repeter | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[ Oh. The person is a dog... but a dog that nods? Well, he seems like a friendly dog if he's nodding! Such a smart dog. Yogi smiles and comes over, settling himself beside the mysterious dog, glad for a nice companion. Dogs made nice friends, after all. Never mind that he had never seen this dog before, they just felt like a nice dog and that was good enough for Yogi. Besides, maybe the dog was lonely and wanted a friend too.

He began arraying his snacks and looked to his new canine companion. ]}

Are you hungry, boy?

[He's not sure he wants a snack considering last time he was offered raw meat so he sniffs at what Yogi has first. Oh good. It looks safe at least. Smells it too. So he decides to allow this to happen and gives a nod.

Yes. He will have some.]

_{[ This dog really was smart, wasn't he? He had never come across a dog that could nod before, but dogs were pretty smart, so maybe this one was just smarter than most. Maybe he had picked it up from his owner? Though as Yogi looked closer he didn't see a collar. Hmm.

Oh, but the doggy was hungry! He smiled and went through his stash, wondering what to give the other. Some things dogs couldn't eat, right? No chocolate, he knew that. Hmm, but maybe some popcorn? He took a handful and placed it in front of the dog. ]}

I hope you like it! Ah, if you don't, you can try something else though!

[Ugh. He's not eating off the ground.

So he waits until Yogi gets another bite ready and then leans over to eat it out of his hand instead. Still embarrassing but at least it's less so than eating off the ground of all things!

Priorities. Biffy has them.]

_{[ Yogi jumps slightly when the dog leans over, wondering what it wanted to do, only to break into giggles when the pup ate out of his palm. Aw, that was cute! So very dainty too.

He took up another handful to offer to Biffy, reaching up to pet him as he did so. ]}

You're a very pretty puppy.

[Puppy.

He is not a puppy.

Biffy sticks his nose up in the air and closes his eyes in a little huff. Obviously he's insulted at being called a puppy. Honestly of all things. The least he could do was be accurate and call him a wolf.]

_{[ Well, Yogi had never seen a wolf in real life, so he honestly just though of Biffy as a large dog. He made a soft squeak when the other turned his nose up, pouting at Biffy and forlornly picked at bits of the snack still left in his hand. ]}

What? Do you not like it?

[He quickly snags a bite. Yes he likes it.

And then his nose is back up in the air.

Not a puppy.]

_{[ Yogi pouts some more, not sure what he had done to offend the nice dog. He picks up some more for Biffy to eat, hugging his knees to his chest with his other hand. ]}

Are you mad I said you were pretty? Did you want me to say handsome? Because you are. The most handsome dog I've ever seen.

[Not a dog.

He huffs then actually pushes him with his nose. Enough pouting already. There was no need for any of that.]

_{{ He made a small 'oof' sound when the dog pushed at him, reaching up to brush his fingers through the soft fur and rub behind his ears. He smiled softly at him. ]}

You're very nice, aren't you? Were you lonely, here all by yourself?

[Biffy hadn't realized something like that would feel good and he felt himself melting a bit until finally he goes to lay down with his eyes closed. No wonder dogs like to have their ears rubbed and scratched. Apparently wolves are the same.

He shakes his head about being lonely though.]

_{[ Yogi's smile widened as the dog began to relax, continuing to rub and knead behind his ears. He really was big wasn't he? Even laying down, there was so much of him. But he was warm and his fur felt silky smooth and he was nice. ]}

That's good. It's not fun being lonely. Were you waiting for someone? Oh, I hope I didn't take their spot!

[He shakes his head again. He's getting used to this just happening and the last thing he wants to do is keep troubling people like his boyfriend with this. At least in the darkness he can hide better.

So no. Not waiting for anyone.]

_{[ The doggy said he wasn't lonely, but he also wasn't waiting for anyone. Yogi knew some people liked being like that, but it made him sad to think that this doggy might not have any friends. He was so nice that he must! But still, being alone here, in the dark, with no one to share a movie with? It made Yogi's heart ache.

He leaned down and gave the doggy a small hug. ]}

Well, if that's the case, I'll stay with you then! Movies are more fun with friends, you know!

_{[ Because naturally of course he was now the doggy's friend. ]}

[His friend is...so special. But well, he wouldn't have him any other way. So he just lets out a sigh and then looks to the movie. He even shifts a little so that way Yogi can cuddle against his warmth. One thing Biffy has learned about this body is how warm it is.

Might as well help out while he's like this right?]

_{[ Special indeed, but in a good way. He just never saw the point of trying to make an enemy of someone. If they were nice, why not make a friend of them? Even if said friend was a dog. Dogs made great friends. And cats too.

He looped an arm around the dog, cuddling him, offering up little treats as the movie went on. He did squeak at a scary part, turning to press his face into Biffy's fur. ]}

[Biffy is just about to yawn at how boring the movie is when...he has Yogi clinging to him.

He stares at him in mild surprise. Really? He finds that scary?]

_{[ It's a very scary thing! He doesn't do well with even a little bit
of scary. Well, okay, he can handle the nice sort of scary, like in a kid's
movie, but movies like this he really couldn't handle without a friend
nearby. Monsters and zombies - definitely not his favorite cup of tea,
though he would go if a friend want to. Said friend usually ended up life
Biffy was now though, with Yogi pressing his face into the lush fur and
waiting for the moment to pass. ]}

Is it over?

JANUARY 2018 TDM

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