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June 2023 Test Drive Meme
June 2023 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 and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are allowed to have in-game characters react to TDMs via the Network or make a Log with the prompts they want to participate in.
TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.
Playing and interacting with the 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.
🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.
and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.
🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.
Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.
Content Warnings: Alternate Universe, Memory alteration/altered sense of self, Exhibition
If This Was a Movie
If This Was a Movie
You forget everything the fox told you on your way over. You forget your own history. You remember a completely new one, one that matches whatever story you're now in. It could be a story from your world—a folk tale, a novel, a movie, a telenovella—or one you've never heard of. Whatever it is, this is your life now. Your memories match as though you've lived here your whole life. The tone may match your world, or it may drastically differ.Big Red Button
And you're not alone.
Whatever scene you're in features at least one other Star Child in the same situation you are. They might also be a new arrival, or they may be someone Thirteen has plucked up out of Folkmore and brought here to join you. Whether you've known each other your whole previous life or never met before, you know each other as the people in the story—whatever relationship that is. You don't remember being placed here. It's your life! It always has been.
The two (or more) of you pick up at whatever point in the story it is. Perhaps it'll go the same way as the original story. Perhaps not. You still are you—memories redacted—after all. This story is yours to write together!
The outfits, the setting, the NPCs (played by Spirits going along with things), etc. all perfectly match the story and adapt with you as you create your own retelling.
As it turns out, you aren't only in an entertainment, you are an entertainment. Across Folkmore, large screens showing these stories appear: in every school, in public squares, before a large meadow, in the middle of the desert, you name it. It's also streaming on everyone's relics. Everyone has the chance to see your story play out.
That's not all, Star Children are your key out of the story and into Folkmore itself. Along with these screens, there are big red buttons. Digitally, a big red button appears on people's relics when they watch these stories. It's pretty simple. Someone presses the big red button and you're free! The reason doesn't matter—boredom, pity, recognition, the irresistibility of buttons. These are the only way out, so when you get out is completely up to your fellow Star Children.
Once the button is pushed, an invisible wall between your story and Folkmore falls away. With it, you regain all your memories from home and from the walk to Folkmore with the fox. All you have to do is step out of the story and into the school of Baba Yaga. The school of magic. Thirteen isn't there personally, but you may feel her spirit around you. Baba Yaga—Thirteen—is the school itself.
A small chest is also there as soon as you leave the story containing an item from your homeworld. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
Small bat spirits have a couple stations set up within the school near where Star Children exit their stories. If you're injured or need to rest, they are ready to help treat you or provide you as many pillows and blankets as you wish. If you're hungry or thirsty, the other station has food and drink for all. Steaming tea, freshly baked bread, and all sorts of warm comforting foods. You'd be forgiven for thinking it might be autumn. They want you to be at your best when you leave Baba Yaga and enter the rest of Folkmore via Exile.
Content Warnings: Optional mind/body split, Possible invasion of privacy, Possible monster/creature violence
Eyes Open
Eyes Open
When you leave Baba Yaga, you're somewhere in Exile. Not even the Spirits or experienced Star Children can tell you where exactly you are. The school walks around on its chicken legs. Unless someone leaves at the same time as you, you'll start in different places. You'll have to find your own way out.Cowboy Like Me
If you have been exiled before, you'll have an easier time navigating the land. It'll help guide you toward where you want to go. If you have never been exiled before, you'll have a harder time navigating this section of Folkmore. The trees may try to push you back. Perhaps nothing happens, exactly, but the aura is one that doesn't want you. Regardless, there's enough fog that it's difficult to see where you're going. Attention certainly seems to be on you. Are the trees watching? Is the water listening? Those are simply stories Spirits share to scare new Star Children isn't it?
Suddenly, you may appear to be in another part of Folkmore! It could be anywhere. It could be a public area, a business, someone's home… Wherever it is, if you try to touch something, you realize you cannot. Instead you pass right through solid objects. You cannot open a door, but you can walk right through it. You may surprise someone with your sudden appearance, or perhaps you reach out to people you see for help. Perhaps you simply explore this new area where you were.
Take all the time you want. Hopefully nothing bad is happening back with your body still in Exile… On second thought, perhaps you don't want to spend too long away from your body. You can use your own skills or get help returning to your body or find yourself suddenly back in it. Time to take stock and maybe find your way back to the rest of Folkmore body included.
