repeter | MAY TDM

TEST DRIVE

MAY TEST DRIVE
The city of Recollé...

...well. Good luck!

I.
You might've noticed by now that some things in this dear city of yours are a little...weird. Most of the buildings and landmarks around you are only partially visible and the world appears to be covered in all kinds of strange colors.

As you step out the door today, you can't quite shake off the feeling that you're being followed. Every time you turn your head, nothing appears to be in your line of vision but the creeping sensation won't go away. However, with one final well-timed turn you catch it out of the corner of your eye: a large paintbrush dripping in your favorite color, floating in mid-air. The brush doesn't seem to go away no matter how long you look at it, but one of two things happens here.

For those of you who grab the brush, you'll find yourself suddenly yanked forward as the brush guides you to a nearby building, bush, or busy sidewalk, the colored paint splattering everywhere but leaving behind a black finish instead of the original color. The brush has a mind of its own as it brings you right next to a friend or a stranger to get to work. They must have a brush, too.

For those of you who ignore the brush, however...well...it doesn't like being ignored. As you turn away the brush zips forward and begins to paint your face. And your arms. And your clothes? Hopefully someone will come by and try to help soon!

II.
With that exciting chain of events out of the way, it's time to get to work! It's not hard to notice what it is you're supposed to do now. Certain members of the city have paintbrushes similar to yours and only those with brushes can restore the city as it was. Individually painting the area will highlight all items in black, but pairing up with someone else's color will allow for a bit of color to attach. Blending the brushes together will generate new, bright colors that will stick! Two reds can paint an object red while a red and a blue can change an object to purple.

Of course, you're free to go at it alone. There's nothing stopping you from embarking on this journey with your own two hands. On the other hand the longer you work by yourself, the higher your risks become of unearthing something you may not want. One minute you might be painting a garden bench back into existence when suddenly a sound alerts you that something's wrong. The object seems to warp right in front of you, sprouting teeth, eyes, and even sometimes limbs. Non-stationary objects such as vehicles, animals, postal boxes and more will begin to chase painters around all five districts of the city. Stationary objects will do anything to grab you in their grasp and stop your hard work. The only way to soothe these objects is to mix up a new color and douse them with paint, but that just might be a little harder than it looks while you're on the move.

III.

The strange thing is that even with a large portion of the city invisible to the naked eye, by now everyone around you has accepted that this is just how things will go. If you talk to your family or friends or teachers or co-workers who are without a paintbrush, they'll simply tell you that even though it started a few weeks ago there are other things in the city to worry about. They'll tell tales of people with powers and weird physical changes that shouldn't be possible and they'll point out the thinning monsters that are roaming the city and cleaning up the stray paint.

Despite this, life is expected to go on as normal. Classes are still in session and your employers expect you to be at work on time. Grocery stores are up and running and if you can find them several of your favorite businesses are still open as well. Maybe today you're in class procrastinating on a school project, or perhaps you're staring out the window at your boring job waiting for the next time you can catch a break. If you're brave enough, you might be one of those who wanders the half-missing aisles of Freshens because your family still insists on their cookout this weekend. This appears to be the new norm...so what are you doing today in the lovely "city" of Recollé?

IV.
Several citizens have been using their brushes to expand their horizons and paint beyond the limits of the city, working to recreate the roads to go back to other regions. While this will require far more work and dedication, some of the paths are outlined and cleared.

Granted, with the revival of the roads comes the revival of a few other creatures including monsters of varying breeds. Have you ever fought a monster before? No? Well now's your chance! Some of these monsters are easy to take down but others will hunt and attack. While the paint brushes won't do much to deter the creatures themselves, they're useful to paint new hiding spots until you come up with a plan of attack. That counts, doesn't it? Good luck out there.

BONUS.
Perhaps the strangest thing of all is that your phone works. It's fully functional, colored and solid without having to repaint it into existence. Being able to send texts and check maps are vital tools in the restructure of the city, but at the same time it comes with something you may not want.

The Retrospec app appears on your phone and even without setting up a profile you'll find yourself receiving a message from a Retrospec user named Zee Carlisle.

Bad timing, this was really bad timing! Hey newbies, sorry, we are a little swamped with the stabilization process right now but let me kick you to some people who can help out.

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.

Finally, please remember that this will be the last application month until September!

Your May 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

I.
...Huh.

[ bobby lopez doesn't stare at the paintbrush dripping blue paint for long at all before reaching out for it, hesitant but undeniably curious. it doesn't hurt that she's all about art, of course. it's one of the few things she really still gets passionate over.

she's not sure what she was expecting to come from her choice to grab the brush, but it certainly wasn't to be forced forward by its pull. how is this happening, exactly? ]

Hey, wait! Slow down!

[ to make matters worse, the paintbrush doesn't seem to care if she knocks into others on her way to... well, wherever it wants her to go.

apparently, that "wherever" is a partially-visible building, and she's not the only one there. ]

Oh, uh. Hi.

