June 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

JUNE 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

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

1989

Content Warnings: Potentially traumatic memories.

GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND

Consciousness returns all at once, bringing with it the sound of water, the scent of wet wood, and the feeling of warm summer air. You are laying in a lounge chair near the head of a long wooden dock, one of many scattered along a small and pebbly beach. Other people rest on some of these chairs, dozing or waking up themselves.

In front of you a lake spreads like ink as the sun sets in the distance, turning the horizon into a riot of pinks and oranges. The water is still and dark, perfect for a little swimming, even if you don't have a suit. You can wade in, or walk down the dock and dive. If you're a little worried about going alone, you could see if anybody else is willing to take the plunge with you.

At the head of the dock where it rejoins the land, someone has placed a pastel boombox. It's playing a steady stream of synth music that really goes with the whole neon sky thing happening - it's like you woke up in a vapourwave wet dream! If only you had a saxophone!

The current song fades out and the DJ speaks up. Her voice sounds an awful lot like that of the fox that brought you here.

"Our next song goes out to a very special someone--" and to your surprise she says your name. What then plays is a song that is extremely special to you, whether positive or negative. Maybe it's from your first dance. Maybe it's the song that played on the radio when you said goodbye to someone you knew you'd never see again. Whatever it is, it cuts right to the center of you - you hear every note or feel every beat.

And it follows. The song will play on loop, growing louder and louder as it does. If you try to walk away, it somehow still plays - run into the woods to escape and you will still hear it echoing through the branches. Throw the boombox in the lake and another just reappears in its place. Plug your ears and you'll just hear it in your head, over and over.

How do you get rid of an earworm? Sing it aloud? Find another song? The DJ breaks in with a clue: "What an absolute banger! You'll want to share this one, folks!"

Yes, the only way is to get this song out of your head is to tell someone else about the memory associated with the song. The second you do, the song will stop looping, both externally and mentally

I KEEP CRUISIN'

If you get sick of the lake, a short walk down a path will take you to a little park. There are food stalls set up serving tacos, smoothies, yakitori, hot dogs, ice cream, somen, shaved ice... summer fare. All of the stalls are manned by humanoids with animal heads - at first you might mistake them for masks. But no, they really are animal people: roosters, chameleons, owls, panthers. They don't speak, and they're all very laid back, serving you in their own sweet time.

There are benches you can sit on. If the sun finally sinks behind the horizon while you're here, a number of soft lights in blues, purples, and pinks will turn on and keep the place illuminated.

Good thing, too, since the centre of the space is taken up by a skatepark. A kiosk nearby is renting out rollerblades and skateboards; if you're so inclined you can show off any skills you might have. Or maybe you'll just wobble along the pavement. The animal people will encourage you to skate in pairs if you're just learning, so you might meet some new people that way.

The vibe is chill, and even if you were upset when you first arrived you will find the longer you hang out the less anxious you feel.

I STILL KNOW

Content Warnings:Stalking, horror movie type villain, optional violence, shadow monsters.

YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST

You've been awake for some time. Maybe you're getting something to eat, maybe you're exploring Willow and Euphoria. Whatever you're doing, some part of your body brushes up against an envelope. Really, it's like it jumps out at you. Written on the front is your name.

Inside is a piece of paper upon which is written a single statement: I know what you did last summer!

Well, that's confusing. And a little concerning, especially if you happen to have a lot of skeletons in your closet. Equally confusing is that someone nearby has found an identical letter, only addressed to them.

What's going on here? And could it have anything to do with that mysterious figure dressed like a fisherman hiding poorly behind a nearby object? Whoever that is, it seems doubtful that their intentions are friendly - you can see that in one hand they've got one hell of a big sharp hook.

The fisherman will stalk you and the other person who has received a letter, hiding quite a bit like a child; they duck behind skinny trees, crouch behind garbage bins, occasionally just place their hands in front of their already obscured face. Trying to approach the figure results in them raising their hook menacingly before running away. But they always come back. And although they may be inept, they do have a weapon. It may only be a matter of time before they catch you off guard.

You and the other letter recipient will have to work together to get out of this. The fisherman seems to think you were both in on something, so you should get to work figuring out if you have any experiences in common.

For some people this will be extremely easy. For others who may be from a different time period or planet, it may be a little more difficult. Still, there's bound to be something, whether profound or stupid. The moment you find some commonality in your past, you'll suddenly notice a box addressed to the both of you. How did it get there? Who cares!

Open in and you'll discover some canon items from home. It's especially likely that you'll find any weapons you may have owned, which is handy since the fisherman is now going to be after you in earnest!

After discovering what you have in common, it's possible that when you next see the fisherman they will be revealed to be someone from one of your stories. For example, if you both spent a year in Mathletes, the fisherman can be revealed as that nerdy kid you totally beat at the regional championships. Or maybe the fisherman's face remains obscured.

