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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
[Instead, Shadow Weaver slightly inclined her head to one side, her hair falling with the gesture.] Warn, my queen? There is nothing to be warned off, seeing as I no longer pose a threat to you.
[A quiet sigh, only audible for the fact that it is entirely performative.]
But... perhaps this is a conversation to have over warm tea instead of all this ice. Don't you agree?
no subject
[She can't help but hesitate, just for the briefest of moments, before she nods eagerly. Tea is nice and warm and this place is so disgustingly cold, she'll never understand how Frosta likes it.]
That sounds like a good plan. [She looks down at the budding plants again.] They look like they're growing pretty well, though.
no subject
They shouldn't be, and yet they are. Despite the frost, the ground around them remains warm. I can hardly explain it.
[That, Shadow Weaver has no problems admitting. But, there is much she can't explain about this damned island, especially the strange being that appeared in her room to give her the seeds in the first place.]
[She rises, dusting her hands again, and sets off towards her cottage.]
Just as I can hardly explain Adora's missing knowledge. Her paranoia has been excessive, even for that one. [A side-long glance, her head turned just enough so that Glimmer doesn't catch her eye unobstructed by the sunglasses.] What has Adora told you?
no subject
[But she falls in step easily with the tall sorceress, taking better note of the outfit - and especially the facial wrapping, though admittedly that's more curiosity than anything else.]
She told me our friend Bow isn't here, just us and Catra. She said we're not on Etheria, so maybe it's another planet. Or a different universe. [There's more planets than just theirs, why not more universes too?]
[But then her expression falls, more sober.] She showed me the infection on her arm. She won't let me touch her because she's scared of it infecting me too.
no subject
[Figures. Adora, you fool.]
...I had thought something off, [she says after a moment.] I had my suspicions, but Adora will not let me close. I believe part of her is still convinced I had a hand in all of this.
This island... changes its residents. Not all of them, and not all in the same way. Think of them like warring forces, each trying to claim us for its side. This infection may have had Adora for some time. We must convince her to let it be treated, before it grows more dangerous.
[A shake of her head.] And she will not listen to me. My mere suggestion may spur her to do the opposite.
no subject
[It's a frustrated little mutter. What good is being queen when she can't even help her friends?]
[She looks back up at Shadow Weaver.] Is there some kind of spell for sealing powers away? You showed me how to trap Double Trouble in a magic circle, and you stopped me from teleporting with... with the Black Garnet's magic. There has to be something more specialised than that.
no subject
My experience with magic is great, but I cannot design a spell for if I do not know what I am designing it for. This... infection. It is far from normal. The way others on the island has spoken of it.
[A shake of her head.] It's almost as if it has a sentience to it.
no subject
[She still doesn't trust Shadow Weaver, but it's honestly comforting having someone treat her with the familiarity she expects of them.]
...if it's sentient, that means it could be possible to outsmart it, right? [Or overpower it, but she knows Shadow Weaver approves more of more cerebral plans.] If there's a source, we should be able to locate it and... and study it, properly. Learn its weaknesses.
no subject
A source would be ideal. Another resident spoke of something that gives me an idea, but his vague notions give me little to go on. For the time being, it may be... wisest to convince Adora to cooperate.
Even that may prove to be quite the herculean task, my queen; just as Adora does not remember your rule, she likewise does not recall my defection. It was pointless for me to breach the subject with her. You know how Adora is—her rampant paranoia will drive her to the opposite of whatever I try to tell her.
no subject
[sorry evil mum but Glimmer is very offended on her best friend's behalf, enough that she's bristling for a few seconds, before she realises her position and takes a deep breath.]
[You're a queen, Glimmer, approach this diplomatically. Or at least sound calm when you do it.]
With all due respect, Shadow Weaver [the stiffness in her tone suggests 'not much'], it seems like if she hadn't been exposed to thinks like-- like memory wiping or magical torture-- [Sometimes the lightning that had held her down and infected her magic still visits her nightmares.] --then perhaps she might be less hostile to you.
[She pauses for a moment.]
And from what I recall? You only defected because you were nearly killed. You haven't actually apologised to Adora.
no subject
[And spite. There was a lot of spite.]
[Taking the kettle from the rundown stove, she goes about pouring the water and adding to the cups. The prepackaged tea from that strange store was really quite poor, but a couple slices of ginger and a little lemon went a long way to fix it.]
In my entire residence on this island, I have not approached Adora—or Catra—once. Every one of our conversations ["conversations"] have been instigated by them. I have offered them only peace and distance, and they see fit to harass and stalk me repeatedly from afar. Is that not paranoia, seeing threats where there are none?
Besides, I thought we were discussing the threat infecting Adora.
no subject
[...okay fair]
[But that doesn't mean she trusts Shadow Weaver blindly here. ...or that she's wrong about the subject at hand.]
No, you're... right. You're right. If we're gonna find a cure for whatever's infecting Adora, we'll need to get more information. And I'm in a better position to ask her than you.
[Her expression darkens a little.] But I can't use magic for it. She wouldn't trust me ever again if I used a truth spell on her. She hated that I was learning from you at all.
no subject
[How many times had it saved them? How many times had it given Glimmer key insights into situations? Shadow Weaver brings the steaming tea over, setting a cup down before Glimmer's chair and one before her own. Although she sits, Shadow Weaver makes no move to remove the bandages obscuring her mouth.]
But... I will grant that this is a delicate situation, and others have strongly implied that forceful emotions might make the infection worse. You are, perhaps, the only one that can help Adora—the only one with the capabilities that she will also permit close. I will assist you however I can, my queen, but so long as Adora remains hostile to me, I am limited.