changelinged: (Default)
Pixie Led Mods ([personal profile] changelinged) wrote in [community profile] pixieledmemes2025-05-16 12:28 am
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Test Drive Meme #3

TDM #3 - May/June 2025
🦋 Introduction

Welcome to the Pixie Led Test Drive Meme!

The prompts will always be game canon, provided both characters who participate in a thread are either already in the game, or get accepted in the next application round.

You do not need an invitation to join the Test Drive Meme, it's open for anyone!

Please indicate character name and canon in the subject line of your top-level. For current characters, you may also indicate your character's court.

For prospective players, Invites open on the 18th, Reserves on the 20th, and Applications on the 22nd. Thanks for checking us out and we hope you'll join us!

🦋 The Party

You wake up at a party.

You're not sure how, exactly, you got here. You may have just been walking in the woods or at a meeting for work or doing any other normal activity for you. But you know you weren't supposed to be at this party, you're fairly certain.

Anyone you ask about it will say the party is for you. You and the others also waking up and looking confused. Further questions will lead to the partygoers insisting you have something to eat. You're starving and others are eating the food without repercussion, so you figure there's no harm in a bite. You finish your portion.

It's another garden party near a large hedge maze in the middle of the night. With his penchant for games the Ruler of the Spring Court decided it would be nice to hold an actual game for all the Adopted present. None of that dreidel game a couple of parties ago. This time, he wants more spectacle with higher stakes. Forced to participate and host aspects of this gathering as well, the Ruler of the Dark Court wanted nothing to do with this, so he figured his participation in itself is for the party to happen at night, during his rule, when his mood is at its most pleasant.

Of course, there is no shortage of light sources such as candles and torches, much to the Earl's chagrin, as well as no shortage of food. This time, the fae decided to try their hand on some pasta. They heard it's a good delicacy from the mortal plane. Thing is, sauces look and smell bizarre. One's purple, while another's bright pink, and they taste fruity, as well as flowery, much like the cookies from the last gathering.

As the party winds down and everyone's eaten, a tall, stately woman stands up and speaks. You feel her voice more than hear it.

I am the Lawspeaker of the Fae, elected by Seelie and Unseelie alike, and you are all, now, subjects of Faerie. You cannot leave this realm once you have eaten our food, and even if you could, there is no saying how much time has passed back where you're from. Your loved ones are likely dead, your problems have likely played out. We require assistance in various matters, and each of you has been chosen for your talent and skill. You will be adopted by one of the Seelie or Unseelie Courts based on your strengths and personality. Your Court will decide what to do with you from there.

As suddenly as she stood, she sits back down.


🦋 Feeling on Hedge

So, what about this hedge maze that seems to have appeared out of nowhere and looming quite eerily beside this night's gathering? For one, peculiar noises can be heard whenever one's near its entrance. From the rustling of leaves to a woman crying, everything seems to be coming from inside.

Of course, the Adopted's participation is required and paramount. Anyone who refuses will be met with harsh penalties and consequences, whatever those may be. They also hint of a prize to anyone who comes out victorious on the other side. It's unclear what it is, though.

The fae know that while the Adopted have been very useful so far, they are also vulnerable and susceptible to fear, so to mitigate that, they have some colorful shots on a table marked LIQUID COURAGE near the entrance to the maze with such effects:

  • Gold: Essentially a strong drink that gives you profound energy for 24 hours.
  • Red: Downing this will make you feel warm like an aphrodisiac.
  • Blue: Basically functions like a normal tequila shot. Or three. Comes with a little bag of salt.

These shots are not compulsory for the Adopted to take, but they will be highly encouraged to do so before entering. Once inside, the rustling of leaves and the sounds of someone crying become louder and even more evident. There are also a few key things that seem to be very clear the longer an Adopted is within the maze's walls:

  • The maze is moving. How it's doing it, nobody knows. But it appears to be alive somehow, much like the castle grounds, so finding a clear pathway is almost impossible.
  • Whenever an Adopted turns right two consecutive times, they will see a more positive outcome from a terrible event in their lives. Lost someone? They're now here and alive. Gave up on a dream? You find yourself currently living it.
  • If an Adopted turns left two consecutive times, they will see someone, a family member or a friend who's still alive and had a deep impact on their lives, bleeding and dead on the ground.

It would be great if no one else can see an Adopted during their most vulnerable, but since the maze moves constantly, another Adopted or two might be able to see them trying to parse out what they're seeing, even if their fellow Adopted can't see it themselves.


🦋 Can't Unseelie It

CW: dismemberment, body horror, forced body transformations, mild gore, asphyxiation, drowning of children, death

The Spring King only wanted some good-natured fun within the maze, but unbeknownst to him, some Unseelie creatures and Unseelie magic have appeared inside, threatening the safety of the Adopted traversing every nook and cranny. Surely this will not have any lasting consequences between the relationship of the Seelie and Unseelie court rulers. Not at all.

