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pixieledmemes2025-05-15 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.
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[ Gotta learn what NOT to do so she can avoid the same fate. ]
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Something like that.
We didn't want people eating the party food. So we wrecked it.
[ Wormmon had felt, briefly, like he was entering his Cool Rebel Era. That feeling lasted right until Ken-chan grew mandibles. ]
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... Here's hoping it's not permanent. But, yeah, not one of your best ideas. Can't imagine what you THOUGHT was going to happen.
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Ken-chan was just trying to help.
-It's okay, Wormmon.
[ Focus. He can beat himself up later. He knows it was worthless, useless. That he didn't save anybody, not at the party.
Except it wasn't just about the party. ]
Learning what would happen was the point. And...
[ He looks down at his hands, except he hasn't got hands. Just claws, and lots of them. ]
I'd rather it be me than someone else.
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[ She points at Wormmon, in case it wasn't obvious. ]
Not everyone here came with someone from their world. But you did, and right now, he can barely protect himself from dandruff-clones.
[ The Narciso, as a reminder. ]
When you're putting yourself in danger, that means there won't be anyone to protect him.
[ Ignoring the fact that she literally did just that when they met, because it doesn't count!!! ]
is it self-indulgent to hope that she's there when wormmon becomes Giant Badass Bug someday
.....I'm sorry.
[ Wormmon leans on Ken-chan, a reassuring presence. He feels bad, too. He's the one making Ken-chan worry! ]
It's okay. I'll get tougher too. No matter what, I'll protect you, Ken-chan.
i need this to happen 110%
... Well, what do I know. I'm just the ne'er do well teenage rebel. Not exactly the paradigm of wisdom.
You two going inside the maze or what?
RUBS HANDS TOGETHER. https://product-images.tcgplayer.com/247813.jpg
We are. I don't think any of us are being given a choice.
You're coming too, right?
[ Wormmon is going to leave it up to Ken to invite her along, but he's not very subtle in his hope. Not even because he wants a protector! But because she wouldn't say those tough things if she didn't care. She's a good friend! ]
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Well, duh. I'm not going to risk being turned into some kinda caterpillar by saying no.
[ With that, she begins to walk. ]
C'mon. Haven't got all night.
[ And that's not an invite!!! She's just. telling them to hurry up. ]
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Ken would like that. He's not sure what he can to do help her in his current condition, but whatever it is, it's at her disposal. ] Okay.
[ In they waddle: Ken looking around cautious, Wormmon trying his best to look Brave and Strong. There's probably weird stuff in here...! But he'll prove he can protect Ken-chan by taking it on, by -
- not jumping when he hears a twig snap underfoot, oh, whoops, challenge failed. ]
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Lena runs a hand down her face and beak. ]
Oookay. Sooner we finish this, the better...
[ She goes quiet for a moment, contemplative. She then looks down at her hands, frowning. The Narciso incident proved she can move living things with her body, so maybe...? ]
... I'm gunna try something. This is new, so, no promises.
[ With a breath, she closes her eyes, and puts her hands together. The blue-white glow from last time appears again, as she mumbles quietly... is it some secret, ancient chant?
Actually, if they listen closely, she's murmuring "don't mess this up, don't mess this up, don't mess this up..."]
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They will wait, anticipation heavy, for Lena to do her thing.
And they're both nice enough not to call her out on the murmuring. ]
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After a moment of hesitation, she opens one eye... and then laughs with relief, opening them both. ]
Whoa, it works! It's actually working! Hahahaha, sweet! This is so cool... okay! I'll fly above the maze and see where the exit is!
[ Genuinely happy for once, she wills herself to float higher and higher, above the walls...
... and then all of a sudden, sharp vines shoot out from the maze walls, snatching Lena in their grasp and dragging her back down. ]
H-HEY! What the-?!
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[ .....Okay, Wormmon's response time is not great, but it's the thought that counts.
Ken scrunches up his buggy body and hops over to Lena - if he can make it before she hits the ground, he'll try to cushion her fall. Either way, he's asking: ]
Are you all right!?
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... Not doing great. I guess we have to do this the old fashioned way. Ugh... hope they didn't scratch me too badly, I just got all that blood out of this sweater...
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[ Wormmon draws up short at the thought. Very scary.
Ken, however, squirms out from beneath her once his squishy cushion services are no longer required, the better to continue the conversation. ]
We're forced to go through on foot....
[ He thinks. Digging or squirming through the walls is likely booby-trapped, as well. But the Fae thus far have worked more or less like they do in European folklore, and there's plenty of stories about labyrinths to draw from as well. So...the best tactics are.... ]
Wormmon or I can check around each corner. We're less likely to be spotted, and we can mark dead ends with our web.
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Anyway, she begins getting back up, smoothing down her clothes. ]
Sure, whatever. But if you see anything that looks too tough, run. No looking back. I can't imagine there's anything here worth getting hurt over.
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Leave it to us!
[ A salute from Wormmon. Very reassuring.
Forward they go, at their wriggly little pace. Ken keeps glancing around, taking in every detail of their surroundings. Wormmon is focused very hard on putting one claw in front of the other. He's not scared he's not scared he'snotscared.
You could cut the tension with a knife for several different reasons. ]
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This feels like it's taking forever. So she takes out her Leaf and begins scrolling, but she'll stay behind the worms. She keeps quiet, as she's not much of a chatter, but also because what the hell do you say at times like this??? ]
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The hedge rustles. Wormmon LEAPS. Backwards. Forgetting Ken's face isn't back there, and that Lena's is instead. ]
KEN-CHAAAAAAAAAN!
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Granted, once he's on there, she's not silent. Her forcibly closed beak still emits a mix of a yell and a groan. Maybe a rough get. off. me.
She grabs him by his sides, trying to rip him off like the world's squishiest face-hugger. ]
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Sorry.
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Okay. New plan. You stick with Ken, and I'll check the other corners. That way, you can stop making me feel like I just got stuck in a sci-fi horror movie.
wanna do a double left/double right as they go?
[ Ken pats Wormmon on the back, then skitters low to the ground, focusing hard on each undulation of his many new legs. They are coming up on one of those corners now.....A choice to go left or right.
He holds up a claw to his mandibles in a "silence" gesture, and peeks. ]
sure! no preference to who or left/right, go with what you like
She heads for her corner, and dips her head over. ]
Hm...?
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