pixieledmemes | Test Drive Meme #3

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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.

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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

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Spike knew Diana wouldn't react well, which is why he'd made sure to move away from her. He wouldn't say he felt better after that little outburst, but it hadn't hurt either. As it was, he kicked one of the hedges and pulled some of the leaves and branches off, and stomped on them on the ground.

The fury burned hot and quick though, the embers calming to a simmer he'd keep inside himself. Deliberately making himself take a deep breath in, holding, then releasing. Rolling his shoulders.

Only then did he turn to Diana. Or where she had been, as he moved to find her against the hedge. "Sorry. What?" Stalking back over to where he'd made his duster a pillow, with no vision remaining to taunt him at least.

She decided not to move, to stay on the ground. At least for the moment. Normally, this was a more vulnerable position, of course. But Diana could take care of herself, it need be. And it did look like Spike was calming down. As much as Spike ever seemed to be...calm.

"It's called a piñata," she said, using the same cool, even tone of voice that she sometimes used when one of the dhampir kids was having a meltdown. Of course, those meltdowns were usually more about getting sugary cereal in the convenience store than de-boning Faeries. Same principles probably applied, though.

Selene threw hissy fits too.

"The, uh, paper horse thing you hit with a stick. Candies come out. It's Mexican."

Oh. "Huh. Thanks?" Spike was a bit confused, but he was glad to know the word. His threat remained though, but he brought a hand up and raked it through his hair. Then dug in his coat for his cigarettes and lighter. He needed one now. Help calm him more.

"Normally I don't mind when people fear me. Don't want you scared though, Diana. Sorry about that." He meant it; it was why Spike wasn't moving closer to her either.

"It's fine," she said, slowly lowering her arms.

It wasn't fine, of course. Given her long and cruel history of being battered and bruised and damaged mostly by Cainite guys. Her history, however, wasn't Spike's fault. And it wasn't like he'd actually done anything.

Really, it was more about the potential of harm.

And anyone could have that.

Diana pulled herself back to her feet. "I'm not gonna ask what you just saw," she said, "but if you need to, like, talk about it or whatever. I mean, you know I'm not gonna go blabbing about it to anyone."

Even if she hadn't spoken a lot about her past, given how they'd first met? And that Spike was perceptive, he could make several guesses. It was why he'd moved away from her, even while he was furious. Why he was letting her approach if she wanted. Vampire men scared her and liked to hurt her. She was primed for it to be the norm. So Spike was taking extra care with her because he liked Diana. She was a good sort.

"First, I saw someone alive who I know is dead. Then, I saw someone dead, who should be alive." Spike said softly, but knowing she'd hear. "The one is the girl I made a promise to. The other is the girl I made the promise about." Which was about all he wanted to say really. But he felt he owed Diana that much at least in explanation.

The Slayer.

Buffy.

And...another mortal girl? For someone who claimed not five minutes ago not to have a soul, he was damned confusing sometimes. Then again, who wasn't confusing, once you got past the surface level? No one that Diana wanted to know, anyway.

"I guess," she said, with a slight wince, "we need to assume everything we see here is a trick." She paused, realizing that this could also include one another. "I mean, I'm not a trick. But that's something a trick would say so..."

So what? She didn't know how to end that thought.

"You have a scent." Spike said, then realized he should probably clarify. "Not like, you smell or anything. But I'm used to using my nose to track at times. You have a distinctive scent to you. So does Selene. So do most people. The visions haven't had a scent. If I wasn't so thrown by them, I'd probably have realized sooner."

That was how Spike was able to tell at least. "Not sure how to convince you I'm real."

Diana waved it off. "Eh, I don't need much convincing. Talking to imaginary people is kind of a rite of passage for Malkavians, anyway."

Perhaps not to the same extent as Arty.

York girls never did anything halfway.

"I think...the sooner we get the hell outta here, the happier we're both going to be." She paused. "When you're ready, I mean. If you gotta scream a little more, I can wait."

"Done all the screaming I want. Rather beat some heads in at this point." Spike murmured, but still kept his distance. "I think we should also be careful what routes we take." He did not want to be surprised again, thanks.

As Diana had yet to see any rhyme or reason to the routes, she just gave a small nod and gestured for Spike to lead the way. He was the one being tortured by the maze, it seemed appropriate to help him regain his autonomy.

This was no longer about macho.

God. She was helping someone without a soul? What would Artemis say about that? Some messiah Diana was turning out to be.

"Lead the way."

"Oh no, nuh uh." Spike retorted, giving Diana an 'are you crazy?' look. "This hedge maze has it out for me. I'll follow your lead." A pause, then Spike took out his cigarette. "Although if you don't want me behind you, just...like, tell me which way to go." Normally he'd be all for charging a head but he was still pissed. He didn't want to be caught unawares again if he could help it.

Admittedly, the idea of not keeping Spike where she could see him made Diana feel a little...what was his word? Wiggy. She had to get over herself, though. She knew that. People--human people or Cainites--usually survived best when they pooled their resources and worked together. It was just easier to convince her head than her heart.

"Okay," she said, taking a deep breath. "We'll do it together." And there was no way to make that sound like anything other than a kumbaya, but so be it. She nodded. "Let's go together."

And because she wasn't going to let go of the Disney Land rules, she decided...

"To the left."

Spike is admittedly side-eying her a bit for the whole 'we'll do it together'. But he's not protesting. Carefully, and obviously, moving to be at her side too. Alert for any skittishness as he followed her lead.

