recollecters: (Default)
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!
browbeater: (So that was awesome sex.)

[personal profile] browbeater 2018-01-22 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
[he rubs his shoulder awkwardly, offering something of a... well, a smile. He's trying, at least? Though he realizes belatedly how his last statement came off. Great.]

Yeah. How've you been?

[that was better than talking about being a cop-- or why he'd been so busy for so long.

And also, a totally logical thing to think through instead of getting distracted by memories.]
floret: (and the new dead leaves—)

[personal profile] floret 2018-01-22 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
...They could. Weirdly enough.
They did it a couple weeks ago, actually.

Um, can I see your phone for a second?
strawberrypunch: ([Surprise] So search in each)

[personal profile] strawberrypunch 2018-01-22 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Why he must be terrible at this.]

...I wanted to check out the subways.

[Just. Perfectly normal behavior, that.]
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:27 am (UTC)(link)
Retrospec? [her tone is uncertain.

She wraps one arm around her waist, and rests the other on it, as she taps her lips with her finger, thoughtful.]


I think I've heard some people talk about it in passing? But I never paid much attention.

[she shifts her posture, folding her hands in front of her apologetically]

I'm sorry, could you help me out? I'm actually studying abroad here from Japan.
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
[what the.

Makoto blinks, clearly caught offguard by the, well. Live studio audience? It takes a moment before she can really focus on him again.]


Uh-- I was just wondering about the barrier...? Do you know who put it here...?
supremeliar: (✗『 only to doublecross me 』)

[personal profile] supremeliar 2018-01-22 07:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Instantly his expression lit up upon hearing that, nodding with a grin on his face now. ]

Yeah! It's kinda hard to find people who like it too, so this is totally great!

[ Kokichi just shrugged, already in a better mood despite this turn of events because who would have thought a technological glitch could result in him finding someone who shared the same interest as him? ]

I'm sure it'll clear up soon enough. Besides that kinda obnoxious song that played before this, it's not that bad. It could be much worse, don't you think?
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
[It's a little surprising, but it was a reasonable enough request. The only reason Makoto really enjoyed the movies was for the fight scenes-- sometimes, she liked to pretend that one day she'd be in one like that?

Even if she couldn't think of a totally reasonable explanation for what, but, hey, fantasy!]


Of course.

Are you sure you don't want the Y-Wing fight, too?
foxrightsactivist: (hmm...)

[personal profile] foxrightsactivist 2018-01-22 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
Huh? What do you mean? I don't remember anything like this.

[Kaden frowns, looking down at his phone and then holding it out. None of this makes much sense.]

Yeah, sure. What do you need it for?
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:37 am (UTC)(link)
A western showdown?

[She considers for a moment, but admittedly, her knowledge of westerns is... well, so-so. She'd be at a total disadvantage by agreeing to that.]

I don't think I'm familiar enough with them to do it well.

[and so-- she points her laser gun at him-- run fast, Akira!]
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Makoto looks up when she realizes she's being spoken to, and she smiles politely]

Bolin! Yes, I really enjoy movies like these.

Are you here to watch it, too?
blondferret: (amused)

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-01-22 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek smiles weakly.]

Obviously. Are you here to help me with my woes or something?
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Score one for Makoto! She takes her shot, and then holds her gun over her shoulder, proud of her handiwork, though she has only seconds to spare before Dia can shoot her back.]

Hello!
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Makoto was about to ask for help on explaining the random barrier that had shown up when she wasn't paying attention, but Ann's shocked look is enough to make her stop in her tracks, confusion apparent on her face]

Um... I'm what?

[thought process derailed]

I'm sorry, I'm a little confused.
blondferret: (amused)

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-01-22 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek laughs and continues to leave his phone in front of Blaise.]

Says the girl hiding behind a stuffed chicken.
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:49 am (UTC)(link)
[she slowly relaxes, mentally counting back the days.]