Regardless of who lurks behind that dirty raincoat and hat, you have to deal with him! This can be accomplished in a few ways: by revealing his identity if he has one, by knocking him out and turning him over to a couple of bumbling cops who seem to exist solely for this little drama, or by killing him.

Harsh.

If you find a commonality and receive a weapon from home, it will work flawlessly. One hit and that fisherman goes down! At least it wasn't hard!

But what if you just cannot or will not find common ground with someone?

Well. You still have to take care of the fisherman, but it's going to take a while. He's very stubborn and just doesn't seem to stay dead or injured for very long. It will take at least three attempts to keep him down long enough that you can turn him over to the police or throw him in the lake or whatever it is you choose to do.

IT'S ALL GOOD

If you had not previously received an item from home, with the disposal of the fisherman you will now discover the box addressed to you and your companion. Inside you will find some canon clothes and items for each of you, although they will not be weapons. As it turns out, you do not need to have completed the you say it's in the past prompt in order to find one of these boxes as they are dotted around Folkmore and may be found simply by wandering around. It's most likely that you'll have found yourself in Epiphany or Willow, which means that you'll also be able to find yourself things to eat and drink with ease. Euphoria especially might be the place for a pick-me-up since the convenience store has slushies! Awesome!

Less common that the addressed boxes, and more likely to be in the rural areas, are unenchanted weapons sticking out of the ground. Swords, guns, shields, maybe some nunchuks... They're not magical, but they're useable. After all you've been through you might want to pick one of these up. But be warned: the second you take one of these weapons, you'll have to use it.

From the shadows cast on the ground, inky black heads suddenly rise. Just heads. On insanely long necks that twist and turn as the heads come for you, gnashing teeth as dark as night. They’re pretty easy to defeat - cut off the head, or destroy the shadows they originate from. You can also run away, but you better be fast! That’ll teach you to assume you can get anything for free!

If you did encounter the fisherman or one of those nasty snake creatures, you may be a little worse for wear. Never fear - wander around a little bit and you'll encounter some more of those mysterious animal-headed people, who will point you towards a first-aid station. You can be patched up there by a woman with the head of a fennec fox. She manages to look unamused, somehow. Still, you can hang out in the recovery area as long as you need to. It's likely that you'll find yourself resting near other people, and you won't be told to shush if you strike up a conversation.

Comments

Questions?

[folkie]

Questions about the TDM here!

[simbiose]

say one....... has a very hungry parasite living in their tum tum, can they eat the fisherman's head? once? twice? three times???

[folkie]

If one had such an appetite, certainly.

Kaeya Alberich | Genshin Impact | Familiar

[shadowsincryo]

I've got this music in my mind.

[The sound of the waves threatens to lull him back under. His fingers twitch and clench on the arms of the chair. Something sharp scrapes on wood. The white noise of his mind clears, and the sounds of the waves, his breathing, and that of others are far too loud.

Kaeya tilts his head to one side and opens his eye. The wooden dock stretches out past his seat to an unfamiliar device at the end near the water. He blinks and slowly pushes himself up, then he trips. Pain sparks up his spine as he slaps his hands down to keep from smacking his face into the dock.

He whines, then hisses as his teeth feel...weird. That's when he feels it. There is strange magic rolling through him like a wild song. It feels like moonlight and running. He reaches for it.

And that is how someone might run across a large wolf with an eye patch over one eye. The wolf's fur is dark blue and marked with stars. He lifts his head and whines.

Or one finds him trying to bury the boombox in solid ice as a gentle violin solo plays.]

I keep cruising

[The people at the food stalls don't tell him much. He settles at a bench close to them but out of the way of foot traffic. All the better to do his favorite pastime. One might feel his eye upon them. Or find him staring at the skate park. Dark blue wolf ears stick up out of his hair. A long fluffy wolf tail is tucked behind him. He keeps writing things down.

Or one finds himself smiling sheepishly as the animal-headed people gesture to the closest person. 'You should work together while you're learning.' His ears stay forward but return when the person isn't looking. He sighs, looking to his companion.]

They don't seem like they're going to let up until we humor them. What do you say?

You say it's in the past

[In the interest of finding a place to live, he talked to the native people and was pointed in the direction of Willow. He had rumors of some place called Euphoria as well. A place you couldn't just get to sounds interesting. As do the lands where combat trials take place. A winter land might be the best place for him. But then again, he prefers to be where the people are.

He can't do many investigations without people to talk to. He's talking to an old farmer about their crops when something brushes against him. He scans around him while his hand covers the letter in his belt. Not that far away is someone somewhat out of place.

A fisherman stands out like a sore thumb in a community of people working the land. A mask and a hand cover their face. He flips open the letter and takes the piece of paper inside. Across from him, you have a letter with the following words: I know what you did last summer! Kaeya makes his way over to you and raises an eyebrow.]

Well, I can't say I've upset any fisherman of late. Have you?

