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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
You normally blame someone you just met for trying to help? Or am I just lucky? Turn the fuck around, dumbass, and see for yourself. You're crying over nothing.
[He nods his head toward where he assumes this lady's...friend, sibling, partner, whatever the hell is laying. This shit doesn't last very long, and he assumes it's meant to be that way - just long enough to strike hard, fast, and sink in. Just long enough to hurt. Because when Vaggie indeed turns around, there's nothing there. No body, no blood, the grass isn't even disturbed at all.]
no subject
[He didn't look in the best shape, but Vaggie wasn't letting her guard down. His expression and attitude were enough that she knew he was probably someone dangerous.
She did take a moment though to glance back. The vision flickered, one minute she still saw it clearly, Charlie lying there in her own blood. Then the next there was nothing there, causing her to rub at her eye.]
What the fuck?
no subject
A tiny little bit.]
You gonna actually listen to me now, Patchy?
no subject
Vaggie, not Patchy.
And you still haven't explained what the fuck that was.
no subject
Because I needed you to calm down first, moron!! You being hysterical and assuming I'm the one who did anything other than walk forward and speak didn't exactly give "let's have a friendly chat" vibes. You think you're the only fucking one who saw someone they know torn apart and bleeding out? Grow up.
[He snaps, before taking a deep breath and rubbing his face. Yeah, so...maybe his own constant visions of seeing the people he cares about dead, even knowing it's fake, is getting to him. Katsuki's never been good with handling his emotions when they get like this.]
It was an illusion, meant to fuck with us as we go through this damn maze. Happens every couple of turns, because this shitty place forces you to double back a lot. None of it's real, but it never seems that way when you stumble across it, because that's the point. The shock-value, and to wear you down, because these shitty tricks aren't the only thing prowling around out here...and they take advantage of those moments of weakness.
no subject
[She crossed her arms, glaring at Katsuki but at least trying not to be any more hostile than he was in tone. Plus at least this way she wasn't still pointing her spear at him. And what the fuck did he mean about growing up, Vaggie had seen plenty of people torn to pieces and bleeding out, she'd killed and slaughtered thousands of sinners. She'd had her own wings torn off and eye gouged out, but what had been so bad was that it was Charlie. The one person who mattered to her more than anything, that she would do anything for and swore she would protect.]
Then what else is in here? What's causing the illusions?
no subject
Were you not paying attention to anything at that fucking party earlier? It's faeries. Magic. As bullshit and stupid as it sounds, you already experienced it. There's also some deranged monsters and spirits in here, too...
[He actually closes his eyes, tilting his head to one side and going quiet, listening. If Vaggie is quiet for a moment, she can probably hear crying in the distance, deep and guttural.]
...Flapping it worse, but we're going to want to avoid that, if possible.
no subject
No, I was trying to get out here and get back to where I'm supposed to be. I'm supposed to be protecting the hotel, and even if extermination day is over that doesn't mean some other asshole isn't going to blow another hole in the wall or something.
[She heard the sound of the flapping wings, they definitely weren't angelic wings though, they were too loud and sounded a bit more leathery.]
Great. I can handle myself, but how the fuck are we supposed to get out of here if the walls keep moving?
no subject
[Katsuki scoffs, straining himself to make sure the sound of wingbeats doesn't get closer. He's only really got one good arm right now, and from his encounters with some of the Unseelie... They're a hell of a lot tougher than they look. His explosions definitely kept them at bay, but didn't do nearly as much damage as he expected. No, these things work on their own bullshit Fae logic, so fighting is out of the question.]
Oh yeah, you were so great at handling yourself. Didn't need anyone to break the illusion you fell for ten minutes ago... [Dis bitch. It's like looking into a mirror to the past... Katsuki hates it, and he won't let up until she realizes how stupid she sounds.] ...Haven't figured it out yet, but there is a pattern. Fae, or spirits in general, are always like that - they make puzzles they think no one can figure out, that seem impossible, but there's always a solution. It's just finding it that's the actual challenge... Because their rules and logic only makes sense to them.