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April-May 2024 Test Drive Meme
April-May 2024 TDM
Introduction
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 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.
🦊 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.
Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Forced Sharing, Potential Violence & Harm
New Star Children arrive in Wintermute. Not at the hot springs, the school, or anywhere else near civilization. They arrive in the middle of white, snowy nowhere. The good news is that Wintermute is no longer dark twenty-four seven. There is enough light to avoid crevasses, blocked up wells, and other dangerous features of the landscape. Further, no one is expected to figure out how to get out of there on their own.
Usually Thoth finds the lost travelers in the cold expanse of Wintermute. However, she's busy exploring the multiverse for new and interesting ideas for technology. Not to fret! She hasn't abandoned ye who've entered here. There's a new emergency lost and found network:
The Wandering Dog food carts are now open twenty-four seven! The dogs work in shifts, but the food remains as delicious as ever. When a Star Child gets lost in Wintermute, another Star Child will happen to be buying food from a Wandering Dog somewhere in Folkmore. One such lucky unlucky Star Child gets transported to the School of Thoth. Specifically, to where the mechanical sled dogs hang out. They receive a warm winter coat over whatever they were wearing and another one on hand for whoever they are rescuing. Then it's off across the snow! Don't worry, non-mushing experts, the dogs know what they're doing and lead the sled right to the designated lost Star Child.
The rescuee gets to lay in the sled for the ride back, wrapped up warm and cozy in their new winter coat (it may be spring, but it's always cold in Wintermute). The sled dogs bring Star Children back to the hot springs, so that they can warm up even more. Alternatively, Star Children can explore the Cutting Edge, the School of Thoth, or something else in Wintermute. However, the Star Children cannot part ways or leave Wintermute immediately.
The sled dogs, yes the whole team, will stay with the pair to enforce this. They may surround the pair like a pack, cuddle pile on top of them, or lay around the edges of a hot spring. No matter how long it takes to realize the dogs are doing this and that there's a reason for it, Star Children will eventually find instructions in one of the dogs' collars: Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to.
Only once both Star Children have shared something with each other will the dogs let them part ways and see, perhaps, the rest of Folkmore.
On the walk to Akhlut Station, Star Children will see plain weapons sticking out of the snow: swords, guns, knives. These are simple, non-magical practical weapons. Experienced Star Children may know to suspect such free offerings, but nothing immediately happens upon picking one up. However, once on the train, the train will be attacked by frost spirits. These icy spirits must either be hacked to pieces until they can no longer reform or melted with fire. Innocent passengers who didn't pick up a weapon may be forced to get involved, but the frost spirits will be most focused on those who picked up weapons.
New Star Children arrive in Wintermute. Not at the hot springs, the school, or anywhere else near civilization. They arrive in the middle of white, snowy nowhere. The good news is that Wintermute is no longer dark twenty-four seven. There is enough light to avoid crevasses, blocked up wells, and other dangerous features of the landscape. Further, no one is expected to figure out how to get out of there on their own.
Usually Thoth finds the lost travelers in the cold expanse of Wintermute. However, she's busy exploring the multiverse for new and interesting ideas for technology. Not to fret! She hasn't abandoned ye who've entered here. There's a new emergency lost and found network:
The Wandering Dog food carts are now open twenty-four seven! The dogs work in shifts, but the food remains as delicious as ever. When a Star Child gets lost in Wintermute, another Star Child will happen to be buying food from a Wandering Dog somewhere in Folkmore. One such lucky unlucky Star Child gets transported to the School of Thoth. Specifically, to where the mechanical sled dogs hang out. They receive a warm winter coat over whatever they were wearing and another one on hand for whoever they are rescuing. Then it's off across the snow! Don't worry, non-mushing experts, the dogs know what they're doing and lead the sled right to the designated lost Star Child.
The rescuee gets to lay in the sled for the ride back, wrapped up warm and cozy in their new winter coat (it may be spring, but it's always cold in Wintermute). The sled dogs bring Star Children back to the hot springs, so that they can warm up even more. Alternatively, Star Children can explore the Cutting Edge, the School of Thoth, or something else in Wintermute. However, the Star Children cannot part ways or leave Wintermute immediately.
