pixieledmemes | Test Drive Meme #4

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Test Drive Meme #4

TDM #4 - July/August 2025

🦋 Introduction

Welcome to the Pixie Led Test Drive Meme!

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🦋 The Party

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.

Unlike all of the other parties the Adopted have attended thus far, this one lacks the fae's usual easy elegance and ethereal beauty. Instead of dresses drenched in shining pearls and gems or sturdy tables full of the most mouth-watering food around, this party looks... cheap.

While the chasm between the Seelie and Unseelie courts has stopped growing, it also hasn't started shrinking. But when it comes to party planning, the Day Duke and the Summer Queen have thrown out the more traditional kind of party in favor of a summer celebration that their human pets might be familiar with. A Renaissance Faire.

But this is the fae interpretation of a human Ren Faire, complete with cheap, itchy costumes, cardboard stalls in the marketplace, and soft, plastic weaponry. Even the fae themselves seem to have gotten into the spirit of the event, masquerading - poorly - as humans playing faerie creatures. Everything within this crafted townsquare is absolutely fake, except for the plentiful faire food and drink that can not be avoided. Newcomers will have massive turkey legs, steaming apple dumplings, and overflowing wooden mugs shoved into their hands as they stroll through the faire.

As the party winds down and everyone's eaten, a tall, stately elf 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.

🦋 We're the Rats

CW: loss of agency, character death

Between the faeries cosplaying as humans - flat, bland wigs and all - Adopted may catch a glimpse or three of strange figures slinking through the crowd, all dressed up in the same cheap robes, wearing masks made up to look like rats. If an Adopted attempts to catch one of these figures, they’ll find themselves drawn away from the lively crowd into some darkened corner of the faire, where the sound of the festival doesn’t quite reach. The rat man will say nothing if spoken to, only holding out a shining, jeweled crown that all Adopted will feel compelled to wear before they scurry away without a word.

And for most of the party, the rat men seem harmless enough, lurking around and handing out crowns, making a point to hit most of the Seelie court’s Adopted in particular. It just seems like another strange misinterpretation of human tradition by the fae, unintentionally sinister when really it’s all for fun.

But then the party goes silent.

One of the rat men descends into the market square with a cheeky little dance, pipe in hand, already playing a jaunty tune that carries from one end of the faire to the other. Any Adopted wearing a crown will be unable to resist the call of the music, dancing along to every note. And as the figure masquerading as a rat begins to step backwards away from the crowd, they'll find themselves following right after him, forced to mimic his every step.

If they are not stopped by those without crowns, the Adopted will eventually dance themselves right into the forest with their piper, blindly following him even as the trees themselves begin to twist in around them. The further they get from the party, the more the brush becomes so thick it suffocates, vines and branches curling around limbs, trapping the Adopted long enough that they'll be swallowed up completely by the forest, returned to their dorm bedrooms by morning.

🦋 Faire Festivities

CW: loss of agency, unintentional harm, blood and gore

There is a veritable trove of activities the adopted can pick from to entertain themselves for the evening as they battle the relentless heat and scorching sun. But don't be fooled, the activities present aren't mundane and offer some thrilling options.

It should be noted that while of the other weapons to be found all over the faire are plastic, Adopted will see for themselves that there is no mistaking that the items used in these games are incredibly real.

Axe throwing & Archery

some random Adopted (be they known to you or not) will be selected and strapped to the target board

Hope you have good aim.

Jousting

impossible to dismount until you win or lose.

Do not fear, no matter what happens during this event, the horses will be perfectly safe. The Adopted however do not have that same protection.

Darts

when either of you throw, the other will be hurt in turn.

Isn't teamwork great?

🦋 GEIS

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, tell us all of a time when you saw through a facade that fooled everyone around you. Perhaps the most compelling story will receive a reward from us.

ｎａｖｉｇａｔｉｏｎ

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( on any other day, rowena would preen at the compliment. when bound by the fae and facing a child with an axe? nothing inspires confidence in her )

Later.

