October & November 2023 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

October - November 2023 TDM

Introduction

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
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]

Candy Man . ★

Content Warnings: Potential nonconsensual physical changes

Tides doesn’t have a farmer’s market. However, it does have a regular artists’ fair. Spirits—and Star Children—can set up stalls to offer art they have already made or to make it right before people. On the spot commissions! It’s a great way to see a wide spread of the art available in Tides, on rare occasions even Jewelia’s own.

Within the artists’ fair is a makers’ square where everyone is invited to join an artist in learning to make some kind of art. It might be painting and wine. Lithography. Embroidery. You name it. Seriously, feel free to put a suggestion in the box of what Star Children would be interested in. The artists leading the space don’t all teach at Jewelia Academy. This could be the only chance to learn from them!

This time it’s making salt water taffy. Spirit Children can learn how to complete the process from start to finish with a bit of an arm workout. If they aren’t interested in or cannot handle the arm workout pulling the taffy, they can help a spirit wherever they’re interested. There is any flavor Spirit Children can imagine to flavor their taffy, even ones only found in their home worlds. Share a little culture!

Star Children may keep up to half of the taffy they make, but the rest will be offered to everyone coming through the makers’ square in the artists’ fair. Perhaps it’ll encourage other Star Children to make their own! Star Children, whether they make taffy or simply take free samples, will find that eating taffy can have an effect on them.

Eating taffy made by Legends will give Star Children color changing eyes that give away their mood, just like Legends. Eating taffy made by Myths will give Star Children horns, claws, or a tail that grows larger when they react more logically and less emotionally. Eating taffy made by Familiars will give Star Children animal features. These effects last from one-six hours.

Eating taffy made by Spirits has no effect at all!

🦊 Star Children can attend an artists’ fair and make salt water taffy.
🦊 Eating salt water taffy made by Star Children will give temporary features of that kind of Star Child.
🦊 Eating salt water taffy made by Spirits has no effect.

Creative Block Castles . ★

Content Warnings: Pocket universe, dungeon castle crawl, forced relocation

One of the many food carts in Tides serves homemade ice cream. The fox spirit serving it promises that it will provide a jolt of inspiration—even to Star Children who cannot eat. Even holding a cone or cup of the ice cream can jolt someone’s imagination, the fox says. It’s free as part of the welcome to Tides, but no one has to accept it, not even to hold. The fox spirit won’t cajole anyone, and Star Children can go along their way.

At least a few hours later, long enough to have forgotten the offer or to get frustrated by the lack of promised inspiration, Star Children fall down down down into a painted, sculpted, sidewalk chalked, or otherwise artistically bent world. They are as artistically made as the rest of the world around them. They match it, as do their one to three companions who arrive with them. They may be friends or strangers. They are compatriots in this strange world.

Whether starting deep in the bowels or high in a tower, this artistic world is that of a castle. A unique castle to each Star Child host. Elements of its design, decor, and mechanisms tie back to a creative endeavor of the host. For the castle is a direct manifestation of whatever project the Star Child host experiences creative block around, whether that’s art or science or anything else. It’s baked into the design. Not only that, the castle is under attack! Dragons or monsters or knights, oh my! Whatever attacks, the very creative idea may crumble if it doesn’t get solved.

Star Children who ate the ice cream will have an easier time shoring up defenses, buying time to think, and even experiencing a breakthrough moment of inspiration. Any companions who ate the ice cream will have an easier time helping the host. Regardless, the only way out is a breakthrough or to see the idea fall to uninspired ruin. Which will it be?

When a group breaks through, they return to Tides with up to four nearly identical dollhouse castles. A miniature doll of one party member will be in each dollhouse. The doll will also have a miniature version of an item from home. Take it from one’s doll, and it becomes lifesize. It may even be a magical item or weapon.

🦊 Star Children will be offered homemade ice cream by a fox spirit.
🦊 Star Children will be transported into an artistic world set within a castle under attack.
🦊 1-3 other Star Children will join the host.
🦊 Escape by breaking through the host’s creative block.
🦊 Star Children whose groups break through will receive a personal item from home. It may even be a magical item or weapon.

Comments

Questions

[folkie]

[rueforyou]

For pregnant characters, is the pregnancy frozen? The character doesn't know she's pregnant at the time she'd be taken from.

Tony Stark | Marvel Comics | Legend

[suspensefully]

[ Clad in his iconic Iron Man armor, Tony Stands bewildered amid a bustling marketplace. The colorful booths and stalls display an array of eclectic art, weird chachkas, and all manner of folkloric trinkets. Stark meanders from booth to booth, boots clanking as he goes, his eyes darting about as he tries to make sense of his surroundings. ]

Hey, you there. What's the skinny with this scene? And how did I end up here?

[ The vendor, a small rabbit with a hooded cloak, smiles cryptically and says, "You're in Folkmore, Star Child."

Now, this doesn't mean a lot to the iron avenger. His puzzled expressions deepens, and he wanders off, continuing to browse. The artistry displayed is enrapturing, but offers no more clues to the origins of his predicament, so he moseys on up to an artist shilling their wares. Who just so happens to be a crocodile with a big gaudy necklace. It really does take all kinds. ]

So, Folkmore, huh? What's with the art around here?

[ The crocodile gives a knowing nod. "It's the remnants of memories otherwise lost to time. Isn't that what all art is?"

Fantastic. So either he's been captured and doped by a bushel of beatniks or those reds really got the jump on him. He does a heel turn and cuts through the crowd, not oblivious to the glowering stares a few of the townsfolk shoot his way as he brushes past them.

One stand across the way features a kindly, if that's possible, looking porcupine administering what seems to be individually wrapped pieces of taffy. And since Stark's parents never taught him not to take candy from strangers, he allows the little paw to pass him a piece into his gloved hand. ]

What's the story here, with the taffy?

[ Because if the answer is drugs, well, it's a touch late for that! He's pretty sure he's about as grooved out as a cool cat gets around these parts. Only plausible explanation has to be some sort of hypnotic, drug-induced delusion. The porcupine offers, "Why, it's hand-pulled salt water taffy, dear! An old family recipe. I believe that flavor is cherry, but if you'd rather, I have root beer and vanilla as well." ]

Uh, no, this is great, fine, thanks.

[ A bubble of frustration rises in his throat and to prevent it from spilling over at this kind little spiny animal, he turns away again, molding the taffy between metal fingers. And once he's a fair deal from any of the vendors, his mumbles to himself, trying to keep his wits about him. ]

I get it I get it, it's Folkmore. Some kind of deranged Beatrix Potter fantasy. But how exactly do I get out of here?

[ironypoisoned]

[ Okay what in the actual fuck. Tony blinks and watches this... This red and yellow monstrosity sully his good name as he stomps along down a row of booths munching on taffy.

So naturally, Tony follows... Himself. His imposter. Whatever this was. Oh, please be his own Tiny Steve type of situation. That sounds great, he wants another one of him around. They can work together in the garage and rubber duck for each other when they're programming something difficult.

Other Iron Man stops short, and Tony bumps into his shoulder. ] Beatrix Potter? That's the best one you got? Really?

[ Okay, usually he's got a better quip on hand than that, so clearly this was an imposter. ] You must be 'Iron Man' right?

ezra bridger | star wars | familiar

[lothal]

i. candy man

[There is a stormtrooper enjoying all the festivities! He carries no weapon at least, and doesn't seem to be threatening anyone, but the armor does make him stand out a little. Especially since the armor's so battered, covered in wear and tear from around ten years of use and barely holding together at this point.

At least the stormtrooper's having fun! He's having fun painting, without any wine since he's not taking off his helmet. He's having fun making salt water taffy. Embroidering a picture of a cat onto a pillow. Making a friendship bracelet. If he happens to notice anyone staring, the stormtrooper simply gives a friendly wave. And if they continue staring, he might approach them in a way that is slightly threatening if only because he's approaching without saying anything like he's out of a horror movie.

Or:

When Ezra finally gets tired of wearing the helmet, he'll take it off, still in the rest of the armor. He can be found again at the art demonstrations, painting his helmet in bright orange and yellow. Every now and then, he sighs, not satisfied with the results.]

... She's gonna hate it. For sure.

ii. creative block castle

[Free ice cream? Yes. If it's poisoned, he'll deal with that later. Later apparently being now, as he wakes up in a mural of the Jedi Temple. Or a Jedi Temple, he's never seen the one on Coruscant, but there's elements of it, along with that of a traditional castle and the mountains of the Lothal temple. Parts of it seem abstract, metaphorical, as large statues of the Mortis gods loom above. Or are they actually there? It's art! It's up to interpretation.

He runs around until he finds someone and stops suddenly, almost missing them amongst all the metaphors upon metaphors and statues upon statues.]

Hey-

[And immediately a zombie hand bursts through the wall next to them. Well, that's nice.]

