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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.
ii: eat me (You know, I tried to make him be serious and then THIS happened.)
Of course, someone would pick just that moment--good intentioned as they likely are--to fill in for his missing Shield on scolding duty.]
I was only considering. It's not like I've committed to an action yet.
[Is that a touch of childish petulance in his voice? If so, it is there and gone, vanishing as quickly as it came as he straightens and turns to the person who has spoke to him. For a moment, Regis seems the very imagine of the put together young king he is, then a bit of a mischevious twinkle enters his eyes.]
My goodness, what did you say to our hosts to anger them so that they turned their pink wands on you?
regis you cant ask people why they're pink
He lifts a hand towards his hair.]
Oh no, it's dyed. But if you talk like that around them, you may give them ideas about your own colour scheme.
[He can imagine them wanting to brighten up all that black.]
He didn't ask. He just posited what he thought was a likely reason WHY Cad was pink!
I'll have you know that I had to argue with my father tooth and nail to get the pinstripes allowed. It's only 50% black and the tradition in Lucis is 100% black for the royal family. These beings strike me as the traditional sort.
[Regis pauses a moment then, a smile crossing his face. It's the first real smile he can remember having since arriving here, because this is silly. A welcome respite from everything else that is going on.]
Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mister...?
that's what they all say...
Pleasure right back to you. Caduceus Clay. That's quite a mouthful of a name.
[And one long family line, evidently.]
no subject
My friends and family call me "Reggie" when we are away from all the prying eyes and gossiping voices of those who follow the royal family.
[There is a short pause as something occurs to Regis.]
That really is the only nickname that has stuck over the years. I wonder what else I might end up with should I run into anyone brave enough to nickname the king.
[Cor had called him a coward once, but that hardly counted as a nickname considering it came from the mouth of a rebellious and bratty 15-year-old.]
no subject
Ah, you're a king? That's interesting. [He hasn't much royalty in his life, and it's pretty much all happened within the last year. Not that it really matters to him - royals are just different people - but it does make the casual nature of this conversation more intriguing. He's used to the expectation of bowing and whatnot.] I could try to come up with a nickname, but it's only fun if I get to know you better first.
no subject
[Usually Weskham or Clarus after he's done or said something incredibly stupid or ill-thought out. It's polite speak for "Stop being an idiot and remember you're a king."
Still, he's not going to assume an insult from someone who he's just met. Especially someone so different from anyone he's met before.]
I am, though I don't suppose that means much here. Even with all the magic my family possesses, we couldn't come close to doing something like this. A title from home, despite the power it may grant there, is going to mean very little to beings with so much power.
[In the vein of getting to know each other better, Regis does ask a much more politely worded question than the joking one he had asked before.]
I don't oppose getting to know you better myself, Mr Clay. I daresay that I've never met someone like you before. Do your people have a name?
no subject
He listens thoughtfully, taking in all the new information. Family magic, got it. (Sorcerers?) Not as strong as the fae, that makes sense (they're all trapped here together after all). And, it seems, from a world without people like him. Perhaps a world with only humans...?
Ah, well. He'll just have to get used to the question, and he appreciates the politeness.]
Folks call us firbolgs, in my world. A sort of magic giant, you could say.
[Considering their current circumstances he is not going to say fey-giants. But since he's 7 feet tall and considered sort of scrawny for his species, it's not a bold claim.]
no subject
[Regis repeats the word with the tone of one trying it out for the first time, and he most certainly is. It's not a word he's run into before despite having read more than his fair share of historical texts and despite being well-versed in many languages, ancient and modern.
At least, he is familiar with magic. It's the magic + giant that is throwing him a little.]
I take it magic is common on your world then? I wouldn't call it exactly common on my world as it is limited to my family.
[He sighs then, the sound a small sign of the frustration he's feeling but otherwise hiding fairly well.]
Not that any of that knowledge is helping me understand the beings who have brought us here.
no subject
[At least, that's been his experience while traveling. He grew up around the magic of the Wildmother, so it isn't so surprising to see it, for himself.]
I'm no expert, but I know a little about fae. The best advice I can give you is to be very careful about phrasing and rules.
no subject
[That is to say, he should remember the smile is fake, every word most certainly has a double meaning, and that no deals should be made unless everything has been negotiated out down to the finest detail.]
I think I'm already getting a headache.
[The sad part is, he's only half joking. This sounds like his worst days at court only times about a thousand.]
no subject
[He's been to royal court like 3 times maybe?? And witnessed one diplomatic meeting. Hardly a wealth of experience in the ways of political negotiation. Still, the policy of barely ever saying what you mean is well enough known.]
What I meant is more in the literal sense. [He pauses, considering for a moment.] Can you give me your name again?
[It was just such a mouthful...! He's definitely forgotten.]
no subject
[It's not like he hasn't given his name to Caduceus once already, and the firbolg has been kind enough to explain quite a bit to him.]
Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII
no subject
Thank you! Your name is mine now, since you gave it to me. You'll have to find a new one. Good luck with that.
no subject
[...
Probably not the reaction Caduceus was looking for.]
no subject
Oh, I think they'll like you.
no subject
I will take that as a tentative compliment since I have been told by several people that staying on their good sides greatly increases one's chances at survival.
[Joking aside, though, Regis hasn't missed the point that Caduceus was trying to make.]
Your lesson is one well-learned. We are too free with our phrasing much of time time. If I asked someone to give me their hand, I would not mean for them to take it off and literally give it to me. These beings, though, may ask for just that.
no subject
[He comes across as the friendly, helpful sort, based on first impressions. Not a bad thing! But certainly a thing that could be taken advantage of here.]
It can be tricky to re-train your phrasing, of course. And hopefully some of our hosts will be less severe in punishing those who don't know any better just yet. If they want to keep us, that is.
no subject
[Why even try to deny it? It's obviously true and something that he is going to have to constantly remind himself of for a while.]
I hope they will be at least a little forgiving at first. None of us will be much help to them should we end up missing our hands and feet because we were not careful enough when speaking to them.
no subject
[He won't deny there are some who are bound to be into that sort of thing, though.]
If you have any mishaps like that, come and find me, we'll get you fixed up. [Regenerate! So useful.] But there are plenty of other things that can be taken from you, remember that. Most are less tangible.
no subject
[Regis can't say he's surprised. The calm demeanor that Caduceus has shown so far would be a great asset for a healer to have, especially in the middle of a battle.]
Can you heal directly? I too have a healing power, but it is through curatives that I can make. It's useful, but requires preparation.
[Caduceus' warning causes Regis to nod. This is something that has been slowly dawning on him over the course or their conversation.]
Considering how quickly they mentioned we should give up on our families and homes, I suspect none of them would be above removing our memories to "assist" us in doing so should they have the chance.
no subject
[Healing hands, that is. May as well be up front about it, in case Regis ever needs a good cure.]
That's why phrasing is very important. Though memories are usually harder to give up than parts or possessions. "May I borrow your hat" is innocent enough but has no time limit, so you may think it's safe but then be old and grey before you see that hat again. "Give me a childhood memory you hold dear" is an easier phrase to pick apart as something you might lose.
no subject
Thank you for taking the time to explain this all to me. If I can return the favor in the future, I will be happy to.
[Regis gives Caduceus a quick wink then.]
And yes, I am aware that means I owe you a favor. I suspect that favor is in good hands.
no subject
[He's an easy read, so it's very apparent that he's not serious, thankfully.]
It's no problem at all, though. Those who have knowledge should share it. I don't have as much as I'd like, but it's a start.