MARCH TEST DRIVE

[recollecters]

TEST DRIVE

MARCH TEST DRIVE The city of Recollé... To infinity...and beyond! I. Wake up, get up, get out there, Retrospecters! Today's a new day and with the roads in place thanks to the efforts of Retrospec users, several locations may be explored. With Pesgare three hours south by boat, Respatrum an hour east and underground, Bosuma two hours west through the Recollé Woods and Magatus seven hours north from the city, visitors may come and go to explore the regions and their points of interest. The travel may take some time and the scenery will change around you as you go. Those same monsters from before continue to lurk just outside of the city and on the path to these locations and wild flora sprawls over various pathways. Take some time to study them if you'd like. And speaking of study, along the way you'll find various road signs and warnings along the way including giant man-eating frogs, fire-breathing horses, severe flood warnings and more. In addition you will find large directories in the middle of the road pointing you in the directions of the four locations. However, you'll also find these helpful guys who just want to do a good job and will get to work on these new roads! But wait, shouldn't they be working on some of the unfinished pathways and not the main ones? How do you stop these crazy things anyway? You may have to find a way to subdue the jackhammers or direct them to a new location. Good luck getting them to listen over the noise. II. Then again, with these pathways open now you may find yourself already in one of these new districts and very, very far away from your home. One minute maybe you're driving along, listening to your favorite road trip playlist as you prepare for Spring Break and the next you'll realize a wrong turn has lead you straight into the heart of a snowy mountain. Has this forest always been here? This seaside village is way too crowded! No matter which of the areas you end up in, it will be up to you to find your way out and back without a map on-hand. There's a good chance you can find strangers or maybe even some friends in these regions to fill you in, but there's always something going on to distract from your main goal. In Pesgare, you may find yourself in the midst of a heavy rain shower. While some of you may be prepared and have an umbrella on hand, others will notice that the rain is an iridescent color that falls and curves in arcs. Getting soaked by the rain may invoke a strange desire to cause a scene and yell dramatically at whoever is close by (and perhaps even belt it out if you're unfortunately unlucky.) In Respatrum, the sound of loud cheering and applause draws your attention to a large stadium. In the center of the ring is a man with a red cape, waving it in front of a burning, burly bull. A final flourish sends the bull back into its pen, raring and ready to go the next round. But wait! Without warning, the organizer of the bull fights grabs you by the shoulders and hands you a cape, shoving you straight into the ring with the crowd roaring above you and the bull bursting out of its cage. What a rush! In Bosuma, the creatures of the forest appear to be out and around including rabbits, squirrels, giant woodpeckers and rainbow-colored deer that aren't afraid to approach people. In fact, all of the creatures appear content to welcome these newcomers and show them around the forest. At night, several large, blooming flowers begin to glow in various neon colors. Colored pollen also appears to be falling from the flowers, leaving a mist over you that sweeps over you like a soft waterfall. Depending on the color though, you may find yourself feeling a little different... And finally, what's going in Magatus? Why it's sports! A winter sports competition is going on at the mountain looming above the Magatus ski lodge and the snow is fresh and perfect! However, landing on the slope is probably a bad idea, isn't it? Hope you're ready for a slippery ride down the mountain! III. Back in the city itself, life goes back to normal and several citizens are preparing for spring. The Recollé Community Center has gathered together to start cleaning up the local parks and community areas to plant brand new flowers to brighten up the city. Are you good with a shovel? Come join them in rehousing potted plants, picking up garbage and dead shrubbery from winter's harsh temperatures and more. If planting's not your style, over at Recollé High School several citizens are working together to prepare for the musical production Villainous, as put on by the high school's drama club! Sets still need to be built, costumes need to be finished and advertisements need to be distributed! For you artistic types out there, the drama club would love your support and time to get them ready as the premiere draws closer and closer. IV. Those of you who have lived here for years know that Mayor Mayer loves holidays. He does his best to never miss a celebration of any kind and while sometimes his efforts are smaller and more personal, this year he seizes the opportunity to celebrate an entire weekend dedicated to St. Patrick's Day! Though the holiday is on 3/17, festivities extend to 3/18 for two days of fun. What does this mean? It means that everywhere you go you'll find discounted prices for anyone wearing green, carts selling corned beef sandwiches and cabbage salads, and for those of legal age bars are specializing in green beer and green mixed drinks for miles. Seabiscuit the chocobo rides proudly through the city with the mayor dressed as a leprechaun, encouraging citizens to hunt for his pot of gold that he's hidden somewhere in the city! A series of clues will lead players onward and spreading out through locations such as Expressive, the Towers, Freshens and more. With luck, citizens playing along will find small golden coins emblazoned with a chocobo portrait! Unfortunately, something seems to be in the air and surrounding these coins. Unknown to the mayor, those who pick up these coins will find themselves hit with the overwhelming urge to find someone not wearing green and pinch them as tradition. Whether you're doing the pinching or you're a walking target, the coins' power over you will only wear off when the deed is done. As for the mayor? Anyone who collects more than 10 coins will find that they're eligible for a prize of $50 which can be collected at city hall. Happy pinching hunting! BONUS. The nice thing is that if you're in the city or if you're in one of the new regions, your phone works. Where would we be without technology? It's nice to be in constant connection with your friends and loved ones with the ability to check emails, social updates, maps and more. However, the internet can sometimes be a strange place and you will find yourself receiving a message from a Retrospec user named Zee Carlisle. Hey newbies, how's it going? You're probably pretty confused, aren't you? I think I can fix that. It's all the text says before you find yourself redirected to a private chat with another Retrospec user. Don't be shy now! Say hi and ask all of the questions you need! 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 March TDM directory is here, and your AU workshop is here! Our mod questions thread for this TDM is over here!

