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upcyclingmod ([personal profile] upcyclingmod) wrote in [community profile] pedalbike2020-08-29 10:30 am
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First TDM: Sterile Blues


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Arrival



Not all characters (known as Wickie, singular or Wickies, plural) arrive at the same time, surprisingly enough! That’s life for you. Some Wickies find their way to the island at a pivotal (or very mundane) point in their life, or even after or during their death.

Wickies who were standing or walking often find themselves entering the town South Sister, located on Lighthouse Isle, through an open doorway. Those that were laying down, or sleeping, tend to be found lying prone in beds, bathtubs, showers, couches, and similar places within the cottages on Cottage Row. There’s no rhyme or reason to it all! To Wickies familiar with the era, they will realize that everything looks as if it’s come from the ‘90s.

The house which a Wickie finds themselves within could already be occupied. This includes walking into a fellow Wicke, waking up in the same location, or accidentally scaring a room full of people with their sudden appearance.

Oops.


Sterile Blues


After arriving, Wickes will find that food and water are easy enough to come by, as they can be readily found in the various houses which populate Lighthouse Isle. Medical supplies, on the other hand, are not so easily acquired. Bandaids and other simple trappings can be pilfered from the odd medical cabinet, but otherwise you’re on your own.

Thankfully, if a Wickie or their friend are in need of medicine or a pair of trauma shears, while you won’t find a full-fledged hospital on the island, there is a clinic. The clinic, named Sister’s Helpers, is like the rest of the buildings in town. Its appearance is well kept, and the doors are unlocked. Whether the Wickie goes in through the windows (because they can), or through the front door like most would, they’ll find that the clinic’s interior is crisp, clean, and orderly. There are plastic chairs, a desk where a receptionist would sit, white walls, but then—

There’s a sound. It could be mistaken for a breeze, at first. But as the sound goes on, it becomes more obvious that the ‘breeze’ is an exhale, prolonged and forced. At the end, there’s a murmur, professional and assuring.

“That’s good. Breathe.”

And with that, the clinic becomes awash in shades of blue. Sister’s Helpers itself hasn’t become warped in any way. There is only monochromatic coloring which, upon further realization, is not truly in the building, but a problem with their vision. Leaving without investigating further will mean having blue vision for the next twenty-four hours.

But for Wickies who choose to stay and explore, there is a chance at clearing their vision. This is is especially difficult for those who have a history of not taking care of their injuries. Gradually, it becomes more difficult to walk, as if there are weights on their feet. For Wickies are especially guilty of not tending to their wounds, their movements will become even more sluggish, and weight will settle on their arms and chest, forcing the worst of offenders into a crawl as they explore from room to room.

Laying on the patient beds will alleviate the situation for a short amount of time. The cure, however, will come from characters taking the supplies which they need for themselves and not for others.

If the Wickie fails this, over the course of an hour they will be crushed to death, and will eventually wake up outside of the clinic. Their vision stuck in shades of red with a weakness in their limbs for the next twenty four hours.

The Wickie’s only cure for that is either taking medical supplies for themselves or by doing some form of self care.


Ashes, Ashes


It’s the middle of the night when all the Wickies are jarred awake from sleep by the blare of a broken siren. Wailing into the dark, the siren functions as a foghorn might, warning of hazardous conditions to come. Beneath Wickies feet, the ground trembles, pulsating once. Twice. Three times. And again, and again until—

The world changes, and it is no longer the foggy island the Wickies knew.

Ash falls steadily from above, blanketing the ground, and at first glance it can be mistaken for snow. Whether by scent, by touch, or even by taste (an option for the brave, the bold, the few), the truth of the ‘snowfall’ can be easily revealed. It is strange, though, that there are no signs of fire in the vicinity. In fact, there doesn’t seem to be much of anything at all. There’s still no sign of the mainland. There are no buildings in this desolate place, either.

Lighting in this new landscape is hazy and sullen, but still conducive to exploring despite it being the dead of night just moments ago. But while Wickies walk, there’s a growing feeling of foreboding. There’s something… something else with them.

And it conceals itself in the ash.

It attacks by lashing out to grab at the ankles and the calves, attempting to drag the unsuspecting victim down, to somewhere far deeper and hidden by billowing piles of ash. It’s easy to save a Wickie from the pull, so long as they’re quickly freed from their assailants grasp. Retrieving someone out of the ash itself is nigh impossible, though.

