repeter | JANUARY TDM

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JANUARY TDM - OVERFLOW

TEST DRIVE

JANUARY TEST DRIVE
The city of Recollé. A beautiful city with beautiful people. The place you call home. It's a wonderful home, isn't it? With everything you could possibly ever want right at your fingertips, why would you ever want to leave?

In honor of this glorious city, the residents of Recollé are preparing for its annual Founder's Day celebration…you'll help out, won't you?

I.
Recollé Square is bustling with activity today and several residents are working together to pitch a large tent. Others are working together to decorate the fountain of the founders with flowers and streamers. Children and dogs run through the area and there's song in the air as everyone works together.

Are you one of the people helping with the streamers? Or perhaps you're holding the ropes of the tent taunt so it doesn't blow away? Hey, maybe you're catering the whole event to feed those hard workers! The choices are endless…but you might want to catch those balloons that are starting to float away!

II.
Meanwhile in Chata, business is booming as everyone crowds the parking lot of Freshens trying to fight their way into the store. You really should have thought to buy your groceries much sooner. Everyone knows that Founder's Day is one of the best potluck days and, weather permitting, picnic days. Are you having any luck getting into the store? Is that the last rack of ribs? You better hurry and snag them!

On the flipside, shop owners in Chata are busy setting up food stalls and merchandise tables in preparation of the main event. The smell of sweets and spices fills the air and you can't help but follow your nose to check it out. The vendors are all friendly and happy to give away samples of their goods in the hopes that you'll be back in a few days' time. Or maybe you're one of those vendors hoping to attract customers for Founder's Day. Do you have all of your supplies? Your permits? Is that teenager trying to steal apples from your produce stand? Everything's a little chaotic in the days before Founder's Day.

III.
The work doesn't stop there. Over in Tisse it's party central with flashing lights, sound tests, and a festive atmosphere that says the celebration's already started for several businesses. The line for Expressive is out the door with customers eager for their Founder's Day special. Be careful, you might have to finagle your way through the crowd. Throughout the day you may hear music and mic tests coming from the Atrium as the local schools work together during their dress rehearsal for the Founder's Day Pageant. You might even have an insider's look if you're one of the students in the pageant or one of the stage hands helping with last-minute set design, costume alteration or any of the other countless things that could go wrong.

The employees at the boutiques inside the Towers are bustling as well, swapping their floor displays and handing out flyers and coupons to shoppers to encourage them to come back for their big sales. Maybe you are one of those employees and now you're dealing with some wicked papercuts, or maybe the smell of butter is seeping into your clothing as Flix opens its doors to an early marathon of historical films depicting the life and tales of the city.

Tisse is most certainly the busiest of the districts today, but there's still so much to be done!

IV.
Most important of all, back in Tribunal Terrace residents will find Mayor Mayer out and about today which may seem unusual. The Mayor tends to stay inside City Hall keeping the city running from there, but today he's speaking with someone handling a large truck. People passing by may hear some scurrying from inside the truck, the sound of claws skittering on the metal floor, and…is that clucking? No, wait, now it's the sound of hoofs clomping and the whinny of a horse.

What's going on in there? Maybe you should investigate and ask around. Employees working for the Mayor will only give you a strange look in response, and the Mayor himself is unavailable for commentary…but it can't just be your imagination, can it?

Upon further examination and questioning residents will be told that these are horses for pony rides for the kids on Founder's Day, but that doesn't stop all of the weird noises. What on earth is going on?

BONUS.
Despite the festivities and the light-hearted mood of the city, it's still winter. Like all winters prior, it's chilly enough that you'll need a warm coat outside, but the storm season has passed. Instead, today in all districts there's a light flurry of snow falling, snowflakes gently twirling and landing on your shoulders and in your hair. It's not enough to stop the work, but it may send several people to crowd inside coffee shops for a hot drink or shops to take a break from the cold.

Bet you weren't expecting that influx of business, were you?

And later…much later, in fact, those carrying cell phones or tablets will feel a jolt from the device. A closer look will reveal that a new application has started to install itself on these devices, but you can't seem to open it right away. That's a bit odd, isn't it? It might be wise to check other devices in the city to see if the application's installed itself. Upon further investigation, though, you'll find only a handful of residents have the app installed. The app pops up on any public computer you may use but fades away the moment you log off.

Strange, strange, strange. Once it fully loads on your device, you'll find that the app, Retrospec, appears to be a social media app with the option to friend people, share statuses, pictures, videos and more. Those sections are currently blocked out, however. Take some time to fill out your profile if you'd like; that portion of the application seems to be the only one that can be accessed currently. All other social media (Facebook, Twitter, and regular texting) are accessible, but the app itself stubbornly remains on your own profile page.

Welcome to the

recolle test drive meme overflow post! You may use this post to post new top-levels if you didn't post to the original TDM (found here) or link your original top-level to continue threading.

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 if both parties agree, and can also be used for bonus points for future item regains. (Additionally: we will not be allowing TDM threads to be used for memory regains.) Write as many or few prompts as you want, tag around, and have fun!