( she struggles again against what is holding her, even though rowena knows it won't give. she at least didn't snap at her, even if her tone is a little shorter )

Do you know what you're doing?

[ Eleven looks at the axe in her very small hands that are attached to very thin arms. She presses her lips together, wants to say 'Yes' but feels like that's way too big of a lie. Friends don't lie. And the woman might not be Eleven's friend, but she is Erik's friend. That probably means the rule applies.

After a moment she looks back up. ]

It's okay. I'm very strong.

[ Enjoy your reassurance, Rowena.]

Edited 2025-07-23 21:10 (UTC)

It's not your strength I'm worried about.

( strength is certainly something to worry about, so she's a slight liar, but she's far more concerned with how good the girl's aim is than how hard she's able to throw it.

really, rowena wonders if she can use her magic to stop the axe if it seems like it's coming too close to her rather than hitting the actual target. she'll certainly try )

Just-- get it over with.

[ Eleven looks at the axe again, then nods. ]

Don't worry. I like Erik. I'm careful.

[ With that... she lets go of the axe. It hangs in the hair for a moment, floating up to hover vaguely at eye level for Eleven as she holds up a hand, palm outwards and fingers splayed. She pulls her arm back, not unlike winding up for a shot-put. The axe lightly draws back with the motion to. Thrusting her arm forwards, the axe launches at the target at much too high velocity - but also in a very obvious direct line to the target next to and solidly above Rowena. With telekinesis, at least, Eleven is precise. The axe flies in a straight line, pushed through the air rather than actually thrown, and unless Rowena does wish to interfere, will embed itself with a little bit too much force into the target.

Eleven looks incredibly smug and pleased with herself. ]

We win.

[ They do not win - tragically, the axe vanishes from the target and re-appears in Eleven's hands. A "kind" Fae will explain to her that she has to actually throw the axe herself, no shortcuts allowed.

Eleven calls him stupid. Somehow, this does not actually help their situation either. It does make two more axes appear on the table in front of her, though. Eleven has the questionable decency to look at Rowena somewhat apologetically. ]

( rowena has a feeling that erik is the thing saving her here, making the girl take even more care even if she already would have been careful. rowena closes her eyes briefly as eleven draws her hand back, taking a steadying breath.

when she opens them, her eyes open in surprise. the axe hasn't yet flown at her but she recognises the power the girl is wielding it with: telekinesis. it doesn't stop rowena from flinching when the axe comes closer, but she doesn't use her magic, both from panic but also trusting the steady line the girl is pushing it in.

when she hears it solidly thunk into the target she releases her breath, taking a few deeper ones, and manages to smile at her.

the smile quickly fades when the fae corrects them, and she glares at that same fae when they add more axes to the pile. they'd sense her magic if she tried to help, and though worry presses back in she ignores it )

You felt the axe moving before. ( rowena's never been an inspire confidence in someone with words before, better at manipulation, but she'd like to not bleed ) The same position you held it in then you're going to do now. Hold it there.

[ Eleven nods. She spreads her feet a little bit, plants them firmly. Weighs the axe a bit more in her hands this time, lifts it up to mimic how she'd held it with telekinesis before. She nods a little, as if to reassure Rowena that she can do this. Or maybe she's trying to reassure herself. Either/or, really. ]

Gustave. Taught me to throw rocks.

[ That's totally the same thing and therefore wildly reassuring... right? Right. She also wildly mispronounces the name. It sounds like she's saying Goose Tough.

Maybe Rowena should start making peace with some loss of limb here. Eleven assumes her position, then looks at Rowena. Hey, what is inspiration if not manipulating someone to success? ]

Like this?

( if rowena prayed to anyone this would definitely be the time to start doing it. if only the girl had darts or a dagger instead of an axe, she might feel more convinced about throwing rocks.

she doesn't pray, but there is a silent plea to the magic around them, to nature herself. let the wind carry the axe, let her aim be steady. guidance and protection )

Just like that.