A few of these Unseelie beings and Unseelie magic roaming around the hedge maze that the Adopted will have a chance to meet are as follows:

  • Manananggal: Capable of severing its torso from its legs, this vampiric creature usually preys on sleeping pregnant women and unborn babies. But not anymore. Due to magic put on it, this manananggal will strike anyone it comes across. Better pour salt on its severed lower torso once you find it, or else.
  • La Llorona: Remember that woman crying? Well, somewhere in the maze alongside the eerie sounds of water flowing, you'll come across a weeping woman cloaked in white with her back turned against you. Be careful not to approach her because once you do, she'll try to choke you to death, reminiscent of how she drowned her own children.
  • Jersey Devil: The first thing you'll hear once you turn is a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream then the sound of bat wings flapping. You better run as fast as you can to the other direction because this devil is out to attack anyone it sees on its path.
  • A fountain: How odd. Running from the jersey devil or the manananggal might have made you thirsty so perhaps there's no harm in drinking from it. But just coming in contact with its water will make any Adopted soon realize they have transformed into an Unseelie creature.

Fighting off these creatures might be best with a fellow Adopted. After all, there's power in numbers. Just be careful not to die within the hedge maze. There might be some dire consequences.


🦋 GEIS

You feel a vibration in your pocket sometime after the Lawspeaker addresses everyone. When you search for the source, you will pull out your Leaf, the device the Fae use to stay in touch with each other. Anyone who's used a smart phone will easily recognize how it works.

Greetings, Adopted. This is your Lawspeaker.

To be on theme with our festivities for tonight, we want to know a time in your life when you felt lost and wandering about. Perhaps the most compelling story will receive a reward from us.



navigation

lutin: (smile)

[personal profile] lutin 2025-06-04 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Eponine takes the bottle eagerly and swigs from it without further invitation. The whiskey burns her throat and makes her cough a little after, but she grins.

"I ain't never had such a fire, Nance. Perhaps it is not so in Paris, but we have brandy and it is much the same."

She takes another drink, slower this time, and holds it in her mouth to really taste it whilst Nancy goes to her wardrobe. She swallows hurriedly when Nancy produces the dress; she's on her feet and round to feel the hem of the old gown.

"She's a pretty gown, Nance. How'd you manage such a thing? And such a shawl as well. You were right lucky finding such things."

She laughs and goes back to her seat for another swig of the whiskey.

"Maybe I should have a red dress. Or blue. Pink? D'you think I could have a whole rainbow of colours? I'd be pretty then."

She touches her face self-consciously. "Nah. There ain't a need to lie. I know how I am now, but I tell you, I could have been pretty. I were a pretty child, everyone said so. If I had nice teeth and my hair all fixed and a bit more meat on me? Then I'd be pretty. Like you."
soulsighting: DNS (65)

[personal profile] soulsighting 2025-06-04 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
That's a surprise. Usually Lucien was much more pristine than this and they can't fathom what could possibly have them in this state. They haven't left the party at all, so they don't have any idea what was outside the castle walls, but they stop Lucien from trying to cause himself further harm. A tight grip still on his hand so that he doesn't keep trying to pry off that mask.

"What's the last thing you remember? Do you not remember coming to Faerie?"

For some weird reason, Lucien almost reminds them of a child, which makes them wonder if he should be treated as such. Either way, being in the middle of the party doesn't help. If anything it must be overwhelming.

So, with careful movements of their footsteps, Caelus begins to drag Lucien away from the large crowd of people, and over to the side where they can sit down. Although, Caelus doesn't seem to let go of Lucien and keeps them in a warming embrace to quell any fears that he might be left alone.

"Lucien is your name, yes."
ourtomorrow: ([02] profile)

[personal profile] ourtomorrow 2025-06-04 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
It is strange.

[ Ken can't help but feel out of his depth too. Frankly, right now, he's out of his height. ]

If it followed its own logic, that would help. But I haven't noticed patterns yet.....

[ Doesn't mean said patterns aren't there, though. There must be a meaning to each of the Fae's decisions! And he will find it. ]
ourtomorrow: ([02] digivice)

[personal profile] ourtomorrow 2025-06-04 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay.

[ Promises the one who didn't hit her face.

Right they head, waddling forth, intrepid! Ken keeps a claw on the right-hand hedge, too, tracing their route. ]
xploud: (139.)

[personal profile] xploud 2025-06-04 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Girl, you're going to poke someone's eye out with that fork and knife if you're not careful...

