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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Villain. Kids. Great, that's going to be children of Villains who went into it because their parents did. Okay, that's... Okay.

"Not at all. Did you go into villainy to win parental approval?"

Harry choked on his cookie laughing. When he was done coughing he wiped at his eyes, still chuckling, "Sorry, sorry. Parental approval? Nae, tha's nothin tae do wi what we do. We are what we are because King Beast made a prison f'our parents, an they had us there. No other choice on th'Isle but tae be a villain."

His eyes sparkled with amusement when he met the man's gaze. Harry wasn't embarrassed or ashamed of the life he'd led, though he might live a different one now that he had other choices. Having the freedom to leave the Isle was too new for him to know what the future held.

"Ah," he said with a sigh. An Australian sort of situation in some ways. "That hardly seems fair. Dooming you that way. I'm sorry that was a life you had to experience. I guess in a way this place might be an improvement?"

He hopes it was for some people here. There had to be some value.

Harry shrugged, some of his amusement draining away, "It was home. Wasn't any other choice. Things're different now I suppose, but I'm here instead, aye? Canny really know what I might o'done."

He pushed past the hint of melancholy and grinned at Teddy, "What's home for ye, then? Nothin like mine I'm sure."

Oh boy, that's a complicated question.

"A place called New York City once. I was brought there by my mother as an escape from the threats of home. A home I have returned to now that I'm in my majority. But court intrigue is a whole thing."

And danger was just like that for him. He had to be careful and thoughtful.

Harry smile grew an amused hint, "Sooooooo, yer a royal then, are ye? No th'heir?" If there was one thing someone from the Isle knew, it was all about how the royalty lived. Not that anyone on the Isle respected them, but they did know how it all worked. Terms like majority and court intrigue were rarely thrown around by someone who wasn't a heir to something.

"Technically the term is emperor," Teddy answered with half a shrug. So no, he's not quite a mere royal and way past an heir. "But more than that, I'm used to living in the shadows cast by parents. I'm sorry you had to experience that."

But he's a gentle man, so at least he means it.

Harry chuckled and sidled up, draping his arm over the guy's shoulders to lean on him. It was a much more comfortable position for him. He didn't bother to acknowledge the apology. It did mean something to him, but what did you say to something like that? His life back home was what it was. Harry didn't regret it, but he did know it was hardly what most people considered normal.

"So ye rule, but no' long? From New York. Wha's a day like in ye life then? D'ye hev any fun?"

"I don't rule from New York City. I just used to live there. Was raised there. I rule on a planet very far from it now. And it's a headache a lot of the time. Too many different races to have to deal with, too many interspecies politics. The only way I'm blessed through it all is to have my husband at my side."

Someone hit the timer. Teddy had gone a surprisingly long time before mentioning his husband with this deep fondness in his voice.

"He keeps me on my toes."

Harry nodded. He'd heard Ben say similar things about dealing with the crown, mostly when he was speaking to someone else. They hadn't really had much one-on-one time, not that he'd been craving that. Ben was alright, but he'd never really be a VK. He had an unassailable place in the world. But he was trying to do better for everyone. That meant a lot.

He chuckled at the tone the guy used to talk about his husband. It sure did seem like everyone was finding someone, "Sounds like th'same way Ben talks aboot his rule. An how Ben'n Mal talk aboot each other. Who are ye anyway? Never did catch a name."

"I've got a lot of names. You can call me Teddy."

It's way less of a mouthful than his full name and titles.

"Teddy? Aye. Harry."

It was nice to be able to lean on someone, to be close. Harry wasn't used to being so touch-starved and he didn't like it, "So, wha's yer husband's name then? Wha's he like?"

It was easier to listen to Teddy talk than try to do it himself. Besides, it was nice to be next to someone happy. It felt just a tiny bit like home to listen to someone talk about relationships.

"Billy is his name, and he's the nearest thing to an angel the world can have," he says, smiling warmly to himself. How could someone not love Billy if they met him?

God, he already misses his lover so much.

The smile on his face was mostly reflecting amusement, but under that he was both wistful and just a tiny bit jealous. No one spoke about Harry that way, and he had no one to be so ga-ga over either. In some respects, being away from home gave him a better chance at finding love. Back home he'd had no prospects, but now, maybe he did.

"Ye don't mean a literal angel though, aye? Wi wings'n all?" He was teasing as he leaned against Teddy's warm bulk. Harry would be happy to chat for quite some time as long as he was allowed to stay close. Billy didn't have any competition in him though. Harry wasn't dumb enough to think he had a chance, so his actions were just platonic.

"No. I'm the one with the wings. He flies under his own power."

BEcause, you know, that's a normal thing to say.

"He's a witch and he bends time to his well. Makes a guy proud to be on his good side most of the time."

SOmetimes they have disagreements of course.

