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

[beta]

[Oh, Sunny absolutely paints him in a much too favorable light, but Shuichi won't complain. It's nice to be thought of as someone with value, someone who can contribute to the world and enrich other's lives, but that someone isn't him. As of late, he's given up on the notion of ever becoming such a noble person.

All he can do is hurt people. People rely upon a detective to suss out the truth, but what good is that truth when it ultimately leads to death and despair? Ain't no lashes big enough to catch all these sad boy tears.

Still... he understands that Sunny is trying to be supportive. He should be appreciative, but... It's hard. Hard to see himself as anyone worth praising. Sunny's question is met with a quiet sigh, Shuichi shaking his head while his eyes remain on the path ahead.]

I wonder. Back home, they called me the "Ultimate Detective," but in a killing game, you can't solve a crime without finding the culprit. What are you supposed to do when that culprit is your friend?

[Ah, but he's not answering Sunny's question, just placing more burdens upon his new friend's shoulders. That's about all Shuichi can do for any of his friends, really. Hurt them. Burden them.]

My friends like me until I solve the crimes in which they're the culprit. All that waits for them after that is punishment.

[oversleep]

<sub>[ Those unblinking, dark voids that are Sunny’s eyes once again drill holes into Shuichi’s soul as the boy starts to open up to him. Whoa… he didn’t realize this guy came from some.. kidnapped world where people got offed? Shuichi’s emotion earlier makes a lot more sense now.

Sunny can’t imagine any of his friends killing someone else (hah), but he knows for certain he wouldn’t be able to turn them in no matter what his title is.

Unfortunately, he can’t be very sympathetic. Life sucks and then you die. But, he doesn’t like seeing Shuichi sad. Strange.. they just met. ]</sub>

You are doing your job.
Others shouldn’t be bad.

_{[ While he agrees with that, he also hates jobs and titles and things of the sort. He has already accepted he’s a waste of space and won’t make a difference in the world. He would rather give up a title and cowardly not get involved if it meant he didn't have to be responsible for his friends fate. ]}

[beta]

[Sunny is right— objectively, but morally, who can agree with pursuing justice at the cost of a friend's life? It's not a simple matter of right or wrong when they have no choice, but Sunny doesn't understand that. He shouldn't have to, either, but it's a bit too late to back out of this conversation.]

I thought I could help people, not hurt them. We're being made to kill our friends. None of us has a choice... It's kill or be killed.

[It isn't normal, it isn't reality, it isn't real... is what Shuichi would like to believe, but it's much too real for his liking. It's a nightmare he's yet to wake from and Folkmore is but a temporary respite from the reality that's been forced upon him. He should be thankful he's here, but...]

But I'm worried about the others. While I'm here, they're being forced to participate in this twisted killing game. Even if they hate me, I... I can't help but worry.

slight omori spoilers

[oversleep]

<sub>[ Oh. Well. Even as someone who is arguably nihilist at this point— who had a cynical outlook on life— can rightfully say that Shuichi’s situation is fucked up. Torture in a way. Sunny is sweet and kind and would never hurt anyone unprovoked, but the alter ego in his head would act otherwise.

Inevitably, OMORI was planning on putting malicious thoughts in Sunny’s head should he ever start to dig up the truth about the past. Those malicious thoughts would be aimed towards at least one of his friends. The one responsible for messing everything up. But that would be some time from now since everything was going according to plan. Sunny was running away, stuck on an eternal loop of his fantasy world and not bothering to dig deeper into the forgotten memories of his past.

Sunny stops, hoping Shuichi will stop too. He can’t comfort him in any way since he can’t comfort himself, but he knows what it is like to feel like a failure and the dangerous circumstances that spawn from that feeling. He can’t tell him things will be okay because he doesn’t follow that mantra himself.

A hand lifts to caress one of the long lop ears his friend has. ]</sub>

It is okay to feel strong feelings all at once. It’s okay to worry.

_{[ He does on a near daily basis. ]}

You can at least find peace here even if it’s for just a short while.

_{[ Sunny can’t, though. His problem is the further he runs from his problems, the worse it gets. ]}

wow now i can never play omori

[beta]

[Shuichi stops, but of course he does. He's not going to go without Sunny, but ah... here he is comforting him again, and here Shuichi is burdening him again. He's more than fulfilled his pathetic quota for the day, and he really does owe Sunny a proper thank you for looking after him, so he'll need to brainstorm ways to repay that kindness.

His ear twitches a little in Sunny's hold, soft and warm to the touch, but it's those fingers that run far warmer. They're comforting even if the sensation of having ears where he's never had ears before is strange and novel, but he'll get used to it. Yeah... For better or worse, he'll be here long enough to get used to these.