Comments

[mercurio]

welcome to retrospec madness where nothing makes sense and the points don't matter
you're now part of the exclusive club in which things will start being trippier than any drug you may consume

anyway i meant to say i could get you an actual working charger

[perma_banned]

bud i just saw a ghost give a guy manic depression i didn't need no retrospec shit to witness that

do i get free shit other than another micro usb?

[informantic]

[Between both of their final bursts of strength, they somehow manage to fling Heigo up and over the railing, where he faceplants into the lap of a complete stranger. The stranger flings him right back with disgust, but only far enough for him to land on his back in one of the aisles. One of his lenses is cracked, his poor smoker's lungs are straining for every breath, his beautifully pin-neat suit is rumpled and soaked with sweat, and people all around him are muttering unpleasant things about cowards and certain parts of female anatomy.

But he's alive. There's that. Not often does he find himself this thankful for being alive, which is also something.

And he was saved, which means - !]

Atsushi! Are you - [Trying to sit up only lands him flat on his back again when his arms give out.] - give me some kind of sign you're alright, I don't want to move again for nothing.

[mercurio]

where the heck did you see that?

not even a hello and you want more free shit?? dude

Sigma (Sigmund Klim) | Zero Escape

[meowchanics]

((AU workshop thread is here! Feel free to plot there and/or PM me o/))

[II, Pesgare]

Siiiingin' in the rain. ♪ Just singin' in the rain... ♪

[What a... less than glorious feeling, Sigmund thinks, shivering a little in his sopping-wet polo shirt. But the singing is a decent distraction, which is obviously the only reason he's still doing it. Man, if he'd known he'd end up in Pesgare today, he would have brought a coat. Then again, if he'd known he might end up in Pesgare today, maybe he wouldn't have taken the circuitous wrong turns that led him here.

Thank god he'd stumbled on a local who knew enough English to explain the best route around all the stupid-ass construction outside. Now all he has to do is, er... remember where he parked. Were the streets this windy whenever he last came out this way? Windy in both senses of the word. Brr.

Still, sooner or later, the paths have to start looking familiar again. Until then, onward stomps this grey-haired man in unseasonal short sleeves, through the puddles and their curiously-curving spray, towards the next person fool enough to hang around in this weather.]

Hey! You seen a car anywhere near here? ♪ It's blue, daba dee, daba dah. ♪

[...At least his voice isn't awful. Off-key, but not completely awful.]


[IV]

[The field of pinchology may be too young and untested to teach in college, but there's a lot to analyse if one cares about it as much as respected researcher Dr. Sigmund Klim. For example, the layperson might imagine that the butt is the ideal solution to any pinching problem. This is not always wrong, but fails to account for the tenfold multiplier it applies to the level of pinch retribution under many of the most common constraints. To simultaneously maximise plausible deniability and quality of vantage point, a good approximation is to start with the thigh, or in some circumstances elsewhere on the leg... and so on.

