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pixieledmemes2025-03-15 08:32 am
Test Drive Meme #2
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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'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.
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.
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.
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.
no subject
He frowns, brow furrowed, mind only half on the steps of their dance.]
Well, I suppose for now, everyone is fending for themselves as best they can.
no subject
Are they being left behind? [He frowns, just slightly. It's an attempt to test the waters, to measure the temperature of this place. How cutthroat is it, really? Are the weak protected at all, or...]
no subject
[A quick shake of his head. It feels like a disservice to all of the people who are working so hard to try to make sure that never happens again now.]
The dragon was just... a surprise for everyone, I think. There's been a lot of talk since then on patrols and the like to try to be more prepared in the future.
no subject
I'll look into that. [Only reasonable he should offer to help throw his weight around, right? Though something hits him.]
Even the court leaders were surprised?
no subject
I... think so...? At least, they didn't seem prepared for it to happen...
no subject
I don't mean to interrogate you. I'm just trying to get a feel for this place.
no subject
[If anything, he just feels sheepish that he wasn't paying attention well enough to be able to give proper answers.]
But! Even so! I'm certain I can assist with your questions. Don't feel the need to hold back at all!
no subject
What else do they need to know... his eyes sweep over the rest of the crowd.]
Is there anyone who's been... causing issues?
no subject
[A beat, his brow furrowing.]
I've heard some of the fey leaders are kinder than others. One of them--the Spring king--did some sort of extremely unkind hypnosis to one of my friends here.
hell yes. gossip
Spring King. He memorizes that. His brain searches for which friend it could be, which of their mutual friends, but hits the same uncomfortable roadblock.]
I take it retribution isn't an option.
he's here to try to help (keyword: try)
[The thought had never crossed his mind; for a moment, he gets stuck on the word. Well. He supposes... he supposes it makes sense that--that with Till being that badly wronged, maybe he'd want revenge, or someone on his behalf.
It's a thought that settles uncomfortably though. Tsukasa's not used to thinking about things like revenge.
But. This is his friend, right? This shouldn't be a surprising thought. ... Should it? This whole thing feels so... odd.]
I--don't know, actually. I didn't ask. I don't know if they tried.
dont you ever get tired of being nice. dont you ever want to go apeshit?
The question is whether they have the power.]
Hmm. [It's not judgemental, exactly, but thoughtful. It's too early to say if any of them can stand up to a Court ruler, but... he'll keep it in mind.]
These fae like to think they can do with us as they please, don't they?
the character arc every normie deserves!!!
[He trails off, not necessarily out of discomfort, but certainly out of some sort of quiet thoughtfulness. It doesn't really tend to come naturally to him--he's a loudmouth, animated sort of person most of the time.
But when it comes to their captors, and what's happened to them, and what they're supposed to do now that they're here... it's hard not to feel like their hands are tied.]
They've been decent enough, for the most part, but... [Even someone like Tsukasa is aware that could change on a dime, especially once he heard about the brainwashing.
Around them, the upbeat music slowly starts to come to an end, and Tsukasa blinks, straightening.]
Ah. We should move off the dance floor. Thank you for the dance, of course!
no subject
As the music seems to end, something shifts. The familiarity passes. Hm...]
Do you feel something's off?
[Bluntly, without any leadup.]
no subject
As soon as they step off the dance floor, it's like his brain clicks back into place from where it'd been shoved ever so slightly unaligned, and Tsukasa stares at him with wide eyes and then points.]
You-- I?! We?!
[?!?!?!]
Are we... not actually friends?!
[Ah. Tsukasa does not have any frame of reference for this mild mind-fuckery.]
no subject
Nahobino exhales, feeling the edge of a bitter grudge. But not against Tsukasa.]
You said these fae are perfectly capable of mind control. [He eyes Tsukasa, almost skeptically.] Is it so surprising they can briefly charm us? Good thing it was harmless this time.
no subject
[... No, that's a good point. It's pointed out so bluntly, though, and Tsukasa was so unprepared for it to happen to him, even if it was something that harmless.
A slow breath in, and he tries to calm down as best he can.]
But... why, though? Why make us feel like we were good friends?
no subject
But... hmm. He taps his chin. For a moment it seems like he's zoning off while the two of them have a conversation in his head.]
Maybe they were hoping we'd reveal vulnerable secrets to each other, for some reason.
no subject
It's just them guessing at this point, after all.]
Ah, well... regardless, I suppose there wasn't any harm done. Er. It's nice to meet you properly, by the way. Since we aren't, er, actually old friends.
we can probably wrap soon so i dont have to post us onto the overflow
Call me Nahobino. And call me if you ever get into more trouble like this.
THUMBS UP that works for me!
This guy has some weird mannerisms, but he seems pretty kind, actually, huh? Tsukasa can roll with that.
So he just nods, grinning a little as he recovers from the situation.]
I appreciate that! And my name is Tsukasa! It's a pleasure to meet you, despite the circumstances.
Ah, likewise--while I can't help much with situations like this, I'm happy to help clarify anything about this place when questions arise.
So once you've adjusted to the situation, please don't hesitate to reach out at any point!
🎁
Then he steps away, clearly not eager to get caught by the music again. They'll see each other again, he's sure.]