August & September 2023 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

August & September 2023 TDM

Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.
Welcome to Folkmore's bimonthly 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 also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’

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.

Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!


🦊 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.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

Oh How Quiet . ★

Content Warnings: Difficulty seeing, possibility of drowning, forced relocation

Fog & Footsteps

Some Star Children find themselves on land. The air is foggy and damp, blurring and distorting vision making it difficult to tell where they are, what’s real and what isn’t until–finally–Star Children find themselves on wet sand. Continue marching forward and trees begin to form a skeletal border, dark shadows growing and stretching further into their depths. Star Children who have experienced being exiled before can feel a path through the trees should they choose to venture further. Star Children who haven’t been exiled can feel resentment building around them and have greater difficulty navigating the path ahead.

Anyone who glances back may find footsteps in the sand alongside theirs. The more anyone looks back, the more prints appear. They’re inconsistent like their maker hops or flies part of the time or fades in and out of the physical universe… or something else. They may be human, or animal, or something Star Children can’t quite put a name to.

The Will or the Wisp

The longer Star Children dwell on them, the more tempting they are to follow—familiarity, comfort, curiosity, something. The footsteps eventually lead Star Children down a branching path toward a wall of thick, colorless fog. Inside the fog, there are enchanting wisps of light dancing just out of reach, urging Star Children to keep following. Just a little further, the sweet voices promise.

Continue onward and soon outlines appear in the mist, showing just who (or what) the earlier footsteps belong to–distorted human or animal shapes that exist only where fog is displaced by the will-o’-the-wisps they carry like lanterns. They lure Star Children deeper into Exile, all the while making promises they have no intention of keeping...

Salvation comes in the form of a fellow Star Child guided toward someone in distress by shifting sands. They radiate starlight that pierces through the thick fog around them, allowing people to find the sandy forest path toward The Beach. Once Star Children reach it, they will both find an old, sea-battered treasure chest which offers characters a personal item from home and either a nonfunctional compass or lantern. A will-o-the-wisp will fly directly into the item, which doesn’t seem to make it work. The compass needle points toward somewhere in Exile, not north. The lantern doesn’t light up. However, when the Star Child is truly lost, the compass will point where they need to go and the lantern will light up any darkness. Each Star Child can only receive either the compass or the lantern.

A Magical Day

Whether passing directly through the forest path or guided back to it, Star Children find a shoreline extending in either direction. Some water laps against the beach, but farther out is the long expanse of tenuous reality. Come September, it fades into the distance until it can no longer be seen. The beach itself is in Exile, heavy with the weight of magic. It feels reassuring and encouraging. Star Children can indulge in a sunless day at the beach, playing in the sand, and soaking in the magic. Those wishing for a bit more warmth can explore the shoreline north to the Boat Bonanza at the port where the Encantado reaches the ocean.

Key Points:

🦊 Star Children may pass through a thick fog to reach a wet, sandy path that passes through trees and leads to The Beach in Exile.
🦊 If they keep looking behind them on the path they will find footprints following alongside their own. Those footprints will try luring characters deep into fog using will-o’-the-wisp lanterns, leading them into the swamp so they can drown them.
🦊 A fellow Star Child can act as a light to guide lost characters back to the safety of shore.
🦊 Star Children that are rescued from the lure or who rescue another Star Child will be rewarded with a non-weapon memento from home and either a compass or a lantern (not both).
🦊 Star Children that don’t succumb will simply continue forward to The Beach without issue and will have opportunities to find a non-personal item from their home worlds being sold at the market. See below.

Christening Ceremony . ★

Content Warnings: Possibility of drowning, fetch quests

Boat Bonanza

Whether venturing up the coastline from Exile, floating down the Encantado River, or simply being plopped into the water, Star Children new and old find themselves in water. A strong wave rolls up the beach to drag suspecting and unsuspecting alike. Playful pinkish-red dolphins spray people off boats into the river. Or Star Children find themselves treading water deeper than they are tall with no land in sight. No worries, those who need help getting out of the water will get it. Along the shore, spirits in boats will pick up anyone in need of a ride and bring them back through the fog to the sounds of shouts and cheers and music to a large clear spot in the fog.

Boats come into view. Boats of all shapes and sizes, from single person kayaks to large houseboats, fishing craft and sailboats. They rise and fall with the waves but aren't otherwise moving. Ropes, planks, and bridges tie the boats together. Whether approaching by river or by sea, new boats explore the outskirts of the great conglomeration of boats and attach themselves—increasing the size of the gathered ships. So many boats are gathered that the shore isn't visible from new boats tying up.

