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October 2022 Test Drive Meme
OCTOBER 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: Possible insanity via freezing. Temporary nullification of abilities.
COLD AS YOU
KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM
COLD AS YOU
You were falling...
The world snaps into place all at once; you are laying on the ground, surrounded on all sides by towering bushes that stretch up towards a beautiful sunset sky. The bushes were clearly flowered at one point, but now the flowers have died and all that remains are browning leaves that are beginning to fall. On the chill air you can sometimes hear the sound of music, too faint to completely determine.
As you stand, you are filled with an intense desire to find someone. You might have an idea of who, but chances are you do not - you just know that somewhere ahead of you is someone that you need to reach. Whether they are friend or lover or enemy remains to be seen.
You wander the maze. If you're the impatient type and you have the ability, you might try to fly out but you will simply be vaulted right back down if you do. Something clearly expects you to play by rules which were never actually explained. As you move through the twisting passages of nature, you will notice that there is a frost creeping along the branches on either side of you. This frost brings a deep chill with it, and it encourages you to move faster, to find that nameless person now now now! If you take a very long time to wander the maze you may very well be on the verge of freezing and half mad with the desire to find someone. If you try to force your way through the bushes, the frost will crawl over your limbs and inspire both the freezing and near madness at once.
When you find your Person, the cold evaporates. The air suddenly feels merely crisp, and the leaves on the bushes seem more vibrant. The two of you now can focus on finding the way out - so much easier now - but any sense of urgency will have passed and you may just walk for hours, talking and sharing things about yourselves.
It is possible to solve the maze alone, but it is much easier (and more pleasant!) with someone else.
KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM
When you exit the hedge maze you will find a stunning display of lights: hundreds of candles and lanterns decorate the ground and hang from trees, illuminating a clear path over a gently sloping hill. When you crest the hill you can look down and see a beautiful hot spring sprawled out below. It too is lit up by hundreds of lights, all of them glowing under the late autumn sky as it darkens towards night. There are changing rooms where you can stash your clothes (yes, there are bathing suits for the very shy) and bathing stations to ensure that you are clean before entering.
The water of the springs soothes madness and heals physical injuries or any frostbite that may have been sustained in the maze. It also relaxes you, making you perhaps more likely to open up to anybody else present.
The hot spring is staffed by many mice. They don't speak, but they squeak to one another in such a way that it sounds like they are singing - high lilting chants that seem to promise that everything will be okay. They are happy enough to band together to bring you towels or hot tea. The spring is open 24/7, always with lights to fight the cold and darkness of winter.
Content Warnings: Monster sighting, optional violence.
GLITCH
BAD OMEN
GLITCH
Folkmore has trains and of course the cat bus, but it also has roads, mostly utilized by horses and bicycles. Maybe you're looking for the convivence store, or maybe you just like walking. However it happens, you find yourself on a lonely road at dusk. It is unusually quiet, almost as if the world is holding its breath.
Suddenly you hear the sound of wings. A man-sized creature soars above you, something with huge red glowing eyes. It drops something at your feet: a walkie-talkie. The creature lands some distance away, staring at you, and a thought arises unbidden in your mind:
Help them.
The walkie crackles and you can hear someone speaking, asking if anyone is there. It is another Star Child, brought into this trial as well. They are in danger somewhere nearby; maybe stuck on the edge of a cliff, or trapped on a rope bridge - whatever it is, they need someone else to help them get to safety. If they have any powers, they have been temporarily nullified, but if the rescuer has powers they remain intact. That's where you come in! Using the walkie you must communicate with one another so that the rescuer can reach the person in trouble in time!
But what if you don't make it in time? Or decide that you're not the hero type? Well. The rescue-ee will suffer a terrible fate... for a few seconds. Then the entire world fuzzes and resets, but this time the roles have been reversed. Both parties will remember what has already happened, so if you just ran off into the woods with no intent of helping the first time you miiiight get your just desserts! This process will repeat over and over, people switching sides every time, until someone is finally rescued or the sun rises. Whichever comes first!
If you do succeed at a rescue, you will hear the rustle of huge wings once more. This time you don't see the mysterious creature, but you will find a mystery trunk. Inside you will each find some of your canon clothes and a canon item. Looks like teamwork is rewarded! Nearby, there will also be some unenchanted weapons sticking out of the ground: basic swords, guns, shields, etc.
BAD OMEN
You don't necessarily have to have completed the rescue trial to get some goodies, though! Those aforementioned weapons are scattered all over Folkmore. But if you just go to grab any of them you'd better be prepared to fight; after all, nothing comes for free!
As soon as you have pulled a weapon out of the ground, a tall, man in a black suit and hat will appear from seemingly nowhere and attack you. He has no weapons but he is extremely strong. He's also just really creepy - his face looks like it might be fake, somehow. The only way he can be killed is with a wound to the heart - any other supposedly mortal injury will result in another man in black appearing. It is possible for someone with no combat training to beat these creatures, but they really might appreciate a little help from someone with more experience!