It's all good

['Did you try to get yourself injuries?' The lady with the head of a Fennec fox grouses as she lets him sit on a small bench. Kaeya snorts and sits crossed-legged while she continues to patch him up. He focuses his attention inward, and claws form at the tips of his fingers. When she moves away, he faces a grin. The light catches on the sharp points of his canines.

He turns to the other person waiting for whatever they were given to take effect as he says with a slight slur in his voice.] I wonder if I can change only halfway? Like a werewolf.

Steve Rogers | MCU | OTA

[pursuitofcappiness]

got this music in my mind

Star-Spangled Man With a Plan has been playing on repeat for the last half hour. At some point, Steve had given up trying to get the off button to work and had taken it to a lost and found after desperately trying to pawn it off on any passerby. They wouldn't receive it, and so he'd eventually dumped it in the trash and gotten in line at a food stall to get something for lunch.

Which is when he hears that impending sound again, and, resigned, waits for some girl on roller skates to swing on by and thrust the boom box into his exceedingly reluctant arms. By the time he's up, the kid behind the counter seems to be having trouble hearing him over the noise. To make matters worse, Steve tries to order quickly as soon as the song ends, but then it just starts up again, a little bit louder this time.

He turns to the person behind him in line. "I'm sorry, could you help me? I just want a water and a sandwich. Any sandwich. I'll pay for your order." He gets his spoon out, and offers up to your character.

i keep cruisin'

Steve has come for the food, and is so far able to ignore the somehow both empty and judgmental looks from the animal-headed staff as he tries to avoid joining in on the skating-related activities. But he puts his food aside when he sees someone struggling on their chosen set of wheels, and approaches them. "Need a hand?"

You Say It's in the Past

So, the guy in the slicker who's been stalking Steve lately is not very good at it. For one: he walks slowly, menacingly carrying a hook in public, which is a little bit suspicious to be doing in hot, sunny weather not remotely near the water. Secondly: Steve's already asked him what he wants several times, and there hasn't been an answer.

He isn't sure how he's found himself in the back of an alterations shop after-hours, but there's a parade or a street festival or something going on nearby, and Steve can't have the guy causing panic in the middle of whatever event it is going on outside.

"Well, I've done a lot of things," he says to his partner, still trying to keep an eye out for the guy in the raincoat in case he finally decides to attack. Steve reaches out to find a weapon to protect them, and the best thing he's got is a heavy pair of shears. "But I'm coming up short on things I did last summer, unless he's mad I stole shampoo from his motel. Look, when he gets closer, I'll engage him, you just unmask. Trust me."

Wildcard

HMU with your prompt or at assemble to plan!

Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd | Fire Emblem: Three Houses | Legend

[beastliness]

( ooc azure moon route for those who are FE:3H familiar! cw for violence, massacres, war, and mental health issues as far as discussing his past/home goes. happy to discuss things or write a custom starter; hmu for plurk or discord )

GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND

( Of all the places he could wake, Dimitri doesn't find anything particularly soothing or appealing about the lake. He lasts for perhaps a moment or two in his chair before he is up and moving, a hulking mass of black armor that gleams under the sunlight and a thick, fur-laden cloak that sweeps behind him like a wicked shadow. He is hardly someone who you might find approachable at a first glance, and the current expression he wears does nothing to help that.

His brows are furrowed in obvious disapproval of the summer air, the fair skin becoming a steadily darker shade of red as he finds himself near the dock where he has found himself a spot to start stripping out of his armor. If anyone glances his way or tries for his attention, they receive a short but polite greeting as he one piece of armor falls after another. The music, though different from what is familiar with, is a welcome distraction from his own thoughts. And despite a sharp look towards the magic, singing box, Dimitri is otherwise unbothered.

The song that follows after his name is... strange. But something about the words resonate with him. Strike him down to his core in a way so few things have within the last years of a spiraling madness. But it's only when the song reaches its conclusion for the third time that the frustrated prince stands, armor collected in his arms. Nothing brings him safety from the sound of that beat, the words buzzing in his thoughts as he finds the music to be tailing him no matter where he might find himself.

When he finally reaches the park, he's discarded his armor on a bench, and you might see him pacing, agitated, behind it. Despite the heat that leaves him feeling as if he's burning from the inside out, he remains in the thin dark garments from under his armor, and that long cloak follows him still. )

Does this bard know no other songs?

( While he doesn't sound angry, he certainly sounds exasperated. Goddess help him, he will smash that magic music box if he sees it again. )

I KEEP CRUISIN'

( This heat is... dreadful. Truly. Dimitri has since stripped of his armor and the top garments he wears under them, but the pants and cloak remain. He's seated on a bench, discarded armor beside him, and you might notice a few empty cups and containers arranged neatly beside him. He's gone through quite a few different foods as it is, trying to find something to help fight this heat. )

This shaved ice... ( He starts curiously, examining the cup in his hand, relishing in the coolness of it. ) Whoever came up with such an idea is truly a genius. ( He takes a spoonful - larger than might be recommended - and scoops it into his mouth.

