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December-January 2024-2025 Test Drive Meme
December-January 2024-2025 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 a canon item from home, 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: hysical Entrapment, Fictional Crimes, Forced Engagement
Winter has come to Folkmore in full force, and with it, the desire for most to get to their destinations as fast as possible. The cold is bitter, after all, and nips at bare skin in most of the realm's regions. The public transport system becomes a safe haven for all; a perfect way to take a break in comfortable warmth as both spirits and Star Children alike travel along stretches of land. From the Cat Bus to the trains, to the submarines that lead to Tides, to even the hot air balloons which provide a beautiful sightseeing tour before touching down on Never Fade… There are more than enough public vehicles to board.
And this is exactly where newly arrived Star Children will find themselves: aboard one of the bigger public transportation methods. With a flash of light visible to all, their landing in this new realm is made known to all other passengers.
Something funny is going on, that much becomes clear within several seconds. Perhaps a nearby cat spirit will keel over dramatically in the middle of the train's aisle, pretending to have died. Perhaps a frog spirit will let out a loud croaking wail, proclaiming their precious wedding ring has been stolen just now. Or perhaps a timid little mouse will come up to Star Children, prattling on about how worried they are for their missing spouse. They are all acting, as is evident from their lack of skill in that department. They relish the opportunity to spin their little tales, their characterization often broken by mischievous smiles or hasty snickers into the palm of their paws. Once the stage is set and the story is out into the world, the spirits will look towards the nearest Star Children with clasped hands and hopeful gazes. 'Will you solve the mystery?' they seem to ask. Sometimes they'll even voice the question aloud.
One thing is for certain: Star Children have found themselves in their very own locked room whodunnit setup!
The puzzling scenarios have a wide range of possibilities. Perhaps someone vanished, with the questions being whether they've hidden themselves somewhere in the vehicle and why. Or maybe a mysterious spirit suffers from a sudden bout of amnesia. Who are they, and how did they lose their memories in the first place? Was that person lying on the floor poisoned? If so, how? What makes these mysteries extra difficult to crack is the very magic coursing through Folkmore. That heap of ash under a seat may be evidence, burnt to a crisp with fire magic. The 'dead' body may have been moved from the original crime scene through teleportation. Or the missing ring may have been enchanted to return to its original owner, which leads to the shocking reveal that the one reporting the crime was a thief all along. All cases range in difficulty level.
There is a catch. The transport will not stop until the conundrum is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The train will pass by stations, the Cat Bus will keep sprinting, submarines will circle Tides indefinitely… And the doors will remain locked, with even teleportation powers null and void. Star Children cannot disembark until the mystery is solved. Better work together to find those clues!
Winter has come to Folkmore in full force, and with it, the desire for most to get to their destinations as fast as possible. The cold is bitter, after all, and nips at bare skin in most of the realm's regions. The public transport system becomes a safe haven for all; a perfect way to take a break in comfortable warmth as both spirits and Star Children alike travel along stretches of land. From the Cat Bus to the trains, to the submarines that lead to Tides, to even the hot air balloons which provide a beautiful sightseeing tour before touching down on Never Fade… There are more than enough public vehicles to board.
And this is exactly where newly arrived Star Children will find themselves: aboard one of the bigger public transportation methods. With a flash of light visible to all, their landing in this new realm is made known to all other passengers.
Something funny is going on, that much becomes clear within several seconds. Perhaps a nearby cat spirit will keel over dramatically in the middle of the train's aisle, pretending to have died. Perhaps a frog spirit will let out a loud croaking wail, proclaiming their precious wedding ring has been stolen just now. Or perhaps a timid little mouse will come up to Star Children, prattling on about how worried they are for their missing spouse. They are all acting, as is evident from their lack of skill in that department. They relish the opportunity to spin their little tales, their characterization often broken by mischievous smiles or hasty snickers into the palm of their paws. Once the stage is set and the story is out into the world, the spirits will look towards the nearest Star Children with clasped hands and hopeful gazes. 'Will you solve the mystery?' they seem to ask. Sometimes they'll even voice the question aloud.
One thing is for certain: Star Children have found themselves in their very own locked room whodunnit setup!
The puzzling scenarios have a wide range of possibilities. Perhaps someone vanished, with the questions being whether they've hidden themselves somewhere in the vehicle and why. Or maybe a mysterious spirit suffers from a sudden bout of amnesia. Who are they, and how did they lose their memories in the first place? Was that person lying on the floor poisoned? If so, how? What makes these mysteries extra difficult to crack is the very magic coursing through Folkmore. That heap of ash under a seat may be evidence, burnt to a crisp with fire magic. The 'dead' body may have been moved from the original crime scene through teleportation. Or the missing ring may have been enchanted to return to its original owner, which leads to the shocking reveal that the one reporting the crime was a thief all along. All cases range in difficulty level.
There is a catch. The transport will not stop until the conundrum is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The train will pass by stations, the Cat Bus will keep sprinting, submarines will circle Tides indefinitely… And the doors will remain locked, with even teleportation powers null and void. Star Children cannot disembark until the mystery is solved. Better work together to find those clues!
