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Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] repeter2018-01-17 08:44 pm
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JANUARY 2018 TDM

TEST DRIVE
JANUARY TEST DRIVE
The city of Recollé...

What do you mean the city's behaving for once?

I.
The large opaque dome enveloping the entire city continues to stand tall and firm, though this may be the first time you've noticed the dome itself rather than believe it's simply an eclipse effect. Faintly reflective in appearance but blocking the outside world, the dome still allows the warmth of the weak winter sunlight to seep through. It isn't hard to breathe, and the flora and fauna seem to be responding just as naturally as always. But the city of Recollé is pitch black except for the light citizens shine themselves.

The dome stretches incredibly high over the city, but anyone who can get close enough to it will find that they can briefly see themselves in the surface. Upon touching the dome, it appears to be smooth and almost rubbery in texture despite a shell-like shield appearance. Soundproof and unable to provide clues to what's happening outside of the city the dome is also harmless for those who wish to touch it and examine it, causing it to bounce a few times under light impact. However, do be careful not to trigger its defense mode! Should anyone attempt to damage the dome itself, it will light up with a bright, sickening blue color for three seconds before delivering a shock to its attacker and rendering them unconscious for an hour. Perhaps you'll get lucky and you'll only deal with the too-hot-to-touch surface that self-activates when the dome is threatened, or the spikes that appear at the source of impact. The dome seems to have a temperament of its own. It may be best to treat it the way you want to be treated.

II.
Going about your normal day, the darkness seems endless aside from whatever light can be shed via flashlights, cell phones and interior lights inside buildings. However, as you wander the streets of the city, under your feet a swirl of yellow light appears before darting ahead, bouncing and bobbing its way over snow and concrete to create a clear path for you. It's a little convenient to have a guide to follow, but you're not the only one. Others around you are following their own lights and they all seem to gather right at the entrance of the old subway station. Perpetually under construction for as long as you can remember, the station appears to be wide open for anyone who ventures in.

The light will guide you for roughly twenty-five feet before it dies down again. You're allowed to turn back, of course. There's nothing stopping you...except for the vine that suddenly snakes along the ground and wraps around your ankle, hooking onto you and beginning to drag you further into the tunnels. Now would be a good time to start calling for help.

III.

Back in the city itself, it's hard to say who, exactly, is to blame for the first hit. People are minding their own business and moving on as if everything is perfectly natural as usual. However, in addition to the hustle and bustle small barrels appear on every street corner with an assortment of colored guns. The moment you step up to investigate one of these barrels it becomes a little more clear what, exactly, is happening here.

A bright red, green, or blue dot appears on your skin as the laser light hones in on you. Someone's decided to make you their next target in a city-wide game of laser tag and you have precisely ten seconds to run. For anyone tagged by the guns, a confetti-effect of red green and blue dots will appear all over you lasting for up to fifteen minutes before you're back in the game.

Will you grab your weapons and join the game? Or will you dodge as long as you can?

IV.
As the evening sets in, there's a smell in the air. It's not the usual winter-y scent of peppermint or warm soup or anything like that. No, you soon realize that the smell is buttered popcorn and now instead of the barrels of laser tag guns there are carts containing popcorn machines, bottles of soda, candy and more. These carts don't move and they do not seem to be manned by anybody so feel free to take as much as you'd like! At precisely 7pm, the street lights dim a little and the dome above you starts to...glow? It glows and a picture stretches all the way across the sky as a movie begins to play for your enjoyment. Maybe it's the first of the Galaxy Fights series, or it could be that crazy archaeologist turned fortune-hunter Kentucky Smith. The movies will rotate one after the other for the rest of the evening until 7am when the street lamps come on, but for now grab some blankets and a good seat. There's always time for a movie with some friends.

BONUS.
Of course communication to people outside of the city is still out of the question. Of course it is. There are absolutely no signs of that changing anytime soon no matter how many times you call or text or email. Snail mail is nearly impossible and don't even think about videochatting.

On the other hand, it seems as though the powerlines above are beginning to spark, pulsing in patterns of a bright blue color visible to the naked eye. What's up with that? Trying to get a closer look will only reveal a thick, crackling sort of energy that is surely not dangerous in the slightest and is nothing to worry about.

The energy won't leave the powerlines at all, but instead the next time you use your phone for anything a song activates instead. It's loud and it can't be shut down, but once it ends you may find yourself in a video chat with a fellow Retrospec user. Say hi!

Welcome to the [community profile] 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!

For current players, please remember that TDM threads can only be used for bonus points, not regains.

Please note: you will need a reserve to apply, and current characters must have full AC posted at the time of their reservation.

Your January TDM directory is here, and your AU workshop is here! Our mod questions thread for this TDM is over here!
idealest: (can you hear the horses)

[personal profile] idealest 2018-01-19 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
To think I didn't notice it until today. I'll have to re-evaluate everything I've seen lately.

