Fourth TDM: Winter's breath

[upcyclingmod]

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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

Boba Fett | Star Wars (Legends)

[myownprice]

i. arrival

[ There are some people who arrive in South Sister by waking up peacefully in a bed. There are some people who walk, disoriented and cautious, through an open door in a quiet house.

Eleven-year-old Boba Fett arrives in South Sister by hurtling through said door propelled by a jetpack he learned to use less than an hour ago, desperately trying to escape an explosion that is no longer there. Hopefully, no one was standing in front of said door at the moment of his arrival. If they were, they will subsequently find themselves unceremoniously bowled off their feet by a rocket-propelled child donning a silver-and-blue Mandalorian battle helmet.

Fortunately, the collision will trigger the jetpack’s safety disengage and prevent it from causing further mayhem. Unfortunately, if the person whose day Boba has just ruined is not also a child, his first instinct is to start throwing punches.

Obviously, this is the best way to meet South Sister’s newest Wickie. ]

ii. start of winter

[ Going from hot and arid Tattooine to a snowy mystery planet is certainly a shock to the senses. After his chaotic entrance, Boba can be found wandering outside, still wearing his father’s helmet, looking around in open astonishment. He has heard of snow—read about it, seen it in holos—but he’s never actually experienced it before.

He is doing his best to be inconspicuous, taking detours to remain out of sight from other Wickies, but with the overwhelming newness of this mysterious place, he can eventually be caught off-guard, crouching down to scoop up a handful of snow and crush it between his fingers.

One may notice that he’s also holding a very ostentatious hat in his other hand. Wonder what that’s about? ]

iii. confession

UN: Boba

Stop
STOP
End game
Off

[ Someone clearly doesn’t want to play. Though, after a long pause: ]

snow

Arrival!

[kikochan]

Waaaah!

[ At sixteen years old, it seems like Tsubakiko's just old enough to be the target of Boba's wrath. She's certainly a lot taller than him, so maybe it's not so surprising that she'd be mistaken for an adult...

Startled, she quickly backs off, putting her hands in front of her and getting ready to stop him if need be. Of course, she'd be gentle, seeing as she's just dealing with a child, but... was she really so scary that a kid had just attacked her out of nowhere? That's kind of depressing... ]

It's okay! I'm not going to hurt you!

[myownprice]

[ Fortunately for both of them, Boba is acting on instinct now—and at this age, his instinct is not to continue hitting someone who is backing away. One fist still remains cocked back as if he's waiting for her to change her mind, but even that mostly seems like a reflex as his attention quickly jumps from the girl to the room he's found himself in. ]

Ygabba—where's Ygabba—

[ He looks back at the door, then to the girl, fist still raised. ]

Where are we? [ he demands. ] Where's Ygabba?

[kikochan]

Ygabba?

[ Now that's a name she doesn't recognize. She wants to help Boba to calm down if she can, but unfortunately, she doesn't know who this Ygabba is or where they are at all. This boy must've been suddenly taken here, like her... at least, she thinks he's a boy. It's a little hard to tell, behind the mask.

Why is he wearing that, anyway? ]

I'm sorry... [ she starts, with an apologetic expression on her face. ] I don't know. Who is Ygabba?

[myownprice]

She's a kid, [ he says, as if that's helpful at all. ] Skinny, human, dirty hair...

[ Already, he's moved on to search the place, starting with the room behind the door he'd emerged from. Curtains, chairs, the desk—seemingly every piece of furniture is searched behind or turned over in a rush before he heads toward the next room. ]

She was right here. [ His hand is inches from an arm chair that's about to be shoved mercilessly out of the way when he suddenly freezes in place.

In order of priority, he's processed that he's alive, Ygabba isn't here, and this... ]

This isn't Tatooine. [ He turns to the stranger and just stares at her in shock for a moment. ] Where are we? [ He asks again. ] How did I get here? Who are you?