- New Star Children arrive in one of Folkmore's public transport vehicles.
- Spirits will re-enact locked room mysteries for Star Children to solve.
- Cases range from murder mysteries to missing persons, to simple theft.
- The vehicle will not stop until the mystery is resolved!
Content Warnings: Potential Information Reveal, Item Alteration
A cheerful ding rings out from each Star Child's Relic. It's a modest grab for their attention, a sign that something lies in wait. Checking out the origin, the recipients will find that they've received a message from Jewelia, one of Thirteen's aspects. It reads as follows: "It is a time for giving and a time for sharing. A time for friendship and a time for caring. Seek out this Star Child, and exchange with them a modest gift. Should you succeed and make the trade, then watch it shift."
What follows is not a name, but a list with facts. For example, a certain Star Child's role, which region they currently live in, what color their hair is, who their best friend is… It's all trivial data which, when put together, should point the seeking Star Child towards one particular individual. That's only the first part of the challenge, of course! Should they take the next step, they must give whoever they hunted down a gift. This can range from a batch of homemade cookies to a knitted sweater, to even a neat rock they found! It doesn't matter how big or small the gift is, whether it was bought or made… The present needs to be exchanged for something else.
As soon as the objects pass hands, they will evolve. They become nicer, or bigger, or tastier. The neat rock now shimmers like it's covered in eternal glitter. The knitted sweater now has a knitted hood to pull up over one's head. The cookies may take on a cutesy shape, or become more filling, with even a single bite enough to sate for a whole evening. The plain knife found in Folkmore becomes an engraved sword. This is the true power of sharing, and of paying good will forward.
Once an exchange is complete, each Star Child’s Relic will ding another time. A new list of facts appears, and they can repeat the process again. They have the option to give a new gift to their next match, or they can re-gift the item they were just given. There's no limitations to how much a single gift can upgrade, though objects will never become enchanted. They simply become nicer.
There's one more twist to this assignment: after three successful gift exchanges, the Relic plays an additional, cheerful little chime. A little victory note, almost. When the Star Child returns to their home afterwards, they'll find a small package waiting for them on their pillow (or whatever's close enough to a bed if they don't have one). Inside is a small item from their home world. It may even be a weapon or magical item. Just another reward for rising to the challenge!
A cheerful ding rings out from each Star Child's Relic. It's a modest grab for their attention, a sign that something lies in wait. Checking out the origin, the recipients will find that they've received a message from Jewelia, one of Thirteen's aspects. It reads as follows: "It is a time for giving and a time for sharing. A time for friendship and a time for caring. Seek out this Star Child, and exchange with them a modest gift. Should you succeed and make the trade, then watch it shift."
What follows is not a name, but a list with facts. For example, a certain Star Child's role, which region they currently live in, what color their hair is, who their best friend is… It's all trivial data which, when put together, should point the seeking Star Child towards one particular individual. That's only the first part of the challenge, of course! Should they take the next step, they must give whoever they hunted down a gift. This can range from a batch of homemade cookies to a knitted sweater, to even a neat rock they found! It doesn't matter how big or small the gift is, whether it was bought or made… The present needs to be exchanged for something else.
As soon as the objects pass hands, they will evolve. They become nicer, or bigger, or tastier. The neat rock now shimmers like it's covered in eternal glitter. The knitted sweater now has a knitted hood to pull up over one's head. The cookies may take on a cutesy shape, or become more filling, with even a single bite enough to sate for a whole evening. The plain knife found in Folkmore becomes an engraved sword. This is the true power of sharing, and of paying good will forward.
Once an exchange is complete, each Star Child’s Relic will ding another time. A new list of facts appears, and they can repeat the process again. They have the option to give a new gift to their next match, or they can re-gift the item they were just given. There's no limitations to how much a single gift can upgrade, though objects will never become enchanted. They simply become nicer.
There's one more twist to this assignment: after three successful gift exchanges, the Relic plays an additional, cheerful little chime. A little victory note, almost. When the Star Child returns to their home afterwards, they'll find a small package waiting for them on their pillow (or whatever's close enough to a bed if they don't have one). Inside is a small item from their home world. It may even be a weapon or magical item. Just another reward for rising to the challenge!
- Star Children receive a message on their Relic: a list of facts leading them to another Star Child.
- When they find this Star Child and exchange a small gift with them, the gift will evolve into something nicer.
- If a Star Child succeeds in three successful exchanges, they will find a small item from home waiting for them in their home, atop their pillow.
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“I’m not too concerned about that part though,” he admitted. If he grew wings then he’d grow wings. “Mostly I’m focused on where to sleep and shower and how to eat. Titles and all that can come later, if at all.”
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The announcer on the train calls for Willow as the next stop and Midge stands up. As she grabs her purse, a small notebook tumbles out of it and lands at Peter’s feet.
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"Here, don't forget this. Especially if it's your shopping list."
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“Thank you,” Midge says as she takes the notebook from him and shoved it more firmly down in her purse. “It’s, um… it’s where I write my jokes.”