Grabbed Wickies who lived to tell the tale, may find themselves bitten. The stalkers in the ash sink their teeth into the foot or calf of their prey, leveraging the force of their bite to take down their target. And once there’s blood, more of these creatures will be attracted to the smell.

If a Wickie is clever or strong enough to draw the stalkers out of the ash, they will find that the attackers are shark-like people. Most of their head consists of oversized jaws housing an impossible amount of teeth, and lacking any eyes. Their bodies are covered in ashen chitin and bone, with elongated feet and thin, taloned fingers. These Ash Sharks do not like being exposed, and will respond accordingly.

Ash Sharks cannot be reasoned with. Trapping one in ropes, magic, or other means will elicit angry shrieks which will attract other Ash Sharks, either to eat the trapper, or trapped, or both if they can. Being dragged completely under the ash will start a feeding frenzy, and the Ash Shark will proceed to rip and tear chunks out of its prey.

In dying, Wickies will reset to a random location within the ash filled fields, completely intact but for a purpling bruise where the initial bite took place.

Good luck.


Network Time: The Heart Game


There’s a beeping alert on all Wickie’s smartphones that refuses to stop until a particular notification is read. The notification is for something called the Heart Game (which, yes, looks annoying, overly bright, and cheesy). And surprise! The game opens up automatically with a loud ping!

The game begins (and ends!) with a question, one which will not go away even if you try to close out of it or shut off your smartphone. It reads:

It’s time for everyone's favorite game! Confession! Heeeeere is today’s question which you must confess!

What is… the scariest thing you’ve experienced? It can be anything!


code bases by tricklet
fika: (04)

[personal profile] fika 2020-09-05 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
It's... [ - still good, he wants to say. but he isn't sure.

of course, it's good to see ben, semi-corporeal but still very much dead. it still hurts, that loss that he wasn't even there for.

for what it's worth, ben, five will try and not let you down. he owes you, and klaus, that much.
] I can't imagine why. [ comes the dry remark instead, that small twist of a sardonic smile, his hands slipping into his pockets. ] Funny, Klaus said ghosts can't time travel.

[ a bit more gently, because he can't help it. ] How long have you been here?
abruptfulmination: (♪It's time; run wild & royally cavalier)

[personal profile] abruptfulmination 2020-09-05 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
He scant needs the explanation to understand, but the words are raw and poignant, gentle and calm, and it helps him to respond largely in kind. "I wouldn't want to further your upset if I have a choice. You have my word."

He has many other things he thinks, words he could say, but his attention is caught by her words, confusion furrowing his brows. "Why would I find you annoying? I can hardly conceive a reason for that." Her hand receives much the same, tiny reaction - the subtle shift of someone starved for touch and who doesn't seek it.

He inhales deeply and slowly as he considers her words, lips curling a little wryly upward. "You don't have to do anything to deserve aid. Having someone to talk to has its own merit, too." Besides, he neither deserved nor needed aid, if one asked him. When she explains further, he only nods. "There are whole countries that don't have anything like this where I'm from. So it's nothing you need to be embarrassed over, really." That wouldn't fix the embarrassment, but it might mute it later on. He could hope. "And--" he pauses, finally deigning to pull out his own phone and address the persistent beeping, entering his answer quickly before flicking back to the main page and setting the screen to sleep. "And there are hundreds of written languages, too. Even I only know two, and pieces of a third."
evergonnahaunt: (and all the wounds)

[personal profile] evergonnahaunt 2020-09-05 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Klaus is a liar who was mad at me for not beating up some cowboys he was trying to cheat out of their truck.

[He doesn't sound angry when he says it, more exasperated. Ben's been dealing with Klaus for years and this is nothing new for him. The question about how long he's been here is harder to answer anyway. Time's kind of lost all meaning for him, as a ghost. He squints at a clock on the wall.]

I think I've been here for an hour? Maybe longer.
ragsnbone: (you really)

[personal profile] ragsnbone 2020-09-05 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ well, he did say to list her favorite things but really that much? ]

it's lunch time some where so who cares really
strictpress: (press X to doubt)

[personal profile] strictpress 2020-09-05 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I dunno.

[Abby keeps her shotgun pointed at the door, though she keeps glancing around, trying to hear if there's anything moving in the house.]

Just don't drop your guard.
strictpress: (bruh)

[personal profile] strictpress 2020-09-05 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Nope.