On your way through Exile, you may come across weapons sticking out of the ground. Swords, axes, shields, bows, guns… All manner of non-magical weapons. They're simply there, scattered here and there, free for the taking. It looks like someone had a bad time trying to get out of Exile. Whoever the weapons belonged to, they don't need them now.
A word of warning to those who grab the weapons, as soon as you do, one of the dangerous creatures in Exile will find you. These creatures don't only have sharp claws or fangs, poison or sharp senses, they are intelligent. You'll need not only the weapon(s) you grabbed but your wits to defeat them or the luck of someone else coming along to help you out.
C
It's all just worry. Because she saw Monika on that screen, so soon after showing up in this place herself, and everything for a moment felt much too overwhelming and Minako's brain was already firing up three ways into soldier mode just to try and deal with this clear emergency situation. Forget the fox, forget everything else, all Minako knows is that she has to get Monika out of there. Whatever this is.
It's how she finds herself smashing that red button with the hope that it can do anything about this, and the moment Minako realises it did just eject the other girl from that horrifying scene, she doesn't even say anything. She just quickly wraps Monika up into her arms, still feeling the adrenaline soaring through her veins, even now.
It makes her hold on a little tighter.
Which, you know, it'd be great if Minako also remembered to talk and all, but she's just a little too startled by the situation still to force out any words just yet. She first has to make sure Monika is okay. ]
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Monika wraps her arms around her as well, silently so. She's real. She's real! So long as she believes that, so long as she holds onto her... There is no need to worry about anything. Even if this entirely reality is not real, it doesn't matter. Not so long as she is.
It's such a stark contrast. When she'd first reached Avalon, all of her thoughts had been focused on determining the "reality" of this world. But now... It doesn't matter as much. Not so long as there is love. ]
Ah... Ahaha! [Monika can't help but laugh, tightening her embrace.] Minako... My knight in shining armor... You're always there for me, aren't you?
[ To think she'd been so terrorized they'd be split apart on the transit from Avalon to her world... But even on a foreign world, they were still together.
Surely this has to be the power of love! And even if it isn't... It was nice pretending it is. ]
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[ The volume of Minako's voice is a little low, almost like her voice is getting smothered against Monika in their hug - with Minako still refusing to let go of the other, especially with what she witnessed only a moment ago.
The faint tremble in the girl's tone very much betrays her emotions in this moment. ]
I was too late, after all-- [ And it scared her. So much. Even as Minako followed the fox, she could only hope to see Monika again on the other side somehow. And while - thankfully - that much at least did some true, Minako sure didn't expect to find the other in trouble right away.
It makes her glad she was there to help in the first place, but with Minako being Minako, there's an edge of guilt to it. ]
Are you okay..?
[ She kind of wants to let go of the other - or pull back, at least - so she can take a proper look at Monika and make sure of it, but Minako still doesn't dare to let go. She doesn't move even an inch out of their embrace. ]
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Monika's first instinct was to do everything she could to comfort her, but... She'd promised to always be truthful. She'd promised to never hide the pain and uncomfortable thoughts, even if it'd make her worry. So she took a deep breath and: ]
I... I could feel something was off in that movie... When I got pulled out and remembered everything, I was terrified. [She didn't elaborate on why she was so terrified-- It was evident. Minako knew of her past better than anyone. What if nothing was real, what if even the memories of Avalon had been a fabrication?] But the second I saw you? Every fears and doubts vanished.
[ It was the absolute truth. She felt at ease and safe right now. Maybe it was unhealthy, that so much of her stability and happiness were dependent on Minako's presence... But they both had their problems they were working through together.
Now though, she definitely has to comfort her. Very slowly, Monika let go of her and gently takes her hands in her own so they can look at each other. She smiles sweetly at the other girl, canting her head to the side. ]
See? [She closed her eyes for a moment.] I'd still be stuck inside without you. You saved me - and that's all that matters.
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That's good.
[ Her voice is still a little soft, less exuberant than Minako tends to be, but-- you know, it's just the circumstances. Give her a little bit, and she'll be back to her usual self in no time. ]
I can't believe we're together even here. [ Minako squeezes the other girl's hands lightly as she says it, her smile growing a little bit as she tries to put a positive spin on all of this. Sure, it was terrifying to see Monika like that, but this part is true too. ] Guess it really must be destiny, hm?
