fablecottage | TDM #3

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM #3

fable test drive meme #3

// away with the fairies

In your land, there may be stories of the Fae taking people away. Perhaps you haven't heard of the Fae at all, or perhaps you are more familiar with them than others. No matter how well acquainted you are with the Fae, everyone around you has experienced the same fate tonight: Being taken by them. Partially, at least. For they did not want to kidnap anyone from their home and take them away from the life they knew. In a small jar of fairy dust, part of your soul was taken in the night and brought to a magical village by the name of Fable.

On arrival, the Fae release you from the jar before waving their magic wands, and materialise this taken little part of you into a brand new you. From here onwards, your new life begins, shared among all sorts of magical creatures. Here, you will be allowed to grow, thrive and enjoy the bounties provided to you by these mysterious and wonderful creatures. In exchange, they ask for a share of the magical fruit that you grow in your garden, donated to their dragon overseer in exchange for rewards. After a briefing on your new life, you understand things as best as you possibly can. Now, it's time to settle into a brand new cottagecore life.

Welcome to Fable.

// arrival

Now that you are a resident of Fable, you have a brand new cottage, a garden, and a few tools to use! There's not an awful lot in your cottage, though: Just a cardboard box, a lamp, a cassette tape and a single bed. Fear not, though! By participating in friendly tasks, your cottage will look great in no time.

Something sparkly catches your attention before you realise it's a message board, advertising an array of tasks for bonus fruit. Did this thing appear out of nowhere just now? That must be the case, since you can swear it wasn't there a second ago. The board may inspire you to go out there and mingle. It seems that the monthly tasks are geared towards friendliness to welcome this new season!

picnic party

// spring fling

At long last, the snow covering Fable has finally melted! While Spring hasn't made its full appearance yet, there are definitely tell-tale signs of its approach thanks to the greener grass and the days feeling longer. Some of the anthropomorphic animals who live in the neighbouring region of Limerick - such as rabbits, birds, sheep, fawns, mice and squirrels - have gathered in Fable to introduce an incredibly sweet welcome to the warmer weather.

The woodland animals, who work together like you would imagine them doing in a Disney movie, have arranged a picnic! They've got plenty of baskets, cups, blankets, plates and cutlery to give out - not to mention food created by both themselves and their Faerie friends! (They wash their paws, promise.) Just be careful on which you choose to eat, because consuming fairy dust can do strange things to Fable residents.

// let's have a picnic!

There's an incredible flow of magic in the air that fills you with the urge to get out there and enjoy the sun with some company. It's a beautiful day for a picnic! Fable has an assortment of hills and fields to lay down a blanket and relax on. Some of the more quiet spots can found be down by the river or under the willow trees. Inside of the basket gifted to you by the animals, you will find plates, cups, cutlery and freshly picked flowers!

There's plenty of food to go around for all dietary requirements! The animals and fairies have certainly gone all-out - so there's no need to feel guilty for stacking your plate high. The food prepared by the animals cause zero effects, but the food prepared by the Fae is cooked with magic and fairy dust which might cause some interesting changes to happen! Choose wisely!

// springtime celebrations

Across Fable while the weather is beautiful and bright, there are assorted outdoor activities available to participate in, especially while the picnics are on!

Near the areas where people are dining and socialising, there are swinging seats that fit two people, an assortment of musical instruments laid out for people to play, outdoor grills and ovens in case anyone wants to cook or bake some goodies for their picnics, and arts and crafts supplies!

For participating in any of these tasks, you will receive flowers or shrubs for your garden and pieces of outdoor furniture for your cottage! Feel free to leave a comment here to redeem these once you've written 5 tags in your thread! Since our TDMs are considered game canon, if you choose to app, these rewards will cross over with you when you join the game! Woohoo!

If you choose to partake in some Faerie food, you may find yourself feeling quite interesting!

The flower cupcakes look rather nice, don't they? The icing is in the shape of a flower! These sweet treats will make you feel extremely brave and sociable! You can't recall ever wanting to talk and mingle so much!

The flower punch is being served in several flavours, topped off with flowers floating in your drink for decoration. With every sip you take, no matter the flavour, you will want to share happy thoughts and feelings! Be warned, though: If you drink too many glasses, you'll feel a lot of sad feelings come to surface - ones you that might be trying to fend off or forget about. Comfort from another person is the remedy, however!

A slice of fruit pie still carries that warm feeling over from Winter! With all sorts of fruit flavours to try, there are pie slices for all tastes. Eating one will inspire you to compliment someone! That warmth from within is flowing right out, so much that you can't resist saying all these nice words.

A slice of cake will overwhelm you with the incredible taste of perfectly balanced vanilla extract and lemon zest! It will also make you incredibly affectionate. Depending on how big the slice is that you eat, it might make you feel very affectionate indeed. (Winky emoji.)

flittens

// purrfect gardening

The sunny weather looks so nice and refreshing that you may feel inclined to go out of your cottage and visit your garden. Except ... your garden is looking pretty barren at the moment, isn't it? You have your fruit trees, plenty of soil plots and fresh green grass, but no flowers.

