MAY TDM

[recollecters]

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!

Comments

[clothes]

[ sounds more like someone is too poor to whale tbqh, akutagawa makes a killing on idol games but that's probably a given. he's also into that one dumb game where these high school idol kids try to compete to be the best, and are still mad at each other over middle school drama?? the one where you collect cards who dance and clap and fall asleep?? whatever it's called!!!! ]

Idols are more approachable and accessible than models and the like-- never mind that idols can often model anyway. The reach of idols is limitless.

[ with a scary this-is-not-a-game-being-an-idol-is-not-meant-to-be-fun expression, akutagawa inspects some kale he plans to use for a salad he has yet to find a recipe for. his life is low-key out of control. ]

A mere model cannot understand an idol's mission, and why hundreds of thousands of people coming together, even for the sake of getting horny on main, is a testament to their success.

[ akutagawaPs are notorious for loving his cold, harsh personality. maybe it's some gap moe bullshit with his cute voice? a mean violent asshole idol with a cute and sweet voice would, unsurprisingly, attract a bunch of crazy masochist fucks, so in a way it probably isn't even surprising.

--goddamnit he's not supposed to think about this!!!! SHIT ]

[adoringpast]

[ what!!!! he'll have you know that he goes hard as hell when it comes to his faves! he usually lands in t1... but that's a long time ago, since retrospec bullshit's keeping him from being updated from all the latest stuff these days. ]

Tsk. As if I don't know that. The entertainment industry feels the same no matter what career you choose for it.

[ he returns the other male's gaze with a stone-cold expression as well, blue eyes striking as ever. this guy probably hasn't gone through actual idol warfare in this lifetime so he really doesn't have any right to talk to sena about shit like this, as someone who used to be the best (worst) of both those worlds. how annoying.

though he does have to point out one thing, his face now shifting to one of disgust - ]

...Horny on what?

[ HE CAN'T READ SUDDENLY HE JUST DON'T KNOW ]

[clothes]

[ akutagawa goes ham every event, just to make sure everyone in the world knows he's a top tier idol online and off. plus, he hates leaving his house unless it's to go on one-man art appreciation field trips or antiquing. he's not a boring old man in his spare time or anything........ sobs

idol warfare and the bloody climb some singers and units need to take in order to reach the top is indeed outside of akutagawa's realm of experience beyond mere observation; truthfully, he was more preoccupied with other things, like keeping his sister and himself fed and tearing muscles and breaking bones to make sure he is uncontested in his label. thankfully finding his niche (his very...unusual niche...) made maintaining his spot among the top of all manner of charts easy enough, but the ever-constant determination to stay where he is until he can be satisfied with the mark he has left on the world of idols-- or face a punishment only akutagawa himself can comprehend the severity of.

(why tho?? he's not going back into foster care or anything, why doesn't he chill tf out seriously) ]

Based on your insight, I take it you are no common model.

[ --OH CMON KID DONT PULL A MARIAH CAREY ON HIM!!! ]

Horny on main. Do you really not know what that is? You truly belong on local twitter.

[adoringpast]

I doubt that you can find other models with hair like mine anyway. [ naturally silver, unlike the ones you'd get when you grow older. ] But no, I'm not. I've been into modeling for some time now, so of course I'd know how the entertainment world works. It's just basic stuff.

[ maybe akutagawa should've done his homework instead of entertaining rabid stans on the internet, smh. aside from various magazines, sena's been sponsored by halo top and had appeared in a couple of commercials in tv with it, so either aku isn't into fashion that much or that he's just outdated.

not that sena is one to talk when it comes to japanese idols in this world. it may be his thing in the past but it's far from it here. that's just how it is.

he does take offend at being called a local though. ]

Oh, so is being a local the opposite of being a stan then? That's good to know.

[ huffs! hold on for a hot second though, because his order is now ready and he's back with his black tea. mmmmmmm. anyway - ]

I can figure it out on my own, thank you. Can people really get away with being horny on public that easily without any form of punishment anymore?

[clothes]

[ it's true, unfortunately. akutagawa lives his life in much the same manner as a sad weird old man; eating prunes, staying indoors, wondering when his eyebrows would fill out naturally again....... it's probably unsurprising. ]

They have urban dictionary for this sort of thing. It's not as if I know everything about twitter culture either.

