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

[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.

If this world had coffee, you'd obviously have everything for it.

[ Somehow he managed to learn about the Connors, but hadn't gotten to find out if coffee existed here or not. It could've went either way, given his world was one of the ones that really didn't do much with coffee, if it existed there. ]

Kill the previous one, really. I heard he already went about using the other Connor's friends for it, too.

[ In the end, it'd come down to whether or not Judar felt too attached to the other Connor, as to whether he'd get in the way. He could, and could make it pretty hard for the newer Connor, but... That was a lot of drama. ]

Once he gets past the murder, yeah. Which I don't see why he's still trying. I heard death didn't matter here. I guess that's supposed to be the machine thing...

[And she cackled. Of course he remembered that.]

Of course I do. I even have liquor and flavored creamer, if you want it.

[Not much. Just the ones she liked. Though...]

I didn't hear about that, but...it makes sense. He doesn't have limitations, like some do.

[She's not sure what your moral boundaries are Judar so...let's leave that open for now.]

I think he's trying to see if he can take the other one out for good. It might be...I don't know, some sort of programming thing.

Thankfully, other then that bit of drama, people here are...surprisingly chill? And there's a bunch of teenagers here too.

I'm not sure who's the youngest.

[ It hasn't been that long... To him, at least. Plus, Sokie was one of two people that put him on the coffee path in the first place. That makes it easier to remember. ]

I think I'm free of my liquor days. It might surprise you, but the tolerance and taste for it was all the faun thing. I'm normally pretty selective about what I drink, and why.

[ He's not even sure where his moral boundaries are these days, so that's fair. It hasn't exactly been tested in a while. It's likely nebulous at his best, but there's probably a limit here and there. ]

So what, you're the oldest adult around?

[ Look, he's not sure how old she really is. Hank could be older, but that doesn't stick with the running hag gag. ]

[It's been a few months for her but...well, she was a coffee fiend and all.]

Really? What's your usual then? I'm curious.

[She's curious too if she can find it in the store, and if it's peach oriented. Sokie snorted, and made as if to give Judar a gentle shove.]

I was likely the oldest one around last time, kiddo. Now? I've no idea.

You can probably guess.

[ Time certainly ends up being funny that way. He must've gotten lost in the mail. Also hey. That gets something that's barely a shove back, that it's almost a nudge. ]

This place seems like a way smaller group to compare yourself to. Aside from those weird shadow people, I think I've only seen people that got pulled here.

Peach liquor? You do love peaches.

[She knows him, and he knows her. Which is why they can shove at each other and it'll be fine.]

Yeah...it's really weird. There were even less people in the previous group. I don't know why we're so isolated.

[ He'll just give a confirming sound to that guess. She had plenty of information go off of for it, after all. Including knowing why he liked peaches so much... Which still feels weird. The whole conversation about that stuff is still a little weird to him. Just because he wasn't used to people really knowing much, or trying to know. ]

So what did you find out about this place, then? Seems like you've had time to go digging.

[She gets it. It's weird, people knowing you and what you like.]

I've had a bit of time, sure. There seems to be an organization that is in charge that brought us here- but we've only been exposed to someone nicknamed Admin and Doll. They keep dancing around why they brought us here.

[She makes a face.]

Admin likes offering deals for some reason and...if enough people want something, we can make it.

Our first test was....a cat.

[ It is!

But he listens, nodding a bit at the first part. Connor had brought them up briefly, as reasons to hold onto the phone that he'd gotten. The one that he learned was called a phone at around that time. Communication devices having their unique names, man...

But the test had him pause for a moment before continuing alongside. ]

You collectively made a cat...

[It'll be fine if it's only between them! Mostly.

But yeah phones are good! They're like the Watches, but better. Mostly...

And that part made her grin.]

Yup. Her name is Circe, and she's very fluffy.

[It's the weirdest thing ever but she loves that cat.]

[ He still misses and prefers the set-up they had at home, but that's a normal response. What would make it less normal is how he never carried any of those either, because... Well, he was supposed to be dead to the world. So he couldn't indulge in the magical technology advancements.

A fluffy cat that a bunch of people made, by wanting it, though. Weird.

There's a lot of questions coming to mind still, and by the expression he's keeping, he doesn't know where to start on it all. How did wanting one make a cat; Did it show up somewhere in particular, and are they sure the cat wasn't around the whole time; Why a cat; Who takes care of it, when everyone made it? ]

[It's weird and new but at least it's useful. At least here Judar can play around with all of the weird tech.

...and maybe play with the cat if he asks nice.]

You're making a lot of faces Judar. I didn't break you, did I?

[She's just waiting for him to huff and snap at her. Not because he means anything by it, just...because. They know how this give and take goes.]

[ He will refuse to pet the cat. On principle, and keeping on brand, if nothing else. With his luck, he'll be harassed by it anyway. ]

Tch... Since when do I break?

[ Well, almost a huff, but no snap. Which is really still within the realm of expectations on what he'd do, so it's certainly still him. ]

Third TDM: Don't Turn Around

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