He manages a smile, more for Sunny than for himself, but his friend's efforts have gone a long way towards cheering him up. Maybe, just maybe, he'll be alright after all.]

...Yeah, you're right. I don't want to spend my time here moping around. There must be a reason why I'm here... Some kind of purpose.

[Care for some scritches, sir? Shuichi's fingers return to Sunny's soft, dark hair and ruffle it up, tracing all the way up to the tips of those little triangle ears. They're a lot of fun to play with, and seeing as Sunny doesn't mind... maybe it's alright to.]

Thanks, Sunny. You're a very kind person.

bitch i don’t care about u i care about whoever might read this embarrassing thread 😡

[oversleep]

It’s okay to mope around if you feel like it.

_{[ Cause that’s what he does. Literally cannot tell Shuichi to not mope around. His eyes grow heavy when the patting returns to his own head and he feels embarrassed, but he doesn’t blush this time. If Shuichi keeps the petting up, he might, especially if it causes uncontrollable purring. ]}

You are supposed to par take in trials that will help you get to your potential.

But I don’t do any of that. I don’t trust the Fox.

_{[ The Fox is a kidnapper to him, and seeing as foxes are cunning, he believes all of this has ulterior motives. ]}

embarrassing 😳

[beta]

[Sunny isn't saying no, so... yes, the petting will continue while Shuichi does mental gymnastics to justify indulging himself like this. He isn't foolish enough to suggest he's doing this for Sunny's sake more than his own, but it's a fifty-fifty split, more or less. After what he's been through, the simple pleasures of stroking a cat's ears soothes his aching heart.]

That does sound suspicious. [At this point, Shuichi's not willing to trust anything that resembles a talking mascot character. A fox is marginally better than a bear, but not enough to matter.] What have the others said? I'm guessing there are people here who have taken part in the trials.

[haha, why does he think he neet would know]

[oversleep]

_{[ because the neet sees everything that happens on the relic.... and that includes everyone's opinion on the fox... ]}

Some people think when things go wrong, she just has made a mistake. Some people think she is intentionally malicious.

I think it is a combination of both. After all, she did bring us here without our consent even if it didn't seem that way. I know I would never leave my home even to follow a talking Fox.

_{[ His cheeks are beginning to get a little more rosy from all that petting, though, and he can feel that embarrassing rumble starting to bubble up in the back of his throat. ]}

Some people want to grow and reach their potential.
But I don't.

_{[ Because I have no potential for anything. ]}

[beta]

[...Being forced into unfamiliar territory against your will sounds very, very familiar to Shuichi. Thanks, he hates it, and he may even hate the fox too, but it's not forcing people to murder each other, is it? Shuichi's faith is Very Very Low at this point, but he's not going to immediately jump to the worst possible conclusions. Still, he's unsettled and unwilling to let his guard down.

It's such a distracting thought that Shuichi doesn't realize how vigorously he's petting Sunny's ears until he hears an unfamiliar rumbling and looks for the source. Oh, is... is Sunny purring? That's too cute...!]

I don't know that I'd ever be able to trust my captor, so I can't blame you. Still... I'm curious what they mean by "potential." I may need to do some digging around. [Aaand...] If I find any interesting leads, I'll tell you, okay? If you're curious, anyway.

[oversleep]

<sub>[ It’s by now, Shuichi’s petting is starting to become a little bit too much. The purring gets louder to the point where it’s difficult for Sunny to even talk, his face blooming red as he tightens his lips. Nobody has pet him for this long before and the sensations he is feeling is almost overbearing. How strange!

He can’t respond to anything Shuichi says, and when he finally talks, it’s like he’s straining through his words. ]</sub>

Sh.. Shuichi.

_{[ His whole body is quaking from the noise he is making and all he can do is squeeze his eyes closed. ]}

[beta]

[It's like his hands are moving on their own...! But it quickly becomes apparent that Sunny's hit critical mass and Shuichi's touches slow to a crawl, concern written all over his face.]

Um, Sunny...? Are you okay?

[...His touches have slowed to a crawl, yes, but he's still petting. He just. Can't help himself. Sorry!!]

[oversleep]

It... it's a lot.

<sub>[ You're overstimulating him!! And true to his cat-like nature, he wants to bring his claws out and scratch him, but he settles for something else by just reaching up and taking Shuichi by the wrist, removing the hand from his head.

His tail is going nuts, though, twitching all around. ]</sub>

[beta]

[...Oh. Say no more, fam. Shuichi promptly releases Sunny from his gropy hands and returns them to his sides where they belong.]

Ah, I'm sorry, Sunny. I got carried away...

[You don't say??]

It's just— I haven't pet a cat in so long. I almost forgot how soft they are...

[depressing............]

[oversleep]

<sub>[ Now that he's not enjoying and receiving too much of it, he looks extremely calm and flushed from all the petting........... i see...

