folkooc | May 2022 Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

*tdm

May 2022 Test Drive Meme

MAY 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

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Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.

All TDMs are game canon. You can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Each TDM will provide a scenario for how characters arrive in-game that particular month.

Playing TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.

Current players are allowed to have in-game characters react to TDMs via the Network or make a log with the prompts. Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!

TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

A PLACE IN THIS WORLD

Content Warnings: Possible insanity via cuts by thorns. Temporary nullification of abilities.

DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS

The world comes into focus in one sharp, overwhelming rush. You are laying on the ground surrounded by staggering walls of flowers of all types and colors. Their sweet scent fills the air and the sky above is clear, blue, beautiful, and endless. It would be easy to be lulled into a quiet nap in such a peaceful place. You can even hear a soft, disembodied voice singing songs from some unknown place all around you. After some time, this siren song creates an intense yearning that will eventually bring you to your feet and pull you forward. You are filled with the urge to find someone important. You may know who or you might just have some aimless, faceless person at the forefront of your mind.

All you know is that when you finally find them, you'll know. Is it love? Is it a friend you have always needed? The perfect enemy? Only time will tell, but for now, you must find them. The flower maze is dense and for now, it doesn't seem like flying out and above them is an option. If you try, you just wind up vaulted back into the maze. Nope! This trial is about using other means of exploration. Maybe you can destroy the flowers, but you will find that this flower field is apparently endless. If you get cut by thorns along the way, you will become increasingly hectic about finding this mystery person. Some have been thrown into insane desperation just looking for their People among the flowers.

But once you finally find them, you're both filled with relief and the flowers around you blossom wider. You can then treat the flower maze like a solvable puzzle and get your way out of it. However, some people spend a bit more time in the maze since once you do find your person or people, you will be stricken with the urge to talk to them, to "open up" about your yearning to find them...even if you've never met them before!

OUT OF THE WOODS

Just outside of the flower maze is a little festival set up just on the edge of Willow and partway into Epiphany! Little stalls of food and drinks have been set up - and we mean little! The good folk who set up these stalls are magical cats standing upright and wearing clothes like little people! All the stalls are cat-sized and so are the dishes and food - which means most of the people walking through will likely be quite a bit bigger! That's okay, the cat folk seem happy to serve you bigger or multiple helpings of their yummy soups and bread. None of them seem able to really communicate with the new arrivals, but that's okay, their cute meows are fun to listen to anyway.

The music is a bit more pronounced here and a handful of cat couples are dancing around. Don't be surprised if they encourage you to join in the dancing! Maybe you didn't actually find someone in the flower maze - if not, the cat folk will encourage you to dance with another new arrival to get to know them! Because apparently dancing with someone you don't know is a good formal introduction? Ah well. Sometimes it's just the idea that counts.

There will also be some supplies to help patch people up who have gotten a lot of cuts from the flower maze. Some of the bouts of insanity are probably still going a bit hectic, so you might want to lay down in the recovery area until you feel a bit more stable. Talking to people apparently helps with the stability, so maybe strike up a conversation with a fellow newbie?

ENCHANTED

Content Warnings: Optional selective amensia and/or altered sense of self, possible monster/creature violence, temporary enchantments, forced relocations.

LONG STORY SHORT

You're in a very unusual, specific outfit and in a place you might have seen once or twice in a storybook or in the imagination of your childhood. For some, you might pick up on what's happening immediately. For others, you might be so immersed in the role that you don't realize it - but you're featuring in a classic fairy tale. Maybe it's Sleeping Beauty or Little Red Riding Hood or Tale of the White Snake or The Mirror of Matsuyama. Either way, you're the main character or the main antagonist and it looks like you're going to have to play out the story with whoever you're stuck with!

The other person in the trial can either match up to the other side of the story or just arrive as themselves and have to play along. Trying to just abandon the trial is quite literally impossible! You're stuck in the weird woods or high tower and trying to "leave" just results in you going in repeated cycles until you wind up where you started. You have a role to fill and you might as well get used to playing roles in Folkmore! It's time to understand how these trials work. What lesson are you supposed to take away?

If you're grumbling about it or are left confused, don't worry! Thirteen will appear to those struggling and explain the situation: "You need to play out the story! C'mon. Everyone knows this story...Right? Well, whatever, it's obvious! If you play your part, I promise I'll give you something you want." Can you really trust a fox though? Especially the fox who brought you here? She laughs before you can really pester her for more information and vanishes in a burst of red dust. Foxes really are mischievous, aren't they...At least most fairy tales are incredibly short, basic, and straightforward so most people should be able to figure it out!

In theory.