A sound of relief leaves him, shoulders dropping the slightest bit. Pleased to have found something that seems somewhat soothing during this summer weather. )

YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST

( After having found his new home and taken a bit of time to acquaint himself with his new place, Dimitri is out again. His choice of clothing is much lighter and cool than his armor, but that damn cloak is still across his shoulders. You'll likely find him browsing the farmer's market, but he will wander to other places.

The letter that brushes against him is met with a hand darting out, closing around it in a tight hold that the envelope crinkles loudly under the force. The reflex of a man who has spent too long on the warpath, skulking around as a wanted man who has had to cut down too many foes. It takes a few, long seconds for him to realize there is no immediate danger, and the realization comes only after he sees someone else opening their own letter.

His hand opens, and he carefully uncrumples the envelope to see his name written across it. What he reads makes his brows crease, and with it comes a familiar wave of guilt and darker emotions that he has to slam down to keep his throughts clear. The last thing he needs to do now, he knows, is to let himself become that beast he had been for too long. His gaze lifts to let the blue eye scan for who might have left him such a message.

That figure that is poorly hidden behind the nearby lamp post does not go unnoticed. )

If you have business with me, ( A hand closes around the piece of paper, tightly enough that if it were anything more fragile, it would surely be in pieces. ) say your piece. You needn't use letters and hide like a coward.

( He isn't yelling by any means, but the edge of his words says he means business. So help him, he will rip the words out of this person if he has to. )

IT'S ALL GOOD (A)

( The fisherman is gone. Yet another victim to those terrifyingly powerful hands and his own hook. But the encounter has left Dimitri abuzz with familiar feelings of shame and guilt for his actions. The violent nature that often goes hand in hand with whatever conflict he finds himself in. He aches to be somewhere where he can think quietly. A place where no one will see him speak to the familiar voices that call out to him, the faces that follow him now even in this place.

His gaze is forward, stuck to the path. Urging him to move more quickly to his new home. Perhaps you are following him after your shared misadventures with the fisherman or you encounter him on your own trek home. Whoever you are, you might notice he has another letter clutched in his hand. One from home, from a friend and ally. But he pauses at the sight of something metallic that flashes in the corner of his eye.

He pauses to examine it from afar for a moment before stepping towards it. His hand wraps around what appears to be the hilt of a dagger, and he pulls it easily from where it's been lodged into the ground.

Before he has the chance to examine it, he spots a head rising from the shadows. He realizes immediately that it's some sort of creature, and he jerks back, throwing his arm out in warning, trying to urge the other to stay behind him without saying as much. )

Monsters, I will cut you down- ( He shouts in warning, and the dagger comes down. Once, twice. He loses count.

But he never ceases moving. )

IT'S ALL GOOD (B)

( Dimitri is no stranger to injuries, but one of the snakes had managed to sink their teeth into his arm while his attention had been elsewhere. He hardly notices until his sleeve is wet and arm.

He finds himself at the first-aid station. He's quiet as he sits and lets the fox woman work at his arm, and it's only when she finishes that he offers a quiet but sincere thanks. If you're nearby, you might catch sight of the hard lines of muscle and map of scars on his torso as he slides his arm back into its sleeve and rights his shirt. He hardly seems to mind the brief flash of skin.

Curiously, his gaze falls on one of the people sitting close to him. )

Did you encounter the fisherman as well?

Lord Ballister Blackheart | Nimona | Myth

[affableevil]

arrival

This must be what Dr. Blitzmeyer is always referring to -- the confluence of science and magic. As he streaks across the open sky in a radiant bundle of nebulous energy, Blackheart truly does feel infinite. His questions of why and of how are rendered inconsequential, if only for a moment. In that brief grip of total power, he feels every possibility all at once and he's ready to greet them.

And then he materializes into himself, and it's all too familiar, as strange as the rest of it is. Blackheart hears the shoreline lapping at the coast and smells the musty, earthen scent not so unlike the tiltyard's railing after a rainstorm. He's not dressed for his present whereabouts: his quilted wool gambeson is awfully hot, and the billowing red cape is already collecting sand within its folds. But perhaps most concerningly, he seems to be missing his sword.

The water does look awfully refreshing, though. Blackheart's tempted to dive right in. His only concern? The metal prosthesis that is the entirety of his right arm from shoulder to fingertip. The man's a bit concerned it might make a better anchor than bouy.

i keep cruisin'

He's really not trying to stare. It's just that every vendor he passes manages to remind him of sombody. It's the same somebody each time, but Nimona could just as easily be disguising herself as the excitable dachshund serving up corn dogs on a stick, or the tiger slinging skewers of tteokbokki.

Though he's fascinated by the people on their blades and skates, Blackheart's more comfortable astride a horse himself. Nevertheless, if he sees someone beef it on their kickflip or lose their footing on all those wheels, he'll be the first over to help them back up again. Eventually the thin man is just running from skater to skater, helping to dust them off and pick them back up again.

you say it's in the past

The villainous Ballister Blackheart has a reputation that precedes him, but this far from home? Who could know what he did last summer? And what specifically could the note be referring to? The purging of The Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics? The unfortunate mishap with the poison apples? (He truly didn't mean for anyone to get hurt! He administered the antidote the moment he heard about the deaths.) Or maybe it's the story of Nimona herself. The fractured psyche of the dragon and the little girl he tried to save and soothe.

