repeter | JANUARY 2018 TDM

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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

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!

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II.
[ An abomination, she calls it. A mighty wonder, she also thinks.

For as Semira follows the gliding light down into an unknown location, there has been nobody to really discuss these sudden changes she's recently witnessed unfolding around her. Constant darkness, their city encased in a dome, attempts to make her weekly call to her parents subjecting her ears to constant static and robotic apologies instead of stern judgement and frantic advice.

Reaching the entrance of the old subway station, footfalls leaving a visible trail of prints in the snow, the woman tosses a singular look over her shoulder. Then she looks forward, in the stark darkness within the station. Semira stands still, motionless, not taking the plunge forward just yet. Eyebrow twitching, she presses her fingers against her temple and expels an exasperated sigh. ]

This is absurd.

IV.
[ Semira cannot tear her eyes away from this spectacle in the skies above. None of the cinematic choices seem to be much to her liking. Run-of-the-mill CGI movies have never been her cup of tea. But there's definitely something to be said about watching giant-sized robots duking it out on the big, big screen.

Processing all this in before returning home, she slows down her gait when a park comes into view. The film has concluding, rounding the conclusion off with ending credits. Semira approaches someone looking up at the skies, taking the initiative of sitting down next to them, folding a leg over another. Perhaps she knows you, perhaps she doesn't -- hardly makes much of a difference. ]

How much do you think they have spent on this endeavor? [ Hands spread in a wide gesture to the dome above, emphasis on the mysterious they. ] By the looks of it, this is a billion dollar enterprise.

BONUS.

[ Whatever the video chat may be, and that terrible song to boot, Semira remains unfazed. She smiles at the camera without much emotion meeting her eyes. ]

Fancy meeting you here, with such a lovely tune to set the mood. [ She looks around her kitchen, tilting her head in curiosity. ]

What do you think I should drink tonight to celebrate our fateful encounter, hm?

[ Workshop comment is over here if you'd like to plot! ]

Edited 2018-01-18 05:54 (UTC)

It is something that has a lyrics and a melody.

[ Kei responds in turn, mildly surprised to actually be called upon, but it seems to have been a glitch. ]

There is nothing wrong with red wine. The dark skies seems to call for some color, don't they? I'd say white, but the pale shade against the black... well, perhaps, that isn't such a bad idea.

As usual, I find myself unsatisfied with the bare minimum.

[ Eyebrow rising slightly towards his first comment, she looks away from the camera. The sound of the wine fridge opening fills the pause. ]

Red it is. My only pale wine is sparkling. I could give a toast to this endless night, but there’s no point in feigning an emotion I barely feel.

It merely means that you higher standers, right?

[ But he is getting up. It wouldn't be right to have her drink alone. Again, common sense tells him that much as he brings a bottle of red wine into view of the cellphone. ]

There is always a point in feigning emotions. What is that saying? Fake it until one makes it? Though, I suppose at our age that it's pointless to attempt to feel anything beyond what we feel. [ Which is to say very little. ]

[ Unbearably high standards. She doesn’t voice that response, but maybe the undertone of smug answers that for her. In response, she places her own bottle and a wine glass next to it in view of the camera. ]

There’s a time and a place for everything. Inauthenticity only becomes believable when born from some type of truth.

I can’t say that I see much need for celebration. In fact, the typical feeling would be a sorrow that cuts so deep that it hits our core. What makes us ‘human,’ if you will. [ She really feels neither at this point, sharing the same lack of emotion as Kei. Perhaps it is their age… or, more likely, something is wrong with them in this regard. ] Either way, would we be punished for not responding in kind? I hardly think so.

And we lack that truth, hm?

[ It sounds like a question, but he is obviously agreeing with her. He lets out a soft sigh before pouring himself a glass. ]

Society only punishes when we commit a crime. While we consider ourselves separate entities of the world, we have never rebelled against it. We've never made ourselves enemies to them and so, society -- no, humanity -- cannot do anything with us. [ Heh. ] But allow me to offer reason for celebration. A veil has been lifted and we see more clearly now than we had days ago.

We've been gifted something precious... a revelation.

That’s right. We blend in amongst the crowd, hardly square pegs to be forced into round holes, wise enough to either avoid chaos… or provide a solid artifice to our more unsavory activities.

[ There is always a bit of both, though these days Semira tends to avoid skirting the law. On the other hand, Kei still operates in such a world. She is hardly the woman to judge. ]

You’re beginning to sound religious now, priest. [ The word revelation seems to carry a pious undertone, especially from him, though she is simply deducing the intent behind the word. Hardly praying to any god herself, Semira remains a ‘culturally,' non-practicing Muslim. ] Is there something that I should be worried about? Should I confess my sins? There’s little that you do not know, but I never cared to have a personal conversation with God.

There's nothing wrong about helping someone that's drowning, is there? Legally, yes, but morally...

