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July 2023 Test Drive Meme
July 2023 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: Reality shifting, environmental dangers.
Star Children new and old wake up in an extremely old building—or an incomplete one, it's hard to tell for sure. Star Children are solid and real and barefoot, but the building itself fades in and out of existence, threatening to abandon their occupants to the outside environment if they're lucky or nothing at all if they're not. Belongings are sparse, too ephemeral to be of any use. Not that shoes exist for even a moment.
Whether it's a home or an office, a train station or a school, what's certain is that it's not a place to stay. Because it whispers admonishments to leave, to pick up the pace, and promises that there is somewhere to go. Within minutes, the structure is gone, and Star Children must make their way across shifting jumbled landscapes toward Folkmore proper. They could travel across water, through tunnels, or amidst any type of land or space imaginable. The one constant is that it's not reliably there and thus difficult to navigate.
Should a Star Child get into a spot of danger, the land hums slightly and guides another Star Child to the person in question. The new Star Child is the only aide proffered, and they must work together to solve whatever conundrum is before them.
Star Children new and old wake up in an extremely old building—or an incomplete one, it's hard to tell for sure. Star Children are solid and real and barefoot, but the building itself fades in and out of existence, threatening to abandon their occupants to the outside environment if they're lucky or nothing at all if they're not. Belongings are sparse, too ephemeral to be of any use. Not that shoes exist for even a moment.
Whether it's a home or an office, a train station or a school, what's certain is that it's not a place to stay. Because it whispers admonishments to leave, to pick up the pace, and promises that there is somewhere to go. Within minutes, the structure is gone, and Star Children must make their way across shifting jumbled landscapes toward Folkmore proper. They could travel across water, through tunnels, or amidst any type of land or space imaginable. The one constant is that it's not reliably there and thus difficult to navigate.
Should a Star Child get into a spot of danger, the land hums slightly and guides another Star Child to the person in question. The new Star Child is the only aide proffered, and they must work together to solve whatever conundrum is before them.
Content Warnings: Liminal space, abandoned building, service industry.
Beach Day
Beach Day
It's difficult to tell exactly when Star Children are back on terra firma. The air is foggy and damp, obscuring vision similarly to reality coming in and out. However, all Star Children who get out find themselves on a beach of wet sand. Keep marching onward, and trees form a skeletal border growing dark shadows stretching further into their depths. Those who have been exiled before can feel a path through the trees should they wish to venture further into Exile. Those who have never been exiled can feel resentment and the promise of further difficulty.No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem
Like Baba Yaga, Exile seems to have walked over into new territory: a beach. Yes, the beach itself is in Exile and heavy with the weight of magic. It extends in either direction, bordering the long expanse of tenuous reality that laps against it. Star Children can do as they wish on the beach: build a sand castle, run or slide down dunes, or soak in the magic (the sun is hiding). And hey, at least no sand is getting in anyone's shoes—as there aren't any.
For those who walk the shore and explore the beach, they can eventually catch sight of a fading sign reading Vasilisa's swinging in a faint wind from a wooden post. Coming closer, there's faint signs of a fence having lived there back in the day. Lone picket teeth tilt haphazardly around a yard with weather worn beach furniture. Chairs hunch around tables flashing their back legs in the air for all the world to see. A stone path, half buried under sand, weaves between them toward the lone building on these empty shores.
The building clearly used to have bright colors some time, but it's faded and cracked to show the wood beneath. A covered porch crowds with tables for a break from the sun weakly illuminating the foggy scene. The front door creaks but opens to an empty host station and further seating within the beachfront restaurant. A giant chalkboard taller than most humans and many times wider looms over one side between two windows. Menu is written in flowing script atop the chalkboard, and several thick pieces of chalk rest on the ledge before it. All it needs is to be filled in.