Maybe it is Nimona who sent the letter, just to pester him. Blackheart looks to the beach and surveys the horizon for the dorsal fin of a shark, but it's to no avail. Instead he sees someone else, clutching a similar letter and looking as though they're contemplating their own fate just as seriously.

"You too?" he asks, waggling the piece of paper. "If this is blackmail, they forgot to name their price."

wildcard

Ballister and I are down to clown, so feel free to toss an alternative starter my way or catch me at stickyholograms for all your plotting wants and wishes.

the past

[mychance]

Unfortunately, Asuka did a lot of things last summer. Some of them were pretty important, like saving the world from Angels from outer space. And some were much, much more... personal...

"Tch. What kinds of a pervert blackmails a girl? Sick freak..." She pauses. "But since an old guy like you has one too, it can't be something like that."

Translation: no one would want to kidnap Blackheart.

"It's not like I have any money, if that's what this creep is after. You're going to have to take care of that."

[mychance]

Asuka has always been a bit of a loudmouth, according to her guardians. So, clearly, she's the right person for this job. Plus she's being offered free food from a hunky older man, so she can't even really say no. The music is pretty hard to deal with, but she's doing her best to talk over it. What is this, opera?

"Excuse me..! This guy, he wants... Hello? I said, he wants a... Can you even hear me?? He... He wants a chicken sandwich!!!"

Finally, that got their attention!

"And a water!!! ...Make it two!!!"

She's looking more than a little frustrated when she looks back up at the old guy, but then she's pointing at a table for him to sit. Far, far away from the ordering window. Go to your corner and think about what you've done, dude.

Yor Forger | Spy x Family

[briarprincess]

Got This Music In My Mind

[Yor Forger is dressed appropriately for a day out on the lake, when she wakes up. Unfortunately, she is in no particular mood for one. She's hurt, she's tired and she's just now coming to terms with the fact that she's abandoned her husband and daughter to thoughtlessly follow a magical fox into... some kind of alternate dimension? A dream world?? The fox explained some of it but she's still not entirely clear.

What she is clear on is the fact that she's doing a terrible job as Anya's mother if she could be made to abandon her so easily.

The despair on Yor's face is obvious, and she only perks up when she hears her name spoken over the radio.]

Oh? But-

[The song that plays is an old one. Some sort of swing number that was popular in the late 40's, very different from the synth-heavy music that had been playing previously. Upbeat and pleasant, if a bit outdated.

With Yor, however, it clearly strikes a different chord. This song had been on the radio, the day she lost her parents. She remembers it coming to an end just moments before the air raid sirens started.]

How could they...?

[How could they know? It's not exactly a memory she ever remembers sharing with anyone. Hell, it's a memory she had all but forgotten until this song dredged it back into the forefront of her mind.

At least, for a moment, she isn't thinking about her failures as a guardian. Yor stays on the dock for some time after the music starts, listening as the song repeats itself. Nostalgiac for the time it represented.]

I Keep Cruising

[After she gets done wallowing at the pier and finds a way to escape the boombox, Yor finds her way to some food stalls.

The animal-headed people there aren't especially helpful when it comes to answers, but fortunately it doesn't take her long to find someone else who seems to have come here for the food.]

Excuse me! I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering how long you'd been in this place? I just arrived and I have a few questions.

You Say Its In The Past

[If this fisherman truly knew what Yor had been up to last summer, he should either do a better job of stalking her or stay far away from her.

That hook he has is a dangerous weapon, but she doesn't seem particularly intimidated by him, and doesn't waste any time before she approaches him.]

Excuse me. I can't help but notice that you've been following me - did you write this note?

[She holds up the note for the fisherman to see.

A bystander might be a little concerned by the young woman approaching an armed slasher movie villain. But Yor, at least, is confident.]

Dimple | Mob Psycho 100 | Myth

[blobalmighty]

cw: strong language aplenty for all prompts

I KEEP CRUISIN'

"The hell is all this?"

[ Okay. When the fox had appeared, talking about full potential, Dimple was not in the least bit confused or contemplative about what that might mean when it came to him. All that philosophical shit? All good and well for some weaker, wishy washy saps. He knew what his full potential was! No question!

HE WILL BECOME A GOD.

So, hey, he was psyched! Thrilled! Whatever this fox's deal was, she was speaking his language! Finally he was going to reach the heights he knew deep in his little blobby form he truly deserved. Granted, he didn't know what he'd done to specifically trigger this reward, but chalked it down to just being that amazing. Sure, he wasn't as strong as he had been ever since that little bowl cut twerp had handed his ass to him, but decades upon decades of being a high class evil spirit maybe counted on some otherworldly score card.