Bet he wasn’t expecting that. Midge doesn’t hide the fact that she’s a comedian, plus any promotion is good promotion. Still, it felt strange to say out loud.
“I’m a stand-up comic,” she explains as they get off the train.
Their conversation hasn’t had a lot of jokes in it, but she supposes that she’s helping him get adjusted to being in a new, strange place.
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“Do they have many comedy clubs here? Does that earn you spoons since you’re talking to people?”
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“I haven’t found any purely comedy clubs here, but I have a few places that I perform regularly. I get paid in spoons, drinks, and whatever else the owner is willing to give me.”
The station where they’ve gotten off has a distinctly rural vibe to it. As they leave, thatched houses come into view.
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“This place is so surreal,” he admitted as they headed into the town. This was right out of a storybook. “This has the coziest vibes ever.”
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“Those are my next show dates. There are no entrance fees, so, no cutlery required,” she says with a smile.
Midge has heard people talk about “vibes” before and she’s used context clues to figure out that they mean the general feel of a place or thing. “It does,” she agrees. “Folkmore is pretty diverse, so there are a lot of different types of vibes here. The places that are urban centers, most like New York, are Epiphany and Tides.” Just in case he wants to live in someplace like home, like she wanted to.
They don’t have to go too far into town before they turn down a side street and then enter the farmer’s market. Spirits man the various stalls while others walk up and down the street, stopping to chat or make purchases.
“There’s a stall that has good coffee if you feel like you need some,” Midge says. “There’s also a pub, if you need something stronger than coffee.”
She wouldn’t blame him if he did. Waking up in an unfamiliar place would put anyone out of sorts.
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“Epiphany and Tides. Thanks. I’ll have to see the other places. It’s not like I’d get a chance to live in a place like this ever back home,” he said, head on a swivel as he looked all over. It was absolutely wild to see all of this stuff in the flesh. “Coffee would be nice, but only if you let me treat you to a cup next time. When I have money. Or… spoons, I guess.”
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“Sure. You’ll have plenty soon enough. The stall’s about two blocks down.” Midge turns to appraise Peter. “You seem older than you were when we first met.”
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"Maybe I can find my old apartment and find some clues about that? Maybe I should leave some notes for myself in case it happens again?"
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He’d showed her how to do some things on the relic and then had a drink with her after photographing her set. Peter had seemed young and a bit awkward. Now? He’s still awkward, but he seems a bit more mature. His face looks older too.
She’d noted, at the time, that he was the better-looking Peter Parker. Not that it’s much of a contest, since the other Peter is way too young for her and Midge feels like his mom whenever they talk.
“Would you believe those notes or would you start to feel like Ingrid Bergman in ‘Gaslight’?”
God she hopes he gets that reference, otherwise she’s going to feel extremely old.
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"Well that depends on if you romance me and we get married after a few weeks so you can find my previous self's jewels? I guess that's not actually a perfect parallel to the movie," he admitted. He'd only run across the movie when he was curious where the term "gaslighting" had come from and Aunt May had known the answer and offered to watch the movie with him.
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At first, Midge wonders if he’s trying to hit on her really strongly, then realizes he’s relaying the plot of the movie and grins. “Oh are there jewels?” she asks teasingly. “Why didn’t you say so before?”
They approach the coffee stall and peruse the menu as they stand in line.
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“I have to be honest, usually my coffee comes from a pot at a dinner that is so stained you’re not sure if it’s clean or not and they pour caf and decaf from the same pot,” he admitted. New York had some great coffee places but nothing tasted like coffee that had been brewing all day. “So I just order and then… hand them my spoon?”
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The line inches forward and Midge listens to Peter talk about his love for diner coffee. “Oh, you like the really fancy stuff, I see. Lattes and espressos aren’t good enough for you.” She smiles. “You usually tap your spoon against something, but I’ve got this one.”
When they get to the front of the line, Midge orders a mocha latte.
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When he got to the front of the line with Midge, Peter glanced up at the menu one last time just to make sure he was reading it right. The thing was, it all looked perfectly normal, which in the current setting made it seem strange.
“Well, I don’t see any swill in the menu so I’ll just have a coffee with cream and sugar,” he said with a nod. Hopefully that wouldn’t be too expensive and would give him an idea of just how good the coffee was. “And if you get it this time you have to let me pay you back some other time.”
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As they wait for their drinks to me made, Midge pulls out her relic and is able to open the photos that the earlier version of Peter took for her. “See?” she says. “Nice, right?” They’re all high quality photos of her during one of her sets, and Midge is pleased with how they turned out.
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"Did you ever get posters or anything of these made?"
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Did it come with him from home?
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"But yeah, when I get one we could do a photoshoot and everything. And payment in food sounds pretty fantastic."
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Their coffees are placed on the counter and Midge hands Peter his before taking her own.
“Sure. We’ll work something out. Thanks for being willing to take photos of me.”
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“It’ll be nice to take photos of someone standing still instead of swinging all around. Uh… unless part of your bit is that you swing all around the stage.”
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Who else is swinging around?
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"So someone standing relatively still will be a nice change."
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