upcyclingmod (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
upcyclingmod) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
pedalbike2020-10-16 08:19 pm
upcyclingmod) wrote in pedalbike2020-10-16 08:19 pm
Entry tags:
Third TDM: Don't Turn Around
Welcome to the Test Drive Meme.
| Premise | FAQ | Full Navigation | Rules | Reserves |
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!
no subject
It's okay, anyone would be surprised after getting warped to somewhere completely unfamiliar. I've done my share of unconventional traveling, but this is the first time it happened so suddenly. [Without any sign or warning, too. Those really unnerving whispers of 'perfect' and 'wonderful' don't count, since it's already too late by then...]
Yeah. I'm Jude Mathis. It's nice to meet you, Husk. [Sure the circumstances suck, but that's nothing new at this point. He does take a step forward too, it'd be awkward to stay further back now that they're having a conversation.]
no subject
[She doesn't move forward or back, but turns to look around again, a less aggressive frown finding it's way back to her face.]
This isn't the first time something like this's happened to me. It's rarely a good sign, usually means someone's trying to kidnap you. Only, there's usually goons with guns on the other side.
[Which probably explains her reaction.]
...Not an open sky and...is that a lighthouse?
no subject
I've never seen fog this thick, visibility may not improve even with higher ground. [He squints towards the lighthouse, now that she's pointed it out.] Looks like it, but this place isn't much of a port town. We may be in an abandoned coastal village, possibly an island?
no subject
[She still, unfortunately, thinks that she is on Earth. Her Earth, and that Krakoa and the treaties that Xavier had signed with the majority of the world's nations applied here. A protection she's grown used to, now.]
It can't hurt to get higher. Maybe we'll be able to get a clearer view of where the land stops.
[Hooking her thumb, she starts walking in that direction.]
It's more info than we had.
no subject
I've never heard of Krakoa before. [A beat.] I don't suppose you recognize 'Rieze Maxia' or 'Elympios', either?
[They can walk and talk though, so he nods and follows her without hesitation.]
Yeah, there could be clues by the waters. [Like ships.] This would be much simpler if we had locals to ask, but it's worrisome that there doesn't appear to be any, either.
no subject
Turning as they walk, she asks her followup.]
Are you from Earth?
no subject
The only emphasis on "Earth" I'm used to is towards the Great Summon Spirit presiding over that element, so... no.
[His shoulders sag once more as he heaves a muted sigh.]
So we're from different worlds, and learning the name of this village or continent may not tell us much, either. Just what the heck happened to us?
no subject
[Her jaw clenches again, her throat bobs with a thick swallow, and she shakes her head.]
Different worlds means this is a whole other planet. Most likely whatever brought us here was on purpose, but there are sometimes random magical happenings. A...friend told me about them once.
[It's weird thinking of the Sorcerer Supreme as a friend, but, here we are.]
Or, maybe...you didn't see anything when you came through, did you? Just blink and you're here?
1/2
Yeah, if you don't count the part where I saw a strange city first. A voice was whispering about 'becoming perfect', and just when I thought I must be hallucinating, the surroundings changed again into this village. [...Man, hearing himself organizing things out loud is really hammering home how freaky and tiring this ordeal's quickly become. Dipping a hand into his lab coat pocket through habit, he fishes out a smartphone--]
2/2
no subject
[She'd certainly been to a few other dimensions. The Negative Zone, Null-Space, the Dreamtime, Otherworld, even Asgard briefly, but this didn't have the strange vibes those other places did.]
I'm...
[She starts to respond, but then he pulls out what appears to be a phone and seems to be freaked by it.]
The hell? Seriously?
[Patting herself, she notes two lumps instead of one. The first is her Starkphone...which is mostly admittedly an MP3 player for her. The second is a strange device that's the twin of his own.]
...Mine too? Huh!
no subject
He calms down once he's taken the GHS out for visual confirmation, which looks like a clunky flip phone outdated by a decade or two from modern day Earth standards.]
At least I still have it... Suppose it wouldn't be difficult to sneak things on us, after sneaking us off from our home worlds. [Ignoring the alien smartphone for the time being, it takes him a few seconds to confirm on his own what they've already been guessing at.] ...No signal, figures.
no subject
Same. But then, if this is another planet, then it'd have to integrate with local tech. Maybe I can do that, if I can find a tower, but who the hell knows where that is.
[Shaking her head, she starts slowly making her way towards the light house.]
May as well hold on to the weird new one. Maybe it'll pick something up.
no subject
[Dropping both phones back into his pockets, he pulls out a notepad instead as he follows along.]
Hopefully we find some clues at the lighthouse. I'd like to investigate the village after, we could meet another person or find something in one of the buildings. [Information or supplies would both be nice, especially with how uncertain things are now.]
no subject
[That would be nice at least.]
The lighthouse first, then. Village second.