June-July 2025 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

June-July 2025 TDM

Introduction

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
This Test Drive meme is open to all.
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.

Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!

🦊 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.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

Pirates of the Loreibbean . ★

Content Warnings:

Old wood creaks and groans, barely audible over a howl of wind. Wet droplets of rain hit faces and soak into clothing. Clouds overhead are a murky gray, blocking out the sun. Though summer weather is often somewhat temperamental, a true storm has now hit. Both newly arrived Star Children and veterans may find themselves in the midst of this situation quite abruptly, standing on the unsteady deck of an old, grand ship. Those who run to the nearest rail and peer overboard may be shocked to discover a stark absence of water below. Instead, the view just goes down… and down… The land of Folkmore lies far below, as this ship is flying through the storm, its sails struggling to hold under the force of whipping winds. There is no captain, there is no helmsman- there is no crew at all to be found, only fellow Star Children. And yet… the ship is still moving full speed ahead through the storm, as if it has a destination in mind.

A resounding boom echoes, and those with a keen gaze may just spot something whizzing past, missing the ship by a hair. Was that… a cannonball?

Just like that, a second vessel weaves its way out of a deck of gray clouds, pulling up side by side to the ship the Star Children are on. Lightning flashes, illuminating a whole bunch of sneers across the way, along with some eye patches, bandanas and goggles. Sky pirates are attacking! It's clear from their animalistic features that they're local spirits, but they're hardly as benevolent as those typically seen in Folkmore.

Ready yourselves, Star Children!

Those who wish to return fire will find several cannons lined along the ship's deck, ready to be used. These don't work just like any old artillery, though. In place of those unwieldy metal balls, one must load magic into these cannons. Lore, to be precise! It even says so on a small metal plaque, attached near the firing mechanism: "Connection is one's true ammunition." Find a fellow Star Child and start chatting! The more meaningful the conversation, the grander the magic ball one may blast at the pirates with the cannons.

Unfortunately, the cannons alone are not enough to fight off the pirates, as several of them swing their way aboard with ropes. (Or just fly, if they're bird spirits.) Star Children can head down into the armory below deck to grab a weapon. Yes, even weapons from home (or items that can be improvised weapons) are available, and may be kept after the fight is over. Star Children capable of flight may even be daring enough to make their way to the enemy's ship and deal some real damage over there.

The ship continues to shake and creak and bob in the storm, which may complicate the fight, but not all is lost. There, in the distance, up ahead… A beacon of light flickers, struggling to be seen through the thick clouds. What is that?

• Star Children (new and old) find themselves aboard a grand wooden ship, flying through a storm. Yes, literally flying!
• Sky pirates attack! They're just the local spirits, but a rowdy bunch nonetheless.
• Use conversation to load up a cannon with Lore energy, then blast it at the pirate ship.
• Alternatively, grab a weapon (possibly from home) from your ship's armory and start swashbuckling.
• Star Children can keep one (1) weapon/item from home and other basic weapons.

So Said the Lighthouse Keeper. ★

Content Warnings:

Other Star Children, both new and old, may find themselves drawn to the floating island of Never Fade. Up here, in the clouds, the storm rages just as fierce, and the native spirits all share the same worry: the lighthouse is broken. Indeed, up on the highest hill of Never Fade stands a towering white spire, its beacon dimmed. 'A ship is coming in at any moment', the spirits all whisper. 'And there's reports of pirates in the area, too. What will we do?'

The goats which are quite common in Never Fade join forces to guide Star Children up the hill towards the lighthouse. And if not guiding, then dragging, chompers clenched around the fabric of sleeves or pant legs as they pull. The rain does not slow, but the wind thankfully blows uphill. Best to just go along with it, so you can go take shelter from the storm inside the enormous spire building, because the goats won't leave you alone otherwise.

Just outside the lighthouse stands a very curious cat. It's so large, it's almost the size of a pony, and its fur is black. No, white. … No, it's black, isn't it? (It really depends on what mood it's in.) Karma the cat peers up at any approaching Star Children with knowing eyes. It dashes inside the lighthouse for a second, then reappears with an envelope in its mouth, holding it out for the newcomer to take. Careful- the paper might get wet in the rain! Come stand under the awning or inside the house as you read:

"The lighthouse keeper is on vacation. Please help! The beacon needs to be charged. We need positive energy to power the light, and negative energy to rotate the lens. Be nice or be mean, both are good! :)"

Are you up for the task, Star Children? Then stay in the lighthouse's near vicinity, or go right on up to the beacon, and do as Karma asked: Either compliment your fellows, or insult them. Share fond memories with one another, or commiserate on how terrible this situation is. Both pleasant conversation and nasty confrontation will do the job. Before long, the light springs to life and the great glass lens begins to rotate around it, a majestic beam of light revolving outward from the spire, piercing the dark clouds.

