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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
maaaybe her eyes are tearing up a little now, unwillingly, as she keeps her gaze downward so as to, you know, not make it obvious. he's really right there... his hand is even over hers — the warmth, from both his arm and his gloved hand, really truly proving he's alive in front of her.
her head bobs slightly in a nod, in response to his question, her voice attempting to be light as usual but just barely missing the mark. ]
Oh, you know... about as well as I could be. [ don't tell him about the flood that almost drowned you this month— ] Things could be better, but... I'm all right.
[ she moves a hand up to her eyes, to gently wipe at the tears so they don't start falling. she's just scratching her face! don't worry!!!! ]
grabs entire box of tissues and sobs
A knot lodges in his throat, and after a moment, he gently reaches for both her hands to grasp them in his. ]
Aerith... [ His voice cracks, and he has to take a breath to steady himself. ] I know there are a lot of things I never got to explain. A lot of time that...we can't get back. But I want you to know...I love you.
[ I never stopped caring or wanting to be with you. ]
ksjhdjkgh i hate them because i love them ;-;
what he says... certainly answers a question she hadn't even begun to think about asking yet. it shocks her to hear, finally getting her to look up at him, her eyes glossy, though with even a split second of thought, it's not really off-brand for him. ]
You still...? [ love her? honestly, it's hard to know what to expect when your boyfriend goes missing for years, passes away, and then suddenly comes back.
she smiles softly, exhaling a laugh-like breath. ] Oh, you. Answering the question before I could even ask it. [ granted, she wouldn't have had the courage to ask it for quite a while, so he saved them time. a small sniffle, shaking her head like somehow the air will wipe her tears for her now that he has control of her hands. ]
I — I do, too. I never stopped...
[ all those letters she wrote to him should say that themselves. ]
THEY TEAR ME UP SO MUCH HOW ARE THEY SO GOOD ;A;
This is what he'd wanted to do. To return to Midgar, to hold her hands just like this, and tell her how much he loved and missed her.
Bright blue eyes burning, Zack blinks to clear them and tries to smile. ]
I know. I... I got your letter. The last one you sent... When I was on my way back.
[ He squeezes her hands again, and for a moment, he looks pained. ]
I'm sorry, Aerith. Sorry that...I left you alone.
BC THEY'RE PERFECT BABIES....
So you did get one of them.
[ apparently, it was worth it, in the end, to keep sending them. that makes her strangely relieved, that he got even just one of them. she sent quite a few, after all, even if she wasn't sure where they should even be going after a certain point.
now it's her turn to feel bad seeing him in pain. she slowly slips her hands out of his, somewhat hesitant to let go but knowing she has a better plan for them, before slipping them around his torso instead into a hug, pressing her cheek against his chest comfortably — it's warm, and there's indeed a beat thumping within it. ]
It's okay... [ she finally decides to respond to his apology with something. while she'd still like to talk to him about what happened later, she can tell he truly is sorry. she doesn't intend to hang her forgiveness over his head, or anything. ] It's okay now.
weeps https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzLqbnJAvZQ
Zack looks down at Aerith, her slight frame pressed against his, and for some reason, his chest tightens all over again. The emotions, the pain, the heartache...all those things were dimmer in the Lifestream, especially once they were reunited there.
This is different, though. This is the moment he'd yearned for with all his heart before the end.
Blinking back his own tears, Zack wraps his arms around Aerith in turn and buries his nose in her hair. She has the ribbon, still, the one he'd given her the first day they met, and again, there's that sharp pang. This is what they should have had -- and yet, it was stolen from them.
He squeezes her gently but doesn't say anything. Words have failed him now...but maybe he doesn't need them. The way he holds her, like some treasure he's lost and only just found anew, should say enough.
He loves her with all his heart, and there has never been a moment that wasn't true. ]
kjshdg i love her theme;;; totally what's playing rn
just basking in the knowledge that he's here is enough for her, for a good few moments, before she pipes up, still from within the hug — she's not breaking that until they absolutely have to. ]
Hmm... I wonder... Did you get taller, since I last saw you? [ it's been years, after all. she's grown a bit herself. she hugs him a little tighter. ] A little stronger, perhaps? Better at building flower wagons, I'd hope...
[ all of that is said with the lightest of tones, something amused. she's always been good at speaking her mind and setting the atmosphere a little lighter — putting it back to normal, even if just a little. ]
IT'S PERFECT.... ;o;
A soft, muffled laugh sounding quietly between them (she would ask if he was taller), Zack pulls away a little -- just enough so he can see her.
Mako blue eyes shining with mirth, he smiles at her -- the same bright expression she likely remembers. ]
If I did, so did you. [ She was always strong, but he knows now she's so much more than he ever fully realized back then. ] I'll make you as many flower wagons as you want.
RIGHT ;-; play it in ur head whenever you're around her, zack...
she peers up at him when he pulls away enough to look down at her, smiling softly. ]
Sure did. Better watch out, I might surpass you soon. [ aerith you're basically done growing and not even close to his height, or his strength, though it's the strength she mostly likes joking about. cloud would know. ] Good. They've got to be better than the first one, though.
[ it looked plenty fine — and better than she could ever do on her own — and yet... she loves jabbing at him over it. ]
playing it in his head even when she's not around tbh
For right now, though, this is enough. This togetherness and lighthearted chatter. He grins. ]
You're gonna have to claim the title of champion of squats first.