As a reminder: as per our app rules, please try not to reference other characters in your threads or in your AUs if that character isn't being applied for! Our favorite example is as follows: if an Elsa from Frozen is being TDM'd, we ask that the player not reference her sister Anna by name unless an Anna is planning to TDM and be part of the same AU. Elsa can reference her younger sister in threads as much as she'd like if she has a sister in her AU, but we ask that names are not specified without having that character TDM'd and without the player's permission. Please also remember that posting to the TDM does not equate a reserve, which open on 1/18.

The January 2017 TDM directory can be found here. The January 2017 Workshop can be found here. The mod questions comment is here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( ooc: I don't have an au workshop thread, but I have some unfinalized ideas posted here. tl;dr he's currently 19, born in Recollé, moved away at age 6, and returned ~this past year. He still wears that bright yellow scarf, and has probably never been seen without it. )

i.
[ It's been years since Ryoji last lived in Recollé, but Founders Day has always been one of his favorite holidays. Only, the last time he celebrated it, he'd been only six years old, so instead of the natural progression of responsibilities as one increases in age— from picking flowers to hanging streamers to directing workers and keeping things organized— he's one of those children chasing dogs.

There's only so much running he can do though, so eventually, he takes a break to blow up a balloon until it's fit to burst, only to have it slip out of his mittened grasp and rocket through the air. The nearby children scream with delight, and the dogs about him jump and snap at the escaped balloon. And possibly even you.

"Watch out!" he'd shout, but he's too busy trying to catch his breath, laughter bright and carefree. ]

iii.
[ Festivities aside, the Towers are exactly how Ryoji remembers them to be, absolutely enormous and full of movement and chatter. Unlike before when he was a child, he can actually reach the button for the top floor in the elevator, so he'd been taken to riding the box up and down lately, eager to make conversation with whoever steps inside and is effectively trapped with him until they reach their destination.

It's been a long day, evidenced by his hands practically overflowing with flyers, threatening to spill every time he lets go of the stack with one hand so he can call out or wave in greeting. Or, even more dangerously, he'll attempt to fan out the papers like a stack of playing cards. There are multiple repeats, probably from people who only took a flyer out of courtesy and then dumped it onto this boy in the elevator, who seemed glad to take it off their hands instead of letting it be trashed. But Ryoji doesn't seem to mind. ]

Hey there! Maybe you can help me decide where to check out first?

wildcard.
[ Assumed CR is fine, whether your character knew Ryoji when he was a child, or has became friends with him recently. I can be contacted by PM or at

birdseed! ]

[Oh, that's mildly unexpected.

There's always chaos with Founder's Day - that's just how the cookie crumbles. Anya's a frequent volunteer, whether it's by herself or at her mother's side, but today she's wandering about and helping a hand on her lonesome. Perhaps that's why everything feels so much brighter and even more overwhelming.

The laughter catches her attention first, making her turn her head even as she holds rolls and rolls of streamers in her arms, which effectively makes it impossible for her to catch the balloon that's rocketing her way.

It bops her in the nose before whizzing off somewhere else with what little power it has left and she finds herself laughing.]

O-Oh! Um. Be careful?

[nah she ain't even mad]

Sorry~ [ He calls out the apology while he chases after a little terrier, which skitters to a stop at Anya's feet, makes a little jump for a loose end of streamer, then goes bounding off after the deflating balloon just as Ryoji comes close enough to see Anya's face more clearly. ] Oh! But fate sure is kind to me today: to think it led me straight to an angel!

[ His smile softens, tips of his fingers pressed lightly against his chest. ]

As an apology, let me help you with that.

[ He extends a hand in offer to share the burden of the rolls of streamers, but like nearly everything he's gotten his hands on today— balloons, a thick plastic plate, a half-eaten hot dog a little boy had dropped on the ground— it's with two or three dogs crowding in to see what new toy or tasty treat Ryoji's brought for them today. The colorful streamers sure look tantalizing. Can they eat it? ]

An angel? Where?

[Yeah, she looks around. Are there angel decorations? Christmas was last month but she's always down for pretty installations. Though admittedly in her glancing around that's when she catches sight of the dogs and perks up considerably.]

Dogs!

[EXCITING. There's a glance back up at Ryoji and she smiles, tilting her head.]

I'm fine, I promise - but are these your puppies?

[a dog can be 50 pounds and Anya would still call it a puppy, all dogs are puppies forever.]

[ He'll take his attempts at charming her as a fail, but Ryoji doesn't seem to mind, laughing fondly when a large mastiff pushes up against his back. He pets the dog on the neck, who turns a happy doggy smile up at the pair of them. ]

No, they're not. Some of the neighbors wanted to keep their dogs out of the kitchen, so I thought we could all enjoy some fresh air. This pretty lady here is Tally. And— good girl, Piper! Welcome back.

[ He bends to scoop the wiggling mass of fur into his arms, the terrier from before having triumphantly hunted down soggy limp balloon, nose pointed proudly up in the air and tail whipping back and forth so hard, Ryoji can feel it through his winter coat. ]

—And my name's Ryoji.

