pedalbike | 2nd Event: Choices We Make

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2nd Event: Choices We Make

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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.

C-C-Changes

Thankfully the fog has gone down to what it was before, a slow creeping crawl over the ground. And too, the monsters of before are gone, leaving the town much like it was before. Well...close to what it was before.

For now the season's have changed, from a lingering summer to a cooler fall.

There’s new foods to try, even if some things like lattes cause people to slip into warm boots and tie up their hair, and soups make people curl up under blankets on the couch. And it also means decorations of all sorts, made of the leaves from the forest, orange, yellow and red things and...we can not forget...

Pumpkin overflow

Pumpkins! They're everywhere. Wickies will find pumpkins infused into all sorts of things, like coffee, ice cream, even spaghetti options! It's wild.

There’s also many jack o'lanterns. They have been placed everywhere in town, outside homes, and even small ones have been made into table decorations. The Jack o lanterns have very cheerful faces, and seem to watch Wickies every single move.

That is, until a Wickie bashes or otherwise abuses a pumpkin. That's when it changes- there seem to be more of them. Their expressions change to that of anger, sadness and disgust. None of them attack- yet. But their faces become more and more horrifying, as they follow the Wickie more and more- outside of the bathroom perhaps, or found on top of them as the Wickie wakes up in the middle of the night.

It shouldn't matter right? They're only pumpkins.

What a ride

Funny enough, with the pumpkin invasion, there also comes a dull colored horse wandering about the island. Its head is drooped, and it looks depressed and lonely. The horse is tame on approach and will accept pats and treats, even from those who are obviously not human.

But it also wants something, for all that it seems to be begging for attention. It wants someone to ride them, seems to even be begging for it with its big eyes. The horse will help Wickies to figure out how to mount; it will even stand beside the Town Center benches, rocks, or even go down in order to make it possible for the Wickie to get onto the horse’s back.

That’s when it changes. The Wickie is immediately wrapped in chains from their barrel to the Wickie’s waist. The horse turns a coal black and the Wickie’s clothing changes into that of a soldier's uniform, with a hand either holding a whip modeled after a human spine, or a jack o'lantern.

The Wickie cannot get off the horse on their own, no matter how much they struggle. As the horse moves throughout the town, they will go anywhere from a walk to a full canter, seemingly impervious to any magic or physical attacks. The same cannot be said for their unfortunate rider.

If the rider is hit, or simply in pain, the Wickie will feel an impulse that grows and grows until they scream a name of someone in town, someone they know.

And the named will drop, paralyzed. Paralyzed wickie are likely to die within minutes, more so if they are too close to horse and rider. The horse will happily trample anyone on the ground to death.

Even without the impulse, should the Wickie rider use anyone’s name, that person will drop, paralyzed, and unable to breathe.

There is only one way to possibly save the rider: scatter golden objects in their path. The horse will shriek, and promptly buck the rider off, before running away. Just make sure to catch the rider, or at least cushion their fall: they have no way of saving themselves until they hit the ground.

Heart game: confession

Current residents of the island may remember this particular beeping alert, and how it doesn’t go away, no matter what they do! That is, unless they open up the Heart Game, and answer the question.

Welcome back everyone! It’s so good to see you again! Now let’s play that game, Confession! And the question isssssss…

How do you celebrate the changing seasons! Don't be shy!

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they sent us a text/ saying they have high hopes for us no one liked it very much

i. changes

[ This man has shed his feather boa (what was he doing wearing that?) and is experimentally tasting a nearby bowl of soup. Well, what he's actually doing is staring anyone vaguely attractive in the eye and slo-o-owly licking up the bowl of the spoon with the tip of his tongue. While holding direct eye-contact.

Hey, he's the angel of cunning, not the angel of subtlety. ]

Still warm. Tastes just like a nice, friendly cuddle. [ He scoops up another mouthful and raises his eyebrows. ] Join me?

ii. pumpkins

[ Belial has been bad. Very, very, bad. He has, in fact, collected a small army of pumpkins, climbed a nearby house, and is now dropping them onto the stones below. Splat. Splat. Splat.

