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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.
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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
He's always been taller than him, that's not a surprise, nor is he surprised when he pulls a gun on him. But it doesn't stop him from bristling and that grin sharpening before his focus shifts enough for ice to start crawling along Val's hand starting from the trigger. "Nah, don't think you'll be doing none of that here. 'Sides, we don't permanently die here, last I heard, so it's the same shit as always." A slow shrug follows, tightening his grip on Angel's waist to pull him closer and casually opening those large wings. "But he ain't yours and I'm not about to let you continue this fuckin' bullshit while we're here, fucko. So what you're gonna do is turn the fuck around and leave before I decide to see how quickly I can slit your goddamned throat and make your guts into fuckin' streamers for this fuckin' party."
no subject
....Do nothing?
Ice crept along the Overlords out stretched hand and the spider blinked, confused. Looking back down at the feline to see the wicked grin on his face it clicked that this was his doing. In his chest, he felt his heart squeeze as Husk protectively pulled him in closer, which was only made worse listening to what words followed after. Was... was it bad that he was wildly turned on right now? If Val wasn't standing right there he'd.... No, right, focus.
Shaking that look from his face, a deep chuckle rumbled in his throat as he leans over to drape an arm around Husk's shoulder.
"Yeah, what he said. There's gonna be a new order 'round here. You better get used to it."
no subject
That momentary loss of control makes his face flush with both humiliation and rage. It's been far too long since anyone has been able to effective stand up to him.
"You and your kitty are going to pay for that, Angel," he hisses.
no subject
"Just because I was on a fuckin' leash doesn't mean I don't remember how the game is played, Valentino. Make a single. fucking. misstep. around him and I'll be glad to remind you that we're on the same fuckin' level." He pauses for a moment, tilting his head somewhat as if pondering something. "Nah, I'd never stoop so low to be a piece of shit like you. Moths ain't predators, remember it."
no subject
What did that say about him? God...If there was one bright side of this prick showing up. it was seeing Husk acting like a big shot. Angel wasn't even trying to hide the lustful glances he was casting the feline's way. As soon as they were back at the castle... He needed to thank him for coming to his aid. If he hadn't shown up when he did, he might have thrown himself back into the flame. It was easy to forget that he didn't have the face things alone.Playing into it, the arm wrapped around Husk's shoulders drifted down to toy with the old man's suspenders as his free hand reached up to draw lazy circles on the tuft of fur on his chest.
"That's right, baby, you tell him." Angel grins. "Your threats are hollow without your little cronies here to back ya up."
no subject
He kicks over a near by table, and it does something to release a fraction of that rage, wiping at the poison that drips from the corner of his mouth. "You enjoy your gutter trash, Husk. All of Hell's had a go, you might as well take your turn," he spits.
"You fell so far this time baby. I'll be here when you come to your senses." He gives Angel a pointed look, violently knocking over another table as he stalks away.