Everyone's welcome aboard and to wander from boat to boat. Starfish spirits offer games of chance at low tables on broad open decks under awnings. There are even holes in the bottom of the deck, so players can dip their feet in cool water. A cephalopod band plays upbeat music other spirits and Star Children can dance to in competition with a scavenging of seagull spirits singing sea shanties as loudly as they can two boats over. Far from them, jellyfish spirits offer places to rest in quiet, with curtains drawn and sound dampened. Many spirits offer food and drink—seafood or seafood shaped candy or in the case of mystery flavored taffy, sometimes seafood flavored candy. Those who don't want freshly rolled sushi or take a chance with the candies can always see the Wandering Dog cart on the shore, where the dogs try very hard to be included.

Flotilla Afterparty

Come September, nymphs pop up in the waters and start shooing the boats away until only the houseboats and some submarines remain. Some go off on their lonesome, but more of them form flotillas that float along the coastline continuing their activities and coming to shore to pick up any who wish to join them. A restaurant flotilla, a meditative flotilla, music performance flotillas, and even gambling flotillas. Should people want off and the boats aren't ready to go to shore, sometimes Catbus shows up, able to leap whatever the distance.

Fetchquest

At any time, during the boat festival or smaller flotillas, Star Children may find non-personal items from their home world for sale. It may be a weapon or magical item. These spirits can sense who is from the same world as an item and will only offer them to those Star Children. These aren’t free! After all, these spirits pulled up these items from chests in the water. Star Children will need to do a few favors or barter something else to obtain the item from home. Star Children who help in Vasilisa’s, now mostly staffed by spirits, will find they have an easier time bartering… unless it’s in the Cuttlefish Curiosities shop. If the cuttlefish spirit smells a whiff of the grumpy old octopus spirit who has taken over as chef, that Star Child will have to do twice the work.

Key Points:

🦊 Explore your way to Nereid where the Encantado reaches the shore or get dropped into the water.
🦊 Enjoy an enormous boat festival! All kinds of boats! All kinds of activities!
🦊 In September, the boat festival will split into multiple flotillas floating around the shoreline.
🦊 Do favors or barter goods to receive a non-personal item from home. It may be a weapon or magical item. A magical gun from your world? Yes. Your personal magical gun with your dog’s name engraved in it? No.

Comments

[fistofvengeance]

[There's so, so much more below the surface he isn't sharing. And it isn't that he doesn't want to, because he does. He's learned his lesson about keeping secrets from Layla. Trouble is, there's some sort of obstacle in his way. Something huge and almost impossible to get across. It ensures any attempt at wording his feelings gets shut down, and those feelings are instead sucked back down to a whirlpool of incoherent gibberish.

Steven is cursed, really, for being tuned into those feelings even a little. Marc's sure of it.]

... Yeah. [That's the only thing he really knows to say about it. His fingers squeeze into Layla's hand, and he tries to gentle move it away from his face. He's not letting go, though.] C'mon. We'll go to our place. It's just a few blocks from here. Steven's out right now, but he'll be back soon.

[lilscarab]

[Even though she believes Marc, she doesn't know if she will really believe that Steven is his own person until she sees it. The whole situation here feels surreal, but that just feels.. not that she doubts him for a moment, the pain he did show was so real. It's just a see it to believe it kind of situation.

Layla allows her hand to be removed, though she keeps hold of his hand just as much, twining their fingers carefully together before squeezing. It made her feel less alone in this strange and different place, it feels like a lifeline to hold on to his hand. She doesn't want to admit she needs it, but she does - she's lost and confused afterall.]

Alright, sounds good. [She leans on his arm a little as they walk, just a little.] What's this place like? It seems peaceful but what I had to deal with earlier was anything but.

[fistofvengeance]

[It's great that Marc gets to hold on to Layla's hand. It's been so long since he last did, and even longer since he wasn't trying to push her away for her own good. And it's even better that he wants to hold his hand still, after everything. He'll enjoy it while it lasts, and the leaning against his arm too.

That last remark snaps him out of that newfound peace, though. All his focus is now on this one thing.]

What? Why? What did you have to deal with? [WHO OR WHAT BOTHERED LAYLA?!]