Those who wait around will see it: that great big wooden ship which comes flying towards Never Fade's docks to make port there. … Is that a hole in its side? And a cutlass sticking out of the mast? Confusion may make way for relief, as all the Star Children aboard disembark, surely bursting with a great tale to tell. Elated spirits bring out the hot soup, bread and all other hearty comfort foods to celebrate the successful arrival. Time to celebrate! Or raid the armory for a free weapon from home, if you haven't gotten one yet- with an emphasis on one, because Karma the cat will attack anyone who got greedy, be it now or during the earlier voyage.

• Star Children who weren't taken to the ship may instead have been drawn to Never Fade, where the storm rages just as fiercely.
• Goats guide Star Children towards the lighthouse, which is broken. Karma the cat awaits them there.
• In order to get the lighthouse beacon working again, it must be charged with both positive and negative energy. Engage in either pleasant or hostile conversation with a fellow Star Child to help out!
• Once the lighthouse is up and running, the ship from the first prompt will dock at Never Fade, uniting all the Star Children for a great celebration.
• The ship's armory is still available for a free weapon (possibly from home), but anyone who got greedy and tried to take more than one will be confronted by Karma. Literally. (And lose the additional items).

Comments

Questions

[folkie]

[hollystrike]

Katie can and does hold long conversations with cats. How talkative is Karma?

Re: Questions

[fogsong]

is there a reason the spirits are attacking, and is that something a character can learn about if they ask one of the pirates?

Midge Maisel | The Marvelous Mrs Maisel | Familiar

[doesntsing]

“Okay, okay!”

Midge finally manages to yank her skirt out of the goat’s mouth. Thankfully, it isn’t ripped. Just wet with goat saliva. Disgusted, she tries to smooth her dress out without touching that part. Not that it matters. The weather is terrible and she’s starting to get rained on.

“You dragged me here, now what do you want?”

Her annoying little goat friend pulled her all through Never Fade, not stopping until they reached the lighthouse looming before her. The wind starts to pick up and the rain falls a bit harder, so Midge hurries to seek shelter inside.

She’s seen Karma the cat before and isn’t put off by her huge size. After reading the letter and understanding what has to be done, Midge turns to the rest of the people in the lighthouse.

“Alright.” She spreads her arms. “Who wants to be insulted?”

Or complimented, but being given free license to insult people seems like a once in a lifetime opportunity.

One Evil Myth in a state of becoming in Residence...

[subject_013]

A tall, blond gent clad in a black leather waistcoat under a black leather duster and dark glasses hiding his eyes might approach, carrying a nervously bleating goat tucked under one arm.

"I'm no stranger to insults, as long as they're rendered cleverly," he replies, in a throaty baritone, with an odd Trans-Atlantic accent.

[hypermedium]

Oh, a person! A normal-looking person, from one New York Jew to another: relief. Midge might still be frightening to Brennan in the same way that everyone is a little frightening to Brennan, but he's bold enough to actually ask the question that first comes to mind. Sans much of an effort at faking eye contact, but he's still asking.

"Is insulting people a particular talent of yours? I've never understood the whole concept of roasting," there's an awkward little shrug here, "But it seems like it's going to be useful and I do want to see that thing function so please, go ahead. If you're able to insult people you don't know, anyway."

[ms3meters]

Mitsuko gives an airy laugh as she hears Midge's declaration to the howling wind and the other Star Children. The three-meter tall woman's not sure how a stranger will be able to insult her but her gusto is cute. The woman gives a large, fanged smile and chuckles.

"What an inthreeguing way to operate a lighthouse... I have no particular inthreest in being insulted but if we must, I suppose I can oblige. Do try not to hurt me too much, little one."

Brennan Rosenthal | X-Men Movieverse OC | Familiar

[hypermedium]

𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚊𝚒𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚎𝚙𝚎𝚛

In the long run, it's a good thing that Brennan ended up in Never Fade instead of part of the storms, as he'd end up more o f a liability than an asset in that kind of fight on his own. That, and he's a bit more comfortable with animals than people, so the fact he's being dragged by a goat who seems to know him ... over to a very large cat — it's weird, but Brennan can live with this. He can live with being in an alternate universe, too, since while he's never done that before he's heard plenty about it and the explanation sounded downright reasonable.

Brennan can perhaps not live with the ask on the note.

Positive or negative energy, sure, but if the best way of doing that is talking to other people—that's less his strong point. Is there no technological fixing to be done instead? What do you mean, no? But he's determined to do his best, and that's why the stage is set with a wet white Jewish man in his late 20s or early 30s, clad in a T-shirt, blazer and jeans, standing by the beacon and talking loudly enough to catch attention from anyone who wanders by. He doesn't know anyone, they don't know him. Yelling animatedly is the best way to catch a conversation: "I hate rain, but this thing is fascinating and I'd love to see it actually move!"

[ sorry if anyone confuses brennan with spider-man; i promise they don't look that alike! these are literally the same icons he had 15 years ago on lj. open to changing his face, just haven't found a new one yet! ]

[pursuitofcappiness]

Steve is not one for negative energy, so someone else is going to have to supply that. But positive energy, he has plenty of that to spare, and so when he's asked a question, he looks up with a pleasant demeanor. "Yeah, me too. You new here? I'm Steve," he says by way of greeting, and then walking closer to get a good look at the beacon.