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... But she's glad she can be there for her whenever she doesn't feel like smiling. She's glad she can allow herself not to smile and just be sad if she feels so. She knows how awful it feels when you force yourself to smile, when there is nobody you can be honest with. No one deserves that. Minako least of all. ]
Mhm! [Monika raises a finger.] That and the power of love.
[ Monika squeezes the other girl's hands. Alas, it's now her turn to look worried. And for good reasons. Minako looks so stressed and tired. She worries about Monika, but what has she gone through on her end? And without the moon princess around... She's going to stress all the more, isn't she? Push herself twice as hard. ]
What about you though...? [Monika keeps on smiling, but can't hide how she feels. She hates how much she's making Minako worry all the time. She really needs to find a way to make her worry less. She has neither access to her reality-altering powers from the game nor her Avalon magic right now-- But there has to be some abilities she can learn in this world.] Are you okay?
1/2
[ It's a bit of a faltering answer, isn't it. But on the other hand, it's at least a sign of how open she's being with Monika right now. It would have been so easy to brush all of this under the rug - and it's what Minako definitely would have done if anyone else were here asking her that same question.
She can't afford to show weakness when she still knows so little about this place, after all. It's easier to pretend to be okay - smiling and ditzy, even when she doesn't feel like it at all right now.
But she's making an effort to be honest with Monika of all people. Minako does smile a little, but she lets the awkwardness in it show. ]
Hmm, I feel better now I know you're okay. [ Mostly okay. But maybe she'll have to take that. ] It's just-- getting here, trying to make sense of this place, and then seeing you like that.. It's all a little overwhelming.
2/2
I'll be okay though!
[ It doesn't sound empty this time. Like Minako is just using it as a cover. If anything, it almost sounds like she's saying it more to herself than she's saying it to Monika. ]
We'll be okay. We found each other, so we'll keep each other safe.
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But she nodded at Minako's words. ]
Mhm! I may not have powers and stuff, but I'll fight the entire world if need be to keep you safe.
[ To the extent she would go down the path of evil and villainy once again if needed. Not that she wants to go that far, of course. It's not even a thought that's crossed her mind. But there's no way she'll let anything happen to her.
... Maybe it's a blessing she doesn't have access to her powers any more, really. ]
I'm sure we'll find answers soon enough. About this place, how to keep safe and everything else.
[ Her princess... She figured it had to be a big priority for Minako. Hopefully she was here, if only so Minako wouldn't have to worry endlessly about her. Monika leaned in for a hug, but stopped midway. ]
Gosh, are we still having a heart-to-heart in a dangerous place we know nothing about? [She laughed and shook her head.] One of these days an enemy is going to catch us in the middle of a kiss or something you know.
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[ .. or, well, Minako likes to believe she can do as much. Even if she's completely unfamiliar with the dangers that could be here. But-- she's just confident enough in her abilities that it's not like she's going to not let her girlfriend hug her, just because they have to worry about danger instead.
So where Monika stopped the hug midway, Minako is the one who leans in this time, wrapping her arms around Monika's waist. ]
You better not be using that as an excuse to not hug me. [ She pouts as she says it - for dramatic effect, clearly just played up. ] How about you instead tell me everything you remember about coming here?
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[ As if she would ever say no to a hug. Of course she embraces her back once more, and even rests her head on her shoulder. What she remembered from her coming here... Goodness, it was fuzzy. But that was all the more reasons for them to speak of it now. ]
The last thing I remember is leaving Avalon with you. But rather than reaching your world, a fox came to me. Everything faded around me and I stepped outside of my own body. It kind of reminded me of my experiences with astral projection... [She paused.] I followed the fox, but I wasn't really myself.
[ Some form of mind control perhaps? The next part though, she had forgotten until now... And she wished she could have kept it that way. ]
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[ It was a blessing Minako couldn't see her features right now, for there was no hiding how terrified she was at the thought this might be true. She'd done everything she could to redeem herself but... What if she was invariably evil? What if that was her fate to be the "villain?" Perhaps her creator had always had that in mind for her.
If so that meant sooner or later...
... She cleared her throat. No thinking about depressing stuff right now. She's worried Minako enough for the next year. Without even realizing it, she forces herself to smile and sound a bit more cheery. ]
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[ And that definitely is what they should be focusing on. ]
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And just when Minako wants to ask the other if she also felt a weird urge to follow it, like an external force rather than a choice, Monika continues.
