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Entry tags:
August 2022 Test Drive Meme
AUGUST 2022 TDM
INTRODUCTION
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.
Content Warnings: snakes, cultists, optional violence.
FALLING DOWN LIKE PIECES INTO PLACE
FALLING DOWN LIKE PIECES INTO PLACE
A breeze with the crisp smell of dying leaves caresses you awake. You sit up to find yourself in the middle of an apple orchard, rows spreading out in all directions. Mouth watering apples hang from the branches, and nobody will stop you from taking one. You can wander the orchard as long as you like, but eventually you will find yourself emerging into the front yard of a little farm. There’s a red barn with perfect white trim set far back, and to one side of the yard is a kiosk modeled to match the barn. This is staffed by a woman who sure looks a lot like the fox that brought you here.
On the side of the kiosk are advertised a few different items: pumpkin spice lattes, hot apple cider, cold alcoholic apple cider, and hot chocolate. The cider, you will be informed, is made on site. (But you have to be of legal age to be given that hard cider!)
There are two other things advertised: APPLE PICKING and a SCAVENGER HUNT.
“You need a buddy for those, though,” the woman running the kiosk will tell you. “Lucky for you there’s plenty of people you can pair up with.”
If you elect to try the scavenger hunt, you and your partner will be handed a piece of paper. On it reads the following:
TAKE A PICTURE OF THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR RELIC! :)
- YOU HOLDING HANDS WHILE YOU GO DOWN A PATH
- FEET WITH AUTUMN LEAVES
- SOMETHING YOU THINK IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL
- A GENUINE SMILE
“When you’re done, bring it back here and show me,” the woman instructs you. “You’ll get a prize if you do.”
It’s an easy enough list, right? Although you have to follow the instructions - you really DO have to find something you genuinely think is beautiful, and that smile can’t be forced! Those might require opening up to your partner a little bit!
If you succeed in the scavenger hunt, you will be gifted with an item from home.
Now, what if you decided to go apple picking?
You will be given a bucket. “Be careful to only pick apples from the trees in the rows,” the kiosk woman tells you with a secret smile. “You don’t want to bother the old trees off the path.”
Yeah. That sure sounds like a challenge, doesn’t it?
If you do stick to the orchard proper, you will be able to pick your fill of apples. All of them are crisp and sweet and delicious. But at some point you will see the other trees.
They’re both huge and old, standing on two sloping hills just past the orchard rows. One of them has apples red as blood, and the other apples gold as the sun. In the shade of these trees are weapons sticking half out of the earth, as if they were carelessly buried many years ago.
If you pick one of the red apples, you will find that you are suddenly besieged with huge snakes. They are as big as anacondas and an inky black that absorbs the light, with eyes the same red as the apples. They aren’t poisonous, but they bite and they crush, so you’ll have to fight them off at least long enough to run like hell!
If you pick the golden apples, a crowd of people will silently begin appearing from the orchard. They are all wearing animal masks… and they are all holding hand scythes. Uh oh. You’ll have to fight them off in order to escape! If you don’t manage that, well, in some places it’s traditional to have a big ol’ sacrificial bonfire…
All the weapons below the trees are non-enchanted items, but you may keep them.
Content Warnings: Optional themes of identity and school trauma.
IMAKEOVER MAKEOVER
SAVED BY THE BELL
IMAKEOVER MAKEOVER
Thirteen believes passionately in education. There are, after all, five academies in Folkmore all catering to different types of learning. While these academies are open year round, it becomes apparent if you walk through any of the districts housing shops that back to school is definitely a thing.
A new school year represents a chance to learn more about the world, and about yourself.
Also? It’s a great time for a makeover!
Yes, step into any of the shops selling clothing and accessories anywhere in Folkmore and you will find yourself passionately invested in helping another person discover who it is they want to look like! Do they want to look cool and aloof? Warm and approachable? Are they an e-boy or a cottagcore witch? Punk or prep? You two can figure it out together!
As you shop together you will find it easier and easier to open up to one another, sharing who it is you want to be.
You’ll also be able to score a sweet outfit. Nice.
SAVED BY THE BELL
Wander into any school in Folkmore and you will find a handmade poster instructing all new students and faculty to report to the auditorium. Normal enough, one supposes… but the moment you enter the room you will find reality swims all around you and all of a sudden you’re stuck in a school nightmare!