( her words remain steady despite how she feels, and she manages to keep her expression neutral. inspire confidence with a damn good poker face: if she can hold one to lucifer, she can hold one to an axe-wielding girl )

Take a deep breath. Throw it when it feels right. You'll know.

[ Eleven follows along. Nodding at the first sentence. Taking that deep breath. Steady... and then her face scrunches up for a moment as if Rowena has just said the stupidest thing Eleven has ever heard. Which, granted, isn't saying much - it's the face Eleven makes at anything and everything she doesn't understand. Because her inability to understand something clearly means it's stupid, not that she is lacking.

How is she supposed to tell when it feels right? She shakes her head a little, focusing on the deep mark left behind by the axe before. Staring at it, because surely that's how you aim. Deep breath. Winding her arm back. Willing the axe to go to that mark really, really hard.

And then...

So, on the first three tries, the first axe goes just about anywhere but remotely close enough to the target. Eleven is beginning to hate axes, faeries, targets, herself, and Thor. Not because he did anything, but when he was still around, he annoyed her, so. As good a target for her ire as any.

Finally, on attempt number four, the axe hits the target... nowhere near where Eleven was aiming, and intimately close to Rowena's face. Which is absolutely under no circumstances cause for celebration, but Eleven grins wide and cheerful. ]

I did it!

[ One down. Two to go. ]

( each throw of the axe has rowena tense. she'd hoped that the first miss would have been accepted as a throw but they wanted it to hit something. rowena figured that they'd accept the throw if it landed solidly into her rather than the target.

but, finally, when eleven does hit something it isn't her. it's close but she lets out her breath in relief when it skims past her, silently thanking the magic for helping )

You did beautifully, my dear.

( only two more to go and hopefully they went as well as that one )

[ The praise gets a sweet little smile out of Eleven, so there's that. If nothing else, for a moment in time, she really truly believes this is going to go well. And surprisingly, shockingly, axe number 2 also hits the target. Again, nowhere near where Eleven was aiming. Upside: It's further away from Rowena's life and limb than axe number one ended up being!

This is going so well, wow.

Shame if anything happened now, right?

They're almost in the clear. So naturally... disaster strikes.

Axe number 3 goes off trajectory pretty hard compared to the other two. It strikes the target - but on the way, it hits Rowena's leg hard, cutting through cloth and into flesh before striking wood. It is absolutely not the most horrible wound this entire endeavor could have cause, but... well.

Eleven's face falls immediately, eyes wide - no celebration as Rowena's magical restraints disappear. ]

( she blames her own confidence. after the second had landed further from her she'd relaxed slightly. confidence was a downfall, and whilst the next axe doesn't land squarely in her it does touch her, making her cry out at the pain.

it's more of a brush, skimming over the surface of her, but the axe is sharp and even a small touch does damage. her dress rips, and her blood mixes with the red of the fabric as it begins to flow over her, the axe having skinned her. it isn't deep, many things about this could have been worse, but it's a large enough section where it touched her that the amount she bleeds makes it look far worse than it is.

when her bounds are released, rowena stumbles. her leg is painful, and it's all that she can think about for seconds, taking gasping breaths as she tries to breathe through that pain )

It's not your fault.

( her words are quieter, harder to press out, and there's no blame in her expression. she's angry with the fae but not with this girl.

slowly, recovering some of herself, rowena reaches a hand out, facing down her body, and eleven will see her eyes light in violet. her magic draws to her, her brows knitted in concentration at completing her spell over the pain, and as her hand slowly moves, the blood begins to slow and stop. and then, as moments span, the wound begins to heal )

[ There's nothing she can actually help, and for a long moment, she's entirely rooted to the spot. Despite Rowena's reassurance, something grips her chest tight, like she expects someone to round on her, to yell 'What the hell is wrong with you' and 'You're a monster'.

But it doesn't happen, and when Rowena heals herself, Eleven begins to tentatively step a little closer, her face no longer quite as twisted up. She reaches out a hand, lightly touching where blood has already disappeared, leaving behind unmarked skin while the wound mends together. ]

Gone...

