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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
This was abnormal. A stranger talking to him, with... that, over there.
"No," he answered honestly enough. "Probably not."
Whether he was awake or not, this was fucked up. Asleep would have at least been normal.
He looked the way he'd been staring, and... yeah, Gesten was still lying on the ground, the hertasi's scaled limbs bent in unnatural angles, mouth hung open, eyes glassed over. No breathing, not even any twitching. Drake didn't have to get close to know that was a body long past the stage where he might have been able to help.
"You don't see anything... gruesome, over there?" he asked the stranger, sounding distant to his own ears.
no subject
Well. Judging by what definitely looks like a PTSD flashback, this calls for Kiriya to actually be serious for once. He can manage it, occasionally. "I don't see anything," he says calmly, eyes on the other man like he's trying to urge him to look back instead of at whatever it is he's seeing. "What are you seeing?"
no subject
"Nothing unusual."
He would much rather focus on the stranger, in fact, giving him what may be a familiar once-over. Visible wounds? Blood? Strange body-language? Doing anything like favoring a leg, or holding a shoulder at an odd angle? Pain stiffness? Pale around the eyes at all?
It's a reflex, really.
"You must move very quickly, I barely even registered your approach."
no subject
"That's me," he says instead with an almost reflexive easy smile. "All speed." And that is a very recognizable look he's getting, one that Kiriya allows with open amusement. There's nothing noticeably off about him, but a very, very close inspection might come up with something that feels almost staticky about his presence. It's probably nothing.
"I can give you a demonstration if you want." And go somewhere other than here, incidentally.
no subject
Well, he's the kestra'chern, here. If someone in his vicinity is going to talk about their own psychological trauma, it probably won't be him unless it's to establish common ground or expertise.
There's nothing anyone could do about this, anyway. He's aware his mind is full of horrors; inflicting that on this stranger wouldn't help either of them, especially here and now.
The amusement gets a tilt of Drake's head, beads and feathers in his hair shifting against each other. Curious, and more than willing to focus on that instead of the cruel illusion lingering over there in the corner of his vision.
"Certainly," he agrees, "lead the way."
no subject
"So. You actually want a demonstration or are you humoring the weirdo?" Either option is fine, really.
no subject
"I am genuinely curious," Drake tells him, "so long as we don't wander into any hostile creatures."
no subject
And just like that he dissolves into his pixel cloud, darting ahead a few turns for a quick surveillance jaunt. A moment or so later the cloud appears again, dropping down to reform back into Kiriya.
"Nothing directly ahead that I can see."
no subject
He's still processing that when Kiriya returns, actually. Drake's seen a lot of things, even people turning into a type of mist... but they hadn't exactly come back after. No re-forming from that.
"...Good?" he says, then shakes his head like that'll shove the confusion out of his way. "I mean, good. What was that?"
no subject
"No offense but before I even try to explain. Does the word 'data' mean anything to do?"
no subject
Sorry Kiriya, that word... super predates computers, actually.
no subject
"In this case it's more like a...transfer of information, sort of?" Help, how does he explain this. "Not important. The gist is that I'm not really human."
no subject
He's seen a lot of weird things, especially with the mage storms wreaking havoc in the wilds. But Kiriya is pretty unique, to him. And he looks extremely human, while the other sentient and sapient species of Amberdrake's own world very much do not.
"Right at the next intersection if we can," he adds, "or straight. There's something to our left. Distant, but we should keep it that way. It's very... angry, but there's no focus to it."
no subject
It's a good thought, except for how Kiriya has to slant him a thoughtful look almost immediately. "You can tell that?" It's not a doubtful question, so much as curious.
no subject
He doesn't leave it hanging at that, though.
"More specifically, I am an Empath. The hunger, rage, and grief of our friends is very... loud."
Granted, part of that is because he's lowered his shields below normal, but... well, he must have been very distracted indeed, to not have known the moment he'd had company. Which is no surprise to Drake, really. He knows how easily he can be overwhelmed, even if he doesn't show it.
no subject
But he's not going to question extra information, and easily hangs a right at the next opportunity. Handy, that. "Anything else you want to share?"
no subject
It doesn't quite read that way, though. Interesting.
"But... yes, of course. Is that a surprise?"
Just a little gentle prodding at that edge, he can't help it.
"I am also a Healer. And, in the interest of not having the Empathic Gift render me useless in the thick of danger, a noncombatant."
Intentionally hurting someone or something else fucks him up. You know, exactly when that would be the worst thing to fucking happen.