You know the kind. You’re late for class, no matter how fast you run. You’re in gym class, trying to climb that goddamn rope. You’re getting your books dumped. You’re naked and giving a book report.
These could be memories, but it’s just as likely that they aren’t - you and another person are just trapped in this cliche together. Whichever one of you is in the audience role could maybe help the other one out? Get them some pants or something? Yeah.
Taion | Xenoblade Chronicles 3
i. Falling Down - General Apple Shenanigans
[Taion is perfectly aware that fruit grows on trees. What he's never seen before is an orchard fruit trees intentionally cultivated, in neat rows, just ripe for the picking.
And no wonder, when he thinks about it - it's one thing for Colony Tau to grow crops that take only a season or two in their neat plots. Trees take... Much longer, surely, to grow. Long enough that he has no idea how long, except that he supposes a soldier who planted a seed might not even live to see the harvest. And with how much colonies lived on the move... It'd be pointless, to try to make something like this.
Still. It's with an expression that can indeed only be described as aching wonder that he eventually pulls himself together enough to walk up to one of the trees and palm one of the apples hanging heavily from the branches just above his eye-line. He knows what an apple is. They grow wild in the northern half of Aetia. But those apples are perhaps two-thirds the size of these at most, and...
He hesitates, then pulls the apple from the branch and bites into it before the hesitation and fretting can overtake him.]
... Oh.
[It's so sweet, so juicy - so much more of an apple than the wild apples. Before he quite realizes, Taion has to nudge his glasses up to reflexively wipe at his eyes with the hand that isn't occupied by the apple, which is already dripping juice onto his fingers. He's fine it's fine.]
Are all apples like this so sweet, I wonder...?
ii. Falling Down - Cider and Scavenger Hunt
[He's not quite clear on what cider is, but after the apples, Taion's game enough to try some. The warmth of the drink in his hands is familiar enough, though very different from tea - so much stronger, almost overwhelming. He nurses it in tiny sips, even as it cools from hot to warm and down to cool, at one of the picnic tables near the stand, watching people come and go.
Eventually, curiosity gets the better of him, and he signs up for the Scavenger Hunt. He looks approachable enough if you need a partner - a teenager with dark skin and hair, glasses and a bright orange scarf wrapped maybe too many times around his neck.
Upon receiving the list, he puts a chin on his chin and frowns.]
I admit, I expected something perhaps a bit more... Challenging. These are quite open-ended.
[Sorry, random or not so random person. You've been landed with a professional overthinker.]
Does the last have to be any particular person's smile, do you think? Must it be one of us, or will someone else's do?
iii. Makeover, Makeover
[For the most part, he's taken to wandering - if the variety of shops in the City was overwhelming in comparison to what's available in the colonies, then what Folkmore has to offer is enough to make the City look like the saddest little Dirt colony. Taion can't, hasn't even begun to cope with and assess the options presented to him because there are just so many.
Systematic and arbitrary it is. Which means stepping into the nearest shop just because it is the nearest - he can mark them off in a map in his Iris as he goes. Just to investigate each one, unless something catches his eye (and Taion is at least wise enough of himself to know that something will, sooner or later. He's not in a hurry, best to be thorough.
Which is plenty of time for the suggestion of shopping to properly catch in his head, though he's not really inclined to shop for himself. When you don't know what it is you like, it's easier to learn by externalizing and observing others. With that in mind, you might be approached by an awkward teen who seems more a little uncertain about suggesting things at all to a stranger.]
This seems like it might suit you.
[Whatever he's pointed out seems to go with whatever you already have - and Taion doesn't have an entirely bad eye for matching. Unfortunately, he has very little practical experience in choosing clothes, which means that issues like 'gendered clothes,' 'price,' and the like go a little bit over his head. He's running entirely off pattern recognition, here, bereft of cultural context. Cut him some slack.]
iv. Wildcard
[If there's anything else you want to do, feel free to hit me up! Taion is generally more than a bit overwhelmed by Folkmore and that makes for easy ideas. Is there anyone available to explain what a train is?]
Falling Down - General Apple Shenanigans
I honestly wouldn't know. I've never had an apple before. They're good?
[she tried to remember if she'd ever seen Joe eat anything other than instant noodles and failed. her memory was perfect, so if it had happened while he'd had her, she'd know]
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They're a sweet fruit with a fairly distinct texture. These are much larger and sweeter than the ones I've had before.