Again? Seriously?

iii. wildcard

[approach him! please help him find clothes other than stormtrooper armor! i don't know]

[ezra_of_lothal]

[This guy, on the other hand has gotten really suspicious of free food handed out by strangers. The results have been, in his experience the last few years, unpredictable. No ice cream for him!

Doesn't stop him from finding himself amongst familiar looking art that he assumes is taken from his own memories somehow. He's thinking of what little bit Master Kenobi had grudgingly being willing to say about Mortis; how that entire conversation is really the only time he'd man that level of both snappish and stubborn about answering simple questions-

When he runs into someone who also looks oddly familiar. He squints and then jumps at the sound of things coming through the wall.]

What do you mean again??

Thor | MCU | Legend

[nonailsneeded]

Arrival - OTA

Falling out of the sky is nothing new to Thor. He lands with a crack of thunder and leaves a rather impressive crater behind, scorched by lightning. As he straights up he dusts himself off and looks around.

There's magic in the air of this place. There is not much to see as he has landed in a large open field on the edge of a forest but there's something about the energy and beauty of the place that reminds him of Asgard. The fox spirit called it Folkmore but that is not a place in the Nine Realms Thor is familiar with.

He walks out of the crater and puts his hands on his hips for a moment, considering which direction he should go in. He would feel slightly better if Stormbreaker had come with him but the weapons has remained behind. Still, he is the God of Thunder. He doubts much here will give him trouble.

Candy Man - OTA

Thor sits among a gathering of older spirits with an embroidery hoop in his hands. It looks comically small given his size but he works the thread and needle very carefully. And gossips with the spirits, hearing all about their lives here in Folkmore.

It's been a long time since Thor tried his hand at embroidery but it was one of his mother's favorite hobbies. He sticks his tongue out of the corner of his mouth as he tries to make a spinning wheel, one of the common symbols of his mother. It is... well, it's lopsided and most of the spokes on the wheel aren't straight but he really is trying his best and the spirits offer gentle encouragement.

He does get involved in the candy making eventually as physical things have always come easier to Thor but the majority of his time at the festival is spent sitting with the spirits working on his embroidery skills.

Creative Block Castles - OTA

Lightning rips through the invading force of undead. The boom of thunder after shakes the walls of the castle. Thor walks right into the mob, lightning crackling around his body. He still does not have Stormbreaker but he doesn't need it. He uses his fists and lighting to attack the invading force.

If this is a dream it's a terrible one. Thor recognizes the castle. It is his childhood home on Asgard. The palace where he grew up. The palace that no longer exists. Even in his dream it feels impossible to defend it as save his home but that does not stop him from trying.

He grabs one of the undead soldiers by the front of its armor and hurls it into a group of five others, sending them tumbling to the ground.

"Your timing could not be better!" He calls to the person who comes around the corner. "I need help! If we can push them back to the main gate we can take back the palace!"

creative block castles

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve has no idea how he ended up here in this castle. He's looking around curiously trying to figure out where he is when he hears a voice he hasn't in far too long, and it clicks in his head: Oh, Asgard.

He rushes forward then, ready to help. He wonders if this is a memory playing in Thor's head, but doesn't need to know the context of why there are all these undead present.

"Hey pal," he says, turning back to kick one zombie into another one as they rush forward. "Nice to see you again."

Ophelia | Ophelia (2018 film) | Legend

[rueforyou]

New Star Children

To be better, to be stronger, more persuasive, more canny, those were what the Fox promised her. At least Ophelia felt that they were a promise, given that she'd been unable to save her father, unable to save Gertrude, unable to save her beloved Hamlet.

At least at home, she had his daughter as a comfort. She was jealous of the other her getting to spend time with her child, but thought it would be best to take the Fox as being truthful, that by reaching her potential she could save her daughter.

The corona halo and the vast white wings hadn't been part of the bargain. At least not in Ophelia's opinion.

So there she sat on a downed tree branch, looking quite vexed. When someone approaches her, she asks "Were your changes explained to you before coming here or after?"

Candy Man

It was almost like being back among Queen Gertrude's other ladies, being guided to a canvas on an easel, a series of paints (water...color? how did that work) in a vast amount of colors, brushes, and a goblet of wine which was full to the brim.

But at least her companions seemed friendlier than Gertrude's ladies. Those ladies had gossiped endlessly, often about her. As though she could not hear their tweaks over her wardrobe, her hair, her position as Gertrude's favorite!

But that still didn't explain the paints. She tried rubbing a brush against one of the water colors, to no avail. After taking a deep draft of wine for courage, she gently poked the person sitting next to her. "How do these water colors work? I've never heard of such a thing and I'm afraid my first guide didn't guide me terribly well."

Creative Block Castles

Ophelia had never seen ice cream before, either. This truly was a land of wonders and she desperately wished she had her daughter with her, to show her all of the sights and give her a taste of ice cream. For it was truly heavenly, melting in the warmth of her mouth and tasting like something she'd never heard of before. Chocolate, it was called.

She finished her first bowl and was on her way to ask for seconds even though that felt gluttonous when it happened. One of the paintings looked like a perfect replica of the castle which had belonged to Danish kings for generations. But before she could remark on its resemblance, she was dropping head first into the painting!

"Oh no," Ophelia whispered to herself, having heard of the Norwegian invasion, of the carnage caused by her brother's duel with Hamlet. She started racing down the first flight of stairs she encountered, hoping to change the past, but it was no use. She had to think, think hard. The castle looked much the same, even though peering over the ramparts, she could see the Norwegian host fully in control of the courtyard.

But none had come up the stairs. She raced to try and bar all of the doors from the outside and had succeeded at three out of four. It was the fourth where her luck had ran out.

Or had it? For here was someone who didn't belong here, but may be able provide assistance. She cried out "Help, help, they'll surely put us to the sword should they find us! Do you have any weapons? Any means of defending yourself? I fear that I have none."

New Star Child

[cursedwords]

The kid that approaches her is wearing some loose fitting jeans, a t-shirt and a dark green hoodie that has an empty sleeve. He's got a face mask hiding his nose and mouth.

He'd seen her sitting and looking lost so Toge thought he should see if she's doing okay.

He waves a little bit, and at her question he shakes his head. No he didn't know about his role ahead of time.

After a moment he slides his hand into his pocket and pulls out his relic so he can write a message and then turns it to show her.

I learned about my role afterwards. I'm a Familiar.

bertholdt hoover | attack on titan | legend | current character

[thiscruel]

Music

Before arriving in this place, Bertholdt wouldn't have said he had an interest in music. He enjoyed and appreciated it, treasuring the memories of lullabies sung by his mother, and pausing to listen when folk music sprang up in Paradis. But his appreciation never went so far as to be a genuine interest. It was just something he liked; that was all.

Then, this world threw Bertholdt into a life where making music was his profession. No, not just his profession: his passion. Music thrummed through his veins in that life as surely as the power of the Titans thrums through him in this one.

And now, Bertholdt finds himself not just appreciating music, but wanting to experience it.

Sitting with a teacher, Bertholdt holds a bass guitar in his hands, his long fingers finding the instrument both familiar and foreign. He carefully observes his teacher, and then mimics their movements. It's like neglected muscle memory: a skill he once knew but has since allowed to wither.

The teacher asks if Bertholdt has ever played before. He looks away, momentarily chewing his lip before he answers.

"Sort of, I guess. But … it wasn't really me."

That's definitely not a confusing answer. Definitely!

Taffy

Bertholdt has never so much as touched taffy before, let alone helped create it. However, he has cooked and baked plenty throughout his life, having learned when he was still a child. He takes to the process quickly, arms working hard as he follows it through with a small, almost meditative smile.

When he's done, he tastes a bit himself, his smile widening. Then, noticing a nearby person's interest, he holds out a freshly wrapped piece.

"Would you like to try some?" he asks.

Little does he know that as a Legend, the taffy he made will change their eye color.

[rueforyou]

Ophelia was still more than a little miffed at her new appearance, giant white wings and a corona halo. She knew it could be worse. She'd seen worse. But it was the lack of warning which had irked her.

But she couldn't help her curiosity, despite the weighty additions to her back, so she perused the stalls with bright hazel eyes taking in as much as she could. There were so many things she'd never seen or heard of before that it was impossible to not ask questions and watch closely.

Like the young man with the...sticky-looking substance. That was certainly something she'd never seen before!

So when he noticed her and asked, she flushed a little with embarrassment and said "Certainly. But...what is it?"

Sucrose | Genshin Impact | Legend (Current Character)

[swirldottir]

[I. Free Candy!]

Sucrose was always immensely fond of making candy for her own enjoyment, perhaps to one day freely... freely... no.

TODAY! Today, she was making candy to hand out to others. With a deep, deep breath, eyes gleaming gold in determination, the rather timid girl marched her way through the grounds while holding a box filled with wrapped taffies. Their flavors were of fruit that were only vaguely familiar to those outside of Teyvat, bearing alien qualities of cooling effects here, perhaps a tingly sweetness there. For those from home, oh, this one tasted of Zaytun peaches, this one was clearly made from honey crafted from sweet flowers, and this was clearly that of the Ajilenakh nut. Was this one lavender melon...?