[ms3meters]

[Unlike Brennan, Mitsuko likes talking to people, despite her status as a cryptid. The three-meter tall woman she kneels down in front of the man, a light and playful smile on her face.]

Well, little human, if you want it to move, we'll have to be rude. It's an inthreeguing way how to operate a lighthouse...

[Mitsuko laughs, a deceptively high and raspy cackle that contrasts with how smooth her deep voice is.] Are you sure though that you're willing to with a stranger you've not even met for three seconds?

V | Devil May Cry | Myth

[synchysis]

📖 Like air, I'll rise

Forcible relocation is proving something of a staple in V's new life, such that he shakes his head and checks out the situation upon finding himself on unsteady ground— or the lack thereof entirely, as the situation proves. Flying through the air during a storm far enough up that V opts against Griffon carrying him to the ground as a viable way of avoiding the situation as one he cares little about. It has nothing to do with him or anyone he knows, and people get in fights all the time.

With the booms of cannons, V eyes the other ship and makes his way calmly toward the cannons on deck. It may be a physically laborious job beyond what he can do, but who knows how these ones work. Sure enough, there's no heavy cannon balls, no stuffing them down barrels, nothing beyond his ken. Unfortunately for the defense of the ship, connection upon beck and call is not something he's willing to do. If the ship goes down, he will wait until Griffon can carry him to safety. It's fine.

Instead he hoists his cane and moves toward the area of the deck where grappling hooks begin to provide their grim embrace. V smirks toward the first spirit to come aboard, an enormous parrot spirit wearing a pirate hat with a feather. "Is that your own?"

Sure, time for some old-fashioned violence.

📖 Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter

Wet, cold, and mildly uncomfortable thanks to the weather, V waves off a large blue iridescent bird from the black goat dragging him uphill at great speed. "No, Griffon, I know you could kill the goat. Please don't."

It's a small goat, either still a kid or some smaller goat species, and for all V doesn't care to be here at the moment, he doesn't want to take it out on the animal. That's how he winds up going along until finally reaching the top of Never Fade with the lighthouse in view. If only he knew that's where the goat went, they could have gotten here much easier. It isn't like life to do things the easy way, so with his hair plastered to his face, he approaches the bloody thing.

Instructions come from a cat that rivals Shadow in size, if not attitude, and V reads the instructions and crumples them up in one hand. Shoving them in his pocket, he steps up to the lighthouse to get out of the rain. "At this point, insults seem easier, but we could see if insulting Thirteen gets the job done."

melodies

[zacrifice]

Zack peers at the note, hands on his hips as he reads it, though he keeps glancing up towards the sky. "Aw, man, I'd rather fight pirates..."

Maybe he'll just fly up to one of the ships once they've dealt with this nonsense.

"I'm better at being positive, not so good at insults! But if you wanna yell at Thirteen, I'll lend a hand." He'll... channel Cloud for a bit, maybe. He can manage that much!

His own goat is stomping around in a circle a few feet back, eager for them to do something. It's a big guy, with one huge, curled horn, the other smaller and broken off.

Altair | Original Character | Myth

[aquilasshadow]

((OOC: Altair has an ability that lets him hear a person’s soul song, a musical echo of a person's soul, whenever he touches someone's shadow. He will only use this ability with the player’s permission, otherwise, he can just hear the general cosmic melody that all souls have, or I can leave out the explanation of why he reacts to touching shadows completely, whichever is the most enjoyable for you. Please let me know in the subject line whether you want to play with this mechanic or not.))

Pirates of the Loreibbean

[Altair had been asleep for the last month and a faint glimmer of stardust lingered on his body as he was jolted away by the familiar sway of a ship underneath him. He muttered a curse as slowly got to his feet. What is it this time? His glowing purple eyes flickered brighter with dread as he peered over the side of the ship. The sharp flicker of fear dimmed with relief when he saw the open air underneath him. It was his dream to sail the skies and the glow in his eyes softened as he rested comfortably against the ship's rail with a faint smile.]

I guess I can forgive her this time.


Cannons

[It didn't take long for Altair to remember his sea legs. The familiar lurch of the ship underneath his feet was both bittersweet and felt like home. Too bad he didn't have time to enjoy it thanks to the pirates. Most people were still adjusting to the ship so he quickly made his way to the cannons to earn them some more time.

He barked a short laugh when he saw the note on the metal plaque.]

Of course. Fighting pirates is the perfect time for a meaningful conversation.


Wilcard

[Slowly dipping my toes back into rp after my hiatus. I'm open to other idea as well so feel free to surprise me with your own prompt! You can talk to me on plurk Nicholaj, Discord@25thNicholaj, or pm, whichever is easier for you. Enjoy!]

Cannons - Welcome back!

[ms3meters]

[Mitsuko's not used to airships or ships but she is used to space ships, so she finds her footing faster than some of the others. She too heads up and a grin can't help but appear as she sees the familiar face.