[Without further explanation, he reaches back up to the branch, plucks another apple with a small snap, and offers it to her.]
I've never seen them cultivated in such numbers, either.
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Hmm. That sounds good?
[she takes the apple from him and cups it in her hands, holding it up to breathe in the scent, thumbs rubbing at the texture of the skin]
I've never seen them at all. I thought they were extinct.
[she takes a bite and. the taste, the texture, the feel of the apple, she can't hope to describe in words. she looks somewhat in love with the apple]
How could anyone let this go extinct!
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Extinct?
[He supposes it's not impossible - there's been plenty of things on Aionios that have been nearly wiped out, and probably more than have disappeared with no one the wiser.
But, no, he can't bring himself to question too harshly, upon seeing the look on her face. He just gives her the rest of the moment.]
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Yes. The world I come from is an unpleasant one.
[and she takes another bite out of the apple to dispel the bitterness thoughts of what she left behind, left undone behind, chewing and swallowing as though the apple was ambrosia.
there are so many things she's feeling and experiencing for the first time. at least for the first time as someone other than a hologram]
toddles back to these like >.>
[It's quiet and thoughtful, more to himself than her. But at least they had apples, if not so many kinds or so sweet and juicy.
For all the many things wrong with his world, at least they had some few simple pleasures of being alive.
Rather than follow those thoughts downward - rather than ask after her home, as depressing as it must be - Taion makes the active decision to focus on the positive. He turns his body somewhat towards the buildings of the farm visible through the trees.]
They might have other produce there. Apples are too seasonal to live on all year round.
no worries!
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ii. Falling Down - Cider and Scavenger Hunt
but appearances had to be maintained, so she smiled at the young man asking her the question]
It may as well be one of us. If the rules say nothing about whom it must belong to, one of ours would have to do. Don't you think?
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[Taion offers her the physical list.]
You can keep this, if you like. I've already memorized it.
[And snipped a picture in his Iris besides - the devices they use here are so clunky by comparison. His is stashed in a pocket for now.]
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[she scans the list quickly, a single brow slightly arched]
Very well. And I should introduce myself. I am Susan of Narnia. May I ask yours?
[the devices here are magical. they have to be magical to be able to do even what a tenth of what she's been told they can do. they had photographs and telephones Before, but nothing like this]
An autumn leaf is simplicity itself and one of our smiles should suffice. The only real sticking point I can see is the something beautiful. What if we disagree on it?
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Taion. Of Agnus, I suppose, though I doubt it matters much here.
[You forgot the rather small sticking point of holding hands, Susan. Well. He supposes he can bear it. Probably.]
I suppose we can always each take one and compare. I'm more concerned with the matter of how to take a photo of our hands, since those hands would be rather occupied at the time. Rather difficult to use these 'Relics' one-handed.
[The last is mostly a mutter. Horribly inefficient, the relics.]
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It's lovely to meet you, Talon. [wistfully] I suppose it doesn't, but still. It's sometimes good to remember where we came from.
[she's not sure if she's talking entirely about Narnia or her fading memories of England]
That's a good idea. There's a kind family of cats I may choose for mine, they were so very considerate when I arrived, thoroughly out of sorts! As for our hands, hmm, maybe we can ask someone to do it for us in trade for a favor or a kindness?
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No. It certainly wouldn't do to forget that.
[He reaches up to adjust his glasses, dispelling the brief melancholy, and focuses back on the task at hand.]
Perhaps we can find another pair on the same hunt and exchange - assuming that the lists are the same, of course.
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Makeover, Makeover (POTENTIAL XB3 CH7 THRU ENDING SPOILERS FOR ONLOOKERS)
[ Needless to say, you have taken this catgirl by surprise. How Taion managed to suss out anything about her fashion tastes in the horrible jumpsuit she is wearing is anyone's guess, but honestly, the sunny colored dress he hands over isn't half bad. Sleeveless, barely comes to her knees, neckline high enough to cover her core crystal, even if she isn't sure she needs to do that here or not. Like, she's not ashamed of what she is - not anymore - she just doesn't want anyone being weird about it. ]
...actually. Y'know what? You just might be onta something. This isn't half bad.