"E-excuse me...!" She would flag someone down if they didn't look terribly occupied. Oh- there are some new faces around here. Stay bright, stay welcoming! You can do this...! You're an adult, aren't you?? What would your parents think?

"I'm-... I'm passing out candy I've made. Would you like some? I have a lot, so... please, help yourself if so!"

She held out the box.


[II. Castle Crashers]

She didn't understand. She'd fought so many elemental slimes back home, but no matter how much she mixed the appropriate compounds in the castle laboratory, nothing she threw down outside seemed to be of any help. They weren't catalyzing the way they SHOULD, and have hundreds of times...!

But those jelly blobs were bouncing along, burning, freezing, slamming and practically eating away at the castle from the base. Others were chowing down on the airbrushed trees, drinking up all the water in the dreamy ponds filled with stars. Her little dream land was dying. H-how was she supposed to build a domain when something so elementary- pardon the pun- continued to be a challenge?

"...Oooh...! If I had my notes, I'd probably have a dozen workarounds written down!" She paced the floor of the lab, her eyes a dull amber and fading fast.

"But why can't I remember them...? I wrote them, didn't I? I'm- I'm sure I did...!"

I

[twilight_sword]

Dainsleif, with the stern air he tends to carry himself with and overall demeanour of 'don't talk to me' at the best of times, is perhaps a very brave first option for Sucrose to approach. When she holds the box up to him and he looks down at her, though, there is a quiet sort of kindness in his mismatched eyes.

"You made it?"

Ah, yes... he's seen that kind of thing going on. He takes a piece from the box, considers for a moment, then turns his attention back to the young woman.

"And what flavours did you choose to use?"

It's not quite the accusation it might sound like it is, he'd just really rather not unexpectedly end up eating taffy that tastes like jueyun chilis.

Azem | Final Fantasy XIV | Familiar

[deliciousgrapes]

1. arrival

[ She dies.

Or, to put it more accurately: she refuses to join anyone, and in doing so, she betrays everyone. Then she dies. The "why" of the thing doesn't matter— her reasons were and always will be her own— but to say she doesn't carry a single shred of regret as her soul shatters into a myriad of pieces, that would be a lie. After all, how many other places, how many other worlds lay waiting for her gaze, her touch, her feet to explore them?

And then the Fox comes, and Apollo's heart sings, for there is yet one more for her, even beyond her death.

Now, as rose-hued eyes take in the elegance of the scenery before her, the woman once known as Azem wonders: how could anyone not cherish this possibility?

(Then she thinks of Emet-Selch, and she laughs.) ]

2. candy man

[ Salt-water taffy? Sign her up! She's ready and willing to try anything and everything— from the process of making the sticky treats themselves (and she's happy to help anyone too shy to ask a spirit for assistance, too), to the process of eating them.

In her playful mood, the first thing that comes to mind when she's offered "flavors" is "grapes", probably because she was just telling someone that old story. But before long, inspiration has struck for the Amaurotine, and in the end she churns out a taffy flavored with skyon and hippocerf meat. ]

I have perhaps outdone myself with this flavor, [ she says to anyone nearby her, and the fluffy tail at her back whips in feline delight. ] A consultation with the relic indicates that the taste may be similar to venison topped with a fig sauce, if those are flavors more familiar to your ears.

3. creative block castles

[ Apollo is still finding it very difficult to dislike this place. The ice cream she's served is delicious in a unique way, tingling her tastebuds with promise rather than taste. Nothing much else seems to happen, but it's unique enough that the Ancient is fascinated by it.

When she falls, a few hours later, it's into a world that is decidedly not hers—

(depending on whom one asks, there are many things which Azem can be said to be lacking, but never has anyone claimed she struggles for inspiration)

—but she's certainly not shy about looking around, examining her surroundings and admiring the various displays. At least, that is, until her attention is drawn to the horde bearing down upon the castle.

...Right. Well, it's clear that there's something quite wrong with this place. Azem's hands fall to her hips, and her eyes seek out her companion's, a curious tilt of her heads toward the designs on the walls. ]

Does this mean anything to you?

wildcard/ooc

🍇 In canon, Azem's gender and appearance is based on the player character's. This particular incarnation is female! As a familiar, she has a cat tail for starters, which is just a playful little nod to the fact that "her" version of the Warrior of Light (though she's never actually met her) is a miqo'te. Similarly, the character is never given an official name, but it's stated that "Azem" is a title. She will use it to introduce herself in many cases, at least at first.

🍇 She doesn't see souls in the way certain friends of hers do, so she won't immediately recognize any Warriors of Light as possessing fragments of her own soul. However, she will feel a certain sort of kinship with them.

🍇 If she's not the Azem your ancient NPC remembers meeting, that's a-ok and she won't be put off by that at all. (If anything, she's liable to find it fascinating. Discussions may result. Proceed with caution, lol.)

🍇 Wildcards are welcomed! Tag in here with one, or hit me up on denouements or via the discord if you wanna discuss prior to tagging (I'm aki, Kaveh's player ♥)

2. CANDY MAN

[rueforyou]

[Ophelia had been hanging around the edges of the taffy stand and those actually pulling taffy. she wasn't volunteering herself for the latter because it looked like she may not have the strength for it. so in the meantime, she's enjoying the sights and smells as people and spirits worked on their own batches.

and while most of the scents she's detecting are on the sweeter side, there are a few savory scents in the air as well.

therefore, she doesn't think twice about accepting venison with fig sauce taffy.

and she can't tell if it's the taste or the texture or some unholy mix of the two, but it's all she can do to not gag]

--that's horrible! Why would you give out something like that?

Rowan Mayfair | The Mayfair Witches | Legend

[witchen]

Arrival

[someone else would be there to take care of Lasher. that was what tipped the balance towards going with the Fox. that there would be another version of herself to take care of him and watch him grow and teach him everything he needed to know.

(not that Rowan herself was all that familiar with what that was, she wasn't trained as a witch, not like her foremothers had been, but she was a neurosurgeon. she knew what happened when the intracranial artery was blocked.

she also knew what happened when it was when it was torn open. by her)

but as she fell as a star, she felt something growing on her back and thank god she was wearing a tank top because otherwise it would have torn her shirt right off.

and she landed, unfurling black dragon wings. she reached around to feel them and they felt leathery under her touch. she could feel the pulse of her heartbeat through them, craned her neck to get a better view.

she guessed that most people would see witches as in league with the devil (not the devil, just one overly charming demon) so that would explain the wings. but as she checked over herself, she didn't feel anything else--devil horns, a devil's tail, her teeth weren't sharpened, her tongue wasn't forked--that would point towards her being a demon.

so the only thing left to do was ask] Hey. Hey, you! What do you think these mean? [she pointed to the fairly obvious wings on her back]

Candy Man

[saltwater taffy! Rowan hadn't had that since she was a girl in San Francisco, her mother (her real mother, not her birth mother) had bought it for her from a candy shop ran by a plump little old lady with reading glasses and a kind smile. those were some of her fondest memories of her mom, the two of them together doing nothing but sharing a sweet treat.

so when given the chance to actually make some and flavor it (offered to her by a plump little old badger with reading glasses and a kind smile), she figured it would be rude as hell to turn them down.

so she made peppermint, chocolate, strawberry, and lemon taffy. all reminiscent of her childhood and all of the smells rose to mingle into sweet perfume which permeated the air. Rowan leaned on the stall counter and shook the large bag of taffy she had made]

C'mon, someone eat some of this so I don't eat it all by myself!

Creative Block Castles

[Rowan felt stuffed full of taffy, so she turned down the offer of ice cream. ice cream in this weather! it felt more like they should be offering hot apple cider.

so it was to her eternal shock to fall into a painting of the Mayfair house in New Orleans.

few experiences there had been good ones, so Rowan was already on her guard, walking through the house as quietly as she could. but no matter where she tried to go, she always ended up in the dining room, paintings of previous Mayfair witches lining the walls and--oh god.

Aunt Carlotta setting the room aflame.

burn the witch, she supposed. the doors were locked as they'd been before, so Rowan began pounding on them, screaming for help. She knew Cip wouldn't burst through the doors, but surely someone had to?]

Arrival

[cloversandcranes]

[Makoto was confused with his own changes, bewilderedly trying to make sense of things. Not noticing her immediately, he muttered to himself as he held one of the wings attached to his back.]

I-I can understand the crane wings I guess, but this?

[Makoto rubbed his head irritatedly, stopping when he felt another pair of wings on his head.]

And how does this make sense?!

[Grumbling to himself slightly, he jumped when he was addressed, all eight of his wings puffing in alarm. He turned around and looked at Rowan curiously, unable to stop himself from staring.]

Y-you have wings too! But not bird ones! And one pair?