Katsuki's eyes narrow at the mention of the well. In another time, another place, he may have actually believed that everyone would have been happier if he simply disappeared, and moved on all too easily, and all too gladly. He wouldn't have even blamed them, really...because that loser is not someone worth missing, and Katsuki certainly is much, much happier without him. There are shadows of his presence that still remain, echoes that ring a little too loud from time to time, but for the most part...certain aspects of himself are better left behind.]


Good to know...

[So the beach doesn't even get any use? Lame. It'd be a good space to do some training, or even just enjoy a bit of fishing and swimming if the weather gets hot eno--oh, hello. He actually cocks his head to one side, brows lifting up when she reveals that dagger. Katsuki doesn't necessarily need weapons, his entire body is a weapon, but that doesn't mean he can't appreciate them. But just as fast as the look of appreciation and awe at the dagger appears, what she says next makes his face scrunch up face into that dark scowl all over again.]

...So it's just a fucking group chat and nothing else. [He rubs the space between his eyes, feeling a headache already. Katsuki and social media mix as well as oil and water.] Pass.
monochromous: (26')

[personal profile] monochromous 2025-06-04 11:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[So wrapped up in her own thoughts, lost in the beauty of this gorgeous fae garden, Alicia doesn't sense Yusuke's approach until the teenager's hand is already on her shoulder.

For a second, it feels like time stops for anyone but the two of them. The world loses its color, the soft, melodious music from the garden party seems to freeze on a beat, and Alicia's breath hitches in her throat, terror creeping up her throat. In a flash, she's spinning in place, a rapier appearing in gloved hand before she's moving quickly, the tip of her blade pointed at the boy's neck just as time seems to right itself.

And he is a boy - someone who can't possibly be much younger than how old Alicia appears to be, tall and quite elegant in appearance, with enough earnest passion in his expression that it gives the young woman pause, if only for a moment. But she jerks her chin up, trying to communicate that Yusuke should explain himself.]
Edited 2025-06-04 23:19 (UTC)
in_her_shadow: (most to grow)

[personal profile] in_her_shadow 2025-06-05 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ wear an eyepatch, you'll look cool

She pockets the dagger again, since she (hopefully) doesn't need it right now. Despite it being glowy, apparently it's not bright enough to light up underneath her sweater. ]


Yeah, and no one here usually has anything useful to say. Just the usual blah blah blah of 'they made a big mistake bringing me here, OooooOooo, I look weird now, someone pat me on the head and tell me I'm a good person, blah blah blah.'

[ Hm. Is there anything else to add? She thoughtfully taps the knife to her beak. ]

... Oh. Name's Lena. Though I'm sure you're already calling me some colorful nickname in your head.
in_her_shadow: (if i believe that's true)

[personal profile] in_her_shadow 2025-06-05 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ And so at the next right, Lena walks on in and...

abruptly stops. Her eyes widen, seeing something the worms don't. She suddenly grips her chest, shaking a bit, catching her breath.

She hears things they don't. Her mouth opens, but nothing comes out initially... it takes a try, and then she's reaching out to an empty space. ]


... She's... she's not really here, is she...?
amurderofcrow: (goro005-pixiv-user-7985547)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Fair enough."

At least they both know that to be the truth.

"Walk with me. It'll do neither of us any good if we linger within this maze for much longer."
deprime: commission - DNT (pic#17877899)

[personal profile] deprime 2025-06-05 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
It always feels like it is, and some of it might be, but it's never right about everything.

Mine? Well, it likes to remind me that I've never done anything that's made a real impact on anything, that I've never made something that really helped people. And most days, I know that isn't true, but that doesn't stop the voice from trying to convince me otherwise.
amurderofcrow: (pic#17453366)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 12:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Hm, Akechi peers around them, stepping away from where Ren's body had been, but everything reads annoyingly normal.]

No. We both came from that direction though - [He jerks his chin towards the way Caduceus had entered the scene.] - So let's start off this way and see where we end up next.
toothaches: (i dont follow)

Party

[personal profile] toothaches 2025-06-05 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
Maurice has mixed feelings about these parties. He barely remembers the one where showed up. Faces and actions blend together in his mind with the music and the alcohol. He was pretty sure he got hit on a couple times.

But now, he's seen this party a few times. There's no danger in eating the food for him now. He can't get into much more trouble, so he thinks. So he indulges here and there, just to see if the fairies have figured out how to make a got dam burger. They haven't.

He's standing near to Claudia when she speaks to herself over her cake. He doesn't mean to butt in because he's been having a lot of conversations with himself that he'd rather nobody overhear, but he is a: drunk, and b: anxious. There is a scary maze the Fair Folk are urging them to enter and he is seeing just how long he can not do that before somebody does something about it. Never has he been more thankful to be forgetable.

So he opens with, "That don't taste like flowers, does it?"
coolcustomer: ([noir] don't call me daughter)

[personal profile] coolcustomer 2025-06-05 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
"That's true enough." The vision might be gone - for now - but there's nothing saying it won't come back, or they won't be subjected to taunts of happier times that never were.

