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!

Comments

[laeradr]

[ He looks amused at that pragmatic answer. It's not like he'd asked out of any desire to learn those skills; unfortunately, magic doesn't work that way. But he appreciates the consideration(?). It says something about this youth. ]

It does, indeed. [ He'll repay one good answer with another, speaking amicably even as he scans their surroundings. ] Magic is based on the ability to control mana -- the energy in the environment, and inherent to oneself.

But, you see ... [ Vangeance's words peter off into a quiet, thoughtful hum. ] ... as far as I know, the entire continent shares the same understanding of magic that my homeland does. So if we're both unfamiliar with each other's abilities, either you, or I, or most likely both of us have ended up very far from home.

[ That was really the reason he'd asked about Megumi's abilities. He'd harbored some genuine curiosity, of course, but it's more that he's really coming to understand what bizarre circumstances he's ended up in. His calm smile doesn't waver, even as he looks over unfamiliar surroundings, murmuring quietly, ]

This could be quite the troublesome situation.

[shinizama]

[ oh Vangeance... sweet summer child. Megumi is glad that this weird masked man is leveling with him, but his reply is dry, and frankly? incredibly millennial. as mature as he seems, he's still 16. ]

This situation is the sort of cliché that you usually see in anime.

[ do you even anime, Vangeance??? Megumi doesn't, but it's ubiquitous enough that he knows about isekai. ]

It's likely that I'm not from your world, and you're not from mine. The easiest way to go home is to figure out what the terms of this place are, and fulfill its requirements.

[ wow, don't make it sound so exciting, Megloomy. ]

[laeradr]

[ There's a pause before he laughs, brief but sincere. It's actually been a long time since he's felt so out of his element, and there's something oddly refreshing about it, even as he worries about how he's going to get back home. ]

Is that so? If this is something you're so familiar with, perhaps I should feel embarrassed about my ignorance.

[ And so here comes the inevitable question: ]

Then -- if you'd please indulge me. What is this ... 'anime' you mentioned?

[ Megumi-chan, there isn't even any television where he comes from. Please have mercy on this ancient specimen from fantasy medieval europe. ]

[shinizama]

[ ah. instant regret... he should've known that Vangeance would be one of Those.

the air quotes around the word 'anime' makes Megumi feel 10 years older than he is. because he hears them. he knows they're there. it's not infomodding when we all know that that beautiful Ono-D voice tentatively enunciates the syllables as if they're a precious incantation.

ugh. ] It's short for 'animation'. [ Gojou-sensei voice: "that doesn't help, Megumi! details, details!" ] ...A kind of story that people tell, using pictures.

[ way to make anime sound like the most boring shit in the world. listen, he's not an expert. ]

[laeradr]

‘Animation’... [ Damn straight he enunciates that unfamiliar word in his lilting voice, clearly trying to form a mental image for it. So it’s something akin to theater, isn’t it? Just with pictures instead of actors? ] And you say this sort of situation is a cliche in these ‘anime.’

[ Strange thing to be a cliche, but sure. He can roll with it for now. ]

I see ... I suppose I’m not too knowledgeable about such things. I’ll have to be more aware in the future.

[ He glances over to give Megumi a genuinely warm and friendly smile. Kind of impressive how sincere he manages to seem while wearing that tacky mask. ]

Thank you. If what you say is true — that this situation has a clear solution — I appreciate the information. And your calm attitude, as well. You hardly seem disturbed by these circumstances.

[shinizama]

[ 'be more aware', Vangeance says, and Megumi looks like he wants to say something to the contrary; something about 'don't bother', but having to explain why is another can of worms that he doesn't want to open.

so, he shrugs. there are worse things in this world than exposing this poor masked man to anime. ]

Just a frame of reference. Knowing about it doesn't make this situation any less unknown— easier to digest, maybe, but not better.

[ a realist, in every sense. his expression falls only a sliver, thoughtful instead of melancholy, and he picks himself right back up. ]

—Being disturbed won't help any, either. [ which is to say: it's disturbing. there's no shame in admitting the obvious. ] What matters is how you deal with what you're given. I don't intend on dying here.

[laeradr]

[ He'd been glancing sideways at Megumi, quiet for a moment, but laughs softly at that utterly pragmatic answer. Not in a mocking way, though. A little fond, if anything. ]

That's an admirable attitude. Though most people would find it easier said than done. Especially those of your age.

[ There's little flickers of energy around him as he tries to sense out any abnormalities in their environment, seamlessly integrated with his steady gait. Despite his praise for Megumi, Vangeance seems awfully calm himself. ]

... you're right, though. It wouldn't do to die here. I'll assist you towards that end. [ His voice is softer for a moment as he says that. But only briefly, and he looks down towards Megumi's shikigami afterwards. ] Have you spotted anything unusual around here?

[ Curious to see if it's able to react or respond to people other than its master(?). ]

[shinizama]

[ Vangeance is calm, steady. for all that the man talks about Megumi's acceptance of their surroundings, he's the one that hasn't broken his equilibrium this whole time; it's something that Megumi absorbs and mulls over, and something that feels familiar.

which is why the black dog slinks over by the masked man's feet, draws figure eights around his legs. ]

...That's a 'no'.

[ again, they're probably the weirdest people around here. that said: ] —You're talking about helping me, but you probably have more experience being on the field than I do. [ Gyokuken sniffs at Vangeance's shoe, tail swaying. ] What's your skillset?

