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upcyclingmod ([personal profile] upcyclingmod) wrote in [community profile] pedalbike2020-10-16 08:19 pm
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Third TDM: Don't Turn Around


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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.


Braving the Trail

A new trail has opened up in the woods today! Funny, that there’s never been a real path before, but this one promises a spectacular view for all Wickies who brave it.

However, the view has to be earned with one stipulation: until the Wickie reaches the trail’s end, they are forbidden to turn around. At all. There’s no mention of what may happen if the Wickie does glance back, but the scripted text on the sign marking the trail hints that the consequences just might be dire.

The hike itself is fairly easy. It even feels peaceful with the sounds of bird calls echoing in the distance. But for Wickies who are known for past procrastination, the walk will prove to be difficult. These individuals will experience an itching urge to turn around and leave the trail, and the itch worsens with every pause of their footsteps.

If a Wickie does turn around, they will find themselves staring up at a blank masked figure, slightly taller than themselves. And as wisps of fog cover the packed-dirt path, the figure hisses out a sigh, their voice barely audible as they issue their reprimand:

“I’m disappointed.”

Why, it’s not clear at all.

But with those words, the Wickie will find their body locked into place, unable to scream as their limbs become paralyzed, their eyes remaining fixed upon the masked figure. Somehow, the figure moves without walking, inching closer and closer until their mask and the Wickie’s face are close enough to touch.

The only way to become unlocked from this position is to have someone come and cover the Wickie’s eyes before leading them back to the trail’s start, somehow breaking their vision of the masked figure, or by speaking of a past regret outloud.

Otherwise, the Wickie has a good chance of dying from exposure.


Currently residing

It’s been nearly three months since the first arrivals started off on the island. It’s had its ups and downs, but with the previous quiet month, it’s been easy to relax in the cottages and houses, and even feel safe.

But not everything stays as it should. Whether a Wickie is just scoping the houses out, or returning to sleep in one of those comfy beds during the night, they will find that things are just a little..off. It’s as if someone has moved everything just a little, by no more than an inch or two. Sometimes, it even looks as if someone hurried away from the middle of a task. For example, mugs left in the sink will be washed; unslept in beds have been stripped, and their sheets are found in the laundry.

It’s only after sitting down with a fellow Wickie, that what’s going on will slowly become apparent.

People, looking more like blue tinted holographic designs, appear within the house. Slowly they become more visible, going through the motions of daily life. People with their significant others, children playing, even pets can be seen, playing with their owners or doing things that pets do.

These residentials don’t seem to notice the newcomers in their surroundings. But they do notice objects are moved, particularly if it’s furnishings. They frown, confused, before talking to one another and seeing the items returned to where they believe it should be. And curious too, that while the residentials appear to speak to one another, there’s not a sound that’s uttered when their mouths move.

It’s not possible to interact with them, unless the Wickie has the spiritual power to speak with spirits. Even then they’re quite confused, and do not believe themselves dead- it’s as if they think the Wickie is the ghost instead.

It is possible to deter the residentials manifesting by lighting a candlek. Upon the candle being lit, they recoil, some of them violently, and with great upset, before fading.

But they weren’t causing any harm.

Are they?


It Arrives

The pumpkins have vanished (finally!) there’s no more costumes in the various drawers in town; the apple bobbing is done, and there’s no more bonfires. Pity that means the food is gone too.

But something else has arrived. Something...small, white, and with webbed feet.

You’ll know it by its sound. It’s unknown what has brought this particular goose to the island; it might have been a laden desire, or it had flown here over miles. Or who knows, maybe the Admin has set this goose out as some kind of petty revenge.

All that is known as that this goose likes to wreak havoc. It likes going into the flower and vegetable gardens, looking for seeds, vegetables, and flowers to pull up; it likes to grab keys and toss them just out of reach.

It’s also clever enough that it figured out how to get into Fruits Basket, into homes, and even...sometimes...onto roofs.

Thankfully, while the goose likes to startle people, its mischief is rather harmless, and even, at times, enjoyable to watch. Just be sure not to leave anything electrical it can throw into a body of water by accident- or any bells it can keep in its temporary home by the woods.

For those who are curious, yes it will accept all sorts of snacks, and it is a wild, ordinary goose. (So yes, it is as harmless as a normal goose and yes it is edible).


Confession network

Yet again, the phone goes off. Doesn’t look like it’s anybody in town, but it’s that weird, cheesy app called The Heart Game. And it’s persistent, too: it doesn’t want to be ignored, making a series of beeps and chirps, much like a pet that wants attention.

