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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!
clamoris: (Default)

[personal profile] clamoris 2020-10-22 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Satoko starts to open her mouth to object to that idea... but then stops, reconsidering.]

Actually... that's not a bad idea, Rika. Maybe we could train it to keep away pests... or even help with some our traps against Keiichi-san...

[Oh my god Satoko do not send a goose chasing after Keiichi??]
clamoris: (Default)

[personal profile] clamoris 2020-10-22 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Aww no Rena, don't make that face at us, you're going to make Satoko feel guilty.]

N--no, Rena-san, of course not. That would be very unladylike of me to hurt an animal for not knowing any better of what's right and wrong... but that's why we need to trap it so that it can be taught a lesson that stealing is wrong!
clamoris: (Default)

[personal profile] clamoris 2020-10-22 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Satoko almost rejects the offer, but then she looks back at the goose, considering. An idea seems to come to mind...]

Do you think you could help me get the goose to move... hmm, I'd say about seven steps to the left of where it's currently standing?

[... What on earth is she planning...]
clamoris: (Default)

[personal profile] clamoris 2020-10-22 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[When she had met Mion, she had briefly thought that maybe it was an imposter pretending to be her, and seeing Keiichi, she almost did the same. But... no one can fake Keiichi's reactions to her traps that well.

There's a long moment where she watches him struggling with the trap, before she reaches out to help undo it with a small smile. Perhaps a little teary-eyed too, truly relieved to see him again and alive at that, even if her words are meant to be teasing.]


Geez, I can't believe you've gotten so rusty that's you'd even fall for a trap like this. Just what have you been doing all this time, Keiichi-san?
clamoris: (Default)

[personal profile] clamoris 2020-10-22 10:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[Satoko startles a bit when Mion wraps both her hands around Satoko's outstretched hand. Her grip on the chair tightens, that ugly feeling of fight or flight burning under her skin, but when Mion speaks... her words are so certain, and her hand is warm, not the cold grip one would expect of someone who is supposed to be dead.

It's a warmth that she hasn't had the chance to experience from any of her friends in a while, but it's a familiar warmth... she doesn't want to think that not only could someone fake being Mion, but that they could fake that, too.

Sonozaki Mion is the leader of their club. She would never lie to her club members, not when it matters the most. Satoko... wants to trust in this, if nothing else.

She lets go of the chair, letting it clatter to the floor as she brings her other hand up to join the ones clasped in Mion's, her tears falling free now.]


Mion-san... Mion-san, I'm sorry...

[She doesn't know what to say. How do you apologize for doubting your friend's existence, or even explain that it was because they shouldn't be there at all? And if it actually isn't Mion... does that make her selfish for wanting to wish that it was?]
clamoris: (Default)

[personal profile] clamoris 2020-10-22 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Upon seeing that it's not a scary adult man, but a young girl close to her age, Satoko falters. She lowers her improvised weapon but doesn't let go of it entirely.]

No, no... I just woke up here... I shouldn't be here at all, I should be...

[... In the hospital. Or dead, possibly. Her last memory is rather fuzzy on the details.]

Who are you?

[This girl definitely wasn't in the hospital with her. Does she live here? ... Or maybe she was kidnapped too?]
keichan: (063)

[personal profile] keichan 2020-10-22 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Had he not spent the better part of a month missing Satoko and worried about whether he or the rest of their friends would ever see him again, his reaction to this trap would probably be slightly harsher... though not significantly so, since she has a point. In hindsight, this was a pretty simple trap.

But instead, his face lights up in a warm but sheepish smile. He sees the tears glimmering in the corners of her eyes, and that makes his own eyes start to water, which he wipes away with his wrist. ]


Well, there hasn't been anyone leaving traps for me for a while, so I guess I've gotten a little careless.

[ He can't bring himself to be even slightly annoyed with her now. He'd gladly fall for a million traps over and over again if it meant getting to see one of his precious friends again. ]
omnimorphs: (Upset)

[personal profile] omnimorphs 2020-10-22 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
That's not...entirely accurate?

[Paige smiles somewhat awkwardly, almost apologetically, holding up a hand.]

I haven't studied magic much, no. But I've studied certain aspects of what humans would call supernatural. I'm a Mutant, and so I was born with innate abilities that are outside human norms.

