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repeter2018-03-17 08:46 pm
recollecters) wrote in repeter2018-03-17 08:46 pm
Entry tags:
MARCH TEST DRIVE
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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 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! |
OH BOY
That restraint and mild-mannered bemusement about everyone running around pinching each other is really what captures Heigo's attention, enough so that he decides to maintain the conversation instead of cutting it off with another curt remark.]
Ah - that's just my face. No matter how I'm feeling, I always get people asking if I'm alright. [Because he's always run down but anyway.] I could do without all the festive handsyness though, I won't deny that. I hope a stranger didn't give you that welt on your cheek, because that's over the line for any day of the year.
<3 forgot to leave a heart
It was a stranger, but the person seemed well-inebriated. [ The glass of scotch is set before him and he lifts it to press it against his face instead of drink. ] I was a little concerned about them wobbling as they were. I ended up leaning over to check and ended as you already see. I concluded they were probably fine.
[ Or tripped into a ditch. He chuckles and sobers up at his own amusement. It isn't the amusement of a person who wishes ill on someone who did him ill, but -- ] In any case, from your own response, you've already had to deal with a lot of strangers' handsyness.
<3!!! i am so excite for this
Heigo can't help but snort with laughter when the man guesses as much, with only one mistake in his assumption.]
No, so far I've known the vast majority of people who have pinched me. I just know a lot of overgrown children who'll take any chance to throw off their adult disguises. [He shifts on his stool to face the man more directly, offering a hand to shake.] I don't think we've met before, have we? Heigo Miyake.
\o/ WHAT FUN
[ But Gladio had been busy with his own life for most of last month, so he had few of those visiting. ] But unfortunate that you have to be the adult surrounded by children. [ A chuckle. ] To show some solidarity... both of us either forgetting or attempting to not have the current holiday mean anything to us... allow me to buy your drink and any that should follow.
I would like for one of my good deeds of the day to not end as poorly as my last.
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But they haven't kissed, or even spoken more than a few words to each other, in a very long time.]
Not as a rule, no, but every rule has its exception. I'll have to try your mapo tofu sometime. [The faint melancholy has even seeped into his voice, but it disappears again when Kei offers to buy his drinks, his lips even quirking into a small smile.] Thank you, Kei. As it happens, I swore a long time ago that I'd never get drunk on green alcohol again, so this good deed shouldn't go sour on you.
[He'll order himself a fresh beer, though, since he's been nursing the dregs of his current one for awhile.]
I'm sorry, but I have to ask about the employee that's amassed their own fanbase...
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Please do. But you will have to tell me to lower the spice if you are no good with it. The taste of it has a way of leaving a lasting impression. [ He chuckles after his glorious, edible lava. ] That certainly sounds like an unfortunate story. Did you end up pinching people that need not be pinched?
[ Lifting his scotch up, again, he rests it against his face. It does still ache a little. ] As would anyone. Let's see, it feels like gossiping about one of my employees, but he is a nice, young man. He's polite and reasonable. Sadly, I think his fanbase is more impressed with his good looks and ... well ... muscles. Of which, I am lacking. Along with my many other flaws.
[ Yet he sounds pleased. ] He is a worker that I appreciate. Though, I suppose what those people are only caring about is a bloated imagined version of who he is and not really who he is at all. Even so, he's yet to quit and works hard... so I cannot say anything that would diminish his determination and goodwill toward me.
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Oh no, no, not that sort of unfortunate. Even alcohol can't make me the pinching strangers type. No, I found out the hard way that whatever colouring they used in these drinks was powerful enough to stain porcelain - when it came back up. [He lifts his eyebrows in a quick "if you know what I mean, and I'm sure you do" expression.] They've probably switched to something better by now, this was years ago, but it's never seemed worth it to take the chance.
[Heigo finds himself nodding thoughtfully along with Kei's story, maybe even more thoughtfully than he'd anticipated when he asked. The whole thing sounds like a cautionary tale written from his own fears about stepping into his literary fame, and the fact that it confirms so many of them on a smaller scale is a lesson he won't discard lightly.
