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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
Xie Lian thinks he has a handle on it. Then, of course, this other man just keeps dropping more and more unbelievable things on him.
"A different world? How so?" he blinks. Humans were often confused about the different realms; of spirits and ghosts or heavenly officials. They might seem like completely different worlds, but...
"Where were you from? Before this?"
no subject
"I spend a lot of time traveling through the provinces. Searching for my best friend, Xingchen. He's my roommate. We have a dream of forming a sect together. And this island is very different. It's not anything I ever know. I can't explain, but the spiritual energy and the spirits are different."
no subject
At least this man was forthcoming with answers. And a cultivator, too.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Daozhang," his smile fades. Clearly this cultivator has had a difficult time of things. The last survivor of his sect, but at least his friend was here with him.
"But I'm glad you've found your friend. I'm ah- you can call me Xie Lian. I'm a cultivator too, I was rebuilding a shrine for the Crown Prince of Xian Le, but- obviously not anymore."
Hearing about the man's friend though, is enough to remind Xie Lian that he needs to see if he can find anyone he knows here too.
"Oh, I'm looking for someone too. If he's here, he's probably new, like me. His name is- is San Lang. He's quite tall, very pale, with long, black hair. He wears a lot of red, and a patch over his right eye hmm, oh, and you can always hear him coming by the jingling sound his boots make."
no subject
"Xie Lian." He said his name easily enough, but then they speak the language. "Oh. You'll have trouble building a shrine here as well. There isn't many resources. There's a library, a grocery store, and a clinic. It's a simple island."
Hearing his description, "I haven't seen your friend, but if I ever seen him, I let him know you're looking for him. The island is small, so he shouldn't be that hard to find." He hoped his friend came with him if that's the case.
no subject
"Oh, that's- I probably won't be staying long," he insists, having little reason yet to think he can't just leave when he wants.
"I'd appreciate that," he gives a small bow in gratitude. If it goes on too long, he can always just roll the dice Hua Cheng gave him, and surely they'll-
He feels for the dice in his sleeve but- they're gone. Did he lose them somewhere? Perhaps they fell out of his sleeve?
"Could you point me toward town?"
no subject
Seeing the bow, Song Lan has forgotten his manners, so he cups his hand and makes a bow. "I am Song Lan, by courtesy name. It's nice to meet you."
He noticed he becomes anxious and looking for something, but for now Song Lan could only help.
"Um...sure. I was about to make lunch, but I can show you the town quickly and give you a tour. Please, follow me."
He leads Xie Lan to the living room, puts on his shoes, and then opens the front door to lead him outside to the main part of the town and show him the stores, the clinic, the library.