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upcyclingmod ([personal profile] upcyclingmod) wrote in [community profile] pedalbike2020-11-24 06:53 pm
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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!
donttellmetheodds: (slight amusement)

[personal profile] donttellmetheodds 2020-12-06 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not going to make you, no.

[All the women he knew, including his wife, were the type to be upfront either way. But he still understood the sentiment.]

You can call me Corran.
robopriest: (ristretto)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-12-06 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
...You lost me at "summoned". You mean, people summon gods where you're from?

[EXCUSE ME?]

[And a raise of the eyebrow at that title. Well, he does dress like an ostentatious emperor.]


Wow. Don't think I've ever been in the presence of royalty, before. And can't say I have. The name's Hansa Cervantes. No title for me save for "Father", here. You win in that department.
arkitect: (25)

[personal profile] arkitect 2020-12-06 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Father Cervantes, then.

[he gets a nod of acknowledgment; this is probably where it would be polite to thank him for the hospitality, as well, but he does not.]

I take it that where you are from, they do not tend to take form? The primal beings which many people of our world call deities can most certainly be called forth-- their followers have only to offer up their faith and devotion, additional energy for them to feed on, and they may sustain their presence... though they will then begin to feed upon the latent energies of the land itself.
robopriest: (espresso)

[personal profile] robopriest 2020-12-06 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
You can just call me Hansa. Father Cervantes is my mentor's name, but that's fine either way.

[Take form? Wow. This sounds.....pretty wild, honestly. Hansa lets out a low huff, shaking his head.]

No, unless you count the burning bush... [His own little joke. He smirks.] But the Lord isn't something to be summoned, nor does He need to feed on anything, really...
aozaki: (◇ woah neato!)

[personal profile] aozaki 2020-12-06 05:36 am (UTC)(link)
It's nice to see manners alive and well even in other worlds! I'm Touko. A pleasure and a toast to new beginnings, Corran?

[She extends her cup, practically beaming.]
globs: (whatever i feel for you)

[personal profile] globs 2020-12-06 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's fine............ cinnabar is none the wiser. ]

... I can't say you're wrong.

[ but they've had enough excitement, thank you!! it would be nice if there was peace again. ]
illegibly: (gege~)

[personal profile] illegibly 2020-12-06 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
I have one, but I do not want the cookies.

[ He takes out his card and shows Xie Lian. However, there isn't a whole lot on his card so he's not sure it's valid. Perhaps there's a way to set it up so that they can pay for groceries.

They'll use his, of course, and not Xie Lian's. Hua Cheng will pay any price that is required to feed his gege, and more importantly, won't explain that to his gege.
]

Is there anything else gege would like? There are baskets at the front to gather all the things we want to take. I'll fetch us one.

[ He's only gone for a moment, but instead of a basket, he comes back with a cart. It turns out they have carts! Look at it! ]

You could fit a whole person inside. Do you want to try?
sohayamaru: (❋ 26)

[personal profile] sohayamaru 2020-12-06 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
I see you're familiar with that type. Personal experience?

[ He... doesn't want to know. So, the answer to that particular question is the dreaded, all-inclusive "yes". ]
illegibly: (relaxed)

[personal profile] illegibly 2020-12-06 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sure, kid. Except that was the status he gave, so his "something new" apparently wasn't anything at all.

But he'll let it slide.
]

Oh...

Big, busy. Noisy people.

If I get time, I spend it at the temple.
arkitect: (Default)

[personal profile] arkitect 2020-12-06 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
Entirely too much experience for my liking, yes.

[he is going to be so tired here.]
arkitect: (Default)

[personal profile] arkitect 2020-12-06 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
And you are quite certain of that?

[he just arches a brow, at that-- though he remains casual, still apparently more curious than anything else.]

What, then, does he stand to gain from the worship and devotion of his loyal followers?
sohayamaru: (5)

[personal profile] sohayamaru 2020-12-06 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
My condolences.

