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.

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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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[ While she's technically a dog in her own right (wolf, actually, but canine still), he will be able to smell that on her as she approaches. Her scent is floral too but milder; it also comes with a hint of something rotting just beneath fresh earth and flowers. Not strong enough to offend, but definitely enough to notice. ]

Oh, buddy, [ she coos, immediately kneeling down and extending a hand for him to sniff. If allowed, she might even give him a light scratch between the ears atop his head. ] Hey, there. Sorry they stuck with you a flower, but I can try and get it off for you? I know they're not fun.

[Javert is taken aback by the question, and rather than answer, he just disregards it as some sort of joke. Who doesn't know what Monsieur means? Don't be obtuse.

There's plenty of other meat to address, anyway. He mops the sheen of clammy moisture off his brow with his sleeve, succeeding only in smearing it around.]

Yes, in fact. I am the utmost expert in stubborn arsery, or so I've been told, [he mutters, vexed, and much paler than he'd been a minute or so ago. With an abundance of patience (and a hell of a lot of exhaustion), he appends quietly,] Of course my duties were important. If it hadn't mattered to me, I would not have resolved it in the manner I did. I want a drink. Come along, or don't, and continue spouting your lectures to empty air.

[He will make his way around their table to the drink spread, reaching for a fresh pitcher to fill his cup. He has no idea what manner of wine it is, but it is wet, and it warms his gullet, and it quenches his thirst in a way that he aches to lose himself to. Does Andros want one? He'll pour a second cup without much of a glance and push it toward the young man's chest for him to take.]

[ Asking the question, Charles had expected one hell of a story. After all, they seem to have been shunted to an entirely different world with an entirely new-to-him species, any information that Erik will have gathered is likely fantastical and bizarre.

But he hadn't quite been expecting... all of that. Charles stares, and then surprises himself by breaking out into laughter. The kind of laughter he's not overly given to these days -- open and unrestrained. ]

Oh, Erik, I know you're telling me the truth, I don't disbelieve you, but you have to admit this is all ridiculous. Magic? A dragon, of all things?

[ It is interesting that the Fae have promised a way home, but Charles is still caught up on the whole dragon thing. And the magic thing. And the eating-means-you-can't-go-home thing. Luckily, he's very used to the bizarre and unusual, so it won't take him long to process, but he still has to set aside this moment for amusement.

On the heels of that comes a wave of relief. He has Hank here. He has Erik-- he may not be entirely sure where they stand with each other, or on Erik's priorities, but having him here is nonetheless... reassuring. ]

Alright. Magic and dragons, I can accept that. [ He sobers a little, but there's still amusement sparkling in his eyes. ] And the Fae themselves? How have they treated you?

I know. Aren't they beautiful?

[ Charles says it with the deep appreciation of variation of form; those with physical mutations in their own society have to hide, but here, they have to do no such thing. Charles can see an incredible diversity of appearance, from jewel-toned skin to mouths full of fangs to iridescent wings. That they can freely be who they are, here, is a beautiful thing.

If only their own world was as accepting. ]

But I, too, never particularly believed in mythology or fairytales. [ To a certain extent -- he has a whole essay written about how it's likely that many of their world's myths and legends stemmed from early mutants, and he regales every new student year group with that essay. ] But here we are nonetheless, and I suppose there's nothing for it. Would you like to look around?

They often are. [ Don't let Loki know she said that, it'll only go to their head.

But she nods, dismissing the axe blade and re-sheathing the hilt of her ichor. The head-on approach is clearly not going to work, and she is not so hard-headed as to never learn from her failed attempts. ]

Frustrated, but I will live.

[ She stands, looking around for any interceptors coming their way, but the fae seem more inclined to return to the normal festivities than the punish this futile attempt at an assassination. Sensing that the coast is clear, at least for now, she holds a hand out to help her new co-conspirator to his feet. ]

I am Angela.

[ Before the teen even speaks, Charles knows what he is. Mutants have a certain feel to them, a brighter spark than mundane humans, an energy that resonates more directly with his telepathy. He makes his apologies, but he's unprepared for the sheer anger that blasts his way, as hot and pressurized as a blast of fire -- not anger at the telepathic invasion, but the contents of that memory.

Charles' expression softens, his own grief mingling with concern. ]

You shouldn't have had to see that. I'm so sorry.

