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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
[ Which. Not necessarily sure that this is a much better option, but still. It's possibly why Kiriya allows the scaling without comment, since he probably does owe the guy a little.
He still dances in place, jostling his passenger as much as he can without dislodging him. ]
How about asking nicely? [ He still starts walking, because the guy isn't wrong. But it's not exactly top speed. ]
no subject
[ The lizard clings onto Kiriya's mane and back as he prances around. Above them, the manananggal is hovering and still ready to chase down its prey once it locates them. Maybe it hasn't quite caught up yet, but eventually it is bound to figure out where Kiriya ran to. Then again, they also don't know what could lie ahead of them. ]
Unless you want to fight on your own. But you'd make a bigger snack. I'm just saying.
no subject
[ Not exactly his best comeback, but there's a bit of a learning curve to figuring out how to process a very different kind of sensory input. Motorcycles never have to deal with this nonsense.
But he does push himself into a trot, trying to keep himself as aware as possible for someone who can't really see the sky at the moment. ]
How's your eyesight, Charmander?
no subject
[ For a lizard having to cling to a horse while they flee monsters, Ace is persistently calm. Maybe because he just refuses to be anything less, despite how bad the situation is. He turns his head upward to the sky where the shadow of wings starts circling them. Ace climbs up, bracing himself with Kiriya's neck and gripping his hair as he focuses on the creature flying lower and lower. ]
Don't worry about it. Just focus on navigating and I'll handle the bird.
[ It's not a bird, but picking at details doesn't seem that important when the manananggal starts turning from circling to diving. Ace lets it get uncomfortably close before making his first shot--opening his lizard mouth and spitting out a stream of flames that sends the monster diving aside with an affronted screech. He singes one wing, but the creature swings up and loops around for another attempt. Ace clears his throat, trying to get used to the strange sensation of coughing out fire. Ew. ]
Try to lose it. Just don't get us stuck in a dead end.
no subject
It's a bit hard to judge, but he's pretty sure he's taking them towards the center of the maze. There had been a couple covered pathways, last he saw, and that seems like the best cure for a flying annoyance.
Of course, that's assuming nothing's changed. Like, say, the corner that tries to close them off before Kiriya just barely manages to slip them through. ]
no subject
Try not to crash us.
[ Ace, encouraging as ever, has to add his two cents as he takes a breath after the sensation of breathing out fire. The monster pursuing them shows no sign of letting them go, but at least it's keeping a distance. The maze paths all look similar, which he figures is the point, but at least some of the tighter paths might offer them cover. If they can get to one. Apparently the road they are headed to is trying to leave them to die. ]
Keep running. You can do it.
[ Ace speaks with absolute certainty as the hedges close in front of them, looking at the disappearing exit as he reaches out with his will and the chime of a bell resounds around them, pulling the hedge apart just as they get too close to stop. ]
no subject
[ Any of it, really, but Kiriya abruptly realizes he needs to save his breath in order to maintain speed. One of many reasons why a motorcycle is superior to a horse. But apparently his mouthy passenger has a plan in mind so Kiriya will leave him to it.
He doesn't even flinch in the face of the closing hedge walls, barreling directly through and only noting somewhere in the back of his mind that they'd been a lot closer together a moment ago.
It's not until they abruptly hit the leafy shade of a handy arcade that he begins to slow down, falling back into a walk but still moving. ]
Hows it looking, Godzilla?
no subject
Duly noted. ]
Heh. Looks like we outran it for now. You actually make a good ride, Deep Impact.
[ The canopy provided by the hedges helps provide some temporary protection, but the angry manananggal can still be heard flapping overhead, trying to find an opening to dive through. It might actually succeed if the hedges were allowed to reveal them, but apparently for the moment Ace's hold is still enough to keep them tucked within a tunnel of branches and vines. ]
Although at this rate, the race isn't over yet. They'll probably have more competition up ahead. How about it? Should I bet my money on you?
no subject
I'll have you know racing is my specialty.
[ The confidence is a little muted by the fact that he's still a touch breathless, but it will have to do. ]
And I'm pretty sure if we lose, you're the prize. [ One of them is currently small enough to get eaten in one bite, is all he's saying. ]