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

Jiro Azuma | Black Torch | OTA (Myth)

[cicadashell]

1] you're the one i want

[Relaxing isn't something Jiro's too inclined to do before thoroughly getting a feel for this place, so he starts off from that comfortable spot by the lake pretty quickly. Only someone else didn't, and now he's inconveniently walking by a few yards away when he hears the commotion. Turning to look back, he's anything but horrified at the strange creature. He'd been escaping a swarm of giant teeth bug monsters in his own world, and this thing kind of pales in comparison. It looks pretty ridiculous, and he snorts, almost breaking into laughter, but then the words of the 'captive' register suddenly. Partner? In whatever way that's meant, it's not true.]

Oi! The fuck I am! Don't drag me into your bullshit.

[Yet, Jiro approaches, if only to get a better look at 'Greg' and make a disgusted noise.]

Gross. Looks like a rotting hedgehog. Just punch it in the face.

[If they don't, he certainly will, fist clenched and ready.]


2] i like shiny things (tea room)

[Ignoring pleasantries and acknowledgement of the person already at the table when he's directed to his chair, Jiro plops down into it and gets comfortable. He slouches down and rests one dirty boot up against the edge of the table, a little too forcefully and upsetting a tea spoon. He catches it before it falls to the floor, but instead of setting it back on the table, he drums it against the chair arm, slowly and softly, but incessantly. He looks down at the menu open in front of him, scanning the teas, and then finally makes eye contact with the other occupant and nods once.]

Tried any of this fancy crap yet?


3] wildcard
(anything else! i'll roll with it)

Shiny Things

[fracturedbeauty]

[Yukari was enjoying himself. He's not quite sure what the waitstaff was thinking to pair him up with this... brash atrocity now sitting acrost from him. Every last thing Jiro is doing is disrespectful in such a beautiful place. He can accept this behaviour out in the wild, but it certainly isn't welcomed here. He's drumming the spoon on the chair arm. He's met adult-children before, but this guy is certainly trying to set some sort of record.]

You're certainly not obligated. How did you even get in here if you didn't want to enjoy the finer things?

[Yukari looks absolutely displeased at the situation. There is a small frown of disapproval, like an adult tutting a misbehaving child that clearly isn't his. Waiters, he would like a new companion, please.]

[cicadashell]

[The thudding of the spoon stops and Jiro gestures with it instead, poining accusingly.]

I can go where the fuck I want.

[He sets the spoon down on the table with a clatter.]

Besides, I didn't say I wasn't going to have any. Don't put words in my mouth, shitface.

[Yukari's frown is met with a bit of a glare; Jiro's very used to people looking at him like that, and all it does is piss him off.]

[fracturedbeauty]

[Definitely a child Yukari notes to himself. Even Sukuna has better manners, and Sukuna is an actual child. The disapproval on Yukari's face doesn't lighten; he only raises his eyebrows in further disapproval as Jiro carries on.]

Then by all means. I encourage you to have some.

[In the hopes that putting tea in this child's mouth will shut him up. Though he highly doubts it. But one sip means one less swear word for three seconds, right? Yukari just wants to enjoy the spa in peace.]

And I encourage you to do so quietly.

[cicadashell]

Don't mind if I do.

[Snatching whatever tea Yukari's already had on the table, he's going to drink out of the other man's cup. Loudly slurping. He sets the cup back down with a pointed thud.]

Quiet enough for you?

[fracturedbeauty]

[Well, that warrants a blink of surprise from Yukari. How distasteful, not beautiful at all. Yukari will surely need a new cup. But he also needs to nip this man's behaviour in the bud.

And Yukari lets out an amused chuckle.]

Oh, my, I'm flattered. I didn't know you enjoyed indirect kissing. I suppose I can appreciate your style of flirting.

[He absolutely doesn't. But if Jiro is here to start a fight, then Yukari will gladly oblige. Without his blade this time, of course. This place is too beautiful to have a direct challenge in.]

[cicadashell]

[At that, Jiro finally removes his foot from the table.]

I'm not flirting with you, old man.

[He leans on his forearms, glare fixed on Yukari across the table.]

But I will kick your ass for that.

[It's definitely a threat, but he's smiling.]

[fracturedbeauty]

Well, then. I suppose I have no choice but to accept.

[Not that he minds in the slightest.]

But I will only do so outside.

[He stands up and motions a hand toward the doors.]

After you, Brash-chan.

[cicadashell]

[Jiro moves right for the door, lightly shoving past one of the flamingo waiters on his way out.]

Can't keep up on your withered old legs, eh, pops? Outside's fine. I'd fuck this place up.

[He doesn't intend to use any powers unless he needs to, but he currently has no assessment of this guy's skills in general.]

you're the one that i want

[thorncrown]

[... Well, Jiro does have a good point. Hayan was just trying to be relatively nice to the wildlife you could say after all the business with the eagles at camp. Now that Greg is sort of making slorping noises in her general direction and she's getting the idea isn't not meant nicely with the whole bride thing...

