusual for him, but it is new.

"That explains why we're here," he glowers as he faces forward again, still feeling tense. "How much fighting have you done?"

[twilight_sword]

[Dainsleif nods. A good place to listen and learn things? That sounds like his kind of place, and he does appreciate the (perhaps unintentional) heads up for a spot he might like to check out when he isn't feeling quite so dead on his feet.

He brings a hand up to touch his mask, adjusting it minutely while they make their way back out onto the street.]

Anywhere will do. I'll trust your recommendation.

[Be that something close by or something close to where Kaeya lives, he really doesn't mind. He doesn't have much energy left for decision-making.] But if I have to stand much longer I will not make it anywhere on my own two feet, and I would prefer to be spared that indignity.

[deathbygoldfish]

Her head gently inclined in a nod of understanding. "Of course." She wouldn't say anything to Vax but tell him to speak to Percy on his own. They told each other everything but he'd understand. Keyleth wouldn't spill anothers secrets... unless she had a good reason to do so.

"I see." She considered this seriously and wondered if they were from similar times. "So... there is more after the dragons." There had been some loose ends but not enough for Keyleth to be worried... now... she's not so sure. Her teeth gently worry at her lower lip as she sorts through her thoughts. It takes a moment but she knows that Percy will be patient enough to let her think. "I had returned home and officially took the role as Voice of the Tempest." She lifted her arm and showed him the tattoos she'd recently gotten. "And I got this. Is... more after that? Everything seemed to be calming down."

They had been through so much. What more was there?

[intheblood]

I'm sure you're plenty fun! Maybe just not at parties, so much.

[ He's joking, for the most part, just some playful ribbing and nothing more. He swirls what's left of his tea in the cup and, studying it for a moment as if it might impart with him some sort of sage advice. He wishes he'd learned to read the leaves, like he's witnessed done on occasion. ]

What will you do, if there aren't any answers to your questions to be had? That this may just be the whims of some higher powers, and that there isn't any deeper meaning to our presence here.

[forleaving]

[Adam smiled either way. Whether he was being gently teased or not. It was alright because it was true.]

I don't usually go to parties, actually.

[He wouldn't know what to do with himself around that many people in that sort of atmosphere.

The next question though, gave him pause. It was a very good question and one he had considered already.]

I don't know. I guess my next question would be 'why me?'. I'm nothing special; I'm sure there are people more interesting than I am.

[So why would some higher power choose him, of all people? Was it because he worked too hard and seemed boring? Was it to see how he reacted to all of this chaos?]

[intheblood]

First off, going to have to disagree with you on that one. You're plenty special and I don't doubt you are incredibly unique and interesting to someone in this vast multiverse. You're interesting to me, anyway.

[ He's not even trying to flirt, not at this point. He knows there's a time and place! It's just... sincere. He lived in such a very small world for so long, that he can't help but still be fascinated with the people he meets while traveling these realms beyond his own. ]

I can't tell you what she sees, but I'd bet you anything there's more to you than you think.

[baron_badass]

Percy nods. "There is much more," he says, believing keeping things simple, "the return of the Briarwoods for one thing and the creature they resurrected for another. The battle was long and hard...friends were lost. Others left." He swallows hard. "It was a rough final battle."

[deathbygoldfish]

Keyleth swallowed hard when Percy mentioned the Briarwoods. She knew that Dalia had escaped but she hadn't expected to see her again. Perhaps they should have put more effort into finding her after they had finally reclaimed White Stone.

After letting her thoughts spiral for a few minutes, she shook her head and cleared her mind. "But we made it... right? Vox Machina, I mean."

[baron_badass]

Percy shakes his head no. "The Raven Queen called in her bargain," he says softly his voice heavy with grief that to him is new and raw. "Vax has left us to join her."

I promise I know how to do tags in a timely fashion

[tenshadows]

( What?

Who even just says things like that? )

Sure. What's your name?

thats a whole mood tho

[oversleep]

_{[ Sunny does. He's a recluse. It's the best he can do. ]}

Omo--

_{[ Oops. ]}

Sunny.
You really want to be my friend? You'd allow that?

[forleaving]

[He opened his mouth, then promptly closed it again. Clearing his throat a little, he looked down. It was easy to say he was special and unique and interesting when someone didn't know him, he was sure. But how many times had he been told that? He couldn't remember a single time. So really, it still meant something to him. He didn't usually receive compliments or anything similar to them.]

I appreciate that you think so. And, I guess by that logic, I appreciate that the Fox thinks so, too.

Maybe her cosmic car is having engine issues.

[It was a joke, mostly because he couldn't imagine the Fox needing any sort of transportation when she could likely do whatever she wanted. But he cracked a smile all the same, because if anyone in this place needed a mechanic, he'd come in handy.]

[tenshadows]

Megumi Fushiguro.

( He shrugs. )

I don't have a reason not to.

( Just don't make it weird, Sunny. )

[deathbygoldfish]

"Oh." Keyleth was quiet after that. She knew that Vax would one day hear the Raven Queen's call but she had hoped that they'd have more time to be together. Perhaps this world was all the time that they had left...