He is drawing a crowd. A crowd of orange gourds. And every single time he looks back and sees another one, he smiles toothily. ]

How many will it take...? [ And he turns around and drops another pumpkin off the edge of the roof. Watch your head. ]

iii. horse prompt

[ Belial's already gotten on the horse, silly. Nothing like a free ride to pass the time. It has gotten to the point where he needs to bite his lip to both stave off the pain and the creeping urge to say... a name? ]

More. More, you hear me? You need to give me more than that if you want me to scream for you.

[ ... It's clear that he should want to get off, but it's less clear which sense of the phrase he'd use. ]

iv. confession

With stimulating company, of course. Then again, any season is nice with someone close, isn't it? Kind of makes me wish for the good old days.

v. wildcard

[ ota, pick your poison, i'm very sorry he's like this, etc. ]

But you won't wait until they make the first move now, will you? You were showing some nice initiative there for a moment...

[SMASHING PUMPKINS.

She's just curious how riles up they can get, though.]

Oh. Ohhhh. [ A pause. ] Nope, doesn't ring a bell.

But I can work with that description. [ With military efficiency, she rattles off the arrangement. ] So, how many do you need? Five, ten...? Ten sounds like a good amount. Glad we could make this exchange work for the both of us.

That appears to be the case. However...

[It shouldn't be possible. He blew himself up while standing knee-deep in a river of lava.]

I do not understand how or why.

"Perhaps," he thinks on it as he paces around the room. "But I have a feeling he won't change out of that uniform. It's a symbol of pride, for him. A sign of his loyalty to CyberLife."

He sneers a little. "I, however, intend to change as soon as I can find a shirt that isn't covered in cartoon flames." Look, he wants out of this uniform, but he isn't going to wear something that tacky.

"So far, people have been telling us apart by the numbers on our uniforms. My serial number ends in -51, his ends in -60."

You were kidnapped here through magic.
It's different.

[ 1. Changes ]

If there's something that tantalises Fai, that isn't alcohol related, it's the sweets department. And a sweet coffee is a delightful throwback to his days of running a café in Outo. The first sip of the latte absolutely makes him melt, the flavour being everything he hoped for.

And then he finds the urge to find and wear a rather cute and warm sweater outfit, tying his hair back in a half-ponytail, and an urge to put cute autumn decorations everywhere. Though, this isn't exactly strange to him at all - he's always had an adoration for the cute. It's hard to say it's the coffee affecting him and not his personality.

He starts weaving a wreath made from leaves. But somehow, they seem incomplete. He stares at them pensively, and just as he comes to a conclusion, you happen to be nearby. And he'll greet you with a smile.

"Hey, want to help~?" He holds up the half-finished wreath for emphasis. "I need to find some berry branches, too."

[ 2. What A Ride ]

When Fai notices the dull, lonely horse, he pokes his head around to get a closer look; he figures its got to be hungry and he heads over without any hesitation after grabbing an apple.

"Here you go," he says with a smile, offering it pats along its neck. He spends a little more time with it, and with a, "I guess I'll see you later~," he tries to go back to what he was doing before.

But the horse nudges against him, causing Fai to stop in his tracks. He looks back at the horse with confusion and mild concern. And with the horse's huge eyes, Fai figures he can stay a little longer.

"You want someone to ride you, huh?" he smiles gently at the horse. The horse almost seems to nod, bobbing its head like that.

"Alright, alright," Fai answers with a chuckle. Fai manages to mount it smoothly.

"Where to, then?" he barely manages to get out before the horse turns black and his clothes morph. Fai's eyes widen worriedly as a whip appears in his hand and chains wrap around him. He tries to jerk away, but he can't seem to get off, and he's trying not to show that he's struggling even more to let go.