[She gives her a glance over again. The outfit she's wearing makes sense. Her father told her that some students wore uniforms to school.]

But wherever we are now, I'm pretty sure we didn't come from the same place. So you know... that's fun.

[IT'S NOT FUN.]
strictpress: (its not goddamn fish zoo)

[personal profile] strictpress 2020-09-05 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. You know, needed to take a vacation so I booked a room here.

[No one clap that wasn't funny.

Huh.

She picks up the bag and tosses it over her shoulder. It's heavy. Much heavier than she would have expected for a kid that size.]


Bag's pretty heavy. What were you doing before you got here?
nowi_wins: (But not so little boys)

[personal profile] nowi_wins 2020-09-05 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
You're right!
I bet it's always lunchtime somewhere.


[Mind blown.]
nowi_wins: (make way for other toys)

[personal profile] nowi_wins 2020-09-05 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah!
I transform all the time.


[Uh oh...]

I mean, it does.

[A perfect save.]
nowi_wins: (A dragon lives forever)

[personal profile] nowi_wins 2020-09-06 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
Sure!

[She doesn't know what plastic is but Nowi is great at breathing fire on things.

Oh, but there's something else they should solve before that. She flies a circle around the area, looking down at the ash covered street below.]


Um.... we should find a good place to land first. Somewhere less... ashy.
ragsnbone: (no but srsly)

[personal profile] ragsnbone 2020-09-06 12:01 am (UTC)(link)
it is
if this phone works like a normal one it would show all the various times from around the world if you look
and some where on it you can see the actual lunch time
nowi_wins: (make way for other toys)

[personal profile] nowi_wins 2020-09-06 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
It can do all that?
That's amazing!
How?


[Pushing random buttons is probably not it, but it's definitely worth a shot, right?]
ragsnbone: (aho yeah)

[personal profile] ragsnbone 2020-09-06 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ he is just chuckling over here because he keeps running into these kids that can't tech how weird is that. ]

i'm not sure i haven't really looked to find if there is a clock or not
but there should be one on the settings window?
nowi_wins: (Green scales fell like rain)

[personal profile] nowi_wins 2020-09-06 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
Settings window?
I don't see a window...


ragsnbone: (you got something)

[personal profile] ragsnbone 2020-09-06 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
when you open one of the icons on the phone it's called a window
so a 'window' is just a shorthand for saying 'opening an app'
okay?
plasticasshole: (◎ disappeared to me)

[personal profile] plasticasshole 2020-09-06 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Midway through 60's little victory speech, Connor finds he's irritated by it. He's going to die, and this is the last thing he gets to hear? He raises his pistol with all the strength he has left, and fires his last bullet at 60's thigh. Shut up. And then his arm collapses to the ground again as he shuts down.]

...

MODEL RK800
SERIAL#: 313 248 317 -51
BIOS 7.4 REVISION 0121
REBOOT...

LOADING OS...
SYSTEM INITIALIZATION...
CHECKING BIOCOMPONENTS... OK
INITIALIZING BIOSENSORS... OK
INITIALIZING AI ENGINE... OK

MEMORY STATUS...
ALL SYSTEMS OK

READY


...

[He wakes on a bench. He's oddly groggy coming to, and rolls off the bench and hits the ground with a thud. It takes him a moment to remember how he got here. Then he remembers, and his hands find his throat in a panic. He's alive... he's undamaged. How?

Getting to his feet, he steps cautiously away from the bench. Nobody could have fixed him at that point. The last thing he'd known was a bullet between the eyes.]

Hello?

[He calls out, wondering if anyone carried him here. But somehow, he knows they didn't. He shivers a little, an entirely unnecessary gesture. He died... the fact that he's here now doesn't change that. And he was right about there being nothing.

There's no android heaven, anyway. He wonders what Hank would say to that. Patting himself down, he finds his pistol is missing. He sure isn't going back inside that clinic to find it again, so for now he just tries to decide on where to go... and what to do with himself.]
foundheart: (d006-pixiv-user-1962043)

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-09-06 12:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Sumi knows she should be a lot more concerned about, well, all of this. Maybe it's the fact that it's so strange that she can't quite freak out about it all--plus, despite her sinking feeling that this isn't the Metaverse and isn't connected to that at all, if she keeps thinking of it in similar terms, it's a bit easier to accept.]

