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pixieledmemes2025-01-15 09:46 am
Test Drive Meme #1
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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 seems to be a holiday party of some sort, if the large, candle-decorated pine tree in the middle of the tables is any indication. While the party appears to be outside, the temperature is mild and pleasant within the gates and hedges sectioning the party off from the rest of the garden. Stars twinkle overhead, a full moon hanging in the sky, as fluffy flakes of oddly not-cold snow drift to the ground. Some of the hosts dance in a circle around the pine tree, moving their hands around in odd patterns as their feet move; it seems to make the tree glow. The mood seems to be festive, with everyone smiling brightly. Their chipper voices sometimes crescendo louder than the soft chamber music that's being performed in the corner; their laughter rings out like little bells now and then as people get settled.
There are candles and sprigs of pine on every table accenting the festive spread of food and drinks. There are cookies, olives and cheese and crackers, various sliced meats, cranberries and oranges, chocolate coins, fried potatoes of every shape and style, warmed cider and mulled wine, and every other type of food you might be craving.
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.
In front of you sits a spinning top with symbols you don't recognize on each of its four sides. Next to it is a pile of chocolate coins. Someone nearby helpfully explains that you'll need a second player to bet against, but they at least are willing to take a second to explain the rules.
Each round, each player puts a coin into the pot. Then they take turns spinning the top, taking an action depending on the symbol that is landed on. The wind chime means you do nothing. The coin means you take everything in the pot. The sword means you take half of everything in the pot (half plus one if there is an odd number). The hand means you put a piece of your winnings back in the pot. When one person owns every chocolate coin and the other person is left with nothing, they have won the game.
Perhaps you should try and flag someone down to play a game to figure out what's going on around here. After all, half of the party guests look about as confused as you do, and it might be a nice idea to start getting to know the other people here.
Tucked away in a corner sits the dessert table. Each cake, cookie, and pastry has signs next to them:
Warning: Do Not Eat
But everything else you've had tonight doesn't seem to have an effect, so what's the harm in a little sweet treat? You dig in, and then, without your knowledge, something changes about you. What those changes are, exactly, is dependent on the desserts you've eaten. Luckily the effect is only temporary; some only last a matter of minutes, some last hours, but either way as soon as you leave the party, you'll be cured.
Types of Desserts
- Cakes: You will believe you've lived in the Fae Realm your whole life and belong there
- Cookies: You will shrink down to about two inches tall
- Pies: You will forget someone important to you
- Candies: You will no longer be able to tell any lies
- Custards: You will grow a tail, antennae, wings, or any combination thereof
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.
Tell us all of a time you received a gift. It could be one you enjoyed or one you did not. Perhaps a particularly amusing story will be rewarded.
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[ It's distressing to hear all the tragedy Makoto has been through. He shakes his head a little. Theta's been listening to the conversation as it has developed and he's been curious about popping out to talk, as well. ]
I have someone onboard who'd like to meet you. Are you interested?
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Onboard? ...Sure?
[Nothing worse could happen after all, right?]
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[ Theta appears then, having the appearance of a boy who's wearing a soldier's power armor. He stands near North's shoulder, hovering in the air. ]
That sounds like it was super scary. Did you have a friend to help you? Or...more than one friend?
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It was scary. And yes, I did and still do. While it was rough at first, I wouldn't be here without them.
[His small smile turns nolstalgic as he remembers both his lost friends and the ones waiting back home. Hesitating for a moment, he gathers himself and continues, staring directly at Theta.]
I even have a friend like you. Their name is Alter Ego. They saved my life.
[His smile turns more fond as he remembers his dear friend and their creator.]
Some people think of them as just a machine but I don't. They're very dear to me.
no subject
I wish I could meet them! It sounds like they were a really special friend to you.
[ His visage drops a little, and he says a little more shyly: ]
I guess they're not with you now though. Not like I'm with North.
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...They're not, but it's not like I'm alone. I just met you and North-san, after all.
[He smiles at Theta and then North before continuing.]
Thank you both for talking to me. Especially you North-san. I know I wasn't the most pleasant at first.
[He then turns back to Theta.]
And you too. It's really nice to meet you. Alter Ego would have been thrilled to meet you.
[He hesitates before asking.]
If it's alright with you both, could you tell me more about yourselves? I feel like we've been talking a lot about myself but not about you two.
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[ Theta bounces a little in place. ]
Can I tell the story? Huh, can I?
[ North pauses and then shakes his head a little. ]
I think it's a better idea for you to retire for now, Theta. I know you're getting past some of what happened, but I can still tell it upsets you at times.
Aww.
[ Theta whines a little, but then his avatar crosses his hands behind his back. ]
Okay. I know you're right.
[ And then his avatar disappears. ]
no subject
Oh. It landed.
[It has landed on the wind chime.]
cw: mentions of torture, bad scientific ethics surrounding treatment of sentient AIs
[ He shrugs. Still, this means it's his turn. He picks the top up and gives it a spin. ]
I was a soldier in the UNSC. I enlisted after my sister decided to. And let me tell you, that pissed her off big-time. I guess she wanted to get out on her own or something. But I couldn't just let her go off to war without me, you know?
[ The top continues to spin as he speaks. ]
I got in some trouble—we both did—and we got recruited to this paramilitary force that took soldiers that had been court-martialed. It was a way for us to continue to contribute to the war effort instead of us getting punished. We did a lot of training to become elite mercenary fighters in that force.
Soon enough they started the next phase of the Project, which was to pair AIs with the soldiers. What we didn't know was that the leadership had only been granted one AI for use in their experiments. Somehow they figured out they could torture the AI to get it to split. Like dissociative disorder, you know? But the AI actually split into multiple fragments.
no subject
They did that to AIs? Did they do that to your friend or are they a result of that?
no subject
He's the result, yeah. I haven't had a chance to research much about what happens but seems like there's usually a child fragment in those situations.
no subject
...Does he remember any of it?
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[ He looks at the top, which is still spinning, but starting to slow. ]
I wish he could play games like this and stuff directly.
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I know it's not directly but what about letting your friend guide your actions while you play? Like they can still talk to you while they're not here, right?
[He wishes he could do more but even playing a little with Theta to cheer him up is good. And giving him some experiences other than being an AI.]
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[ Or rather, they've agreed not to try that. The idea of it messes with North's sense of bodily autonomy too much. ]
We do still talk when he's not projected, though. He's just able to hide his physical form when he wants, he's still here.
no subject
Makoto's shocked face warms at the words and he chuckles.]
I see. He must be very advanced. Alter Ego is confined to computers. But even then, they're quite expressive and finds way to help us.
no subject
Well, Theta would be confined to a computer, but they had technology for that.
[ He turns in his chair 90 degrees and bends to show the back of his neck. There, right at the base of his skull, a bridging matrix has been installed, all metal and chrome. Theta's chip slips into it, though of course, North hasn't pulled Theta in years. ]
no subject
Did it hurt? When you got that installed in you?
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[At least it wasn't too bad. But still...]
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I see. Is that when you first met Theta-san?
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Good. I'm glad you got to talk to Theta-san after that.
[He smiles at North before he looks down at the top.]
...Do you even know what you're supposed to with this top?
no subject
Looks like I'm supposed to put a coin in the pot.
[ He doesn't have any yet, though. He shrugs. ]
You want to spin it again, or forget about it?
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