The good news is that they won't mess up your clothes any, as none of these creatures bleed. Because that is totally normal.
Good luck!
dave strider | homestuck
COLD AS YOU
[It is too fucking cold. As if being pre-disposed to living in warm environments wasn't enough, Dave is also wearing baggy pajama pants, a t-shirt and socks. His feet are already moist, which is a private hell he's enduring and being so brave.
As if he didn't already have a solid motive to get the fuck out of this cornless, subpar maze, he feels the strong impulse to find someone. His bestie. His good time guy. John. Even though they don't hang out as much lately and even if he doesn't always immediately like his chat messages. He just has a sense that he's somewhere in this maze and, if he is, maybe he can get them out of it.]
i.
[The obvious solution is to fly up and get a view over top of the maze to see if he can spot his friend. He'll stand out, since none of their friends really learned to dress subtly.
Dave kicks off the ground, finding height in the air quickly. As quickly as his elevated view of the maze appears, it disappears as he plummets down to the ground. The hedges of the maze thankfully cushion his fall. Thankfully, he hits every single crazy branch on the crazy bush as he descends.]
I'm fine. [He says, to no-one in particular, brushing himself off. His fingers feel numb.]
ii.
[Dave's death march through the maze proceeds in earnest, only slightly impeded by the fact that he's not fine and he'll never be fine again. His feet are really cold now and somehow, despite the adrenaline rush, he feels way colder after falling into the bush.
His searching becomes more frantic. He's lurching around corners, pushing past people, he's trying to look under the bush to see if maybe John is wedged under. He's muttering under his breath the whole time, it's barely audible and mostly nonsensical but that's actually not particularly unusual.
As his nerves peak, he starts to feel hindered by the winding paths around the maze.
Finally, he snaps, he takes a running leap into a bush and thrashes his arms wildly until his upper half is through the other side.]
WHERE'S JOHNNY?
KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM
[Eventually, the maze ends. Dave is still a little paranoid and unwilling to strip out of his cold, soggy clothes. Eventually, he yields just a little and removes his socks.
With his pyjama pants hiked up to his knees, he sits and dangles his feet and ankles in the warm water. The warmth seems to creep up his body, aided by the warm, dry towel he has draped around his shoulders and the hot tea in his hands. The numbness and the paranoia wanes and he eases, leaning back a little as he watches the mice.]
Are you guys unionised? [He asks, seeming unperturbed by the lack of response.]
Do you have coffee or something, like, non-leafy?
GLITCH
[Dave is less disturbed by the strange creature in the sky and more horrified at the prospect of answering a strange phone. He reluctantly picks up the walkie-talkie, not waiting for the feedback to clear before he speaks into it with a monotonous voice.]
Dave's Crematorium. You kill 'em, we grill 'em. [He can't quite make out the response, but it sounds distressed. There's a small pause before he speaks again, with more sincerity.]
You okay over there?
Glitch
[ John does not want to explain to anyone why he is stuck in a huge-ass tree. It's a long story, and he's a little embarrassed by it, and not only that but he is the Heir of Breath and should not get stuck in trees.
But this place has a way of both putting you in bizarrely contrived situations and also sapping your powers from you in the process so. That's where he's at.
He was starting to think it was penance for some crime he committed in the past month-- of which there were many-- but a familiar voice coming over the radio just seals the deal. ]
Dave Strider. Really? Say psyche right now, please.
no subject
And then concern.]
Psyche? [Hesitantly, but he pushes forward.]
John? Is that you? Are you okay? Some fucked up bird just dropped this walkie-talkie on me out of nowhere.
no subject
Why is she like this... whatever! We can have a heart-felt reunion once you get me out of this tree, and I'll tell you everything you need to know, but...
[ He wants to say he's tired of dying in these stupid trials of hers, but decides against it. ]
Okay, can you fly right now?
no subject
Anyway, whatever, yeah. I can fly, but the last time I tried it I got yanked back to Earth like I had magnets up my asshole. Then I had fucking bush leaves up there, so you can imagine my reluctance-- also, tree? Are you stuck up a tree? Seems kind of derivative.
no subject
[ If he sounds a little exasperated, he is, mostly because he's not really keen on becoming a ground pancake. ]
Yes, a tree, I'll explain everything but I kind of need you to get here first! Can you just try the flying again? I promise, I'm not trying to embarrass you! I'm trying not to die for the millionth time!
no subject
[He fibs, because he was totally dilly-dallying until he heard the exasperation again. He kicks off the ground and it works fine.
Dave describes his surroundings and eventually, with some difficulty, they're drawn together. Maybe it's fate. Maybe John is better at describing trees than Dave gives him credit for.