The message that pops up is as follows:

We’re back! It’s the time for everyone's favorite game- Confession! So beloved users, our question is:

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why? Tell us everything!
selforphaned: (7)

[personal profile] selforphaned 2020-10-17 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ he's not too sure how well to trust this guy. in a way, he reminds russell of kantera, and that alone is enough to make him feel a little bit uneasy.

but he ignores the pang on his chest, nodding at the question. yes, he was looking for that. however he doesn't seem to be making any moves to get any closer to either the stranger or the goose.

he's shy, that's all. ]
selforphaned: (11)

[personal profile] selforphaned 2020-10-17 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
N-no...

[ he doesn't want to trouble her. he was the one that got into this mess, so he should deal with it alone--that is what russell thinks. her kind, soft words are almost motherly, or like a big sister even, and it makes him feel conflicted.

he hates it.

he hates it so much and he wishes she would just go away, because he doesn't deserve something as kind as this. ]


I don't...[ he takes a deep, shaky breath. ] I don't want to bother you...
croxxing: (Friendly neighborhood Aristocrat!)

Taichi Kurosu | Cross Channel

[personal profile] croxxing 2020-10-17 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
A - Arrival

[Anyone who is living in this house might hear some rumbling and coughing within their chimney. That wasn't an animal rumbling in there... It just so happened to be a human being making noise. There's more unsettling noises before a boy with striking white hair and red eyes comes crawling out of the hearth. He was used to sleeping out in the wild outdoors, but this was a different experience for sure.

Not only that... His face and clothes were covered in soot. And not only that, he only manages to pull himself out half way up to his torso. The rest of Taichi's body was still stuck in there.]


--Ho ho ho! Santa Claus has come early! [A beat.] But, uh.... In all seriousness, I'm kinda stuck here. Is someone around to help a guy out? My leg's starting to fall asleep.

B - Braving the Trail

[This wasn't the first time that he's entered a world that was unlike his own. The first thing that Taichi decides to do is go down the forest trail to see if this place had a limit to see how far they could go. Maybe there would've been a boundary field... Something to keep people from coming in or getting out. And by the wild chance, Taichi was hoping to find a hokora shrine nearby. Maybe with the use of his eyes, he could...

Taichi's thoughts came to a halt as he noticed that he wasn't the only one who was walking down this path! It's been a while since he's had some human face-to-face conversation... He hopes that he isn't too rusty at the whole socializing thing. Just remember to act like a normal human...]


Hey there, stranger! What do you think is at the end of this trail? Treasure? An ancient holy weapon? Someone's secret porn stash?

[One of these things is not like the others and this boy is smiling like it isn't anything weird.]

C - Confession Network

[Question time, huh? What a unique phone! The real answer is something that non achievable for him and far more simple... So he decides to go for a more exotic and tailor made response. ]

If I had to pick a place that I'd like to go... It'd probably be France for a little vacation. First, I'd take a scienic boat ride to absorb the beautiful sights. Then I'd visit the Waffle Towel to do some quiet reminiscing on the food and the women. And finally, I'd settle down in my hotel room and carefully drink a bottle of Cham Paggin before drifting off to bed. The Cuntry of Love is a suitable place for the Love Aristocrat, no?

Now does this bot want to know my three sizes too? That's class-i-fied information. ♥


[Where could one begin with the typos in this text...?]
bindsthedead: (art-cause for concern)

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
It's all right- I wouldn't feel right leaving someone to walk through a dangerous place alone and unarmed. [Unlike Sabriel, who is both a mage and has a sword.]

I'll walk you back to the town, and you can get inside and get warm.
kuroi_taiyo: (78)

Judar | Magi | Aef CRAU, fully reset

[personal profile] kuroi_taiyo 2020-10-17 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
i. Arrival
[ Regardless of where you are, for Judar this all starts with a splash. Either:
a. You were just stepping out as the bathtub filled with warm water, and maybe bath salts or suds, or just the water on its own. It was barely a minute before a heavy splash is heard a significant portion of that water is forced over the edges and onto the floor.

or b. Where you were conveniently passing by as the young adult is shooed out of the home, dripping a wide trail from the thick braid of hair more so than the body itself.


Trust him, it's probably more confusing for him (especially as the newer arrival,) but only mildly more startling than... his skin? Because in moving around, he's inspecting his bare feet and hands, along with the staff as if to make sure of what was there. ]


What the... So where's this now?


ii. It Arrives for Confession Time
a.
[ This wasn't the first time that he'd been harrassed by wildlife (assumed local, because why wouldn't he,) but it was the first time he'd seen one so incessant. At first it was a shoe being tossed at him, as Judar was off relaxing on a bench. Weird, but... Well, no, that wasn't the only time he'd been bothered. The thing was pulling at his hair, as it was so conveniently long enough to grab.