2 weeks. I arrived right before school started.

[she had a lot of good reasons for why it took this long, but honestly, none of them were worth going over. Not really.]
Edited 2018-01-22 07:59 (UTC)
fiddlestick: (elliot094)

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2018-01-22 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
Oh wow, really?

[He offers a timid smile while scratching his jaw with his index finger. With how many Japanese immigrants were in the city, he had guessed her to be among them. Studying abroad though...the poor girl, it meant her family was in an entirely different country and she was completely cut off from them.]

S-Sure, I can. Though I only speak English and some German, and there might be a lot to explain. I hope that's okay...
Edited 2018-01-22 07:56 (UTC)
spiritoso: (08)

[personal profile] spiritoso 2018-01-22 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, good. [ She lets out a small sigh of relief before smiling at him. ]

I was really surprised to see you over here. I wonder why a light would take you here...

[ He doesn't have the app, does he? She wants to ask but... it'd be hard to explain if he doesn't. ]
thisloveisjustice: (clueless)

[personal profile] thisloveisjustice 2018-01-22 07:55 am (UTC)(link)
That bad, huh?

[Tatsuo rubs his face. Now that he's awake... he kind of doesn't want to go back to sleep? He's slept so much the last few days.]

What's up?
floret: (but i don't have to go there)

[personal profile] floret 2018-01-22 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
It probably seemed normal, somehow, or you just didn't notice it at all. That's how it was for me.

[ Jamie takes the phone and scrolls through the apps... after a moment, he holds it up and points to a bright blue icon. ]

I thought so. Look! You've got Retrospec now.
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! That's fine, I just was wondering what Retrospec was, since you said it was important, right?

[she offers a smile, and tilts her head slightly, to seem a little more friendly in response, hoping that toning down more would set him at ease]
floret: (how to be a christian)

III

[personal profile] floret 2018-01-22 08:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh god, it's happening, just like in his nightmares... when Jamie woke up today, he was an ordinary college student with a life and a future, but now he's nothing but a human shield. In a few short seconds he'll be riddled with deadly lasers!! ]

Oh!!
Sorry... n-no thank you, please!
fiddlestick: (hmmmmm)

[personal profile] fiddlestick 2018-01-22 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
Alright...

[The attempt to seem friendly does help a little. Though he still has to think a moment. How does one explain Retrospec without sounding nuts or scaring a person?]

It's a company with a pretty unique app. T-To put it simply, if you have the app, you can see reality as it really is.
idealest: (run fast for your mother)

[personal profile] idealest 2018-01-22 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
I see.

[ A busy time for her. He can't blame her for being too caught up in settling in to come in contact with him earlier. But surely she must have known far in advance that she would be coming here for college. Why didn't he know about it sooner?

His little sister. She's been apart from him more than they've been together. He watched her grow up in pictures and words scrawled on paper more than anything. Perhaps that's why he still thinks of her as the little girl he was tasked with caring for when he was yet little himself. But she doesn't need his supervision anymore, does she? How does she see him now? ]


Did the thought of meeting up with me cause you discomfort?

[ A direct question, but he's always been unflinchingly direct. ]
foxrightsactivist: (so I'm sitting there)

[personal profile] foxrightsactivist 2018-01-22 08:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Kaden peers at the screen of his phone, and at the small blue square that he'd seen this morning but completely forgotten to actually look at. Damn, he knew he'd missed something.]

What's "Retrospec"? And what does that have to do with a wall?
justfists: weeknd @ dw (Default)

[personal profile] justfists 2018-01-22 08:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Makoto pauses, her hands folded in front of her, as she considers her words. She's always been very careful that way, and it was a hard habit to drop]

It's not that. I wanted to see you again, it's just...

[she moves a hand to her chin, thinking. She looks to the side for a moment, and then back at him]

It's been a long time. I was worried about a lot of things that could go wrong. Maybe overly worried, I suppose.. But I just wanted to see you again.