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pedalbike2020-10-16 08:19 pm
upcyclingmod) wrote in pedalbike2020-10-16 08:19 pm
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Third TDM: Don't Turn Around
Welcome to the Test Drive Meme.
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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
but also!!!! a fellow shikigami user...!! it's not something to get excited about, yeah, but Megumi does lean into the topic of conversation. if he also had dog ears, they would be pricking up. ]
You're a shikigami user too. [ not a question. just a reaffirmation. ] Mine don't have names. Just designations. The one you saw before— that was my 'Gyokuken'. [ 'divine dog'. (all dogs are divine, though.) ] I'm guessing you need an intermediary to summon yours.
[ which may be why they didn't make it here...? bummer. ]
no subject
[Not one of them is a divine dog, tho, so Fushiguro wins.]
no subject
still— interesting. entering into a contract sounds more like curse manipulation than controlling shikigami (a whole bunch of technical shit that no one wants to sit through), but he figures that the conventions of his own world don't hold in other places. doesn't seem constructive to start getting nitpicky.
broadening his frame of reference in case of emergencies is beneficial to him, though, so: ] So your shikigami aren't inherent to you. In theory, you would be able to form contracts with any 'ayakashi' that agree to your terms.
[ maybe even the ones here. food for thought? he'll mull over this. ]
no subject
Any ayakashi capable of processing speech. There are some exorcists who use underhanded tricks or threats to force spirits into contracts, but I'd prefer to only work with something that wants to work with me. [it's obvious from the tone of his voice how distasteful he finds this; besides, you're not going to get strong partnerships if one party is forced into it, and only the janky spirits would fall for it anyway.] There are also techniques that enable you to physically manifest your own innate spiritual energy for use as a shikigami, though my clan doesn't practice it much beyond the paper dolls.
[which, confusingly, are the ones that are referred to as shikigami in the traditional sense, while youkai pals under contract are just shiki, same kanji? and animating your energy is fine until it isn't, and then it's a forbidden technique? 0/10 clarity midorikawa please explain]
no subject
again: nerd. ] In my world, the more sentient an entity is, the less willing it is to cooperate with humans. Which is why my ability falls into the second of the two you just mentioned. [ the 'ayakashi' from his homeworld aren't called Curses for nothing. ] ...Guess your 'ayakashi' are more morally neutral than the ones I know.
[ that, or Natori is Extremely Powerful??? hm. there's a definite moment here where Fushiguro looks the guy up and down, but there's a certain level of res...pect... he has for that Tone, you know, the one that said that Natori doesn't like forcing spirits into doing shit.
Natori moves a little further into that 'Good' portion of Fushiguro's Venn diagram. sorry. ]
no subject
(except, like, a lot of exorcists suck, so kinda.)]
Hmm. [Interesting. Sounds like their worlds really are closer together (I was going to make a joke about being the world where everything is based, but they're not actually that close to SBR and I couldn't make it work). The reality is also that Natori is Fairly Powerful, but unfortunately he gets dwarfed by Designated Antagonist and Main Character, so he doesn't really consider that an option.] We definitely have malicious spirits as well, but... you're right, ayakashi can span the entire spectrum. There are a lot of them that are just harmless or annoying, and even some that are benevolent-- deities, guardian spirits, things like that.
["They're a little like people, in that way" is the sort of thing Natsume would say right about now. Natori can't bring himself to go that far.]
But to be able to create a shikigami with as defined a form as you have... could it be that you're actually pretty powerful?
no subject
anyway. ayakashi are Not Curses, then-- nice. more of the Studio Ghibli brand of spiritual creatures, but probably a little more PG-13 than G. Fushiguro notes this with the sort of care that shows in the twist of his mouth, in the firm set of his calm neutrality. processing, but trying not to mix what he knows about his own life with the standards of someone else's.
as for the rest... well. shrug. ]
Some people say so. [ not a 'yes' or a 'no'. ] I haven't died so far.
[ echoing what Natori said before. if he's not dead, he's at least not weak. ]
no subject
Haha, I probably deserved that response, didn't I. [Little shit. God he's gonna become fond of this sullen black-haired anime teen.] Well, try to keep it up.
The only other thing I want to tell you-- there are people here from all sorts of worlds. A lot of them are like us; some of them are completely normal human beings. [The unspoken: so it's on us to protect those people. He's not gonna just come out and say it; he wants to see what Fushiguro does with that, but at the same time, like, c'mon Natori don't be obvious.]
no subject
there's a derisive little snort here at the suggestion that he's looking to die (he isn't, despite everything), but the faux-indignance lasts only up and until Natori mentions that this hellscape apparently??? includes normies???? what the fuck.
u obvious as fuq, Natori. but also, Fushiguro is from a shonen manga, so: ] I see. [ in Japanese: "soudesuka". Nyanko wouldn't have to correct Fushiguro on his keigo. ] I'll have to figure out who those are.
[ implied: "so i know who to bail out of shit situations in the future." he, too, is obvious as fuck. ] If this place is trying to play games with us, we might as well make it hard for them.
no subject
Seriously, please call him sempai. No one's ever called him sempai off a movie set.]
Haha, that's the spirit. [re: making things hard for them; can't address the 'actually not a shit person' part out loud.] Well, like I said. Call me if you need anything.