The upshot is that it's perfectly rational for Sigmund and his beer to be hiding under the counter at this bar, thoughtfully weighing up the suitability of each pair of legs that passes by. Why are you glancing down this way at all? Look, he only has two coins left before he can get a prize. Please don't begrudge him this.]


[Bonus]

Okay, who is it this time? Government? Hacker cabal? Big Pharma? 😩
Tell me I can at least still check my email. None of you guys wanna sift through *that*, right?

[rhapsodist]

Well, that's a shame. Cookies should at least be provided.

My name is Genesis, btw.

Armitage Hux | Star Wars

[huxceptional]

I

[Hux is just standing around at the path and squinting at one of those road signs. This one in particular is displaying a warning of a man eating frog and the professor looks less than amused by it.]

This is some ridiculous joke. [He says this in an irritated English accent.] Really, a frog that eats people!

[Although, there might be said frog nearby... or not. Either way, he's just standing there with that scowl, like he's being offended by the sign's mere presence.]

II

[There sure is a lot of rain in Pesgare.

Hux is luckily carrying an umbrella on him as he looks at the unusual rain that continues to fall in this town. It shouldn't be physically possible in any sort of way, but he nonetheless seems to be enjoying the scenery here. He's always been fond of this type of weather.

Although, if there's anyone nearby that is getting soaked, he'll lend part of his umbrella to help cover you up.]

Don't start singing. I've already heard someone's awful voice once. [Don't ruin his enjoyment here.]

IV

[For someone that looks Irish, he doesn't seem to be having a lot of fun. He's just walking around with a grumpy sort of expression and trying to get to his destination in peace.

Although, he isn't wearing any green... and he's a rather tall and easy target to pinch.]

Bonus

What? I didn't sign up for this! How dare you enlist me in your dating app!!

I will already tell you that I'm not interested and I'm a very busy and successful person!

[ooc: Hux's AU workshop comment is here! You can also contact me at currykirby for anything else.]

Saitama | One-Punch Man

[heroforhobby]

(( OOC: Saitama on the workshop, and also please note he has hair and noticeable eye color (brown), unlike his icons lol.))


II: Bosuma
[Granted, he had been reading comics on his phone as he was walking to work, not quite paying attention to where he was going because he has taken the route from his apartment to the corner convenience store so many times he could probably do it blindfolded. But even so, how could he have gotten so lost that he had suddenly found himself in a forest.

He stops in his tracks, phone lowering slightly as he glances one way, the other, and even behind him. Just more forest.

Slowly, he looks forward again. He can feel sweat starting to bead on his temples, but he otherwise looks stupidly calm for a guy that clearly was not heading to an outing in the forest, wearing the stupidly striped polo shirt the store makes him wear and crocs with no socks on, and a backpack covered in cats.

His expression doesn't even seem to change as a giant, rainbow deer steps out into a small cleared a few yards ahead of him, but possibly because by this point his brain has blue screened on him. He mutters:]

Ah. Man. I'm gonna be late...


III: Coins
[Saitama doesn't give much of a crap about to dos like this. He'll like a good carnival with a lot of stuff to do and foods to eat, but something like this is a little lame and boring. St Patrick's day was almost always a holiday for dude bros to get drunk and be pains in the asses, so it never excited him.

But then he found out about the contest to collect coins to win 50 bucks. Just 10 coins?? That's easy! He has no patience for following clues, however, so he can be found eavesdropping on your conversations to hear places he should check out, then he's running there and looking in every garbage can, under any cushion on a sofa in a lobby, et cetera et cetera.

Will he be called out for this cheating, haphazard behaviour? Why, that's up to you to decide, player.

He isn't wearing green himself, and he barely notices he's pinching random people he's rushing past that isn't wearing green themselves in his quest for coins.

In front of the Expressive cafe, which he had reached before the group of people he had eavesdropped on, he stands up from a flower pot he had been crouching at, holding up a coin in triumph.]

Yesss! Number four! 6 more to go!


Wildcard
[Make up your own starter, I'm pretty easy going so any option you go with I can roll with it! Feel free to PM me or hit me up on plurk if you want as well.]