[lilscarab]

[Her emotions are a bit everywhere. Sure she's still mad at Marc, still hurt and feeling betrayed by him, but she feels more rational about it. She remembers how much it hurt to see him dead, how much she regretted that the last thing that happened between them was her yelling at him, blaming him for her father's death. It made her want to hold him, remind him that she loves him despite all of that, that it hurts to love him right now, but she does.

His reaction is a lot, she blinks at him.]

I got lost in a strange fog for a while, then a wave pulled me into the river.. I'm fine, Tony Stark pulled me out. [She looks at him quietly for a moment.] I take it things like this aren't uncommon then.

[fistofvengeance]

[Layla may be an avatar now- (or, is she, if Taweret isn't here?)- but that doesn't change much. Marc is still fiercely protective of her. Just as he was before, when she was already kicking ass as a normal human being. Layla is strong in so many ways, but that doesn't mean Marc's willing to have her put up with any dangerous situations.

Tony Stark saved her? Uegh... He doesn't like that for some reason. His hand squeezes into hers.]

No, it's... part of the trials. The Fox likes to put us through stuff that ranges from annoying to hell. The whole 'full potential' thing is bullshit, if you ask me, so I guess she's just doing it for fun.

[lilscarab]

[She notices his tight squeeze of her hand at the mention of Tony Stark. Part of Layla wonders if he's jealous or something, but brushes it off. Marc has always been protective even when she didn't need it, so she doesn't think too much of it. No, in fact she thinks it's almost sweet - unnecessary but sweet - though last she remembers she's still an Avatar and he isn't.

Was she still an Avatar? Taweret might not be here...]

Then today was just annoying, a bit frightening, but mostly just annoying. [Sure she could have drowned but she was soaked for hours, she can still feel some of her clothing is damp.] So this is part of that potential she mentioned, putting us through trials.. What are they like? I should know what I'm in for.

[fistofvengeance]

[He's slightly jealous, but also, he doesn't really trust Stark all that much. They haven't talked much, and Marc got invited to a party of his once, but even then... Even then, he's got this image in his head of a playboy billionaire who kept getting into his big metal suit to fuck the world up a little more.

The squeeze continues, though not quite as intense.]

They're kinda all over the place. The day I first got here, I got attacked by livin' snowmen and pulled into magic snowball fights. Which was fine, nobody got hurt. But a couple months ago, we all got teleported into the middle of nowhere in a fuckin' desert. No shade, no water, no nothin'. And there were sphinxes and huge sandworms and shit.

[lilscarab]

Sphinxes? Like real ones? [Sure that all sounds annoying or dangerous, she would be the first person to talk about how dangerous it is to be lost in the desert with nothing, especially water, but sphinxes!

She's wondered if such things could be real ever since she learned of Khonshu from Marc - with everything that's happened on Earth with gods and monsters, it shouldn't be a shock yet...

Focus.] And you're alright? Were you hurt? [He seems alright but that doesn't mean he is.]

[fistofvengeance]

[That trial was a lot. So much shit happened to Marc in the span of maybe two days... And even through it all, his biggest concern was Steven. They'd been separated, and he could tell Steven was in the desert somewhere, but the place was so damned big. He'd never felt that lost before.

Needless to say, he doesn't respond right away. His gaze fixes itself on the ground before them as they walk. He knows he can't just stay silent, though.]

... I lived through it. Steven and me, we both lived through it. Made it to shelter after some wanderin'.

[lilscarab]

[His silence speaks volumes. She can hear that it was more than just living through it. More than just him and Steven making it through. They did, but there is still some hurt there, some pain, even if he can't speak on it. Sometimes she wishes she could read his mind so he could communicate without the hardship of finding the words..

But that's not one of her talents and never would be. For the moment, she just squeezes his hand and stays close, wondering what happened in that desert.]

I am glad you both lived through it, that you made it to shelter. The desert is an unforgiving place. [And there is sand in her blood.]

[fistofvengeance]

Yeah. Desert here is extra bad, what with all the weird monsters roamin' around out there. Not that you'd miss much by stayin' away from it. Only thing worthwhile there is the academy anyway, and you can get there by train.

[They round a corner, and the apartment building comes into view. The Wandering Dog food cart doesn't seem to be parked in front right now, which is a shame, because it's one of Marc's favorite places to get dinner. And lunch. It's a versatile establishment. He's not sure if Layla would even want food from here, though. Maybe they should just cook dinner. Something to discuss with Steven later, when he's home.

He raises his free hand to point ahead.]