[ JOIN THE CLUB TBH... ]

There are some individuals that are more... careless than others, and some that are less likely to stray. One would expect we may see more gloryseekers with the population constantly in flux.
swirling_passage: ([her fucking face])

[personal profile] swirling_passage 2020-12-06 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
A. Winter

[Mt. Gagazet is cold and windy up high, and Yuna shields her face from the chilly blast with her billowing sleeves, wishing she had something warm wrapped around her poor, bare shoulders.

Miraculously, the climb up starts to level out, and even more miraculously, her hands suddenly become laden with a generous, comically long scarf and a knit cap. It startles her enough she drops her arms, and it's...still snowy, but Kimahri and Lulu are no longer at her flank, nor are Wakka, Tidus, Rikku nor Auron scouting ahead. In fact, she's entirely alone.

For a spell anyway, but this island has people and not Ronso, which is entirely bizarre, but Yuna doesn't hesitate to approach anyone, still clutching her new gifts instead of wearing them. She'll gambol through the snow towards anyone in her vicinity, or ascend some steps of the nearest house to knock on a door if she has to.

Why are there strange houses on Mt. Gagazet anyway? Why is there an island on it!?
]

Excuse me!

[She says, and does a...sort of Yevonite bow. It mostly looks like she's really feeling the 90s vibes, yo.]

Have you seen a group of people pass through? A man in red robes, a woman in black, or a blue Ronso maybe?

[She figures those three in particular might be striking enough to remember.]

B. Winter

["A toast to others' health"? Yuna can get behind that! She's since donned her knit cap and unreasonably long scarf, sort of looking the part of normal island resident now minus her summoner garb peeking out underneath, and she has to admit...she's parched. A pilgrimage doesn't afford many creature comforts!

She takes the cup in both hands and downs the contents in a few gulps, gasping for air after the fact. Phew!

...Ah. There's still juice left? Well, Yuna isn't one to complain. She downs several rounds before she realizes it keeps coming back. That's awfully polite of this magic cup, but she's full, so she moves to set it back down.

She moves to set it back down.

But the cup refused.

She casts a glance around to see if anyone else is having a similar problem, and also because she's all out of ideas.

Bashing it against the table doesn't do anything either.
]

I don't understand. Is this supposed to happen?
arkitect: (18)

[personal profile] arkitect 2020-12-06 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
'Tis possible, then, that this particular period will not last long, and you may return to another few centuries lacking in excitement.

[equally possible it'll drag out! they'll just have to see, as far as that goes.]
arkitect: (4)

[personal profile] arkitect 2020-12-06 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, most certainly. That sort is never in short supply, for as soon as one departs, another will be quick to rise and take their place.
escardos: (pic#13507859)

[personal profile] escardos 2020-12-06 07:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ to a normal person, maybe. but to flat, he's more confused than anything else. isn't that counterproductive?

but maybe it's because the type of curse on his mind is different than the ones she is talking about. fairy tales...of course he knows those! ]


Hmm...I have, I have! But I can't really do something like the Beauty and the Beast...and the Little Mermaid doesn't really fit. I guess just getting praised would be boring...[ he tilts his head in her direction, drinking his wine. ] but are you just against it?
sohayamaru: (❋ 34)

[personal profile] sohayamaru 2020-12-06 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Easily attributed to inexperience, overconfidence, and a fatal lack of restraint. Not uncommon.

[ And normally it wouldn't matter if a couple idiots got killed in a wild goose chase, if safety in numbers wasn't the best avenue of survival in the face of so many unknown factors. C'est la vie. ]

Nevertheless, there are some few that are stolid enough to be relied upon if you know where to look.
heartinparadise: <user name="shipping"> (pic#14485374)

[personal profile] heartinparadise 2020-12-06 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Mm, he's a bit mischievous at times, but I would be quite lost without him.

[Prey on the living, though? That's usually when Xie Lian got called upon to help. To investigate and find a way to suppress the wayward spirit or stop it from hurting others, at the very least. Hua Cheng seemed perfectly content to sustain himself on the offerings at his temple and Xie Lian's occasional attempts at cooking.]