.. it makes the question in Minako's own mind feel way less important, and one of her hands moves up higher to rub Monika's back, while the other remains wrapped around her waist. ]
All that is bad in the universe, huh..?
[ Even if Monika isn't showing many signs of distress about it, Minako just knows it can't be easy on the other girl. You know, given everything Monika went through before, everything she told Minako about. Her worries, too. ]
Are you telling me that fox was insulting my taste? [ Okay, maybe that's a bit too light of a take on it.. but it feels easier to approach it this way now, while they're still processing all of this. She can get more serious about the reassurance later, while they're safe. Maybe once they've found a bed to cuddle in, if this place would permit as much. ] That's so rude! I'll have to make sure to find it and give it a piece of my mind..!
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So, really... The fox has a point, doesn't it? She has terrible tastes in love interests...! But even then, Monika isn't about to give up. So long as Minako loves her, she'll keep striving to better herself and show her how wrong that prediction of a loveless future was. ]
Me too...! [She shakes her head.] How dares it insult my girlfriend's tastes? There's no way I can let that go.
[ She smiles and laughs. Sometimes, light-hearted takes are the best. She finally pulls back again so she can look at the other girl. ]
Did you see the fox too on your way here?
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[ She glances around them briefly - maybe the first time she's torn her gaze away from Monika at all so far, other than to check for danger before - so she can find a nearby spot for them to sit, considering how much they have to talk about here.
It's easy to guide Monika over to said spot, making sure the other girl sits down before Minako joins her, holding the other's hand in her own. ]
It felt.. strange. [ There's some slight caution in that word, the way Minako's eyebrows draw together into a frown - making her look more serious - probably a familiar sight for the other right now. ] The way that fox spoke to me, it's like.. I was compelled to follow it or something. I mean, I can't think of any other reason I would go anywhere without the reassurance that you'd be there with me.
[ She can't leave Monika behind, after all. Not after everything. ]
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That lines up with my experience... Some form of mind control, perhaps?
[ Which is worrisome if true. It's one thing for her to fall for this- She is an artificial person, after all. One who had once been subject to the whims of the game's script and whatever her creator had put into her head. But it's another thing altogether if Minako fell for that too. She's a powerful guardian and fighter with true powers, not the magic from Avalon.
That fox sure sounds very powerful and dangerous. It took the two of them here... And then Minako rescued her from the movie. That hardly sounds like a coincidence. Ah... Could it be?
She squeezes Minako's hand as she starts making a theory, taking on a more serious tone as well. ]
Did the fox tell you anything?
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It takes some effort to drag it back now. ]
The same as it seems to have told you.
[ As far as she's heard so far, anyway. ]
Except it told me I'm supposed to be a "Legend."
[ The opposite of Monika, huh.. It makes her stare at her girlfriend with some concern in her eyes while she speaks those words. ]
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All that is good in the universe? [She smiles and closes an eye.] Honestly, I must say I agree~!
[ That fits her to a T, doesn't it? She can't think of anyone who would better incarnate the concept of "good" than Minako. Though she would argue her borderline self-destructive dedication to her duties isn't a good thing at all... Odds are this isn't how the fox thinks of these concepts. ]
A legend and a myth who love each other, taken to this world... [A pause.] Then the myth gets placed in a situation where she is the a villain in a movie while the legend is given a chance to be the hero by rescuing her.
[ Very convenient, that. A tad too convenient. ]
That's too much to be a coincidence, don't you agree?
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Her facial expression already says enough just as she's looking at Monika and listening to what the other is saying. Indeed - it doesn't sound like it could be a coincidence. But what is it then? Is this some new enemy from her world that managed to capture them the moment she almost arrived back there with Monika? Is this some new world entirely that drew them in, exactly the way Avalon had?
The latter seems more likely, but while Minako is still worried, she doesn't want to discount the other possibility either. ]
Well.. At least we won't have to worry about this place trying to tear us apart.
[ Her mind can't help but go there. After all, everything that happened in her past life, all the trouble between the people of the moon and the Earth and a forbidden love - it hits home just a little bit too hard, especially given that their roles seem to be complete opposites here. What if this place is just trying to create conflict between legends and myths, by claiming one is meant to be good and the other evil? ]
No matter what that fox or anything else will try to do, we're sticking together. [ She squeezes Monika's hands as she says it. ] No matter what.
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No matter what.
