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

[naotorious]

By "never done" you mean like...shopping? For real? [ Yeah, sure. The way K's dressed is noted but it wasn't that long ago for Naoto that the "torn by a bear" style was in! Ah, well. Naoto won't pry much further than that. It's enough for him that the guy is open to him helping him out. Naoto wouldn't quite understand the whole blade runner thing initially anyway, so he's without prejudice. He's pretty much without prejudice as is. He's not the friend that judges you if you like pineapple on pizza or if you wear crocs! ]

Well, whatever! Naoto Hisami's here and happy to help! [ He flashes a grin and gestures at himself, as he is The Guy to go (window) shopping with. ] I get the whole "browsing for nothing" thing, but is there something in particular you're going for? Like, a certain look? [ Again, if he's into the "mauled by a bear" fashion, Naoto will easily spot some distressed tops and jeans for him! ]

[obeir]

I mean shopping. [ K confirms, feeling just a little more uncomfortable having it explicitly pointed out like that. But at least the friendly fellow quickly moves on. (And K would absolutely enjoy a meatless pineapple pizza, the horror!)

Realising Naoto introduced himself, K also offers his designation: ] And I'm KD6-3.7. But just K's fine. [ Because, as ever, he's aware his serial number can be a mouthful, especially for anyone not accustomed to using them as forms of address. ]

I'll be grateful for any assistance you can provide, Naoto. With fall coming, I was thinking of getting some sweaters. I'm not sure about the look. [ Beneath his long coat, the one he's currently wearing is a black knit jumper of simple design, a bit military in looks, much like the rest of his clothes. Definitely function over fashion here. There's some hesitation before he continues, admitting: ] And maybe... a couple suits. Do you know much about them?

[ Ideally, what he'd look presentable in? ]

[naotorious]

[ Before Naoto can even process K's "full name", he's just sort of relieved that he's told that just K is fine, because that was as much as he was able to catch. He will pencil that thought later, maybe...but for now, he's fine with just K! ]

Mmm! Sweaters are the best~! I can definitely help you pick some out. [ The smile Naoto offers pretty much screams LOOK AT ME, I'M FUN AND HARMLESS as he waits for K to continue. And as soon as the man mentions suits, his eyes light up. ] Sure do! I'm not into wearing formal stuff all the time but even I can appreciate a simple suit. I'd see them on display back home...

[ Hang on there, Naoto. Get to the real reason why K's answer got your attention...! ] Heheheh! So, is there a special occasion coming up? A date~~~~?

[obeir]

[ The questions catch K off guard, his eyebrows raising in surprise. He doesn't immediately answer, almost as though it's taking him a moment to process things. Beep boop. ]

No, not... really. I don't think anyone... [ Would want anything like that with something like him. He knows that. But the mere suggestion of a date flusters him slightly, and he glances away without finishing the sentence, under the pretense of seeing what the store has to offer. He's already said too much. ]

Just seems nice to have some. I've never had much variety.

[ Except now his mind can't help wandering because of Naoto's teasing, and he tries to imagine what it would be like dressing up for someone, for a special occasion. Nothing to do with what's required of him by his human owner. Something he'd do because he wants to. Something romantic. It's a thrilling thought, and one that he isn't sure he should even be entertaining. It's dangerous for his kind to want such freedom. ]

I'm not sure if this thread will still count ;; but I hope to continue with these two still!

[naotorious]

[ Naoto grins. Catching people off guard, while not exactly his intention, seems to be his specialty. Naoto doesn't just break the ice, he obliterates it. (Strictly metaphorically speaking. He's weak even for a human.) ] Haha! I'm just messing with you! The best reason to do something is always "just because" because...you can, am I right? [ That's pretty deep, Naoto...he'd tell himself that, if he even knew what he just said. ]

Anyway, let's see what we got here... [ He's already scanning the displays for what he thinks would suit HAAAA K well. Of course, Naoto being Naoto, he's going to babble along as he does this. ]

So, K-chan...I'm calling you K-chan from now on, is that okay? Do you have colors you prefer? You strike me as someone that likes neutrals but that's also because I also like neutrals, haha!