It's-- Different, at least? [Which...is kinda fun. She supposes.]

I'm Violet. I'm from Shujin Academy, in Tokyo, Japan. [She bows with a perfect politeness] But you, and this place, look pretty... American?
fika: (03)

[personal profile] fika 2020-09-06 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
What do you know. They have amenities. [ he's being sarcastic, but there's some relief there too. at least there's a place to cater to his unhealthy coping mechanisms. ]

I'm fifty-eight. [ he says, with the most sardonic twist of a smile. his body language is as closed as ever, but the offer piques enough of his interest for him to uncross his arms and step away from the post he was leaning against. ] Long story.

And I'm accepting if you're offering.
foundheart: (d006-pixiv-user-1962043)

[personal profile] foundheart 2020-09-06 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
Of course. [She'll graciously concede that maybe Five doesn't actually need her protection; she's one of the youngest of the Thieves, so age hardly matters... But still.] But, I'm still here to help regardless. You might not need it, but two heads are better than one.

[She looks him over, a bit concerned, but she gestures for him to follow in the direction she last remembers seeing some houses. The ash seems less dense in some areas than others, and she tries to stay in those areas on the path.]

You can call me 'Violet,' if you'd like. May I please have your name too? And... Do you have a weapon, or some kind of power...?
syntech: (♫That I always thought of you)

[personal profile] syntech 2020-09-06 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Uh oh indeed. At least she can't see his brow raise pretty much off his face there???

Also at least he's not the type to casually get her to answer what she is just so he has the answer already. Which brings him to the analysis: Large, has hair in one form and something else in another, not a mammal. And maybe something he's used to hearing about, or possibly something more... fantastical. Hm.]


Transformative, I see. Then...

Is it at all aquatic?
song_princess: (At peace in the sky)

[personal profile] song_princess 2020-09-06 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
This beorc... He was a good man. Perhaps... Perhaps all beorcs have become like him and are no longer like the ones she has met. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Donar."

She blinks at his questions before letting out a small sigh. "For now, I do not know. But in case in the future if such a thing happens, please." She continues to coo and goes to just caress his cheek with her thumb, her hand remaining on his face, giving him the touch he has been starving for.

Was... Was that a smile? She thinks it is and just goes to smile back at him. "Even if you say so, I still want to help and aid you." She listens to his attempt and does feel better about not knowing how to use a smart phone... Or a phone in general. She knew what he was doing and appreciated the gesture he was giving her. When that annoying beeping came back, but this time from his phone, she removes her hand and takes a step back to give him space to answer it. "In my world... There was only two languages. Common and Ancient or Old Laguz."
Edited 2020-09-06 02:41 (UTC)
petcromancer: (bitch please)

[personal profile] petcromancer 2020-09-06 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Hector just raises an eyebrow and doesn't take the little pouch of medicine. This may be natural selection at work (though the name for the concept doesn't exist when he is from); a man too stupid to live determined to die right in front of him.]

I'm done with it. Fixed myself. You'll make a piss-poor healer if you can't even take a damned poultice and use it to get yourself on your feet again. Or are you expecting your patients to come and find you down there?

[Now that he's handed over supplies for someone else, he does feel a bit of fatigue again. Fuck it, it's probably nothing. He's too pissed at this idiot to worry about the slight pressure to his muscles.]
globs: (that water can't wash away?)

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-06 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
So you already know about it.

[ at least that's one person they don't have to explain everything to. hopefully. his comment sounds like a backhanded way of calling Cinnabar ugly or undesirable, to their ears, and it stings, but only a little bit - after all, it's been that way their entire life. ]
robopriest: (ristretto)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-09-06 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
I do. I'm no gem expert, though, so if you were something especially obscure, I wouldn't have much to say.

Though you saying that...does it bother you?
globs: (i come back and start to cry)

it is DEEPLY unfortunate

[personal profile] globs 2020-09-06 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ thank you stefano... ]

... I'm a gem. [ For the time being, they decide to believe him. They don't exactly have a lot of options in front of them right now; it'd be best to play along until they have a better understanding of the situation. ] One of your descendants.

[ not Stefano's specifically, of course - one of humanity's. It's easier to believe when a human is actually in front of them. He's a lot bigger, and he has plenty of differences, but he looks so much like them. The same way the Lunarians do. ]
Edited 2020-09-06 02:49 (UTC)