Maybe he should use magic? Just enough to dislodge himself (though he'd rather not). But before he can give it even a second thought, the horse is off, cantering in whatever direction it sees fit. Oh, no!

Fai tries to pull the reins to slow the horse down, but it doesn't listen to him. The panic he's feeling becomes much more apparent on his face as he tries to figure out how to control the horse.

[ 3. Heart Game ]

When Fai hears the beeping alert, at first he's confused. Why is this device shaking and screaming so violently? He pokes around at it before figuring how to open up the game, and then he reads the question.

"A confession?"

And it's an almost peculiar one, at that. In both of his homeworlds, Valeria and Celes, they were covered in snow. And even though he's seen different seasons in different worlds, he never got to witness their change or celebrate them.

But he still gives a bright smile.

"That's easy - Alcohol!"

After all, what occasion is complete without it? And he loves alcohol more than he loves food. If he had the chance to celebrate a seasonal change, that's how he would.

Sorry, but I don't know anyone named Ephemer.

[There's some pause before he messages again:]

I'm missing a good chunk of my memories.

Sora!

[Hopefully Sora is prepared to get tackled by this blond.

Because that's exactly what he's going to do.

Practically ram and tackle Sora into a tight hug.]

[How is it a yes and a no? Either the sword told her, or it didn't. And now on top of giving her super-punching powers, it also supposedly took her all the way to Thaymor?

Catra spares the glowing fog that blankets the sword enough time for a distrustful glance.]

Of course Shadow Weaver cares about you. [Oh she's bitter. Very, very bitter; moreso because of the fact that Adora is now trying to act like she's spurning the same favour Catra's been yearning for her whole life.] You've always been her favourite. You think she'd bother tracking down anyone else?

[Adora's not even that great at things. She's just gullible, and Shadow Weaver loves an idiot who takes orders at face value. Like, seriously -- all Adora had to do was look at a map and think about it for two seconds. Heck, if she'd asked for her input, Catra could've pointed out why the Horde actually wanted Thaymor.

The only thing she's not been wrong about in all of this is that she needs Catra, because that's become pretty obvious. Look at her. It hasn't even been a full day, and without Catra she's 1) found a magic sword; 2) become possessed by its power; 3) listened to its instructions; 4) let it make her think she's a Princess; 5) decided to upend her entire life and turn traitor to the Horde; 6) decided that the Rebellion is the logical place to turn to; 7) thinks that the rebels won't just attack them on sight; 8) hasn't even considered the likelihood that they'll be assumed to be spies; 9) probably hasn't actually realized the lengths Shadow Weaver will go to to get her back; 10) is totally fine with the whole 'Princess' thing.

So, yeah. Adora definitely needs Catra, that's not in question. And... okay, Catra would absolutely be lying if she said that the thought of Shadow Weaver's face when she realizes her precious Adora's defected doesn't fill her with vicious glee.

In the end she groans, slumping dramatically on the roof.]

Fine. But I choose the next plan. [When this one inevitably goes south. Catra's going to pretend that the sick feeling of dread in her stomach is something other than fear, knowing how quickly they're going to die when they come up against a real, actual Princess. At least then Adora will see how wrong she is about herself.]

Now get up, would you? You look like an idiot kneeling down there.

[ even without any designation of a serial number, the mandalorian has a good sense of who it is after 'human replica' is mentioned. he turns away and walks up to the child, carefully taking the book out of its hands. ]

So? What's the complication?

[ does it have to do with the memory archive? he thought droids data transferred all the time. it's part of what makes them dangerous. ]

[this smashing pumpkins world tour sure is weird]

Hmm, I guess. If you really want to come, then let's go!

[Before he's literally too ashamed to look at a gourd ever again in his life... Let's go, buddy, he's turning right around to take, like, two steps back toward the pumpkin crowd. Then he stops and looks back expectantly. Do not abandon him now!!]

Maybe you should walk in front.

how is that different? they're both scary and dangerous, aren't they?