[mercurio]

minako's shop has really nice cookies though
bet she can design them to be all "dark side"-ish

sup genesis that's a pretty neat name
prophetic sounding? lol
prompto argentum here

iv

[vitis]

[ oh, even as tipsy as he is, john would recognize that haircut anywhere. hence, delighted and sensing an opportunity to be mildly irritating, he sidles up to heigo's side. and then delivers a very light pinch to the man's shoulder. hi. ]

Nope! Gotta have somethin' more substantial than that.

[ cue a sloppy wink, and john pointedly claps his hand over his shitty green shamrock sticker, because he also clearly couldn't be assed to wear green. he's also wearing one of these ugly things that he probably picked off a bench outside or something. ]

But! Heigooooo. [ a wide grin. ] Havin' lotsa fun?

[littlestbaskerville]

...memories? How can that even happen?

Wait so we are stuck to where it let's us go?

[littlestbaskerville]

Cinnamon is tasty! Sweet is good for me, bitter is yucky. Mama says when I get old enough I can't have a lot of sugar in my tea though.

[She pouts about the thought, though as they enter the shop she is right back to sparkles.]

[littlestbaskerville]

Will it break it too??

I went to a place and a bird stole my bracelet!

What about you?

[reaquila]

Oh yeah. I forgot about today...my bad.

[Nanashi lowers his shoulders into a slump. He's more bummed over the fact he forgot St.Patrick's day. Festivities are usually the last thing on his mind. ]

It's not like I can just go back home and change. That's too far. Maybe I'll drop by your place instead.

[Jouhei's house is like Nanashi's second home. He's got green clothes lying around there somewhere. ]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi is absolutely disgusted by the way these people are acting, and he quickly moves from his own spot on the ground to offer Heigo yet another hand up. He looks exhausted and roughed up, but at least he’s alive and not dealing with any extra holes in his abdomen.]

I’m fine, Heigo-san. Let’s get you out of here.

[Luckily the next foolish soul willing to risk braving the bull’s wrath has already jumped into the ring, and the two of them are free to slip off to one of the locker rooms beneath the stadium seats. It’s not the ideal place to rest, but at least there’s benches and what look to be showers...]

What happened? Don’t tell me they just...tossed you in there?

[notyourutopian]

Maybe. Or it'll start blasting music or shrieking or
Who knows. Just don't.

I...well. I've been at this for a while so weird is kind of subjective.



You...went to a place and a bird stole your bracelet.
What?

[informantic]

[Heigo's not sure if he's relieved or doubly annoyed that the sloppy drunk who just pinched him is someone he actually knows - at least not until John makes it clear that he plans to stick around for a conversation, which tips the scales right over to annoyance. Still rubbing at his shoulder (listen, there's a big bruise from a harder pinch right there, he's not delicate or anything), he gives John a long, flat stare before glancing away.]

Don't get me wrong, John, I can get falling-down drunk with the best of them, but not on St. Patrick's Day. Not since I lost my damage deposit for staining my bathroom sink green with the next day's vomit. Besides, my favourite time for drinking to excess is any time the rest of the city isn't doing the same thing.

[John's smile is infectious, though... not enough to put Heigo in a good mood after the day he's had, but maybe enough to lift his spirits from abysmal to foul. He flicks one of the shamrock antennae on John's headband and snorts at the way it bobs back and forth.]

I hardly need to ask if you're enjoying yourself.

[informantic]

[Atsushi is also stronger than he looks, at least to Heigo's eye - he practically drags Heigo up and away from the ring, and all this after providing the necessary tug to lift him to safety in the first place. To Heigo's credit, he does at least fumble to keep his feet moving in the right direction even if he can't really hold himself up to call it walking.

When they reach the locker room, Heigo sizes up his options for spots to collapse and chooses to lie across the length of a bench with his face turned to the ceiling. This is not the cleanest of rooms, definitely not somewhere he'd choose to recline so much of his body, but the floor looks infinitely worse and he hasn't yet got the stomach to check the showers.]

I'd say it was half peer pressure, half physical force. Maybe two-thirds physical force. [He pushes his bedraggled hair out of his face, then turns his head to look at Atsushi with a new sense of wonder.] ... you just saved my life. I don't know what to - is "thank you" enough to cover that?

makoto kino ;; sailor moon

[flowerstorms]

II. bosuma

[ alright, Makoto has been in this forest for hours, but clearly she's not getting anywhere. She plucks out the petals of a glowing neon red flower with the sort of single-minded focus that could be really useful with more important things... like finding a way out. ]

He loves you, he loves you not...