She balls up her fist just the way Euntae instructed her and gives Greg one in the face that would just decimate anyone else. As it is it tosses the rubber creature a good bit back into the lake but it's still totally alive.]

Sorry. I was hoping it would just slink back off into the water if I said I had a partner.

[cicadashell]

Take that, fucker!

[It's yelled in triumph even though he's done nothing and it was Hayan's punch.]

Stay in there where you belong!

[Jiro glances back at Hayan, but he's still keeping himself aware of Greg's movements.]

Yeah, it's fine. Sometimes that works. You seen these kinds of demons before?

[It's a little disgusting to think of a whole lake full of Gregs.]

[thorncrown]

Oh no, nothing like him anyway. We've had problems with some big squid looking things though?

[Greg meanwhile splashes in the muck and water, groaning out something about his bride and maybe liking tough women. She sighs, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair to push it back ... and finding it to be the punching hand now covered in gunk.

She shakes off her hand in another direction, nose wrinkled as she talks.]

The squids were just as friendly though. I'm starting to think any body of water isn't the greatest idea.

[cicadashell]

Great. Hope they stick to the damsels in distress bit too. I don't need fucking tentacle monsters on top of everything else.

[Not to say Hayan's the traditional damsel with that punch, but Jiro will classify her as such simply because she'd been caught in the first place.]

I'll keep an eye on him if you want to wash that shit off.

[thorncrown]

Thanks. I didn't get caught up in the damsel thing before so I guess I had it coming.

[She edges off, dunking her hand in the lake and giving it a good scrub. It's not hard to get the gunk off at least but by now Greg seems to be getting to his feet too. And sort of just messily shambling forward.

Hayan flicks her gaze over to Jiro and with a quirk of her lips asks a little playfully:]

Maybe you could be the damsel this time.

[cicadashell]

[It's an odd comment, and Jiro's not sure what the 'damsel thing' refers to, assuming something about the squids. He's focused on Greg as the creature plods through the water like an animated corpse in some zombie movie. What a farce of a monster. He takes his eyes off the lurching pile of seaweed to scoff indignantly at Hayan.]

Fuck you.

[The tiniest undercurrent of embarrassment comes through in it, because he's been there... several times, and he's tired of it.]

I'm gonna let the next monster drown you in the lake.

[thorncrown]

[Her brows shoot way up at that. It's mostly because she's too used to joking with Euntae and him giving such bombastic replies that Jiro's own simply expletive is a little jarring. Maybe a reminder of how much she does miss the Detective too.

She can't help the grin she gets at his retort after.]

You mean if they don't drown you first?

[If he wants to play a game of showing teeth at one another then sure, she can do that too. Even with the shambling seaweed beast. Though ... that does give her an idea, one which really entertains her to boot. Euntae had done it so it couldn't be too hard.]

Calm down, darling, I'm not serious.

you're the one i want

[canoodle]

[ in retrospect, dal dal hadn't been sure what her game plan had been when she went and shouted that particular farce out. it seemed like a good idea at the time, with this rotting avocado breathing in her space going on and on about brides and whatnot. and like? dal dal gets it, who wouldn't want someone as cute as her to be their bride, but at the same time she's too young for marriage! especially to ugly ass monsters who smell! in any case, her would-be savior seems reluctant. maybe she should appeal to the guy's compassion here... or maybe she should just yell at them both. ] Stupid! If I could have punched ugly in the face, I would have! [ she continues to struggle, but it seems the more she does, the tighter greg's embrace gets. she'd been annoyed before, but the longer this goes on, the more she actually starts to worry. ] Are you gonna do something about this or not?!

[cicadashell]

Shut the fuck up or I'll leave you here!

[He's more than a little annoyed with being yelled at a woman, but he will put that aside for now because there are fucking avocado monsters to punch. Which he does, directly stalking the rest of the way to Greg while black smoke starts to rise from his chest and his fist, and landing a hit in one of its creepy rubbery eyes, knocking the creature back and possibly Dal Dal with it.]

Shiny Things

[spiritlifting]

[... welp, this was nostalgic in ways Botan absolutely did not miss.

She can't help but startle from her own menu once Jiro jostles the table, her mouth dropping in indignant shock.]

Excuse you--!

[She may have gotten used to Yusuke and his horrible lack of manners over time (and it did get weirdly endearing), but this? From a total stranger, no less? Well, she was about to have some words, and when the other boy finally acknowledges her, her newly acquired cat tail is all but lashing in irritation.]

I was about to, before a certain someone decided to make himself a little too at home here. You could at least remove the shoe, for goodness sakes!

[cicadashell]

[Jiro eyes the waving tail, but it's Botan's screeching that has him giving her a look of exasperation. She's one of those types, ugh. He does put his foot back down, if only because she'll be less annoying if he does. The spoon tapping continues.]

Don't get all hissy on me. You don't own this table.

