FEBRUARY TDM

[recollecters]

TEST DRIVE

FEBRUARY TEST DRIVE The city of Recollé. What a beautiful, wonderful place. Sure, some things seem a little off sometimes but it's still home. The weather's starting to clear up as little signs of spring appear. What will you do today? I. Spring is in the air and today residents of the city can be found in all districts clearing out the rest of the winter gloom. Snow shovels are replaced for garden trowels as people begin planting flowers, trees, and vegetables. Some residents are in Hollingberry Field over in Viea Village cleaning up stray litter and debris to make the park enjoyable for all. Will you volunteer to help? Are you willing to get your hands dirty, or are you just annoyed that you can't go anywhere without having to side-step a puddle of mud? II. It starts innocently enough. You wake up in the morning, walk into your bathroom to brush your teeth and one of your lightbulbs burn out. That's not unusual. You make a note to buy more lightbulbs next time you head to Freshens. What is unusual is that the rest of the city seems to be experiencing similar problems. One of the theatres at Flix can't seem to get their projector to work and several customers are clamouring to get their ticket refunded. The elevator at the Towers stops working halfway up between floors. Neon signs on some of the shops in Tisse flicker and pop until some of the letters fade. The computers at the Recollé Public Library and Resource Center crash making it impossible to do school work. It's not just outside either. Appliances start acting up. Your phone might ring with a ringtone that isn't your own, but no one else is on the other line. What's causing all of this? It might be worth investigating. III. You realize that it might be wise to check Retrospec to see if any of your fellow residents are posting about similar experiences. You reach for your device, (or perhaps you've managed to wrestle one of the library's computers to work with you) and open the application only to be met with a blast of music. Shutting the app doesn't help. Every time the app is opened, a new song will begin playing on its own. The song changes each time, but they all seem to center on the same theme. The only way to stop the issue is to let the song play all the way through. Good thing you weren't sneaking in some social media time during class or work…were you? Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who escaped having the app automatically downloaded to your mobile devices or appear for you at inconvenient intervals. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case anymore and the next wave of Retrospec users are chosen. New users will hear a very different song as their greeting when the app begins to download, prompting them to notice their profile filled out with their name and upload a picture. The song will autoloop until new users oblige to these steps. Now wouldn't be a bad time to ask fellow users some questions. IV. Billboards, bus stops, and posters make up many of the colorful landmarks in Chata and Tisse. These signs all have a purpose whether it's to advertise new movies at Flix, a special sale at Towers, or a hot new band that will be playing at the Atrium. Too bad things seem to be getting out of hand here, too. What do you mean the sign told you everything must go from the furniture department? Nobody said anything about half-priced movies with all you can eat popcorn! All throughout the city advertisements pop up displaying false claims. Are you one of the residents trying to cash in on these ads? Or maybe you're an employee who has to clean up this mess. Yikes. BONUS. The subway system in Recollé has been down for quite some time now due to construction. It doesn't make travelling through the city impossible, but it does make several people unhappy (including Mayor Mayer.) The non-functional subway has become a part of every day life, but when you pass by over the next few days, you can almost hear the sound of a subway car speeding along the tracks. Any inquiries will be met with disdain, and any attempts to head into the subway station to check things out will be met with construction workers telling residents to scram. It seems that this area is blocked off for now, but that doesn't mean residents can't investigate. Welcome to the recolle test drive meme! All characters will be begin in-game AU'd as Recollé residents. You may use any of the above prompts for ideas or make up your own depicting your Recollé AU! Prompts do not have to be set in the districts listed above. You can review our list of locations for what's available. Please note that TDM threads can be used as samples, can be kept as game canon, and can also be used for bonus points for future item regains. Share a few minor details of your AU, tag around, and have fun! The February 2017 TDM directory can be found here. The February 2017 Workshop can be found here. The mod questions comment is here.

Comments

Judas | Saint Young Men (Judah Behar)

[thirtybits]

I
[The environment is a very important issue so you bet Judah's come out to do his part. He's even brought along a few flats of recyclable water bottles for anyone who needs them.]

I mean, this is great and all but it figures a so-called important or beautiful area would get attention while other parts of the city will go ignored.

III
[It's not slacking if there's all these power surges or whatever going on. It's hard to keep doing his work if the computer shuts off or the lights go out! Maybe Judah was going to do some from his phone and that's why he picked it up, very industrious (or not at all actually but details), but the sudden blaring music has other eyes in the office on him. He slams his hands over it, but it just won't stop. And when an app shows up, it does seem like it must be the cause. He doesn't want to get in trouble, so he quickly posts while still covering most of it up. Which means short and all caps-]

HIW DO I MAKE THE MUSIX STOP PLEASE? VIRUS?

