August 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

AUGUST 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

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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]

Summer Is Over

Content Warnings: snakes, cultists, optional violence.

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.

Plaid Shirt Days and Nights

Content Warnings: Optional themes of identity and school trauma.

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.

Comments

Mantis | MCU

[uglybug]

APPLE PICKING.
[ Mantis' initial feeling of wonder and even excitement over stepping into a new place is slowly being pushed aside by uncertainty. There's even a loneliness that she isn't sure how she feels about; missing people she barely knew doesn't seem very logical, after all.

And so, she decides to occupy her time instead of give that any thought. Apple picking seems innocuous enough. A mindless task, something she can endlessly do without consequence.

She is completely absorbed in her task, so it is somewhat abrupt when she nearly runs into someone. ]

I'm sorry! I did not see you there.




SAVED BY THE BELL.
[ This place has a hazy quality to it, like she's in someone else's dreams. (Has that happened before? Even she cannot honestly say, not at this moment.) She sits at a desk, hands on the lip, fingers digging into the wood and knuckles white, while a nameless faceless entity looms over her.

She feels so small.

Give me the answer. ]

I... I don't know the question.

[ A thin piece of plastic comes down hard on the desk, perilously close to her fingers. Mantis flinches.

Give me the answer.

The entity's tone doesn't change, it doesn't move, but somehow it seems even more threatening. Mantis blinks up at it, completely bewildered. ]

I don't know!




OTHER.
((anything you might have in mind!))

[ainsisera]

[Susan finds herself back in her youthful body, the one she'd had when first entering Narnia. ordinarily, that would be a cause for alarm or anger, but right now those emotions are focused on the being tormenting the young woman next to her.

when he hit the desk with the ruler, that was it. Susan had had enough.

so she spoke up loudly and clearly] I know the answer, so cease tormenting her and start tormenting me.

[she hoped it would work. the poor girl looked beyond confused and Susan had never cared for bullies]

((eeee, Mantis! I adore her, she's so cute!))

[uglybug]

[ The faceless entity turns toward the woman who spoke, the ruler grating on the desk as it does. Mantis turns a wide-eyed gaze on the woman, both grateful and confused for the intervention. (It's only been recently that she's seen people act out of good will, after all.)

... She can't let this woman take the ire meant for her. ]

Don't torment her! [ Mantis half-stands, hands flat on the desk. ] Don't torment anyone.

[ainsisera]

[no matter her age, Susan carries herself with an air of confidence that can't be shaken. as long as she knows that she's a queen of Narnia, she fears nothing and no one.

and she smiles gently at Mantis] It's quite all right. I...think I remember such persons before I found my home. I can manage him just fine.

[uglybug]

[ That's an odd enough phrasing that Mantis picks up on it. She doesn't remember things? That seems... sorrowful, but then maybe Mantis can empathize. She doesn't know where she's from.

At any rate, this woman holds herself with such an air of certainty that Mantis believes her. Even so, it wouldn't be right to let her fight Mantis' battle on her own.

As the faceless entity turns toward the other woman, Mantis steps around it, just out of reach, and comes to stand beside the woman. ]

Perhaps. But not alone.

[ainsisera]

[there are days when she barely remembers England. Finchley. The Blitz. Susan can't help but thin it's better that way, she can't do a single thing for any of them as she was. but for Narnia, Susan could be a queen worth the name.

and she was fearless. after watching the White Witch and her cohorts with Aslan at the stone table, she'd ceased being afraid ever again. but her kindness was unaltered.

the faceless entity has no 'real'-world equivalent to her as well. and when Mantis joins her, Susan reaches up to squeeze her hand in solidarity]

Well, sir? Do you wish to take both of us on at once? Or will you retreat with as little dignity as you can muster? Frankly, I'd advise retreat, there's no winning against us.

[uglybug]

[ For a moment, Mantis doesn't know what to do. It's so rare that someone reaches first for her that the woman's gesture completely confuses her. She thinks about either "stealing" a bit of that confidence for herself, or giving the woman a little nudge of reassurance, but it's not necessary.

And it might be rude. She's not entirely sure on that point.

The faceless entity is still for a long moment - but then fades away until nothing but a wisp is left. ]

Thank you.

[ainsisera]

[Susan gives Mantis a reassuring look. she has the matter settled, bullies almost always backed down when presented with a united front.

and rude could work, as long as there was the veneer of courtesy still in place.

when it does, she turns to Mantis, smiling warmly as she squeezes the other woman's hand before letting it go]

There's no need for thanks. I can't stand bullies and you looked rather out of sorts. It would have been cruel to not intervene.

[uglybug]

[ When she lets go, Mantis takes the nearest seat, turning to face her newfound friend. ]

I did not know what question was being asked. It just appeared and began yelling at me.

apple picking

[fxckery]

...really?