[ He instinctively wants to soothe him, to press a wave of calm in his direction and reassure him. But his anger is entirely valid. It's the same as Charles' own, the same fury of witnessing mutants mutilated and murdered. The only difference is that Charles' emotions here are old and well-worn, oft retrod, but the teenager is witnessing this for the first time. ]

It was in the name of science, and a program that was designed to keep mutants in check. [ His tone is wry, bitter-- but gentle, still seeking to reassure. ] It was stopped, and justice was done for those mutants. It's a small consolation, but it's all I have.

An accident a long time ago, yes.

[ Charles' smile is wry, but it's a pain he's largely come to terms with, so there's no real bitterness there. After a moment, it turns into something genuinely amused. ]

Technically, us wheelchair users can dance. But I'm afraid I'm far too dreadfully stuffy to do even that. I'll leave it to the professionals, I think.

[ And the Fae certainly do look like professionals; if mythology is to be believed, they party a considerable amount. ]

[ Charles can't help but picture it. The Fae are beautiful dancers, smooth and practiced and elegant; to throw an unlearned helter skelter in there would be quite disruptive. ]

While I don't typically approve of the notion of throwing a shark among the minnows, perhaps this particular example might prove to be amusing.

[ He says it in a manner he's entirely too well-practiced in: overtly polite and cheerful, but secretly cunning. ]

If they can drag us from our worlds and trap us here, I'm sure they can put up with a bit of disruptive dancing. After all, if you'd like to learn how-- the best way is practice.

[ It's agreed, then. No mentions of any family other than the Asgardian kind.

Angela nods, but then frowns. ]

How certain are you, then, that we are of the same origin? If there are so many variations present.

Regularly. And with great pleasure.

[ Angela is perhaps not the best role model for wayward youths. ]

Company? [ A dry chuckle at that. Honestly, he really wondered which of the flower shop kitties had brains. Well. He knew which one assumed the throne so to speak but the others were somewhat a mixed bag of brilliance and ridiculousness. ] We are strangers here invited for what purposes we haven't been told with rules we don't know. We do know each other's skills. Company is less fitting of a term.

[ His thin cuts stopped bleeding and he flexed his fingers, rubbing away the scabs. Farfarello sighed and scanned the crowd, noticing some were still eyeing them as if they expecting a fight. ]

Or do you think that even a truce would be ill fitting even here?

[ Oh.

Charles' eyes widen, surprise flitting across his expression. He's immediately torn between numerous different emotions, a mixed tangle he'll have to pick through later. Worry, because Erik's philosophy is extreme-- but that worry fades a moment later, because it's an old leftover from the time Erik was trying to kill presidents, and not wholly appropriate to the current Erik he knows, the one that retired to go have a family. Concern, because god, Erik lost his own daughter, how is he handling taking care of another young mutant?

But largely, relief. Because there is nobody that would fight harder for a young girl like her. ]

Good-- [ Charles clears his throat. ] Good, alright. That's a relief. I'm glad that you have him.

[ Now, he has to broach the more obvious question, otherwise it's going to haunt him. His own face in her memories, memories swamped with loss and broken connections. ]

My name is Charles Xavier. But you've already met me, haven't you? [ Charles puts aside his empty teacup, folding his hands in his lap. ]

Then, as far as I have gathered, you must have arrived here with the first wave of people, yes?

[ He'd asked Erik much the same question, and Erik had told him all of the information he'd gathered so far -- about his own arrival, about the dragon that had attacked the castle. About the Fae's offer for them to go home, if they proved themselves useful.

Charles' smile takes on an amused little slant. ]

I hear there was a dragon.

Edited 2025-03-17 20:23 (UTC)

[ He's not expecting the laughter, and it shows in the way his eyebrows arch, stunned for just a moment. It is a rare sound, indeed, but rather than off-putting, it feels almost like it soothes something in him, uninvited fondness settling beneath his ribcage. He tries, and fails, not to show it in his smile, but at least it's a brief thing as he shoots Charles a pointed look at those words instead, head tipping ever so slightly. ]

It didn't feel ridiculous when it actually set me on fire.

[ He's fine now, obviously, so Charles doesn't need to worry. But it certainly didn't seem like some strange, elaborate prank then. The destruction all around them looked all too serious, too. ]

They treat us sufficiently well. Mostly, I expect, because they believe we'll be of use to them. They don't necessarily rationalize in the same way that we do, it can sometimes... create an obstacle in terms of mutual understanding. Regardless of motive, a healthy amount of distrust seems like the safest approach, at the moment.

[ Erik Lehnsherr, paranoid? Never. ]

I am newly arrived myself, but I will impart upon you what I know.

In exchange, will you tell me how you came to be Queen of your realm, Zaun?

Then, you and I are of a like mind. Neither of us enjoys sitting idle.

