Fourth TDM: Winter's breath

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As a quick note: This will be the last TDM and Application Round of the year! Have fun everyone!

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.

Start of Winter

Thankfully things have more or less dried out, for the seasons are already changing. Or at least, the weather is, and with it...comes snow.

The grass on the island is covered, various trees lose the last of their leaves, the sand becomes crunchy, and even a portion of the ocean water becomes frozen solid. (Take THAT, water!). And with it, Wickies wake up at their feet (or suddenly in their hands if they don’t sleep) warm clothing and various ways to keep warm- or at least keep the cold from messing with their joints!

And with it, there are snow shovels and boots that are set out neatly by the door. It seems more snowk is expected, and foot protection is more important than ever. While it is possible for some (those who are not infected by the Silence at least) to use the teleporter to get from town to their homes, there are pathways that need to be cleared for everyone.

It might be a good time to offer a helping hand! Especially with some Wickies who are snowed into their homes.

Or it could be a good time to use the shovels to gather snow for snow ball fights, snow forts, and similar winter activities. The nice thing about the winter shovels is that they’ll have them for a few months.

Too bad the ground is nearly frozen solid, and these particular shovels are not good for digging into the ground.


Frosty Protections

While there may be the snow and the quiet that’s coming in, there are other things that are coming into the island too. There are tables that linger day or night, which have tangyuan. Some in the shape of various animals, and some of them that are simply balls of colored dough. They are edible, and thankfully they don’t have a negative consequence to eating them (unlike the mooncakes from before) but there are written instructions, which also proclaim outloud to a Wickie if they linger for awhile:

“For the use of protective talismans! Stick it on your chair, your door, your window!”

Interestingly enough, they do seem to work. Wickies who are Silence infected are repelled by them, feeling uneasy and nauseous around them and touching the tangyuan even with covered hands will cause a burning sensation.

Infected Wickies who eat the treats...they’re in for a rough time. Really rough.

There are also little tables with various drinks, some being fruit juice, sparkling fruit juice, champagne and of similar ilk- but not ever with water. That’s just bad luck after everything.

The inscription for this table, which is again read out loud, “Toast to others health”

Picking up the cups, they will be unable to drop it, and the fluid will refill in the Wickie’s cup until they find someone to toast to- whether it’s in humor or in earnestness.

For the next twelve hours after the toast is made, even if the drink is not drunk after, the Wickie toasted will find they will have better luck in that subject, whether it is in health, love, or friendship, or just in general.

The same applies if Wickies toast together to a group of people as well.


Of hooves and horns

The strangest thing of all isn't the sweet rice balls, nor is it the smell of evergreens heavy in the air. Instead, it's the masks set to everyone, and the ruckus music that thrums through the air, deep into the night.

The masks are of a haggard old woman, well worn and aged, and that of a man with horns and facial hair similar to a goat.

There are different effects when it comes to the masks, both happening at night with the music starts.

Wickies wearing the devilish mask find themselves wearing a ragged fur suit, prancing in the streets, ready to whip other Wickies whose behavior has been suspect or bad as of late. Finding the wicked and punishing them is an impulse, neigh impossible to ignore. And, too, there is a sense of wicked glee when they do punish someone with their reeds and whips. Krampus masked Wickies thankfully can be pacified with rum or brandy. They'll need the help of another to pull of the mask. But once it's off, the costume vanishes, and the chagrin of what happened ( or the satisfaction) follows.

Wickies wearing the woman’s mask will find that they’re not trying to scare people, but instead, they find themselves loping in and out of the crowds, searching, scanning, for certain people, all the while wearing ragged clothing, and often a scarf on their now ratty, graying hair.

It’s with a sickening horror that Wickies will realize there is something in the mask that is watching through the mask itself, and is nodding to itself far away and writing their names on a list.

And it’s not Santa Claus.

The Wickie’s wearing the old woman’s mask can be distracted by scattering seeds or threads in front of them- one inducing a true distraction to count and pick up the seeds, and a rage that comes over that of wasted thread.