[ Her face turns from guilt-ridden to hesitantly curious. She doesn't quite understand what she sees, but tries to parse it through her limited experiences with these things. Therefore... ]

Are you. A mutant?

[ And yes, she still pronounces it mute ant, ERIK. ]

( there's no pain when eleven touches her, which rowena's thankful for. the spell continues healing for for another thirty seconds until the wound is gone, her hand relaxing as her eyes fade back to hazel )

I'm not. ( but there's fondness in her at the question. she does love a mutant, even if she's not ready to admit that ) I'm a witch.

( rowena gestures with a tilt of her head to move them away before the fae had any other ideas )

You're telekinetic.

( she doesn't say mutant. telekinetics exist in her world, mutants are a word of erik's. but she'll happily be corrected if eleven is a mutant )

[ There's is a very blank look in Eleven's eyes, just a full on lack of comprehension while she walks with Rowena. ]

There are no TVs. Here.

[ She doesn't know 'telekinetic'. She was looking for the closest approximate match she knows and landed dead center on something wildly incorrect. ]

Witch. Like... wizard? Magic. Dungeons & Dragons.

[ Not that she knows anything about the game, really, other than what tidbits Mike rambled off at one point or another. ]

I'm... maybe a mutant. I'm an Avenger - that's. A superhero.

[ I'm a number. I'm a weapon. I'm a monster.

Those, she doesn't say. Just quietly accepts as reality, too. ]

( rowena nods at the question of magic, and for the girl's benefit she'll let her own expression mirror her blankness when eleven mentions dungeons and dragons. not a concept she knows )

Telekinesis is the word in my world used for what you're able to do.

( she pauses their walk, pointing at a small rock to guide eleven's attention, before that same finger motions upwards. smoothly, the rock lifts into the air, hovering effortlessly with her magic )

I've learned here that each unique world has different names for it. Like mutant.

[ There's a quiet hunger in the way Eleven listens, because even without asking more, Rowena explains, and mostly in ways that Eleven understands and can follow. Something she is greedy for in all things. ]

Tele... Tell-eh-keen...

[ Her face twists up a bit. She tries to parrot the word, but it's unfamiliar, somewhat big, and sits too heavy on her tongue. It will be her word of the day. Like Compromise. Or Fuck you. ]

Repeat. [ She squints, and then remembers that sometimes, it pays to display manners. A whole one of them. ] Please.

( there's a softer smile, the rock lowering, and rowena repeats the word again, first normally so she can hear how it sounds and then slower so that eleven can hear each sound. which perhaps, unfortunately?, makes her accent a little stronger with the slower sounds giving more focus to each sound.

she starts walking again, plucking a drink from a passing stall. she needs it after what just happened to her )

Telekinesis is what I assumed Erik's power was before he explained it.

[ Funny thing about that - Eleven tries to copy the syllables how she hears them. It's how she learns. So, yes, she learns to say telekinesis... just with a tiny bit of a Scottish lilt. She seems happy with the result, and beams at Rowena.

They start walking again, and while Rowena plucks a drink, Eleven holds up her hand, bringing that rock to her. She turns it over and examines it while they walk. ]

Erik is very strong. We fought monsters. I helped him. [ After a moment, sheepishly: ] He didn't need. My help. But I didn't want him to be alone. So I helped. [ She looks up at Rowena, eyes big in the ways of all children who are about to drop a 'this is so impressive' kind of fact on an adult: ] He built the Alamo with me. The blanket fort. For Laura. And for me. He's Laura's father. Laura is my friend. [ And here too, Eleven pronounces Laura how she heard it - the Spanish way, not the English way. ]

He may be strong, but even strong men can do with some help.

( rowena winks at her, and it's an encouraging thing, intending to tell eleven to keep doing what she's doing. she may be a young girl, but rowena had seen her power; she was strong too. rowena hadn't met erik then until after the dragons, where she'd heard about his injury and he'd literally carried her to bed because of hers.

her expression softens at the mention of laura, and though she'd not met the other girl, erik had told her about her. otherwise, she imagines that she'd be very shocked at hearing he had a daughter in this place, especially with what he'd told her about his daughter from home )

Have you seen what he's building currently?

