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

[shitheads]

[ Steve sits there as a bewildered look grows on his face. Kidnapped again? Shit, just when he was getting used to the other place. He doesn't quite fully believe the words coming out of Kate's mouth, he trusts her, but thinks that this somehow must have to do with the entity fucking with him.

And then she mentions taking a shower. A shower? What a luxury, Steve hasn't showered in...well time doesn't really exist for him, but it feels like years.

He brushes some dry flakes of blood off from behind his ear and inspects them for a second before returning her gaze, warm and welcoming as ever. ]

I would love to take a shower. Kate I would love that so damn much. [ He says dreamily. ]

[hopesong]

[Poor Steve. Kate knows exactly what he's going through, as a new advocate of long, steamy showers herself, water conservation be damned.]

You'll have to wear some of my clothes, but I can throw yours into the wash for the moment. Probably still won't get all the blood out, but hey, better than nothin'.

[She motions for him to follow her to her room, where she'll hand him a clean towel, and a pair of what will most certainly be ill fitting clothes with a wink.]

[shitheads]

[ Steve frowns, Kate's fashion was great, and she always looks amazing. But her stuff on Steve? But the thought of a shower is too enticing, and Steve can't say no to that. He doesn't even really hesitate. ]

You have a washing machine too? Holy shit, where are we? Heaven? [ Steve follows her and takes her offerings eagerly. A spaghetti strap tank and bedazzled jeans. Not the worst thing he's had to wear, he still loathes the sailor suit more. He'll make it work.

Steve nods a quick thank you.]

This must be some of that famous Pennsylvania Hospitality. Thanks Kate, I'll be done soon. [ He strips off his blood crusted shirt as he heads for the shower in the bathroom nearby.

He showers for at least a half hour, basking in the glory of hot water. Once he's clean he gets dressed, and begrudgingly looks in the mirror. Oof.

He walks out to go look for Kate now that he's all ready.]

Don't fuckin laugh, Kate.

[hopesong]

[ The comment garners a laugh all on its own, and she gives him a wink as she leaves him to it, setting his clothes in the wash as he showers.

They'll take slightly longer than he does, and when he finds her again, her back is turned as she futzes with something in the kitchen oven. ]

I make no promises.

[ She says in a sing song voice, turning in time with a tray full of sugar cookies, only to make a choked snorting sound.

It's not quite a laugh, in her defense. ]

[shitheads]

[ Well he really can't blame her, he'd be cute as hell if he looked anything like Kate, but his almost 6' lanky masculine frame was not doing him any favors in these tiny jeweled clothes.

He can't help but laugh, and doesn't blame Kate if she decides to let those muffled snorts erupt.]

Well, at least there's cookies. Those for me? [ He raises an eyebrow at Kate.

Maybe now they could talk about where he is and what the hell is going on. ]

[hopesong]

Help yourself. As long as you don't burn your fingers, though I've got a sneaking suspicion that burnt fingers aren't the worst you've been through.

[ A joke, and she actually grabs the still hot cookies and puts them on a plate for him to grab at his leisure, unbothered by the heat. Does it hurt? Yeah, but also like, she's been gutted several times over. It's nothing in comparison.]

[shitheads]

Definitely not. [ And as if to prove that he didn't care, he picks a cookie off the plate set before him immediately. Yep sure enough it burns. But its a cookie, and Steve welcomes it like it didn't just burn the first layer of his skin up. ]

Holy shit, these are so good. [ They really are, he hasn't tasted anything this good in a looonnnggg time. ]

Alright, so what do you know Kate? Are we sure this is not the entity's doing? You said yourself that death isn't permanent here. And we're kidnapped?

[hopesong]

Not the Entity, death still ain't permanent, and yes, we've been kidnapped again. No one knows exactly why we're here, though. Sorry. I may have been treating it like a light vacation from all the murder.

[She laughs, and eats one of the cookies herself.

It's very hot, but also very delicious.]