[His understanding of local homebrew magic is very limited and likely wrong, but anyway.]

space is space.
you only have to worry about getting vented out and dying.
what brought us here is sorcery from unknown sources with unquantifiable amounts of power.

[ he has been thinking A Lot about the existential horror of magic, don't ask why. ]

[That is a calmer response than IG-11 had anticipated. He goes on to explain why.]

Beyond knowledge of my destruction, this droid is now aware of our affiliation. He is also aware of the child.

[Not that the Child is here, at least, as IG-11 would have had no way of knowing that in his first interaction with the RK800.]

Fortunately, only my most recent memory was compromised. He does not know your name, nor has he seen your face.

It is not my intent to cause alarm. I am aware of your unease around droids. I had merely thought you would prefer to hear of this encounter from me directly.

[Rather than being blindsided later by a droid neither of them have had many dealings with.]

No, it's still very much alive.

[ He thinks about making some joke about how he could easily fix that, but decides that it will probably be best not to make that kind of joke right now.

Oh, but if not now? Then when?

He opens his mouth -- ]

Ah, shit. I forgot the joke I was going to say. [ He debated for a few seconds too long and already forgot the punchline. Shame. ]

Anyway, your predicament. [ Stefano slides over to where the horse is. ] ... actually can this be pried open without hurting it... [ He holds his chin in thought. ] How fond are you of this horse?

[ hiding the child's presence here is, unfortunately, not a sustainable plan. he's been cautious as he can be, but most who have met him in person knows he travels with companion.

it didn't register to him until brought up that the human replicas could have seen his face. the alarm that floods his body is not spared by the softening of IG-11's assurances. even if there is a loophole, the notion that droids are not living, it is not one he will ever be comfortable with. it is not the way.

but most of all- ]

I'm not uneasy around droids. I don't like them. That's all.

[ droids are everywhere, even in the most backwater of planets. he can't avoid them, but he is free to voice his distaste to anyone who tries to force them upon him.

the child whines quietly from below, lifting its arms up. it wants the book. he sighs. ]

I can't hide the child's presence from people here. There's no safe place I can leave him by himself unattended. Not everyone here knows of him, but in time they may.

I've accepted this. The best I can do now is protect him from harm.

[ and this he will. he has already made his creed and his choice. he traded in the secrecy of his tribe and all the mandalorians in it to protect this one child. there is no turning back from duty now. ]

[ six barely notices the shift in her expression but something about what she says gets him to tilt his head to the side, visibly confused. his ears twitch, mildly irritated, because he can tell when someone is amused or not... but when he turns around, he realizes it wasn't about him at all.

oh. those sure weren't the expressions these pumpkins were sporting earlier. ]

More often than not, sentient plants where I'm from tend to be monsters. [ compared to those, the pumpkins are a lot friendlier (?!). ]

It might be best to just leave them be.

[ he won't be touching any of them with his foot again. ]

[ She hates hearing the bitterness in Catra's tone, even if it's painfully familiar. Adora could argue that she didn't understand, that she always tried to make Shadow Weaver acknowledge Catra's accomplishments, too. The same argument that got her absolutely nowhere in the Crystal Castle. (It's true, though. She didn't want to be Shadow Weaver's favourite, she had to be, when she knew the price of not meeting those standards.)

Or, she could focus on what she wants to hear, which is Catra agreeing. Not just about the Horde being evil, which was only ever news to Adora, but to come with her, away from it all. To trust Adora more than the only life she's ever known, all because she asked.

I know you're not a bad person, Catra. ]

You really mean it?

[ This still feels wrong, the way things with an air of Shadow Weaver about them always do, but like Catra, she's stubborn enough to forge ahead regardless. Even in the middle of a war, nothing could truly make her give up on winning Catra over... at least, short of a reality destroying portal being set off, and what are the odds of one of those existing?