Seeds make it easier to pull off the mask, and thankfully popcorn counts as a seed! But thread...well, it is a distraction too, but one that can lead to violent consequences. It might mean some rounds of bait and switching until the mask is taken off.

And that’s when the Wickie who had been wearing the mask realizing the list is of ‘bad’ Wickies, But…

how bad could they be?

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:

What do you love about winter? Is it the nip on your nose? The hot drinks? Playing in the snow? Tell us!

Comments

[ikizama]

I know that — you're strong.

( not just 'not that weak'. and that's not what yuuji's talking about, he knows fushiguro knows this. he takes a deep breath, and lets out a disgruntled sigh. this is going nowhere — they're both stubborn idiots, after all. if that's how fushiguro's gonna be, yuuji'll just have to watch him closely, then. he'll let this matter drop for now.

back to the matter at hand, he looks down at the pamphlet again. he reads aloud: )

'The only way to return home is to confront our "guilt" and atone for our "sins".' ... Is that why we're here? To atone for what we did in the past?

( there's no sinless person in this world. surely there's a reason why it's fushiguro and him that were called here, and not others. yuuji tries to think, his eyebrows knit. a second, two, three-- before he finally leans back and sprawls on the bed like it's his. )

[laeradr]

[ Vangeance smiles warmly, dialing back that charisma now that his point has been made. ]

I have some admirers. [ A gross understatement, actually, but it's said so mildly that maybe Yuuji will believe it. ] But the same can be said of most Knights. Many people simply idolize Knights.

[ As he says it, since Yuuji is apparently still frozen in awe, Vangeance takes the chance to lean in a little and take a look at his still-outstretched hands. Good, any chafing or redness has faded, which means that simple spell was enough. He runs his fingers along one of the sapling's branches before waving his hand, and it sinks slowly back into the ground, leaving behind only that warm, tingly feeling in Yuuji's hands.

A pause before he gives Yuuji a very light pat to the shoulder, to ensure he's snapped out of that daze. His tone of voice is gentle and easy once more. ]

I'm am a Knight, but I don't say it to demand respect. Only to clarify that I'd truly like to ensure everyone's safety. I hope you'll remember it if you're ever in need of assistance. But otherwise, please be at ease.

[ A small tilt of the head and a smile, as if say, 'Okay?' Because while Yuuji's frank awe is certainly endearing, he doesn't want to overwhelm him, either; Yuuji seems like the honest and straightforward sort, so hopefully he'll take it to heart once he's told not to worry about formalities. ]

[nerine]

[Itadori's so capable. It doesn't need to be repeated, so Monts lets Yuuji cut the beef and onions before addressing the rice.]

Sure. Rice is no problem.

[She has the pot in hand, filled with the medium short-grain rice. As she fills it with water, she explains her own process.]

Just rinse, once, twice, and then... Fill it up with water until it reaches the line of the tip of your index finger.

[Yup, finger test! Seems universal for anyone who eats rice although Monts learned it from her Vietnamese esper friend and confirmed it with her grandmother.

And with that, the rice pot is set on the stove.]

High heat, keep an eye on it until it's absorbed the water... Then medium low heat for approximately 10-15 minutes and the rice should be done.

[sinistramanus]

But regardless of how she feels, it was the right choice. You know it was.

[How many times had it saved them? How many times had it given Glimmer key insights into situations? Shadow Weaver brings the steaming tea over, setting a cup down before Glimmer's chair and one before her own. Although she sits, Shadow Weaver makes no move to remove the bandages obscuring her mouth.]

But... I will grant that this is a delicate situation, and others have strongly implied that forceful emotions might make the infection worse. You are, perhaps, the only one that can help Adora—the only one with the capabilities that she will also permit close. I will assist you however I can, my queen, but so long as Adora remains hostile to me, I am limited.

[shinizama]

[ megumi watches yuuji fall backwards in slow motion. cut out this small square space in this room, and they could still be back in Tokyo—another afternoon-turned-evening with yuuji in the jujutsu technical high’s dormitory. his next-door neighbor, sprawled on his stomach and reading manga on megumi’s bed.

like a big dog.

the gravity of the situation isn’t lost on megumi, but it’s undercut by that prevailing sense of familiarity again. a month of absence, like those weeks following his first official faceoff with sukuna.

megumi, still perched on the bedside stool, doesn’t protest yuuji’s hijacking of his space. ]

That’s the official line they’ve given us. [ whether or not it’s true? still up in the air.

and, well. there’s a beat here, as if megumi is thinking about something—when isn’t he, though—and the following breath of silence is an obvious tell that he’s decided that, whatever he’s been thinking about, he won’t say. fushiguro megumi, a terrible liar.

(“he’ll probably come here of his own accord.”) ]

According to the ones who brought us here, it’s supposed to be for our ‘own good’—who knows. [ his shoulder hike up, just slightly. a half-shrug. ] If we can find our way back to our world before we have to play their game, that’s the ideal.

[ikizama]

( is this your dialed back charisma because it's still shining bright like a diamond??? yuuji's gonna need to invest in some sunnies stat...

the pat on his shoulder sure did the job, he's now back to the ground after floating a few metres off the ground thanks to vangeance's wingardizoom levibossa. flex your physical capabilities and yuuji won't bat an eyelash, but flex your cool magic stuff and he's gonna be all over it like a kid with his birthday present ✨ plus damn, look at vangeance dispensing wise words all gentle and sweet after all that. if only the adults in jujutsu kaisen anything like this... )

Mm-mm, I know! You don't look like someone who'd do that. ( still, he'd likely show more respect to vangeance than (maybe) most others because hey, he's super cool?! and reliable! yuuji salutes at him with a vigour, all smiley while doing so. ) Got it! You too, tell me when you need anything, and I'll come running!

( or more like zooming... tbh at this point vangeance can just summon him and he'll slide over like a dog, haha.

he watches vangeance a few seconds too long, before finally recalling what the man said about his admirers. a weird noise escapes his mouth then. )

By the way, did you say you only have 'some' admirers earlier?! Nahhhh... ( yuuji shakes his head. Do Not Trust! well, he guesses this is also the recipe of being The Popular Guy. not only cool and charismatic, but also: incredibly modest. ) I think you're just unaware, Vangeance-san. I'm sure you've got many secret admirers too! They're just too shy to approach you 'cuz you're so cool! ( yuuji rubs his chin, eyes closed, nodding contently to himself. that sounds more like it. ) Your locker must be full of chocos every Valentine's Day...!

( such a cliche imagination... but he can see picture it perfectly in his head. )

[ikizama]

( yuuji puts the pamphlet over his face, arms now stretched wide on his sides. it's very fushiguro to consider things and organise them in the most practical, efficient way. in fact, just like what the friend said, there's no point trying to figure it all out now. take it one at a time. if fushiguro has been here for a month and hasn't figured it out, yuuji won't do it in a single day. after all, fushiguro's the smart one between the two. )

That so...

( the fact that he's in a different world hasn't fully hit him yet, what with fushiguro being here with him. he twists and turns his body so he can look out the window in the room, wiping the condensation that blurred the sight out. )

Ugeh, it's snowing outside... ( he squints, peering out at the sight around the house. ) It sure doesn't look like Japan. ( it looks rather... well, peaceful to say the least, though. normal. he turns to look at fushiguro. ) So... what're your days like? Do you, like, fight anything?

( considering their norm as jujutsu shamans... )

[ikizama]

( yuuji rubbernecks at monts' rice cooking method while his hands continue cutting the meat (good kids don't try this at home!), mouth becoming o-shaped as her deft hands do the Ultimate Rice Works. she looks like she's used to this, and it's a nice surprise, if you ask him! )

Uoooh! I've heard of people doing this, but I've never tried it before since we've got a rice cooker back home and all. You're like a pro!