[ Everything!! When one overlooks the actual largest feature in the sky, he cannot trust himself to have overlooked nothing else. ]

Do you know anything of its purpose?
kindhearted: (✒ cooking roji)

[personal profile] kindhearted 2018-01-19 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[Roji smiles back, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. He's a little embarrassed that he accidentally dialed someone up by dropping his phone like that. Is that what happened? Whatever happened... But at least the person on the other end doesn't seem mad about it.]

Sorry for the random call! I'm not totally sure either. I think my phone's acting up on me...

[Now that it's been pointed out, Roji squints a little bit at the boy on the other end, racking his memory.

...]


Ah! Yeah, maybe! I go to this one kinda regularly... [And he'll tell Atsushi the name of said bakery.] D'you work there by chance?

[personal profile] compendiem 2018-01-19 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Reevaluation of one's life is never a bad thing, and something Minato should probably do if he weren't the type to notice and immediately accept. This dome, for example, what is there to do but to accept its existence when there's no way to break through it, or dig under it? Even the newly sort-of operating subway system seems to be enclosed within city limits. ]

No, but I have suspicions. [ They're all end-of-the-world scenarios he's not sure Sakichi wants to listen to. ] I know one purpose for sure, though.
beneathmoonlight: (:0000000)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-19 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh? No...what do you mean?

[Oblivious is one word for it.

He’s super excited about possibly teaching someone to bake, though!
]

Don’t worry! It’s kind of an exact art, and you might mess up a few times, but that’s how you learn!

[God bless his soul.]

But I can always bake things for you if you end up not enjoying it!

[personal profile] compendiem 2018-01-19 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A part of him wants to try— "for science," because the best way to learn something is to do it yourself— but wanting doesn't mean he's going to, so he holds his hands up in a gesture of no thank you. ]

I've tried popcorn before, thanks.

[ Can he get away with it like this? ]

[personal profile] compendiem 2018-01-19 05:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He lets the phone be taken out of his hands, video in his camera gallery instead of being posted online like he really should have, because this is the type of content that goes viral. The entire video only lasts a handful of seconds, depicting nothing very different from what Lin's already seen and experienced, aside from the third person point of view. His camera work isn't all that great and his hands shake, but at least it's something. ]

Wanted to see if I could learn anything about how the structure works. This way, I can freeze frames, rewind, watch as closely as I want.

[ In the hour that he's sat here with Lin's unconscious body, he's learned a grand total of!!! nothing. ]
ohrlyeh: (the lurking fear)

[personal profile] ohrlyeh 2018-01-19 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Uh...it's hard to explain. I think I need to do it in person. But it has implications you really will not like.

[He sighs. Even he doesn't have his head wrapped around what Retrospec is doing - how in the world will he explain it to Atsushi?]

You're too kind, Atsushi. I'm sure I'll enjoy it, no matter how my skills are...
crudest: (♚ whisper whisper)

[personal profile] crudest 2018-01-19 05:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Why would I do that?

[Look, he's got no pride to speak of. Rather he's just gonna keep shooting down at Mei because yeah - he saw the sniping earlier. What's wrong with a little bit of petty karma?]

Beggars can't be choosers...!

[personal profile] compendiem 2018-01-19 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Megumi is quite possibly the first person in what feels like forever who did not automatically play along with Minato's very obvious jokes, and just that act alone makes him warm up to her. He doesn't stop pretending, though, keeping his eyes closed, arm on Megumi's and his other hand leaving the wall. ]

I'm fine. Where will you be escorting me?
crudest: (♚ poko nudge)

[personal profile] crudest 2018-01-19 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[He's a youkai.

But pets get treated well? Chuuya feeds him a lot, so maybe being a pet isn't bad. At the movement to go to the shelter though..... they're moving away from where Baren is! Tanuki can smell it in the air.

He hops off Sakichi's shoulder and nips onto his pant leg to pull him in one direction.]


Bugyuuu.
beneathmoonlight: (Deduction)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-19 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I’ve had a couple of people imply that the app is strange...and one person even said that it changed their eye color...I’m not really sure what to think. Is that even possible?

[He’s only just moved here, and perhaps he’s let the excitement blind him to things...]

Um. Can I keep your contact information, Howard-san?
beneathmoonlight: (Default)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-19 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I don’t blame you. I love curling up with a good book! As cliche as that sounds. Video games can be fun too!
broroona: http://blog.naver.com/zkql_lg (t is for you're fucking tsundere get out)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-19 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
You do?

[that's great. not exactly what he was expecting considering it's kind of a horrendous sight, if he'll be honest, but... well. he's happy it gets to be enjoyed.

he sticks the star in the center of the moon-mouth, steps back, and shrugs.
]

What should I name it?
broroona: (i can resist it no longer)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-19 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[he tilts his head up at him, eyes unblinking.]

You've never been to one, have you? They all end up stinking.

[for some reason or another.]