So ... why isn't he a god? Where are his throngs of adoring worshippers? Why'd he wake up on some postcard? Why is he standing around looking at animals serving food like he's in some kid's book?

Why the hell is he still in the security guard's body from the Claw compound? Ugh. Far inferior to his usual buff greenness in his most powerful form. But, he'd have to admit, better than the small fart cloud he'd been stuck as lately.

Maybe he needs to, like, do something to get the adulation started. His attention turns to the nearest non-animal person he sees, and he crosses his arms over his (stupid basic ass HUMAN) chest and breaks out his best commanding voice. ]

Hey! You! You gonna worship me or what?

YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST

[ So ... by now Dimple has realized he has not actually been instantly gifted godhood. Maybe he should have paid closer attention to what Thirteen was saying to him, but you know how broads are - yak yak yak yak!

So, he's a smidge testy. Who did this vixen think she was putting him in her little sandbox and making him play by her rules? Clearly she was a spirit of much stronger abilities than himself if she was able to pull people from other universes, but that wasn't going to stop him from being a mouthy asshole about the whole situation. The Great and Powerful Dimple kowtowed to no entity! Ran away from ones that could consume him? Well yeah. But grovel? No way!

It's in this agitated state that he's looking over the envelope, and finally ripping it open impatiently. Upon reading the sentence inside he looks up at nothing in particular, assuming the damn fox is probably watching from somewhere: ]

Yeah? Did you like what you saw, toots? If you're tryin' to court me you're goin' about it all wrong. I know I'm --

[ Out of the corner of his eye he spots movement. A glint of a shiny bit of metal. Then he absorbs the form of the fisherman, and there's an uneasy feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach. The same kind he gets when a bigger, more powerful spirit his eyeing him up as a little snack.

Okay. Maybe he can do a little running. Just for fun. And not to be lunch. ]

WILDCARD

(( ooc: Feel free to PM me if you'd like something else! I need to make more icons of the human body Dimple is currently inhabiting, so I will use the fart cloud icons in spite of it not being his current form visible to others. ))

[pursuitofcappiness]

It's pretty embarrassing to be followed around by his own personal theme song, but it's doubly-so when he tries his hardest to get out of line and muffle the sound as best he can. It's not working so well for him, and more people besides Asuka are definitely giving him the stink-eye for playing the song so loudly in public.

He tries to say something to Asuka, but it gets drowned in a particularly loud section fo the song. He goes to sequester himself to the farthest possible table, and though it's futile, once again tries his hardest to turn it off while he waits for their order. He can't get headaches, but appears to be nursing one in this corner.

Eventually, he gets so frustrated with it, that he balls his fist up and smashes it, which does initially cause a sickening screech. "Sorry!" he mutters quickly to everyone around as he goes for broke and punches it one more time, this time cleaving it in half. He's successful in shutting the music off, if only not in his head.

At least as he gathers up the parts to throw away, he won't make Asuka deliver him his food. "Really should have done that earlier," he confesses, sheepishly. "Thanks."

You Say Its In The Past

[briarprincess]

"I'm not sure what he could be upset about either."

He certainly isn't leftover from any of Yor's engagements from the previous summer. None of those encounters left any survivors - and besides, anyone who had encountered her at her assassin job would know better than to approach her in such an oafish way. Maybe its a case of mistaken identity? Or maybe he's mad about something unrelated to her killings?

In any case, this big stranger seems to have earned the ire of this fisherman as well, which makes Steve an obvious ally.

"A-Are you sure you want to approach him? That hook looks like it could do a lot of damage, a-and I don't really know first aid."

Please don't get hurt, stranger.

corrin | fire emblem fates | revelation route | familiar

[fatefulprince]

GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND. ( cw for kidnapping & abuse. )

[ the song playing in Corrin's head is 'when will my life begin' from Tangled - a song befitting a prince who was held prisoner in a tower, yearning for the outside. it's a style of music that is so upbeat and catchy - Corrin genuinely loves the sound of it at first. the descriptor of the activities is all too familiar to him, as he was a kidnapping victim who entertained himself in any way he could. the prospect of leaving was out of the question.

soon enough, the song becomes loud and troubling - pulling Corrin back into flashbacks about his time in the tower. he runs through the forest trying to escape the whimsical song but it just seems to blare louder and louder. eventually he drops to his knees and covers his ears with his hands, squeezing his eyes shut. ]

Please ... stop!

I KEEP CRUISIN'

[ truth be told, Corrin was indeed anxious upon arrival, but he felt an immaculate sense of calm in this brand new area with unique creatures and colourful food. he didn't have much of an appetite but that sun - that sun! its heat was so oppressive! the kingdom he was held captive in was constantly overcast without any sign of sunlight. it shouldn't be a surprise that he's overheating.

but there's also the fact that he is wearing skintight full body armour out here in the sun! it is his protection, he feels that it is necessary to leave it on. the prince is sat panting, fanning his face, gazing at the ice treats with the temptation to get one and shove it against his face. perhaps that wouldn't be the best public option so he resists ... for now. and continues to look very flustered in the heat. ]

Whew! I'm roasting ...

YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST. ( cw for war trauma. )

[ it's a letter that would put anyone who has fought in war on edge. Corrin had experienced a saddening amount of encounters with assassination attempts, this felt no different. normally the prince would be brave and ready to face any danger that would lurk ahead, but he was unarmed and defenceless. he had no sword or dragonstone, both of his abilities were far from him. but given that he was open and friendly - he wanted to offer any comfort to someone nearby due to the situation unfurling around them. ]

You don't know me, but - if you stay with me, I promise I'll do my best to keep you safe.

I Keep Cruisin'

[briarprincess]

[Yor blinks for a moment at the question, genuinely unsure of how to respond. No one has ever asked her to worship them before - and its not something she's particularly inclined to do.

Could this be some kind of come-on? Is this red-cheeked weirdo hitting on her??]

Um. No thank you, I'm married.

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve, who has no idea Yor is an assassin of any kind, assumes she doesn't want to engage with the random weapon-wielding stalker for the reason most people don't want to confront these types of people. "He won't tell us what he wants, and I can't let anyone else get hurt." That is not what she asked. "Don't worry, I've fought way worse."

Unless this guy was somehow secretly hiding a boatload of competence, he doesn't even seem to be much of a threat. "Just stay here, I still need you close enough to identify him." He's hoping that Yor has any idea of who he is, because Steve's good with faces but he also has made a fair few enemies over the years of people he'd never met.

hawks | my hero academia | familiar

[redfeathers]

( ooc happy to discuss things or write a custom starter; hmu for plurk or discord )

GOT THIS MUSIC IN MY MIND

( In a way, this feels like a dream. Warm summer day, the sound of water... This is what Hawks wanted heroes to be able to enjoy. A world where heroes can have a chance and enjoy the world around them. It makes him wish the others could be here to get a break from everything happening back home.

But he doesn't focus on that thought. On what the him back home is doing, if they're taking care of Endeavor. Instead, his jacket folded over the bar beside him where he's perched railing of the dock, listening to the music. As he sits, he stretches his arms up and over his head, wings spreading to their full length, and a soft groan of relief leaves him.

As his wings fold against his back again, the end of one flicks sharply as he hears Hawks leave the DJ's lips, and he glances over with an arched brow at the boombox. It's sounds like the fox from before. That's... unexpected. But so is this whole place. But he listens to the song as it plays, relic in his hand as he examines and fiddles with it. Something about that song reaches him in a way so few other things do. It makes something flutter in his chest in a way that he can't quite figure out if it's pleasant or not.

The fourth time the song plays is when Hawks realizes something is off. His gaze flicks sharply to the boombox, and there's a brief thought that he wonders if this is some test from the fox or something else. First things first, though: )

Didn't we just hear this song? ( His voice is curious as he glances towards the person nearby. The smile that crosses his lips doesn't betray the guard that's suddenly gone up in the face of the fourth iteration of a song dedicated to him. )

I KEEP CRUISIN'

( The animal-headed people don't get a second thought from Hawks. It's not prevelant back home, but he's met enough people who have different appearances due to their quirk that it doesn't register as something strange. He happily chats at a owl-headed person as they offer him the yakitori he's ordered. The only thing that could make this moment better would be if he could find a chicken stall around here somewhere.

He chirps a cheerful thanks as he steps away from the stall to instead drop onto the bench, munching happily. )

Ahhh, the food isn't too bad here. I could get used to this.

( More happy munching. Care to join him for round three of some food nearby? )

YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST

( The envelope doesn't get the chance to brush up against him. He hears it before it can get close enough, and he reaches up with a gloved hand to catch it curiously between his fingers. He turns it over slowly in his hand, one brow going up as he follows the lines of the letters of his name.

When he opens it, the words on the small slip of paper don't seem to prompt an outward response. It's as if he's reading a grocery list. But inside, his thoughts are lightning quick, trying to figure out who might be behind it. And when he looks up to see the strange figure, he feels like he already knows who the culprit is. But he can see someone else out of the corner of his eye opening their own envelope, and he glances over. )

Someone sending us love letters?

( He nods his head towards the figure. But he seems unruffled despite knowing that if there is some malice behind this note - his secrets aren't safe. )

IT'S ALL GOOD (A)

( The whole situation with fisherman hadn't been the way he'd wanted to end an otherwise pleasant day. But if there's anything he's learned as a hero, it's that things don't always go your way. But it isn't anywhere close enough to stop him from exploring.

The few weapons he sees sticking out of the ground have his attention, but Hawks doesn't let himself give into that urge to pick one up just yet. Given his encounter with the letters, he doesn't know what might encounter by interacting with them. But someone else nearby does, and Hawks reacts immediately.

