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

Mariko Kawaguchi (ou: Motoko Kusanagi) | Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

[megatechbody]

I - Brain fry in a virus pan
Today was a strange day. Nevermind the hangover from hell, or having to extract herself from her date’s bed at an unholy hour - no easily the strangest thing Mariko has ever seen is the flying paintbrush, dripping with deep violet paint waiting for her at the door.

For a moment she just stares at it, before beginning to stalk off. Clearly, this is some post-alcoholic binge hallucination. Either that or there was something worse than arsenic in that cocktail - regardless, she begins to stroll towards her apartment. She gets about half a block before the brush zips into line of sight again, circling her before hovering at eye level and turning to extend to her, handle first.

“O-okay…”

Mariko scowls a minute further, rubbing the bridge of her nose before squinting at the weird floating brush. Curiosity wins out over suspicion, and with a cautious grip, she takes hold. The paint brush takes off with such zeal that it slips her grip, making her trip suddenly and swear under her breath.

“This better be worth whatever the hell this is…” she grumbles, her second attempt to hold the strange thing resulting in being yanked to god-knows-where.

Which means she stops, just in front of you. Hi new friend.

"...Hey."

II - Got too high super cyber man
[After getting the hang of this painting thing, Mariko wandered away from her new cohort. Partly because hangovers and paint fumes don’t mix, but also because she was not really keen on trying to adjust to this new development as strange as is was.

It was bad enough that she hadn’t really questioned going along with this unbridled insanity of this moment. Even worse - when she tried to examine why this felt so normal, the only thing out of place that she could recall was shooting someone’s ankle out. With a pistol. So solo examination it was.

It was only the strange horn-alert thing that got her attention quickly enough to notice the door of the fence prowling towards her.]

Oh, what the fuck!

[She sounds more exhausted than afraid, jumping back out of the range of makeshift plank arms and swearing violently about surreal stupidity.]


BONUS - Get me down, down, down
Mariko scowls darkly at her phone, with half a mind to pitch it into oncoming traffic and just buy another one. She doesn’t like surprises and this entire day has been full of bullshit - which is why when she recognizes the Retrospec app, it actually makes her pause. The UI, the colors -- blue, she doesn’t remember blue being part of the app -- it’s all easy and familiar.

If I ask if Retrospec is on their bullshit again, I get the feeling I'm not going to like the answer.

Wildcard - Get me out of Trip City
[Let’s have some fun. Hit my inbox or on wingedbeastie if you’ve got any ideas.]

Bonus

[standalonehuman]

[For once. FOR. ONCE. Something is going right. Togusa honest to god lets out a cheer when he looks at the message. One that gets him a bunch of strange looks from his fellow officers, so he has to blush, lower his head, and think-type in response. Look out, Retrospec. She's back.]

What, you never liked arts and crafts time at school?

It's good to have you back 'in the loop.'

Re: Bonus

[megatechbody]

I was too busy skinning my knees on the blacktop.

It's good to be back, I think. Aside from this shit.

Re: Bonus

[standalonehuman]

I’ve got a lot I could update you on. The surrounding area has changed, we have a liason with Retrospec now.

Togusa stops himself before making a joke that isn’t his place to make. She’ll talk to Matt herself.

Where do you want to start? The city, the surrounding area, Retrospec? Whatever this is happening this month?

Re: Bonus

[megatechbody]

Let's start with a rousing game of 'What did Retrospec break this month?'

Re: Bonus

[standalonehuman]

Have some required reading.

[OOC: The copy only has the contents of the box, not the details before.]

Explaining how we got our hands on that is going to require more back story, too. But people are referring to this as 'layer theory.' The next layer of, Retrospec's programming, whatever. But it explains why so many things have been here the whole time, but no one was able to see them.

Like how no one off the app is able to see that anything's really wrong.

Re: Bonus

[megatechbody]

I knew you'd come through Togusa, but this whole thing is ridiculous. I mean, thanks for this but - christ, this is a nightmare.

You know, I saw the paintbrush this morning and thought I was in for some whimsy. I suppose it's too much to ask.

Re: Bonus

[standalonehuman]

It's still figuring out what the hell even this means that's the trouble. Retrospec's explanation for the city vanishing was "the layers have collapsed." Which is why everything's still there, just not visible.

Thus, the paintbrushes. At least there is some level of whimsy in how they're choosing to handle it? It's almost fun when you can ignore the little voice in the back of your mind going 'how the fuck does anyone have this much control over reality?'

Re: Bonus

[megatechbody]

It's a good thing I can have a grand old time with 'almost fun', keeps me from getting 'Bad Idea Angry'.

Any big shifts in the demographics of the folks 'Awake'? I remember a LOT of kids having to deal with a bunch of this shit.

bonus

[thisloveisjustice]

[Tatsuo is helping repaint a city park when his pocket vibrates. Digging out his phone, he checks to see who he's gotten a message from. He grins when he recognizes Mariko's name. Finally, some good news.]

Mari! You're back! And yeah there is some major bullshit about layers collapsing. I could try to explain what layers are, but it would just give me a headache.

Re: bonus

[megatechbody]

It sounds like there needs to be alcohol involved for that conversation.

Have you been holding up okay?

Re: bonus

[thisloveisjustice]

It is definitely a conversation that requires drinks

Okay enough

Re: bonus

[megatechbody]

I don't like that the city fell apart this badly without me noticing.

I heard about Retrospec messing with people's heads, but I'm really not fond of being one of them.

Re: bonus

[thisloveisjustice]

The whole layers collapsing thing is a fairly recent occurrence at least

No, I can't imagine it is. I am glad you're back with us though, even if it does mean more trouble for you.

Re: bonus

[megatechbody]

You know me, Tsu. I run on trouble.

We should catch up, once I get my head around things again.

Re: bonus

[thisloveisjustice]

As surely as a car runes on gasoline.

There's a few bars painted back into existence. (Because let's be real, most of us need a stiff drink right now.) Text me when you're free. Or if you need any help with the head wrapping.

Re: bonus

[megatechbody]

Thanks ♥

I

[blondferret]

[Derek was on his morning job when out of nowhere appears a paintbrush... with Mariko attached to it.]

Mariko? What... [Then it dawns o him.] are you on the app again?

Re: I

[megatechbody]

[Her expression backs off of murderous, recognizing Derek as the paintbrush slows down.]

Apparently. I see we're still on schedule for the city is going to hell.

Re: I

[blondferret]

Not only the city, but the surrounding areas. Four areas none of us knew about appeared in February. Whole towns and villages only a few hours away from here.

Re: I

[megatechbody]

Towns? [She closes her eyes rubs the bridge of her nose at that - she's still way, way too hungover for this.]

God, I hate that I was out for that long. [She finally sighs and smiles a little. It's good to run into a friend, even if all of this is insane.]

I'll catch up soon enough. How have you been holding up?

Re: I

[blondferret]

[Derek shrugs.]

I've been better, but I've also been way worse. I probably should be more concerned about the city right now but... [Derek lets out a sigh.] I just keep telling myself it's not as bad as October... or January.

[megatechbody]

[She makes a noise of agreement, eyes flicking to the paintbrush that's rather placidly just floating around her.]

Any day we walk away from is a good one, remember that. Priority one is keep your head straight, even if the city is working really hard to make that impossible.

[blondferret]

[Derek smiles slightly.]

I'm still alive and kicking aren't I?

[megatechbody]

I just like to remind people.

[She looks around, sighing.]

So I’m guessing we have paintbrushes because Retrospective broke their ‘Fix it’ button.