But, no, I cannot sense magic.
paperpusher: (wish I'd been a teen teen idle)

[personal profile] paperpusher 2020-10-22 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, I see. I'm thinking of-- creatures, would probably be the best word, who are typically only visible to people with a strong spiritual ability. [So they can't really know either way whether this is an ayakashi-- or any sort of spirit in the way Natori thinks of when he uses the word-- or if it's something that only appears for the person who turns around. Not without Vangeance testing it, but it'd be reckless to have them both marked for turning around just to investigate a minor point.] ...But still, it's a spell based on some sort of spiritual power, so even if you wouldn't be able to see them it still should have...

[Oh, of course. He's forgetting the obvious way to narrow it down. He wiggles around within their little arbor cage until he's showing the back of his neck to Vangeance, shoving the ends of his hair up to ensure the ayakashi that lives on his skin isn't covered by anything. It looks like the shadow of a gecko, solid black and flat against the nape of his neck like a tattoo, except that when it's revealed it skitters to the right towards his collarbone with a quiet slithering sound.] See anything?

[It's only visible to people with that same spiritual sense-- like, I'm guessing Vangeance can see it, basically follow the same rules we'd follow for Stands]
fullgauntlet: <user name=michrure> (13870055)

[personal profile] fullgauntlet 2020-10-22 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
So far it looks like it's only us and Kacchan from our class. But there are many others here from ... ahh...

[...]

Other worlds? They don't have quirks like we do. Some even have magic or other abilities.

[It's so science fiction.]
paperpusher: (and I keep on smiling.)

[personal profile] paperpusher 2020-10-23 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
Haha, that sort of thing happens a lot here. For me, I was trying to enter my apartment. Unfortunately, so far it's been one-way only.

[He finishes up one of the dolls, then makes a vaguely gesture with his hand and the doll whisks off to the side to join a pile of them on the floor beside him. It almost looks like he snapped it over like a frisbee, except the doll never actually seemed to make it into his palm in the first place.]

My name's Natori Shuuichi. This place... mostly gets called Fogtown, honestly. I've been here for a few weeks now.
dangertohands: ([9])

[personal profile] dangertohands 2020-10-23 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Other worlds.... what? That... Todoroki stares as he processes this.

This was starting to sound like some plot in a TV show...]


Are you sure they're from other worlds?
shinizama: (pic#14399878)

[personal profile] shinizama 2020-10-23 12:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ listen. a whole lot of exorcists suck ass.

anyway. ayakashi are Not Curses, then-- nice. more of the Studio Ghibli brand of spiritual creatures, but probably a little more PG-13 than G. Fushiguro notes this with the sort of care that shows in the twist of his mouth, in the firm set of his calm neutrality. processing, but trying not to mix what he knows about his own life with the standards of someone else's.

as for the rest... well. shrug.
]

Some people say so. [ not a 'yes' or a 'no'. ] I haven't died so far.

[ echoing what Natori said before. if he's not dead, he's at least not weak. ]
revenues: (pic#14163223)

[personal profile] revenues 2020-10-23 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ At that, Ferdinand just sighs under his breath - because where can he even begin? It doesn't help that Hubert is as careful and cautious as they come - he doesn't think anything short of proving his crest is genuine or producing some knowledge only the real Ferdinand would know would persuade him. But nonetheless, he promised an explanation: ]

From what I have gathered in my two moons here, people get abducted here— from all sorts of places, from far out from Fódlan. By some sort of arcane and omnipotent magic, or technology. I know not which yet. The important bit is that the two of us are among those taken.

[ Ferdinand tries to be as convincing as he can, speaking characteristically honestly and openly, even knowing that the words sound preposterous. But he desperately doesn't want to be on the receiving end of a dark spell or that spear, so he pours every ounce of earnestness he has into his words. ]

The Talitean Plains— we'd just left for Fhirdiad when I found myself here. [ His eyes lighten, just slightly, as a realization dawns on him. ] I can prove myself to you, should your suspicion of my authenticity remain.
bridgetothefuture: (🖐️ be afraid of the cold)

[personal profile] bridgetothefuture 2020-10-23 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Important?" Sam actually laughs a little at that, sounding maybe a little cynical, but he shakes his head. "I'm just a porter." It doesn't sound like he doesn't want to talk about it as he's just a little tired.

At the statement about his daughter, he actually smiles, though it doesn't last long. "Maybe. She's precocious; not like most babies, but she's still only a few months old. She's an infant, can't do much on her own."

It actually scares him a little, not knowing what's going to happen to her now.
nerine: (New Age Dreaming)

[personal profile] nerine 2020-10-23 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
Hm. I'm Monts.

[Her eyes follow the doll as it joins the pile.]

A few weeks? Not a vacation though I assume?

[Without really thinking about it, she rubs the back of her neck, looking thoughtful.]