[kikochan]

[ She's a kid, he says, as if he isn't a kid himself. Tsubakiko follows Boba through the rooms with growing alarm, worried that he'll hurt himself or someone else at this rate, and tries to figure out how to respond. Whoever this Ygabba is, she must be important to him... but unfortunately, when Boba was brought to this place, they must've been separated. And Tsubakiko knows how awful that feeling of separation is well. ]

My name is Harumiya Tsubakiko. [ She introduces herself a little nervously, though she's trying not to let it show. ] I don't know where we are, or how we got here... I think we're in the same situation, though! Somebody must've taken us from our homes, somehow... umm, I'm not sure how.

start of winter

[suduri]

[ Blame this attempt at mischief on the Second Sister's penchant for curiosity. Not in seeing a Mandalorian boy, for that in itself hardly concerns her at all, but the item he's holding does manage to rouse some scrap of interest. A hunter herself, she keeps at a quiet distance and does not engage him outright.

Instead, when the boy is kneeling down by the snow, there is a sudden tug at the hat he's holding. There's no one physically near him, of course, which may or may not be surprising. Some safe distance away, Trilla leans into the shadows and watches his reaction. ]

[myownprice]

[ The tug definitely gets a reaction. Boba immediately scrambles to his feet, convinced someone has snuck up on him—only to find that he's still alone. The helmet hides his expression, but the sharp movements of his head tell of someone searching their immediate surroundings with some alarm. When he finds no one in his vicinity, his attention turns to the hat in his hands. He inspects it for a moment—then crumples it in a way that would make a Neimoidian blanch and holds it a bit tighter.

That done, he surveys his surroundings again, gaze lingering on shadowed places that might hide some threat—and then turning towards the ground. He scans the icy surface for a few moments as if looking for something. What it might be won't be obvious until he suddenly reaches down, brushing aside powdery snow, and picks up a small but jagged stone.

Apparently, his first instinct in response to a startle is to arm himself—as best as he can, anyway. ]

[suduri]

That won't be necessary.

[ The boy's instincts are sharp at least, and after a moment of some consideration, she walks slowly from the shadowed alley. The stark black uniform with its Imperial badges are unmistakable, and her helmet likewise gives little away in terms of her mood or motives. Most of which revolve around curiosity, as the Neimoidian hat being crushed the boys arm makes for an interesting keepsake. ]

From whom did you steal that hat, I wonder?

[ She stops a careful distance away and makes no further movement, the Inquisitor's lightsaber carefully concealed underneath her cloak. ]

[myownprice]

[ Boba whirls towards the voice when he hears it, brandishing the stone in his hand as if preparing to hurl it at someone. His hand does not fall, even as the stranger makes herself known. He takes in her helmet, the badges on her black uniform—all without comprehension. ]

Someone who no longer needed it, [ he answers, watching tensely as the stranger draws to a stop some distance away. The stone is still gripped in his hand, undeterred by the woman's armored appearance. Evidently, he has no other weapon to rely on. ] Who are you?

[suduri]

[ Such a cagey answer; a suspicious mind would think that the boy has something serious to hide. How fortunate then, that they appear to have been sent very far outside the reach of the Empire's laws and regulators. Even she herself appears to be off the leash. ]

An unwilling tourist like yourself, I believe. You may call me Second Sister, if you wish.

[ She tilts her head slightly. ]

And who, I wonder, are you?

arrival

[merging]

[Ezra's life these days seems to be a lot of "this might as well happen". And honestly, this might as well happen. All of it, the suddenly appearing behind a door that's also suddenly taken down by a a miniature Mando with a jetpack and then for that mini Mando to decide it's time to beat him up.

While he sees each punch coming and can dodge them well enough, it's still annoying. And rude.]

Hey, stop! [For now he just tries to push him off normally, since using the Force on a kid seems...]

hello again frand :D

[myownprice]

[ Fortunately for Ezra, Boba is just as confused as he is. Confused enough that when Ezra tells him to stop, he actually stops. ]

Who are you? [ Boba demands. ] Where—

[ He twists around to look at the door behind them, at which point Ezra can successfully shove him off. Boba doesn't resist, scrambling to his feet and looking around in open bewilderment. He quickly notices a familiar hat on the ground—he must have dropped it when he collided with the other boy. He snatches it back up as if afraid the stranger will take it. ]

Where are we? Where's Ygabba?

hiiiiiiiii

[merging]

[Ezra brushes himself off and stands up, stretching as if he's making sure he's fine after this ordeal. He is, but he knew that already.]

Whoa, one thing at a time. [Honestly, he has a million questions himself, but he's the older one so he'll have to act the part.]

I'm Ezra. Don't know where we are, and I don't even know who Ygabba is... Who are you anyways?

