folkooc | August 2022 Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

*tdm

August 2022 Test Drive Meme

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I've never thought of it that way...

[Ariadne nips her lower lip.]

But that makes it sound almost like mortals created the gods, instead of the other way around.

In a sense. The gods existed long before the mortals did, and they lived their lives without concern for mortal affairs. Legend holds that Odin created Midgard from the body of a fallen Frost Giant and from his innards sprang forth all the multitude of life on Earth, the Realm of Mortals.

A sweepingly epic story, and one I've always been fond of. Do I believe the All-Father capable of such marvels? Perhaps, though I doubt it was something so miraculous. I wager mortals came to be much the same as anyone else: by being born, and their lives are finite, and over generations, they change.

And then, they wonder. "Where have we come from?" "Why are we here?" And that is how they weave their stories about, well, us.

[He smiles, spreading his arms wide, demonstratively.]

Well-met, by the way. I am Loki, Prince of Asgard, Odinson, God of Mischief, Chaos, Destruction, Rebellion, and Stories. You may call me Loki, of course, for convenience. [He returned his arms to his sides, still smiling.] I realize I'd introduced myself earlier, but it seemed only fitting to complete the tale.

[Well, that's a lot to take in at once. Ariadne keeps her face placid as an idol, although her thoughts reel in about a thousand directions, all at once.

It's different from meeting the goddess of beauty. She's never cared much about beauty, one way or another.

But stories....

Instinct kicks in quickly and she curtsies again, this time deeper, keeping her head bowed, her braid falling down to pool on the ground, eyes carefully averted.]

Forgive my questions. I didn't mean to be so forward.

You're missing my point, Airy. [He smiles, and there's something actually fond in the expression. He appreciates her sense of propriety, as a Prince if nothing else.]

In my reality, gods are not divine beings who created universes. We are simply...people, like you. We have faults and make our mistakes, and live saddled with the titles others have placed upon us. Surely you can commiserate with that.

[She stands up straight again, pulling her braid back over her shoulder. It's an unconscious gesture of comfort. Something she does when she's feeling a bit overwhelmed. Not scared. Ariadne doesn't like being scared. 'Overwhelmed' is a nicer word.]

I think I understand what you're saying. It's just...in my reality...gods really did create the universe.

Or, at least, that's what they said.

Ah, and there is the key, isn't it? "That's what they said." We are notorious for making mortals believe we've far more capable than we are.

[He grinned, holding up a hand to still any response she may have been mustering.]

We are capable of quite a bit, it's true, but greater powers than us created the universe.

[A lot of intense things in Ariadne's life have taken place in apple orchards. Which is one of the reasons why she doesn't like them.

This is a new kind of intense, though. A kind she never really expected.]

What kind of powers?

Beings so great and ancient they have no names save those given them by others, but even they were born from the primordial energies of creation.

[He smiled, stopping his walk and turning toward her.]

Shall we go somewhere more comfortable? The origins of Yggdrasil and the birth of Ymir deserve a heady drink and a warm fire rather than a waltz through an apple orchard.

[Strangely, this puts her at ease, a little bit. The great Triad of Mudorism don't have names, after all. They're just known for the virtues they present.

There's always room for everything to coexist.

She nods, only too eager to leave the orchard.]

I would love to hear more.

[He offered her an arm.]

Then let us find a tavern.

[Ariadne doesn't normally get offered an arm. At least, not as herself. So the offer surprises her at first.

And then kind of thrills her.

She takes his arm, nodding her head off to one side.]

The Prancing Pony in Willow is that way.

Splendid.

[He may be a monster in many peoples' eyes, but he's also royalty and it shows as he smiles charmingly as he turns them in the direction she indicated.]

Tell me of the Prancing Pony. You seem familiar.

There isn't much to say. It's a tavern. I suppose it reminds me a little bit of home.

[She makes a vague gesture with her free hand.]

A lot of the things in this world are foreign to me. The trains and the height of the buildings and all.

But the Prancing Pony? It reminds me of all the wayside inns I used to stay in, when I was traveling the realm. Not that I got to travel much.

I am more familiar with mead halls than taverns, but I'd prefer them to the bars common among the humans of Earth.

[Which was, after all, what some places here reminded him of, including the Runic, if he was honest.]

What kept you from traveling?

[As a prince, it had been something of an expectation, traveling the realms, seeing what needs their people had.]

[As ever, she finds herself torn between the truth and the usual lie. The usual lie has no real necessity here. But it's much easier.

Ariadne exhales slowly, before deciding on a halfway point.]

I was apprentice to the royal court translator of Princess Amanda of Valeria. My responsibilities took me all over the realm.

[True, but not the whole truth.]

[He nodded, though frowned slightly as a bit of detail was lost on him.]

You were apprentice to the royal court translator, which took you all over the realm, and yet you had little time for travel?

It wasn't...

[She pauses a moment, brow furrowed.]

I suppose...when I think of "travel," I think of something done for pleasure. And enlightenment. Not as part of one's duty.

I guess it's just that I never got to visit the places I wanted to see. Like the sea. I've never traveled to sea before. Never been on a ship. I think I would like it.

You've never seen the sea? [Now that was a shame. Some of his fondest memories are sailing alone.] I wonder, are there any large bodies of water Thirteen has provided us with?

Plenty of lakes. Although...

[She clicks her tongue.]

One was actually the habitat of a creature with many tentacles, who didn't appreciate us invading his privacy so much.

[Ariadne refuses to call it a 'monster,' no matter what anyone else says. It has every right to its home. And existence.]

'Was'?

[That was almost tragic, thinking he'd missed the fun.]

And what became of this monster?

I don't know. I'm hoping it jut decided to burrow deeper into the lake.

[It's horrible to think that someone might have killed it.]

Really.

[Now that is an interesting bit of knowledge.]

And this creature, is it intelligent?

[Ariadne shrugs.]

I didn't really get the chance to ask. It was too busy trying to strangle my friend Steve for invading its territory.

Ah, I see. Terribly tragic.

[His tone, however, suggested a flippancy, though there is a spark of curiosity in his eyes.]

In there only the one Steve here?

[The harsh tone does not escape her attention and a little furrow forms between her silvery-gray eyes.]

I don’t rightly know.

Why?

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