[laeradr]

[ Vangeance gives a soft 'oh' when Gyokuken noses at his boot, smiling warmly as he kneels down to give it a gentle rub between the ears. ]

That's alright. Thank you for trying.

[ He favors birds, but he does like animals in general. He's still dispensing ear scritches as he looks up to Megumi. ]

Most Knights would hesitate to divulge too much about their abilities to a relative stranger ... But as you've seen, my magical attribute is plant-based. [ Is his honesty a sign of sheer confidence, or a sign of trust in Megumi? Maybe a little bit of both. ] I can handle myself in combat, especially on a larger scale, but I also know some healing spells. And even if I can hold my own, I don't mind providing support for others. What of yourself? Do you prefer working alone?

[shinizama]

[ is judging a person by the quality of ear scritches they give a good idea? probably not. the gentleness doesn't sway Megumi so much as it gives him a certain yardstick with which to measure Vangeance by; the feeling he gets, however, is largely positive.

that said, he'll never confuse someone's ability to be forthright with honesty, but he listens nonetheless. a very mendokusai kind of kid. ]

A Knight. [ flatly, but without judgment. the designation tracks, to be honest, and the track record is more than impressive. he can't help but look a little wide-eyed. ] I guess all of that explains the composure.

[ one last bump of its nose to the underside of Vangeance's chin, and Gyokuken trots back to Megumi to fill the silence between that statement and Megumi's answer to the posed question. ]

—And, it depends on the situation. [ is what he finally concludes. ] If the situation calls for someone more capable to intervene, I'll ask for help. Same goes for the other side of that coin. [ If someone needs him to help, he'll step in.

and here's where he just. takes a moment to look Vangeance up and down. green eyes settled and focused, lips knit but almost on the verge of saying something else. ]

[laeradr]

No, not particularly? [ He laughs at that, even as he leans forward to touch the forehead of his mask to the top of Gyokuken's head. One last fond gesture before he rises to his feet. There's a hint of genuine amusement in his smile this time, not just the unflappable calm he's shown so far. ] There are plenty of Magic Knights who are hot-headed. And not necessarily to their detriment.

[ It's just not his personal style.

He meets Megumi's gaze evenly, unruffled even as he's being looked over. And he waits until it seems Megumi's reached his own conclusion before continuing. ]

Yours is a good attitude to have. It can be troublesome if someone is too proud to cooperate with others. There's nothing at all shameful about accepting the help of others. [ An approving nod. ] I'm sure you're a great asset to your colleagues.

[ Because he can't imagine someone of Megumi's apparent age can be so controlled and skilled(?) without belonging to some manner of dedicated organization. He seems like the type to be a hard worker. Maybe a little overly serious, but earnest. ]

I assume neither of us plans on staying here long. And you look like fairly self-sufficient. But in case you ever need any assistance -- my name is Vangeance. Please feel free to call upon me.

[shinizama]

[ not just Knights, Magic Knights. Megumi's frame of reference begins and ends with, again, anime (sorry Vangeance), and the man sort of fits the bill.

if only the other sort-of adults in Megumi's life could emulate even a fraction of this pose... there's a moment here where it's obvious that he's thinking as much. the sort of world-weary lowering of shoulders that says too much. ]

I do what I can.

[ nothing more, nothing less. but he appends a soft thank you for his own benefit, polite and noncommittal.

with that said: ] Fushiguro Megumi. —Likewise. [ a half-bow of his head, in true Japanese high-schooler fashion. ] ...It's nice to be able to play verbal catch instead of dodgeball, for a change. This place probably needs people like you.

[laeradr]

[ Vangeance definitely recognizes that little slump of the shoulders, the suggestion of strained patience and reluctant teamwork. Prickly colleagues, maybe? He exhales softly, not quite a laugh. ]

It gets a little exhausting being around people with sharper tongues, doesn't it? Even though there's a certain charm to them. [ Ever gracious and accomodating, probably like the anime characters Megumi's thinking of. He gestures that they continue walking. ] We'll have to see if what kind of difference 'someone like me' can make ... but I'll be glad if I can be of some help to you.

[ There was a little flicker of something melancholy in his voice for a second, but it's quickly brushed aside as he glances over the scenery. ]

By the way, Fushiguro. [ Kinda choppy pronunciation, but he's trying his best, okay. ] Is the architecture and technology here familiar to you?

[shinizama]

[ cue one of those quintessential anime Looks— one that says that Vangeance isn't quite right about the assumption, but in the same ballpark. minus the charm.

it's tempered by the vaguely solemn undercurrent of the phrase parroted back at him, but he doesn't pry. ultimately, he knows it's up to him to decide what kind of person Vangeance is. ]

A capable person with a level head is always an asset. [ is all he'll say, before segueing into the answer to his question.

the semi-botching of his name is a little endearing, though. ] ...Right.

I'm guessing you're the type that's never heard of the Internet. [ sweet summer child. ] You're going to have a lot to learn.

[laeradr]

'Internet' ...

[ Yeah, the way he says those syllables tentatively makes it incredibly obvious he's never even seen a computer before. ]

You're right. I'm afraid I'm not familiar.

[ Still, he doesn't sound too troubled. Even as he gives a soft sigh, his smile remains unwavering. ]

But if there are others who are more familiar with the environment here, I'm relieved. If this place were foreign to everyone, it would be much harder for anyone to be at ease ... I don't mind putting in the effort myself, but I hope those like you are in the majority.