[spiritlifting]

[Believe it or not, Botan's pretty good natured and chipper most of the time! In fact, she was fairly content butting into other people's spaces before this, all in the name of conversation. It was just Jiro's lack of tact that had her metaphorical fur bristling-- or maybe that was actual fur? These Folkmore changes were weird, okay.

She meets Jiro's look of exasperation with a scowl of her own, her arms crossed and her ears flattening towards her head. Oh, this really was like Yusuke all over again.]

That cat pun was uncalled for.

[But the swishing of her tail seems to ease up some as he removes his boot, which honestly was the main point of contention here. Not that the spoon tapping wasn't getting under her skin as well, but she could deal with that than looking at a filthy shoe while she was trying to unwind. She lets out a small huff air, her own finger starting to tap against her arm despite herself.]

I don't own this table, but neither do you, last time I checked. There's a little concept called "sharing", which I hope you'd already know at your age.

[A brief pause, and then--]

But I will thank you for putting your foot back down, at least.

[cicadashell]

Nothing wrong with cat puns.

[He says it dismissively, with no apologies and Botan can likely expect more of those puns later. Jiro has a lot of them, except he's used to flinging those insults at an actual cat. He slides his finger over the menu without reading anything, thinking about that 'sharing' barb.]

You're welcome. And now that I've done something nice for you, you can pay and we'll share.

[spiritlifting]

[Was she miffed at the tone of his voice? Sure. Was she surprised that he didn't offer her an apology? Absolutely not. She's gotten so used to his type over the years that she'd probably be shocked if he did give her one after the behavior he just displayed. Before she could hit him with a retort about the puns, however, he goes and throws that bombshell at her, causing the fur on her tail to puff in utter outrage as she abruptly stands from her seat. The absolute NERVE!]

H-Hey! Why in the world do I have to--?

[She catches herself before she goes into another literal hissy fit, though, and tries to force herself to calm down. Maybe it was time for a different approach. They were going to be arguing in circles at this point, and she was already getting some side-eye from a number of the flamingos milling around. She didn't want to be kicked out of here already!

Taking a deep breath, she plasters a pleasant enough smile upon her face, taking a moment to smooth out her spa robes before settling back into her chair. Sometimes you had to compromise to have things work out in your favor.]

... okay. Fine. But I'LL be the one picking if it's going on my tab, if you don't mind.

[She lifts her menu off the table, her own finger scanning over the list, though it's mostly a formality-- she had already settled upon a tea before Jiro made his grand entrance.]

Hmm... let's go with the milk tea, then! [She shoots him another smile, this time with a barely concealed edge to it.] Because you do seem to be so fond of your cat jokes.

[cicadashell]

[He laughs softly at her tail puffing out as she stands indignantly and the flamingos look on; it's quiet, but it's kind of a cackle. By the time she sits down, Jiro still has a smirk on display, but has otherwise controlled himself for the time being.]

Yeah, I'll drink whatever.

[It's no sacrifice to let her choose. While Botan decides, Jiro sets his spoon aside finally and straightens a bit, but nowhere near a respectable dining posture. Once she's selected the tea, he waves his hand and flags down a waiter before she can get to it.]

Oi, bird! One milk tea.

[The flamingo doesn't look too pleased, but he nods and starts to walk away. Jiro calls out with an extra request before he gets far.]

And bring a saucer for the lady!

[The emphasis is nothing but mockery.]

[spiritlifting]

[Ughhh, she really had to stop letting her emotions get the better of her. The more she reacted to Jiro, the more amusement he was going to get out of this whole thing, so it was in her best interest to stay cool and saccharine sweet and let it slide off her back. Hopefully, he'd eventually get bored and start acting like a decent person, but she wasn't about to hold her breath.

At least he wasn't giving her a hard time about the drink choice, though she can't help but wince as he puts in the order for her. Annoying, but she'll let it slide, because the fact that he even gave the right one to the waiter was a step forward--

It takes her a second or two before the implications of what he adds to that order fully sinks in-- and she can FEEL her attempts at a cool and personable façade shatter into a million pieces.

Eyes rounding to the size and shape of the saucers he requested for her, she frantically stands up, slamming her hands against the table and jostling the silverware even further.]

A CUP!! Bring us TWO CUPS!!

[The flamingo looks even less pleased to be bossed around further by this table, but he gives her another nod before sauntering further away. Panting, Botan waits until the waiter is out of sight before she whirls back around to Jiro, eyes blazing and fingers flexing as if she was ready to swat at him. She wouldn't, of course-- she may have smacked Yusuke whenever he was fresh with her, but he was a good friend and not a stranger-- but BOY, it was sure satisfying to think about!!]

Rrrrrghhh!! What is YOUR PROBLEM?!! Just what in the world do you take me for, some sort of animal?! I'll have you know I wasn't born with these, okay? [Well, maybe "born" isn't the right word, due to her not actually being a human, but details, details] They just showed up once I got to this realm!

[Aaaaand the other flamingos are definitely gawking at them now, but for the moment, she doesn't care. The utter disrespect of this boy!!]