No spirits greet anyone or man the kitchen. It's empty, though well stocked with pots and pans, mixing bowls and measuring cups, shelf stable ingredients and fresh ones. None of the food is rotten or bad. It's simply waiting. The only way for the restaurant to run is for Star Children to step up and run it. Develop a menu, cook dishes, seat guests, take orders, clear dishes, wash dishes… There's no shortage of ways to help out.
So come and enjoy the restaurant, whether to work in it or to enjoy the labors of those who do. Whoever helps the restaurant in any capacity will find, when they take a moment's break, a small chest containing an item from your homeworld. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
And shoes.
Shino Inuzuka | Hakkenden | Undetermined Role
..::|| Feed Your Head ||::..
Shino is certainly no stranger to otherworldly beings. And, curious as he ever is, he followed the Fox without inhibition. But...
He looks at his arm. Murasame didn't come. The Fox pulled just him away. He knows a part of him remains home, but he's sure he'd receive a scolding for just going off on his own like this, to another world, following something that could have been dangerous. That is, if anyone back home knew what was going on. Something something a part of himself is still back at home.
He starts coughing as he sits up. That was a feeling he didn't miss. Without Murasame, he supposes his health is what it once was again. Will he die here? It would be rather stupid for a God to pull him here just to die, right?
...Or maybe not. He's actually not sure. And those voices telling him to leave might be a strong indicator that maybe he was just brought here to die. He decides it's a good idea to actually get up and start trying to make his way to... wherever. He has no idea where he's going.
Once the old building fades, he's left standing near what appears to be a not at all safe-looking bridge.
Really? Seriously? He has to cross this? And it's cold. But looking back tells him there's not much else place to go except forward.
No Murasame, no Sousuke. And the cold air is starting to hurt his lungs, making him cough again. Okay. He doesn't want to die here, so forward it is. Taking a careful step and... it holds his weight. He approaches the next few steps just as carefully. Huh, the wood is more stable than it looks. So he inevitably gets overconfident and starts making strides to the other side. Only for a step to fail and a piece of the bridge gives out beneath him.
He grips to what he can, but the splintered wood hurts his hands. Like Hell he's gonna let go; that water is cold, and with his illness he's sure that would be a death sentence. Isn't it too early in this adventure to be stuck like this.
"Murasa-" He was going to ask for help, for his companion to go get Sousuke. But... right. He's not here. He's alone, like this. This is so stupid.
He inhales as much as he can, cold air on top of his illness making it difficult as he tries not to cough before yelling out:
"Hey! Is anybody there?! I need help!"
And he coughs hard and loud after. Please help, he doesn't want to die here.
..::|| No (Yes) Problems ||::..
Warm, safe land! At last!
...Nevermind. There's a feeling that there's more trouble to be had. He wants to go home, now. Can he opt out of this adventure? He swears he'll be better behaved.
No he won't. Sorry, Sousuke. Seriously, what does a guy have to do to catch a break here.But, well, it's the beach, and it's warm. And when nothing immediately tries to eat him, he supposes he can get along for now. So he'll take a stroll while he tries to figure out what do with himself. Finding a place to stay might be a start.
He finds his way to the run down Vasilisa's, looking at all the worn work that has clearly been long forgotten. He sees the menu, with pieces of chalk. Ah!
He picks up one of the pieces. If the menu isn't going to be filled out, he might as well put whatever he wants on it.
Meat
Sukiyaki
Shabu-Shabu
Oh, how he wishes he could have some of these right now. His stomach even growls at the thought. He sighs. Survival has to come first. When he goes home, he's gonna demand some serious food. He'll eat each restaurant out of business if he has to.
He continues his tour for the moment; maybe he can rest here for the night or something. And seeing all the pots, pans, and cooking supplies, Hamaji would be having a (very lethal) field day in here. He can be grateful for that much, at least, for not having to eat Hajami's food.
Wait... is there food on these shelves? He picks up a few and looks at them. None of them seem at all spoiled. But isn't this place old and abandoned? Or is someone else here? Maybe this is their food stash.
"Hello?" He looks around, trying to find anybody at all. "Will you share your food?"