Of course, he'd never have people flocking after him for his looks instead of his talent - what he fears is amassing a social circle who only care about the fame itself, which some of them may feel they've given him directly, and may thus decide he owes them something more direct in return. Better to keep it all quiet, he's always felt for one reason or another, and here's one to add to the list.]
Everyone prefers their imagined versions of other people to the real thing. How much impact the discrepancy has on them depends more on how much their own happiness depends on the fantasy, not how much of the person they've dreamed up in the first place. [Hoo boy. Heigo's spirits really have taken a hit all of a sudden.] ... now you see why I'm not such a big hit at parties.
no subject
They probably have, but the memory of the illness remains. So it doesn't matter how much they changed, you'll always remember the sick. [ Kei sounds a little thoughtful, as he turns his head and hand, so that he's resting more of his unpinched cheek on his open palm. ]
I'm no better, and it seems like we have that in common, too. [ He chuckles, an oddly friendly sound despite how the mood has tanked. It has come to his attention that he doesn't have to protect Heigo's feelings as he does people he is familiar with; upon that realization, he can simply indulge himself. So no, we don't have anything in common beyond being a little negative. Yet with your negativity, it drives you down. While with my own-- well, there's no lie in me saying it seems that way. ]
Everyone has expectations of another person... it's true. There's no one that lives outside of expectations. I'm afraid that I'm always a person that cannot live up to what people want of me. [ Yet he smiles. ] I'm a blunt individual who speaks the his opinion, and the way I speak it comes off like I am stating fact. Yet people think that I'm a soft, sentimental person. [ He huffs out a sigh before picking his glass of scotch back up to sip, yet not moving how his head is resting against his other hand. ]
I find it's difficult to break down their expectations when they are filled with kind regards. You cannot do anything but accept that image that they have, because shattering it means that they feel betrayed with your true self. [ Another sip. ] Still, what about you? It sounds like you are suffering a little under a false image of yourself, too.
no subject
How interesting that he's found someone willing to discuss the futility of life as part of humankind, not write it off as depressing or heavy. Heigo actually brightens up rather than slipping deeper into his earlier melancholy as he listens, nodding along like he did earlier.]
I'd argue that it's soft and sentimental of you to protect their feelings by letting them keep up the illusion. You might be caught in a catch-22 there. [He grins to make it clear that he's just observing, not accusing.] Although it could be seen as selfish from a different point of view, but I don't think so.
[Is he dealing with quite the same thing? No, he's pretty sure his issue is the exact opposite, and something about the random chance of this meeting and this conversation prompts him to say so more directly than he ever has before.]
Not suffering. I prefer having people interact with the illusions and false images. Sometimes I craft them myself to make sure that's how it plays out.
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His gaze darkens for a few seconds before he takes another small sip of his drink. He muses over the answer that he has been given, swishing the small bit of scotch around before swallowing. ]
So you want people to have a certain image of you? [ He frowns thoughtfully. Not upset with it, but mostly curious. ] I suppose that it isn't for egotistical reasons... since you don't appear to be an egotistical individual. An egotist wouldn't even humor getting this far into a conversation with me. So, it would be... you wish to keep people at a distance from who you are?
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[Nothing Kei said is actually incorrect, but Heigo's still amused by how confidently he used the process of elimination to determine Heigo's reason for playing roles and wearing masks. He's even a bit impressed that Kei was able to eliminate egoism right off the bat, given that haughtiness and snobbery play a large part in his public veneer (and, if he's honest, have their part in his true self as well.)]
It isn't so much out of an urge to hide, either, or fear that I can't be accepted as I am. More that I want to keep my options open at all times, as much as possible, and only ever being my truest self would limit that. [He shrugs idly.] Authenticity isn't worth the constant struggle when people will still interpret me however they see fit.
