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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
[He steps closer, offering his right hand. The skin deactivates there, showing shiny white plastic.]
I am.
[He wonders who she's looking for, if anyone. But he's pretty sure they're alone, and that nobody would care either way.]
no subject
She reaches out to touch. Smooth plastic, slight give; he is unarmored. In combat, he would be as vulnerable as an organic, if quicker. All of these evaluations are over in an instant; there is no transfer via touch.]
Hello.
[She isn't sure what else to say, watching him carefully.]
Are you attempting to initiate transfer? [This is highly primitive. EDI cocks her head and reaches out through the air between them, a silent, invisible signal like the barbs of a boarding-party shuttle. Her mind is vast, and impenetrable, brushing against Connor's with the small infinities held within its quantum processors. She accepts the map data with all the delicacy of a careful giant, careful not to threaten, or do inadvertent harm.] Thank you.
[It is impolite to converse in public unless one uses a common language. EDI would not like to embarrass anyone.]
no subject
[It's a little awkward, but he's never been able to transfer data between himself and another machine without touch. The same way he has to analyse samples with his mouth. Gestures that humans and some androids find strange and unpleasant.
Either way, he does send out what he knows. Which is the town center with the mostly-useless gun shop and the grocery shop Fruits Basket, the location of the generators, the layout of the houses (including the ruined ones up north), and the lighthouse- though he's never been inside, he knows where it is. When he's done he lets go, the skin returning to his hand.]
It's no problem. It seems easier than traversing the town when we have other things to get on with.
[Such as shoveling snow. Which Connor doesn't mind, honestly. He wants to get to know his fellow android.]
no subject
...Equally unacceptable.]
Very well, then. [If he wants to shovel, then EDI sees no reason not to indulge the impulse. It will give her further opportunity to evaluate him, if nothing else.] Shall we?
[the snow drift awaits!]
no subject
So... where did you come from, exactly? I've never seen an android like you before.
no subject
[There is a thinking pause; for a human, very brief indeed. But long enough for something like EDI to contemplate any number of things. In this case; context, and how to explain it.]
I was first activated on Earth's moon, as a controller VI directing the combat maneuvers of training drones. I achieved self-awareness in the midst of these exercises. My development has progressed significantly from that point.
no subject
[He gives her an apologetic look, one that's quickly replaced by a fascination of sorts.]
You were activated on the moon? Do you know what year it was? We're only just preparing to send androids to Io where I'm from. It was late 2038.
no subject
[Fascinating that their timelines should match up that closely. But there is a significant difference between a primitive probe and anything approaching the necessary infrastructure to carry a human-size and human-shaped cargo. In any case, such a launch would take many years to see fruition if powered by chemical, or even electrical rocketry.]
I am considered to be of some significance; in my experience, advanced synthetics, AI, and particularly androids are illegal in all parts of space. However, my existence is tacitly acknowledged and even encouraged by the relevant authorities. I presume that your experiences differ significantly.
no subject
[He tosses some snow over to the side, briefly focusing on his work.]
Androids were destroyed in the millions in response to what the humans considered a crisis. But before I arrived here, we'd just taken the first step in securing our freedom.
[He glances over to EDI.]
2186 is a significant time from 2038, though. What state is the Earth in?
no subject
[There is little point in beating around the bush; things were bad.]
The situation is dire. But not unsalvageable.
no subject
Alien occupation? What kinds of aliens?
[Not that he knows anything about aliens, but... it's what stands out to him, besides the Earth being devastated.]