[ The same thought had crossed her mind, obviously. What could that "Fox" or the other entity here do to pit them against each other? But it was now that their honesty to each other paid off, didn't it? Monika had told Minako everything. Every dark secrets and horrible things from her past. And likewise, Monika knew of Minako's darker side as well. The ruthlessness she could show when carrying her duties.
So she smiles confidently. ]
I promised to make you believe in love again. [Well, she had never truly ceased to believe in love, had she? Just... She had given up in love for herself.] To make you believe a happy ending is possible for you.
[ Because no matter what, she couldn't picture serving as a guardian for someone else with zero hopes of a private love life as a "happy ending." Nope. It was just as bad as her fate had been in the game. ]
And I'm not giving up, ever.
[ Not even under the threat of some weird space fox! ]
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How can she not, when Monika is going this far out of the way for her? ]
Okay, you can't be this sweet only five minutes after we've found each other again in an entirely different world.
[ It's a faint joke though, trying to hide a bit of Minako's own fluster, and she leans in to press a kiss against the other's lips.
A kiss that lingers for a moment until she pulls back, but her gaze is still aimed at the other girl. ]
Though.. if we are going to be stuck here, at least for a while, I guess we should figure out some living situation, huh. [ Especially when Minako doesn't even know when it's going to get dark here. Not when she doesn't know what time she arrived, or for how long the other girl was stuck in that movie. ] I mean, I'm assuming you want us to keep living together.
[ Because Minako wants that too, if her tone is anything to go by, still lightly teasing. ]
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Of course~! [And nobody was surprised.] I don't think I could sleep half as well without my Minako cuddling me now.
[ That was why they'd started sharing a bed, after all. Minako had offered it to help and alleviate her nightmares... But even in the eventuality the nightmares were gone for too, no way it would be the same without her now. She leaned back in, pressing a brief kiss of her own against her lips. ]
I wonder what kind of places they got here... [It was maybe a tad early to start imagining the best, but dreaming never hurt.] Maybe we'll find a cute little house, ahaha!
[ How wonderful it would be if they could get their very own little love nest. Just the two of them, away from everyone and everything! Not that she had minded Usagi and Mamoru...
... ... ... ... ...
... Well maybe a little bit. She can't help it, she's working on it but her possessiveness and jealousy are still very much present. And she knows that's very wrong... So she'll definitely have to let Minako make the choice as to where they decide to live lest she lets that side of her influence her too much. ]
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Even the goddess of love herself can be a cuddlebug, after all.
So she just smiles at Monika's answer, glad that she can continue to provide the other with this much, even when they're trapped in yet another new unknown place. (But together, this time. Together, from the start.) ]
Tell me all your dreams, then.
[ Even if Minako has no idea what's out here, or what their options even are, or if they have options at all..
It can't hurt to dream, right? Especially Monika, who's always gotten so little. ]
What kind of cute little house would you want? We could keep an eye out! [ Especially when Minako herself has so very little preferences.
Just being with the people she cares about is enough for her. And Monika's tastes have usually suited her just fine so far too.
(Besides, is wanting to give your girlfriend something special and something she'll love really so bad?) ]
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[ That sounds so boring when said like that, so painfully normal. But being abnormal is something of a curse, isn't it? At least to Monika, it is. If only she could have been born a normal girl just like everyone else... ]
It's weird... I used to have grander dreams. Before my epiphany, I was already thinking about the kind of university I should go to after high school. Having a career, making the world a better place. But now, that doesn't sound so appealing any more...
[ What's the point really? None of the careers she had ever considered had really appealed to her. They were things her parents and people considered "good" and "respectable" jobs... Things she had zero passion for. She'd have pursued those paths for the sake of having other people be proud of her, in the hopes they would like her for it.
But that's really horrible, isn't it? What is the point in having a job people think of highly, if that job makes you miserable? If every day of your life, you find yourself thinking about your passions without ever being able to pursue them? For all the trauma and pain her epiphany brought to her, maybe this is the one positive thing that came out from it.
She wants a happy ending now. And with someone as wonderful as Minako by her side, they can totally do it. ]
I just want to write books, live with my girlfriend in a cozy little house, and help her pursue her dream of becoming an idol.
[ She hasn't forgotten. And she will definitely help her see that dream come true (even though she has to admit the idea of countless fans falling in love with Minako scares her more than a little bit, but she's really working on her jealousy issues). ]
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