The sled dogs, yes the whole team, will stay with the pair to enforce this. They may surround the pair like a pack, cuddle pile on top of them, or lay around the edges of a hot spring. No matter how long it takes to realize the dogs are doing this and that there's a reason for it, Star Children will eventually find instructions in one of the dogs' collars: Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to.
Only once both Star Children have shared something with each other will the dogs let them part ways and see, perhaps, the rest of Folkmore.
On the walk to Akhlut Station, Star Children will see plain weapons sticking out of the snow: swords, guns, knives. These are simple, non-magical practical weapons. Experienced Star Children may know to suspect such free offerings, but nothing immediately happens upon picking one up. However, once on the train, the train will be attacked by frost spirits. These icy spirits must either be hacked to pieces until they can no longer reform or melted with fire. Innocent passengers who didn't pick up a weapon may be forced to get involved, but the frost spirits will be most focused on those who picked up weapons.
- New Star Children arrive in remote areas of Wintermute.
- Star Children buying food from The Wandering Dog get teleported to the School of Thoth to rescue people with a team of sled dogs.
- Star Children get amazing new winter coats!
- Star Children cannot part ways until they share something others have refused to listen to! The dogs enforce this.
- Simple, non-magical weapons stick out of the snow on the way to the train station.
- Anyone who picks up one of those weapons will see their train get attacked by frost spirits.
Content Warnings: Potential Forced Participation, Potential Harm
Thoth has been listening to any and all ideas people have had around science in the last few months. Whether they were shower thoughts or a discussion between scientific colleagues or anywhere in between, she's made her list and built every one as an experiment. On a human scale. A human test subject scale. Because every idea has merit. That's right: Thoth believes in you.
Posters saying Thoth Needs You! go up around Folkmore. They offer a reward for participating in an experiment. Simply tear off a piece of paper from the bottom of the poster, and at some point in the future, you're in. Now, there might be a little hiccup here or there. These posters are experimental too! So some Star Children who don't tear off a slip might get pulled into an experiment as well. (Who said Thirteen ought to recruit for her trials? Thoth listened… or she tried.) Oh well, at least it's all in the name of science!
Perhaps Star Children need to sing Baby It's Cold Outside to convince the other to stay (it really will be cold outside). Perhaps they have a choice of spinners, buttons, levers, or other devices to interact with. Perhaps they make their way through a maze. Perhaps they try a new contraption. Perhaps they even recognize their own idea come to life! There's a multitude of new tech to try, and it has not been safety tested.
Nothing will explode. Probably. Maybe. Okay, some experiments are definitely going to have explosions. How about pressing that button anyway and finding out if it's this one?
Once Star Children survive the experiment—and they will, Thoth may be a loose cannon of a scientist, but she's ensured that much—they will emerge from one of the School of Thoth's laboratories. Togo, the grey wolf mascot, waits on the other side with an item for each test subject: an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
No one is left to the cold to fend for themselves. One of the nearby classrooms has been set up as a first aid center. Dog spirits of all sizes, from the smallest Maltipoo spirit to the largest Great Dane spirit, staff a healing clinic and will treat any injuries Star Children received in the experiments (or already sported). They offer hot lemonade—lemon juice, molasses, and hot water—to everyone to warm their soul. Injured Star Children can find a corner to rest by themselves or company with which to discuss their experiments.
Thoth has been listening to any and all ideas people have had around science in the last few months. Whether they were shower thoughts or a discussion between scientific colleagues or anywhere in between, she's made her list and built every one as an experiment. On a human scale. A human test subject scale. Because every idea has merit. That's right: Thoth believes in you.
Posters saying Thoth Needs You! go up around Folkmore. They offer a reward for participating in an experiment. Simply tear off a piece of paper from the bottom of the poster, and at some point in the future, you're in. Now, there might be a little hiccup here or there. These posters are experimental too! So some Star Children who don't tear off a slip might get pulled into an experiment as well. (Who said Thirteen ought to recruit for her trials? Thoth listened… or she tried.) Oh well, at least it's all in the name of science!
Perhaps Star Children need to sing Baby It's Cold Outside to convince the other to stay (it really will be cold outside). Perhaps they have a choice of spinners, buttons, levers, or other devices to interact with. Perhaps they make their way through a maze. Perhaps they try a new contraption. Perhaps they even recognize their own idea come to life! There's a multitude of new tech to try, and it has not been safety tested.