The large woman runs towards Altair and then drops as if she's doing a football tackle in order to dodge a cannonball heading to her, the unfortunately large target. Still, she's all smiles as she slides right up to Altair and laughs.]

Well, when else are we supposed to catch up? It feels like something has to be at stake in order for me to see you. [She jokes.] How are things threeating you, Altair?

Cannons - I'm down for the soulsong stuff

[twilitimp]

[Midna looks up at the barked laugh. She had been trying to decipher what the plaque meant for a bit of time now.]

Meaningful conversation? Are you an idiot?

[She sounds unimpressed, with a touch of bewilderment. Why would now be a perfect time for conversation. They're getting shot at here.]

Future!Leonardo Hamato | Rise Of The TMNT Movie | Legend

[grabaslice]

A. Man The Canons

[Heroic sacrifice be damned, here Leonardo is standing on the deck of a ship. Unsteadily watching fellow Star Children scurry around trying to man the thing. The mutant can't quite wrap his mind around what he's seeing. This is the kind of thing he would've dreamed up as a kid. Flying ships, pirates, grand adventure. Here and now, he doesn't have the energy for it any longer.

The turtle stalls for a moment, breathing out tiredly. The brief second of reprieve he takes isn't much, but, it is enough to gather himself. He isn't bleeding out, the wound from earlier healed over. Even then, he feels tired.

Questions can come later. There is always more to do.]

If we don't fire back, we're going to be taken out of the sky! Get moving! [Leadership is a well worn mask at this point. He falls into it with relative ease, starting to move over to the canons himself.] C'mon! We don't have much time!

[A guy dies in a war, and wakes up in another. Just what he needs. At his his brothers aren't here, at least Casey isn't here. He'll take solace in that. Trying to engage him in a meaningful conversation might be like pulling teeth.]

B. Swashbuckling

[When the ship is finally boarded, Leo makes a break for the armory below deck. The turtle is relieved to find the familiar hilt of his blade amongst the weaponry. Any other time, he would wonder just how his weapon was in there. He should have had it on him. Any wariness is gone in place of him dashing back up onto the desk.

For a turtle of his stature and size, he's able to maneuver well enough. Blocking blows with his metal arm, lashing out with his blade. Muscle memory of a million fights carry him through this. He isn't really thinking. Just doing.

It is more than likely he moves to block a blow for a fellow Star Child with a tight frown. Even with the severe look on his face, his voice is reassuring.]

Keep moving, you're doing good. We got this. [He manages a tight smile.]

We just need to keep going.

[Being the confident war leader is easy enough to be. Just exactly what he was meant to be. Seemingly, that carries through even into death.]

C. Wildcard

[Come get peepaw, he's just standing here!]

/kicks peepaw's door down with A

[dadguardian]

[Much like Leonardo, Alexei found himself on the flying ship all of a sudden. Thankfully, he's not new to Folkmore, so he's not too baffled by any of it. Just another trial, he assumes, and the pirate attack really sells that notion. That makes it his kind of trial, because he's all too ready to kick some butt.

Not even the giant turtle man fazes him, though he does assume it's another one of the local spirits. Just on their side, not on the pirates' side. He steps up to the same cannon, catching on to the intent to blast a hole in that other ship.]

I'm on it! Here, I will load and you can- [He breaks off quite abruptly as his gaze sweeps the deck, then the rest of their surroundings, brow furrowing.] Wait... Where are the cannon balls? We cannot fire without something to fire.

[Alas, he did not read the plaque on the cannons.]

Sephiroth/Ever Crisis/Current Character

[miniroth]

As chaos erupts and actual sky pirates descend on Folkmore, Sephiroth had already been in Never Fade ... not to help fight or anything of the sort, it just happened to be one of the very few places conveniently set up already for a bit of dragon racing. A tiny bit of lore, a series of rings and obstacles, and he's good to go!

And then there's a storm. And at least one airship.

And then there's pirates.

Although Sephiroth is perfectly capable of fighting, even at a whole fifteen years old, he's not always terribly inclined to if there's other routes. Some level of mulish, stubborn annoyance means he's also reluctant to give up his goal of racing for the day. So he doesn't.

So he swaps human form for that of a long, lean silver-scaled wyvern-style dragon, small as dragons go but more than big enough to carry a person or two, a more comfortable shape for racing with, and waits with all apparent patience for a pair of spirits to help strap on a customized saddle securely to his hide, watching the flash of cannons in the clouds. If he can dodge a fireball he can dodge a cannonball. It'll do.

--

Those interested in dealing with the pirates but simply incapable of REACHING them have the option of grabbing what is very obviously a 'reasonably tame' dragon for a ride, it's just .. sitting there, saddled, waiting. Anyone who already knows him and is familiar with his new, very expensive power probably doesn't even need to ask. He's harassed people before to have someone to drag with him racing. This time it's just a little more dangerous than usual.


