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

Think of what else that we may not yet know.

[ He pauses as he realizes how that sounds. ]

I believe knowing is better than not knowing, is what I mean. The more we find out about where it is that we've been living... the better off we shall be. Or is that my optimism showing? [ Is he being optimistic? Mm. Good question. ]

[Kara's brow furrows slightly at the statement, but she lets him continue...]

No, I agree. That is kind of the whole point of science. To learn the unknown. I'm actually kind of mad at this company for not letting me on the app sooner. I want to know how all this stuff works.

[She snorts.]

And maybe your optimism is. Just a bit.

I understand your feelings. I feel them, too, but ... well, don't do anything too reckless in seeking out answers. The answers will be there whether we run or walk. Is that not so?

[ There is an actual smile. One that doesn't reach his eyes, of course, but it is another attempt. Hooray. ]

Well, we can't have that... pretend it is not there, if you could. [ Ah, look, jokes. ]

Oh of course. And hurrying along makes us miss things.

[She snorts another laugh.]

We'll figure this out though. It's not as if this dome is harming anything.

Indeed. Although, there's a negative to going too fast and going too slow. Seeing the forest instead of the trees misses the details. Seeing the trees instead of the forest misses the picture. The best way to go is to attempt to admire both.

[ He nods. ]

Beyond the darkness and the inability to know the time beyond trusting clocks, there does not seem to be anything overtly negative about the dome. And it seems like there is some fun being had out in the dark. [ The laser tag, for one. ]

That was quite philosophical.

[For a back alley doctor, definitely.]

And you're right. I actually kind of like the idea of the dome. From a behavior sciences standpoint, it's bound to provide interesting data. And yeah, laser tag, and the movies.

Interesting idea, that.

Thank you.

[ He gives a slight bow of his head. ]

Something to write your thesis on, perhaps? Though... none of my patrons seem to notice it. So, maybe not?

Dunno if I'd call it a thesis. This is all kind of outside my field.

[She just works with living things. Not...this stuff.]

But I'm documenting it all.

You looked back through the network any?

That is for the best. So long as there is a record, someone somewhere will be able to make sense of what is happening.

[ But he leaves out that the person who is able to use such information may not do so for good. ]

No, I'm afraid not. Has other interesting things happened?

Oh yes. Interesting, if not pleasant.

[Not that she thinks he'll much mind either way.]

Taste was gone for a while, as were the colors blue and green. Those were pretty hot topics for a while.

[ ..... ]

That might explain why some people were able to win my challenge. Should I consider them disqualified? Mm, no. I don't think that I will. They used what they could of this world in order to win. That's worthy of praise.

I'd say so. Granted, taste has nothing to do with capsaicin, since that's a chemical irritant in most spice.

So, I'd say they won honestly anyway.

If you like.

[ He offers a small shrug and smile. ]

In any case, it's best not to look too much into the past. [ Hm. ] It may be a rabbit hole that you need not dive into... knowing how much happened without you knowing.

Well, we'll see. There's a lot more digging I need to do, and I'm probably going to set some programs sifting for specific words.

I'll...let you know what I find out. Who knows.

Should I ask what those specific words are? Probably not.

[ A hum. ] Of course. If they become your worries, I would like to do what I can to alleviate them. Even if I have no intention of looking into the past, I won't fault you from being curious. Just don't forget my warning.

Of course. Thanks, doc.

I'll see you at around dinnertime. Think I may try your challenge again soon.

You're welcome.

[ Heh. ] Quite a way to end the day. I look forward to it.

JANUARY 2018 TDM

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject