pixieledmemes | Test Drive Meme #2

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Test Drive Meme #2

TDM #2 - March/April 2025

🦋 Introduction

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.

You do not need an invitation to join the Test Drive Meme, it's open for anyone!

Please indicate character name and canon in the subject line of your top-level. For current characters, you may also indicate your character's court.

For prospective players, Invites open on the 18th, Reserves on the 20th, and Applications on the 22nd. Thanks for checking us out and we hope you'll join us!

🦋 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.

It's a garden party at the crack of dawn, with the sun still in its early stages of climbing through the yonder, casting a good mix of pastel hues of blue, pink, and beige on everything. Heralding the first day of spring, the Ruler of the Spring Court has found it fitting to arrange this gathering where guests can feel the blades of grass touching their ankles, as well as the rich soil beneath their feet. Flowers of all kinds surround the party as if they were carefully curated. With spring as the "dawn of seasons," which marks a transition from winter's latency to the resurgence of life everywhere, the Ruler of the Dawn Court has also seen it fit to host aspects of this party during the one time of the year that dawn occurs the whole day. Tall candles and torches grace the outskirts of the garden party, providing warmth and an orange glow everywhere. Not one flame goes out even with the occasional wind, the Duchess always makes sure of this.

There are also freshly picked blossoms and branches with leaves on every table accenting the festive spread of food and drinks. This time, a lot of the food prepared for the Adopted guests are familiar to them with a little bit of a twist. Burgers might come in small packages and in toothpicks, while hotdogs in buns are also diminutive. Cookies look delectable but they have a flowery flavor to them, as if eating freshly picked daisies or daffodils. Fruits that may have been present in an Adopted's home, such as pineapples and watermelons, have seeds in odd places. Picking this selection of food is an attempt to be more welcoming and to appease the lovely guests the fae have invited.

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.

🦋 Chance at a Dance

A party is not complete without dancing, of course, and while during the last gathering held for the Adopted, different fae danced to music exclusively for them around a glowing tree, this time they are insisting their guests to join in.

This is a party for you, after all.

If the prodding of the different fae hosts won't convince you, perhaps the music will. They play easily recognizable tunes that their wonderful guests must have heard before. These melodies have certain unique effects to their mortal attendees, which are as follows:

Upbeat Music: You will believe that you and your dance partner have been friends forever and have known each other a long time.
Romantic Music: You will become amorous and flirtatious towards your dance partner.
Slow Music: You will develop some tension with your dance partner. It may be negative or sexual; completely up to you.
Quiet Music: You will assume your dance partner is a threat and try to fight them.

🦋 Flower Power

At the Spring King's behest, every Adopted should wear a flower corsage or boutonnière to the gathering. After all, this is to celebrate the coming of spring and what better way to do that than to honor everything in bloom.

The thing is, though, the King of Spring, while amorous and friendly, also has a penchant for playing with mortals' memories, if not also affect their desires and despairs.

So, mischievous as he is, he made sure to enchant the different flowers present in every corsage and boutonnière for the party with the effects below:

Rose: You will recall a horrific trauma
Carnation: You will see a vision of your future, whether it's good or bad
Orchid: You will remember a time you lost someone
Chrysanthemum: You will believe someone among the Adopted is your soulmate
Dahlia: You will believe you betrayed someone important to you, whether you actually did or not

It is perhaps a good thing that no one but the Adopted are allowed to see these visions and memories, but everyone who wears a corsage or boutonnière will be able to see each other's memories and visions when in close enough physical proximity to the vision-haver, for better or for worse.

🦋 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.

Tell us all of a time you gave someone a gift. Perhaps a bouquet of flowers or a box of chocolates. Was it appreciated or not? A reward might await the most meaningful gift given.

🦋 Link to Overflow Post

ｎａｖｉｇａｔｉｏｎ

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Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ It's strange, the way in which they are such mirror images of one another. Not identical, no. There is many a difference in them, and yet a hum of a connection. Because if Eleven knew of these thoughts, she would find the echo within herself - Hopper is her... something, but she does not yet call him her father. And for the time being, will not get the chance to deepen that bond.