Nothing will explode. Probably. Maybe. Okay, some experiments are definitely going to have explosions. How about pressing that button anyway and finding out if it's this one?
Once Star Children survive the experiment—and they will, Thoth may be a loose cannon of a scientist, but she's ensured that much—they will emerge from one of the School of Thoth's laboratories. Togo, the grey wolf mascot, waits on the other side with an item for each test subject: an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
No one is left to the cold to fend for themselves. One of the nearby classrooms has been set up as a first aid center. Dog spirits of all sizes, from the smallest Maltipoo spirit to the largest Great Dane spirit, staff a healing clinic and will treat any injuries Star Children received in the experiments (or already sported). They offer hot lemonade—lemon juice, molasses, and hot water—to everyone to warm their soul. Injured Star Children can find a corner to rest by themselves or company with which to discuss their experiments.
- Thoth has built experiments to bring Star Children’s ideas to life.
- Pick a paper tab off a Thoth Needs You! poster to participate. Or don’t. A mishap may bring Star Children there regardless.
- Do science! Be a human experiment! Maybe experience explosions!
- Togo, the Thoth mascot, will have an item from home for every Star Child who participates.
- Dog spirits man (dog?) a first aid center in a nearby classroom.
no subject
He glances over his shoulder, over at the dogs, now once again lying down. ]
A distraction. [ Ren says after a while of letting himself think of some plans. ] I can turn into a rat again; I'll make a break for that little hole over there, in the fence, and the dogs should decide to chase me. That'll give you a chance to run to the door. [ Look at this little gentleman! ]
no subject
Akechi looks at Ren, then over to the dogs, then back. His eyes narrow.]
You realize how small you are as a rat, don't you? They'll only need to get in close once and you'll be dead. Again.
no subject
no subject
If you don't shut up, I'm going to strangle you.
no subject
Why don't we just do what's on the note? [ He says with a shrug of his shoulder. ] I can admit something about the Phantom Thieves, for you. [ See? He's trying to help. ] And you can tell me something inconsequential about you that I don't know yet?
no subject
[It feels a little like giving in to the fox's demands, but the heat is beginning to go to Akechi's head.]
Just don't be surprised when I already know everything you try to share. I was a part of your group, albeit temporarily.
no subject
Something about myself then. [ Ren starts with. ] Did I ever tell you anything about... Why I came to Tokyo? [ He can only guess at the conversations he's had with Akechi since, after all. But he can imagine he didn't go into much detail about his arrest. ]
no subject
Bits and pieces, though we hardly hashed out every particular detail. You were on probation after an assault charge, no? Sent to live under Sojiro Sakura's guardianship so you could continue your education?
no subject
[ There had been a lot of yelling and a lot of crying. A lot of we raised you better than this. A lot of screaming and a bit of shoving and several sleepless nights later, and off he was on the train to Tokyo with his things either shoved in a box or sold to pay his legal fees. ]
no subject
For a few long, uncomfortable moments, Akechi is silent, his hands curled up beneath the water against his thighs, fists trembling with fury. It's shitty adults refusing to act like parents to their own children all over again, thinking they are taking some kind of moral high ground by just shipping their own child off onto someone else to raise, not giving a damn what happens to them as long as they are blessedly uninvolved.
The world would be so much better if they all burned.]
There was a woman involved. [No surprise, Akechi peeked into his file. And while it's true that the man Ren attacked had all of his identifying information wiped clean, some facts remain.] She testified against you, but even just reading her affidavit I could pick up on the inconsistencies that the defense ignored. She was the one you were defending, wasn't she? The reason you were there interfering in the first place.
no subject
[ Ren shakes his head, tries to get his hands to still. ] He hit his head on a barricade for the road, when he tripped over his own feet.
[ He wonders if Akechi knows this already, if he just wasted his time admitting to his greatest mistake slash the most honorable moment of his life. He wonders, vaguely, if the other Ren told him any of this, or if he realized that Akechi didn't want to hear his sob story any more than his parents did. ]
no subject
[Typical. Not that Akechi can blame her considering the pressure she must have been under, knowing exactly how quickly people disappear around Toyko when they choose to speak out against the influential. But even still - the way that Ren looks now, struggling to tell his story, trembling at the mere memory of it, he was just a child trying to play hero.
