Test Drive Meme #3

[changelinged]

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.

You do not need an invitation to join the Test Drive Meme, it's open for anyone!

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

code

Comments

[maritorious]

She loops her arm through his. "M'lord!" She replies, giggling. Oh it's good to feel like a kid again, to be here with her much taller brother. "Here." She reaches into her pocket and pulls out the blade she'd purchased earlier. A good bit of steel colored rose gold, with flowers embedded in the handle.

"In case we need it."

[artfuldawkins]

Dodger's eyebrows raise at the sight of the knife. Oh, not that she's carrying one. God no, he knew Nancy kept one hidden on her just in case. Just at the decoration on it.

"Nice piece." It really is nice.

[maritorious]

"Thank you." She'd always had a small one she'd kept tucked away in a boot, somewhere she could pull it if she needed to. She'd only just stabbed her first person the other week, actually, and that person happened to ask her to do it.

"I'm learning to fight proper." More than just a punch or two that she'd learned from her older brothers, or what she'd picked up from life in the den.

[artfuldawkins]

"That needed round here?" he's still holding the knife. "You want me to hold this or...?"

[maritorious]

"You'd be surprised. A while ago, the king started... oh this sounds so strange, polinating. There were little version of him, just about a foot high, running around. Most people saw fit to do them violence, 'cause they weren't the type to take no for an answer." But not Nancy. Nancy rounded them up and told them a story, then gave them each a kiss on the cheek and they left her alone after that.

But god, once Spike had fully explained it to her, she'd felt awful and spent some time in the shower with a good scrub.

"A friend of mine is teaching me to use it. He already had me stab him."

[artfuldawkins]

He's just going to stare for a long moment.

"Nance, did you just say some bloke had you stab him?"

[maritorious]

"He healed right quick! Even when I did it wrong!"

Yes. Yes, she did say that.

She also did it twice.

[artfuldawkins]

He just stares and there's a nod.

"Remind me not to get you right mad any time soon. I'll keep hold of this the now, if you don't mind," pocketing the knife as he said it.

[maritorious]

"You already know not to get me mad," she tells him cheekily.

"Oi! That is mine! You get your own!"

[artfuldawkins]

"You c'n get it back when we're out of here," Dodger says firmly. "Don't want you decidin' to stab me," he adds in his own cheek tone.

[maritorious]

"I am not going to stab you. I didn't particularly care for stabbing Spike, so why would I enjoy doing it to you?" Even if he did piss her off a bit more than Spike did, regularly.

[artfuldawkins]

"...Spike?" Dodger blinks. "What. The one with the bright hair?" He had met Spike, at the party. Seemed an alright sort.

[maritorious]

She nods. "Yeah, that'd be him." She glances at Dodger as they walk. "He tell you he's a vampire?"

[artfuldawkins]

He nods. "Mentioned some bloke, Dracula?" There's a shrug. "I just thought of that one that Byron bloke wrote."

[maritorious]

"Yeah, he mentioned Dracula to me, too. Funny name, you ask me." She thinks back. "Yeah- read it some time ago, I think. Anyway, his vampires are a bit different, I think. Their face gets all..." she makes a face, furrowing her brow as intently as she can while also making a hissing face. Then she drops it.

"Like that."

[artfuldawkins]

"He didn't mention that to me," Dodger says. "Said he'd met you, that you got on," he added. "Don't know why I didn't mention it earlier." Well, no, he did. That whole thing with her saying Sikes was there had right thrown him.

[maritorious]

"I mean, probably because you were seeing me for the first time in years, right?" She nudges him a little with their linked elbows. "Gotta be absolutely breathtaking for you. A vision, ain't I?"

[artfuldawkins]

"Absolutely," he says, all sincerity. "Seein' you again did me good," again, sincerity. He hadn't realised how much he missed seeing her.

[maritorious]

"Glad to hear it." She hears the sincerity in her voice, but doesn't say anything about it. It's good to have him here, someone who just intrinsically knows, that she doesn't have to explain.

"I missed you. I know for me it'd only been a month, but... Still. good to have you here."

[artfuldawkins]

"A month an' you already got people, good for you," Dodger says with a smile. "We just gotta find our way out, an' maybe you c'n show me more."

[maritorious]

She shrugs. "It took a minute, but I've met some very kind people. I have also met a duck."

[artfuldawkins]

He stares.

"How do you meet a duck?"

[maritorious]

"On their little-- leaf thing." She pulls her leaf out of her pocket and holds it out to him. "She's a real duck. Speaks English. Got pink feathers, though. It's a bit odd. Turns out, they don't got humans in their world. She's quite pretty, actually." [But, a duck.]

[artfuldawkins]

Dodger looks at the leaf. "... Sorry, Nance, you've lost me."

cw: racism against ducks

[maritorious]

"She's a duck, but she's still a person. A bit rude, but I suppose that must be all ducks- you've seen 'em back home." Ducks were very rude.