Tik-Tok
Many versions of the Land of Oz were home to a clockwork being called Tik-Tok, also known as the Clockwork Man or the Mechanical Man.
Description
Physical appearance
In at least one universe, Tik-Tok appeared as a clockwork automaton made of copper. His body was “very round, with glasses, a small hat, and a metal mustache”, with his bodywork designed to look as though he were wearing a fancy jacket. He additionally had a wind-up key on his back and two more under his arms. (PROSE: The Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids in Oz)
Biography
Visited by Acquaintanceship
In the universe whose version Oz was visited by Acquaintanceship-982, Omby Amby happened to be looking for Tik-Tok in the streets of the Emerald City when he crossed paths with Acquaintanceship, and, mistaking him for Tik-Tok (given that Tik-Tok was widely believed, even by himself, to be the only clockwork man in Oz), brought him to the Emerald Palace (though the real Tik-Tok was soon brought in by Dorothy). He and many other notable Ozites had been summoned by Ozma to deal with a crisis: the theft of the Magic Belt, Magic Picture and Great Book of Records by an unknown party — actually Blinkie's three imp servants Olite, Udent and Ertinent. The guests included Tik-Tok, Dorothy, the Wizard and his piglets, Toto, Jellia Jamb, the Glass Cat, Trot, the Sawhorse, the Shaggy Man, the Gump, Flipper, Eureka, the Scarecrow, the Lonesome Duck, Cap'n Bill, Jack Pumpkin Head, the Hungry Tiger, the Cowardly Lion, the Tin Woodman, Billina, Ojo, the Woozy, the Woggle-Bug. The group decided to use Acquaintanceship-982's Fog Ship to quickly comb through the Land.
They first landed in Munchkin Country, where the possé met the Phonograph of Oz, who had spotted the imps. Thanks to the Phonograph's directions, Acquaintanceship knew to fly towards Quadling Country, but on the way through the forest which separated the two Countries, they were attacked by three kalidahs. After evading them, they reached the mountains of Jinxland, where they found not only the imps, but also Blinkie. Gloating, the Wicked Witch unveiled a field full of hundreds of imp statues, which she intended to bring to life as an unstoppable army using the Powder of Life. Acquaintanceship attempted to romanticise Blinkie right there and then, but his shot missed and instead knocked the bottle Powder out of her hands. Taking his chance, Acquaintanceship did as Tik-Tok instructed him, grabbing the bottle and running off with it into his Fog Ship. Tik-Tok prevented Blinkie from blasting Acquaintanceship before take-off by rolling into her and bowling her over. However, Blinkie (who had yet to realise he had the Powder and thought he was just escaping) soon got up and used the Belt to remotely cause the Ship to crash into the forest, before transforming most of the Ozites into various objects, with only Dorothy managing to escape; Tik-Tok, for one, was turned into a copper whistle.
Acquaintanceship was unharmed, however, although his Ship was down. Out of other options, he used some of the Powder of Life to attempt to repair his Ship, with the effect of bringing it to life as a sentient entity. Startled, he dropped the rest of the Powder onto his bow and arrows, which similarly came to life. Together, they returned to Jinxland and managed to romanticise Blinkie and the Imps, who subsequently apologised to everyone, reversed the various transformations, and returned the magical items. However, the Ship's inexperience with flying itself caused it to crash again with Acquaintanceship itself, injuring him this time. With the Bow and Arrows finding them, however, the Imps worked with Tik-Tok to repair both of them. Healed, Acquaintanceship was offered the chance to stay in the Emerald Palace as a permanent resident but turned it down, unlike the Ship, Bow and Arrows. (PROSE: The Crew of the Copper-Colored Cupids in Oz)
Behind the scenes
Having debuted in the 1907 novel Ozma of Oz, Tik-Tok is now in the public domain.