While contemplating how empty your cottage garden is, you notice something appear beside you.

"Mrrrrrrrp?"

Oh. It's a cat. Actually, wait, it's ... several cats?! Where are they all coming from!? All of them have fairy wings in an assortment of different colours, and it looks as though they're very interested in you for some reason. The cats nuzzle your legs and around your ankles, which inadvertently causes the fairy dust in their fur to rub off on you. The shimmering sparkles coming off the kittens may not give you a second thought, until you move one of your feet to notice that there are flowers growing behind you when you walk!

"Mew! Can you make the flowers grow faster, please?" Did that cat just talk?! Actually, if you've been here for a while, this won't be a surprise at all. These purring kitties are all rubbing by your feet still.

"That Winter lasted for too long ... your gardens are so empty! Please grow some flowers for us to play in ... pretty pleeeeeeease?"

Against your better judgement, you decide to listen to the kitties. They are pretty cute and convincing, after all. But whether you know it or not, there are special qualities to these flowers...!

After a briefing from the Flittens, you understand that all of Fable's cat fairy population have been visiting the Fable residents to request big flowering gardens to play in. It's a win/win situation, though - since your garden will no longer be barren and empty!

The flower that grows is one that matches you entirely! Whether it's the colour of the flower, your personality or the flower's meaning - the flower that grows is an essence of who you are.

The Flittens have a very important requirement for you once you have grown flowers in your own garden: They want you to visit your neighbours and grow flowers in their gardens too! According to the Flittens, it's "boring" to play around in the same type of flower. They want big, colourful gardens to frolic and play in!

Flowers grow when you walk around barefoot on grass, or handle soil with your hands. When you feel happy, they will sprout and grow all around you! Maybe even in your hair if you're feeling extra happy.

The second important thing to note about these flowers is that their pollen has magical properties! When you have a neighbour visit and they grow their flowers in your garden, inhaling the pollen of these flowers will heighten your interest in them! Their flowers you grow smell so sweet - the aroma is very inviting! You're curious to learn more about where they're from, who they are, and you may even feel inclined to invite them to dinner or offer them tea from your cottage. The longer you stay in their presence, the stronger the pollen's effect! Just how much are you going to learn about this person?

After 24 hours, the flower growing magic will be over, but you'll wake up the next day with a bright beautiful garden and hopefully a new friend or two...!?

Welcome to Fable's third TDM!
We're excited to have you here, and hope you enjoy the prompts!
To familiarise yourself with the setting, please take a look at the arrivals & premise page!
We would also appreciate it if you could have a look at the rules as well.
As a general note, the TDMs are considered game canon!
Which means all rewards for fruit & furniture can be used in the game if you apply!

New arrivals have a cottage, a network device, the clothes on their back and a single item from home.
To view the locations, NPCs and more information about the game, please visit our full navigation!

If you have any questions that you have not seen answered in the FAQ, please ask in the FAQ post. Thank you!

(CODE)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I don't know since I didn't ask... [Rather, he didn't want to ask...

...]

But he had fun, so it doesn't matter.

Fun... but at his own expense.

[Ilsa shakes her head, the shock of it wearing off and fading into something like amused exasperation.]

I assume that the diet worked, and he's back to his normal self? No longer "round like the moon", as you put it?

[A small exhale as he leans back against the swing heavily, causing it to rock.]

It was partly the diet...but he danced most of it off.

[...

....

This story just keeps getting weirder and weirder. She really should be asking more questions about all of the other things that he told her about, like the collapse of Society and the moon people, but this is just so... strange and riveting. Everything else feels so much like "just another day" compared to this.]

He danced it off...? [She laughs. Again.] Don't tell me you went with him, too...!

Of course not.

[JUST A LOOK BECAUSE ILSA PLEASE...and another sigh as he rubs his brow, trying to remember it all. Why does his memory have to be so good—blessing and curse, really.]

If I recall, there was a ramen stand that he liked but was that risk of going out of business because of some...thing about the owner not creating the right flavor of ramen... Whatever, Cassius and the others pitched into help and they had some stage performance to help advertise.

[And still, weirder and weirder... Is he sure this wasn't all just a part of one of the many nightmares he supposedly had about this?

Ilsa seems satisfied with his answer, however, and leans against the back of the bench, rocking it a little more, and a huff of laughter escapes her before she drowns it in her drink.]

Well, it sounds like I have plenty to look forward to after all that stuff with the moon is over. [Her expression grows somber.] It's too bad it takes so long.

...Mm.

[He didn't tell her everything of course... Especially not about certain things she's involved in. He believes they were more personal and he doesn't want her to have such things hanging over her head. But he still gives her a small, reassuring smile.]