[Because there's really nothing about The Blackbeard Look(TM) that's particularly subtle, between the leather and the beard and the general angry-theatre-kid vibe that floats around him.

Then again, turning to properly glance at the girl(?) who'd bumped into him... maybe there were some real cultural differences getting in the way of him seeming obvious. Maybe he looked like a tree where she'd come from.

And maybe, say, people just don't always look where they're going. Edward gets that.]

Eh. You're all right.

[uglybug]

[ Even Mantis, as ill-socialized as she is, can see how incredibly dumb she looks. This man is not one easily missed.

Chagrined, Mantis drops her chin. If her hands weren't occupied with the basket, she would have been wringing them. ]

Forgive me. I wasn't paying attention.

[fxckery]

[At least she's(?) clearly appropriately chastened by the whole everything. Well, nearly. Edward will be plucking an apple from her basket as a final leg of penance, thanks very much.]

Y'should, eh? [Calm and conversational, if around munching.] Pay attention. All kinds of weird shit you might bump into otherwise.

[uglybug]

I should. [ She readily agrees, and not simply because she's conditioned to. He does make a good point.

She tilts her basket to give him better access to the apples. ]

'Weird shit?' Weirder than you? [ It's completely innocent. ]

[fxckery]

[Innocent or not, that will absolutely be taken as a compliment. Edward will also absolutely be taking another apple, since she's offering.]

Weirder than me. [He, too, is earnestly shocked by this.] All kinds of nonsense. Much bigger teeth.

[uglybug]

[ Mantis' eyes go wide. ] Bigger teeth? That doesn't sound good!

[fxckery]

And claws and that.

[Is he helping? He's probably helping. Another thoughtful bite of his apple, and he nods toward her general face.]

Your-- deely boppers any use? Zapping folks who get too close and all?

[uglybug]

[ Mantis' free hand rises toward her face, head tilting to the side. ] Deely bop...?

[ Her hand brushes against the base of her antenna. Oh. Oh. That's probably what he meant. She shakes her head, a smile forming. ] Oh, no. Nothing like that. They glow when I'm using my abilities, but nothing more than that.

apple picking

[pursuitofcappiness]

[ Steve's here, and walking into him is like walking into a wall. It's probably worse for Mantis. ]

Oh, sorry. I didn't see you there.

[ He'd been picking an apple, and manages to catch it in his hands before it fell. ]

You want this one? This tree's got really good ones.

[uglybug]

[ Oof. That was like walking into a wall. Mantis stumbles only once though, perhaps recovering a little faster than Steve expected. An apology tumbles from her lips as she rights herself. ]

I'm sorry.

[ She looks up at him, then at the apple, though she makes no move to take it. ] I shouldn't take your apple. I was the one who bumped into you.

[pursuitofcappiness]

Oh, don't worry, I've got plenty!

[ He gestures towards his basket. ]

Huh.

[ Usually when he saw someone who had animal features, they were local to this world, but didn't exactly talk. ]

You're not from around here, are you?

[uglybug]

[ She looks at his basket and hesitates for the span of a breath. He's insisted, so perhaps it would be rude to spurn the gift of his apple? She takes it carefully; her fingers do not brush against his. She has full control of her abilities, of course, but Ego never liked it when she touched him without permission, and so that has stayed with her. ]

No. [ She puts the apple in her basket, and looks back up at him. ] I am Mantis.

[pursuitofcappiness]

Oh, nice to meet you, Mantis. I'm Steve.

[ He gives her a warm smile, and can tell she's a little nervous. ]

You just get here, then? Don't worry, everyone's a little confused at first.

[uglybug]

I did. I am very confused.

[ She tries to return his smile - his warmth is infectious - but there's something just a little off about it, like she doesn't quite know what she's doing. ]

Are you from here, Steve?

[pursuitofcappiness]

No, I'm from Brooklyn. Um. That's on a place called Earth.

[ He figures she is not from Earth. ]

How about you?

Saved by the Bell

[mafiatiger]

[Tora has always hated school. He wasn't the smartest and with his screwed up childhood, getting a chance to do homework was hit or miss. And then there was when he went to stay with Vincent Balthuman. That... was a different kind of education, for sure, and one he excelled at because it didn't need books.

But he made it through up to high school, and by the time he graduated, he was pretty sure all the teachers were afraid of him and stayed away from trying to do anything because they thought he'd kill them.

So, yeah, a scene like this? It never happened around him. At the sound of the first slap of the ruler on the girl's desk, Tora's full attention is on the faceless teacher. Maybe them being featureless keeps them from reacting to Tora's glare that normally makes other people uncomfortable.

When the second slap happens, Tora stands from the weird desk he's been sitting in and hauls off and punches the teacher.]

She said she doesn't know. Fuck off.

[He then looks over at the... okay, that's weird, but every day in Folkmore is weird, yeah. He looks over at the woman and checks to see if she was hit.]

You okay?