( he nods at her instructions, keeping mental notes for if they ever need to cook rice without the cooker (he forgets to check if stepford even has one... maybe not), and finishes up cutting the meat just as monts is done setting up the rice. )

Alright! The meat is real easy, all you gotta do is just to dump everything in the frying pan!

( it's... really as he said, surprisingly enough. starting with the olive oil on medium heat, dumping cut up onions over it, and once the oil seeps through, it's time to throw in the seasoning! dashi granules, shouyu, mirin, cooking sake, sugar, and water! )

Schplonk! And then we just stir it a lil' and wait for it to boil. And lastly, the meat! Would you do the honours, Montsmonts-sama?

( he'll give some space for monts to stand before the frying pan, and hands her the bowl with thinly cut up meat. all she needs to do is just to dump them and then, )

Just stir them with the chopstick, and let it boil for say... 10 mins? We gotta take out these brownish thingies meanwhile, though.

( he'll use a spoon to demonstrate what he's talking about, scooping the said brownish thingies out of the soup. he'll hand her the spoon after throwing the lye to the appointed garbage can, to let her do the works as well. )

Apparently it'll change the taste or make it look bad, tho' I've never really let them be before, so I wouldn't know, haha!

[laeradr]

... Valentine's Day?

[ A mildly startled blink. Mostly because he's surprised to learn Valentine's Day, of all days, is apparently a holiday that's consistent across worlds? But well, he can't be too surprised that that's what comes to mind for Yuuji if his Valentine's Day is the same as Clover's. Young hearts do tend to gravitate towards thoughts of romance and affection, don't they?

Vangeance laughs softly as he gives a small shake of the head. ]

I do receive some gifts from my brigade members. But the respect shown towards a Knight is probably a little different from the sort of 'admiration' you're thinking of. I'm grateful for it, and would like to repay it through hard work and dedication, but ... [ Romance is something that he always has been, and always will be completely divorced from, after all. There's a small pause before he adds, light and airy, accompanied by a warm smile. ] I daresay that sort of 'admiration' is more easily won through sincerity and a friendly attitude. By being someone approachable. Kindness doesn't hurt, either.

[ It's basically a pat to the back saying, 'don't worry about it, you'll be fine.' Given how friendly and bright Yuuji has been so far, he'd guess Yuuji probably has at least one or two admirers of his own, at the very least. Sunny people like him have a unique sort of magnetism, after all, and he has great respect for that sort of optimistic energy.

He's been tucking his grimoire back into its pouch as he spoke, and he smooths down the folds of his cloak as he gives Yuuji a little nod. ]

-- aah, but I'm afraid I kept you from your work [ the snowman, he means ] for a little longer than I planned. Thank you for indulging me. [ Vangeance offers Yuuji one last smile as he starts to turn away. He'd been on his own ways elsewhere too, after all. But -- ] Given the nature of this place, I imagine I'll be seeing you again eventually. Take care until then.

[ikizama]

( yuuji has never considered that this kind of talk would ever be swerved his way because him not being popular with girls isn't something new, nor is it something he's bothered with (unless someone straight up jabs him about it... like kugisaki nobara). so to him what vangeance said is just something that makes sense, instead of something said to him. )

Hooh... I guess you're right!

( wise words to go by... and it really shows the kind of strength and discipline within vangeance's character. ah, he's really cool...! all the more yuuji admires him! here goes another one beelining for your fanclub member application, vangeance, if someone already made one in fogtown. )

Eh, you're going already? ( but-- that's right, vangeance must be busy! he's not someone that yuuji can just strap here for idle chitchat! so he doesn't push that, shuffling behind the snowman to wave the hand made out of wooden stick. ) Mm-mm! I'm learning a lot from you, Vangeance-san! I'll see you around!! Be careful on your way!

[nerine]

Mm-hm. You're right about that. It muddies the flavor and generally, you'd like things to taste clean. You're pretty good at this, aren't you?

[Everything is starting to smell quite good now! And man, gyudon isn't as complicated as she thought.]

Think we'll have enough for the both of us and Fushiguro? I worry about how he eats sometimes so if I cook too much, I'll sometimes have him pick some up.