It's secluded, abandoned and most people still think it's closed. Those walking light things are a cool trick too. [he shrugs and points at another one of said lights hopping along the ground towards the subway mouth.]

What do you think the reason for those are?
me_matey: (this unstoppable girl is a lady jolly ro)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-01-19 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Life's kinda sucked lately, even if I thought shit was gettin' better, and while I'd love to take you up on it, right now I'm in the market for comfort food, ya feel me? -But she did appreciate the milk, either way. Even if it wasn't the hellfire of the challenge, he knew she liked her ramen spicy as he could make it normally.-
broroona: (shocked at his own use of emoting)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-19 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[it's banksy. everyone knows it's banksy.

but basil snaps his fingers and pretends he sure doesn't.
]

Binky's right. Paints big pacifiers on billboards and stuff. Does a lot about censorship and government silencing.

[all of this is said with a 200% poker face.]

I didn't know you were that into this sort of art. I'm impressed.
Edited (FUCKING AU NAMES) 2018-01-19 18:16 (UTC)

bonus

[personal profile] promisedyou 2018-01-19 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Long story short: a lot of stupid things.

[ Mio honestly didn't expect the bad music or the fact that it was going to lead up to a video chat. It makes her feel kind of awkward, since none of those who weren't Retrospec users noticed her vibrant green hair or aquamarine eyes for some odd reason, so she'd honestly be relieved if Ada didn't notice it, either... ]

Do you really want to know the long version? [ It's spoken with such exasperation that she sounds tired and done and she would like things to leave her the fuck alone. ]
broroona: (god i'm so high rn)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-19 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Nah. Dad buys it cheap from a supplier.

[he leans down over the menu, scans the items on the limited dessert menu and points to one of them.] We make the tiramisu here. Get that. I'll even cut you a bigger slice than normal in return.
broroona: http://blog.naver.com/zkql_lg (wow he actually looks like an adult)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-19 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[plan successful.

basil smiles, tapping the table.
]

Finish that. I'll have it out by the time you're done.

[and, because threading howard eating alone is boring as shit, a timeskip.

he comes out a bit earlier than planned with a hefty platter of struffoli stacked on top of each other, spelling out the word "sorry for shooting you". except struffoli are balls so some of the letters get thrown off by the carrying. by the time he puts it in front of howard, it really says: "orrf orshooting ou". he tried. at least there's sprinkles coating them.
]

Your free balls. As promised.

[he didn't have to phrase it like that.]

2

[personal profile] promisedyou 2018-01-19 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Ye—s!☆

[ The person who seems to answer her prayers seems to be none other that Mio Sonozaki herself, holding what seems to be a knife with a bit of an ominous grin that lights up her aquamarine eyes (were they that color before?) as she takes several hops on over as she goes ahead to chop the vine with ease. ]

There we go...! [ She'll at least grab her to help her down at least. There's no laughing here. Nope, none at all. (Mio was tempted to, though.) ] Are you alright?

bonus

[personal profile] promisedyou 2018-01-19 06:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh, we're starting this off with introductions, huh? Well that's fine by her, if only because she knows just how to give a proper one. ]

It was pretty strange, but no less than usual. But as for me, I'm the cute senior at Recolle High, Mio. ☆ [ Leaving out the last name rather purposefully in her case. ] It's nice to meet you, Megumi!
liarboo: (with a charming extra tooth?)

[personal profile] liarboo 2018-01-19 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Minato's stance was causing him more panic now than the actual vines themselves. The vines were just tossing him around a little bit, a guy holding a bow like that is a little more dangerous at the moment.

But when more of the vines had come out to grab him, one of them had wrapped around part of his face, namely his mouth so he can't saw or scream anything, just muffled shouts, eyes bugging out, sweat dripping off his forehead.

He's wiggling, but not a whole lot, so hopefully...he won't wiggle himself into the way of an arrow...]
liarboo: (To all you bored folks...)

[personal profile] liarboo 2018-01-19 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Whoah!

[He quickly drops into a crouch, just barely missing being hit. Well, at least she could aim when this close.]

Hey! You're gonna shoot the guy that was gonna help you learn to shoot better??
Edited 2018-01-19 23:30 (UTC)
pronounces: (53.)

[personal profile] pronounces 2018-01-19 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ he is very quickly getting annoyed with his struggle, but is also too stubborn to give up--and yeah, basil is exactly right. the suggestion comes with a-- ] I don't need to jump! [ but... he's probably right...

he drops his head for a second. then, nazuna's cheeks flame bright red and he hops up to slap the star in the spot. bam. ]
superposition: ((beings of strategy))

[personal profile] superposition 2018-01-19 07:19 pm (UTC)(link)
If there is any. That'd require them to acknowledge there's a dome in the first place. Which, by the way - elephant in the room - it's been here since the start of the month, hasn't it? Am I an idiot? [for not noticing it sooner, he means.]