[ for instance, he has never once in his life heard 'yanny' no matter what people say. ]

And I wouldn't know. Personally, I would keep my horniness under wraps as much as I could, since having an employer or elderly relative confront me for being, well. Horny.

[ he has never said 'horny' so many times before in his life???? his paintbrush would be ashamed........ ]

[adoringpast]

[ a shut-in idol... oh wow. and right? it's totally 'laurel'. people should clean their ears out more, smh. ]

Yeah, yeah, I get it. Idols should be the paragon of all things pure, right? And that means no falling in love and, god forbid, have sex with the people you can actually have because of your reputation. Doesn't that suck.

[ the modeling industry may be stuffy and too restricting, but at least they're free to love other people... too bad sena's got no time for that right now. ]

Anyway, did you even debut in this city yet? Done any concerts or whatever? I'm not really into the idol scene myself, I'd have to admit...

[ because he needs to steer away from awful idol memories that'll pop up, lol ]

[clothes]

I suppose.

[ akutagawa has never touched a boob or a wiener that isn't his... Yeah... i'm laughing irl he's such a fucking loser ]

I haven't decided whether it's worthwhile yet. Technically, I was sent here to "take some time off" but I have a sneaking suspicion that's only an excuse. Management has been especially disagreeable lately.

[ his staff is scared of him and needs a mental health break so they just...they just need him gone. ]

[adoringpast]

[ aku........ that's so sad. but sena used to be like that too until last year so who knows. break the love code my mans you can do it ]

Well, so much for taking some time off. The city's been more chaotic than usual today. Either you've arrived at the worst possible time or your management just sucks at their job.

[ shrugs, but what are they doing standing around here for? might as well take a seat at one of the cafe tables, shall we? ]

[clothes]

[ no way awk-tugawa doesn't have FEELINGS!! they're for WEAKLINGS!!!!! and akutagawa isn't WEAK!! HE'S A BIG BRAVE DOG HE NEeds validation and to be told to chill the fuck out can you tell. he's a sad sad mand

yeah they need to stop standing like losers and go enjoy their tea that's probably pretentiously flavored. he's so over this whole day, sena can probably tell though, assuming he doesn't feel the same. ]

If they have any sense of self-preservation, they would have thought twice about sending me here.

[ geeze, you punch your assistant manager in the nose once and all of the sudden everyone's scared of you. NERDS. ]

What is the cause of all this?

[adoringpast]

[ idols should never have chill in the first place but go off i guess. and hello? black tea is not pretentiously flavored!!! it's healthy as fuck. but sena's gaze flickered at his question, his mouth a thin line as he mulls over this. he's been bugged about by various fans of his because of his sudden change in hair color (that only happened last year but since it's retrospec they'd get used to it in the long run), but having to explain about the weird happenstances in the city to yet another stranger who he thinks doesn't have the app yet is

really annoying

but he sighs, takes a sip of his tea first. right. ]

It's because the layers are down, or so Zee says. You wouldn't understand what I'm about to talk about since you'll forget all of this once we restore the city yet again.

[ so much for being helpful though. ]

[clothes]

[ wow akutagawa is a pretentious tea nerd and could only assume sena had fine tastes too but so much for that!!!

and god, this day and this city really are shitshows. ]

On one hand, if I truly will forget later, then it is as you say: pointless to hear an explanation. However, I won't deny I am curious about this nonetheless. Especially if that Zee Carlisle is involved.

[adoringpast]

[ places his chin on his hand, stirring his cup of tea with a spoon. he can do small chunks of exposition, yes. thank god. ]

Zee Carlisle is the Hiring Manager of Retrospec. I assume that if you've already been weirded out with this colorful landscape we're in, you must have the app on you.

[ either that or it's the malfunctioning layers that's letting aku seeing all this shit. praying that it's the former. ]

He's one of the only people we can get in contact with about the app and the weird shit happening in the city every month because most of its employees are a bunch of no-lives who keep fucking up our perception of reality. Really, we could be here all day if I have to relay everything that's happened thus far, and I'd rather save my breath instead of repeating the same song and dance for just about anybody who's only noticing this now.