Zanth Breaker | DnD OC | Familiar | Current Character

[zanth]

Art Fair / UnFamiliar Face
There's been so much going on that the fact they'd been told they were a 'familiar' hadn't felt quite as important as, well, being stuck here. Not to say they hadn't been plenty insulted by the idea at the time. But figuring out what it meant hasn't been their highest priority.

Maybe it should have been.

They aren't even sure what they were thinking about, not exactly. Maybe the fact that while this place is full of animal spirits, some of which are kind of similar, they've yet to run into any other owlin. Maybe they were simply thinking about whether it would be hard to find a new wardrobe that accommodated for wings.

One way or another, there was a point this morning where they realised they didn’t have wings. Or feathers. Or a beak. What they have instead is a body that looks suspiciously human.

More specifically a small, thin, androgynous human with short red hair, light brown skin, an aquiline nose and large, almond shaped eyes. The perpetual sleep deprivation shows a little more without feathers to hide it. They're… not sure if they like it. If nothing else they're a few inches taller than their usual just-a-hair-under-five-foot.

…They're also not sure how to change back.

Eventually, because they doubt that stressing over the whole thing is helping, they find themselves wandering around the artists’ fair, stopping to look at booths here and there.

Candy Man / Beaks vs. Teeth
The maker square is one of the first things at these events to genuinely interest Zanth. While cooking isn't high on their list of skills to work on, it's still learning to make something new. They seem attentive, and if not outright enthusiastic they appear to be having a good time.

They aren’t all that fond of candy to be honest, but the time of year apparently has them nostalgic. They go for a honey flavour similar to those little sugar-creme pumpkins that don’t actually taste anything like pumpkins; you know the ones.

They've never quite seen the appeal of taffy even compared to other sweets, to be honest. Some of it tastes good, but their beak is not built for chewing as much as ripping things into little pieces or crushing bones.

They're trying to figure out whether they see the appeal now.

"Teeth," they declare to no one in particular, "are… weird."

Creative Block Castles / The Future is Now
Dairy is not the healthiest thing for bird people, not that that normally stops Zanth from making poor decisions anyway. Still, they wonder whether that sort of thing is affected by the whole shapeshifting, or if that's just cosmetic.

Which means that clearly they're accepting the free ice cream for science.

They certainly don't want to put any stock in the inspiration idea; it's not impossible, but they'd rather not get their hopes up for anything significant.

What they aren’t expecting at all is, later that day, to suddenly find themselves somewhere new. Yet again. Only this time with a sensation of falling, rather than the compulsion to follow a small animal.

Nor are they expecting their second unexpected transformation of the day.

And yet both have happened. They find themself in a hallway that they don’t recognise, oddly utilitarian with metal surfaces. And they find that, when they look down at their hands, they don’t see feathers and scales or skin. They see a complex assembly of mechanical parts, as if they’re a robot. Moreover… it looks oddly like their own work.

Candyman

[thebards_swansong]

This was certainly.. well. A stark change from what they were caught up in before they followed the fox. Face warped back to shades of blue with glittering gold makeup forming painted tears on their face. Halo made of horns and weight of the tail hidden away Swan kept themselves fairly bundled in the weight of the large coat they wore, trying to observe without being.. well. Observed themselves!

They drifted towards the taffy pulling, hoping for some idle activity or conversation without hustle and bustle. They were shuffling past someone who had their back to them when the stranger spoke about.. teeth.

Stunned for just a moment before Swan let out a soft snort and nodded, turning to look at them more and having trouble with a nagging familiarity.

"I suppose they are, at least most people only have them for so long, right?"

K.P. Hob | Dimension 20 | Legend

[knickpnack]

[ i. arrival – OTA ]

[Well. This is certainly a strange predicament. It's not every day you find yourself blearily emerging into a bustling underwater urban sprawl, spiritually divorced from your body like you shimmered between the very cracks of actuality, the patient voice of the guiding Fox still echoing in your bones.

But you don't rise to the rank of Major of the Royal Goblin Army by letting little things like a change of scenery throw you. Ears flicking, Hob appears bewildered for but a moment, inexplicably surrounded as he is by water and people and scent and light and noise—before he seems to catch himself, straightening up, at attention once more. Shoulders squared, hands clasped behind his back, he starts marching towards the fairgrounds with his eyes fixed dead ahead.

Surely, there must be something or someone around here who can help elucidate the bugbear's abrupt change in circumstance.]

[ ii. candy man – OTA ]

[Once the sensory overwhelm of stalls upon stalls of finely crafted tchotchkes and sundry other bric-à-brac has subsided, Hob oddly finds himself enjoying the artist's fair. It's nostalgic in a sense, like a good old Goblin Rumpus, sans all the violence and trash-eating and excessive flatulence. The kind of Rumpus he could get behind.

Of all the artisans displaying their craft for the curious public, it's the candy makers who truly draw his eye. Watching them clench and stretch and squish and pull at endless ropes of brightly colored viscous sugar is utterly hypnotic. So when one of them waves him over, encouraging him to come try for himself, he is hard pressed to refuse.

Upon standing there, trying and failing to manipulate the cooling taffy as it gums up and sticks all over his furry paws, Hob finds that candy making maybe isn't for him.]

Honored craftsperson, I owe you the most heartfelt of apologies. [His affect, while booming and blunt, appears to be entirely sincere.] This batch has regrettably become more hair than taffy.

[ iii. creative block castle – OTA ]

[When life gives you lemons—or bugbear fur taffy™—make frozen lemonade. It seemed a good fix at the time. Promises of jolts of inspiration aside, Hob had readily accepted the free treat from the friendly fox spirit and shoved the whole thing in his mouth right there and then, paper cup and all. The punch of sugary tart brain freeze proved to be an excellent distraction from his failure as a confectioner.

Much later, when the already alien world of Tides starts to shift and distort around him, Hob fails to make the connection. No scoop of ice cream would reasonably cause the glass dome encasing the city to turn into dusty blackboard, nor the stalls and streetlights and inhabitants to warp into clumsy streaks of colored chalk, flattened against the dark teal surfaces surrounding him, reduced to crude approximations of their forms.]

Ah. Well. You certainly don't see that every day. [He tries to take the change in stride, but something about the encroaching dark walls... unnerve him. The blackboards are covered in untold layers of old, faded scribbles, faint outlines of drawings and diagrams and frantic lines connecting indecipherable words long since wiped away by bone-dry erasers. All familiar shapes that almost make sense to your brain, that just about reveal sentences and patterns, but are lost the moment you start to comprehend them.

It's like the constant noise in his head has materialized all around him. Hob's eyes flicker, searching the visual clangor, finding nothing.] Is this— W-Would you say this is a common occurrence?

ii | candy man

[apuckalypse]

[An artisan Casey is not, but as one of the Star Children very keen to observe what's going on (and to get free candy out of it), he's watching this interaction curiously, and with some sympathy. Poor guy's just trying his best. The experienced candymaker helping out might be a little horrified, but what's a little fur in one's candy? It's still candy, right?? Hairy candy is better than no candy ever, which is what he's used to.

Thus, not even remotely deterred by the idea of a mouthful of fur, he scoots closer to the stretching hook and drags free a small chunk of hairy, sticky taffy goo.]

It's okay, I bet it's still good.

[GOING RIGHT INTO HIS MOUTH]

Toph Beifong | Avatar: the Last Airbender | Familiar

[fieldtrip]

    A. Arrival

[ With the Fire Nation defeated and everything settling down and under control, Toph is more than game for a new adventure. And she's immediately rewarded for her decision. ]

I have badger-mole feet?! [ she exclaims with all the excitement of a thirteen-year-old girl. Toph promptly throws herself on the ground wherever she'd landed and runs her hands over the large, furry, extremely clawed feet she's acquired. Her Relic goes tumbling away and slaps on the ground nearby with a perfunctory thunk.

Toph gleefully buries the huge claws of both feet into the ground. Presuming it's some form of dirt, rock or metal, the substance gives way smoothly like she's burying her toes in sand. ]

This is the coolest. That fox spirit was really underselling it!


    B. Candy Man
[ Toph is not remotely interested in learning how to make salt water taffy. She's eaten a few pieces by now and it's... fine. Sure, okay, candy. What she's way more interested in is the rest of the artists' fair. ]

And you guys just teach classes on this stuff? [ she asks, delicately handling pieces of fine jewelry on a table with deft fingers. ] Seriously? For free?

[ Seems way too good to be true. Toph sets the jewelry back down and abruptly sticks her arm out without turning away from the stand, grabbing firm hold of the clothing of someone who's walking by. ]

Hey, you. Answer some questions for me.


    C. Creative Block Castles
[ Toph enjoyed her ice cream and thought nothing of it even when the world shimmers out of existence around her. To Toph, it's potentially even more alarming than to a sighted person, because her sense of reality depends on the subtle vibrations of earth and organism around her. The artistic shift feels bizarre and deeply disorienting.

