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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.
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But more and more of them are coming. Kaeya narrows his eyes and changes. A dark blue horse with a pattern of stars on it paws the ground in his place. He snorts and tosses his head. He stamps the ground and ice washes out from him like a tidal wave.
Then he bolts towards Tighnari, bending down enough if the Forest Watcher leaps he could land on his back.] I think we should go!
[His voice is the exact same, just from a horse's mouth.]
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He hops neatly off the tree branch and lands lightly on Kaeya's back. It's clear enough by his posture that he has never attempted to ride a horse before, but he'll cling on as best he can with his knees and one hand against Kaeya's neck.]
I know when to call it quits on a fight. Let's move.
[He will have questions and many of them, but right now safety is the primary concern.]
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The wind in his mane and the way the world flies by reminds him of running as a wolf. He takes a breath.
And the snakes surge after them. They sound horrible and the instincts of a horse tell him to keep running.] I’m going to take us back to the building. Either they’ll stop chasing once we’re away or there might be defenses…
[It’s a hope. Other Star children could turn the tide.]
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Kaeya would no doubt be able to feel the way that the small-framed forest watcher is clinging to him with every available limb. He's pressed down as close to Kaeya's back as he can get, his ears pinned back against his hair in discomfort, and he can hear the snakes following just as much as his companion can.]
Just as fast as you can, I have no intentions of being something's dinner today.
[And also because he feels like he's going to fall off, and he doesn't want to have to deal with that.]
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Certainly not Dvalin.
The thunder of his hooves is a familiar sound. He gallops for the house in the far distance. He gathers his magic and lets a cold mist spread out behind him. It will only last a short while. Not enough to damage the crops. But the snakes slow down.
They start to fall behind. He breathes with relief.] Being the horse is very different from riding one.
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[Tighnari's voice is tight, tense, his body pressed down firmly against Kaeya's back as he tangles one hand tightly into the mane in front of him while they move. Ugh, remind him to never do something like this again.
He's starting to feel nauseous.
The chill that spreads out behind them doesn't go unnoticed and he glances back over his shoulder, only to quickly whip his head back around and press his forehead down against the 'horse's shoulders.]
Let me know when I can get off..?
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[The moment Tighnari is off his back he changes from horse to a hawk. He takes to the air, circling and then carving a path up. The snakes are still leaving. He drops down and flaps once or twice, then returns to human shape.]
They’re still leaving. I don’t think they’re trying to flank or circle around.
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Ugh... just when he thought that nothing could ever ruffle him.
By the time Kaeya comes back he seems to have pulled himself together, and he nods slightly at the other man's report.]
Good. I should thank you for getting us both out of there so swiftly. [He gives a wry little smile.] Not everyone in Teyvat has patience for the single-minded focus of Sumeru scholars.
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It’s no trouble at all.
[Watching over a scholar can sometimes be more exciting than escorting a caravan. Lately it has been often more exciting.] And we learned something interesting. No matter if we touch those trees or not. If fruit falls, a guardian of sorts appears.
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[The young man makes a face. He rubs the back of his neck and his tail swishes from side to side in distant agitation.] I don't think I would be too eager to test that hypothesis further without adequate precautions.
[He's not ruling it out, but he isn't stupid. Tighnari is not one of those scholars who will go to ridiculous lengths just to prove a hypothesis.]
I don't suppose you grabbed an apple before we ran?
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Of course I did. I couldn’t let that be without some reward.
But if you want to test it next time. We’ll try it from the air. I know just the form and it’s too big to take between the trees.
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Tighnari takes the offered apple eagerly, holding it in both hands and peering closely at it with all the unmeasured intensity that anyone with even the slightest experience of scholars would expect from one who had just been handed something of interest. His tail is wagging from side to side in an obvious display of excitement.]
Oh, I wouldn't ask you to put yourself into danger for my sake. We barely know each other after all.
[It's a kind offer, though...]
But I'll take it under consideration.
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If it’s not too much trouble, shall I let you know when I run across odd flora and fauna?
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But don't go out of your way. I'd rather not hear that you got yourself into some kind of difficulty on my account. In the absence of any safe way to gather a sample, a photograph or a detailed description would do just fine.
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[And he would have to answer to his boyfriend. He can just imagine that conversation. Diluc’s I’m aware your stupid expression on his face. He flicks his ears.] Additionally, I’ll look through my documents. There’s bound to be something there too. I’ll contact you if I have anything for you.
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Leave the risk taking to me, if you would. Ah, but what documents would those be?
[And he makes a small gesture to suggest that they begin walking, rather than just standing around. Tighnari isn't someone who is made for idleness.]
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It keeps it all in order.
[And he has dossiers on everyone he meets. He just doesn’t tell them that part. He left a few funny things in Diluc’s. Just because he knows he’ll find it eventually.]
We get so many people coming in and out of Mondstadt we got used to writing researcher friendly reports.
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[A knight captain. Then his organisation and observational skills make sense. Tighnari can't claim to know much about the Knights of Favonius but if their ranking is anything like that of the Matra or Corps of Thirty then no doubt Kaeya has a good amount of work on his plate back home.]
I'm sure that the researchers in receipt of them would have appreciated the consideration. [Though, admittedly, he expects that many from Sumeru would have probably looked down their noses at the attempt. Alas.]
But I'd be grateful for anything you pass over to me. It does help to not have to start from scratch.
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There is only so much I can learn on my own. So, thank you as well for any future discoveries.
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[Unlike most Sumeru scholars, Tighnari actually knows what humility and modesty are and applies them often. He tucks the apple that Kaeya gave to him into one of his pockets.]
But I expect that will happen sooner or later. There are a good many mysteries to be uncovered here and not all of them can be completely under lock and key. Though, admittedly, I'm more interested in the local flora at the moment.
[We all have our special interests.]
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Kaeya shifts his wings once from side to side to feel the breeze on his feathers.] I look forward to our next meeting.
[He says as he spreads his wings and leaps into the air.] Contact me on the Relic if you need to.
[He calls as he hovers in the air. Once he gets an affirmative, he climbs higher and flies up and out, heading for home.]