His hand moves fast, a hardened red feather slipping from his hand and slicing clean through the first snake's head as he lifts to hover a few feet off the ground. )

Looks like we've got company!

( There's a whizz of feathers as he turns, feathers turned blades zipping from his wings and slicing the various snakes as they start to appear. )

IT'S ALL GOOD (B)

( If you'd gotten hurt at some point, you'll find yourself with a winged companion who cheerfully escorts you to the first aid station. He hangs out nearby without disturbing your caretaker, but once they leave, he flops back on one of the beds beside you. )

All good? I can call them back if you need them.

( The smile that he offers is warm and comforting, and his wings fluff slightly in a way of saying he's here to help and comfort as much as you need. )

I keep cruising

[fatefulprince]

Hm?

[ Corrin is alerted to the question, removed from the daydream he was lost in with a frozen beverage he has pressed against his sun-blushed face. yeah, this idiot is wearing a skin-tight full body of armour in the sun, and he's clearly not having the best time in the heat. Corrin himself has a white pair of puppy ears sitting atop his head, along with a curled fluffy dog tail that resembles a samoyed's. ]

Learning? [ he glances over at the skatepark. ] ... Do we have to learn what those people are doing on wheels over there?

[blobalmighty]

[ So, spirits do not innately posses sexual desire. That was left behind when they passed, no longer being considered necessary.

But that never stopped Dimple from being a bit of a hound dog.

He hadn't been flirting with Yor, but heeeeeey ... she wasn't bad looking at all. He gives her his best suave (read: creepy) smile. ]

Yeah? Well get the hubby over here and he can worship me too. I'm an equal opportunity kinda god.

[briarprincess]

That would be why a normal person wants to avoid conflict with an armed stalker, yes. But Steve doesn't seem to be especially intimidated by this fisherman either - and upon his assurance that he's fought worse, Yor stops protesting.

"Okay. Be careful."

She shifts her stance ever so slightly - nothing overtly aggressive, but prepared to jump in and lend a hand if this guy ends up being tougher than Steve anticipates.

[briarprincess]

[Again, his response gives her pause. Proclaiming himself to be a god isn't what she expected from a garden variety cat-caller.

And then it occurs to her: Maybe this guy isn't just a pervert. Maybe he really is a god. Maybe he's someone with the power to send her back to where she came from.

Maybe she can force him to send her back home.

Her gaze upon him turns ice cold, and she shifts her stance slightly.]

So you're one of the gods of this place?

[Yor cracks the knuckles on her right hand.]

[mychance]

At least he's responsible enough to carry the food once it's ready. He's taller than her, and stronger, so it's really his responsibility. And, hey, she doesn't heard that song anymore, either. That's a plus.

"You really should know better than to blast your weird trombone music where people are trying to eat, mister. I'm a pretty nice person, so you're lucky. Someone with a shorter temper than me might have thrown your music box right at your head."

Someone around here was probably thinking about it. She couldn't have been the only one. If it was Shinji, she wouldn't have hesitated. But she can't go around chucking boomboxes at strangers, especially after they buy her food.

"Who are you, anyway?"

She sits down as she questions him. It's not like she knows everyone who shows up here, but it makes her feel better to at least know some of them. Her world back home was pretty small. A place full of people can be intimidatingly, so it's best to get ahead of it where she can.

[blobalmighty]

[ Oh, he is filled with delight. Totally unsuspecting of what's coming his way because he's just so giddy to be referred to as a god. He preens visibly, puffing his chest out. ]

Babe, I'm the only god in this place worth thinkin' about. That fox ain't got nothin' on what I've got goin' on. Matter of fact, it's only a matter of time before that mangy mutt is answering to me. Kind of stupid of her to just hand me a whole world on a silver platter, but what do you expect from something that eats roadkill?

[ Really, Dimple should be way more careful considering he's fully aware Thirteen has to be more powerful than he is, but he's got himself on a roll here inflating his own ego. ]

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve nods to her and then takes off at a sprint to try and catch their friend off-guard, but it seems like he's slipperier than Steve had given him any credit for. As if by enchantment, he seems to slip behind racks of clothes and appear in front of others.

He shakes his head and starts yelling towards Yor. "Were you doing anything two summers ago? I feel like I'd have more material for two summers ago." It's usually not hard for Steve to fight anyone, but despite wanting to chase after them, the stalker appears to be an unwilling opponent in hand-to-hand. "Some guy was chasing after me, caused a lot of collateral damage! That sounding familiar to you?"

I Keep Cruisin'

[dawn_is_breaking]

As someone who is naturally athletic; having done seven years of gymnastics, dance and jiu jitsu, Dawn assumed that roller-blading would be easy but the second she actually straps on the skates and tries to move she finds that she is very much mistaken.

It's a lot harder than she had thought and once she gets going she finds it very hard to stop, well that is without winding up on her butt in front of Steve.

"Owch." She says and then looks up at the handsome man offering her a hand, she chuckles at herself at how dumb she must look and nods. "Yes, thank you."