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, 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. ]

[She wants to see the moment Circe climbs onto his lap. So she can take a picture.

There it is. She offers a small laugh, and shrugs.]

Not break break, but just a little...I dunno. Brain freeze.

[ He's already hating the idea of coming across this animal, thanks. The bad thing is, part of his line of questions was if they made an adult cat, and more nonsense that was getting to him. ]

Not even that. I'm figuring this shit out. At least the last world put you somewhere with a society, that was connected to a bunch more. It also took forever to get used to everything there.

[ Then again, for someone who's meant to have a connection to the world, it's probably not surprising that he doesn't like having to reconnect to new worlds. ]

Well to be fair...you were kind of distracted. All of us were.

[Him because faun, her because she was learning a whole different kind of magic and worrying about aging to death.]

We're making a society here. The only difference is there's no us vrs them, culture wise, it's just...us against whatever is against us that day.

At least there's coffee.

[ While he didn't want to admit it, Judar had also shown up at an unfortunate time to also be turning into a faun. Even if he won't put attention to it, and refused to say anything about it, that mating season was just a full distraction. Which is what has him hoping that he stays this way, and it's not just a trick before he goes full fawn again. ]

It seems more like remaking some society. Those faded people were sign enough of it.

[ He just doesn't know if it's a 'what' or 'them.' This so-called Admin, and whatever the other one was called? Unsurprising that he's trying to figure it all out, given how hard he was studying and researching magic back in the last realm. ]

But yeah, at least there's coffee... Maybe also a free couch while I figure out this whole housing thing?

[ He promises not to drink all the coffee, or really eat all of anything. ]

[Yeah that...would be really awful for all of them if he was in full mating swing. People here are too tense to help him out like they would back in the city.]

Yeah, that was...really weird, wasn't it? You don't think they're trying to create a new world with us losers, do you?

[Because that? Would be nuts. She doesn't want a Utopia. Those stories never went well.]

You can use my bed, until you find a place you wanna crash. You don't want to wake up in the morning with the weirdos tromping around the house.

[She's fond of them in her own way, but. She's pretty sure she's living in the weirdo house. It's pretty fitting ngl.]

That'd be really dumb.

[ Because as Sokie said, losers, but also... He saw what it was like when someone decided how the world was going to be. Just by principle, he didn't trust the very idea of a group doing that either. Just people- There was a difference in making societies and making living creatures and an ecosystem. He didn't trust it, if that's what all of this was meant to lead into.

But he waves off both those thoughts and the offer made. ]

I'm not gonna sleep much anyway. It's mostly a spot to kill time, so people aren't gonna bother me.

[ But he was already asking to crash at your place, so he was expecting 'weirdo house.' Like attracts like. ]

Yup, completely.

[Judar and Sokie are like cats- they're just gonna do what they're gonna do. She thought that'd be a dumb idea- and whatever the group had in mind...she was pretty sure it wasn't that.

Something less simple, more sinister.]

I figured. Just that one of them has a...not exactly baby, not exactly toddler, and rather protective over the kid. I'm mostly offering so you don't wake up shot.

[Basically she's stopping a problem before it starts, more or less.]

Then I wouldn't be surprised if this isn't the first set of rolling groups to be pulled here.

[ Because, as they agreed, it'd be a dumb thing to try and destined to fail. A mass amount of people just can't agree on the big things. Small shit has a maybe, at best. ]

Right, right. Someone with a brat. Just put a note for this Mando-whatever where they'll see if that you're letting someone crash. We'll end up crossing paths at some point.

[ Because ew, he doesn't want to be in your bed. ]

Same.

[There's likely been a lot of people that have gone through this funnel. Which...might have made this spooky town center.]

Not exactly a human brat, I should tell you. I'll let him know, but if he does shoot at you, ain't my fault.

[She'll just assume Judar did something worth getting shot at for. It might be for stealing coffee, she doesn't know.]

Third TDM: Don't Turn Around

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