It was probably a good thing she hadn't been able to see the visions. Or hear them. who knows what Buffy would've said to him or about him. And as much as he hated seeing the little bit like that, at least he wasn't watching her die. The aftermath had been bad enough.

With more of a show of confidence than any real sense of it, Diana took that second left turn.

The Disney Land rule, as it turned out, was kind of a crock of shit.

She barely made it half a step before freezing in her tracks, her entire body going stiff. All of the pep talking in the world about these things weren't real could never truly prepare her for what she saw.

Sprawled across the path, like a marionette with strings cut, was Artemis, an exercise in contrasts with her pale skin and her dark hair. She lay unnaturally still, even for a Cainite. Dark stains splattered across the old, suede duster, the one that belonged to their father.

Diana let out a sound, halfway between a sob and a laugh.

Oh bloody hell.

As soon as Spike felt more than saw her go stiff, he knew something was wrong. It had him flicking his cigarette into the dirt and stomping it out. Diana's sound was painful--and he could guess she wasn't seeing something good. So he looked but saw nothing but ground in front of them. Tilting his head somewhat, and closing his eyes, Spike sniffed as well.

Nope, just the two of them and the ambient scents of the hedge. Nothing unexpected close to them. Damn.

"Diana." He kept his voice even. "Diana, I'm going to touch your arm alright? Try not to freak." Spike warned, before reaching for her upper arm and shoulder. Just laying a hand there, trying to ground her a bit. "Whatever you're seeing, it's not real."

She let him touch her arm. Hell, she barely registered it. Her whole body felt cold, which was clearly psychosomatic, because she didn't have circulation. Not the first time her emotions took control, wouldn't be the last.

One, two, three
Owls are in a tree

Diana heard the voice building in the back of her head and she bit down on the inside of her cheek, hard enough to taste her own vitae. It hurt, but at least it silenced the song. The same could not be said, however, for the vision of her baby sister dead and still.

Tears welled up in her eyes easily, filling in the spaces between her long eyelashes, before they started to spill over. Cainites cried tears of blood. And there probably wasn't a Cainite out there who ever cried more than Diana Abel.

"It..." She swallowed. "She's all alone. That's what I was afraid of for her. More than anything else, that she would die alone."

Spike would bet, and win probably, that he knew what she was seeing. Even though he couldn't see it. He also noticed those tears--the scent and the visual. Keeping that hand on her shoulder, he moved to stand in front of her. "It's not real, Diana. It's designed to upset you." Spike remained calm, and folded Diana up in a hug. Encouraging her to hide, if she wanted, and to cry. His turn to be the bastion of reality and grounding. Wasn't like her tears would show up on his black clothes anyway.

Diana didn't move. Not to melt into the hug (and she did like hugs), nor to pull away. The only movement she gave was the slow slide of her tears, a little bit of an underwhelming tremble as the emotion did what it wanted to do with the rest of her.

"I..." It was always hard talking when you were crying.

Doubly so when your tears smelled like friggin' lunch.

Merde.

"I know it's...it's not real," she said, sounding less certain than she wanted to be. "But...but that doesn't mean it's not true." That's what the Faeries told them when they first arrived, wasn't it? Your loved ones are likely dead.

"Doesn't mean it IS either." Spike argued, moving to stroke her hair comfortingly. Granted he'd sounded a bit rough in his argument, because he didn't want it to be true. Not that he didn't want Buffy back, but he didn't want Dawn to die.

"They're fairies. They play with us because we're toys to them. They're playing a cruel game with us, Diana." Resting his head against hers. "Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. But doesn't mean it's true."

The argument felt incredibly circular. Maybe that was the point. The twisting of the knife. Diana liked to believe the best in people--including Faeries--but she was loathe to see any upside to what was happening.

She took a shaky breath, trying to think of how she could close and scab over the vulnerability they'd opened inside of her.

Well. She was a theatrical bitch.

Might as well play to her strengths.

Diana closed her eyes, her lips slowly parting as she sang the song she'd written for Artemis:

Shed no tears for me, there'll be rain enough today
I'm wishing you godspeed as I wave you on your way
This won't be the first time I've stayed behind to face
The bitter consequences of an ancient fall from grace
I'm a daughter of the race of Cain
I am not a stranger to the rain...

Spike had nowhere near the relationship with Diana he had with Drusilla. What worked for one, would very likely not work for the other. But that didn't mean not everything wouldn't work. Which is why he just held her and let her...grieve? Mourn? He didn't know. Rage, Spike would understand.

He could at least support her this way.

Very slowly, Diana opened her eyes again, her eyelashes sticking together in a sickening way. She'd kind of hoped that the vision of Artemis would just, you know, disappear. It hadn't.

But maybe, just maybe, it had lost its power. Just a teeny, tiny bit.

Enough that she was able to breathe, to stop shaking, to find her voice again.

"Let's get out of here," she said to Spike.

Spike just nodded, and kept an arm around her to support her while leading her away. Away from the vision, in a different direction. Right this time as they followed a winding path, and then at the next turn he chose left.

"You alright?" She wasn't, and he knew it. But it was polite to ask. She'd also been there for him so the least he could do was offer the same.

Diana sniffed delicately, leaning her head back to staunch the last of those disgusting tears of hers. When she straightened out, she offered an absent smile. "Oh, yeah," she said. "Totally groovy."

For once, it didn't really matter that she was a terrible liar.

They both already knew the truth.

"Let's get outta here."

"Liar." But it was teasing and playful, while still acknowledging for her that yeah--he got it. "Best idea yet." Spike agreed, still with that arm around her if she wanted.

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Test Drive Meme #3

He was due for one, let's be honest.

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wrap?