[ Makoto looks at the last petal with dismay and then hurls the flower onto the ground. ]

Ugh! God, work with me here!! How many times do I have to do this before you tell me something I want to know!!

[ There's a pile of petal-less flowers surrounding her feet, evidence of all this carnage. She snatches up another flower, this time a light blue, and then gets to work once more. ]

III.

[ Walking by? Helping out? Maybe you were just enjoying the scent of fresh soil and fragrant flowers, which sucks because now there's something else to enjoy. ]

Here, could you put this in the compost bin? Thanks.

[ Makoto attempts to push a bag of what smells like kitchen trash into your hands, you're welcome. ]

Bonus.

look, no matter how many different numbers you text me from, i'm not gonna join your telemarketing scam. i don't do that kind of stuff anymore.

[ yeah, she's turning over a new leaf!!! this time without crime!!! ]

Wildcard.

[ idk hit me up and i'll write u a stupid starter?? here's mako's au workshop if you'd like to know what's up with her or want to plan out cr. hit me ]

iv

[informantic]

Yipe - !

[Heigo stumbles away from the bar with a startled yelp, hopping on one foot a few times before he's finally able to get his balance back. Once he's sure he isn't about to faceplant onto the smelly, sticky floor, he props his other foot up on a nearby stool to see what caused the unexpected stinging near his ankle. His trouser sock isn't torn, so...

... so it must have something to do with the face peering up at him from beneath the counter.]

Honestly. A grown man. [Heaving a weary sigh, Heigo lowers his foot back to the floor.] Are you proud of yourself?

[beneathmoonlight]

[Okay so maybe the locker room is a little gross, but it’s better than being out there with the rowdy crowd, or in the ring with an angry, thousand-pound bull. Atsushi perches on the edge of the bench by Heigo’s feet, shoulders slumping as he lets out a sigh of relief. He’d managed to save Heigo...thank goodness.

He glances over at Ango with wide, curious eyes.]

Oh...that’s more than enough, Heigo-san. I’m just glad you’re okay.

[NO BIG DEAL OR ANYTHING.

God it’s so hot in this stuffy locker room...taking a shower almost seems pointless now, really, but at least the option is there.]

Did you drive here, or...?

4

[long_live_the_queen]

[Lucy is not Irish. But her reaction to being pinched is! ...or at least it's a very Lucy-like response.

She whips around to fucking deck him. Doesn't even check to see who it is, punching was happening first.]

[tailchasing]

[You know, it's funny, normally he wouldn't even touch someone he doesn't know, but man the compulsion was so strong.

Luckily, her lack of green was coming toward him and not away so that pinch was not on the ass, but it was still there.

He hears her move before he sees stars and he's stumbling to try to regain footing, seeing stars and probably a nice welt already angry on the side of his head for that one. Luckily, she missed his temple.] Ah- h-hey! Ow, sorry! [He does manage to regain his footing and turn toward her with his hands up in surrender, though.]

[meowchanics]

Oh, I dunno. [Yes he is, judging from his grin. Whoo! What a rush. He has to grip the side of the counter to lever himself back up onto his feet - not quite as young as he used to be, you know - but it hardly dampen his spirits.] Would you feel better if I said you looked lonely?

[Once he's up, he leans back against the stool Heigo just turned into a footrest, wobbling only slightly.]

[informantic]

[The locker room's not that bad either, for a locker room - Heigo's just a bit fastidious, and maybe a bit germophobic. He's no less thankful to have been saved because he wound up here, and Atsushi's casual reaction to being thanked for it makes him consider the dream possibility again.

But no, this is all far too real to be a dream. He wouldn't be able to feel every single beat of his heart as clearly as his fist clenching and unclenching while his pulse returns to normal in a dream.

Atsushi's reaction does at least prompt Heigo to sit up properly, which heads off his impending rant about all the traffic trouble he faced this morning before it can even begin. Is there - something different about Atsushi - ? It's something so small but so pronounced that all of Heigo's attention funnels into working out what it could be, his eyes darting back and forth behind his glasses as he takes in every part of Atsushi's face.

Oh - eyes. That's it.]

Are those... cosplay contacts?