[shitheads]

[ Steve, like three and a half cookies in now, eeks out some muffled words. ]

So, what do you do around here? Are there trials or anything? [ He downs that 4th cookie, and lets out a light burp politely into his borrowed tank top. ]

[hopesong]

[Disgusting, but it's funny at the same time.]

No trials. But there is TV, and movies. People just mostly go about their day until somethin' weird happens.

i have so many steve eating icons now

[shitheads]

This IS a light vacation! I haven't watched a movie since that last Star Wars with Dustin.

But what kind of weird stuff happens?

[hopesong]

The whole island flooded recently. Almost got eaten by a mermaid.

[Kate hasn't... ever watched a star wars. Sorry, it's before her time. Also, she'd been too busy being POPULAR and famous.]

[shitheads]

[ Steve can see the blank expression on Kate's face and almost explain why lightsabers are the coolest thing since sliced bread but holds back. A conversation for another time. ]

You're joking, right? [ That seems somehow farther fetched than their previous lives at the entity's whim. ]

Well, this seems...better than the entity's realm. I'd still like to go back home with Nancy, but- [ And then it hits him. ]

Wait Kate! How do we get everyone else here!?

[hopesong]

Not even remotely.

[A laugh, and she shakes her head, his question sobering for the moment.]

We can't. I've been here for two months myself. Was only grabbed because the Entity had been distracted, apparently. I assume it's the same for you. [And oh, how her heart aches for everyone else still missing.] We just have to be patient, unfortunately.

[shitheads]

I'll find a way to get to them. I have to.

[ Steve can't stand the thought of losing those people, not after all the trials and tribulations they'd been through together. The thought of him being in this nice place while they were stuck back there, it's unbearable to him. ]

Wait Kate, you said we were kidnapped. But by who?

[hopesong]

The Admin. They run this island, with a few others. An' I know what you're thinkin', I was much the same mind. But the truth is that we're lucky. And we just have to hope that the Admin'll be able to grab the others too. It's what I've been hopin' for, and you showed up.

[It's... gotta count for something.]

sorry ive been slacking on tags lol

[shitheads]

[ Steve smiles, Kate seems genuinely jazzed to see him after what's apparently been 2 months through her eyes. Well, maybe the rest of the crew will make it over here in the blink of an eye, Steve hopes. ]

Tha Admin? Kate, lucky? We're still here against our will. Yeah it's better than being gutted every 5 fucking minutes, but shit, it's still not...it's not home, not where we belong. [ Steve takes a deep breath and a moment to calm his racing thoughts. ]

I guess, it's not so bad, Kate. But... now what? We just keep playing these games for the rest of eternity? [ He asks, more calmly, but still with the air of uncertainty clouding his voice. It's a lot to take in, and he's still fragile from just being able to take a shower. ]

c'est la vie

[hopesong]

I get it. It ain't home, and it still ain't the best situation but it's sure as shit better than the previous hand we were dealt.

[She knows, she understands where he's coming from. It's not home, and it never will be, but it's what she currently has, and she's going to make the most of it.]

[shitheads]

[ Steve sighs and puts his hands on his hips before speaking. ]

I'm sorry Kate, don't mean to be such a dick about this... Just a lot of shit to take in at once, you know? I'm glad we're here over the other place, and we might as well make the most of it.

[ Steve then takes one hand off his hip and smiles lightheartedly. ]

This admin? They let you keep that guitar of yours? Hearing that always made me feel about as home as I could at the old campfire.

[hopesong]

It's alright, hun. I understand you're a bit stressed. I was too. [She still has nightmares, when she sleeps.] I know it ain't perfect. I know we're still missin' loved ones. [And Kate hopes they'll end up here instead of staying there, or at least go home too.]

An' they have. It's in my room, you want me to play for you?

[shitheads]

Yeah, and I'd never imply you didn't care about them. If there was one person at camp that I know cared, it's you. By a longshot.

[ Steve smiles. ] Hell yeah I sure as shit do.