[ She definitely sounds like she's warming up to it, especially as she mumbles to herself about pairing it with leggings like Pyra's fond of, and so on, and so on. Certainly long enough that Taion can get a good sound of her voice. It's not the subdued, accentless version he might be used to, but surely if they spent any time traveling together, he would have heard her voice in its default state during battle if she nothing else. ]
we're holding SO many spoilers in this bag
And the voice is right. It's not her 'queenly' voice, but he's seen her caught by surprise often enough - often enough that he's bitten his tongue to keep from telling her that she doesn't have to put on airs for their sakes. Taion isn't a fool, he can tell that Nia isn't truly comfortable in that skin; he's just not sure that it's his place to call her out on it to her face, and so he's refrained.
Now, however... His expression goes from 'awkwardly approaching a stranger' to 'oh god I've fucked up. I've really put my foot in it this time' in zero seconds flat, even as she's taking the dress from his hands.]
Y-Your Majesty?!
[For the moment that's all he's got. Reboot in progress.]
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Your- your wot?
[ She stares for a long moment, then finally decides he must be pulling her leg. Her? Royalty? Yeah right! Finally she laughs, like it's a brilliant joke. ]
Either you've gotten me mixed up with someone else, or you're really bad at flirting, mate. Y'wanna give it another go?
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If Aionios is trapped in an eternal present, then it follows that not only is there a future to reach towards, but a past that they come from. Nia herself had talked about the world before - or at least her side of it - with no small amount of nostalgia.
The Queens might be unaging and unchanging from the perspective of people for whom 'life' is only ten years, but they must have been young once.]
No, I don't believe I am. Nia, correct?
[Some of the awkwardness of the immediate moment has faded, but only because Taion has gone into Thinking Mode.]
My name is Taion. I... From your perspective, I suppose it will be a very long time until we meet.
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Uh.
[ Very eloquent, Nia. Good job. ]
What, like- proper bleeding time travel? Just when I thought I actually understood this world we got stranded in.
[ Taion might be less awkward, but Nia is clearly becoming more agitated. It makes sense, really, she just hates it, so she's complaining about it. There's a bitter pull to her mouth, and she holds up the dress Taion handed her to scowl at it, needing to scowl at something even though she does still really like the dress.
And then, wait. No way. He can't have actually been serious about... ]
Hang on a second. You called me 'Your Majesty' - are you saying that, in the future, sometime, somehow, I become a Queen? Of what?
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[Though that still doesn't explain her ears. Perhaps a slightly different Nia? The same way there have been countless Taions, no doubt, through years past? But, no, the Queens, at least, don't reincarnate.
At least he can answer her question easily enough, sort of. There's so much he doesn't know, about the transition between her original world and Aionios, things that it never occurred to him to ask. He doesn't even know its name, and though his face doesn't show it, Taion feels a prickle of grief and shame for that.]
Of the nation of Agnus, one half of the world Aionios.
[He doesn't know the name of her world, and he should. It's his world, too, on some level, because she's his Queen, and once, there was a person named Taion there, and some day, some day soon, there will be again.]
It's where I come from.
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okokok i'm back ALSO for any lookie-loos XB3 lore spoilers from this tag and onwards
falling down - scavenger!
I see no reason why anyone's smile would not be sufficient to satisfy that requirement! It could be me, or you, or anyone. Feel free to record my visage; the smile of Taryon Darrington is always genuine!
[He doesn't know what photography is, but whatever, maybe the relic can draw. Also, that apparently serves as an introduction, you're welcome.]
Re: falling down - scavenger!
Never let it be said that Taion was one to back down from a task, even if the company in that task is not what he would prefer. It takes him a moment of fiddling with the device before the snick of a digital camera shutter sounds.]
Taion, of Agnus. It's a pleasure.
[The tone of his voice, to someone who is paying attention, makes it clear enough that he's not sure if this is actually a pleasure or not, but it's at least not actively sarcastic.]
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I see, that's the picture they're requesting? Fascinating! I've never witnessed such a fast and accurate portrait-maker.
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Portrait? Like a painting?
[He DOES know what a painting is! Take that, culturally deprived military upbringing! ... That said, the portrait-painter was about as weird as this guy, so Taion's definitely developing a mental category of 'people who know what a portrait is' that isn't exactly flattering.]
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This is more the sort of thing I'm used to, to be honest. I suppose that leaves me in charge of the pictures.
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that icon made me doubletake thanks
lmao sorry not sorry. i added a note to his profile tho fff i expect you'll not be the first
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