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pixieledmemes2025-05-15 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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Valentino will have quite the tantrum once he finds out it's no good to him here. And no Vox to calm him down.
There's a squeak, and Val's head tilts. "Do I look like a fae?" If they were demons it might explain how they'd pulled him out of Hell.
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Nancy's not sure how to read the situation, and swallows slightly. "Well, a bit, to be fair. But the fae can look like anything. I thought perhaps since you're... not human, exactly." She smiles, to try to show she means no offense. "I just wanted to be sure, Valentino. And if you weren't, I wanted to welcome you."
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He looks down at himself in mild surprise. "I always heard they were...small," he explains, gesturing with one set of hands before offering a reassuring smile, "But no, not human. Not any more. And not a fae, so welcome away, Preciosa."
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She looks him up and down. "If you don't mind me asking, if you're not human or fae, what are you? Demon? I've met a few of those." She smiles again though. "Well, welcome then, Valentino, to Faerie. I've been here about two months, and it's not so terrible. Just be sure not to apologize or thank any of the fae, they don't take too kindly to it."
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And while an apology is unlikely to exit Val's mouth any time soon, he does seem surprised by the warning. "Interesting."
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"Oh, some people here have wings, not quite like yours, but similar- I've met a duck that talks and acts like a human, and my roommate is an owl." She's getting a lot better about now screaming when she sees something strange and unusual.
"Innit? Also, don't steal anything-- Not that I think you would, Valentino, of course- it's just they don't take kindly to it." She was lucky someone had warned her before her instincts took over. "There's no need anyway. Anything you could want, you can get easy as can be."
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"It's all bartering."
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He can feel that familiar rage building inside.
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"It's not so bad- some people prefer to trade in favors- you can take out a marker with some of 'em and they'll call it in. But others like a pretty stone. I work at the pub in exchange for my meals and drinks there." She blinks up at him. Don't get mad. Rage is scary, and men with rage issues are very scary.
"I bet a man like you, you've got tons of stories you can trade. You're probably incredibly rich, here, by fae standards."
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"That's all they'd want?" Well he's got plenty of stories, that's true. And he can pick up a rock somewhere if he has to. It's not as bad as it could be, though it's still quite the change from the life of luxury he's gotten used to.
"I guess I don't have much choice."
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"That's all. It's quite lovely, honestly. Back home, things were always difficult, we was all hand t'mouth. Here, well, I've got more dresses than days of the week! You'll get used to it, Valentino, I promise you."
She pats his arm as she smiles encouragingly. Something tells her he was incredibly rich, wherever he came from. The rich ones always had the hardest accepting it.
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Still, this gentle confidence disarms him, and he takes in that encouraging smile. She doesn't seem afraid. She doesn't want anything from him. Like the Princess but less annoying.
"You seem sure for someone who just met me."