repeter | MARCH TEST DRIVE

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MARCH TEST DRIVE

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He looks over as the seventh hair tie snaps. (He can be stubborn, okay.) And grudgingly accepts it, using it to successfully clip his hair back. He lets out a breath to ease the earlier annoyance.

"Thank you." And crouches down to pick up the pile of hair ties to dump in the nearest open bag of trash. "This normally doesn't happen."

"I could guess. It's all right, there are days for everything." Andrew, of all things, looks calm and almost serene, which is different from the usual slightly frowning focus with which he does things. He's got comfortable, worn clothes on, and his arms have dirt on them up to past the elbow - the hands with which he handled things are clean, though.

"You got the actual work under control? Or can you use a hand?"

"I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing," Zephyr admits, looking over at Andrew curiously. "You're enjoying yourself."

He's tempted to help with a shovel but model hands and all that.

"I guess I am. It's easy and peaceful work. What's not to enjoy? Still..."

He hands over a pair of gardening gloves. "You want these even with the smaller work. The rest of it? Just go with the instructions and be careful to not hurt the plants or their roots. That's generally good enough, for widespread work like this." Andrew smiles, just a little.

"They don't usually pick fragile or fussy plants for it. So it works for everyone."

"You have my thanks." He accepts the gloves and slides them on. He looks kind of ridiculous with it but if it protects the hands.

"How many plants do you have at home?" A wild but semi-confident guess.

He can offer an apron, too. In fact, he tilts his head towards those, because nice clothes and all. A little bit of practicality can go a long way.

"Not a problem. And... well, not too many. It's a smallish place and I've only been here half a year or so. Plants tend to accumulate over time. Maybe half a dozen."

But they thrive.

He crouches down to get to work with some of the plants, taking extra care to be gentle with them. He is unfamiliar with the task but he still takes to it with professionalism.

"Pretty soon you'll have a garden." That sounds nice, actually. "Maybe you can recommend me a starter plant sometime."

"Not in a small apartment, probably not. But close enough, I guess." He doesn't exactly live in a house or anything like that.

"On the other hand, I can probably help with that. How sunny is your place? And how are you with strong smells?"

Andrew really has no trouble chattering about something like that while he works.

"The balcony gets sun in the afternoon. And nothing too strong." He has a sensitive nose, in the sense that he's able to be bothered by faint odors. The only time he doesn't mind it seems to be when he's in the kendo studio. "Something that can withstand a couple days of absence as well, if possible."

He carefully transfers a plant to a shared pot. He has a lot of requirements but that comes par for the course with Zephyr.

"Hmm." Andrew considers that as his hands move automatically, eyes monitoring what Zephyr is doing, too, as he considers the options. But, really, an answer is not that difficult to come up with.

"Perhaps a succulent. Haworthia, perhaps, or jade plant." Not quite cacti, but somewhat similar in how well they can do without care. "If you're more ambitious, possibly an evergreen, though they do tend to do best with daily watering."

But the scent of fresh pine can do a lot in easing other strong smells.

"Hm." Ambitious, Zephyr is but he also doesn't want to kill the plant within a week. He places another plant to accompany the first so he can start to gently cover them with dirt.

"An evergreen then." His stubbornness will keep the plant alive, he's certain.

"Sure. I'll come over by the dojo with a few suggestions and information where you can get them from?"

He knows the schedule of things there, after all.

"And you can text me with questions at any time, all right?"

"Sounds fair." He looks to a nearby section of newly rehoused plants and sounds amused as he says, "I may actually be looking forward to this."

Well, that just begs the question.

"Is that unusual? Looking forward to things?"

"Possibly." An ambiguous smile to match an ambiguous answer.

"Well. Maybe we can work on that, then." Andrew, solving people's problem is not your--

Well. He might be teasing.

Zephyr chuckles and waves a hand, "whenever you're done worrying about Genesis."

"I can multitask." Though the mirth fades from his face, mouth pursed some. Things are so complicated.

That he notices at least. He debates prying. They haven't know each other for long. It was Genesis who joined the dojo first. Still, if it means it'll affect either of their performance...

"Trouble in paradise?"

"Mm." Things that Andrew doesn't know yet: who has recently acquired the app. He'll get there. "I kind of went missing last month, and that wasn't supposed to happen, after I came here to stay."

"What do you mean missing?" He has Zephyr's attention now at least.

"Oh, that was before I signed up for the lessons." The reasons why he did. "I was out of town for most of February on an unexpected assignment."

"From the military?" He knew that much about Andrew at least.

"... no." Which is said almost not hollowly at all. "Something just came up. But that's when he got hurt."

A pause, then a pointed look, "he could have gotten hurt even with you here."

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