She-Ra's body or not, the way her eyes sparkle is all Adora, and so is the way she almost trips over her own feet in her sudden rush to follow orders and stand. She waits near the roof with both hands on her hips, beaming up at Catra from below. ]

Okay, okay. You get to be in charge next time. Promise. [ She can have the next plan, and the one after that, and as many as she needs. Catra's plans are usually the opposite of Adora's, and maybe she should be wary of making fresh promises, but it's fine. Adora trusts her, too giddy with relief to pay attention to the warnings carved into her own body of why she shouldn't. ] Hey. Before I go back to being me, you should come and take a closer look at all of this. I know you're curious.

[ It's important that Catra gets used to She-Ra, for... tactical reasons. Maybe she'll like her now that they're on the same side, and no matter how hard Adora tries to temper her expectations, she can't help feeling hope at the idea of She-Ra being a source of comfort for Catra, not resentment. ]

Maybe.

[ He brings it back in front of his face, turning it around. ]

What do you think will happen if I destroy it?

I guess that's better?

[ He frowns. ]

Don't know if it'd be worth it to do that to all of 'em, though.

Of course I mean it. Who else is going to look out for you out here? You said it yourself: you need me.

[It's easy to say it now, when she's still confident in their friendship. She'll be holding that over Adora's head for a long time. And though Catra's relatively comfortable up here on the roof, she still tenses as Adora's oversized self approaches; and then relaxes again with a snort when the idiot beams up at her, her cape flapping in a nonexistent wind.]

Please. I can see how dorky you are just fine from up here. [Also, not that she doesn't trust Adora, but Catra's always going to feel better when she's the one with the height advantage.

That's not to say that she's not leaning off the roof, balancing precariously near the gutter in a crouch to look Adora over. Under the guise of just watching her normally, of course. Catra won't be caught dead actually doing what Adora's told her to, even if it's obvious she is when her lips quirk and her sharp fangs slip through her teasing smirk.] You pick that tiara out all on your own?

[Actually, she should thank Adora for urging her to take a better look. There's enough here to make fun of her with for years.]

[Is it an accusation if it is, technically and categorically, correct?]

Kidnapped from where?

[Sephiroth has little to say on the matter, little to be impressed with the other's claim. Though he supposes there may be some legitimacy to it, given how his own arrival took place when he awoke here.]

[Light, Sun, and Fire, describe the Titans, the... Titan-in-miniature asks. Larkspur puts his ears forward with the force of his weird amusement at that order. It's a mode of interlocution that doesn't much bother him; the Blade is similarly no-nonsense. In light of how downright homey that is, he can forgive the poking at him, though the screech of a talon on armor makes him crimp his ears; the touch at his eyebrows makes him twitch his head back, as a cat might from touched whiskers.]

They're gods, [he begins, simply.] Or near enough. Arcane creators big as worlds themselves, roaming the Great Dark and shaping whatever they find out there. Ordering planets and peopling them. [With a hint of amusement,] Whether or not they already had people to start.

They're good--I suppose--wanting life to continue and be orderly and just. They look after us the same way we do our gardens; kindly, but without minding ripping some of us up like weeds. [You nearly have your world wiped out at least once by a Titan failsafe, you develop some Opinions about them. Elves weren't even their creations, so far as anyone knew. The sheer cheek of the things.

Though it's not as if Lark seems particularly upset about it. Part of that's surely the normal lack of affect, but also, what was to be done about any of it? The Light often took a similar view of Its followers, after all, though for all he's a death knight and therefore damned...Larkspur's inclined to regard Its motives with far more charity. It hadn't tried to obliterate Azeroth, after all.

...He shuffles off the grass somewhat apologetically when it's mentioned he's killing it, feeling with the toes of his boots until he's away from the edges.]

Mostly, [he concedes.] There's ways to keep it from leaking out if I'm trying. Thinking I can recruit someone to do most of the watering until they're big enough I won't wipe them out on accident.

[Without even interrupting the flow of conversation, he reaches out with his free hand to take a smack at the horse's nose. Quit it.]

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2nd Event: Choices We Make

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