But for new arrivals stranded on the other airship, eventually, the dragon's there too, small enough to crash onto the deck of the ship and make a grab for anyone who looks like they're both willing and able to take the fight to the attacking pirates and snatch them up in a tooth filled maw, only to drop them on his saddle and leap for the other ship in a snap of metallic wings. Better hold on.

[ooc: wanna go dragon racing? with cannonballs? sephiroth's shapeshift is not a big dragon, teenage dragons aren't enormous unless you're Drogon, but he IS fast in that form and cooperative enough with a rider. feel free to have seen him racing around before, or been hassled into going with him (as it's not the saaaame if you go alone) he's not subtle about enjoying a good race.]

[twilitimp]

Midna was not expecting a great many things when she arrived here. She expected a dragon to come scoop her up even less. As the dragon grabs her with his teeth, she's already yelling.

"Let me go! I'm not food!"

Only to be plopped into a saddle. Oh. Well, this is awkward. She looks around briefly.

"Well, you're no wolf, but I guess you'll do. Help me get a view around the place, then," She says with a calm, commanding tone.

Midna | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (manga) | Myth

[twilitimp]

A. Pirates

Midna slowly pushes herself up from the creaking floorboards, feeling the rain pour on her. She looks around.

"...Link?"

But there's no sign of the wolf nearby. She understood that she was being pulled from her world, in a strange sort of hope, but... did that mean she was the only one? ...Oh, no, what did she agree to? At least the clouds are blocking out the sun, though she is certainly in a solid form as if she were in the twilight realms.

With the sound of a boom, she barely registers the cannonball whizzing by her head, and her eyes widen as she looks at the direction it went.

"What was that?!"

B. Lighthouse

That... sure is a goat, holding onto Midna by the wrist and pulling her up to the lighthouse.

"What are you doing? Let me go! Now!"

But her demands fall on deaf ears. Or maybe the goat is just too stupid to listen. Just as she's about to put up a serious fight and make the goat regret its decisions, a cat shows up with an envelope, walking up to her with it. She raises an eyebrow, taking it almost uncertainly. She looks at the inside of the lighthouse for a moment. Deciding she doesn't want the letter to get wet, she goes in to read it.

"Fix the beacon?" She sounds unimpressed. She shrugs her hands out to both sides. "And what do I get out of it?"

Pirates

[moseyin]

A god damn cannonball, [Cloud calls to the little...imp woman or whatever she is (actually she kind of reminds him of Cait Sith in stature), rushing to the other side of the ship to catch himself at the rails and glare at the other ship in the sky that's apparently just entered firing range.] Thirteen making us do her dirty work again, probably. You need to get up.

Cassandra "Casey" Jones (Sr.) | Rise of the TMNT| Legend | In-Game Character

[goongal]

A. Pirates vs. Ninjas is Still Funny Right

[And so Casey suddenly finds herself smack dab in the middle of a storm-torn galleon. Being thrown abruptly into unexpected situations can really throw Casey off! ...Unless there's battle involved. Then there's an exception.

Once she sees the other ship is attacking, she starts crying out.]

Um, avast!! Everyone, to your battle stations!

A-1. Cannonical Bonding

[Time to load the cannons! Although instead of cannonballs, she finds that message engraved there. After a sigh, she shouts out to whoever's nearby.]

Heads up! I think we're going to have to do some bonding!

a-2. Choose Your Fighter

[Later on, enemies have tried boarding the ship! And Casey knows that as awesome as her fists are, she might have better chances with a weapon. So she peruses the selection with whoever's nearby. She looks between a hockey stick and a ball & chain.]

What do you think? I'm very mean with a hockey stick, and I feel like fighting with something in that shape has become a real thing for me, but maybe I should try something different for a change? Maybe a sword would be better with this whole theme...

[Decisions! She'll also help whoever's nearby with choosing a weapon. Or just cut to the fight-y part!]

B. Post-fighthouse

[Eventually, the ship arrives at the lighthouse, and it's time to disembark. She goes to check on whoever's around.]

How's everything here? Everyone still alive?

[Or find her at the dining area, where she's tearing through those comfort foods like a shonen protagonist! She'll still free up her mouth enough to exchange pleasantries and battle stories.]

C. Wildcard

[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]

a-2

[apuckalypse]

[Casey peers over her shoulder, taking in the options. Ooh, ball and chain looks fun...]

Well, you know I'm biased. But I also think you could be good at anything. Maybe it's a good time to try something new?

Raphael | TMNT 2012 | Familiar

[saisdoesmatter]

+ Skyfall | Arrival +

To say this dream was weird was an understatement.

Typically - he'd have blamed it on too many snacks before bed. Or possibly a lack of sleep entirely from working too hard in the dojo.

But to meet a literal fox that felt comforting before the rest of the dream fell away like liquid midnight, leaving only a smell of all the seasons combined into a welcoming embrace that spurns him forward. A tingle of uncertainty spirals up his shell, almost as if prompting him to look back at the double of himself left behind, but he refuses it.

