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pedalbike2020-11-24 06:53 pm
upcyclingmod) wrote in pedalbike2020-11-24 06:53 pm
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Fourth TDM: Winter's breath
Welcome to the Test Drive Meme.
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As a quick note: This will be the last TDM and Application Round of the year! Have fun everyone!
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!
no subject
If it's going to potentially snow more, we're expending energy and wasting time. It'll just get snowed over again.
no subject
Vangeance gives a brief laugh at Nezumi’s answer, soft and polite, nothing harsh or mocking. ]
Would you refuse a warm meal just because you’ll be hungry again later? [ His tone of voice is only gently chiding. ] If it would be useful to someone, I don’t think it’s a waste of energy or time.
no subject
I'd rather get my own meals, than rely on charity that could dry up or come with hidden strings and threads attached where I'm not looking.
no subject
[ It’s a plain enough response, but his voice softens just a touch, and Vangeance’s gaze lingers on Nezumi for a moment before he looks to his tree to better control its movements. Observant, but also sympathetic.
This one comes from rough circumstances, doesn’t he. To be so wary of any sort of goodwill. ]
Though — is it not even easier to take advantage of charity, then? And simply run from any demands of reciprocation. Some ‘hidden strings’ can be very easy to shake off, after all.
[ Said at the same pleasant lilt he’s been using so far. Which, combined with his suspicious appearance is, uh, probably not a very comforting look. ]
no subject
[ he looks amused, either way. ]
If I'm going to take advantage of something, I'll just do it. Save the charity and offer it to someone who can't take care of themselves.
no subject
But he does exhale softly at the latter bit, almost a laugh. ]
Your confidence is admirable. But I’ve found that those who insist they never need the help of others are often most in need of it, when the time comes.
no subject
[ he doesn't look that impressed, but he does move to pick up a different shovel this time around. ]
People who need their hand holding all the time just end up dead. So I'm surprised you've met any of them.
no subject
[ The sarcasm is answered mildly. And though he makes no show of it, Vangeance sure does note Nezumi picking up his own shovel.
The tree, meanwhile, has almost finished plowing a nice, easy path through the snow. ]
But you’re correct. It’s true that the weak are often preyed upon. Which is why it falls upon the strong to protect them.
no subject
That's just how it all works.
[ who survives by being a bleeding heart? ]
no subject
[ He idly thinks to himself that there’s about a ... 50/50 chance the word ‘knight’ will earn a laugh. Nezumi seems the type.
Well, that’s fine, though. It’s not like he’s said anything untrue. So he continues, still wearing that infuriatingly calm smile. ]
But not everything is so dramatic. Sometimes, just helping someone for the sake of helping them is a good feeling. Like now.
no subject
Chivalry and all that jazz? Fun to watch on stage, but less so in real life.
[ ... ]
Go live off those warm fuzzies then, if that's all it takes to get you through the day. We can argue in circles about whether helping people's a waste of time or the literal meaning of life, but I think we've established neither of us are budging.
no subject
[ He glances aside to casually wave to his tree, and it beings retreating its many branches and roots, its job done. ]
I have my own beliefs, but I can understand why you would feel the way you do. People can be terrible, ungrateful creatures. Selfish and cruel. So I’ve no intention of trying to change your mind.
[ Vangeance’s smile’s gained a rueful edge, but it’s otherwise said serenely as he studies Nezumi for his reaction. ]
no subject
[ he shrugs. ]
Sure. Let's just say that's the side of people I think people are happier showing, and leave it at that. [ and he has no real interest in adjusting his world view all that much. ]
no subject
[ Unfortunate, because those kinds of attitudes usually come from experience. This one's definitely come from rough circumstances.
But he won't push the matter. His tree drops the shovel back in his hand, and he nods to the one Nezumi's holding. ]
What were you planning on doing with that?
no subject
[ s m i l e ]
But where I need to, rather than going full good Samaritan on the whole place.
no subject
[ Smiling back, perfectly pleasant. :) ]
Would you like any help?