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

You don't know if it will or will not, because you haven't. You only believe you will hurt them, and so you make yourself unhappy for their sake. Midoriya, I do not believe friendship can and should only be positive and kind.

[ His expression softens. ] Granted, I am not saying that you should get into arguments for no reason, or be cruel. No, I doubt you have it in you to be cruel. But not every single thing you give another person will be "good." And all you want to give them is "good," then they will never come to know who you are.

[ Kei sighs just a little. ] You're welcome. What I'm giving you now is not "good" either, but... it seems no one else has said it. [ And he's feeling somewhat guilty about giving spicy food, like it is putting salt on an open wound. ]

[He doesn't really know what to say to that. Of course, he can see where Kei is coming from, but that's different from believing it himself. He's spent so much time causing trouble for others (at least from his point of view) that the one thing he wants most is to not be anyone's burden. He wants to be stronger, not just for himself, but for everyone he cares about.

And yet he has a feeling that if he tries to voice this to the older man, he would only be told he's wrong again. So he remains silent and he pulls the bowl closer to him before taking a bite.

Um...well. He's right about it not being "good" in the sense that it feels like its flaying the taste buds off his tongue. But he tries to freeze his expression into a semblance of politeness.]

It's very...tasty.

[ This boy. ]

By all means, eat as much as you like. I've let myself talk quite a bit so I'll allow you to enjoy your meal in relative silence.

[ Kei is well-aware that he is feeding hell-spice to the young man; he is the one that made it, after all. His gaze drops away to look off as he decides that lessons like the one he's attempting to impart on the young Midoriya need to be done a little cruelly. Well, at the very least, he is aware that he feels no malicious intent behind what he's doing.

No, he just decides that he'll use the food as a guide. ]

In fact, I have quite a bit more so when you finish... there is always seconds.

[He's stubborn. But at Kei's words he nearly chokes on the bite he'd just taken, the thought of having to eat more then just a single bowl-full of this spicy concoction almost enough to send him running out into the night.

But...he doesn't want to be rude. His mom taught him to have manners after all.]

Thank you for the offer, but this will be plenty. I shouldn't stay out too much later otherwise my mom will worry.

Is that so? ... very well.

[ He had opened his mouth like he may continue bullying the young man about food. But as soon as he uses the word "bullying" as to what he's doing, he relents. Midoriya is someone who grew strong through kindness rather than hatred. Yet that kindness also is causing him pain now. But that'll be a topic for another day. ]

I suppose that is true. [ A slight pause. ] You're a good son, Izuku Midoriya. I'm certain that your mother is very proud of you. [ He offers a smile. ]

[His cheeks turn red, although either it's from the compliment or an aftereffect of the food is anyone's guess. (Probably the compliment.) He ducks his head down just a little to cover his blush.]

Ah, well...I hope so. There's just so much she doesn't know. That I can't tell her. [And...he hadn't meant to say that. That's too much like dumping his problems on someone else.]

But I guess everyone is experiencing the same thing, so I shouldn't complain too much.

[ He frowns but doesn't press to ask what that means. Instead, he just lightly sighs. A young man filled with good intentions will end up destroying himself. Kei shakes his head because for all the destruction wrought -- well, he will let his thoughts end there. ]

You can complain. You can complain as much as you like. If you have no one else to complain to, I seem like the most reasonable sort to accept such words, right? [ He reaches to take the plate back from him, thinking that he has done enough -- both Midoriya and himself have done enough. ] So, come back soon and complain to me. But for now, you should go home before people worry about you.

[He sits for a moment longer, possibly stunned by Kei's words. Izuku isn't the sort who likes to complain or push his problems onto others. But at the same time, the other man is so easy to talk to. Wise even. He could use someone like that to talk to. So, instead of politely declining, he just smiles and hops to his feet, grabbing up his bag.]

Thank you again. For the food and the...talk. I'll come by again!

[And he turns to the door.]

JANUARY 2018 TDM

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