( tugging gently on the same thread, and maybe rowena now is the one very impressed with what he's doing.

which, whilst he agreed to build it before they started dating, is made more fond by the greenhouse he's building for her )

[ That little conspiratorial wink? That has Eleven straight up beaming. She likes to feel like she's included in a secret or a joke, like someone is sharing something interesting with her. Rowena just so happens to be effortlessly wrapping this little girl around her little finger even past the Erik-shaped bonus.

Eleven nods at the question. She tucks an errand strand of hair back behind her ear, from where it escapes again almost immediately. It's at that awkward length somewhere just shy of a bob. ]

The farm. A house.

[ A small smile, as Eleven ducks her head. There's something very shy and pleased in her expression that she tries to hide a little bit like something small and precious she wants to protect from other people. ]

He said. I can come there. And live there.

He's making it a space for the people he cares about.

( which rowena realises naturally included eleven. and she can certainly see why with the charm of the girl.

she doesn't mention that erik has offered her a space there. he'd offered that before they'd begun dating and she hadn't taken it, even if it was still left for her. and now that they're dating-- she's still feeling out the relationship, and as much as she enjoys being close to him she's taking baby steps. not immediately moving in with him )

Along with the house, there's plenty of space for what we might need. Open grounds, the farm, a greenhouse. ( that he'd added on her request ) Make sure you ask him if there's something you want there.

[ Eleven glances back up, small frown on her face. Not displeased, more thinking about it, with a touch of confusion. ]

Like what?

[ It seems she genuinely struggles with that thought right out the gate. It's not her house to build, she thinks, but also Eleven barely has a concept of understanding how to like things on her own and for herself, without other people pressing them onto her. She assumes the blanket fort will move into the farmhouse, but beyond that...

What could she possibly want? ]

( a pause spreads out as she thinks, considering both phrasing and perspective, sipping her drink as she does. it dawns on her that she's not even yet asked the girl's name, though at this point she might just ask erik later )

The greenhouse has been added because I asked for it. I spoke to Erik about having a space to plant herbs and other plants, things for healing or magical use, and he suggested a greenhouse to house them.

( and whilst rowena usually works with her plants indoors, never having had her own greenhouse before, she'd been touched and accepted the idea )

Is there something you do in the castle that you'd like to do at the farm, without having to return to the castle for it?

[ Oh! Well, that's easy to answer. ]

I make waffles. [ Her face is such a blend of sincerity and seriousness. ] I have a waffle iron. Tony made it.

[ She ponders a little bit more, then. ]

I learn, too. Erik teaches. I get homework. I think it's like... school. Maybe. I've never been to school. Clint also teaches, a little. How to talk with hands.

[ She faces Rowena, holds up her hand and signs 'My name is Eleven'. It's American Sign Language, but it translates by way of the fairy language, so she will understand it. The motions are a little stiff - she's only just learning.

She worries her lips for a moment. But Rowena knows Erik, and Erik knows. And Eleven is no longer trying to hide, so she offers: ]

Also. I spy.

( thank you, eleven, for teaching her more about her boyfriend. she's filing this information away for later to delightfully tease him about. though as much as she wants to know what erik teaches her, she's not going to keep bringing the topic back around to him.

the little signs that eleven shows her delights her, and the fact that this girl loves to learn, and is so proud of it, makes her smile. which, not that rowena yet knows it, is going to bode well for the future. she holds her hand up in return, and signs back my name is rowena. she's picked a few things up over the years. sign language isn't as fluent as what she's used for magic, things she reads or speaks, having had less reason to use it, but language and communication is important to her. you never know when you do need something )

You spy?

( rowena doesn't expect this to be with her powers, thinking of it more like a child sneaking around and eavesdropping. which, around erik, is certain to make her laugh )

Do you hear anything interesting?

Test Drive Meme #4

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cw: axe wound, blood

cw: cont

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her hair doesn't look like this rn but the face is just too perfect

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