To say nothing of the actual monsters roaming this thing like the damned Reaper.
amurderofcrow: (178)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
[oh.

well. fuck.]


Yes yes, I'm well aware of how wonderful he is. [Though Akechi says it with the most sarcastic little roll of the eyes.] But how do you know Ren?
amurderofcrow: (pic#17256099)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Simply put? Yes."

No beating around the bush here, bestie.

"That being said, you're hardly the first to come in without an understanding of this land's basic tech. Perhaps you can find some community with the handful of others here."
foraride: (06)

[personal profile] foraride 2025-06-05 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
It's moving.

[ And Kiriya nods his head (carefully, in deference to his passengers) towards where the slightest edge of a path seems to be closing off. ]

If there's any kind of logic to it, I haven't seen it. [ Granted he hasn't been paying all that much attention either. Bigger things to worry about, at present. ]
maellum: (pic#17882533)

[personal profile] maellum 2025-06-05 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[When she feels Alicia plant herself to the spot, Maelle turns to look at her with confusion.]

... do you not want to see him?

[Family is... complicated.]
tillimgone: (rosebursts14)

So sorry I am so late with this, it's been a rough couple weeks.

[personal profile] tillimgone 2025-06-05 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
[Till watches with wide eyes as the creature gets pinned, how it thrashes and struggles. It's kind of really fucked up, but that's okay, at least it's not trying to kill them both anymore.

Blinking at the strange person(?), he nods like that's answer and lifts his arm to check what happened, still a bit too shocked to feel the pain keenly. Pulling off his jacket, he rolls up his sleeve and look. There on his arm are some gouge marks where claws sunk in and a couple minor scratches that barely bleed nearby them.

They bleed freely , slowly turning his pale skin crimson.
]

I've had worse... you got a way to treat it or should I just suck it up?

[Honestly, he could walk it off, find a way out, get treated after.]
amurderofcrow: (d006)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Wise words. I don't doubt that we'll be able to unravel all of their secrets with enough work. And the very moment that I do, I'll use that information to get me and mine home.

viennoiseries: (Crystal Crush)

[personal profile] viennoiseries 2025-06-05 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
The joke is like a startling jolt, grounding her from the thousand cutting feelings Lune has to contend with. It has her pausing in a stride, breathing out the sort of laugh that advertises just how bad the joke that prompts it actually is.

"What, exactly, are you basing that on?"

Gustave of all people should understand that there should be a logical explanation.
dessendre: (pic#17850580)

[personal profile] dessendre 2025-06-05 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her sister's little show did earn a snort from Clea. In truth, she couldn't exactly refute Alicia's assertion that no immediate threats existed in that moment. But that didn't mean the potential wasn't lurking there, a constant, ever-present hulking thing that loomed all around them. She would root out every last one of them and cut off their arms before any thought to reach toward her family.

The darkness in Clea lifted when Alicia laughed, though, and she watched, both pleased and smug to find her instincts had been correct. It wasn't surprising how quickly her sister took to the technology, but there was still pride glinting in Clea's gaze. ]
Careful, [ she added, though her voice was warmer. ] It's quite delicate — [ And then the camera is being turned toward her, and she's surprised, yet again, that Alicia would even want something like that in the first place.

She's still as stone when her sister crowds closer, not breathing at all as she stares down at an image she doesn't recognize. It feels like an age before Clea clears her throat. ]
You should take one of both of us. [ Is it wise? No. But she wants this. And that, perhaps, is the most frightening thing of all. ]
tillimgone: (120)

So sorry I am so late with this, it's been a rough couple weeks.

[personal profile] tillimgone 2025-06-05 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
[He clutches her closer when the man says he basically can't help. It fills him with despair, a broken sound escaping his throat.

But then it's followed up with confusion - angry confusion.
]

Don't fuck around! I kn-.... I know she's dead but you don't have to act like she's not even here. Fuck.. she was always supposed to survive...
amurderofcrow: (pic#17288651)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Now that is an even stranger question, but Akechi hardly sees a reason to not answer.]

I can't say with total certainty, but I met a man named Fauchelevent who must have been in his sixties. As far as adopted go, he was the oldest I've seen.
amurderofcrow: (goro048-pixiv-user-18927610)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2025-06-05 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[Is he proud of that answer? Absolutely.]

Good. Go for the eyes, make him regret even looking your way.

[Narciso would deserve every second of it.]

Not exactly. I also had to give up a particular memory of mine, but it was a kinder trade off than anything the other court rulers were offering, so I took it.
lementeur: (030)

[personal profile] lementeur 2025-06-05 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
[ A bit of a delay before he manages a response. ]

They were taken down.

Unfortunately, freedom had consequences. And here we are.