[Heigo's words are a tricky blend of truth and misdirection, but one thing is very obvious - he doesn't believe any of this as casually as he wants it to appear. Some of these beliefs are laced with bitter unhappiness that could only have come from negative experience.]
no subject
You wish to see every route that could be available to you so that you can choose the most favorable one. [ Kei lowers his shoulders and returns his expression to a neutral one. He sips again at his drink, hums soft around the rim of the glass. ] Indeed. No matter how honest that we are... someone will come to see our actions as being different than what they are intended. [ He thinks of how his friends call him "kind," and that they are lucky to have met him. But well, everyone wants to believe their friends wish the best. ]
Again, you are speaking to a stranger. You can be as authentic as you like. I have no reason to judge you when my own personality is what it is.
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Apparently he's been sipping steadily at his beer while listening to Kei speak, because he's already emptied the glass. Since he's being as authentic as he likes without fear of repercussions, he goes against his stated goal to avoid getting drunk and orders another.
It's attractive, the idea of being completely himself just for an evening, but it's also kind of a conundrum - he's not sure he knows his authentic self anymore.]
I also spend a lot of time living up to ideals and expectations that don't fit me because I can't stand the thought of being seen as a disappointment. Anything else - an asshole, a pathological liar, an egotist - but not a disappointment. [He certainly looks more like his authentic self the more he speaks, in that he appears less harried and tense and more exhausted and deeply, deeply sad.] Then I take out my bitterness about that on people who don't deserve it at all, but usually shoulder the blame anyway.
That's probably the most authentic thing I've ever told anyone.
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[ Kei feels pleased with his decision to talk to this man. His indulgence has paid off in finding someone enthralling. He closes his eyes as he takes an actual drink of his scotch. Letting out a soft ah, he sets it down on the counter again. ] You're really interesting. I truly mean that, because ... you had to have disappointed someone once. Is that not so? You disappointed someone that you did not wish to, and decided never again.
[ It is his opinion -- he doesn't know how true it is. Perhaps, Heigo simply hates disappointment in general and never experienced it before. But that's impossible, isn't it? Because there is at least one person that Heigo must be disappointing, and that is himself. Is that not so? ]
Regardless, of what anyone says about you... that level of dedication is more than worth the drinks I have bought for you.
no subject
Still, he can't deny that Kei looks genuinely pleased with the revelation, which is the last reaction Heigo would ever expect. Should he be encouraged by that fact, or alarmed?]
I've disappointed a lot of people. Like you said, it'd be impossible not to. When I can, I just try to... choose the best way to do that, too.
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[ Kei repeats, sounding further impressed. The idea that Heigo would rather be hated than disappoint honestly fascinates him. He doesn't care if he disappoints anyone -- the expectations that anyone place on him can never be fulfilled completely. It's only a poor game that he's playing yet people buy it. He turns his face away so that he can chuckle to himself. Yet this person would rather be hated. ]
I apologize. I was actually laughing about myself, if I am honest. I'm a person that is constantly disappointing others in some small way. They don't ever fully realize it, of course, but it's happening. [ He smiles, but allows his expression to slip to something more contemplative as he realizes a smile may not be appreciated right now. ] So I honestly appreciate someone who cares so much about other's expectations to want to uphold them in such a large way.
You're an admirable person, Heigo Miyake.
no subject
The reason must be hidden in what he says about himself, Heigo thinks. Does he wish he could be just as malleable but find it impossible? Imagining himself as an ideal only makes everything stranger.]
I don't know what to say. Thanks don't feel appropriate somehow.
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[ His head gives a small tilt. ] Why would not "thank you" be appropriate? I'm finding the way that you live and interact with others to be admirable. It means that there is someone in this world that believes you are doing things worth esteem. [ His wry smile makes a reappearance as he finally looks away from Heigo so that he could take another drink. He settles on the chair, crossing his ankles, and smiles warmly into the scotch that is almost gone. Like he's appreciating something precious. ]
But you don't take pride in what it is that you're doing? [ His dull gaze lifts up to settle on his face as he sets his glass back down on the counter. He flicks his index finger against the glass, but the high-pitched ping is drowned out by all the conversation around them. ]
There's nothing wrong with how you are living, because the way you are living makes you feel safe and content, is that not so? [ Or is the fear of disappointment so strong that you cannot even breath, Heigo Miyake? His smile curls just a little as he dips his chin down to hide the sharpness of it. ]
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So why does his gut suddenly feel like knotted iron? Why do Kei's words feel barbed despite him giving no indication of double meaning?]