Eleven is for all intents and purposes alone, and Laura is who has chosen to not make her alone. That is what she will treasure, and that is what she will covet. Laura's hand, and Laura's kinship.

Eleven nods. A simple, solid acceptance. Laura says Erik will want to see the number, so Eleven will show the number.

It is, at the end of all things, just that easy to sway Eleven's fickle impulses. ]

Laura... [ She purses her lips. Thinks of the words, then makes sure to wrap her hand up with Laura's once again, fingers entangled. ] You help. Thank you.

[That's certainly not the reaction they were expecting. Truthfully they're not sure what sort of reaction they were expecting, how does one even react to that? Even so, most people would probably agree that Mobius's question was not the proper way. Especially when faced with a stranger.

Honestly, it's the exact sort of thing Loki would ask.]

And then what? [they repeat, almost a challenge.] It's a rather long story.

She nods a little, forces a smile that's still a little wavering, but an attempt at least. It's bad enough to have seen that vision herself. She's not going to fall apart in front of a kid.

Living at the Institute had given her a sort of fierce sense of protectiveness over the younger students there, knowing how scary it is to be a mutant at all, never mind a mutant child who'd gotten shipped off to a boarding school. And though she doesn't have any reason to think Laura's a mutant, she's still a kid in a strange place with all sorts of strange things happening, and that's close enough to not make a lick of difference to Rogue.

"Seems like it. It hasn't played any tricks on you, has it?" Though, even as she says it, she has sense enough to realize that if Laura's here, she's probably subject to all the same weird stuff the rest of them are.

Don't think I could be anywhere but at this party then.

You gonna come say hi or keep avoiding me and acting like you're not because you're texting me.

[So. Long day. Exhausting day. Really awful and generally supremely fucked up day. He is ready to figure out what the fuck to do from here, figure out how to go--how to go, but also he's ready to see if falling asleep means waking up from this fairytale bullshit nightmare.

And then there's a girl standing in front of him.

And yeah. Okay. He's been learning not to underestimate little unassuming girls. This one looks so serious, and he wonders for a moment if this is another ploy, another magical fae prank to play.

But. Sure. Play ball.] Hi. [He himself looks rather unassuming, all things considered, especially if they didn't catch him trying to take out the Lawspeaker. His hands slide into his pockets, casual if a little wary. The last girl at least was very helpful.] Can I help you?

Rogue looks up sharply, eyes going almost comically wide, unable to help herself from scrutinizing him, trying to figure out if she'd heard him right or if this is another trick this place has rustled up to torment her.

He doesn't look like Hank McCoy. Which is... putting it pretty lightly.

Not that it's impossible for there to be another scientist-slash-engineer-slash-medic named Hank McCoy. It just seems pretty unlikely that he'd also be here. Unless, of course, this is all a bizarre dream, which she hasn't taken off the table yet.

"You... do you know an Xavier? Charles?" It feels weird to call the Professor by his first name but that's hardly the oddest thing she's dealing with right now.

87.04%.

That is the reason I have accepted your answer.

[ it is as expected. unfortunately, the 12.96% chance of non-fidgety behavior was taking into account other factors that are no longer applicable as fidgeting has happened and there is a cat.

i'm going for peak nonsense with this so everything spock does for the next few seconds is automatic: he's looking at the cat on his approach and by the time he's close enough, he's pulling a hypo out of his bag and applying it to the other man's neck before even looking up. it's a standard issue away kit decongestant, but now he's starting to wish he'd taken to carrying the heavier-duty space epipens around in them for future use. ]

I see that you became "fidgety," Lieutenant Kirk. [ said as he starts to lift his gaze, notes that the braids on his sleeves are not lieutenant rank, then snaps (for him, the speed increase is minimal unless you, say, know spock) his head back up the rest of the way to properly regard him instead of simply continuing with business as usual. ]

You are not Lieutenant Kirk.

[ the emphasis there of course being on the lieutenant™ part. he takes a half-step back not out of fear or distrust but to maintain an Appropriate Amount Of Distance between them since his proximity was for the hypo in the first place.

his brow does the thing. you know the thing. that tiny, tiny knit in the middle. ]

Fascinating.

