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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.
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But he was glad she was feeling a bit better.
The shift was sudden though, from watching her to Spike pulling back. Straightening up and still and alert. Head whipping up and eyes scanning around. He heard something, smelled something. An instant or so before they both would hear the heavy flapping of wings and something coming towards them.
It was quick and a matter of seconds. A light shove to Nancy to get her out of the way as the...torso? Head and torso? Upper half of a body? Dove at them. Spike raised his hand up as the upper-half of a woman wrestled with him. Bat wings kept her aloft, and she was snarling at him. A long probiscus like tongue protruded from her mouth, and she looked like she'd been torn in half.
"I've got this Nancy!" Spike called, in a clear warning to stay back. The tongue winding around his arm to try and get to his neck. He snarled back at the creature.
no subject
This time though, Nancy heeds Spike's warning. She moves out of the way as he shoves her, looking at the creature that appeared, all bat wings and half-naked woman and- oh god, are those... entrails?
"Oh god I'm going to be sick," she mutters, trying not to look, but unable to tear her eyes from the horrors in front of her.
no subject
Disentangling himself, Spike winged the manananggal into a hedge-wall. Fishing in his pockets, he tossed the packets of salt towards Nancy. Which was good because the she-fiend had recovered and was flying at him again for round two.
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Luckily, the legs aren't too far, and Nancy's running toward where she sees a pale foot sticking out of a hedge.
"Alright, salt the legs," she mutters, and dumps the pack of salt on the legs. She's not sure what to expect, on her end, but it's surprisingly mundane. Just salt on the feet. "Spike?" She calls back to him, eager to find out if she did it right.
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"Forget what its called, manan something or other. Lots of gs in there too. I've read about 'em before. They're a demon in my world. Guess they exist here too." He explained, before reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder. "You alright?" Not just about this, but about what she'd seen.
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But the thing is she's not used to the creatures the way Spike is.
She shakes her head. "I want to get out of here." First the first monster, then Fagin, now this. "Can we please get out of here?"
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He'll keep that arm around her as they walk too, trying to find a way out.
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"Like I said, manang something or other. Too many G's in its name. Only read about 'em, but that whole two pieces thing is pretty distinctive. Where I'm from you find 'em in Asia I think. Maybe not the continent proper, but around there if I remember right. Not sure what the first thing was other than kind of hilarious now that I'm not fighting it." It really had looked ridiculous.
cw: victorian racism
"Hilarious? I thought it were terrifying!"
Re: cw: victorian racism
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"I know you're trying to be comforting, but it ain't working." THe worst she's dealt with before here was men.
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"I will. You've been nothing but a good friend to me. Far more'n I deserve."
Heading to wrap?