[Not the best typing for that lack of vision and mobility either.]

IV
[Deals are really important and no one can take them away from him. But it means he's that jerk taking up everyone's time, whether it's other people in line, the cashier, or manager.]

It's the cashier's code of conduct. If you advertise a price, you have to honour it - in fact if the item's under twenty dollars it should be free if it's rung up wrong!

i

[splinten]

Be the change you want to see, Behar.

[Dirk throws a bottle at Judas's head he's helpful.

He isn't even participating he's just here hanging out? So now this.]

Somehow I knew you'd be there for that one

[thirtybits]

[DON'T THROW BOTTLES? THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE HERE FOR? Worse, he doesn't expect it so he doesn't even duck, it just hits his head and bounces off.]

I will, what about you?

[splinten]

I don't agree to anything until I know the details. What's your plan of action and what real change do you expect to see?

[Also. A pause.]

Sorry, dude. Thought you'd catch it.

[HE. THOUGHT HE WAS BEING HELPFUL. TOSSING A BOTTLE TO JUDAS TO CLEAN AWAY. whoops]

[thirtybits]

Well, just like this, the downtown parks are pretty bad, I'm sure the litter will pile up again quickly but maybe if they're made nice, it might deter people from it for a while?

[Plus then they could take blankets and things to the homeless?

As for the bottle, he shrugs and sighs, but bends to pick it up and toss it in the bag for plastics.]

It's fine, at least it's light.

iv

[meshiakh]

[ It's time to pay for these snacks! Joshua can't help but wonder what his roommate would think of all these junks that he's getting, but... Once in a while is fine, right? (Though by once in a while he really means every other day.) His walk towards the cashier halts at the sound of a familiar voice, his shoulders are all raised and stiff, eyes widen like a cat caught in the act.

Just when he thinks of him, his roommate is lo and behold, right smack before him. Well, not quite literally, but he's there, in Joshua's line of sight. Judah will certainly live a long life, or so the myth says. But what's going on there? He seems to be in a trouble. ]

E-Excuse me, that's my friend there.

[ He attempts to slip through the line to where Judah is, after leaving his own shopping basket in the middle of an aisle. (What is responsibility...) The unhappy queue of customers start clicking their tongue and complaining at him, to which Joshua just smiles at weakly.

When he reaches the back of his roommate, he gives it a soft tap or two. ]

Judah, what's going on?

[thirtybits]

[Judah hears the clicking and complaining and turns to see it just as Joshua taps him. He frowns, reluctant to answer when he could tell the line off for getting angry with someone so sweet as JoJo.

But then again maybe he shouldn't pick a fight with strangers.]

It's nothing, they have sales advertised but they're not honouring them. Which could be cause for investigation.

[If he needs to play the audit card he will!!!]

[meshiakh]

Oh no, that's not good.

[ The young cashier man frantically replies that there is no such advertisement, in fact, it might be a fraud ー implying that Judah is trying to get away with some discounts. ]

Now that's going way too far! Judah won't do such a thing!

[ Joshua doesn't get angry easily, but this definitely doesn't make him happy at all. It surprises even himself at the raise of his own tone, so he clears his throat before turning his back to the customer behind them. ]

Sorry, Miss, do you happen to see the advertisement?

[ He begins asking some of the people on the line. Though annoyed at how this is lagging them all, some of them do admit to seeing it, which is also the reason why they're here now. ]

That's what they said, Mr. Cashier.

[ But the young cashier man is relentless, firmly insisting that it isn't in the system, hence is false. Had the cashier been a little kinder in response and hadn't implied negative notion towards Judah, Joshua would just let it slide easier, but the milk has been spilled and he's not backing down.

It doesn't take long for another staff ー who looks like a superior ー to come over and ask them what's going on. ]

[thirtybits]

[Oh no, Joshua doesn't need to get worked up on his behalf (if only he'd be so concerned with managing his finances without that kind of motivation)!! Judah suddenly feels very self-conscious when he hadn't at all before, and even though things are more in his favour now, it seems, he sort of wants to hide behind his friend rather than deal with it. Maybe he should just take Joshua by the arm and whisper to him -]

It's fine, really, you don't have to bother.

[But he can't do that...! Especially if he really did mean to imply he was trying to steal from the store? It isn't like that at all, and he would never, he might be cheap but he's not a bad person! He can at least prove that to the supervisor.]

It's a sale you had advertised that apparently isn't properly programmed in the system, that's all.