All to see where this animal is leading him away to. Perhaps it's a sign - his father always spoke of visions that came to him sometimes - maybe it was his time to get one.

As much as he loves animals, he isn't expecting the fox to actually speak to him as the world shifts between all the seasons. Especially since she is still an animal: not a mutant like he is. So when she does, he stiffens, his eyes starting to itch as she explains herself.

Folkmore? Like in fairy tales?" he thinks, one green eye closing as the itching won't let up and he can't seem to rub it. Speaking seems impossible but the questions about what she means about being something called a "Familiar" remain stuck behind lips that won't move.

The answers he gets from this apparent mind reading dream fox is that he'll figure out in time. That the connections will help.

Before everything shifts and he swears he's falling out of bed when everything grows dark, streaks of light zipping by as weight doesn't appear to exist---

---before it does again, bursting into bright spatters of firelight: reds, greens, and whites. The turtle reels as everything goes from dark to bright to normal again, clearly waking from the dream as his nerves tingle and the itchiness is back, taking him out at the knees so he sinks down to them in this new space. "Ow ow ow ow what the hell..."

Of course, without a mirror or water nearby, he has no idea that his green eyes are brighter, slitted like a cat's in the dim. After rubbing them a few times, the itchiness diminishes, the feeling of sandpaper on them disappearing with blink as they revert to his normal, non-slitted eyes.

"I am never eating those gummy worms before bed again..." Raphael mutters, blinking away the last bits of what he thinks is sleep sand from his eyes, then realizes that...he's not in the Lair anymore.

"...what the...!?"

Broad hands go for his belt, where his sai usually were tucked in, only to pull out one...spoon and some sort of device he hasn't seen before. He blinks at them a few times in horror as his weapons are nowhere to be found, teeth gritting in annoyance before pocketing the spoon and focusing on the new tech in his hand, trusting it for now as it's clearly similar enough to his missing T-phone with the shell backing.

"...Donnie, I swear I'm going to flay you if this is your fault somehow..." he mutters, under his breath, and flicks the device open to see if he can figure it out.

+ YAR HAR FIDDLE TEE DEE | Pirates +

*as soon as he spots any ambushing sky pirates trying to board, he's rushing for the armory, where he expects there to be something to help keep them from taking over the ship. The last thing they need is to end up falling from the sky and he's not about to let anyone get hurt on his watch*

*swords aren't his favorite, so when he finds HIS kind of weapon: sai, he's snatching them up, already spinning them in his hands and rushing back to the deck*

KEEP 'EM BACK, EVERYONE! *before he's ready to defend and punch anyone who goes after anyone unarmed* How about you pick on someone who can fight?

+ Rain Rain Go Away | Lighthouse +

Nobody likes being caught in the rain. Even when watery missions or the like.

Though he especially doesn't like it when he's being HALF DRUG THROUGH THE MUD by a GOAT of all things!

"Oi! Leggo already!" he complains, the line of wrap from one arm still being tugged by the offending cliff scaling animal, "yer going to wrench my arm right off!"

As stubborn as the ornery turtle is, the goat seems equally so, and doesn't bother to let go until Raphael sees the dark lighthouse. He glances up, noting the darkness at the top, then frowns and looks at the goat. "...wait, is the keeper okay?" After all, he knows of lighthouse keepers and their jobs to keep those things lit! "Okay, okay, I'm coming--let's go."

Raph changes gears, now heading for the lighthouse without struggle, not even noticing at first that the goat has let go of his wrapping. It wafts forward in the wind, prompting his attention to grab it as he spots the cat and how it darts inside. Half wrapping the sodden cloth around his arm, he follows it through the door, only to get the envelope from it. "...huh?"

Flicking it open with his thumb, he reads the information, his face screwing up in confusion. "...so the keeper's okay? Just gone?" He looks up toward the ceiling. "...well, I can give it a shot..." he says, looking to see if there's anyone other than the cat and the goat to converse with.

[OOC: Feel free to switch formats if you prefer prose over action or vice versa; I'm totally flexible! I was told of this game by your Baphomet player on EMPlz so I wanted to give it a shot. Though please let me know if I've done something wrong in the TDM. I'm new to this format - thank you!]

arrival - welcome!

[apuckalypse]

Casey finds himself poofed into existence on the ship in a similar fashion, although in his case he was about to start cooking, so he arrives essentially in lounge wear (albeit with a somewhat familiar hockey mask clipped to his belt) and holding a frying pan. He blinks a few times, not noticing Raphael at first, and turns in a slow circle to take in the sight of everything else. A... flying ship?

"...What?" Why is he here? Wait, where is 'here' to begin with?

mikleo | tales of zestiria | familiar | current character

[tsunergy]

( i. in the hold: for sorey )

This is ridiculous, [Mikleo's muttering, as he scavenges through a bunch of swords, shields, and various weapons that he's never once touched in his life, searching for a reasonable staff, or even a ceremonial/unsharpened blade for Sorey.] This wouldn't be happening if the fox had thought to let us keep our weapons when we arrived here.

