recollecters: (Default)
Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] repeter2018-01-17 08:44 pm
Entry tags:

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!
broroona: (i'll get my revenge on you someday dw)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-22 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[the restaurant's slow enough that basil can take the time to dwell on a customer. so he does, crouching down and resting his arms on the table.]

The catch was I shot you. [but... if howard really needs the reassurance...

he plucks one of the struffoli and pops it in his mouth.

yup. not dead. he spreads his arms out.
]

Safe.

[he grins.] I'm not going to murder you while apologizing.
broroona: (i take it to the bay)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-22 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
[he tilts his head. deeply considers their handiwork.]

They look more like moles.
beneathmoonlight: (:0000000)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-22 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
I do have the app, but I dunno much about it yet...

[He doesn’t know much about anything yet, but once he gets settled in, maybe he’ll begin to understand.

He hopes, anyway.
]

I moved here to go to school, actually, so everything else has been kind of a blur. Everyone seems really nice, though!
broroona: (cuz it seems like you are on the run)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-22 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
It'll be right out.

[things seem to be going well. he takes the menu back, turns around and heads towards the kitchen.

except... partway there, he stops. turns.
]

Oh. One more thing... [he aims and shoots.] What do you want to drink?
pronounces: (46.)

[personal profile] pronounces 2018-01-22 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ kuro's so casual about the whole retrospec user thing that it's making nazuna's head spin a little bit, if only because the part of him that's a natural caretaker wants to tell him about retrospec and make sure he's okay or something--but it's kuro. it's kuro kiryu! he's right in front of him (sort of) by some weird, cosmic coincidence.

god. god!! he keeps his hand over his mouth just a little bit, watching him release this cascade of bright red hair, and his eyes widen, surprised. everything about this situation is surprising, and it feels sort of refreshing to focus on something so little like his hair.

not the fact that he compliments him, too. not the fact that he has this immediate and pressing urge to ask where are you or can i see you or something else irresponsible and embarrassing and that he doesn't really want to blurt out. nazuna's cheeks color, a little pink, and he shakes his head. ]
Not like you!

[ he also really wants to ask about what he's pretty sure is an ear piercing, but he can't stop smiling long enough to let all of the stupid questions out of his mouth. kuro is a breath of fresh air. he always has been, he always will be. ] You, itsh--

[ breathe. ] ...it's really, really, really good to see you, Kurochin.[ he sounds a little watery, even, just for a second. ]
liarboo: (More! More!)

[personal profile] liarboo 2018-01-22 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
Well, yeah! You were pretty much my only friend there!

[Lessy--sorry, Sanji, was the one kid he met that knew the best English so Usopp had gravitated to him naturally. But Sanji had also turned out to be a good friend, making Usopp's first army brat trip out of America not as unbearable as it could have been.]

Almost didn't recognize you with whatever yiu're doing there!

[He points at his own eyebrow, grinning.]
cellshaded: (pic#)

[personal profile] cellshaded 2018-01-22 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
With any luck, our captors have taken our basic needs into account when covering the city this way.

If not, we see how long before food runs short.

[Hope she wasn't expecting a more comforting answer......]
broroona: (stoner central)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-22 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
[o... kay.

basil just. stares. quietly, for a bit. just kind of studying sena.
]

I can't decide whether you're overdramatic or paranoid.

[he doesn't... say it?? like an insult?? just a very, very blunt observation.]
me_matey: (I see the way the salesmen stare into th)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-01-22 03:48 am (UTC)(link)
Already did. Looted most anything that was worth looting. -May shrugged, stepping her way up to his side, eyes locked on the tunnel entrance.-

Although... not a lot of other people care enough to even be curious. -besides those on the App, she left unsaid- What's up?
taishou: © ᴅᴜɪᴄᴏɴs (₀₁₀)

[personal profile] taishou 2018-01-22 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[ Reaching up to ruffle his spikes into their more typical style, when he sees himself in the selfie screen, Kuro keeps his hand there for a second. Like his mind has been blown, and he needs a second to deal with it. And, in a way, he really does. It's Nazuna! Nazuna, who he sent birthday and holiday texts to, taking a little bittersweet amusement in telling him to have a happy Easter, like the holiday was all his because of a fictional rabbit.

He looks good. He looks happy. His eyes might be bright goddamn pink - wild, more wild than his red hair - but there's a light there that wasn't before, not unless he instigated it. And here it is, all on its own.

He's so happy for him, even if that bittersweet feeling is there again in a way, tinged by guilt. All of this happened, and he missed it. He missed all of it because he didn't do more to try and stay in his life, to try and help him, and then he fell further into something that would make Nazuna balk in a good damn second if he knew.
]

Yeah, maybe not. [ It makes him laugh again, and he drops his hand, finally. With his hair fixed, his hat off - there's more than just one ear piercing, now.

And there's something more important.

Kuro says the first thing that really popped into his head, from the moment Nazuna spoke:
] It's good to hear you, Nichan - well, Nito, now, I guess.
cellshaded: (pic#)

[personal profile] cellshaded 2018-01-22 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
A restaurant by the name of Dégagé. Perhaps you've...

[His eyes seem to give Sakichi a quick once over, then--]

...heard of it.
me_matey: (with the birds i share this lonely view)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-01-22 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
-May was probably the least Japanese a Japanese person could get in many ways, but she caught the reference.- And I've had it for almost a year. Guess that makes me your senpai. But don't call me that, it's weird.