"Ye what!?" Harry pulled enough to look the man in the face, "Ye don't have wings! I'm lookin right ta ye an there's no wings!" He waved an arm behind Teddy's back in illustration, "No wings!"

Harry stepped away completely, crossing his arms over his chest, "Ye married a witch. Where'd ye find him? An does he have siblins?" He wasn't picky over gender. A pretty face was a pretty face, and a witch for an SO wounded great!

No wings, huh? Teddy chuckles and when Harry stepped away he proved his point quite simply. Great green wings unfolded from between the layers of his cape, stretching out fully just to show off before Teddy folded them back and shifted them away.

"Wings. Very much so. You should see me as a winged centaur. It's pretty badass. As for Billy, we met in high school And yes, he has a twin brother named Tommy. They're both here actually. But Tommy's not a witch. He's a speedster. Which basically means he can run faster than sound."

"What!? Harry would have thrown himself on those wings to pet and stroke them, simply because he'd never had the chance to do such a thing, but they were gone too quickly. His shock and delight dimmed some, though that smile on Teddy's face made him smile back.

And then it was more disbelief, "A centaur!? Ye get tae be a centaur too!? How d'ye do all tha!?" Harry wasn't sure if it was magic or something else. Probably something else since he hadn't felt any spells, but jeez! All the things Teddy was saying would probably need to be repeated, he was very distracted, up until . . .

"A twin? Like a twin twin? An he goes fast?" Because if the guy looked like Teddy, and he was at the party, and he didn't have someone already . . . His prospects were suddenly looking up!

See, arm around his shoulder was okay. Hands on the strong yet thing membranes of his wings? He doesn't know you well enough for that trust, Harry. Better the wings be put away.

"It's part of what I am. Half-Kree, which makes me strong and durable. Half-Skrull, which makes me a shapeshifter. It's biology at work. And lots of evolution."

Does the guy even know what evolution is? Well, it doesn't matter. For his next parlor trick Teddy's form shifts even more. The clothes stay on, shifting with him as he becomes shorter, his body becoming more that of a runner. His skin goes to a more human shade, his eyes green, his hair Snow White. Even the shape of his face changes, and instead of a smile, he smirks.

"And this is what Tommy looks like. If you see someone with this face but dark hair and hazel eyes, that's my Billy."

He's not saying the guy should flirt with Tommy. He's just answering a question. And maybe showing off. Honestly it's more for the sake of the fae around them than it is for Harry. He wants them aware that he can pull their own tricks on them if it moves him.

Harry was used to getting shoved off when he got too irritating for people. Most of his friends put up with a lot though. He watched with fascination as Teddy changed, ending up still quite pretty. Yeah, Harry wouldn't mind seeing that face every day. He gave an exaggerated swoon, hands clasped at his breast.

"Never heard o'Kree or Skrull, but a shapeshifter? If ye weren't already taken, I'd take ye anywhere ye wanted. Yer twin's free then? An here? Ye wouldny consider an introduction, would ye? F'yer good ol pal Harry?"

"Dramatic," Teddy laughed before going back to his own form. "And I assure you I am quite happily taken. Which is a relief. If I wasn't, there would be so many political marriage potentials to have to deal with. And Billy's brother is..."

God, is Tommy free? Teddy is never quite sure. The way he's been dancing around David back home is intriguing, but is that something this Tommy has even encountered yet? He doesn't know.

"The thing is, it's hard to pin down a speedster. You'll need to go for your own luck on that one."

"Aye? They would hev sold ye off tae th'highest bidder? Ben didny hev that problem, although Auradon was scandalized when he picked Mal. Tha's why ye don't make a teen th'king." Technically, once he was crowned, no one could force him to do anything. Ben really had lucked out. Harry slung his arm around Teddy's shoulders again, grinning at the man.

"I'd settle for an introduction, but I do like a challenge. I think my chances're good tae at least get a date."

"Not the highest bidder in a traditional sense," but yes, that was about what the idea of a political marriage was. "And sure, they tried to make me king younger, but I sort of tricked them to stay out of it."

That said, Teddy had been forced into a few things when he'd first been crowned. Took really consolidating his power to have his own authority for real.

"You're chances are not zero, so that's something."

"Ye know, I'm no' sure Ben fought against it, an he's a good king. Idealistic, but a good man." He was too empathetic and idealistic and gullible as hell. But Ben meant well, and he really did care, it wasn't just lip service. It was hard not to like the guy.

Harry snorted and leaned on Teddy, "Ye really hev no confidence in me, do ye? I could charm th'birds right from the trees given half a chance!"

"Perhaps you could, but Tommy is..."

God, how does he begin to explain all of this to the guy? Actually, did he owe the guy an explanation?

"But Tommy isn't someone won merely by charm."

Test Drive Meme #2

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