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pixieledmemes2025-05-16 12:28 am
Test Drive Meme #3
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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.
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.
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.
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.
no subject
Something like that. Mostly, we've puzzled out that newcomers like yourself are only drawn here during parties like this. My companions and I attend only in case others from home decide to show up. Otherwise, I'd avoid them completely. Nothing good has ever come out of them.
[Akechi can go down the list of all the Bullshit that he's been through during these parties (even if 99% of it was started by him).]
no subject
Only slightly paler, he clears his throat and shifts his weight. ]
Does that mean nobody's succeeded in escaping? Has anyone managed to fight against those in charge? It's hard to imagine everyone just...going along with this.
no subject
I have. I'm quite capable in combat, experienced with blades and pistols and, to an extent, magic. But I was fully unable to touch the Duchess.
[It doesn't bring him as much shame or fury to talk about that first day here in this place as it once did. Mostly he's just fucking annoyed.]
I'm not saying it's impossible, but I believe any attempt at directly fighting her or the others will go just as badly. We need a different approach.
no subject
Are there limitations?
He'll need to save some questions in his back pocket for later. ]
A less direct approach, then.
[ Verso is already outmatched on nearly every level simply due to his ignorance. It's not a welcome state, though one might call it karmic in some regard. ]
Just how many others are there? In charge of this place?
no subject
[Just a little helpful (?) advice.]
There's eight, one for each court, four Seelie and four Unseelie.
no subject
Eight? That's...a lot to go up against at once. His grimace is loud compared to his more hushed voice.
It does sound better to go about things more covertly. ]
I don't suppose they all see eye to eye on how to keep control here?
no subject
Their relationships with one another seem complicated. They've ruled together for centuries at this point, so clearly there's history none of us have been granted access to, but for being immortal, they certainly seem to lean towards the dramatic. I imagine, out of our sight, they squabble and fight and draw lines between their factions as easily as anything. We may be able to use that to our advantage, if we can turn them on one another.
no subject
Hm. Sounds a bit like family.
[ Verso may know a little bit about immortal families, though these fae have had even longer to find things to squabble about. It may also make them more difficult to separate, without knowing the right weaknesses. ]
One of them has to think they're in control of everything, right? More than the others? Finds ways to make people fall in line?
no subject
[Akechi has the opposite of an immortal family.]
My best bet would be the king.
Even if the others never considered him as much, that man is the living embodiment of narcissism, so I'm certain he'd think of himself as the ruler over all of them.
no subject
On hearing about a king, Verso tries not to roll his eyes. It's not very successful, but then again he's not trying very hard. The writing is on the tin. Of course, there would be a king. There's a duchess! He can do the math on the rest. ]
Is he your court ruler, then? Or would that be the Duchess?
no subject
[And it annoys Akechi to no end that his shoulders straighten as he speaks the woman's title, as if there's some pride within him at being hers. Gross.]
Of all the court rulers, I find her to be the least irritating, though only slightly. The King, however, is the worst by far.
no subject
Any rhyme or reason to how they choose? Or is it just a gamble.
[ He sighs, then shakes his head. Forget it, all the options are terrible. ]
You know what, nevermind. It doesn't matter. It sounds like the King is the key to disrupting things around here. If he were gone, no doubt someone else would scramble for the crown, no?
no subject
While I lack conclusive evidence, it's certainly what I'd assume would happen. What we don't know is how the court rulers even inherent their title, if their powers are why they're given the position or if the position comes with power. There's barely anything in the library that goes into the finer details on how the court was founded.
no subject
[ That would be too easy. ]
Sounds as though you've done your research, though.
[ A pause of consideration. It's not exactly uncommon to find teenagers forced to mature quickly where he's from, but he still has to wonder just how many the fae brought here, and why. ]
How old are you?
no subject
[Just, in the case of the fae, it's taking longer than he'd like to admit.]
Eighteen. [a little narrow of his eyes.] Why?
no subject
With a shrug bordering nonchalant, he shakes his head dismissively. ]
Only curious about the types of people these fae like to bring here, young and old alike. Seems like you've been through a lot already, for your age.
[ Again, not uncommon, but worth noting. Most people in Lumiére would be accustomed to loss, but not everybody would have the fortitude to go stabbing fae. The sort willing to go on Expeditions were usually very...unique. ]
...Who would you say is the oldest...'Adopted', that you know here?
no subject
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.
no subject
But some things, like beings playing at gods, whether benevolent or malevolent, never change. ]
And the youngest? They haven't taken children, have they?
no subject
[The youngest? Now that has been considerably less noticeable to the teenager. He's so used to seeing his friends as some of the younger ones here, he hasn't really stopped to consider anyone else's age.]
Fifteen is the youngest I know for certain, but as far as I'm aware, I haven't seen any children wandering around myself. Everyone has been at least old enough to care for themselves.