She yelps, shifting into a low, wary stance as she orients herself toward the person who came with her. This is likely their 'castle' they're in, and Toph is along for the ride. ]

What'd you do?! [ she demands. ]


[ooc: Happy to take a wildcard as well, or hit me up at chirality on plurk or whiskeyqueer on discord! ]

C

[runsurefooted]

Whoa, hey! [Kipo backs away, holding her hands up in conciliation--although this is not the first time she's run into an angry kid who greets her by yelling, and since she got her best friend that way, this isn't a bad thing.] I didn't do anything! I just got some ice cream from a fox mute and the next thing I know, the air's going all wavy and colorful.

[She sticks her arms up--ice cream still in one hand--and waves them back and forth to emphasize.]

Elaine Lunde | OC | Familiar

[lightuplesbian]

1: Candy Man

[ Elaine spins in place as she looks around at the booths. Perhaps, more importantly, as she looks around at the spirits manning the booths. ] Ooo-kay... This is definitely the weirdest trip I've been on.

[ Magical foxes and living up to your potential didn't seem very drug-induced, but- Maybe those shrooms were laced with,,, with bigger, meaner shrooms.

She wanders for a while, down different aisles of booths, until she gets to the taffy booth. Elaine easily turns down the offer to help, citing her stick arms. But she convinces the taffy guy to give her a few pieces, a few different flavors. In return, she offers to give out free samples to people outside the shop for a little bit. Other than finding Herut, she had nothing better to do. ]

Hey there, my guy. Wanna buy some taffy? [ She holds out a plate, piled with pieces of salt water taffy of all different colors. They're beautiful, almost... Luminous. Even glowing. Might as well use her freakazoid mutant powers for good, or at least someone's profit, right? ]

2: Creative Block Castles

[ Elaine's next to the ice cream cart for a bit, looking for a list of flavors. ] Are any of these dairy free? [ She asks the fox at the cart. He replies with a yes, and promises that they'll give her a jolt of inspiration. ] No thanks, I don't think I can handle going another layer down into the Inception rabbit hole. Looks great, though.

[ Hard to not find herself staring at everyone around her eating delicious ice cream, though. She wanders back to the cart, cutting off someone about to order. ] Sorry, quick question: Do you have hot fudge? [ She can be bought. ]

[hypermedium]

[ Someone off to the side eating his own ice cream raises the half-finished cup to her; it's got M&Ms and hot fudge on top of it, and if anyone can somehow tell his is also dairy free! He's notably rather thin, has shaggy hair falling in his eyes, is wearing a too-long striped scarf and a knee-length coat over a black T-shirt with a logo on it and skinny jeans ... he looks very normal, nonthreatening and boring, essentially.

One hand puts the spoon back into his cup and signs something, and a moment later he adds: ]

It's excellent. The hot fudge. Not ... [ there's a falter and he falls back to the signing again, before trying once more with English ] overwhelmingly inspiring, just enough.

Genesis Rhapsodos | Final Fantasy VII | Familiar

[rhapsodist]

[Had he been anywhere else, Genesis probably wouldn't be walking out in the open. The people of the Planet may have forgotten about him, but that hardly meant his existence had been completely erased. But, as it were, he was not on Gaia, having followed that Fox named Thirteen. She had the most intriguing offer and who was he to not let his curiosity get the better of him? The Planet would be alright without him for now, he was certain and besides, the part of him left behind was still sealed away. There was no need for him yet.

That being said, he certainly hadn't expected the new abilities he had gained. His wings, plural now, were tucked neatly at his back and they occasionally threw him off balance. After all, he was used to only having one. But now, he had two. A proper pair. Still black as night and still quite large, but proper. So, I'm sure one can forgive him if his accidentally bumped into you as he wandered around the Artists' Fair.]

Creative Block Castles

[Genesis was quick to grasp the back of the shirt of the person(s) falling with him, his ink black wings outspread to parachute their fall onto the charcoal lined road. The landing was easy and Genesis brushed himself off, a few feathers also landing on the ground as he looked around.]

Either I'm going insane again or we are in another new world.

[While he didn't feel like he was losing his mental facilities again, nor did he feel the chronic pain of degradation, the fact that everything looked straight out of an artist's sketchbook was more than a little alarming.]

Or is this normal for Folkmore? I'm questioning my decision in following Thirteen.

Makers' Square

[Was it truly a surprise that Genesis easily found himself at a stall where the artisan in question was a book binder? Well, perhaps to those who didn't know him, anyway. After all, who would really want to learn how to repair books? That is, until one sees a very well-worn book in Genesis's hands as he consulted with the artisan. It seemed they were already on restoring the book to proper order.

LOVELESS was generally cared for, but over the years of degradation and age from both Genesis and time, it was just about falling apart. But it was nothing they couldn't be fixed, he had been assured. Genesis was quite the apt student, but he was aware that the artisan likely had other customers as well and he gestured to a person who was nearby.]

I don't want to keep you, I believe I can take it from here for the next few minutes.

[The restorer agreed as applying the new binding was an easy enough task for now. Genesis sighed softly, gazing fondly at the cover of the book. So many memories from this one book.]

Creative Block Castles

[promeranian]

[ Falling down, falling down, all he did was eat an ice cream. This is a rather extreme way to tell him to stick to his diet Thirteen, kinda rude too.

Thankfully someone has wings and nabs him before he hits the ground. Prompto groans, his dog ears twitching at the top of his head, his tail curling between his legs as he stands on firm ground. ]

No...random things and weird places are pretty normal around here.

Anya Forger | Spy x Family | TDM

[worldisdoomed]

Note: Anya has uncontrolled telepathy. She cannot help but read your character's mind. All she can do with this is use the knowledge to tailor her responses to get the best response out of the person in front of her.

I. She arrives in a burst of stardust!

[ A star falls to the ground and bursts into a shower of sparkles and out comes Anya! A girl who is definitely six years old, because she said so and she looks around wide eyed with wonder.

There's a pause. She remembers the fox, something about Folkmore but...but...

...but...

She's lost!

Anya can't help but feel her lip quiver. No. She's fine. She's a big girl now, the fox told her she could do this, so here she is.

It would be nice if her mama Yor, papa Loid or Bond were with her though. ]

II. Candy candy candy!

If I make some...I get to keep half of it?

[ This is a very exciting prospect, maybe Anya can make a ton of toffee! ]

Is there any that have peanuts in them? [ Because peanuts are obviously the best snack. ]

III. Calligraphy

[ Anya's been beckoned over to learn a new skill and when given a paintbrush and told to copy the letters, her brow furrows. ]

I uh, I already know all my letters! [ Kind of. Mostly. ] I did them in school! [ She doesn't want to admit that her handwriting is something that gets complained about, a lot. She's not terribly coordinated. ]

Maybe I can paint you a picture?

IV. Toy Castle

[ Anya's influence creates a princess castle where all the towers are made of letter blocks and the big scary dragon that is keeping her prisoner is plush and only shoots plush flames out of its mouth.

Anya is hanging out of a window in the top of the tallest tower. ]

I'm a princess! I need a prince to save me!

[ Where's her prince? ]

V. Wildcard

[ Choose your own adventure. ]

IV. Toy Castle

[sinkingfeeling]

Loid sighs at his outfit this time. Frankie didn't even ask him to put it on. It's here. An outfit he's seen more times than he cares to count, an outfit he wouldn't consider particularly princely, an outfit that makes him stand out because the eye mask draws attention. At least he still has gloves and a hat. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this prince is dressed as Bondman, Anya Forger's favorite cartoon. With a sword. A plush sword.

A repeat, sans Frankie. Unfortunately, that means Anya could fall from that window. Operation Strix will fail if she does and— Loid shakes his head. He doesn't waste time thinking about feelings, even the sinking feeling in his gut. Anya's in real danger.

"I'm coming, Anya!" Loid shouts, so she'll hear him. He scans the structure, the ridiculous looking structure, and starts his path up, wary of any minions that may pop out of nowhere.

Dion Lesage | Final Fantasy XVI | TDM

[dragoonoflight]

I. Candy Man

[ Dion finds himself wandering the various stalls, taking a quiet look at the merchandise, although he's not clear what he's doing there exactly. He followed the fox to Folkmore but now there's nothing going on but this carnival?

He probably looks out of place in his full armour.

When offered taffy he blinks. ]

Oh. Thank you kindly. [ Dion accepts with a gracious little smile. Or perhaps one is lucky to find him after he's tasted the first.

His hair has transformed into something of a mane and the tail swishing behind him suggests he's gone Lion. What a perplexing change. ]

I must say, I'm a lot more furry than I expected.

II. Creative Block Castle

[ The landscape around Dion is actually made of thin, brittle candy. It looks like a huge chamber, a lot of rock like formations. A huge candy crystal in the middle.

This crystal is shimmering and shooting lightning bolts.

And here Dion is without his halberd. ]

Greagor's grace! [ This is familiar and not at the same time. Approaching gets him zapped, mind you, it's pretty tame zapping, but this crystal does not want him to get close. ]

Let me out of this place.

