Test Drive Meme #2

[changelinged]

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

code

Comments

[silent_sacrifice]

Fought Sephiroth and won? Genesis sneers monentarily. He always wanted to win against Sephiroth but never had the chance. His friend, his rival. His... something more.

His mistake.

"Regal. Powerful. Majestic. Her eyes are of a similar shade to yours, but lighter. Like the color of the Lifestream itself. Actually..."

He leans forward just a bit to look at her.

"There is much of her in the structure of your face. And your resolve is like hers. Her judgement swift but stern, and she looks into the core of you. She saw that there was much left for me to achieve. That there was potential in me, and that I had not yet served. She cleansed me of the things eating me from within, and..."

His look grows distant as he speaks, as he thinks back upon that moment. It truly meant much to him.

[earlylight]

Mistakes are rarely full failures. There is a special bond between Sephiroth, Genesis and Angeal - a bond that could be put to use here. Aerith won't deny them the chance or Sephiroth forgiveness.

"Half of me came from her planet." so it makes sense that some of her remains in her people, "She knew you could be a force for good; a force for healing. Without Jenova, you would have been her son." she lays a hand on his chest, right over his heart, "She doesn't hate you, Genesis. She's just...sad."

[silent_sacrifice]

She should hate him, for all he did. But she hadn't. He had felt that. Just as he had felt judged. Felt lacking. And yet, at the same time, she had apparently seen something in him. A potential for more. Somehow she had, without a word, admonished him. Angeal had held his honor until it was stripped from him, but he had tried. Zack had lived by it every second he had known the young man.

And Genesis had to refind his own and live by it.

"As well she would be, with all we do to her. Forgive me, I am not so used to being forthright about it. Beyond the conversations turned to me by Weiss and Nero when I was retaken by Shinra, I do not believe I have had many conversations since that moment of her touch. I was not prepared to be seen with such tenderness."

[earlylight]

No one likes to disappoint their mother. Minerva is far more maternal - and caring - than Jenova could ever be. As such she must understand that Genesis, like others, has been torn between two great powers. The unnatural cells in his body demand certain things of him and fighting that call isn't easy.

Sephiroth has proven that much.

"I've never felt hatred from her. Anger, yes, but not hatred. She won't turn her back on you."

Unlike a certain alien entity.

[silent_sacrifice]

"It is hard to expect she would when she has forged me into a new Weapon for her."

And he means that in a capitalized way. He had felt the others stirring, had felt almost called. But in the end he had known it had not been a battle he was prepared for. Or suited tol.

[earlylight]

"A Weapon against the evil infecting her planet." Aerith shifts a little and tucks a brown curl behind her ear, "Mother wasn't meant to do what I can do. But I wish... I wish I had been born sooner, sometimes."

Just to save those like Genesis, Angeal, Zack, Cloud and maybe Sephiroth too unnecessary pain.

[silent_sacrifice]

Exactly. A weapon that perhaps one day Aerith herself might direct. Better to establish a working relationship here then, right?

"I do not believe you could have strayed us from the paths of our fate. But you are kind to wish so."

And then he laughs to himself, finally getting it.

"You're the woman in Loveless. The one the friend leaves for love of. The separated lover. Intriguing."

[earlylight]

They can do better than that. Aerith asks for help - she doesn't demand it. If they end up working together, that's fine. That's what friends do!

"Probably not. It has been building for a long time. The planet took all of that time to find her voice." her green eyes widen in surprise, then, "Are you sure...? I...don't know."

Is he talking about Zack...or Cloud?

[silent_sacrifice]

To be asked for help would be such a novel experience for him. He's used to commands.

"My dear, I was considered a leading scholar of the play in my time," he points out. "I assure you, the role fits."

[earlylight]

"I'm not questioning your analysis." Aerith murmurs, turning away from him, her face hot, "I just don't think I'm...that important."

Says the woman who led the charge against Meteor and saved Gaia.

[silent_sacrifice]

"Ah, but you were important to the pup, were you not? And he was important to the three. In fact, in a way he was the culmination of us all."

So yes, it would make sense to connect her to them.

[earlylight]

"...he is important to me." Aerith clasps her hands and looks up at the sky, "He followed his heart to the end. I can't blame him for that." she smiles, the expression shaky, "I learned from him."

[silent_sacrifice]

Yes, Genesis could not blame him either. He just wished he had not dragged the boy into so much trouble.

"I believe I did too. Angeal as well. I think we are both better men for knowing your pup."

[earlylight]

She knows Zack. He won't blame any of them for a second. It's not a thought he will ever even entertain.

"I hope he turns up, then, so you can spoil him."

[silent_sacrifice]

Perhaps he deserved to blame them. Perhaps he was too good to do so.

"I spoil no one," he insists.

Except for people he is attempting to seduce.

[earlylight]

Definitely too good.

"Never?" Aerith smiles slowly, curiously, "You've never gotten gifts for your friends?"

[silent_sacrifice]

"That is hardly spoiling," he dismisses. That was just a thing people did.

[earlylight]

"I guess you're right, though it depends on what kinds of presents you choose." Aerith picks up an edible flowers and munches on it, "I like surprising mine."

[silent_sacrifice]

"They are always wonderful gifts," he says, half defensively. But he didn't surprise his own as often. They hadn't had as much time to see each other a lot.

[earlylight]

"If they come from you, I'm sure they are wonderful." Aerith offers him a flower, "The best gifts come from those we love. It doesn't really matter what the gift looks like or how much it's worth."

The thoughtfulness behind it means much more.

[silent_sacrifice]

What a woman she is. How dare the world deny him the honor of knowing her before? Perhaps they all would have been better had they just known her.

"The world must be a gentler place in your eyes than I have ever known it to be."

[earlylight]

Each of them has something good to offer. Aerith considers herself one piece of a gigantic puzzle. Gaia has put her where she is most needed, she thinks. She hopes.

"We can make it softer, day by day, if we try. Just a little, that's enough. Even if someone is cruel to you, if you find them bleeding, why not help them? That could be the day they change."

[silent_sacrifice]

If they try. Ah, but has he ever tried? The man wilts just a little. He was meant to be a blade, even for the planet. His honor, his duty as a Soldier was to protect those who could not protect themselves. Including the planet.

"A sword cannot be softened, my lady, save by grinding it to dust."

[earlylight]

"You are more than a sword. You have always been a man." Aerith holds out her hands, "Your hands have calluses, but underneath them, they are as soft as my hands."

[silent_sacrifice]

Has it? What a woman she is, to tell him this. He considers her, yet again looking at her like she has imparted some wisdom from beyond the limits of time itself.

"I shall never be as soft underneath as you. Some must hold the blade so that others may tend the bloom."