And let me make another guess. It's called Fogtown because the weather is delightful?
fullgauntlet: <user name=michrure> (Default)

[personal profile] fullgauntlet 2020-10-23 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
[That's exactly what he thought as well! Even if quirks seem farfetched to other people.]

That's what they've been saying. And I've seen some people use magic as well. It's not like our quirks at all.
paperpusher: (this is a life of extremes)

[personal profile] paperpusher 2020-10-23 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
Haha, good guesses! No, as much as I'd love to get away to a small misty island that no one can leave. But don't worry. You'll be able to get more coffee.

[If Monts is able to see spiritual or supernatural things, she'll be able to see the small black ayakashi that lives on his skin as it skitters out from under his jacket sleeve onto his hand when he reaches for his next piece of paper. It's shaped like a gecko and lies flat against his skin like a living tattoo; it even makes a quiet, slick wet sound as it moves. Natori, as always, pretends there's nothing there until someone else states otherwise.]

I'll understand if you don't want to say 'nice to meet you.' The circumstances really throw a wrench in it.
nerine: (Objection noted)

[personal profile] nerine 2020-10-23 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'll take it. I'm beginning to realize there are very few bright spots to this whole situation.

[She's wondering about Iona and Oren, about her grandparents and she's even thinking about her dad and brother. Someone would have to notice her missing right?

Monts isn't a stranger to the unknown. Ever since she was a child her eyes and her whole being were forcibly opened and changed to the fact that her world and other worlds are not straightforward.

Which is why she does take notice of the black mark on his skin. There's a pause as she twirls a strand of hair around her finger while murmuring.
]

Well. That's not like mine at all.
paperpusher: (this is the sound of me hitting bottom)

[personal profile] paperpusher 2020-10-23 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
[...Well. That's a first.

Whatever joking response he was going to say next never comes; instead, he freezes with the sheet of paper settling down in front of him. It's been so long since he first started looking into the ayakashi; it's been so long since he's been forced to accept that not even the exorcist community could explain it. The idea that someone else would-- not just recognize it, but also--

--No, he has to be misunderstanding.]
Haha. I didn't catch that.

[...But he can't just--] Yours?
takemycall: (In a world of tragedy)

I

[personal profile] takemycall 2020-10-23 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Fiona may not know the place as a new arrival, yet she can at least tell something is different about the tree. (There's a lot of things that feel strange about the island, but still.) The priestess gravitates to the tree and circles it once, running her fingers along the trunk, before looking up to spot the stranger overhead. She blinks at Vangeance as her thoughts wander from his appearance to a certain acrobat. The man looks like he could fit in with the circus crew-- not that that's a bad thing.]

Any captivating views from such a height?

[Her smile is vaguely amused as she calls up to him.]
softwarelacunae: (♪I can't recall how it all began)

[personal profile] softwarelacunae 2020-10-23 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Is that not an important thing to do?" Xavier asks it earnestly. A normal DoLL, he knows, would be able to understand and reassure, but he is... well, the way he is. "You are able to do something that many cannot, after all."

He's categorised the scenery by now, and as such, Xavier's focus shifts to Sam. Each expression seems... small, fleeting, but it's noticeable even to him. "Someone takes care of her while you are out working, then?"

The wonder is there - if he can't find Pieces, the likelihood of Sam's daughter being nearby is... low, isn't it? Unless Sam was here before, but that doesn't fit the logical narrative either. He can't understand the logic behind fear, but he does have enough in his database (and his own confused experiences, he'll realise one day) to register that Sam must be worried.
consumethedarkness: (08)

[personal profile] consumethedarkness 2020-10-23 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Rii-kun? That's a different nickname, and it makes Riku scratch at the back of his neck in surprise; it reminds him of the nicknames he might hear Selphie or Kairi give him when he was a kid. Not that there's anything wrong with it, of course.]

Yeah, I just arrived not too long ago. I'm still getting my bearings in this world.

What about you?
nerine: (I know exactly where this leads but I...)

[personal profile] nerine 2020-10-23 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
[She doesn't say anything at first. Her eyes are sizing up Natori's reaction and while it hums under her skin, it isn't upset or cautious. Monts hopes it's because she's made it that way. It's not a dangerous situation even if she's literally stepped into the unknown.

After some deliberation she stands up and turns around, lifting up athe fringe of her hair that barely hides a dark halo or rather, a flower-like mark that pulsates and glitters on the back of her neck.
]

I don't suppose you know what this is?
dangertohands: ([40])

[personal profile] dangertohands 2020-10-23 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
[What kind of place did they wind up in...]

That sounds... like a show or a comic...

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