Apartment's over there. Second balcony from the left, third floor.

[lilscarab]

Academy? In the middle of a desert? [That felt strange to her but this whole place feels strange to her really. Nothing about Folkmore felt right to her, something was always strange around the corner. Though this corner just leads to an apartment building, at least that wasn't too strange.

Though her husband - ex husband? what were they to each other now - was a cat just a moment ago so... Maybe she reached her strange quota for the day.

She looks where he points, her eyes following to the second balcony on the left, third one up. For a mystery fantasy place that this is, the apartment almost seems.. mundane.]

So.. how does living here work? Do you just find a place and apply for a lease or? [It's not like she's got money.]

[fistofvengeance]

[The Fox's academies are in the weirdest places. Marc tries not to question it, because he's already convinced she put those things out in the boonies just to be a pain in the ass. No alternative reasons needed. And while he's a little hurt that Layla's apparently already thinking of finding a place of her own- well- of course she would. Marc's staying with Steven, as he should be, since they're a duo. And Layla... probably needs space from him, after everything. It makes sense. Bitterly disappointing, though.

His shoulders roll in half a shrug, and his eyes roll lightly towards the sky.]

Honestly? You just kinda grab the keys and move in. It's free real estate. [He had to say it.] Only thing you gotta worry about is your spoon. You got one, right?

[lilscarab]

[Really Marc, you haven't even invited her to stay with you, of course she is thinking about her own place or where to stay. Though, she is kind of assuming she can crash on his couch for the time being, but she doesn't even know what they are to each other right now, let alone assuming they are going to live together again after he sent her divorce papers. Unsigned ones.]

Just find a place you like and move in? That sounds too good to be true. [Of course he had to say it and she chuckles lightly at it.]

And you mean this? [She pulls a spoon from her pocket, it looks like it's wooden spoon with a jackal carved for the handle.] Yeah.

[fistofvengeance]

[Taking her to the apartment right now was sort of a silent invitation to stay as long as she wants, in any capacity she wants. But that's one of Marc's greatest flaws; he puts these offers out silently, and expects other people to hear them. It's a problem.

The spoon catches his eye and his brow furrows. A jackal? Huh... He would've expected a hippo, or a scarab or something. It's a nice spoon overall, though.]

You're gonna wanna make sure you don't lose that. There's no rent for apartments, but you do need to pay for food and clothing- stuff like that. The spoon's like a magical wallet.

[lilscarab]

[She also didn't know why it had a jackal on the handle. Jackals represented death and this was some kind of cosmetic perfume spoon.. so her best guess was that this was a funerary spoon. Which she couldn't understand why she got it of all things, but now that she knows this is her bank card of sorts, she will keep it close.

It almost felt like a joke to have.. what with Marc having died only hours ago for her. Her hand tightend around his at the thought.]

Got it. Protect the spoon like it's my bank card. I can do that.

[A pause before she pushes on.] Think Steven would mind me crashing with you both for now, at least until I get my feet under me? This is.. a lot.

[fistofvengeance]

[The question gives him pause. Why would Steven mind? Steven would be delighted to have her around. Layla's only known him for a few days, but even she should know this, right? ...Unless she isn't asking about Steven's opinion. If it's about whether he would mind, she can just ask him directly.

His pace slows, but doesn't stop. The side of his thumb brushes along the back of Layla's hand, and he throws a sideways glance her way.]

Steven would insist. And me too. You're not goin' anywhere until you've gotten used to the place.

[lilscarab]

[Layla does know that but she feels compelled to ask. She doesn't want to intrude on their little bachelor pad or whatever they have going on. Or more the home the two have made together to be close despite being split apart, it feels like she's intruding on something sacred and she understand if they wanted her to be there for only a short time. They have been living like this for months, she can't just assume.

But she also has nowhere else to go.]

Well, if you both insist, then I will. [Layla gives him a sideways glance of her own.] Been a while since we last shared space..

[fistofvengeance]

[And there's another remark he's not sure how to interpret. Was that a jab at him running off on her? How long ago was that? Longer for him than it was for her, that much is sure. And while he does regret the way he handled that, he knows regret doesn't make it right. It just makes it even heavier to carry around with him.

So he breaks eye contact almost immediately, staring up towards the building ahead.]

Yeah... But it'll be fine. You can have my bed and I'll sleep on the couch or somethin'. [Because sleeping in the same bed as her would be the wildest assumption of them all.]