It is a shame, then, that that seems to be what is expected of us, here.

[ John's really just a bully, full stop. Whether it's bullying people into feeling bad or bullying them to feel good, really. ]

Nerd. [ He rolls his eyes, before raising a brow at Hank. ]

So, how did Xavier lose all the hair? [ Clearly the most important question here. ]

[Diana takes a deep breath.]

There was a dragon.

[And while she's mostly being dramatic for comedic effect, there's some definitely also some residual fear in there too. She never really thought about whether or not dragons could be real, but now that she knows they are, she'd be happy never to see one again.]

And...lots and lots of fire. I don't recommend.

You recognize me.

[It's a good enough reason as any, when others have questioned their appearance in comparison to another Loki's form, including Thor.]

We can compare things more thoroughly if you would like, but it seems to follow that we're from at least very similar universes.

The way Teddy shows him how his wings work in this outfit surprises Billy, so much so that it stuns him for a fleeting second. It's true, they were never quite able to figure that part out. And he's also right in saying he has never dreamed of his boyfriend dressed as some space royalty.

Which begs the question of... why? Why is he in this attire, anyway?

"That... makes sense. But, why are you cosplaying as some space king, then? I mean I know you're technically royalty, but."

Pieces of what this may be start to glue themselves together within Billy's mind. Loki has shown him a brief vision of his future. Tommy's from his future, too. Does this mean...?

[ Angela should know tricks like this. She should realize the charm spell she's fallen under, and she should rage against it. She should resist, refuse, rebuke.

And yet... She does none of those things. She looks at the bread being offered to her, a dreamy rosiness washing over her vision, and...

She takes a bite.

Eyelids flutter closed as she chews, and allows the taste to paint itself onto her tongue. After swallowing, she exhales, and all remaining resistance blows out of her along with the air from her lungs. ]

It is... delicious.

[ She's broadcasting as loudly as a megaphone shoved right against his ear; though he doesn't go looking for anything, Charles hears everything nonetheless. Her frustration at her own struggle with speech. Her suspicion. Her curiosity, aching, yearning, desperate to find someone else like herself. Somewhere she can fit.

And Charles' heart breaks in a way he's all too familiar with. He has encountered so many like her -- lost, separated from society, mistreated. She's not a mutant, specifically, but she has telepathic leanings at the very least. Still, she feels like so many lost young mutants do, prickly and skittering. ]

Yes, I'm like you.

[ It can be startling to have an unspoken question answered, so Charles softens it with a smile, sad around the edges. ]

At least, I assume. You threw me out of your mind with spectacular defensive force. I can hear what you're thinking. I do try not to delve too deep unless absolutely necessary, but when people think very loudly, I can't help but hear it.

[ He sets his tea cup aside, and folds his hands in his lap. ]

My name is Charles Xavier, and I run a school for people like us.

[ Billy sighs at her comment. ]

They have their ways, unfortunately. [ There's a brief pause on his end as he laments the weeks he has spent meditating to no avail. ]

I can't seem to tap into this realm's magic, so any attempts I make in opening a portal to home has been useless. [ Then, with a briefly amused smile. ] I'm touched that you think I'm powerful enough not to be trapped here.

uh, why? its not like u live there.

( Surely there's nothing inherently unhealthy about a recently orphaned fatherless girl connecting with a man who also lost a daughter that looks alarmingly like her. It's all very normal and therapists would have absolutely nothing to say about it. But then again, of all the unhealthy things Laura could likely stand to receive therapy for, that one's comparatively fairly low on the list.

And Erik's been helping her, actually. Quite a lot. Helping her break away from a few mindsets that were drilled into her by the lab that made her, helping her find joy while fostering the scarce scrap of childhood she's still got left in her. Teaching her she's worthy of being spared pain even though she can handle it and heal from it. He deserves quite a lot of credit for his work, all things considered.

But a little of that credit also belongs to the man in the chair here, now. He left a big impression even for only knowing him a few days. He was, quite possibly, the first man to ever be genuinely kind to her. To treat her gently. Logan certainly never did, and to be fair, she never really felt like she needed it — but it was still nice.

The question prompts a solemn nod from her, any trace of smile slipping from her features. Still stoic, still hard to read — but the sadness is an impression in her mind that he can likely easily sense.

Eras viejo, she thinks automatically — then remembers his Spanish was not so good when she knew him, and so amends, You were very old.

She tries very hard not to think and bald, but fails. )

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Test Drive Meme #2

flower power.

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my favourite flamethrower 😘

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