[ well, it doesn't exactly take a genius to figure this out. they need to start painting... maybe? ]

III.
[ if you ask bobby why she eats lunch at the big bang burger as often as she does, she won't really have an answer for you. it's corny, and a big chain, neither of which are really her style. but it's also convenient and quick, which totally works with her general modus operandi. plus, as uncool as the space theme is, she kind of likes it.

on that particular day, the burger joint seems busier than usual, so there's no where open for her to sit... or could that be because a good portion of the chairs have vanished? right, well, whatever the case, she needs to sit somewhere, so she approaches a table with a free seat. ]

Hey, do you mind if I join you?

[ the question just oozes with her own discomfort. ]

Bonus.
Okay, that was weird. Did you get an unhelpful explanation, too?

[ that's her main concern, right now, rather than finding out who she's talking to now. ]

Wildcard.
( ooc: feel free to make anything up, too. you can contact me through a pm or by private plurking

dolewhip. also, bobby looks like this. )

[Caitlin has barely been at this table long enough to set her own tray down, so it's with a faintly sheepish smile that she taps out her reply on her phone and holds it up for Bobby to read.]

no problem! it's crowded today huh?

[Which doesn't bother her - crowds are easy enough to blend in with - but she can sympathise with how awkward Bobby looks hovering over the table, too.

Just to show willing, she picks up the pink paintbrush she'd left dripping over the side of the table, and... hmm. Her gaze flicks from side to side. Actually, where else can she put this? The table isn't that big.]

Yeah, it is. And thanks.

[ bobby gives a small smile, but doesn't sit yet. instead, she follows the direction of caitlin's eyes. there really isn't much room, is there? ]

Here, uh... I'll keep it in my lap while we eat?

[ it's what she was planning to do with her own when she saw how busy it was in there. it's not like she cares about her clothes- just a tank top and jeans today. ]

[Caitlin waves both hands quickly, dislodging a couple of tiny pink splotches onto the floor. It's okay! She can do that herself! Her own formerly-black jeans have been a mess ever since she found this damn thing, and while their noble sacrifice will not soon be forgotten, an extra stain or two won't hurt them in the meantime.

The lap it is, then. Things looks a little precarious for a moment - she ends up bumping the table with her knee, just because it's either that or kick Bobby in the shin - but finally her paintbrush is secure and she can reach for her fries. Who cares if there's still not much room? It's just a fast food place, she wasn't planning to spend time soaking up the atmosphere.

She does flash Bobby an apologetic smile for the bump, though.]

Hi there! How's it going?

Yea, kind of. But I don't think it's all that bad? The things around us are pretty straightforward, right? We paint everything and it comes back.

Edited 2018-05-18 20:12 (UTC)

Aside from the paint stuff, you mean? No, it's not that bad, but it is inconvenient. I think we all have other things we need to be doing.

Nah, paint stuff can be included. You're not obligated to put yourself in a too-small happy jar.

And, yea, I guess. You mean like work, school, hobbies, and stuff right. Sure we have to do something we didn't expect, but it's part of the fun. I bet we need all the teamwork to get it back! :D

Cool. In that case, it's not going that great. Exactly, that kind of stuff. I do art for a living, sure, but it's not this kind of art. And I've got to make rent. So I'm not sure this is fun in my book.

Hmm...

Well, what if I loan you the money you need for rent? No hurry to pay me back. Don't need you to be out of house and home for something like this.

[ Jamie's already busily working on the exterior of this particular building, and he's listening to a podcast on his phone, but he notices movement out of the corner of his eye... ]

...Oh!
Hi!

[ He takes out an earbud! ]

I'm sorry, I was kind of distracted... have you been here the whole time??

[ bobby isn't bothered to be ignored for a moment. in fact, it's kind of nice, considering how flustered she is when the paintbrush finally stops. when jamie asks his question, she's more composed. ]

No, this [ she raises her painbrush higher. ] just brought me here. Just now.

[ Jamie was lucky enough to be among the first wave of paintbrush recipients, which means his brush behaved itself from the start; in fact, as of yet, he has no idea there's a whole new batch of painters whose brushes are significantly feistier. ...So he assumes she must mean it "brought" her here, like, metaphorically. (Like, you know, "The beautiful weather brought me out today.") ]

Oh, I see!
Well, it's always easier to work together. That's a really lovely color, too. I guess we could paint some things periwinkle-ish? [ He holds up his own paintbrush! ]

well, to sum things up, welcome to 'unhelpful explanations: the app'

on the other hand, i might be able to be a bit more helpful!

Edited 2018-05-19 03:32 (UTC)

Okay, that's a fair point. I guess I shouldn't have expected much. But what are your guesses as to what that meant?

Eek!

[She's definitely caught a little (read as: more than a little) off guard when the paintbrush seems to almost run into her and she has to actually side-step it so it doesn't ram into her, already holding a brush of her own.]

Why is it runniiiing!?

I don't know! Uh, sorry though!

[ bobby sighs and shakes her head. ]

This isn't how I planned to spend today...

[Mio raises her hands up rather apologetically as she wears a rather exhausted smile.]

It's not your fault.

[She can't blame someone for.

That mess.]

[Even sitting at the table, the man has to turn his head down to look at her.

He's very quiet as he looks at who asked him, and one might start thinking that he thought something wrong until he speaks.]

Not at all.

MAY TDM

Lapis Lazuli | Steven Universe

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