[ temporal anomalies indeed. ]

There are a number of things that have happened since she'd woken up here that she can't really explain. The Fae. This party. What she's doing here. The Fae. Why they can't leave. The Fae. But a man in what looks like some sort of silver space suit, complete with helmet, quoting Dirty Dancing is another one of them.

This has to be a dream. It's really the only explanation.

And, since it is, she's a little less touchy about someone offering her their hand. Though hers is covered, and so is theirs, so it's probably fine anyway. And, regardless, dream rules and all.

Anyway, there's something toe-tapping about the music, and even though she doesn't actually know him, she sort of feels like... she does? Or should? Something like that.

"Who said my name's not Baby?" she asks, putting her hand in his, which is pretty much the same as accepting his offer to dance. "'Course, I'm not about to lift you over my head, so don't you dare take a running leap at me."

( This little girl intends to be helpful too, but in a different way. She isn't like Eleven; she can't coax people's minds, she can't do that sort of magic. No telepathy, no levitating metal. Laura's body is the weapon, she is the weapon, whether or not she's supposed to say that out loud. Laura is a knife; Laura is a killer.

But she isn't equipped to do that here, her skill set is not quite right. She cannot get close enough, and even if she could, her claws won't be enough.

She eyes him warily, and returns his question with another question: )

Were you going to kill her?

( Her English is fluent, but her accent is thick — it's her second language, clearly. Lilting and rolling syllables, that first hola, it doesn't take a genius.

What's maybe more unsettling is how impassive she looks about the whole thing. Expression stoic, eyes solemn, utterly unafraid and unperturbed by the concept. She stares at him expectantly, evidently awaiting an honest answer to a question far too blunt. )

[ A ryhme? Okay, well...

The first thing that comes to mind is the stupid song Yuffie sings all the time. ]

I am so , so bored
Bored right out of my brain
If I don't die first
Betcha I'll go insane
'Cause I've got nothing else to do
I'm stuck here wasting time
But just wait, oh materia
I'll get back on the road
and make you mine

[ She does a little dance with it, immediately feeling stupid, but gathers the mask, smiles, and thanks the merchant before going back to the party. ]

I met a blacksmith some time ago who knows about robots. Has a very advanced suit of armor, if I understood him correctly. He'd be a good place to start. I think his name was Stark...?

[Her. The Lawspeaker. Funny question for a kid to ask, but clearly there's something else she has in mind. And this is something he has no intention to lie about. No inclination to be coy.]

Yeah.

[His Spanish isn't great, which, yeah, okay, maybe that seems like an oversight, but he's got plenty of other languages under his belt. A little accent never hurt no one.]

Was the intent.

"Maybe, but I don't have much experience with it."

Seras herself had a noticeable cockney accent of the east end. Still looking at the crowd and then back at the person asking her she debated a minute. Hearing Pip's voice encouraging her, Come on Mignonette, have a little fun. It's a party afterall. Finally with a nod she figured it wouldn't hurt.

"It does look fun. Alrigh', maybe jus' one."

( She nods her head once, as if to say I thought so, good. She's glad that he doesn't lie. Her hands shift the backpack she's holding, the hefty weight of it awkward and unbalanced, the kind of weight that can't be books.

Just one more question, and then she'll give him what she came here to give him: )

Are you going to try to kill her again? Will you do better?

I will temper my expectations then. But it would be a shame to not join in the celebration.

[One could argue that it might have been rude to a degree, which would be a terrible offense. But since he had accepted through offering his hand Lae took it beginning towards the crowd.]

Do you know enough to lead, or shall I?

Very funny.

[She first thinks she sees him across the room. But as brightly lit and beautiful as this place is, her eyes could be playing tricks on her. It isn't the first time, but this time it would not be from hunger.

No, because Eponine Thenardier has eaten her way through what feels like half the feast. She must try everything, for fear it will disappear, that she will never see such a feast again! She eats herself full to bursting, and even so stuffs the pockets of her borrowed trousers and coat with as much as she can carry. And that is to say nothing of the drinks!