[Simple as that, it should be there but it's not. But it's still valid.]

iv

[broham]

[Enough? ENOUGH??? He just wants to go home. It's been a long day of people yelling he can't fix their shit no matter how much he explains it's a citywide problem, not something he can handle by himself. He just did some quick shopping and wanted to get out as quickly as he could.

But then there's this asshole. He's done. Mako pushes his way through the line and slaps a hand on Judas' shoulder.]

If you ain't gonna buy anything then take it elsewhere pal. Some of us got stuff to do.

[you gonna take up your beef with the 7ft brick wall of an australian...]

[thirtybits]

[A...H... He's big, he's really big. People always tell Judah he's short but he doesn't think he's all that short. Now he sees though, he's a shrimp. Normally he wouldn't bow to someone who seems to be threatening him, but this is...actually very intimidating.]

It's not that I'm not buying anything, I just want what was promised - don't you?

[broham]

[If it's any consolation, he doesn't seem to be trying to instigate anything here...he actually removes his hand then and just tries to address the situation calmly.]

After the day I've had I just wanna get my stuff and go home. I think everyone feels the same way.

[A few people in the line murmur and nod, agreeing, and now all eyes are on Judah...]

[thirtybits]

[It's just that he's really big okay? Judah's kind of a pussy.]

Yeah, that's fair, but there are other tills open, or you could go ahead of me while I wait for a manager.

[But he's not budging on the sales.]

III.

[threnodeity]

[a certain rose strider will be responding to his plea.]

Tech support. [She's nothing like that.] What appears to be the problem?

[thirtybits]

[He doesn't even notice through his fingers, and having moved it under his desk now too.]

IT WONT STOP PLAYING MUSIC IS THIS A VIRUS I SISNT DOWNLOAD IT
I NEED IR TO SROP IM AT WORK

[threnodeity]

Have you tried turning it on and off again, sir?

iv

[archaman]

[ jesus christ. Romani had wanted to take advantage of these deals, too, but it's a far-off dream now. He's holding these packs of ramen along with some light bulbs, waiting in line before deciding

you know what

he doesn't need all of this today. He decides to help management and retail out. With a free hand, he gently grabs Judah's shoulder!! Bright smile, distraction plan, let's go. ]

Judah! I haven't seen you in a while. What have you been up to? Oh! Are you trying to buy light bulbs, too? What about we bundle together?

[ you like bundles, right? ]

[thirtybits]

[Well, he does, but then one of them will owe the other? That's always tough. He doesn't like to be in debt to someone and he certainly doesn't want to have to ask someone to pay him back either. Just because it's his day job doesn't mean he likes it...]

Oh, Dr. Archaman - alright, if you like, that should make it easier, you'll only have to enter the discount manually once then, right?

[He turns back to the cashier to ask that, because maybe bundling together would be worthwhile then.]

[archaman]

There's no need to be formal! Romani is fine. Also, you're right.

[ Please. He actually doesn't want to think about work. Taking initiative, he lifts the plastic divider so that their items are together. The cashier looks so relieved because there is a discount and gladly tells them about it. Romani holds the smile...

Whew. They made it. He'll be the one taking the receipt, hmm... ]

What if I pay my half through dinner?

[ he's... he's lonely and feels like eating out. Maybe this was his plan all along, trick someone he knows to eating with him. ]

i

[mercurio]

[prompto's here to take pictures of the collective work, and finds himself--taken aback by judah's words. this is a very legit concern?]

Hey, you're right! Viea Village barely gets anything neatened up for its park...

[and prompto lives there; look after your own neighbourhood first]

Maybe I could take some pictures of the places that need some attention, and if I post them online some will volunteer to make them prettier?

[thirtybits]

Ah, that's a great idea! Picture evidence would really help, even if it's to guilt people into it, haha.

Plus it would be great to see before and after pictures as well, it would be a real sense of accomplishment and maybe even encourage people to do more.

[mercurio]

Maybe this app will have its usefulness in social awareness after all...

[prompto is the hopeful kind]

I could start making rounds for it. And it's not guiltying people into doing anything if they want to volunteer, right?

III

[splasher]

ahhh you too?? i haven't been able to make it stop and the music keeps playing and it keeps installing itself
i don't know what i did to get this virus
if it even is one?

[thirtybits]

YEAH IVE TRIED UNINSTALLING TOO

[oh, capslock--]

but then it just comes right back? Which really seems like a virus but then again I don't suppose many come with a help/message board installed.

[splasher]

that's true
it would have to be a very high scale kind of virus... i don't really know much about technology
i found that plugging earphones into my phone helps with the music though
at least it isn't being blasted from it