III. Wildcard

[Choose your own adventure.]

block castle

[zacrifice]

[...Okay, how did he get here...

Zack squints over at the electrified crystal, then to the strange man making demands. Huh. Something weird's going on again. Is that candy...?]

We probably have to do something about that first!

crowley | good omens | myth

[goodtobebad]

i. arrival;

[ Despite the fact that this tall, dark, lanky man-shaped being is wearing sunglasses which completely obscure his eyes, it's pretty clear from the rest of his face that he's scowling as he takes in the whole scene. ]

Here I thought I was following a fox down the rabbithole.

[ He drawls in an accent that sounds British.

Suddenly, he seems to notice something, and his hands go to his head of perfectly-coiffed red hair. There is a small pair of black horns poking out of his head. He groans dramatically. ]

Oh, come on! Isn't this just a little cliche?

[ Says the guy wearing black from head to toe like he walked out of a Black Sabbath concert in 1982, with a snake tattoo at his temple. ]

ii. candy man;

[ Crowley is sauntering about the maker's square, eyeing up the offerings, sunglasses still firmly on his face. It's possible he attempted to fluff his hair up even higher than it previously was, to try and conceal the horns as much as possible. It may or may not work. ]

Okay, look - I appreciate a lot of things humans have invented over the centuries, but taffy is not one of them. The only thing it's good for is getting stuck somewhere it shouldn't be, like the back of your teeth, or in your hair, or melting and gumming up the inside of your pocket - actually, here, let me have some of that. Might find a use for it.

[ He's going to take some - but not to eat. No, he's probably going to prank someone with it at some point. Will it be you? ]

iii. creative block castle;

[ When he falls - and what a sensation that is, after all this time - he comes to in a castle. A castle nebula, surrounded by star gasses of all sorts, brilliantly-colored, and stars twinkling through the "windows". Crowley looks - he looks angry, if anything, his face tight, his lips thin. ]

No. Whatever this is - no.

iv. wild card;

[ Whatever you like! I'm open to pretty much anything. ]

i. arrival;

[goodatforgiveness]

I don't know. I think it's rather charming... One expects the Mad Hatter to appear at any moment and offer a cup of tea and a very merry unbirthday.

[ The angel for his part was looking very angelic indeed with a pair of bold white wings flaring slightly out behind him. They were familiar and the only real downside to having them so prominently displayed was that it would make traversing doorways slightly more difficult.
But then he turned and gave Crowley a good, if some what shy look, only then did he see the horns. ]

Oh, you mean those.

[ In a reversal of roles he traveled once around the demon simply to take in his new feature from all angles. ]

It is different from your usual aesthetic.

Maleficent | Maleficent Mistress of Evil | Myth

[faenix]

A. A Landing (Arrival)

( For all intents and purposes Maleficent would seem to be the perfect myth. As she arrives she comes tumbling down from the sky, as Star Children sometimes do, though her course is corrected midway through. A pair of large wings, large enough to trail once she lands, unfold and catch her as she falls. She glides in the sky for a moment before she lands down with the grace of someone rather used to such wings. Rather large curved black horns adorn her head along with a headdress that keeps her hair obscured. There's a sour look on her face as she looks around her surroundings: Tides.

There certainly could have been a better location for her to have found herself in than the actual metropolis. )

Well, well, well. Now what terrible place have I found myself in?

( A shimmer of golden-hued magic appeared around her hand and a walking stick with a jewel appeared in it. Might as well be prepared as she made her way to the artists’ fair. Perhaps there might be something more interesting to find there. )

B. Candy Man

( Oh! And she certainly did find something interesting: people like her. At least the spirits manning the booths at the artists' fair didn't seem to be human, which was quite a large bonus for them. One rushed up to her, holding out it's hand and offered it up to her. She smiled, a toothy grin awkward grin that revealed her fangs and looked considerably more forced than it felt. She was not a natural smiler. )

I usually wouldn't, but...under the circumstances....

( The circumstances being that it's being offered by a spirit and not a by a human. Thus, she accepted it. )

Thank you, little one.

( Rather than eating it though she simply squished it between her fingers, taking note of the very strange consistency. )

Is this meant to be consumed? Only a human could come up with something so...( somethings miraculously stops her before she says 'vile', but it was certainly what she thought of this. Her nose scrunched up but she still has that forced smile on her face. ) unappealing. I think I'll pass on learning to make it.

[huntedtyphoon]

[ Vash hasn't seen the woman before, but he's there checking out the various stalls, and he's been tasting a few things.

He can't help but interject. ]

Oh, taffy is really delicious! You should try it!

Finn | Star Wars | Legend

[hatejakku]

A. Back Again

[ Not for the first time, Finn lies on his back and looks up at the stars he'd just fallen from. Somehow, he doesn't expect to run into Yzak during a blizzard this time, but at least he knows where he is.

Which is... no where near anyone on the Ximilia. Again. But that's okay. At least he's back here. Having not gone home, he's got no idea how much time has passed since he was last out in these parts. But he won't find out by lying down.

With a sigh, Finn sits up, immediately realizing he's missing his necklace. Again. But that's okay, too.

After getting to his feet, he begins to head to the nearest settlement he can find. Perhaps it's near your neck of the woods, but his ultimate destination is Willow, then Gram. Which probably means he'll have to take the train. Yay.

... He tries not to wonder if Gram #7 is still considered his or not... ]

B. Candy Man

[ The last time Finn was here, he wasn't much for exploring. Honestly, he wasn't up for much of anything back then. Still isn't, if he's totally honest, but he's trying to make the effort now. Part of that is exploring this new place. Tides.

He kind of hates that he loves the name. It fits so well.

Anyway, he'd done a little sight-seeing and somehow found himself near the salt water taffy. He also found himself learning how to make it, what with pulling and stretching and everything. And then he found himself looking down at a bunch of cute little faces asking for more and-

Needless to say, Finn's been helping make some taffy for the local spirits. He can't quite tell if they're children, but they sure do have those eyes that make him agree to whatever they're asking for.

He's also had a bite at their insistence and knows that his eyes have changed color. A deep dark blue looks back at him whenever he catches his reflection in the glass and metal around the area. He's kind of glad it's not lighter than that and also glad he's not totally sure what the color means.

Either way, when he sees another Star Child wandering around, he's immediately all smiles. ]

Hi! Do you want any? Or... would you... like to take over?

[ It's so much fun! You should try it! Please save him! ]

C. Wildcard

[ ooc: Finn's been in Folkmore before and is a CRAU from Ximilia. The only major changes from canon is that he's a little sadder, has a tattoo, and feels the Force a lot more strongly. Either way, feel free to catch him wherever. That train is liable to take him all over the place before he gets "home" to Gram.

Glad to be back, Folkmore! ♥ ]

A

[fistofvengeance]

[Marc's neck of the woods, even after all this time, is still Satori Hills in Epiphany. He's grown very attached to his apartment there, now sharing it with both Steven and Layla, and tends to stick around that neighborhood for the most part. At the moment, he's headed for a food cart about two blocks from the apartment building, somewhat lost in thought. Because of that, he doesn't see Finn just yet.]

cal kestis | star wars: jedi survivor

[rebuilder]

arrival.

[ Cal plummets. He's not sure how he winds up on his back, looking up at the stars in an unfamiliar system, but here we are. He's quite content to lie there for a moment, scrubbing a hand over his face, wincing as he comes into contact with some kind of bruise. Sand falls out of his hair. ]

Ugh.

[ He pushes himself up onto his feet, somewhat unsteady. ]

Hey, BD, any idea of where we are? I don't recognize it.

[ There's no answering beep, no telltale weight of the droid jumping onto his usual perch on Cal's shoulder? The jedi turns, looking out for the explorer droid as if he expects his sensors to pop up as if he'd been there all along. ]

BD-1? Where are you, bud?

[ Worry sets in, and that worry festers into the ever present sting of already existing grief. Did he just lose both his crew and best friend in the space of less than a day? Still, he valiantly continues to search for his friend, still unwilling to give up on him or give into his fears just yet. ]

candy man.

[ Despite everything, the urge to explore his new surroundings is great - and so Cal does just that. It's a distraction, yes but he hates sitting around doing nothing.

So at first he's content to just watch, keep his hands in his pockets and watch from the sidelines rather than join the festivities, some kind of art event. But eventually he gets talked into sitting in on one of the activities. He can sew - he's mended his own clothing for years, how difficult can embroidery be? The answer is... harder than it looks. His face is screwed up with concentration as he works the needle through the fabric. Cal holds the hoop out to study it. ]

... that doesn't look like any kind of flower I've seen.

[ It's a simple daisy, but his stitches are not the most even or straight!

