June-July 2025 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

June-July 2025 TDM

Introduction

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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

[notapancake]

[Ah, this is familiar. And he hates it, but at least this Leo isn't trying to drag him to safety, away from the Krang. He just looks at Leo, so tired looking and he just growls a bit weakly.]

No. I can keep going, Leonardo. [He can't, but he way too stubborn about this.]

[neonleon]

Okay? Great, have fun because I don't wanna.

[If this Donnie needed any proof this Leo is still a teenager, this was it. He's lost so much already and done so much that he just wants to leave while he can.

Leo gives older Donnie one more look before shrugging and swiping his blade in the air to open a portal. The base of the lighthouse is right on the other side waiting as he steps through.]

[notapancake]

[Goddammit, he has a feeling that this is going south and really why does he care? This is just a young version of his brother who is very much acting off, and maybe it's because of him. Maybe not. He doesn't know so, so he just sighs and is following Leo through the damned portal, if he isn't too late to, that is.]

[neonleon]

[Probably a testament of how not-seriously-mad he is, Leo does leave it open on purpose, only making sure Donnie came through before letting it close. Not that he minds being on floating ships and all, but he is happy to be on solid ground for conversations like this. Too many variables.]

So you just got here, what hasn't been answered yet?

[notapancake]

I listened to the Fox. [Because he feels like that might have been an issue with many other turtles before him.]

I've met a few others before you showed up, including Junior. So I don't need to know who is or isn't here.

[And his eyes fall onto Leo's metallic hand, but he says nothing.]

[neonleon]

Great.

[That sounded angrier than he meant it. But he catches Donnie looking at his hand and clenches it into a loose fist.]

Me and Don have been here the longest, what else do you need to know?

[notapancake]

[Oh, he gets that anger, and he doesn't feel like it's misplaced, as he brings a hand up to rub the back of his head.]

I see, well... That's unfortunate to know about you two?

[And well... shit, now what.]

... sorry for earlier. I had, expectations of you that I shouldn't have. You're not my brother after all.

[neonleon]

[Well that sparks something else. Something hot and angry swelling in his chest, like wounded pride but worse.]

What's that supposed to mean?

[notapancake]

[Ouuugh boy, he is so stepping into it here isn't he?]

It means I shouldn't be treating you the same. For one, you don't know everything that happened between us so me getting mad at you for that is on me.

Two, you're a kid. You don't need to be dealing with my problems.

[He's not sure if this is the right thing to say, but dammit he'll say it.]

[neonleon]

[You know? Leo is outwardly a little disarmed hearing what amounts to a real apology. Emotional maturity? Understanding? What the fuck is this.

But then he says that second part and it has Leo's hackles raising. You're a kid. A kid who was alone in a secret government facility being threatened with experimentation before his twin showed up. A kid who was alone with his brother and mutant boyfriend here before Raph and Casey and April and Draxum and Mikey showed up. A kid who desperately wishes the Fox would bring their father here instead of all these alternate universe versions of his brothers because he hasn't seen home in years now. Who has watched everyone around him die and handled the aftermath over and over.

A kid. Right.]

You're right, I've got my own problems to deal with. So stop taking whatever stupid argument you have with your twin out on me, I already have to deal with feuds with my own brother.

[notapancake]

[Too bad Donnie isn't a mind reader, he is completely clueless about everything that has happened to Leo up to this point about Leo wants and needs. He just has a hunch he's making this worse, he stops himself from saying "I know" to Leo saying he has his own issues with his own Donatello.

Instead, he just lets out a frustrated sigh.]

Then I'll leave you alone... Thank you for the help on the ship.

[neonleon]

...You're from CJ's timeline, yeah?

[He barely waits for an answer.]

You should go find him. He'll be thrilled.

[notapancake]

Sigh.

... I saw him earlier. He was... More concerned about me then thrilled?

[Maybe a little bitterness in him saying that though that he didn't mean to let slip through.]

[neonleon]

Probably because you look like death warmed over. [Ever tactful.]

Let him know you aren't dying and he'll perk right up.

[notapancake]

Yes, well. Dying of a Krang Infection tends to do that to a turtle.

[Ah, whoops. Didn't mean to let that slip, but it's out there now.]

Thing is, until I can do some tests? I might still be. [He doesn't trust the Fox one bit.]

[neonleon]

[Oh that's new information, he'll be filing that away for now without much outward reaction.]

Then you'll be happy to know my brother's got a whole "secret" lab set up [Emphasis on 'secret', meaning Leo knows exactly where it is and how to get in] if you wanted to do that.

[notapancake]

[Honestly the lack of response doesn't surprise him. If Leo is anything like his brother, he'll think on it and decide in his own way how to deal with it.]

Ha! If he's anything like me, he'd hate having me in his space. [Ah yes, remembering the time he made his brothers as smart as him and how insufferable they were. Makes one realize they're their own worse company.] I've worked with less, Leonardo, I'll figure something out myself.

[neonleon]

Just offering options. Good to know you in any universe any age is annoyingly against help.

[He digs out his relic to check something, type off a message while he talks.]

Offer to answer questions still stands. [As frustrated as he is... look, he doesn't wanna leave a possibly sick and dying guy out here on his own, especially his brother.]

[notapancake]

It's not helping to be fussed over and treated like I'm going to break, Leo.

[Ah, shit. Letting that slip out, urgh. As to questions, he just has one.]

Which way to anything remotely resembling civilization?

[neonleon]

[Donatello lets that slip and Leo just looks at him over his shoulder without much reaction.

He shrugs and looks around to get his bearings. And concludes yeah this is out in the middle of fucking nowhere. He grabs a blade again and swipes open another portal.]

Through there, Epiphany. As close to a Manhattan city we've got here, you don't have to hide or anything.

[notapancake]

[Honestly Leo's lack of reaction is... Nice? Honestly it beats how his own brother and Casey acted. He looks at the portal that Leo makes.]

Good to know... thank you, again. And goodbye.

[He did mean it when he said he'd leave Leo alone after this, as he goes to go through the portal. Sure it's been years since he's been through one of Leo's portals, but he didn't even think of it being an issue earlier or now.]

[neonleon]

[Leo watches him go through, sighs a little in relief that he took the offer.

But he keeps staring at the portal and groans. If anything happens to him and Leo was the last one to see him, Casey might actually kill him. UGGGHHHHHHHHHH also he won't admit it out loud but he's a little worried himself. He already watched his own twin die where Leo couldn't reach, seeing an older version of him so... bad admittedly has him worried.

But he's mostly worried about the Casey part.

Leo follows after him.]

You still like mostly flavorless food?

[notapancake]

[Leo wtf, he kind of got the feeling the Leo wanted nothing to do with him? So the teenager going through the portal after him? Unexpected. He levels a flat look at Leo asking that.]

You don't really get to be picky in the apocalypse, Leo.

[Also pretty sure if he did eat anything too hearty, he'd be sick... Moreso than he already seems to be.]

[neonleon]

Just checking.

C'mon. [Sorry, he's getting you to a soup vender. There are at least a couple trucks around with bread bowls and hearty soups and stews.]

Knowing you, you probably don't have enough Lore yet to get it so let's go.

[notapancake]

... At least you being confusing is a constant, no matter your age.

[But since he doesn't exactly know where everything is, he will follow Leo. Although now that they're somewhere safer? He is very much letting how worn out he is show.]