pedalbike | Third TDM: Don't Turn Around

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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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, you mean the goose

ok

so who are you

[ Yeah, that thing. ]

judar

just one in the bunch of new arrivals

[ Surprise bitch. Bet you thought you saw the last of people there. ]

Judar?

Seriously?

[Yeah color her surprised!]

If I say faun, you'll say...?

[ That's just as much of a return surprise. He knew a lot of people back there, though, so now he's gotta be stealthy in figuring out who this was. ]

Luckily I'm back to my normal self.

[ Please don't go telling people about how he was. ]

[Interesting, and it tells her everything she needs to know.]

Where are you right now?

just passing some place called the gun show

[ Whatever that's meant to be for. Maybe a gay bar? He's not in a rush to find out. ]

Stay right there

I'll find you

[She knows exactly where that is. Time to bother a friend!]

sure.

[ Hm. Does he trust this? Not that he really was on bad terms with anyone.

Eh, it's fine. Whomever it ends up being, he can handle it. ]

[And off she goes! And when she finds him, she lights right up. Ah, there he is!

He looks so different without all his fur.]

There you are kiddo! C'mere!

[Don't make her yank you by the hair, she just wants a quick bear hug.]

[ Oh. Shit.

He's got an idea of what's on the way, though. He'll just back away... and up. Just enough out of reach, as long as Sokie's on the ground. Well, more importantly, keeping his hair out of reach. ]

If you remember me, you'd know there's no fucking way I'm doing that.

And if you remember me, you know what's coming next.

[Hi. Did you miss her.]

I'm still not going to just let you have your way, you hag.

[ Nuh uh, no way. He's staying nice and high. ~~Maybe he's a little happy that someone familiar is around and knows him.~~ ]

Wow, I'm hurt. Crushed.

[She's grinning though. She could try to follow but...nah. She'll let him think he's safe for now.]

That's why you're nothing but a goat, even when you're not a faun.

[Yes, please let him feel safe in the air. At least for a little bit, before he shows that he can do more than that, and inadvertantly start some kind of new game. One that's not so different from the usual.]

... What? What's that even supposed to mean?

[How is he a goat????]

[Yeah they can play air chase another time. Right now this one is...yeah it's pretty normal of where he tries to get out of reach.

It may or may not help that she's eyeing his hair.]

You're stubborn, is all. If you're not going to let me touch you, at least let me touch your hair.

That way I know I'm not just hallucinating this.

[ It definitely doesn't help that she's eyeing his hair! If she moved her attentions elsewhere, he'd at least feel like that wasn't an immediate target.

Though... The hallucination comment does get him to ease up on the guarded look. Whether or not it was true, he was bound to believe it somewhat. Even if the response isn't the best. ]

... You're not going to hallucinate me, out of all people. It'd be someone you bonded with, or someone close.

[ He's sympathetic, but damn, that's the kind of logic he uses to help. ]

I mean, that would be logical.

But I also saw loved ones come through my wall and try to burn me to death with acidic mud. Maybe this will lower my guard.

[She waved an idle hand.]

Though admittedly, you would have been in reach and cussing me out if you were a hallucination. This is the first time I've seen you actually float.

[ Seems like Sokie was having a great time here. Geeze... ]

It wouldn't have been if that world didn't change so much about me. Or if you saw anything else, instead of my bed time.

Yeah, this place is more generous.

[Weird as it is.]

But for you know...the non escaping part.

[Pause. And:]

If I promise I won't grab you, will you come down?

I mean, that'll come whenever we manage to disappear.

[ Definitely a 'when' instead of an 'if.' It's not the idea that they'd return to Aefenglom, but leaving there meant that none of this was really permanent. ]

If you promised to not grab my hair again, I wouldn't need to keep this kind of distance.

[ So yeah, he'll come down. Which, now it's a lot more clear about what he did with his hair to keep it off the ground, with how it sort of resembled a scorpion tail. Sokie had seen it a little in those memories, but this was the full-sized thing in person. ]

The question is where, especially since...well. Second world and all.

[And she hears the people running it aren't very nice. She snorts quietly, folding her arms under her chest.]

Fine. For now, your hair is hands free.

[The things you do for friendship! But now...so that's how he managed it before. Huh.

Still, she had to shake her head a little, even as she looked him over.]

It really is crazy, seeing you again.

Somewhere that's actually okay?

[ The more he hears about this world, the less he likes. If he's got any kind of luck, the mud throwing thing won't happen again.

At the very least, 'hands free for now' is enough to get Judar back with his bare feet on the ground. You can get away with a lot when you've got the magic to make it work. ]

I wasn't expecting to see people here that were back in that other place either. The difference is that you remember.

Oh, high hopes Judar. You sound way too optimistic.

[She shook her head a little. At least for now things were quiet, if a little weird and bumpy. Like with the goose.]

The Connors right? Yeah, it's...really weird. One of them is more sociable, the other is borderline feral because of bad choices.

You want to go somewhere to sit? I've got assigned housing, but there's also the town center if you don't want to go far.

It's what I'd like, not what I expect.

[ Shut up, he knows his luck. That kind of thing isn't in the cards for him. At least he's back to normal here, for all there was to miss in that last world. ]

Mm... If you've got coffee, I'm fine with your place.

[ Lead on. ]

The social but awkward one is the same Connor back in the other world. He told me about the other one. He also said that if he were in another world and didn't remember it, he wouldn't want to know. Apparently the other one was made that way.

[ Feral, or homicidal, depending on your connection to the other Connor. Amazing how Judar found out this much already, right? ]

Mmm, all right, I'll give you that.

[She smiles at him, but she doesn't bump him. Instead she turns around, and motions for him to follow her to her place at Jarret House.]

You know I do. You're going to love the coffee maker.

[She hums. Oh, so he was warned, was he? She glanced over her shoulder, and shook her head.]

Basically the other ones mission is to stay a machine, hate the social one, and generally do whatever he can to be a machine.

You might get along with him, if you don't get in the way of his goals. He's the potential to be more like...us, I guess, rather then the idealists.

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