Distracted, Eponine loses track of Javert across the room, and easily forgets he's even there. It isn't until she is running full-tilt to the edges of the party, making for the bushes that she even sees him again. Hands over her mouth, she rushes past him. No, that is Javert, that is no one but Javert- her stomach churns harder, her vision blurring as she doubles over, expelling everything she'd just eaten from her stomach. Too much, too fast.

She prays he has not seen her, though she's long since lost the hat she'd tucked her hair up under.]

[ jim, on the other hand, is watching as spock approaches, and so he has the full minute or so to take in the fact that the other man looks, uh, younger than he's supposed to? not extensively so, but--

he's about to open his mouth to bring it up, since spock's distracted by the cat, but then the hypo hits his neck, and he winces, mouth snapping shut again as he gives it a few seconds to work on his congestion. by the time that's happening, spock's glancing up to meet his eyes again, and he finds himself smiling wryly at the startled response.

wow, been a little while since he's seen spock do that. ]

And you're not my first officer. Yet. In fact, I'd say you barely know me at this point. [ a beat, then a startled little laugh. ] How'd you know about my allergies already?

[ Her calling him dad like that, no hesitation or backtracking, is still new enough that it causes a rush of warmth to to flow through him. He hopes he never gets used to it. ]

For real. You are way better off without them.

[ More quietly: ]

But it still sucks.

Well this was a pleasant surprise, but then this child did always have a tendency to get into things over his head. Perhaps now it provided a small clue as to why she had been drawn here. Offering him her most flattering smile she gestured around at the celebration.

"Answering an invitation and enjoying the hospitality of our host my dear child."

Shame on him for thinking he might get a straight or direct answer to such a question without offering a least a little something in return. After all, knowledge was power, and power was not to be given away freely.

"It is good to see you in one piece and doing well though."

i often am.

[ it really is fascinating. markedly but not excessively older than what spock is used to, still easily recognizable. a captain.

and to him, spock is—

??? ]

You are correct. We have not known each other for very long. [ a beat, and then he says, as if it's perfectly reasonable: ]

I did not. However, due to the unprompted inclusion of your lack of anaphylaxis in your clarification when 79.51% of humans would include it as a general measure of well-being combined with the altered state of your breathing pattern from its baseline, it was the logical conclusion.

[ ... yeah, that's spock alright.

also: ]

"Yet?"

Edited (words) 2025-03-20 18:10 (UTC)

The fleeting little frown that crosses her expression, the knitted furrow that takes up residence in her brow, probably answers the question clear enough before she even opens her mouth. Yes, she has been tricked, and she is Very Annoyed about it, even still. Aside from just fooling her into eating the food in the first place, which had been easy--

"The first party, there was candy that made you tell the truth," she explains unhappily. For a girl who is very selective about when she talks and what she says, it had been a deeply frustrating experience. But it doesn't hold a candle to what's been happening today. "I saw other flower memories, too. It took one of mine."

She's fortunate that it had been Erik who saw the memory of Logan's death, Erik who knew Logan and who cared enough to console her. A stranger might have wound up on the wrong side of a set of claws, without the ability to stop them. She'd have regretted it afterward.

[ Fangorn had walked over to the dance floor to observe, for however a brief period of time he may choose to do so. Ents dance, but it's very slow and methodical compared to what these creatures are doing. He hears a member of the race of men speak, and turns to face him, curious. ]

I see no beetles, traveler. If there were beetles here, the revelers here dancing should be careful.

Fair enough, [ he agrees, smile widening crookedly, looking deeply charmed by the observations. ] I was getting a little stuffy, I guess.

[ and he's served with spock long enough at this point to know him inside and out. this is just how he shows his concern for people.

the hesitant, tacked-on question makes him pause, considering. technically, they shouldn't talk about it. it's a regulations thing, so no one accidentally changes the timeline they live in. but then again, this place has already bent the rules of what they know of temporal anomalies that at this point, jim's not sure it can hurt anything to tell him. ]

At my point in time, you've been my XO for a while now. As far as I'm concerned, you're the best first officer in the fleet.

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Test Drive Meme #2

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SAME looking forward to a ridiculous time to use this

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WILDCARD, cw: emeto

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dance

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