It's a lot, but... We all make it through. [And then a small huff of a laugh.] As if there would be any doubt.

[Okay, there was a little. It was towards himself towards the end, but after he got over that, it was fiiiine. It's their team after all.]

[Ilsa lets her head roll back far enough to look up at the skies above. They're so blue and so clear, and she sighs with a laugh to echo his own.]

... Knowing all of that, I'm not sure if it makes me feel more or less guilty about this.

Mm... I'd feel similar if our places were reversed. And the only real way back is to help this dragon, huh...

[What a strange situation they've found themselves in.]

I suppose.

[She throws back more of her drink, and one corner of her lip quirks into a ghost of a grin.]

I'm inclined to lean to the latter. If we let our guilt get the better of us, then that will only slow us down. [A more scornful laugh leaves her.] Does that make me a bad person?

Not really.

[A small half shrug, half leaning against the corner of the swing's armrest.]

You have to move forward, and you already acknowledge the situation and what comes with it, guilt or whatever. The choices you make with it are what count.

[She feels like she already knew the answer, because he gives her the one that she would have given him if they switched shoes. In the end, it's all about what they do with it going forward.]

So, does that mean you'll enjoy your time here in the meantime?

[Mostly teasing. Mostly.]

[A light roll of his eyes as he looks over at her.]

Would you?

[Ilsa, please. He doesn't even have anything pressing right now and he still would rather leave this place.]

[She closes her eyes and sips loudly on her punch.]

No. I'm having a terrible time right now.

[A light snort as he knows what she really means.

...But he does gaze out from where they are, towards the tree and to where there are still people enjoying the picnic. All these animals...barely any humans or those similar to them about.]

If you really do feel stressed out or need anything, you can talk to me.

[His voice is quiet, calm, contemplative. Really he doesn't need to say anything at all... ...Perhaps it's a sign of him maturing after what's happened.]

[She looks at him, brows perfectly arched in surprise. That isn't where she expected him to go with this, but as his words sink in, that surprise on her face softens into a grateful smile. Eustace? Offering to lend an ear? This really is a dream world, isn't it...?

Though, perhaps it's all that time that he has on her that she doesn't. Even just looking at him—and she does—she can see that his expression says a lot about that, too. It's less harsh than she remembers it being. Calmer. Maybe even, dare she say, a little more content?]

Don't get too soft on me.

Hmph.

[A small smile, one that lingers for a few seconds before he turns away.]

In that case I'll just shut the door whenever you come by. Better?

[Now there's a bit more of a wry grin. Him getting soft...

...Maybe he has. A little.]

Much.

[She downs the last of her drink and sets the glass down.]

If everything here goes to shit, I don't need you being a wet noodle out in battle, do you hear me?

[But of course, the softness in her eyes, the gratefulness... it betrays every word that she says to him, or the stricter tone that she takes.]

You won't have to worry about that.

[...Though he personally hopes that such a thing doesn't happen, either. As strange as this world as is, if it truly is real... He has to admit it's quite peaceful. He wouldn't want any world to have to deal with the things they've had to.]

And? Anything else you want to know?

[By now he's just idly rocking the swing, one ankle crossed over his knee as his heel pushes the swing back and forth slowly.]

[She very much doubts that it will, but in the event that it ever did, at least this place would have the two of them to take care of it. And whoever else could... even if Eustace is the only one she truly trusts to fight anything at her side.

His question gives her pause, and the amusement in her eyes fades along with her grin as she thinks over everything else that he's told her. Ilsa falls silent for several beats, listening to the creak of the swing as Eustace rocks it, before she finally opens her mouth.]

Have I—?

[She shakes her head, a light flush colouring her cheeks.]

Never mind. I'm sure I will think of something later, once I've had some more time to process everything.

[A slight arch of the brow. Has she... What? Is she curious to know what she's like in the future? Unfortunately he doesn't know too much about her personal life so he wouldn't be able to tell her much regardless... But since she doesn't ask, he just nods.]

All right.

[She has no idea where that even came from or why she was going to ask what she wanted to ask... but knowing herself, would Eustace even have an answer? Or would she even want to know? She doubts it's true, but that small part of her really was curious...

So, when he drops it, she does too, but she does bristle a little.]

Do you want to stay out here a while longer?

[He's silent for a moment, contemplating.]

Doesn't matter. Not like we have anything to do...

[...And no Valo...

...

Eustace might look a little grumpy for a moment as he remembers he doesn't have his dog here... Ah, and Ilsa wouldn't even know of him...

Should he try to bring him here? No, what if this place is dangerous? It would be better if Valo stayed home then... Augh.]

Well.

[Ilsa notes his expression a moment, a contemplative hum leaving her, before she looks to the table next to her to the forgotten piece of lemon vanilla cake.]

This still needs to be eaten. I made sure to grab a smaller piece.

[He eyes the cake.

...]

You still want me to try it?

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