SUNNY is HAPPY. ]</sub>

[beta]

[Geez, that blush sure is infectious. The tips of Shuichi's ears twitch, his cheeks painfully red, and... well, they were doing something, weren't they? He's itching to get an move on and leave his embarrassment behind, but first! Another apology!!]

I really am sorry... I shouldn't have gotten so carried away. Um... Sunny?

[SAY SOMETHING]

[oversleep]

_{[ His eyes open and his lips are turned upward in what appears to be a small but genuine smile. ]}

... It's okay. It just felt like a lot at once.

_{[ He's starting to walk again, also feeling rather comfortable now that he's not feeling too much of those nice sensations. Now he really knows how cats feel when they suddenly attack a human when they've had too much touching. ]}

Do petting animals bring you comfort?

[beta]

[That smile's going to stick with him, thin and slight as it is. After the hell Shuichi's been through, a smile like that shines brighter than any sun.

Yeah... when those little grey clouds part, what's left behind is a brilliant smile. Sunny really does live up to his name, but Shuichi knows better than to praise him too openly. He'd be inclined to deny it, wouldn't he? For now, Shuichi pockets that knowledge and keeps it all to himself.

Resuming their walk, Shuichi offers a little smile of his own.]

Yeah... Animals are pure, you know? No matter who you are or what you've done, animals don't care. They'll love you regardless, right? It'd be hard not to find that comforting.

[oversleep]

<sub>[ Sunny notices a slight discomfort in his jaw and relaxes his smile, allowing his face to return neutral. The muscles around his mouth were weak from barely twisting into anything that resembled a smile.

He understands what Shuichi is saying, though. ]</sub>

Animals are better than people.

_{[ ... ah. Cynical little thing, isn't he? ]}

[beta]

Well...

[...He can't necessarily disagree with that, however:]

Some people can lift your spirits just as well, but they're hard to find. I met someone like that at the Academy. They find you when you least expect it.

[And when you need them most, as was the case with Shuichi. He didn't know how badly he needed a friend until he found one.]

[oversleep]

_{[ Sunny supposed he felt that way about his friends, but he was also well aware of how awful humanity could be, and it was just easy to have a dark outlook on life when you pretty much hated yourself. ]}

I hope you find someone like that here. I have made some friends while being here, and I’ll cherish them forever.

[beta]

Anything is possible, I suppose.

[He's not saying he's lost faith in humanity or anything as widely sweeping and dramatic as that, but... He'll need a little time. That's all.]

It's a relief you've made some friends here. [Ruh roh, that sounds bad. Quick addendum:] Oh, not like I don't think you could or anything! I'm just glad for you.

[oversleep]

_{[ Shuichi is right and he should say it. Sunny watches him for the longest time. ]}

… I don’t understand why they like me either. It’s okay.

that icon?????

[beta]

[That look is so, so damning and he doubts Sunny even realizes it. Looks like those are the reason Shuichi wears this hat, but... he can't afford to clam up and say nothing. He can't continue to hurt his friends.

Swallowing heavily, he forces eye contact and firmly shakes his head.]

No, Sunny... I didn't mean it like that. In fact, it's pretty clear to me why people like you. There's more to like than not.

[So please, don't look at him like that. It hurts far too much.

do you have a problem with it

[oversleep]

<sub>[ This whole exchange with Shuichi has been very strange. Maybe it’s because, like Kaneki, Sunny can pinpoint similarities between him and Shuichi. It’s like being on the same self loathing and depressive wave length. The look he gives the other teenager next is silent doubt, his thin eyebrows pulling together and creasing his forehead slightly.

That’s not what he has convinced himself over the span of four years. He’s convinced himself that he is a waste of space with no potential. Every day was getting harder to live. The worst part was Sunny had no idea why he felt this way. Losing Mari was hard, but it was a suicide. Sunny can’t help but think he had some role in her ending her life. Maybe if he was a better person she would have lived. ]</sub>

…

_{[ Just wait. I’ll probably hurt you too somehow. ]}

what are you gonna do if i say yes

[beta]

[Sunny doesn't believe him... but it isn't because he'd chosen the wrong words, Shuichi tells himself. It's not because he's unable to help anyone. If he believes that, he'll clam up again, fail to help a friend in need. And if he fails another friend, he... can't imagine what he'll do with himself then.

He can't. He won't. They aren't far from their destination, but taking Sunny's hand, Shuichi reroutes them for a little detour. He parks them on a nearby bench, scrounges up his courage, and pulls his hat off his head. Sitting it on his lap, he looks Sunny dead in the eye, ignoring every cell in his body that screams at him to look away. Run. Hide. This time, he won't heed the call of cowardice.]

Look at me, Sunny. Please.