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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
I see. [ Noting down Figaro for 'useful people in case someone gets injured'. ] So these are part of this world's mysterious ways?
[ It seems he must revise his expectations once again ]
no subject
That they are. This island works on some sort of a desire system which grants our whims in positive or negative ways. The adage "be careful what you wish for" rings true here.
[ he picks up a written instruction, which exclaims its use as if on cue. ]
See? It's a protective talisman. So there's nothing to worry about.
no subject
And of course they are failing to grant the whim to go home.
[ It is fortunate that he had already tidied his mortal affairs, or he would be taking more drastic action right now. ]
What is the ultimate purpose of all this, though? Keeping us caged for someone's viewing pleasure?
no subject
[ so, you know. oof. ]
We were summoned here to save this world... Or at least that's my understanding of it. And until it's resolved, going home won't be easy. Hopefully you weren't doing something important in the middle of all this.
[ he explains all this in a casual tone, as though he's gone through something like this before in his world. which he has. ]
no subject
Saving a world is a heavy task to put on the shoulders of those unprepared.
[ But by what he sees from the other travelers so far, they do seem at least capable of taking initiative. ]
I am not occupied in my world. [ If he had been, the entire island would know by way of the presence of a rampaging dragon. Luckily, he's on break, so there's no need to unseal himself, and he can take his time. ] Though, to complete this request would require at least some leads.
[ Any information to share? ]
no subject
[ he pulls out a simple rectangular advice to show his fellow non-human. ]
But to be honest, I’m not too fond of using this all the time? I don’t want to say I’m too old or anything, but it seems that the younger guys are more adept at using technology like this. I will admit that communication is much more accessible this way, though.
[ he’s a boomer, in other words. also his world back home doesn’t have this kind of advanced technology, as they mostly rely on either hard work or magic to get things done. ]
no subject
[ Zhongli murmurs, retrieving his own rectangular device from
hammerspacea pocket. He had noticed it, kept it with him, but no more. Telling a dragon to use a tablet isn't easy at all. ]How does it work?
[ He can sense the presence of Electro energy, but not more than that. His element is Geo, after all. ]
no subject
[ oh my god he's hopeless ]
And that's all there is to it. I'll demonstrate further by calling you from here. Your name?
no subject
He eyes the device as Figaro talks - he's able to follow the explanation, at least. But calling? ]
I am Zhongli.
[ They could just talk in person instead of calling...? He doesn't quite understand... ]
no subject
...Press the green button to receive the call.
[ and when he does, zhongli will hear figaro's voice from the other end of it. ]
Nice to meet you, Zhongli. You can call me Figaro.
no subject
A pleasure, [ he nods by way of showing respect. ] Thank you for the advice.
no subject
You're welcome.
[ his smile is warm. ]
Now with that settled - are you still trying to decide what to eat?
no subject
Is there one you would recommend?
[ Rather than deciding straight away, he lets the decision go to his companion first. There are simple tangyuan and those sculpted in the shape of animals - while it's nowhere close to the ones made by the Liuli Pavilion, they still respect the traditional forms. ]
no subject
[ zhongli just had to ask the resident drunk on what to get, because figaro's going to reach for two flutes of wine, handing one of them to his new companion. here you go, buddy. ]
The instruction say we toast to our health, but you're in good hands so long as I'm here. [ he winks. ] But you're free to add something else, if you like.
no subject
He takes the flute in one gloved hand, holding it delicately between his slender fingers. ]
To our success, then.
[ He already knows what success would mean for him here. It is to unravel this mystery and restore order, both for him and for the others stranded here. ]