Akechi remembers what it felt like to feel that small, that fearful. Never again.]
This is the great justice we grew up being told would keep us safe. Everything we were taught - to put our heads down, to stay in line, to be silent - all of it was preparing us to be nothing but more aimless bodies in the system holding the wealthy up over us. My contempt for these disgusting elites of society -
[Oh, it burns like a wildfire within him, the memory of being able to cut down the parasites of society like Okumura, but his rival looks so small across from him. Akechi exhales, hot and fierce, trying to shake the monologue about justice on the tip of his tongue away.
Instead, he doesn't offer condolences, he simply says,]
You couldn't have known any better. It is deeply unfortunate it happened the way it did, even if we might never have met otherwise. If nothing else, it got you into the city, away from that backwater town your brilliance would have rotted in.
no subject
Akechi didn't hate him at all, did he? No, it was something worse, something more sinister, perhaps. But Ren couldn't deny, he was given a strange opportunity here. To make friends, to change things, to go to a highly prestigious school, even. ] You're right. [ Ren's smirk gets wider. ] I hated my hometown. [ He says it as if he's in the process of realizing it. ] It was so... Boring. [ The most interesting thing that had ever happened to him there was getting arrested. And that led him to Tokyo. To adventure. ]
1/2
Hm, alright. You have shared something that no one would hear you say. Now I will share mine.
2/2
Thematically, it is ultimately superior to the rest. The only reason they fight so desperately against it is the fact the first is pure nostalgia bait and the third lacks the fanservice the so-called fans beg for.
no subject
That was possibly the absolute last thing he expected to come out of the great Detective Goro Akechi's mouth. He inhales, like he's going to say something and then stops himself.
Ren proceeds to do this a second time. And then a third. But he needs a second to just- Process. Holy shit, Akechi's a Neo Featherman otaku...
When Ren inhales for the fourth time, he finally decides on what he wants to say: ] You're right. [ Is all he says for a long second. ] The first one appeals the most to the older fans because of the aforementioned nostalgia bait, and the second is really just the vehicle to get to the third movie. I guess the third was a little more serious which maybe some people didn't like? But it was definitely the strongest plot.
no subject
Rank up-The look Akechi pins Ren with isn't quite as murderous as before, but there's no denying the heat of it is just as strong. He stares at the other teen, as if deconstructing every single word that's fallen out of his mouth, like there's something so much more beneath the surface of what he's said, some hidden intent the former detective wasn't meant to see.
But then Akechi must deem Ren's response true enough that something in him goes warm and appreciative, making him look away, smiling.]
You have better taste than I expected, Joker.
no subject
I have to admit, I've only seen the recent movies, though. So I'm definitely a fake fan. [ He laughs. It's absurd how... Normal this feels. ]
no subject
Considering this version of Ren knows nothing of him while Akechi himself has quite the twisting history with the Ren of his timeline, it would probably be in the detective's best interest to avoid him. This Joker can't possibly live up to Akechi's expectations of the young man or their explosive relationship, and it would be so very easy for Akechi to invest too much into a boy who can't ever be exactly who he wants him to be.
-But still, there's no denying Ren is still Ren, no matter how many days separate them. And Akechi is a glutton for pain.]
Then maybe I'll educate you, if you're interested. It would mean spending a lot of time with your would-be murderer though, if that frightens you.
no subject
[ He's not scared of Akechi, in other words; he's all bark and no bite, just like the dogs now napping right beside the hot spring. ]
no subject
Hm, it's a date then. [And he'll just settle back a little more relaxed against the rocky wall of the hot spring, skin flushed from the steam, beads of sweat at his forehead, with the threat of something shining at his eyes.]
I will though, by the way. Drowning just isn't my style.
no subject
no subject
No promises. Now, I don't know about you, but I think I've had more than enough of this hot spring.
[And it seems to be enough, the sled dogs parting for Akechi when he stands to step out of the water, tails wagging and tongues lolling to the side.]
There. First puzzle of this place solved. Now, are you coming?