Though, I suppose since he's not here, I still am, a bit. Has Lady Sabriel perchance met a man named San Lang? I was hoping I might find him, but this place has me feeling a little out of my depth.
selforphaned: (Default)

tw suicidal ideation

[personal profile] selforphaned 2020-12-06 07:16 am (UTC)(link)
I...

[ there's a visible hesitation in russell's voice when the man questions his suggestion. he does his best to train his expression from giving away any emotion, but the furrow of a brow should tell danny enough about what's going through the teenager's life.

is a life like his worth living? is it worth celebrating? he doubted it. from the depths of his heart, russell doubted it. nothing about himself had ever been celebrated. his life was a curse upon himself, his parents, and countless others. it's not worth giving a toast for. in fact, it would most likely be better for everyone if he finally gathered the courage necessary to take his own life.

but he can't tell this man any of that.

so he shrugs, giving the older man a cold look. ]
Edited 2020-12-06 07:18 (UTC)
bindsthedead: (art-pensive)

[personal profile] bindsthedead 2020-12-06 07:21 am (UTC)(link)
[Some sort of servant or guide then? Or perhaps, something like the messenger summoned with the paper boat, but able to linger?]

No, I have not. If I do, I'll make sure to tell him that Xie Lan is looking for him.

[Wait a minute.]

He wouldn't happen to be Dead, would he?
arkitect: (18)

[personal profile] arkitect 2020-12-06 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
The lack of restraint is not always so fatal as it seems-- I've noticed they tend to have uncommon amounts of luck, at times.

[if only it were that easy to be rid of them.]

But that is relieving to know. I take it you'd likely count yourself among their number?

[this one at least seem more reasonable than some others, anyway.]
heartinparadise: (ummm)

[personal profile] heartinparadise 2020-12-06 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
My thanks, Lady Sabriel.

[The short answer is yes, but Xie Lian can't help feeling the details aren't his place to share. Besides that, Hua Cheng's skill was far from any ordinary ghost. He'd been able to fool several Heavenly Officials, and was strong enough to side-step any tests.]

He's... difficult to classify.
bridgetothefuture: (🖐️ i must go on standing)

A

[personal profile] bridgetothefuture 2020-12-06 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
[It's clear by his expression he hasn't seen anyone like the people she's describing. He shakes his head.]

Sorry.

What's a Ronso?
Edited 2020-12-06 07:56 (UTC)
globs: (darkness has surrounded baltimore bay)

[personal profile] globs 2020-12-06 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
That's not likely.

[ honestly, the entire past year or two has been wild, and they don't see that stopping soon... fuckin phos. anyway. ]

You're unusually calm about this.
swordjock: (223)

[personal profile] swordjock 2020-12-06 10:30 am (UTC)(link)
The smile and laughter makes her own face feel hot, embarrassed at knowing she's said something weird again. It's not a bad embarrassed, though, and in spite of her best efforts (because she should be more cautious, still; can't afford to let her guard down ever again), Adora feels some of the tension finally evaporate from her body, after what feels like weeks on end. She can only hold out so long in the presence of a familiar, comforting face, and there's nobody on (or off) Etheria who fits that description more than Glimmer.

"It's good to see you, too. Great, actually. I mean, it's not great that you're stuck here, or that I've missed things, and I know the circumstances are actually kind of bad, but... you know what? I'm gonna stop talking now."

Except she's not, because then Glimmer mentions the sword, and Adora draws it from where it's slung over her back; staring down at her reflection in the blade with her nose scrunched in mild confusion. Wearing it... she closes her eyes and focuses; first getting a baseball bat, then a fishing rod, but eventually, a bracer much like one of She-Ra's settles on her wrist, the way Glimmer should be used to seeing.

"Wow," she says, sounding a little awed at the convenience of it. "I should have thought of that sooner, huh? Guess the Best Friend Squad is solving problems already."

Adora holds her arms out for what would normally be a hug -- then lowers them again, shifting awkwardly from foot to foot.

"You, uh, probably shouldn't touch me, but maybe we could air hug? Just to be safe."