![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
changelinged) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
pixieledmemes2025-05-16 12:28 am
Test Drive Meme #3
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!
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
For a second, it feels like time stops for anyone but the two of them. The world loses its color, the soft, melodious music from the garden party seems to freeze on a beat, and Alicia's breath hitches in her throat, terror creeping up her throat. In a flash, she's spinning in place, a rapier appearing in gloved hand before she's moving quickly, the tip of her blade pointed at the boy's neck just as time seems to right itself.
And he is a boy - someone who can't possibly be much younger than how old Alicia appears to be, tall and quite elegant in appearance, with enough earnest passion in his expression that it gives the young woman pause, if only for a moment. But she jerks her chin up, trying to communicate that Yusuke should explain himself.]
i think the safest and best thing to do would be to put yusuke kitagawa down. it's for the best.
And then time returns to rights and Yusuke blinks as this beautiful enigma points a sharp rapier to his throat. His heart beats fast in his chest, one fourth fear and three fourths intrigue. He lets his arm fall down lamely to his side.
He waits for her to speak but no sound comes. The girl merely raises her chin and it takes him a beat too long for his brain to process exactly what it is she is asking. When he does realize it though the understanding is clear on his face.]
I couldn't help myself. You are a striking figure in this colorful garden, moreso than the flowers themselves. You brought a delicate grey twilight to the vivid colors of spring. I simply must draw you or-
[Here Yusuke puts a hand to his chest, eyes shining with determination and fire.]
Would you do me the honor-
[Now he has gently pushed away the rapier from his throat (not intending to imply any threat but to merely move an obstacle) and in one swift motion falls down to one knee. The hand that is not on his chest is raised up and forward in supplication.]
Of being the model for my next art piece!?
no subject
That burning passion within him overwhelms his need for safety completely. So he must be an idiot.
Still, idiot or not, Alicia gives Yusuke the chance to speak, and it's clearly the first mistake she makes.
The boy drops to a knee and begins to talk of striking figures and delicate twilights, of someone whose appearance rivals that of these beautiful fae gardens themselves, and for a moment, it just doesn't connect who Yusuke is referring to. Alicia glances over her shoulder for the beauty that must be standing behind her, looks this way and that, just to find this gorgeous being Yusuke is entreating to, but when no one appears, Alicia's gaze flicks back down to the boy on the ground in front of her. And that's when she notices the way his eyes are fixated on her.
The rapier in hand disappears in an instant.
This confirms it, he is an idiot and half-blind as well, but the plea from this young artist - and he must be an artist, Alicia decides, not because of the words he says, but the way he speaks them, just as wildly passionate as her papa - there's something to be said for being seen as the woman she really was for the first time in her life. To have someone's eyes upon her full of excitement for once, instead of every gaze aimed her way all variations of pitying and sad. The feeling is so intensely foreign to Alicia, that she hardly knows what to do with it. It's all just so overwhelming.
But then she spies her brother and sister over Yusuke's head in the distance, both of their gazes fixated on the pair of them, looking particularly feral and ready to spill this boy's blood when Alicia's only just been paid her very first complement from someone outside of the family. Now that won't do at all.
So instead of seeking clarification from Yusuke or shooing her older siblings away herself, she goes with the impulsive response - grabbing Yusuke's outstretched hand and yanking him up to his feet before she drags him away, deeper into the garden, further away from the party itself.]
no subject
Before he can ask what, exactly, she is trying to find he feels her grab his hand.]
Oh!
[The surprise at this sudden move is enough to have him be pulled up with little to no resistance and before he knows it, they are running deeper into the garden and even further from the party proper. If he were anyone else (hell, even another one of the Phantom Thieves) he would be trying to stop and ask what she was trying to do. As it stands however, he is Yusuke Kitagawa, and that means he lets her take the lead and idly wonders where they are going.
It is only once they come to a stop that he speaks and he does not move to let go of her hand.]
Is this where you wanted to be, then? I hope you were able to get your fill of the flowers before this.
[He'd be terribly sad if his interference stopped her from enjoying that part of the garden to the fullest.]
no subject
But what does surprise her is how when they finally come to a stop, far away from the garden party and her overly protective siblings, Alicia can't help the laugh that bubbles up within her. The mix of adrenaline and the sheer silliness of running away from her family like that, it just sets something loose inside of her. She releases Yusuke's hand, only so that she can tug her mask off as she pants for breath, huffing out a wheezing, painful little laugh. None of it is very pretty to behold, the ugly scarring all over her face, the way her skinny shoulders tremble under the effort of catching her breath, but even while she's fighting for control over herself again, Alicia aims a soft smile in the teenager's direction, something like excitement shining in her eye.
Even if this is enough to scare him away, at least she'll be alone to deal with the fallout. The last thing Alicia wants is her brother and sister fussing over her because of a boy.]