I think that's enough authenticity for one conversation. [Meaning: he's not gonna answer any of those questions, thank you very much. But he will say one more thing on the topic -] You're right. Thanking you does make perfect sense, so thank you.
[Then comes his sharp detour onto another topic, as well as his attempt to turn the focus back on Kei.] What's your motivation, then? Your real motivation, the one that drives everything you do and makes every choice for you.
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[ He gives a small nod as he relents, deciding that he has gathered enough information from Heigo. The shape of the man's soul is something that he's seen a little of, and he's found it to be something of interest. It is something that he may wish to see more of, even. To Kei, it doesn't matter if the man is part of the app or not, and so he doesn't even check. An interesting person is an interesting person -- is that not so? ]
You're welcome. [ A soft hum. My motivation? ] It is the desire to "do good." I realize that sounds very self-righteous and self-sacrificing, but it is neither of those things. If I could put it into words, I would say that it is placing others before myself without any desire of a reward. In fact, I don't want any reward for my actions because "doing good" does not make me happy.
Indeed, the righteous and the sacrificing can feel something positive in doing for others, but it does not make me happy or unhappy. [ Interlacing his fingers, he rests his hands in his lap as he explains. ] So why do it, right? Because I once lived my life not caring. I live my teenage years not caring about other people and their wants or their wishes or their feelings. Because it didn't mean anything to me. [ He lifts and lowers his shoulders in a dismissive way. ]
It was an immature and thoughtless decision from someone still too young to understand the world. But I lived that way and lived completely alone. I say alone not in terms of people that knew me or people that cared about me, but alone as in my own self. Nothing anyone said or did mattered to me. [ He breathes out slow. ] So I decided that my reasons for doing things should be to "do good." To reward the kindness of society and humanity by giving something back to it, regardless of how it makes me feel.
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But Heigo can still feel cold sweat beading on his brow regardless.]
The way you say that... does anything make you happy?
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[ He adds in a small shake of his head. ] That isn't to say that I don't take enjoyment out of a few choice things, but enjoyment and happiness are two different experiences. I've never really experienced happiness as others have. There has never been a moment in my life when I felt elated or pure joy.
[ But he doesn't sound upset or troubled about this; for Kei, this is how things are and he had accepted it as his lot in life. ] I recall people being excited and almost trembling about something coming up in their life. The sort of joy that radiates off of them in a way that makes others happy just looking at them. I've never had an experience like that, myself. [ No, he has felt excitement like that, but it came with the cost of guilt and disgust at his own feelings. He cannot call that pure joy; he cannot call it happiness if he feels sick moments after. ]
But I don't besmirch others for their happiness. It tires me out, of course, but I don't mind it. I would rather they be as happy as they can be. Seeing everyone happy, it means nothing to me, but it means the world to them, right?
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Now I understand your admiration. To you, I must look like someone who's capable of finding my own happiness, but has chosen not to make that my priority. Right?
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Not at all. [ He is quick to correct Heigo, however. ] You are happy as you are, or else there would be no point in doing what you're doing. In some small way, you're experiencing a little bit of happiness. Your priority is still your own happiness, because you're focusing on avoiding the disappointment of others. The disappointment of others is an unhappy situation for you, so everything else in some small way is relief and joy.
So I admire you because you're living a life that is adhering to your wishes yet doesn't hurt anyone, and still gathering happiness in it. I admire you because you've chosen a very difficult path to follow yet continue to follow it without complaint. You don't look distraught or sad. You've chosen this for yourself and are confident in it. How could I not find that admirable?