[If they're meant to fight here, why take them away to begin with!?]


( ii. the lighthouse: OTA )

[Getting dragged to a lighthouse by a goat wasn't on his list of expectations for today, but here he is, apparently. Mikleo stares down at the delivered letter, eyes narrowing.]

"Nice or mean"... that's all fine and good, but where are the instructions on how much of one or the other this machine needs? This is irresponsible.

[Or he's overthinking things, that's not unusual. Someone just drag him up there and put him to work, he can be plenty negative in the right mood...]


( please look at Mikleo's permissions post if you wanna play with resonance! he might be invisible. )

i. helo boynfrend

[monolike]

[Despite the fact that they're in a ship IN THE SKY and they are currently being fired upon by some very upset people, Sorey is...kind of living. They're pirates. This is 100% a pirate adventure, and Mikleo sourly muttering to himself as they go pawing through the hold for something useful not only isn't dampening his spirits, it's kind of keying him up.

He and Mikleo are on a pirate adventure, together! Cross that one off the bucket list.]

I know! You don't even have your feathery hat or cool flowing coat. [Two things Mikleo assuredly did not say he had, when Sorey's questioned him (multiple times since Sorey found out Mikleo 'spent time on the water' and had a bird to boot).] Ooh tell me if you find a pirate hook! I want it.

Mizu | Blue Eye Samurai | current

[artofrevenge]

OOC Note: Genderqueer character focused on revenge, not gender. Dressed as man and uses he/him with others. Will use she/her internally. Please have characters ID Mizu as a man and use he/him pronouns for Mizu.

❄️ Sword Judgment

The battles airs noisily above on the deck of the airship. Mizu pays it little mind—she notices every time someone enters the space. Thus far, it's all been people desperate for a weapon who come, grab something, and leave as quickly without more conversation than 'have you seen a sword/gun/spear/weapon of choice?' That's fine by her. If anyone threatens her life, she'll take them down with the sword at her side, the one she made with her own hands.

Sitting in the middle of the stores, Mizu instead looks through the weapons to inspect them and their make. There are swords of all types, only a few of them are katanas. These she inspected first. They're decent blades, the sort any samurai might be seen with on the road, but they fall short of swordfather's standards. Nor are they marked, that she may know their maker and draw broader conclusions. They're plain. Perhaps the fox spirit ought to mark them since Mizu suspects they're hers, of imagination rather than a forge.

The more interesting weapons are those that keep being taken and disappeared above. They show more character and variety. Not all make sense to Mizu, but she handles them with respect and care, well aware someone may walk in and recognize them as their own. However, these are common goods in the hold.

"Unusual, but I see the logic," Mizu says to herself.

Bad Future!Donatello | Rise of the TMNT | Legend (?)

[notapancake]

[ooc: Cribbing a lot of his history from mostly Cass Apocalypse and Replica, and to adhere to Casey Jr's timeline that Akai has up. 👍]

Man the cannons: cw - suicide mission mention
[Sure, one gets sick and feels like their time is coming? Totally go into the belly of the beast on a mission that has no chance of survival, in some bid to give your loved ones more time. And sure, it ends in death but no big deal yeah?

Except instead of nothing, or becoming a ghost which seems to be a theme for your family? A fox seems to take you on a walk and then one finds themselves on a ship, in the middle of a pirate battle. Could be worst afterlifes, Donnie thinks. As he finds himself by the cannons, and maybe just using one as support.

As to using the cannons, well he saw the notice.]

Well, this might not be my area of expertise but...

[He's at least willing to give it a shot.]

Pirates on Board
[Maybe he's feeling better, and found his way to the armory of the ship, or more likely someone else got him the bo staff he finds himself using more for support than as a weapon. As he's on the deck of the ship and quickly considering his options here.]

Ah, it'd probably be a bad idea if I go all out? I'll just cover whoever I can then.

[He's either talking to whatever Star Children are close to him, or himself. Either way, those who have seen a certain teenaged turtle use ninpo before might recognize the purple energy forming around Donnie's arm. Before it takes shape of a sniper rifle, while he's moving to get up to higher ground so he has a better shot/view.]

Wildcard/Aftermath
[Hit me with whatever.]

cannons - aaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[apuckalypse]

[Casey has at least learned by now- this month, it's randomly-get-'ported-to-ship time, so he's keeping himself at least partially geared up when he's not sleeping. Not that he ever goes anywhere without his mask to begin with, but his chainstick is folded and kept on hand even at home. This time, when he's poofed into existence nearby, it's in a pre-date cozy hoodie and skinny jeans, BUT he is armed.

He turns to take in the scenario, and... stops. Stops everything. For a moment he can't move, can't breathe. He can't believe it.]

...Uncle Tello?