Harmless, but it also lead to a bit of tug of war as he kept trying to shake the fowl off his braid. ]


The fuck're you wanting? Here- Off already!

[ Apparently what it wanted was some kind of tribute, for whatever purposes a goose could want. As Judar tossed the phone down at it, with the heart game trying to demand attention, the goose let go to scoop up its prize and head off. Well, that dealt with two annoyances at once. ]

b.
[ Though those who are paying attention to the newest confession game will realize a rather odd response in the list: ]

fghnjx bnhmjwser

[ You can't really judge a goose for its spelling though, now can you? Eventually the phone returns to the original owner's hands, but it's not as if he's invested enough to go through and clean up after the choices were made. ]


Misc.
For whatever else you'd like. Feel free to hit me up at [plurk.com profile] demonia
softwarelacunae: (♪Lost in a world created by man)

[personal profile] softwarelacunae 2020-10-17 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
Fortunately for Hakuno (or perhaps not), Xavier isn't currently equipped to understand the shifts of emotion, even were she a little more expressive here and now. He can see them, catalog them, add them to his backlog of expressions - but he doesn't know what to do with anything. Furthermore, she's quick to shift the conversation to the task at hand.

"People... I see." He doesn't understand. "This place is a... nexus? I believe that is what Pieces called the center where I was activated. Of different... worlds. Why do they call them worlds?" Oh no.

He only gets that far, though, before she brings the phone up as the current task. That shores him right back up to it, watching each movement of her fingertips on the device. "The notification... yes. I was unsure how to check it, as it appears to be... incompatible with my software."

He doesn't smile back... mostly because he doesn't really realise that's what you should do. "I apologise if I am speaking too much." Literally no one even slightly suggested that, Xavier.
dereban: <lj user=berriah> (pic#14190325)

[personal profile] dereban 2020-10-17 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
If someone were to open the application (The Heart Game, specifically) and promptly close the application, would the beeping still persist or would it go away?
softwarelacunae: (♪Tell me: who am I?)

[personal profile] softwarelacunae 2020-10-17 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
I comprehend.

[He sure does talk weird. It's like someone input the words after direct translation, but didn't really bother with any effort on making them flow.]

Cellphones are common technology, but I am unfamiliar. Pieces did not have one for me to learn from.

[A pause, his head tilting further as he stares at the phone. He's trying for sheepish confusion. It just looks. Weird.]

... Who are 'they'? I do not comprehend. I do not know how to view these messages. I am sorry, sir.
fortunateflower: (Black night dark sky)

Hinami Fueguchi | Tokyo Ghoul

[personal profile] fortunateflower 2020-10-17 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
(ooc: tokyo ghoul is a series with cannibalism as its theme. It might not come up in the thread but just to be safe, there's a warning.)

a - arrival

[One moment she's laying on the sofa, doodling in her notebook and gradually falling asleep, then the next she suddenly woke up in a bathtub. Needless to say, it was uncomfortable. At first, she thought Touka was messing with her, but then she realizes something was amiss. As she stumbles out of the bathroom, she realizes this isn't her big sister's apartment.]

Um... Where?

[The question comes out as a whisper, afraid. If there's anyone in the house with her, they'll find one nervous and fidgety fourteen year old walking around with a whole lot of tension in the poor girl's body language.]

b - it arrives

[She's still frazzled with this new situation, she's in a whole different place than Japan, without Touka or Kaneki or anyone she knows. But she knows she has to stay strong, for their sake, even if they aren't here. Plus, nobody here seems to know who or what she is, and it's freeing to be able to go outside without having to don a disguise. Of course she's not about to spill her secrets to anyone, either. So she finds herself a spot outside, brings her notebook- the only reminder of home -and starts doodling on it.

She was minding her own business when suddenly--]


HONK!

[Hinami squeaks and jumps unexpectedly at the sudden noise. She turns to see a goose right next to her, eyes wide and blinking... This is the first time she's seen a goose outside of a picture book. It's cute. Until it snatches the notebook from her hand and starts waddling away. It takes a moment for dumbfounded Hinami to register what just happened, then she quickly stands up and gives chase.]

H-hey! Give that back!

c - confession time

[She got her notebook back, somehow. She went back to her initial spot when her phone suddenly rings in her pocket. Right, she nearly forgot about the phone that was with her. She's never owned a smartphone before, it's kinda exciting.