-But that means he was in the process of 'awakening', she figured, pulling out a set of sticks.- My dude, I think you're about to be in for some wild shit.
broroona: (crotch rock that girl)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-22 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
[well.

time to run bye.

(still doesn't stop him from calling back to her)
]

You started it.

[just try to catch him, punko.]
taishou: © ᴅᴜɪᴄᴏɴs (₀₀₇)

[personal profile] taishou 2018-01-22 03:53 am (UTC)(link)
[ Being a currently upstanding citizen, Kuro should probably scold her, or say something along the lines of "you shouldn't do something like that." ]

Figures. [ He doesn't, instead just nodding like that makes sense. But then he frowns at the tunnel with her. ] Pretty sure I was one of those people just yesterday, is what I think's up. What's down there?
beneathmoonlight: (Ehehe)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-22 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Everything happens in a flash, and suddenly he meets no resistance as he pulls his leg away from the vines. He’s terribly confused, but his instincts kick in soon enough and he reaches for the stranger’s outstretched hand to pull himself to his feet. He doesn’t need to be told twice to get out of there, and he follows his savior out a safe distance away before finally letting go of his hand and bowing in gratitude.]

Thank you!! That was...well, terrifying,..

[He’s still a bit out of breath as he straightens up.]

What were those things, anyway?
Edited 2018-01-22 03:55 (UTC)
broroona: (okay i'm tired of these lyrics)

[personal profile] broroona 2018-01-22 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
[he shrugs.]

It'd be too easy if I told you.

[it's a fucking smiley face maki. you're just asking him to lead you on.]

Guess. Since you're going all art critic.
beneathmoonlight: (Idea!)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-22 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah...I guess so...

[More terrifying than interesting, really, but hey, at least he’s not dead.]

Um, may I know your name, so I can thank you properly?
me_matey: (oh i heard it through the grapevine)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-01-22 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
-She appreciated the lack of a finger wave, and she'd been prepared to call him on how he had little room to speak, but... That thought was lost entirely by the time he spoke about how he'd come to be interested at all.-

Yo, dude, say what? Yesterday?

... Can I see your phone?
beneathmoonlight: (Concerned)

[personal profile] beneathmoonlight 2018-01-22 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
[He doesn’t like the sound of that.]

Don’t tell me this city has haunted places...
dulynoted: (pic#11897009)

[personal profile] dulynoted 2018-01-22 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Akira enjoys the sense of mystery, to be honest. His life in general has become so routine that even quietly trolling his little sister has to mean something. Well, until Retrospec, that is. ]

I take night classes, you know that.

[ Which doesn't really account for the extra time he's been spending looking through the tunnels, interviewing people, and trying to gather as much data as he can on Retrospec

Maybe next time he'll leave a "Hello, Maki" note on the magazines. ]


Besides, if you're going to really consider the circumstances, I'm just one of four--no, three suspects.

[ He's counting their mother out. She would have replaced it with enough tiramisu for the whole family. ]

If you want to solve this case, then you're going to have to identify the motives of each of your suspects. Obviously you've placed me as your number one with vengeance as the motive, but you also know that I don't have much of a sweet tooth. What about the other two?

[ Yes, he's going to walk her through this like he's being a T.A. for one of his criminology classes. ]
rhapsodist: (📚 5)

[personal profile] rhapsodist 2018-01-22 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
I've read enough novels to not want to consider those "what ifs", Andy.

[There's a reason he stays away from the horror genre of, well, anything. It's not that he'll jump or cling or anything of the sort. He just has an imagination and the last thing he wants is the stress of paranoia to things that might go bump in the night.]

Sounds like an annoying thing to do every night, to be quite honest. I give you kudos for putting up with it.
Edited 2018-01-22 04:34 (UTC)
strawberrypunch: ([Huh] Your head bowed)

BONUS

[personal profile] strawberrypunch 2018-01-22 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
[She's not the only one surprised. Tatsuma blinks into the camera a couple of times. Is that a cat flopped in the crook of his arm? (Yes.)]

Maki?
chaoticwhimsy: (It's me Lumina!)

[personal profile] chaoticwhimsy 2018-01-22 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
Hey.

[Okay, she looked like the picture Luna had seen. Right. othing to worry about here, right?]

Yeaaaah...I'm kinda early. [She grinned that friendly if always slightly sly grin of hers.] Snuck a look at my paperwork to get your address and I figured this'd be better than some weird awkward 'meet and greet' thing with my social worker hovering over us.

[She leaned a bit to the side to look past her.]

So, can I come in?
dulynoted: (pic#12018031)

he'll take it

[personal profile] dulynoted 2018-01-22 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ Goodness. She's doing this on purpose and she is also very good at it. His sisters (and mother) are the only girls that don't drive him crazy when they want his attention. ]

How kind...

[ Well, looks like they're heading to class. ]

I might. Though I'm going to ask why you decided to join in in the first place. Doesn't it strike you as strange that a city-wide game has popped up unannounced?
blondferret: (tired)

bonus

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-01-22 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek doesn't have anymore energy to be angry at all the video calls he's been getting. He pauses his episode of Star Trek Voyager for the 5th...6th? time that night at looks at his screen. In a monotone voice he responds.]

Hi. Who are you?