Zazie the Beast 🪳 Trigun STAMPEDE 🪳 Familiar 🪳 New Player

[wormswarm]

[ CW: Insects! Like, so... so many bugs. I have a permissions post here if you want to opt out or rein in the crawlies a bit! ]

Pirates of the Loreibbean

A newly arrived, white-haired teen walks oddly unbothered through the heart of the battlefield. Around them, the airship lurches and scream while cannon blasts rip the wood apart and people shout over the chaos. Yet they move through it all with eerie serenity, stepping over debris like it's just idle clutter on a hallway floor. They're busy experiencing something profound.

Not the battle, or the people. No.

The rain.

Their head tilts, rainwater slipping down their neck, seeping into the odd, somewhat segmented collar. Water clings to their pale lashes, green eyes dilated with awe. A droplet even hits the tip of their nose and stays there, like it doesn't want to fall.

Fascinating.

They've read about it, of course. Burrowed down to sunken ships, seen the data, the images, the ideas. Water from the sky. A miracle on their desert planet, where nothing grows but them.

(They've seen people kill each other for the right to a bucket. What chaos would flow if this happened there?)

They don't know the cause of the fighting - and more importantly, they don't care. Not until it becomes useful. Taking sides before understanding the tactical and ecological consequences would be inefficient. Wasteful. Besides, their kind has seen countless human conflicts, and they all taste the same. Blood, desperation, ego. There is nothing new here.

Except the rain.

The rest of the storm is familiar. They've seen wind tear settlements from the desert floor, watched heat lightning strike the sand and leave scars. Rain, on the other hand? Never.

Then a cannonball screams past their head, ripping a beam from the upper deck and spraying shrapnel across the planks. Zazie doesn't flinch. Instead they turn their head slowly, watching the enemy vessel through wet hair. There's a question buried in their mind; is this worth interfering in? Would tipping the balance one way or another gain them anything? Access? Leverage? Safety?

Their human form looks utterly useless right now. Unarmed. Unbothered. A child, maybe frozen and shellshocked from the battle. Maybe just deeply, deeply weird. But most humans see a small frame like theirs and come to help. Most humans have an instinct to protect their children. It's something easily exploited.

After all, their lanky ass is right in the line of fire. Drenched but thriving.

[nomansundertaker]

Rain is weird, a forced shower he didn't sign up for. Wolfwood understands it's some vital part of all the greenery and non-desert life in Folkmore. However, he's mostly tried to stay indoors during the rain, walking briskly from one location to another when he needs to go outside. So being transported to a ship flying through the sky in the middle of a storm earns a groan.

The fight is simpler conceptually. Don't die, and despite how things work in Folkmore, he doesn't have a beef with whoever is attacking. Knocking them out works. That's a valid reason not to man the cannons, right? He makes his way to the side of the ship where a hook holds the rail. Someone reaches to unhook it, but Wolfwood reaches out an arm to stop them. The enemy on the other side is mid-swing. To remove it would send the attacker plummeting down to the—oh fuck, he looked down—massive expanse of water below them.

The world spins, and Wolfwood has no time to consider it. The attacker's on board. Rather than attacking Wolfwood, they swing toward someone short. Wolfwood blocks the attack with the punisher and shoulders the force of the thunk against it. He turns back to assure the person he saved, only to recognize the damn bastard standing there.

"If you wanted someone to bash your head in, you only needed to ask," Wolfwood growls at Zazie. He steps away, not willing to stand between them and danger. He'd cross his arms, except there's still violence swirling around them.

Verso | Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 | Myth | TDM

[singanotherverso]

I. Pirates of the Loreibbean

[ Admittedly the tantalizing offer to get the hell out of his world was not one to be denied, although that didn’t fix those problems, well...well. There’s no guarantee he’d be able to anyway. He’s tired, he could use the respite.

To be thrown into a fight is not unheard of, at least these creature spirits don’t look like Nevrons? Not correctly anyway.

In this case, Verso is quick to try and help by summoning his sword to his hand which...admittedly does not work. His hand flicks twice as he tries to get it together and instead he’s quick to duck instead. ]

Not the warmest welcome I’ve ever had. [ He quips with a roguish smile and takes off below deck and hits the jackpot. The sword he pulls out of the pile is perfectly familiar. Ah, there it was. Back into the fray it is. ]

Fancy a duel then? [ Now that he’s properly armed – en garde! ]

II. Wildcard

[ Feel free to catch Verso pretty much anywhere in Folkmore. Once he docks in Never Fade he’ll be happy to wander about and explore this new world, such as it is, trying to take in whatever knowledge he can. ]

I.

[synchysis]

V looks over when someone talks about a duel. He's unsure if the call is to him. Their opponents are all spirits, and some look more human than others. V fights with Shadow—a large black jaguar demon—and Griffon—a dark blue hawk demon—at his side, so perhaps he's mistaken for their enemies? Enemies being a term only appropriate because they attempt to kill him. He has no other quarrel, but when challenged, one fights. Even if people supposedly come back from the dead. He's no plans on dying.

"My only quarrel is with being on this boat, so that any of this is my problem," V says as he swipes at a creature near the color of the ship itself. The distortion of its edges and Griffon's calls keep him on target. "So no, thank you. No duel."