[ He closes one eye to look at the cellphone, squinting at her image. ]

I've always been a little religious, but... [ It won't save him. He accepts this yet he does it. Yes, it's for the best, isn't it? To simply accept truths rather than seek out answers. ] Knock it off. [ His tone is hardly admonishing or angry. ]

Still... I doubt he has anything to say to people like us, anyway, beyond that he loves us. But, hearing that, I doubt that it'd make either of us happy. [ Sad trombone. ]

The laws of men, so fickle and ever-changing. And as flawed as the men that make them.

[ A small smile plays at her lips as she begins to uncork the bottle of wine, catching the cork stopper in the palm of her hand. ]

On the contrary, I am always happy to hear that someone loves me. Though— [ He’s right though. She wouldn’t be happy. Why, though? After a moment of thinking, she knows her answer to that question, though she cannot fathom his own response. ] The appeal does wane if he loves everyone simply because they’re his creation. That is hardly a very unique trait.

Right?

[ He swirls the wine in the glass, looking over the red color. Like he cares about the shade, about the aroma. Breathing out a small sigh, he wishes he took small joys in this sort of small things. ]

And, is that so? I learn something new, then. [ Another small laugh. ] I think it is very unique. There are those that cannot love their own creation, after all. But that sort of depressing talk... it normally ruins wine, doesn't it? The flavor and taste of it?

[ He shrugs his shoulders weakly before taking a small sip. ] All the same, I wonder how you have been. [ A beat. ] I suppose that I'm concerned. In my own way.

Ha. It has suddenly gotten rather moody.

[ She swirls the wine, smells it… then only a few seconds later, takes her first sip. ]

I’ve been doing well enough. [ Regarding the cellphone with a mildly skeptical glance, her shoulders rise and fall in a shrug. ] I’m as busy as ever, following what is essentially my routine, while attempting to keep things interesting. How have you been?

As far as I know, I've been well.

[ Or at least, that is what he believes. When he goes through his memories, he doesn't find anything "odd" yet this dome is obviously one of the odd things he did not recognize. So, who can say? ] I suppose I could say that I'm doing about the same. A few people have tried the challenge at my restaurant. Some lost, some won. I can't say which one I find more entertaining, but there's a bit of entertainment felt.

[ Another small sip. ] All in good fun, of course. [ At the very least, there is a lack of malice behind his words. ]

More money than any of us will ever see in our lives.

[sure, Anna's fine with random company. seems to be the mood of the evening, and it's not like she's got anywhere to be. from the looks of things, this is gonna be going on all night anyway. and yet, that is kind of a weird question—someone who doesn't know how obscenely bloated with cash the film industry is?]

You didn't know that? And I thought I was bad with movies.

In theory, I do know.

[ Semira wonders if this display is some type of publicity stunt. A rather overwrought one, if that. If this dome can display such imagery, does this mean that these ‘executives’ are watching them from above?

An unnerving thought. ]

What I did not expect was such generosity from these typically greedy hearts.

Oh, I really don't think this is legal.

[she can't help but smirk at the idea, though.]

Someone with a really huge projector probably just downloaded all this stuff and decided to give us all a free show. And as long as no one blabs, they won't get caught.

[The man she's sat down beside looks perfectly immaculate; not necessarily that he's good looking, but moreso that his presentation is simply perfect. Not a hair out of place, clean shaven and without a single speck of dirt on the layers of clothing that make up his outfit. Even beneath him on the bench he's sat upon is a handkerchief to keep dirt away.]

More money than I imagine they could afford to. Whatever the amount of funding required...wouldn't it approach the realm of science fiction?

[Or maybe the economy just got totally fucked by however much went into funding this being built and maintained.]

[ Even Semira is a bit taken aback from the extent of this man’s head-to-toe physical perfection, a character trait she is able to deduce with a singular glance. Peering back up at the sky, she can’t help but smile. ]

This does approach the realms of implausibility. [ Science fiction… she’s never been a woman to bury her head in numbers and theoretical proofs, but she admires the endeavors regardless. ] I do hope that there is a suitable, scientific explanation behind it, or else I’d be inclined to utter the word ‘magic.’

Are you daft, woman?

[He gives her a look like she just sprouted two heads.]

Society's come far enough that we can leave those silly superstitions behind us. This is undoubtedly the work of science, no matter how implausibly advanced.

[ But there is actually someone coming up out of the station this time. Well, someone and some other somethings. First, there's about four bats flapping up out, intending to go and perch themselves up on some surrounding trees and streetlights - though curiously one flaps back down the stairs. And when it does, a possibly familiar voice might be heard saying, ]

Oh, there's someone there...

[ It's a light mutter though, so maybe that's not heard. What will be seen though is a petite woman coming up out of the ground here, up the stairs into the old subway station to see- ]

Oh, Semira!

[ Were the streetlights on or did she have a light? It doesn't matter if there are neither, Elda greets her politely either way, waving and looking perhaps a little embarrassed to be caught in the act here. That said, Semira wasn't on the app, right? She can pass it off easily enough. ]

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JANUARY 2018 TDM

semiramis | fate/apocrypha

bonus.

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breathes out painfully at my own typo

there, there. i didn't even notice!

so kind!!

or just clueless. or both?

kindly clueless!

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II