[ Teasing, of course. He groans good-naturedly about the flower wagon, though. ]
Come on! That one was nice! Although... [ he looks at the snow ] I don't really think it'd work in the snow here.
as he should ;-;
[ is her response to the champion of squats. if he doesn't think she won't put her all into trying to beat him then he's got another thing coming. she won't beat him, but she'll try, dammit.
she laughs at their conversation, softly, before turning to look at the snow around them. still with her arms around him, of course, just with slightly more room between them. slightly! ]
Yeah... You're right. [ smiling back up at him again. ] We can just talk designs for now, then. So we're ready, when spring comes around. [ she giggles softly again. ah, it's... just like before. she's enjoying herself. ]
Come on, aren't you cold? We should head inside to warm up.
no subject
All but beaming at her, he gives her another light squeeze. ]
That'd be great. [ AND to make things EVEN BETTER: ] I just got here so I don't even have to worry about anybody calling me.
[ NO MORE INTERRUPTIONS!!! What could be better? ]
no subject
she slowly moves her hands off of him, her hesitance clear, before she grabs onto his arm instead to lead him toward the door to the cottage. acceptable. ]
You... think they would call you?
[ considering how many years it's been since he went missing. and then. you know. while she wishes she could say no one here's going to call him like they did back on gaia, she knows there are quite a few shinra employees here.
not that she isn't happy there won't be any interruptions — no more calling him off on constant missions, taking him away from their meetings together, none of that. this place may have strange and sometimes terrible tendencies, but there are upsides, sometimes, as well. ]
no subject
The question draws him up short just for a moment, but he shakes his head. ]
I meant I don't know a lot of people here yet, but I don't think so.
[ What does he owe Shinra, anyway? Less than nothing. ]
Are there a lot of them here?
no subject
Oh, yeah. Right. [ that he doesn't know many people here. another reason his phone wouldn't be ringing constantly. but while she has quite a few friends here, she doesn't feel she gets too many calls regardless — so it should be fine.
but at his question, she hums softly in thought. ]
People? Hmm... I guess if you compare it to how many people there are in Midgar, then not many at all. But if you mean people from Shinra... then, four, I think. [ does sephiroth count? she's counting him.
she opens the door to the cottage with her free hand, introducing him to a somewhat homey, small place — her roommates aren't home, so it's quiet. it looks quite normal, for the most part — a small kitchen area, a couch, a dining table with a curious couple of crystal-like flowers, currently blue. and then, of course, the two doors leading to the bedrooms. ]
no subject
[ Zack seems to mull that over. He's heard from two, at least (Sephiroth, he places in his own category), and he isn't sure who either of them are. ]
I talked to two of them on the network, I think, but I couldn't tell who they were.
[ It makes him wish he hadn't used his own name, but it's too late to change it now. Glancing around the cottage, it's the crystal-like flowers that grab his attention. ]
Where'd you get those?
no subject
You wanna know who else's here?
[ she doesn't mind letting him know who's here. he could easily narrow it down from there, probably.
though she moves over to the flowers with him, to get a closer look. ]
They were here when I first woke up. The seeds, that is. The people in charge here... they left them for me.
no subject
[ Your boyfriend is not always smart, Aerith. ]
If you don't mind sharing, yeah, I'd like to know who's here.
[ Assess the threat level and all. He tilts his head a little when she mentions the people in charge. ]
Did they say what kind of flowers they are?
no subject
[ it's funny, okay. and silly. very zack.
she puts her free hand out to sort of count on her fingers as she names them. ]
Well, then... out of Shinra, there's Reno and Tseng. [ turks she has experience with, so she doesn't mind them as much ] And then there's... the new president, Rufus. [ she's neutral with him, at this point. ] Finally, um... I wasn't sure if he'd count, but, Sephiroth's here, too.
[ that last one is admittedly the one she has the most reservations about, though she's had peaceful experiences with him thus far, personally. it's still nerve-wracking, knowing what he becomes. ]
And about the flowers, not much. They just told me they were really special. Not something we'd ever find back in Midgar, that's for sure.
no subject
The new president, huh? Guess I should be flattered.
[ As for Sephiroth...Zack's expression notably sobers when his name is mentioned. ]
Yeah...I talked to him, too.
[ He hums. ]
Not sure we'd see flowers like that anywhere back home.... They seem to be doing well with you, though.
no subject
Hmm. [ she responds with just that, trying to keep it light and brief.
switching back to the flowers, something she's sure they'd both rather talk about, she smiles again. ]
Yeah, they are. I wasn't sure how they'd turn out... but they seem happy. Really pretty, too. [ glancing down at them, and then back at him. ] They match your eyes today.
[ with their blue hues, and the bright blue of his eyes. despite the meaning behind them, they've always been so beautiful, to her. ]
no subject
He leans in a bit for a better look at the flowers. ]
You think so?
[ He tilts his head slightly. ]
Hmmm...I guess I could see it.
[ So strange! Mako-colored flowers! He looks at Aerith with a cheeky little smile. ]
Which do you like better?
[ Zack...pls. ]
no subject
her voice is so matter-of-fact it's hard to tell she's joking. ]
The flowers, of course.
[ at least, until she laughs after saying that, having trouble keeping up the charade to actually dupe him. ]
no subject
Wow, that's nice.
[ He nudges her. ]
Guess I'll have to hang around a lot so you'll start to like me better.
no subject
they're still joking about, but her demeanor softens a little, as she leans in as close as she can manage from her height, her eyes reflecting how she feels — glad beyond words to have him around again — with a small nod of her head to accompany. ]
I'd like that.