[myownprice]

[ While the other boy is dusting himself off, Boba is already hunting through their surroundings, looking for clues as to where they might be. Much of their environment is unfamiliar to him—his own is the only home he's ever been in and it was a far cry from the worn cottage they find themselves in now. After a few moments, he turns his attention to the door he had emerged from, opening it wider and staring through it as if wondering whether it might lead back to whence he came.

He looks back towards Ezra at his question. ]

I'm Boba, [ he answers. ] How do you not know where we are?

[merging]

How do you not know where we are?

[he shoots back. It's incredibly mature, but he has a point. Or half a point. Ezra might have a better idea of how they got here, if his hunch of Force shenanigans is right. But that still doesn't mean he knows where they are.]

You find anything useful yet?

[He could look around too, but might as well let Boba do it. He'll focus on reaching out with the Force instead.]

start of winter

[muffled]

[ from a distance, shrouded in fog and snow fall, a figure approaches. his feet crunch sharply in the snow, a clear alert signal purposefully made, as he takes his time walking down the road. it's almost certain anyone on the lookout would see him before he sees them. armorer from head to toe, the mandalorian is on his way to the food store to get provisions for the week. in his arm, tucked into the crook of his elbow, a couple blankets are swaddled together to carry something through the cold. ]

[myownprice]

[ Boba indeed sees the figure in Mandalorian armor approaching. He immediately looks up from the snow, gaze fixed on the armored man. Growing up, Boba had had little interaction with all but a handful of individuals on Kamino, but there had been enough Mandalorians there to train his father's clones that the sight of them walking the halls was commonplace. For this reason, the Mandalorian strikes Boba as the most normal person he's seen here so far.

So, when the man passes, Boba pauses for just a moment—and then follows at a safe distance. He isn't hiding either; if the man turns, he'll find Boba several meters behind him, watching him with wary curiosity.

Personally, Boba is hoping the man is headed towards a ship. He hasn't seen any starships or spaceports since arriving and his number one priority right now is finding a way off this planet. ]

[muffled]

[ in short time, the mandalorian is hit with the wave of a presence watching him from behind. he elects not to ignore it, but to let it be for now. his hand always hovers by his hip for this reason, even now though obscured by the cloak draping down his back. it isn't long before he gets to Fruit Basket, a convenience store with the name boarded up above the doorway, that he finally decides to turn around. may as well face his shadow.

the sight of a familiar helmet, atop a short child, gets him to pause longer than he'd like. he has not seen another of his people in months and had no expectation that they would ever come here. however, foundlings do not have a helmet of their own until they take creed. curious that. ]

Have you just arrived, foundling?

[myownprice]

[ Following the other Mandalorian for some distance, Boba is disappointed to see that the man's final destination is not a ship but a store. Still, he stops when the man stops. He's hoping that his own helmet will buy him some leeway with the stranger—to ask questions, maybe even to bargain for help.

Or, at the very least, to not get shot at. Despite being a bounty hunter, Boba has had just about enough of that for today.

Fortunately, the Mandalorian doesn't seem hostile—though, the use of the word "foundling" gets a furrowed brow beneath Boba's visor. ]

Yes, sir. [ He uses the same respectful language his father instructed him to use on those rare occasions he was actually introduced to other Mandalorians on Kamino. Force of habit—and, of course, necessity. If this man has a way off this planet, it would pay to be polite. ]

But I don't know how I got here. Do you know where we are?

[muffled]

South Sister, an isolated island. Planet unknown.

[ most people here don't even understand the concept of life on other planets, but he does not have to hesitate to include it with another of his people. certainly not with a foundling. ]

You arrived here the same way I did - through a door. [ not a very good explanation, but the mandalorian knows he cannot offer a better one. ] There's no way off world. We'll be here for the foreseeable future.

iii

[reydacted]

un: scavenger

do you come from a place where it snowed a lot?
i had never seen it before!

[myownprice]

No. It only rained, never snowed.

What planet is this? Does it always snow?

[reydacted]

[ !!! rey's interest is piqued at finding another person who thinks on the planetary scale. ]

we don't know. there's no transports but a lot of people say it looks like their home planet, earth. i've never heard of it.

it's been cold since i arrived but this is the first time it's snowed. there was rain and flooding not too long ago. i think the climate is pretty variable.

[myownprice]

[ An unknown planet without any transports on or off?

...That isn't good. ]

If there are no transports, how did we get here? And how do we leave?