And of course, he'll give some of the other activities a go - painting and taffy making are sure places he'll wind up at, with a bag of his own brightly colored goodies at his side and a bushy tail that's as red as his hair that most certainly wasn't there before and oh force, he really didn't mean to hit anyone with it! ]

wildcard

[ anything else? feel free to toss me something here, I'm open to just about anything! ]

arrival

[dathomirs]

[ Cal has been gone for a few weeks, which means Merrin has been in some sort of mood about it. She's not worried for him, not really; she knows he'll find her again back home, but it doesn't stop her from being a bit sulky from missing him.

So when she spots the stars falling, she proceeds in that direction out of a frankly silly hope as much as a desire to distract herself from her sour mood. She's not truly expecting to find him returned so soon. But against all reason, there he is -- minus his wings, and with longer hair, but still her Jedi. She teleports over the instant she spots him, appearing before him in a flash of vibrant green. ]

You have kept me waiting, Cal Kestis. What do you have to say for yourself?

[ She's smiling, the relief plain on her face, but she can't help but tease him a little. ]

Soma Cruz | Castlevania | Familiar

[draculaintraining]

[ The Arrival ]
[ He had just survived the Menace that Dmitrii had turned into and fought against his own power to maintain himself when he saw the fox. Following it just... felt right, in ways that Soma couldn't put to words, and so he stepped away from himself, followed and listened... ]

[ And then fell. ]

[ It wasn't the first time he fell from a massive height, but it was the first time he did it while in the form of a star. He expected to hit the ground hard, and as such, he prepared his soul for the moment he became himself, bursting out of the starlight momentarily human, then as a giant white and blue bat. Soma flapped his wings in confusion, not sure how he didn't splatter on the ground, before dropping back to his feet, looking around curiously. ]

[ He hasn't realized yet that his ears are still bat-like, nor that he has fangs he shouldn't have. ]

[ Candy Man ]
[ Soma was not that artistic; the most he did was draw idly in the margins of his notebooks when class was particularly boring. That wasn't to say he didn't give the painting (and wine) his best shot, and he didn't think it came out too terribly. At least the end result looked... vaguely like a cat? ]

[ He has better luck with making the taffy, shucking off his long coat and working the confectionary like it wasn't all that hard. By the time he was done, he had handfuls of chocolate, strawberry, coffee, and red bean flavors. He... may have overdone it a little bit, but that just means he has more to hand out to people once he leaves the candy making station. ]

[ Soma holds a small box full of the taffy as he leaves, looking around, trying to spot someone that looks like they're trying to get some candy, before holding out the box. ]

Would you like some of mine?

[ Creative Block Castles ]
[ There were some places you never forgot, no matter what kind of weird artistic bent they may be formed with. So when Soma found himself falling into someone's painting of a dilapidated corridor, lined with massive windows that were draped with blood red curtains, all he could do was let out a put upon sigh. ]

Someone has a sick sense of humor.

[ He turned to the others with him, trying to gauge for himself how good they'll be in whatever fight is about to come. ]

Brace yourselves; I don't know what will be coming for us.

arrival

[hershiningheart]

[This wouldn't be the first (or last) time Usagi sees a star fall in front of her, running in that direction. She knows how rough it can be to suddenly be dropped literally into a strange world so rudely.

But what she hasn't seen before is a giant bat emerging from the starlight for a moment before he lands which makes her gasp in surprise.

She's not deterred though as she rushes over, still concerned- it will take more than bat-like ears or fangs to throw her off and keep her from making sure this new stranger was ok.]

Are you alright?

clive rosfield ( ffxvi ) legend

[eikenai]

CANDY MAN
[ though clive is physically here in the market, his head is still such a mess that he can hardly process everything that's happened since leaving valisthea. he remembers origin, and facing ultima, and joshua-- no. no, he doesn't want to think about that right now. he can't afford to. if he thinks about joshua, he'll just lay down and die, and he can't do that. if he's survived, that means the universe needs more of him.

so here he is, still clad in blood-spattered leather, drifting through the market as he tries to make sense of it. a figure--spirit?--presses something into his hand as it passes him, and it's gone again before clive can remember how to speak. he stares dumbly down at the little candies in their waxed paper, grief seizing him with unexpected force at their bright colors. as a child, joshua had loved things like this, and their mother had rarely allowed him to have them. clive and jill had spoiled him when they could, passing him treats and candies in his sickbed, or when he'd snuck out to watch clive sparring.

a breath shudders out of him, and he stops the next person he sees to practically force the little handful on them. ] Please take these. [ even to him, his voice comes out sounding pained, but he can't begin to explain why something so harmless could hurt him so badly. ]


CREATIVE BLOCK CASTLES
a.
[ well. he wasn't expecting to fall into a chalk drawing today, but it may as well happen, really. hearing the rumble of a distant attack, he's reaching for his sword before he remembers that it isn't here with him-- and on brief consideration, instead he calls for the phoenix's familiar, comforting flame. it blooms into a ball of flame over he and his new companions' heads, lighting the dim little room they'd tumbled into, and even after seeing all the magic on display in this world, there's an instinctive moment in which clive expects someone to react badly. ]

Does anyone recognize this place? [ why would they? with the light illuminating the room, clive can see it isn't.. normal. it doesn't even look real. ]

b.
[ after they leave, clive's left peering down at the doll-figure of himself. he turns it in his hand, plucking the miniature version of his broadsword--gotterdammerung--off its back, and is startled as it abruptly expands to full-size in his palm. he drops the doll to make sure he doesn't drop the sword, and is left almost comically wide-eyed as he stares down at the familiar weapon. ]

How--? [ magic, of course, but like so much of the magic here, totally unfamiliar to him. ]


WILDCARD
[ idk i'm just vibing, prompt me if you wanna do something else. ]

Candy Man

[draculaintraining]

Hm?

[ Soma looked down at the candies, much like the ones he had made earlier, before turning his gaze to the man holding them. He looked like he was on the verge of tears, and there was no missing the blood all over him. Someone had just come from one hell of a fight, that was for sure. ]

[ He found himself grabbing the man's wrist, bringing him over somewhere he could sit down, snatching a piece of canvas that hadn't been stretched onto a frame yet along the way. ]

Here... let me at least try to clean you up first, okay?

sansa stark | asoiaf crau | legend

[dohaeris]

i. voted most likely to run away with you [ezra]

[sansa had followed the lady fox thinking this was another sort of test, and found herself so enjoying her company that it's only when she touches down that she begins to fear she's been separated from her old life entirely. most especially, lady isn't here. sansa's eyes flash briefly weirwood-sap red before settling on a somewhat icy blue. she's with the other sansa.

and there are other creatures here. it occurs to sansa with a start that her hearing hasn't diminished in lady's absence; she can make out snatches of conversation and birdsong, the rustles of small animals, the cadence of footsteps both human(?) and horse.

she is dressed for late autumn in a gown of thick grey wool embroidered with purple-leafed weirwood branches about the chest and shoulders and shadowy, silvery wolves hiding among them. it's cut to her knees in front and barely grazes her ankles in the back, revealing sturding black boots and leggings; a wide leather belt holds an empty chatelaine equipped only with a spoon made of weirwood and mysterious weight in the chainmail pouch where she kept her omni crystal. her heart twists briefly at all she's left behind, the gifts from her friends and scavenged remnants of her old life, and the blue of her eyes momentarily deepens and softens before again returning to an icier blue. she has done this before. at least the silver moth ring from winterfell fits neatly above her gloves, and she has her needle necklace with its steel hoop from madame generosity. perhaps in time her father's sword will find her again.

her canine teeth feel heavy and long in her mouth, and seem to press at her lips––she resists the urge to inspect them with her tongue. her fingernails seem to press at the tips of her gloves, and her toenails––she cannot bear the thought of what they must look like.

something does remain, though, something she almost overlooked in its familiarity––she can feel ezra, somewhere, much as she had before. it may be a trick, but she had not thought the lady fox so cruel––capricious, certainly, and wild, but understanding, and not without compassion––though sansa hadn't known her long, and she's been wrong before. but not in a long while, says a familiar voice in her head.

sansa draws a breath and looks around nervously, her heart in her throat.]

Ezra?

ii. it's been a long time coming [open]

[sansa is of course enchanted by the artist's fair, marveling at the pieces on display and familiarizing herself with anyone selling anything to do with sewing, cloth, and notions, earning herself a bit of lore in the process. a smallish raven on her shoulder keeps her company; she manages to buy a case of needles, a box of thread, and some small shears before she finds herself drawn to the maker's square and its smell of hot sugar.

the taffy pulling is a bit hypnotic, and sansa watches rapt for a moment. soon a large dog spirit beckons her over and asks her to give it a try.

sansa learned to knead bread with great difficulty; she doubts she will take very well to taffy pulling. she approaches wth her head slightly bowed in an unthinking gesture of wolfish apology.]

Forgive me, but I'm sure I'd only make a mess of it. [she pauses, considering.] Perhaps I could measure out the sugar?

[the dog spirit laughs and assents, offering to show her how to boil it. sansa beams, revealing wolfish fangs and deep blue eyes.]

Thank you, I should like that very much. I am Sansa Stark of Winterfell; may I ask your name?

[come talk to her as she works!! taffy made with sansa's help will taste like honeyed lemons, and it will cause character's hair to darken when they lie along with color-changing eyes! this process can be reversed by telling the truth.]

iii. 'cause I know this is a fight that someday we're gonna win [open]

[sansa has a well-earned suspicion of magical festival foods, but the ice cream was lemon-yellow and she could see whole pieces of cake inside...and a 'jolt' of inspiration sounded fairly straightforward. if the fox spirits were offering it, than lady fox likely wanted her to try it...

the ice cream is delicious, and sansa doesn't feel any effects from eating it. it's not until leaves the festival that she hears it––a faint harp melody, soon overtaken by mandolin. it's not long until it becomes a cacophony overwhelming to sansa's newly sensitive ears, and she shuts her eyes briefly to try and center herself. when she opens them, she finds herself in the great hall of winterfell––except the stark banners and wolf tapestries have been replaced with massive rolls of sheet mosic, densely written. the din has faded back to faint harp strings, but soon comes a chilling sound sansa has heard before only in visions and nightmares––three blasts of a horn. three for white walkers, she remembers dreamt up versions of her brothers saying.

sansa closes them again, and opens them as a crow on the roof of the broken tower. absently she notes that all the trees seem to be made into wind harps faintly twinging. it is soon overtaken by the great army of the dead––and their mandolins. some wights seem to be beating drums to set the pace. dead giants fling themselves against the walls of winterfell, causing the stones to crumble in a curiously rhythmic fashion.

sansa returns to her body––sometime later, she will find it strange that it had not collapsed in her absence––and the white walkers begin to sing with one voice.

"Hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny ho."

sansa flinches. she can just make out the sounds of breathing, beating hearts, and tapping footsteps behind her. she draws a breath and turns to look at her new companions.]

I'm very sorry. It seems you've been caught up in some lesson for me. If you might help me make my way out of it, I should be very much in your debt.

[the white walkers continue to loudly sing the false and the fair in marillion's voice. sansa draws a breath.]

The creatures at the walls are from my realm, and so too are the dead things that do their bidding. The wights may be killed with fire, but the Others––White Walkers––they look like men made of ice, with eyes that burn blue––they can be killed only by the touch of obsidian, or Valyrian steel.

[sansa has made a study of the pattern of dreams. she has an idea of how this might go. a corner of her mouth quirks upward for a moment.]

This place is my home. I think I may know where to find such a sword, if one of you might do me the honor of wielding it.


[sansa is coming from deer country, about 20 months out of canon!! you can pm me or hit me up at bitterends if you have any questions or want to build on previous cr stuff!!]

ii

[fogsong]

[ Sharon pops a piece of taffy (Spirit made) into her mouth as she wanders between all the stalls, taking time out of her day to assist a Spirit making more before wandering away to observe others committing to the same process. A stall teaching embroidery immediately brings up memories of Sansa but she's quick to stuff them down and continue on her way—thinking too much of Trench always has a way of sending her into a spiral of grief.

That's likely why she's certain her heart stops and tries to claw its way up her throat when she spots a familiar silhouette. A tall, thin girl with auburn hair... Sharon is slow to approach but the closer she gets, the easier it is to hear her voice above the rest of the crowd as she chats amicably with the wolf spirit at her side. ]

Sansa? [ Her voice comes out high-pitched. Strained. Sharon hasn't changed much since her arrival, it's only been a handful of months, but notably, she's not wearing her usual hunting leathers, just soft leggings and a pale blue long-sleeve top. There's no gun on her leg, no spear on her back. This place must be much less dangerous than Trench. ]

Makoto Naegi | Danganronpa | Legend

[cloversandcranes]

A new home

[Makoto was still feeling a little ruffled from his arrival and his new wings were showing it, slightly puffed up in anxiety. While the knowledge of another him still being in his world had calmed him, he couldn't help but feel anxious about his new life here. Why was he brought here? What did the fox mean by unleashing his potential? How did he even do that?

Still, he wasn't going to spend all his time brooding over his new predicament, so he decided to go to the Artist fair. While he was at first concerned about his new appearance, he found that he wasn't the only person here with wings. There were even others with horns and tails instead. Carefully tucking his six wings to his body, he moved around the fair curiously, intrigued by all the spirits and candy.

As he wandered, he tried all kinds of taffy, from sweet tasting ones to more savory ones. His eyes glowed hazel in contentment as he munched on his treats, his wings relaxing more and more as he munched.]

This...isn't too bad. I wonder how the others would react to this place?

[At the thought of his friends, his mood soured slightly, his wings slightly drooping in sadness. He hoped the trial went well for his other self. And he hoped the others would be okay.]

I...shouldn't worry about them any more, right? They'll be fine with that other me.

[He continued muttering to himself as he absentmindedly snacked on a Watermelon salt taffy.]


Manga Deadlines

[Makoto didn't know what he expected from this new world but falling down an inked sidewalk to an inked castle, was not one of them. Rubbing his head from his tumble, he stood up and looked around at their surroundings. On top of a high tower, he looked down and frowned when he saw figures charging at the gates. Were those...monsters? Feeling a little silly, he looked back at his reluctant companion and pointed at the charging silhouettes.]

Are...we supposed to do something about this?


House of memories

[After a long and tiring fight, they had returned to the fair victorious and with their new treasures. A dollhouse for each of them with a doll inside resembling themselves. Holding the doll of himself, he stared at the new additions on his doll curiously when he saw a book in the doll's hands. Carefully reaching for it, he startled when it become life-size in his hands. His breath hitched when he recognized it, a yearbook from Hope's Peak Academy.

He turned the pages with trembling hands, his eyes watering when he saw the page for his class. The smiling faces of his classmates greeted him, their happy grins as they stared at the camera made the tears spill down his cheek as he gently caressed the page. Even the smiling face of Enoshima was taken in with starving eyes, his eyes roving from one person to another.]

... They look so happy here. They had no idea...



[(((OOC: Wildcards welcome! Makoto is 20-21 here and from right after the second game. His Legend form has four pairs of wings (three pairs on his back (A pair of Crane, Raven and green and black dove wings) and a pair of regular white dove wings on his head) and a halo made up of glowing kanji (the names of his lost ones) which parts of it (the individual names) glow brighter as he thinks of them. His eyes are usually a soft hazel but change colors when emotional. We can chat and plot here at CeyahWolfsong or on discord at anne2511. You can also just send me a PM.)))]

A new home

[rememoror]

[ Thena happened to be one of those ones with wings; large owl-like wings that were currently folded together to make a white and golden-hued cloak around her. For the most part she'd been keeping to herself while wandering through the fair, as she did in most cases here. However, she stopped when she heard the stranger's muttering to himself. Not only was it one she'd related to after arriving here himself it also clearly marked him as a new arrival.

She offered a gentle smile. ]

I wouldn't worry. The evidence we have suggests time doesn't pass there while you're here. Which means they should be in the same state you left them when you go back.

Ahsoka Tano | Star Wars | Familiar

[alwaysmemorable]

[ arrival ]
[ It had been too easy to follow the creature across wasteland-desert-mountain-shores, to leave her own world behind. Ahsoka, adrift in a rapidly terrifyingly changing galaxy, fell away from it and into this strange new world.

She finds herself near a... a bazaar, perhaps? She wanders into it, slowly moving through the stalls and looking at the artwork on display. Her smile at some of the work is small but genuine -- the level of pride in the work is obvious.

Ahsoka hesitates to draw attention to herself, but she does eventually ask a passer-by who looks as if they'll take a question: ] What is this place called?

[ candy man ]
[ Ahsoka got pulled (ha) into pulling taffy. The repetitive movements do more to ease her jangled nerves that anything else. She could almost get lost in this.

It's... She wouldn't call it fun but perhaps soothing is a better word.

She takes her half of the candy she's made and decides to share the wealth. ]

Here. [ She's not pushy about it but she definitely wants you to take it. ] I enjoyed making it. I hope you enjoy eating it.

[ creative block ]
[ She falls.

She falls and somehow finds herself high atop a tower, open to the elements. Clouds -- somehow evocative of short brushstrokes -- obscured the ground. (If there was ground, Ahsoka thought.) Wind howled, catching her cloak and threatening to knock her off her feet.

(Was that howl the wind or something else?) ]

What is-- [ Ahsoka turns in place, taking in the odd painterly quality of the stone, the hues of orange and purple and blue in broad strokes across the sky, the way the clouds swirled in ways that didn't seem quite natural. ]

Arrival

[makesrocksfloat]

[by this point, Rey has already ran into someone she knew but didn't know her. and she hadn't seen Ahsoka for a long time. so she assumes it's another case of a person leaving and then coming back with no memories.

especially given Ahsoka's question.

she smiles warmly] It's Folkmore. Really strange place, but there are a lot of really good people here. And the spirit children are pretty nice. But don't get distracted by the cute, it can be pretty dangerous at times.