But here is he is, hovering alongside John.]
Sup.
no subject
He's relieved when he sees Dave off in the distance, an unmistakable smudge of red flying in his general direction. He tries to wave but finds that his balance is not great, so instead he resorts to shouting and just trying to hold on for dear life.
He maybe should have warned Dave about some changes he's been through first. At least it's not that weird in the grand scheme of things. Fluffy white dog ears and a fluffy tail... if anything, his relationship to Jade is all the more apparent. ]
Dave! Hey! I'm 'sup! So, uh. You're going to have to carry me down.
[ Oh yeah, and... he can't seem to control his tail. It is wagging like crazy, which makes sense, but is also terribly embarrassing. ]
no subject
Okay, hold on-- I'm gonna put my hand like--- it's gonna go around--
[Dave's hands fumble awkwardly around John until he relents and moves to scoop him like he'd scoop up Karkat when he's hassling him. John doesn't weigh much more or less than his boyfriend, so Dave hoists him up with surprising ease until he thuds safely against his chest.]
Alright, buckle up. We're going down now.
[Dave casts a suspicious look toward the tree before he turns and starts to tread air downward. It's a slow descent, normally he'd just crash down and hope he lands on his feet but right now he's carrying precious cargo.]
Hey, bro?
no subject
He spares a glance at the ground, because he got over his fear of heights long ago, but it still looks way too far away. He's progressively more relieved the further they descend, but really... he just wishes Dave would hurry the heck up! ]
--uh. Yeah, dude?
no subject
[It's just in position to be hitching his shirt and bristling against his tummy, which is ticklish as John probably knows.]
Should I drop us into rapid descent? Fuck it. Hold on.
[Dave's arms tighten a little more around John, there's something protective about the way he clutches onto him despite the fact that he's going to play his favourite trick and just let himself drop down through the air like they're jumping out of a plane.]
Here comes the ground.
[He says curtly, not slowing quite as much as he'd like as they reach the ground. Dave lands on his feet, but he doesn't anticipate the slip of the grass underfoot. Dave's feet slip out from under him, but he desperately tries to hold John upright as he falls back onto the ground.]
no subject
[ Unfortunately for Dave, the attention just makes the tail wag a little more. He just can't help it unless he really tries-- which he does! For Dave's sake and for his own, because he doesn't want to be dropped.
Someone less accustomed to flying might be unsettled by the sudden drop, but it's kind of par for the course for John. He's still holding on though. Maybe a little too tight, because when Dave slips, John slips with him. The animes always told him this scenario would be a lot sexier, but it mostly just ends in an awkward tangle of limps and what's probably going to be a pretty gnarly bruise on his hip. ]
Ow... hi, Dave.
[ He pushes himself back, trying to give a little space. ]
So yeah, the ears and tail. Oh boy. Where do I even start? Maybe we should go back to my place and I can explain there?
cold i.
He hears the distinctive sound of a human-sized body crashing through branches back down to earth, and rushes around the corner to check it out.
So hey, Dave, have one upper-thirties, dirty-blond-by-which-I-mean-he's-blond-and-his-hair-is-dirty, glasses-wearing, socks-with-birkentocks-rocking, bewinged fellow rushing over to check on you. ]
Hey, are you alright? You took a nasty fall there..
no subject
It was a regular fall.
[And to demonstrate this, he tries to stand up and pretend the branches aren't impeding him from doing so.]
no subject
[ Once they've managed to extract Dave from the bush Henry gives a good look up towards the top of the maze. ]
You know, I tried to do the same thing when I first got here, back in the spring. Tried to Wild Shape into bird form and fly out... Came crashing back down harder than a ton of bricks! Weirdest part was, the wings never went away!
[ He jabs a thumb over his shoulder at his mismatched pair of wings. ]
no subject
[Dave murmurs, in a sullen tone that a father of boys is probably familiar with. Being over twenty doesn't make Dave immune from that impulse, especially now when his back hurts and he's vulnerable.]
Oh, yeah? [Dave asks, initially with a vague and disinterested tone but his interest lifts again as he notices the fact that this guy has wings. He was distracted by the socks.]
Is that normal for you? The bird thing, I mean. The being a bird thing.
no subject
Uh, yeah, kind of? I'm a druid. So I can turn into any animal I've seen before. The having-wings-while-still-being-human thing is new, though.
no subject
[Dave gestures vaguely at the bush he just crushed with his ass.]
no subject
[ To demonstrate, he wild shapes himself into the form of a giant duck. Although, the duck still has the mismatched wings that Henry had as a human.
And then, the duck opens its bill and keeps talking. ]
It has something to do with the magic of this place. Thirteen— the fox being who runs this pocket dimension— well, she turned me into what she calls a "Legend." And most Legends get wings of some kind.