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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.
no subject
[He offered his plate and a fork along with his smile. So far so good, although technically she hadn't actually looked at him. Was it possible Lena hadn't even realized who she was talking to?]
no subject
Now she looks at him, and squints. There's something familiar about him, but she hasn't placed it yet. She hesitantly takes the offered plate, shoving her leaf into her sweater pocket so she can use the fork. ]
Worth trying once, I guess. Not like we can extra cursed to be here forever. [ pause, then shrug, deciding to eat anyway. ] Unless that means our ghosts get stuck here.
no subject
Ye think we'll end up ghosts if we die here?
no subject
Decision made. ]
Nah, that was just a joke. Turns out, death isn't really a 'thing' here... at least for us Adopted. My roomie died and came back to life.
[ She tries to keep her tone casual, as she's also been trying not to think about all the horrific implications of that fact. ]
no subject
I wasny there f'it, but they brought back a bunch o'people back home. Kind o'creepy if ye think about it too hard.
no subject
Still, I don't plan on kicking it anytime soon. Nothing here that would make it worth it. Plus, I just got all that blood out of this sweater, hate to go through that again.
no subject
[Harry finished his plate and set it aside, giving Lena his full attention.]
Ye don't remember me, do ye?
no subject
There it is.
She puts the plate away, and then points the fork at him, like one would a dagger. ]
Are you the idiot who called me a villain kid?
[ Judging by her tone, she still has NOT taken it as a compliment. Careful there.]
no subject
Hold on! Why're ye so mad aboot it? It's a compliment! Best one I can give actually. Did ye grow up in Auradon after all?
no subject
[ She begins forcing him to back up, poking his gut repeatedly with the fork as she does so. Not hard enough to hurt or even pierce anything, but he'll definitely feel it. ]
Maybe you haven't noticed, but you're not IN Auradon, or whatever weird place you call home. You don't know anything about me, about who raised me, or what I'm capable of! I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, but that doesn't give you or anyone else the right to put a label on me!
I AM NOT A VILLAIN!
[ With that final shout, she stabs the table with the fork hard enough for the fork to still be stuck in there when she lets go. She breathes hard, shaking, trying to quell her anger from growing any hotter.
And quell her fear.
She's not like Magica. She's not. She's not. ]
no subject
If anyone understood the stigma of being a villain, it was Harry. He might not see it as a bad thing, but plenty of other people did, especially when they were told all their lives how terrible it was to be bad.]
So being a villain's yer worst nightmare? I'm sorry Lena. I didny mean tae upset ye. I . . . was tryin tae give ye a compliment. I think yer really smart'n talented. I was lookin forward tae causin trouble wi' ye. I'm . . . sorry.
no subject
... Causing trouble isn't the same thing as being a villain.
[ A belief she's held onto desperately. ]
Fine. How did you plan on 'causing trouble' here?
no subject
No. Causin a wee bit o'mischief never made someone a villain. An I wanted tae help ye. Wi' wha'ever it was ye thought up.
no subject
[ It's not much, but when someone can transform you with a look, your mischief-making ways are miniscule. ]
no subject
[Without Uma, Harry was missing that constant purpose and restraining hand. If Lena wanted to step into that role, he wouldn't mind.]
no subject
[ Though now someone is actually interested in them, it means she has to step up her game. ]
no subject
[Was it anything life-changing? Not really, but that didn't bother Harry. They had to start somewhere after all. besides, it would just be fun to have someone to work with again.]