Third TDM: Don't Turn Around

[upcyclingmod]

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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

Shoto Todoroki | My Hero Academia

[dangertohands]

Arrival
[Waking up in a bathtub was... uncomfortable. Todoroki lays there for a while before he sits up with a start to scramble out of the tub. This wasn't a dream. This was far from his traditional Japanese family home or the dorm. Not that he recalls falling asleep in either as the weird visions overcame him.

Anyone in the house will just see a young man with rather interesting hair moving to get out. Those outside will just be met by someone who is trying to look composed but may just be a little frazzled. And giving off some rather unusual cold. Or is it hot?]

It Arrives
[It's not everyday that Todoroki sees a goose. A goose that just seems to be having a good time. It would be quite rude to interrupt it as it drags something along the ground to wherever a goose might need this item.

Sorry to whoever was robbed by this white bird. Though one could ask Todoroki to stop it since it's going right past him.]

Confession Network
[That's not a hard question to answer at all.]

I'd like to be home. Or at school.

[How boring]

Wildcard
[Hit me with anything, pm this journal, or throw something my way planning wise at chromatus]

arrival

[fullgauntlet]

[For the moment Izuku has accepted that they are temporarily stuck in this world. They being him and Katsuki, so he's not at all expecting anyone else from his class to suddenly show up. So when he's passing by and catches a glimpse of two-toned hair his eyes fly wide.]

T-Todoroki-kun?!

[It's hard to miss the way the cold and hot is fluctuating.]

Re: arrival

[dangertohands]

[Hearing his name makes Todoroki look towards the source. There's a sense of relief and confusion. His face is a momentary mask of both before he manages to get his bearings back in order and his quirk stops... doing what it was.]

Midoriya. What are you doing here?

[Asks the one who shouldn't be here either.]

[fullgauntlet]

Ahh, it's a long story-

[Izuku rushes up to his friend looking panicked and concerned.]

Todoroki-kun, what happened to you? Are you alright? A lot of us wake up in bathtubs filled with water... !

[dangertohands]

[Water? Had there been water? Now that he thinks about it, his clothes had been a bit damp...]

I think I evaporated it.

[Since he woke up in an empty tub.]

[fullgauntlet]

... Eh?

[Somehow that just breaks all of Izuku's immediate concern and he sweatdrops. Leave it to Shoto to say something like that with such an expression.]

I'm glad you won't be catching a cold in that case. [haha.] But- We're far away from Japan right now...

[dangertohands]

[That much was obvious. This doesn't look like any area of Japan he's been to...]

Where are we then?

[Shoto has no clue.]

[fullgauntlet]

My best guess is it's a dimension between dimensions...

[That's so science fiction.]

I don't know how we got here. At first, I thought it was a quirk that transported us. But it's been a few weeks for me and Kacchan now.

[dangertohands]

[A dimension between dimensions... Nope. That was a little beyond Shoto. Not unless it was quirk involved.]

Weeks? Bakugou is here?

Confession Network

[apshot]

Those aren't really options right now. Deal with it.

[dangertohands]

They asked for an answer.

I gave an answer.

[Todoroki knows it's not an option!!!!

Does Bakugou not know how games work?]

[apshot]

I think everyone wants to get the fuck back home.

[dangertohands]

[.......]

This is a game.

[The answer was supposed to be for the game!!!!]

[apshot]

Doesn't mean you have to play.

[dangertohands]

Then how would you have answered this?

[apshot]

I wouldn't have. Simple as that.

[dangertohands]

[ .......]

Do you not like games?

confession network

[spryite]

Did you like what you were studying?

[School's actually a pretty interesting answer, at least to some people!]

[dangertohands]

I did.
I was going to the best school to become a Pro-Hero.

[Yup. He said hero.]

[spryite]

[...huh. Honestly though, that sounds more intriguing than outrageous--]

What's the curriculum like?

[dangertohands]

[Someone is curious? Okay.]

We have basic classes, like Japanese, math, and English.
Then there's ethics, morality, and classes that deal with more hero oriented things to prepare us for being provisional and eventually pro-heroes.
Practical classes to help us work with our quirks and how to use them in mock battles are a part as well.

[spryite]

[It has crossed his mind that the other teen might be lying, but it seemed rather pointless given the circumstances, plus the details he kept piling sounded simultaneously too mundane (from a school life perspective, at least) and elaborate to be completely made up. Hard to eliminate the impossible when you reach a point where it's become difficult to even define the term, after all.]

That does sound like quite the packed class schedule. With all those mentions of 'pro-heroes', though, would there be an anti-heroes fraction as well?

[dangertohands]

Villains.

They don't tend to go to school.

[spryite]

That seems... rather black and white. People with power don't just choose to be heroes or villains. ...Do they?

[dangertohands]

Not everyone with power chooses either, a lot of people are fine just living normally.