Recollé Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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repeter2018-01-17 08:44 pm
recollecters) wrote in repeter2018-01-17 08:44 pm
Entry tags:
JANUARY 2018 TDM
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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! |
no subject
[ then the question ... honestly stuns him for a second or two-- it's so direct. but, even if there's a pause as he recovers, nothing's lost to his otherwise pleasant expression. is he unhappy? frankly, even without the fine addition of retrospec, he knows the city's never been the place for him.
so, ]
Yeah. I hate it here. [ mm, #oversharing. he won't sugarcoat his opinion on that. ] —But! It's like you said. Sure, you'll meet a few people you could do without, but... Mostly everyone's "really nice." In that respect, they make it better.
no subject
Well, I guess no place is perfect...
[Whenever they arrive at John’s home Atsushi will help him carry all the food inside, determined to make good on being useful.]
I just want to make a difference, you know? Helping orphaned kids find homes is the entire reason I decided to move here and study to become a social worker.
[He looks much more serious now, but there’s a determined gleam in his eyes.]
Even if the city has its flaws, I want to do my best to make a home here.
no subject
[ words strung together like that might otherwise sound a bit mocking, but john's tone is only reflective. even if he does let out a puff of laughter at just how wholesome that is... hey, the sentiment's sincere. ]
[ and they'll be coming upon his apartment complex soon enough; its rundown, sure, but maple valley's surrounding make it entirely worth it. ]
But no worries! You got nothin' to prove to lil' old me. [ he begins ascending the stairs. ] Studyin' at the University then, or—?
no subject
Well...I was an orphan myself, actually...
[He follows John up the stairs, trying his best to balance the snacks in his hands without dropping any.]
Yes. And working part-time at a bakery.
[He’s kind of proud of that, actually. He loves decorating cakes and impressing people with them.]
What about you?
no subject
[ with how.. a job and university and all. he does wonder if that has to do with whoever may have adopted atsushi, but that's a somewhat too intimate a question for him to ask right off the bat.
once they've reached the top of the stairs, john sets some of the things down to the ground. he begins fishing through his pockets for the key. ]
Which bakery? [ not that he goes to any too often. ah, well. ] And I work at Union Grocery and Club Sunshine.
no subject
[Atsushi isn’t seriously offended in the slightest. What a beam of sunshine.
But it’s true. Atsushi would most likely still be slaving away doing tedious jobs for minimum wage had he not been adopted. Which is all the more reason for him to want to help kids that find themselves in similar situations.]
Ah, it’s [insert name of bakery I haven’t decided on yet here]. It’s actually a really fun job!
[He smiles, waiting for John to unlock the door.]
Club Sunshine? What’s that?
no subject
[ a myth, coming from someone who's accustomed to the tedious job life. not that he necessarily dislikes his jobs, far from, but...
having gathered his things again, john pushes open the unlocked door and flicks on a light inside. the place immediately opens up to a small kitchenette; there's a tiny living room beyond that, if one should squint through the darkness, and then two doors leading to separate bedrooms.
... it's fairly tidy, if for a few bottles here and there. a bunch of potted plants dot throughout the area. ]
Ahh, it's a host club. [ perking up. ] Ever been to one of those?
[ just going to set his things on the kitchen counter. ]
no subject
[He really does mean it, and he’s extremely careful not to knock over any plants or bottles as he sets the snacks down on the counter. His own apartment is fairly small, but also tidy, though he’s never thought of decorating with plants before. He’s not entirely sure he wouldn’t kill them on accident...
He blinks a few times at the revelation that Club Sunshine is a host club. Then he blushes a tiny bit, even though there’s really nothing lewd about such establishments...]
I’m familiar with them. I was born in Japan, so...
[He shuffles his feet awkwardly.]
I don’t think I could ever do that kind of job...
no subject
[ absolutely B E A M I N G at that, willfully assuming the compliment to be more directed at the plants. seriously, he's brightened right up again.
—and, oops, he's chuckling at that reaction. ]
Oooh, I wouldn't be too great at it either. I mostly work behind the scenes. [ heh. ] Hey, though-- If you were pressed enough, I'm sure you'd learn to do the job just fine.
[ practice makes perfect, etcetc ]
no subject
[He’s also too shy and awkward to be talking to older ladies all night. They’d eat him alive. Please spare his dignity! Whatever dignity he has, anyway. But moving right along to spare himself any further awkwardness...
He wanders over to bend down and admire one of the potted plants. It looks bright, vibrant, and strong. Color him impressed! His smile returns as he glances back over his shoulder at John.]