Though she finds herself a bit of a problem when she starts reading]


"We're... b-back. It's... "... Um...

[She frowns, eyes squinting as if that could help her. She didn't quite know how to read her native language, it's going to take a whole lot of effort to read another language.]

Wildcard

[Feel free to hmu @ [plurk.com profile] Sharkbyte, or just throw me a surprise.]
dereban: ([m] 26)

himeko inaba | kokoro connect

[personal profile] dereban 2020-10-17 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
option i. [ braving the trail ]

    [Himeko honestly was not the type of person that one would describe as athletic and that fact shows as she travels down that path, although the fact that there's a sign that outright states not to turn around is telling...

    She decides to snap photos of the sign for good measure, given that the text is scripted, and takes on the hike in hopes that perhaps she'd find something besides the view.

    If someone decides to try turning around, Himeko herself makes an attempt to call out:]


    Wait, stop - let's try backtracking another way! I have a phone, we can use that, just don't look back.

    [Unless she's already too late.]


option ii. [ confession network ]

    [Himeko is pretty used to cell phones, although seeing the application just constantly beeping makes her want to open it and just close it because she has zero time for this kind of thing, but you know what they say: curiosity killed the cat.

    Although calling 'confession' a game is kind of...

    It feels more like prying; like gossip.

    But she's also mildly curious to see if the beeping would stop if she just exits the app--]


    Are you fucking kidding me?

    [--of course it persists, and it's even making noises that seem almost pitiful. Sorry about that, for those who may be around in the area.

    In the end, she decides to reopen the application and types out the following:]


    I've never been to Tokyo before. It's a place in Japan, although I don't know how many people are familiar with that country. I've always wanted to visit.

    As for why, I guess it's because it's the capital? There's no deep reason behind it. Of course, that's if it has to be a place I've never been to before. Otherwise, I'd rather be home. I have some people waiting for me.

    You?


option wildcard

    [Want to play anything else? Hit me up either at [plurk.com profile] tsundereban or via PM. Himeko over here is from Precious Time, so if you'd like to avoid spoilers for that - or any of the later light novel volumes, let me know!]
Edited 2020-10-17 06:44 (UTC)
bindsthedead: (art-magic)

b

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
[Fortunately for Hinami- or unfortunately for the goose- it waddles past Sabriel, who reaches into the Charter- and casts a spell that makes the goose freeze in place, so Sabriel can snatch the notebook out of its mouth- and as soon as she does, the goose starts honking furiously, something Sabriel pointedly ignores as she offers the notebook to the younger girl.]

Is this this yours?
medigaul: (05)

Luna | Zero Escape

[personal profile] medigaul 2020-10-17 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
I. Arrival

[The thing about being bound to one place for the entirety of one's life is that they can tell immediately they're not where they belong. Especially if said person is not actually a person, but a machine whose brain ought to be elsewhere. Whose body is supposed to have been shut down for good.

Luna feels so out of place and unsure of what her next task should be that she can't even enjoy how natural this place is compared to her home. She wanders vaguely, continuously winding up the locket around her neck to play a song, the only thing grounding her and giving her some kind of connection to home. The notes ting away as she approaches, her fingers entwined in front of her.]


Excuse me? I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt... Would you mind telling me where I am? I seem to be lost.


II. Braving the Trail

[Once the shock has worn away, Luna does appreciate all this natural beauty, especially on a trail such as this. The promise of an even more spectacular view is even more tempting, and so she goes!

She never gets that temptation to look back, though. To her, the sign counts as an order, and she will not disobey even if it might not be directly from a human. Instead, she looks ahead of her, smiling as she takes in all the sights and sounds that she never got to experience back on the moon.]


Have you ever seen anything like this before? [She asks her companion, who may be having far more trouble fighting the temptation to look back than she is.]


III. It Arrives

[Luna does not have any bells, but the bird cage locket she keeps around her neck is particularly shiny. She has no idea how it happened. She has no idea why it happened. All she knows is that there was honking, a rustle of feathers, and then the necklace was gone, slipped from her neck and into the beak of a horrible goose.]

Ah! Please, stop!

[She gives chase, but the goose is pretty dang fast! Help a damsel in distress?!]


IV. Confession Network

[She's never known the world outside of her home, so...]

Some place that's full of nature and greenery. It always sounds so peaceful...
bloodypath: (Hm. Doesn't seem intimidated)

Hubert von Vestra | Fire Emblem: Three Houses

[personal profile] bloodypath 2020-10-17 06:53 am (UTC)(link)
i - Arrival

[He had been running.]

[Not at a full sprint, but still hurrying over and around the rubble at a fair pace, and so a new Wickie comes barreling into the world—and straight into someone else. He's tall, carrying a strange spiral-tipped lance, and his clothes reek of smoke and blood. Hubert's too exhausted to avoid the collision, muttering a quiet curse as he staggers to find his balance.]


ii - Trail

That almost sounds like a threat.

[Hubert frowns at the sign, close to outright scowling. He's still carrying that strange spear, unwilling to let go of the weapon in a stranger world. Never mind that a man waltzing around in a high-collared cape, war-tattered clothing, and with a stabbing implement was likely a greater threat than the sign.]

[But if not stopped or spoken to, he stalks on, determined to get a lay of the land; he seems utterly oblivious to the forest's pull without an ounce of procrastination to ever grace his being. Whether he happens on someone else on the trail or at the coastline was for chance to decide.]


iii - Confession

Home. Some of us have far more important things to do than humor irrelevant games.
bindsthedead: (art-pensive)

iii

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 06:56 am (UTC)(link)
I agree. For some of us, there are urgent matters to attend to, things that cannot be put on hold for whatever this place is.
bloodypath: (How will I see to this...)

[personal profile] bloodypath 2020-10-17 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
Would be it that everyone saw it that way.

So you find yourself in the same... predicament, we shall call it?
bindsthedead: (art-breath)

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
I'm afraid so. Still, if we were brought here, there must be a way back.

I'm afraid I'm just not sure how, and what I've found here is worrying.
kuroi_taiyo: (50)

currently residing

[personal profile] kuroi_taiyo 2020-10-17 07:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ He'd honestly gotten used to going around the odd 'spirits,' if that's what they were. It's what they thought he was, or something like a demon due to his eyes. Either way, he'd been decidedly going on as if they weren't a thing. Until this person bumped into him, and she made a point about acknowledging them. ]

Leave 'em.

[ Making a motion to pat her on the shoulder, Judar gestured towards the direction he was moving. ]

They'll probably be fine as long as they think they're the living ones. Just keep them in their routine.
bloodypath: (Perhaps an odorless tasteless poison...)

[personal profile] bloodypath 2020-10-17 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
And that is...?

[Not that Hubert doesn't find this place concerning, but whatever, more information.]
bindsthedead: (art-breath)

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
Those strange figures around town, that go about their lives ignoring us? They're Dead spirits.

Which raises the question of how they all died, among several others.
bindsthedead: (art-cause for concern)

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
In my experience, letting the Dead linger in Life isn't a good idea. [For many, many reasons, starting with 'they're likely to turn into monsters'. Sabriel turns to regard the other man, her expression solemn, even if she keeps shifting her gaze back to the spirits- there's so many of them that even when she deliberately dulls her death-sense, she still feels unsettled.]

Besides, how long can they stay in their routine if the town is also full of living people, staying in the same houses?
Edited 2020-10-17 07:45 (UTC)
kuroi_taiyo: (48)

[personal profile] kuroi_taiyo 2020-10-17 08:01 am (UTC)(link)
If you wanna get rid of them, go for it.

[ In his world, the dead didn't exactly linger. Their energy would always go elsewhere, depending on how afflicted it was. With these beings, he managed to interact, but couldn't manage to actually talk to them, so... There went the reason for his easy approach. You couldn't murder the dead, so if it was bothering her so much, she may as well do whatever. ]

It doesn't really affect me, and there's a chance it'll just go away on its own anyway.
bindsthedead: PB icons are from hollow art (Default)

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-10-17 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
One last question- if characters have a method for forcing the dead to pass on, will it work on the spirits?
softwarelacunae: (♪Lost in a world created by man)

Trail I

[personal profile] softwarelacunae 2020-10-17 08:15 am (UTC)(link)
Xavier has never seen woods, let alone a trail. In spite of his apparent age, there's a wide-eyed wonder with which his ponderous steps seem to coincide, with no hurry or strain.

Another might notice the shape Sam is in, might notice the unfazed (or underlying perturbed) demeanour... literally anything, honestly. This someone, however, simply stops when Sam glances his way.

"Ah. You are correct; this is what I understand to be a beautiful landscape." That's... Hm. Maybe he's just not used to speaking the language? Though... the more one looks and listens, the more the monotone seems deeper than that, like he doesn't know how to emote, like some kind of automaton. Imagine that. "I do hope I am not interrupting your walk."

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