DAYLIGHT

At least the Fox wasn't lying. When you complete the task of the story, the fairy tale world will melt into one of the settings in Folkmore and you will be brought back into the current reality. You will be left in the weird clothes, but fear not! A mystery trunk has appeared in front of you and whoever you completed the trial with. Inside the trunk, you will find some of your canon clothes and a few canon items. Nearby, there will be some weapons sticking out of the ground: basic swords, guns, shields, etc. These items might not be enchanted, but at least you have something to work with!

Better yet, you don't necessarily have to complete the Long Story Short prompt to find these trunks either! They seem to be dotted around Folkmore and you might find them just by virtue of exploration! The trunks seem to mysteriously know who is opening them so you won't find someone else's stuff by accident, but you might have to fight over who gets the sword in the stone...

A word of caution to those who grab the weapons...You will immediately be tested on how good you are with them. As soon as you have pulled them out of the ground, the ground will begin trembling and a serpent-like creature will form out of the ground. If you're in Wintermute, you have a sizeable icy creature to deal with. If you're in Cruel Summer, meet the fire-breathing snakey nightmare that's going to try and roast you alive. Don't think Epiphany or Willow will have gentler creatures! They might be covered in moss or flowers but they will hit just as hard. You have to defeat the angry creature - or try running for your life. They are relatively easy to beat and people without powers can manage if they are highly skilled or...really lucky...Or if someone far more capable finds them! Good luck. As a pro-tip, maybe don't pull weird swords out of the ground in the future.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's so sweet and so silly. Flynn can feel the warm puff of Yuri's breath on his entire body. Goosebumps rise on his skin as he turns his head, pushing up with his hands braced on Yuri's chin to press a kiss to his cheek, or something close to his cheek—it's a little hard to reach.

But it seems to work. Flynn pulls back, lets out a single breath, and in the next moment blinks and suddenly he's his usual size and on top of Yuri, practically crushing him back into the flowers with a sharp yelp of surprise. His wings—apparently still there—flap in an attempt to stabilize him but it absolutely doesn't work; they go crashing down in a heap of limbs and feathers and tail. ]

[ It happens quickly, and suddenly Flynn, at his usual height and bulk, heavier than Yuri, is on top of him, squishing his arm and Yuri's new tail caught beneath him uncomfortably. He stares up at Flynn for a bare moment, catching sight of wings, before Flynn topples over and squishes him further into the ground.

Well, it must have worked. Their storybook wedding did the trick, and Flynn is back to how he should be and Yuri groans and tries to push Flynn off of him ]

Jeez, I forgot how heavy you are.

I feel bad for whoever you really marry if that's the first thing you say to me after our wedding.

[ Snippy, but Flynn's laughing as he tries to detangle himself and not shove his hand onto Yuri's tail or his hair or anything else. He should be embarrassed, probably, or annoyed or something—and he's a little too aware of his skin and the size of his body—but mostly he's just relieved to be back to normal and glad not to have had to marry any small animals.

Carefully, he pushes himself to his knees, half-straddling Yuri for a moment, and then stands with a hand extended. ]

Thank you, Yuri.

[ Yuri snorts a laugh. The idea of marrying anyone is kind of absurd to him, but Flynn's weight is mostly off of him a second later, and he looks up to see Flynn haloed by the sun and his blonde, messy hair. Yuri's breath catches in his throat, and he feels very aware of his body and how Flynn is sitting on him and how uncomfortable this stupid tail is under his ass

But then Flynn is off of him and offering him a hand, and for once he takes it, a little too dazed to reject him. Flynn pulls him easily to his feet, and Yuri sways too close for a moment before he rights himself, pushing his hair back, fingers catching on his stupid ears and he scoffs, looking away from Flynn ]

Just glad it worked.

[ Flynn smiles at him, pleased and full of a buzzing feeling that can only be relief. His limbs feel light. So does the rest of him, really. The sun catches on Yuri, too, on the edges of the ears on top of his head, shining through and turning the edges pink. ]

It didn't work entirely.

[ Flynn's reaching up to touch already on some impulse he can't name. ]

They're still there. The ears.

[ Yuri flinches away from his hand and swats at him, without any real intent except to get Flynn to not touch his now, weird ears. ]

Don't think there was a cat in the story.

[ So, it would stand that Yuri is in a different story, but he can't think of any really about a cat. Maybe Puss in Boots? That honestly would track, for Yuri. ]

At least I'm the right size and can, I dunno. Do stuff.

[ What stuff? He doesn't know. At least he isn't being menaced by frogs ]

How many creatures did you turn down?

A mouse, a frog, a beetle, and a bird.

[ Flynn says with a little grumpy twist of his lips. He gives up trying to touch Yuri's ears and instead rounds him to look at the tail instead. It really is attached to him, or it must be, because his pants are strangely low and it's lifting up the hem of his shirt, poking from between the sash ties and flicking with annoyance.