They look so pretty and healthy...have you ever tried growing your own herbs? Or vegetables? Or maybe even roses?
no subject
Sure do!
[ an emphatic nod. ]
But no roses 'round here, unfortunately. [ maybe he could work on that? hmm. ] But yeah, I like growin' plants you can eat, best. You got a favorite?
[ fruit, herb, vegetable.. whichever comes to mind first for atsushi. ]
no subject
[He blurts that out perhaps a little too enthusiastically.]
Any kind of berry, really. But strawberries are my favorite!
[Funny how all thoughts of junk food have left his head despite the motherload they’d hauled back.]
I’d love to make something out of the plants you grow sometime.
[He taps his chin, thinking of recipes.]
I can do a lot with fruit, but I could also make carrot cake, or zucchini bread. Or pumpkin pie. There’s a lot of things I could make, actually!
no subject
john's eyes widen at all this; it's a direction he hadn't anticipated. ]
Yeah? Well, I usually just eat 'em plain, and I dunno if there's too many to spare... [ beat. ] You mean for a joint business venture, or-?
[ help. no, his mind usually doesn't jump to things like that, and he doesn't actually think that could ever be a lucrative thing, but. ]
no subject
[But...is there anything better than fresh fruits and veggies grown by a reputable source?]
I don’t own the bakery, but maybe I could convince the owner to buy some fruit or veggies off of you? It doesn’t have to be all the time...
no subject
Oh, I didn't mean to suggest somethin' like that.
[ he's immediately waving his hands to dismiss it, and there's a furrowing of his brows as he tries to put this better into words, now that atsushi's clarified at least that part. ]
Just kinda surprised me that you'd wanna bake somethin' outta the blue like that? [ for-- free? unless the other man is trying to pitch something here. that's a possibility, also. ] I get that it's probably a hobby of yours, but...
[ he is trying to say "that is unexpectedly nice."</small? ]
no subject
That’s a pretty common reaction. People always think I want something in return, but... [A fond little smile.] I just like making people happy.
[That might sound like he thinks of himself as the pinnacle of goodness, but honest to god, he just enjoys baking and seeing people smile. No ulterior motives here.]
I understand if you think that’s kind of weird, since we only just started to get to know each other...
[He looks a little sheepish, but his smile doesn’t fade.]
I’d like to try them by themselves sometime, anyway.
no subject
after a second's more of staring, he forces a smile back and tears his gaze away. ]
Well, if you really wanna, I ain't gonna stop you. [ he lifts his shoulders in a shrug. ] I'll let you know when more have ripened, how 'bout that?
[ if it isn't too much skin off atsushi's back-- it is some extra food to be had, after all. ]
[ and... again: well. john briefly moves past into the living room; it's dark, of course, but he knows his way around. when he returns, after rinsing it off, he holds out a small strawberry for atsushi. ]
Here, for helpin' me move all that other food up here.
no subject
[Atsushi’s face lights up when he sees the strawberry, and he takes it with a soft, warm smile. Even something as small as a single strawberry means the world to Atsushi when it’s something grown with such obvious love and care.]
Thank you!
[Atsushi eats the entire thing in one bite, leaving only the leafy green top behind. His eyes seem to sparkle then, because the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness is unlike anything he’s ever had before. What a burst of flavor!]
That was delicious! [Probably one of the best he’s ever had.] I can’t wait to try more!
[Ah, but it’s getting late. He should leave, shouldn’t he?
But first...]
Oh...um. Is it okay if I get your contact information? Just to keep in touch?
no subject
[ all smiles over here as he's beaming right on back; it's good to hear that it's been grown well.
at the request, he fishes around for a pencil and some scrap paper. nah, he's not going to try to mess with his phone for this right this second-- probably easier for them both, really. so, after scribbling some contact information on it, like "john becket" along with his number and whatever necessary retrospec info, he proffers it. ]
Have a good night, yeah? Oh, and gettin' back to that movie ain't too hard, it's just [ insert a few simple directions here. ]
[ ... hopefully not too much of the movie's been missed... ]
I’m guilty of editing like 5 times sometimes so nbd haha
Thank you for having me over. I think I’ll try to catch one more movie before I head home.
[He straightens up before giving a little wave and heading to the door.]
Oh! And if you ever want any book recommendations, just send me a text!
[With that he finally heads out the door and back to the movies for some more cheesy horror flicks.
It feels nice to have made a friend...]