[lilscarab]

[She stops walking, pulling him to a stop where she holds his hand, turning to face him. The comment had been testing the waters, trying to gauge his reaction, but she doesn't like what she gets. Maybe she's being too passive about this, so much time has passed for him that hasn't for her if everything is to be believed, she doesn't know if he's moved on or changed his mind about the divorce, what they are to each other.

There is so much, too much, left unsaid between them.]

Marc.. What are we? I don't know where we stand anymore. I couldn't just assume I can stay with you because I don't know if you--.. I can't bring myself to just believe everything is fine because I love you when I don't know if.. if you still do. It's been half a year for you on top of everything else, it's been hours for me.. [She shakes her head, everything still hurts for her, so much is still fresh for her and she doesn't hide it in this moment. Thinking he was kidnapped or dead for months, fighting with him, him hurting her to push her away, finding out about her father, Marc and Steven dying.. It's all too much in a short time for her to have faith that everything is okay when it's not.]

[fistofvengeance]

[When she pulls him to a stop, he lets her, but he isn't ready for what follows. He was hoping to have this conversation later. At the very least when they'd gotten to the apartment, or possibly just never. In an ideal world, Layla would understand how he feels and accept it, and they could just pick up where they left off if she wanted that. But then, not even Steven understands how he feels half the time, despite the emotional bond they've got going now.

He's going to have to put it into words, and that unnerves him. Scares him, even, because he just knows he's going to say everything wrong and hurt her even more.]

No- I... I know. I know it's been- [Nope, already on the wrong track. His eyes scrunch shut for a second, then he tries again.] Layla... Of course I still love you. I never stopped. But I couldn't just- I lied to you. For years on end. And you didn't deserve that.

[lilscarab]

[She knows this isn't the idea place to have this conversation, but it felt like if she didn't ask now she might let herself put it off. Everything she feels for Marc is complicated, difficult, painful, but she loves him. That much she knows that despite everything she still cares for this man. As hard as he made it for her to love him, she did.

And Layla knows this will be hard for him, that speaking about anything, especially feelings. But the fact he's trying? It means the world to her.]

Look.. we don't have to go into everything I deserve an apology for just yet, because you did lie to me and I'm still mad about that, still hurt, and you're right I didn't deserve that at all, but.. we can work this out, I'm not ready to give up on us just because you've been an ass.

[She saw him die, she regretted that the last thing she did was yell at him and blame him for her father's death... she's still mad, still hurt, but right now she just wants to know if.. if she has a husband.]

But you can't run away this time.

[fistofvengeance]

[She should still be mad at him, he thinks. The hurt, he doesn't like, but the anger is well-deserved. The man she thought she married didn't exist. Not really. That man was just half of who he really was- no, even less. One third, maybe. But now it's all out there for her to see, the full picture of Marc Spector. It's unbelievable to him that she still wants to work it out after all that, but he's not about to call her a liar.

His free hand moves towards her own, the one he's still holding, and his fingers wrap around near her wrist. It's not a tight grip. There's enough pressure to make it count, though.]

I'm not runnin', but... You know you can do better, right? Guys would line up for you. [And he would get pissy and jealous at every single one of them, but he can't stop Layla from finding happiness with someone who isn't a dumpsterfire of a person.]

[lilscarab]

Maybe.. but isn't that for me to decide? And right now I am saying I want you, somehow I want to.. I dont know, work this out, figure out if this works still before we just give up.

[She looks down at their hands, at the ones still held, at the way his hand circles her wrist before she looks up into his dark beautiful eyes again. It would be a lie to say she forgives him, that there isn't a lot for him to apologize for and a lot of trust to rebuild, but despite herself, she still wants Marc. That's what she learned when she saw their lifeless body in the water. She sobbed as she held him, the regret coursing heavy through her.

Layla won't make that mistake again, she won't lose him when she still loves him so much.]

It won't be easy, there's a lot of anger and hurt and broken trust but.. this is what I want, if you want it too.

[fistofvengeance]

[Of course it's for her to decide. That's another lesson he's already learned; he can't make Layla's decisions for her. He can damn well make sure she understands the options available to her, though. Be sure she knows just what it is she's trying to 'work out', because no matter what happens, he's still broken, and he'll never not be broken.

But she wants it. She wants him, and that means more than he can say.

In fact, he's not sure he can say anything at all. Words are just about vaporizing out of his head. The best he can do, then, is to release her hand and pull her into a tight embrace. That's something, right? Anything at all?]