Look, he's definitely more interested in food than friends right now. This is an awful lot of food, though. How does one hoard so much?
Feed your head
"Hold on, I'm coming." Ahsoka's voice is calm and collected, trying to help instill that in the trapped person.
With that, she makes her way onto the bridge. It might be dilapidated and about to fall apart, but it's wide enough that Ahsoka doesn't struggle with keeping her balance. Her steps are quick and certain, making her journey to him short. Once there, she holds out a hand for him to take.
"Come on, let's get across together."
Sorry for the delay, got eated by real life
This cold air sucks. He wants to go home. All he can think is how much he wouldn't be stuck like this if he even had Murasame here.
"Thank you." He's at least grateful for the help. He's... pretty sure he would have almost definitely died without someone there. "I don't know my way around."
Not that it would help anyways. He's a pro at getting lost. Not that you needed to know directions when you had two beings always willing to pick you up and take you home.
"Do you know of a place that's warm?"
He's not been out here terribly long. But all that screaming and coughing, he's sure it's taking its toll.
no worries! I'm glad to see Shino.
He appears to be sick, and this winter landscape certainly isn't helping.
"You're welcome." It's a good thing that her path managed to lead her to this place, or he would have been waiting a lot longer. "Neither do I, this place can change between steps."
Even with that, Ahsoka can at least lead them in a direction that's safer than this.
"No, but we can find one. Being out in this weather with no shoes isn't good for either of us."
Especially since he seems sick. She doesn't know if this is a temporary illness or a chronic one, but Ahsoka is worried he'll get worse.
Yay~ Another Hakkenden fan?
This is fine. He's used to weird adversity. Still sucks, but he's been through worse. Although, he had been able to rely on power all those other times. And his lungs make him cough again, as if to remind him of how weak he is without him right now.
He doesn't want to die. Not before he can go home and see the others again. Which means dying here can't be an option.
"Let's go, then. Before it gets colder."
He doesn't know what the day cycle is like here, but if it gets dark, it'll be even worse for them. All they have to do is find a place to stay. With any luck, there'll be other people and they can get their bearings together.
"I'm Shino."
Might as well make conversation to keep them distracted from the cold while they look.
no (yes) problems
He looks around, taking in the seating, the host stand, the menu.
"Meat?" He starts at the sound of the voice. "My food?" He gave a look around the establishment again, his lavender eyes focusing more this time. "This place is deserted, isn't it?"
Sorry for the delay, got eated by real life
He's kind of surprised by it, to be honest. But he beams brightly.
"But hey, food! I'm sure they won't mind if we have some."
That's a big assumption to be making. But if it's not Shino's food, and it's not this guy's food. He's just going to help himself to some. Who needs enough food to feed an army?
♥ it happens to the best of us: case in point >.>
"I believe this place is an eatery of some kind. Not an army of soldiers, then, but one of patrons."
Fellow victims of the brain-eating world
"Yea, I guess that makes sense. I did write on that chalkboard a bit ago."
But even then. As he bites into some bread, he thinks some more.
"But this place sure is run down. Even if you have fresh food, how is anyone expected to eat here?"
no subject
Feed Your Head
"Kelp!" He greeted with a raised hand, a little hello. Toge turned his attention to the weird bridge.
Then, he held out his hand to the guy. "Tuna." He wanted him to take his hand.
no subject
What is this guy on about?
"I... I don't have any tuna."
This guy doesn't seem like a spirit, but there's definitely something coming off of him. He's just not sure what yet.
Whatever; before this guy changes his mind, he's going to grab Toge's hand.
He breathes heavily and coughs as he tries to catch his breath between the cold and getting pulled back up. He doesn't feel well, this cold is only making it worse. A doctor, medicine, even someplace warm would be great right now.
no subject
He stepped forward to the bridge and held on firmly. "Mentaiko." He said in a tone that suggested he was trying to be encouraging. Shino was going to be okay, he could do this.
