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

Yes...I like caramel. I'm not picky.

[Atsushi...truly the sweet saint he needs.]

How long does it to create cookies like that?

About an hour, counting cooking time. Unless I’m making multiple batches...

[Atsushi starts mumbling to himself as he calculates the math in his head, because he’s a nerd and gets distracted very, very easily.

It takes a moment for him to snap out of it, and he lets out a shy, nervous laugh.]

Sorry. Math isn’t my strongest subject. I think that’s right, though.

That's fine. I don't mind. I don't cook much at all, so I wouldn't know, myself.

[A long pause. Math isn't his strong suit, either...]

Anyways, Atsushi...do you have Retrospec too, then? If you're calling me like this...

[Teacher’s aids that aren’t good at math? Preposterous!]

Retrospec? Is that what this is called? Then I guess I do...

[Hello Howard, meet technologically dense Atsushi.]

I’m still settling in, really. Everyone has been super nice so far, though!

[A sweet smile.]

I could teach you how to bake that cake you like so much sometime...

Yes, that is the name of the application. Has anyone told you what comes along with it? As far as, uh, how it changes your life...

[He looks fairly concerned. Atsushi seems to be completely oblivious as to what Retrospec is. It's really not all fun and games...]

Oh? [A faint smile.] I'd like that...though I think I'd be terrible at it. I can't really bake to save my life.

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!

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...

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?

There's a lot more involved than just changing eye color. And yes, it's possible.

[At Atsushi's question, he gives a nod. Usually he's not so lenient with just allowing anyone to contact him, but Atsushi is a nice young man and has plenty of sweets to provide, to boot.]

Oh? Yes, you can. I don't mind at all.

Thank you!! That’s such a relief, really, because I’m completely clueless about all this!

[A short pause as Atsushi’s smile fades slightly.]

I can’t help but feel a bit guilty, asking everyone for help like this, but-

[He shrugs, forcing his smile back.]

Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing you again, Howard-san!

Guilty? There's no point in feeling guilty, Atsushi.

[He actually looks confused by that, eyes widening as he tilts his head to the side.]

It's good to see you too, Atsushi. I'll be back for those cookies, whenever they're ready...

I’ll have them ready, I promise!

[He always feels guilty. About everything.]

Oh, do you ever go to the library? I might see you there, too!

[He nods.]

Yes, actually, I spend a lot of time there...I guess you go there to study, Atsushi?

Yes, though I’ve been getting lost in books for fun since I was small. I really like adventure novels! And...well, I’m kind of a scaredy cat about horror stuff, but some of the novels are just so interesting! Oh, and manga is one of my guilty pleasures, and American comic books can be fun, and of course cook books for new recipes...

[He’s rambling. God bless.]

What are your favorite kinds of books, Howard-san?

[Those are a lot of genres Atsushi is in. Howard lets out a "hm".]

I just tend to read historical non-fiction and some occasional fictional books, myself? Sometimes horror, some science fiction, some philosophical...I like things that make you think. I'm not completely picky when it comes to books, though.

I should read more non-fiction...but I agree on the others!

[Atsushi scratches his cheek, still looking starry-eyed.]

You seem really educated about literature, Howard-san! Maybe you can recommend some books and I’ll recommend some sweets!

Oh... [He's honestly flattered, casting his gaze off to the side in slight embarrassment.] I guess I can give you some advice about things I like reading...

What kind of sweets would you recommend, though?

Do you like plain chocolate? Chocolate fountains are so much fun! Or fondue! Both of those you can dip whatever you want into! Cookies, brownies, marshmallows, fruit...

I do like the fountains but I haven't had much of a chance to try them, since I really don't like parties. And people usually use them at parties...

They're quite lovely, though.

Well...I have a small one we could use sometime...

[Glutton, meet glutton.]

I don’t like parties either. I like talking to people one on one, and in a crowd it seems like I’m fighting for their attention, which I don’t like to do, because I don’t want to bother them...

[A soft sigh.]

But anyway, I’m glad I have someone to enjoy books and sweets with now!

JANUARY 2018 TDM

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