Flynn blinks and reaches for his shirt. ]

You should cut a hole for it. Your pants are going to fall down.

Hey!

[ Again, Yuri swats Flynn's hand away, this time turning so Flynn can't see. Not that he can really hide the tail, but he doesn't need Flynn to see how badly the tail makes his clothes fit ]

I like these pants.

[ He isn't really one to get attached to clothes, but ruining clothes isn't something he does lightly. Clothes aren't cheap ]

It's fine. I'm figuring it out. What about your, your wings? Did you cut your shirt?

[ Flynn grimaces. He hadn't liked cutting up his clothes any more than Yuri does, particularly since he'd had to cut his uniform. Conspicuously, now that Yuri can see him in his proper clothes, he isn't wearing his hauberk or any of his armor, actually. It's half his uniform—the stiff pants of his dress uniform—and his undershirt, clinging tight to his body. ]

I had to, and I'll have to do something about my armor.

[ He feels exposed. His wings ruffle a little, the feathers fluffing up. Flynn... hasn't quite figured how to make them settle again, so he has to awkwardly reach back and try to push them back into place. ]

I can't even use them.

They're pretty cute.

[ Did he mean to say that out loud? No, not really, but he smirks and picks at the tip of one of them. It's so small and adorable ]

So, I'm a cat. You're a, what, a bird?

[ He laughs, grinning in Flynn's face, taunting him. They can talk about practical things like armor and swords later ]

[ The feathers ruffle up even more under Yuri's touch, and Flynn's wing flexes involuntarily, fluffing out for a second before he pulls away, huffing. ]

Not a very useful bird, if that's really it. I look like one of those statues with tiny wings. Do you think they're really permanent?

[ Yuri laughs at that, feeling lighter now that Flynn is by his side, and his right size. He stops touching Flynn's wings, but stays close to him. ]

Hell if I know. I hope not. I don't want to look like this forever. You know, my real ears are gone?

[ It's making his hair fall differently, and he doesn't like it, reaching up to where the should be. ]

Are they?

[ Aaand we're back to peering at Yuri's cat features, curiousity overriding punched-in politeness for the moment.

They really are gone. The side of his head is just smooth, the skin sweeping up to the little tuft of fur that marks the beginning of his new ears.

It is kind of cute. Flynn can't help smiling as Yuri's ear twitches in the wind. ]

You know, I was right.

[ Yuri eyes Flynn suspiciously, and his ears go back. He doesn't like that expression ]

About what?

You and Little Yuri really do have a lot in common.

[ THAT'S RIGHT YURI HE REMEMBERS ]

[ Wait, what? It takes Yuri's mind a moment to process that, and he just stares at Flynn, unimpressed ]

[ But then--

Shit.

That fucking cat. That fucking cat that Flynn named after him ]

[ A cat-like growl builds in Yuri's throat, ears pressed to his head, eyes narrowed. His pupils dilate ]

[ And he pounces on Flynn, knocking him to the ground with an uppercut to the chin ]

Not-- [ Yuri breathes, braced over Flynn, poised to punch him again ] like that fucking cat!

You just pounced on me!

[ Flynn crows, laughing even though shit, that hurt, and his wings are flared out under him shoved into the flowers. Before Yuri can punch him Flynn's got a knee in his gut. ]

You're exactly like Little Yuri!

[ That knee drives Yuri back, and he falls off of Flynn, rolling over in the grass with a groan ]

Shut up. I still can't believe you named that damn cat after me.

Surely now you can see why.

[ The ears and tail really do suit him. It's strange that they've changed so much, and clearly Yuri feels the same sort of discomfort Flynn does with the whole thing, but... well, at least he's here. Flynn flops back into the grass beside him, more on his side to keep his wings from getting squashed. ]

If we're really here to improve ourselves, maybe the person responsible thinks you needed better hearing.

[ Yuri rolls his eyes and stares up at the perfectly blue sky. It's strange, thinking that he was brought here because someone thinks he has potential. Potential for what? Potential to do nothing, to be a waste of space, to be a person who makes things happen, who moves along what needs to be done when others can't. He doesn't see why he would be so special. Maybe that person is making fun of him (seems likely with the cat appendages), but he can't think that this is just some joke, because his ears really are gone, and he doesn't know any magic that can do that. ]

And you need, what? To be reminded that you can't fly?

I... don't know.

[ A little bit of a strange admission for Flynn. It makes his face feel hot, makes his feathers prickle—he can feel them so much more than he'd figured—to say the quiet words out loud. Isn't he supposed to always know, or at least have a guess? He should, but none of it makes sense. ]

It all feels a little like a dream.

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