It was obvious once Toge was ahead of him that he had a tail, thanks to being a familiar. It was poofy and sandy-coloured and kind of dog-like, even though he's specifically a tanuki.
no subject
Shino's not a child. Despite his appearance. But that tail was cute. And he wanted to pet Toge. For comfort. Because it reminds him of Sousuke back home. Yea, that's it. It's totally not because he's a child. Because he's not.
And whether or not Toge's some sort of spirit-possessed person or something, Shino's been in enough weird circumstances in his life, and he's used to unusual individuals being something of a help. So he'll absolutely follow this food-naming doggish-person. Following things recently hasn't gotten him in any trouble so far.
Clearly, Shino can't learn his lessons.Oh! Maybe Toge's like one of the fox spirits like that person Hamaji stayed with?
"Do you have a master that you're taking me to?"
Maybe master wasn't quite the right word. But his personal experience leads him to that selection.
no subject
The question though caused him to look over his shoulder. A master? Really?
Although he could be paired with a Legend or a Myth or more than one, Toge was not. He hadn't determined if such a bond would be safe or not. "Fish flakes." He responded, shaking his head. There was no master to speak of.
He did however navigate them across the bridge at least.
no subject
If Shino didn't know any better. He'd think he'd smacked his head pretty hard somewhere. Actually, now that he thinks about it, he rubs his head to look for a bump, and pinches his arm for good measure. Just in case this is a weird dream.
Nothing.
Okay, now that he's sure he's awake and not delirious, he can try to figure out what's going on.
No to the master question. And a strange language, yet with words he knew.
Time to test the waters.
"Can you understand me?"
He assumes, so. But he's seeking out something specific. And he's hoping it works.
no subject
In response to the question he nodded. "Salmon."
There was no problem with his understanding, at least.
no subject
Time for the ultimate test for this progress.
"Did the Fox God bring you here, too?"
Salmon? Fish Flakes? An Entirely different answer? If he can find the basics, he can learn, he thinks. And if Toge can understand him, he just needs to understand Toge back. He doesn't have to use the same words, just understand their meaning.
no subject
Toge could be a troll and throw him a curve ball, but he wasn't going to be so mean. He had only just arrived, after all.
He's quite amused at the fact, but really, his cipher is easy, it's only eleven words or so.
no subject
The victory pose catches his lungs, though, and he covers his mouth as he coughs again.
Right. He's sick. Curse that Fox for not bringing Murasame with him. Seriously.
Okay, next question.
"Have you been here a while? Do you know someplace warm we can go?"
Warm is only a start. He really... should probably see a doctor. But the doctors back home couldn't do anything for him, either. So, maybe there's no hope in that anyway.
no subject
He didn't break his stride as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a bottle of cough syrup before holding it out to Shino. It was sealed, he hadn't used it. Did he want that? It might help.
no subject
A few blinks as he looks at the bottle before him.
"Medicine?" A few more seconds pass to process. And then it sinks in. "Medicine!"
Yes, please! Even if it's just to curb a stupid cough. He's quick to take it and pour a dose, gulping it down. And...
"Bllllleeeeghhhhh...." He's lucky it went down his throat before he could process the taste, else it would have gone to waste. Excuse him while he crouches down and just... eats some snow. Please, he's gotta get that taste out. He doesn't want to walk around for the next however-long with that flavour lingering.
But still, he minds the bottle, and closes it up properly before giving it back. In his other hand, he brushes snow acrost his tongue like he's trying to scrape it off.
If nothing else, he's at least forgetting to cough. Though he wonders if it was worth the grossness. (It is, he just needs to stop being dramatic first).
"Thank you..." he manages to mumble out. He knows Toge's a lifesaver. Really. Just why does this stuff taste so bad? clearly someone wants to torture little kids.
no subject
Shino could keep it, he could always get some more.
Toge considered their options. If they kept walking they would get out of the area, that was for sure. It was probably a trial of some kind though, so it probably wouldn't be that easy.
It would be alright, he could defend Shino if it became necessary.