[Doooogs dogs dogs dogs. Anya is delighted at all of them and goodness she wants to play, but it's proving to be a little difficult with all the streamers that she's managed to collect during her short walk through the festivities.]

Hello Piper, Tally. [She's not really able to help herself, bending at the waist to greet both of them directly and even leaning forward to bump her nose against Piper's while she's being held, giggling at the coldness of it.] You're both very cute.

[every dog needs to be told they're cute.

Then she straightens and gives Ryoji a smile too.]

I'm Anya. I'm very happy to meet you too.

[bc he also! is very cute! look at this friendly person surrounded by dogs, how can she not be happy. but even she's not forward enough to say that]

Nice to meet you, Anya.

[ Tell him he's cute! He wants to be told that he's cute too!! Ryoji beams at her, so proud of these dogs that aren't even his, and just as happy to see the dogs loved on. It's the unconditional love some people have to animals— he gets jealous of the open affection, but it always lifts his heart to see.

He could look at Anya's happy face all day, but Piper's practically squirming out of his arms by now, dropping the chewed up balloon onto his shoe so she can turn her head up and yap. ]

It sounds like Piper wants her neck scratched. There's this spot, right under her chin, that she really loves. Why don't we switch, just for a little while? Your arms must be tired.

[ His are, in just this short while of carrying such an excitable dog, that a pile of streamers would be welcome rest in comparison. And Piper successfully squirms out of Ryoji's grasp to plop onto the floor, wagging tail bumping into Anya's shoes because scratch! she heard scratches! ]

[It's pure and Anya is weak. There's a glance between Piper and Ryoji once, then once again, and then she's offering a sheepish smile before extending the items in her arms out to him.]

If you really don't mind... Thank you!

[He's so nice! He's so, so nice and her heart is full already. Founder's Day is already a day of the year that she thoroughly enjoys, but the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends absolutely adds to it. So she's humming a pleased, melodic little note as she reaches down to pick up Piper similarly to how he did earlier. Then she follows directions, scratching riiight where she thinks Piper would love most and giggling in delight.]

You're so friendly... How sweet!

Your excitement matches your friend here too.... [A glance over to Ryoji and a tilt of her head.] Have you been running about with them all day?

[ Piper's eyes squeeze shut in content, leaning in towards Anya's hand to get the most out of the scratch. Piper sure is a sweet and friendly dog, but Tally is too, although a bit shier. The mastiff moves around Anya, gives the hand supporting Piper a quick little lick, then ducks back behind Ryoji, large and strong enough that he leans his weight onto the dog's side, cradling the streamers in his arms. ]

I've been with them since this morning, but their energy is boundless! [ There's some exhaustion in his voice, but also overwhelming fondness. It's not often that he gets to play with these dogs, after all; they all have their own families, and his own home doesn't have pets. ] I bet they'd be tired out from working hard like you were...

[ Oh! Here's an opportunity for a twofer.

Ryoji unwraps his scarf, a shiver running down the back of his neck when cold air hits bare skin, and winds it around the many rolls of streamers in a secure bundle. ]

I bet Tally would be happy to help run these with us. There's nothing better than that rewarding feeling of a job well done. Where were you taking these? We shouldn't keep them waiting.

Oh! [Tally noooo, come back. Anya giggles faintly at the lick and makes a mental note to give Tally just as much love soon. Though at the question there's a little tilt of her head. Some part of her doesn't want to burden him - ] Are you sure? You looked like you were having so much fun....

I don't want to pull you away if you'd rather play. It was sweet to watch - the type of sight that would brighten up everyone's day just watching? Not to mention getting to play along with you...

[Still though, she also doesn't want to part from the dogs or her new friend.

But she thinks it's at least polite to give him an escape while it's available!]

Of course! If we get our work done now, we'll have all the time to play together afterwards. That's what my einkakennari always says to me.

[ Of course, his private tutor was also a live-in tutor, who could follow him around all day and heckle him into completing his lessons; much more effective than a guilty conscience when tempted by procrastination.

He's not normally the type to be all gung-ho about hard work, but this sort of work can be fun, like racing with the dogs except he'll have to try even harder to win because he has to lead them to where they need to go. And besides, they can't properly play together, unhindered, if there's a bunch of streamers one or the other has to hold onto at all times to keep from blowing into the wind or snatched up by one of the dogs. ]

Your.... einkakennari?

[The pause was thoughtful, one in which she played his words over in her head so that she could try to mimic his pronunciation of the foreign word as best she could. It's one that she doesn't recognize, but her interest clearly shows. Even as her next words follow:] What's that?

[Except she also agrees with him - and his einkakennari - as she laughs faintly and nods.]

Perhaps you could tell me as we walk?

[He spins around when he hears that shout, and unfortunately that's when the clawed tips of his cane catch on the grass and the older man goes sprawling over. At least that means the balloon misses him? He slowly gets up, spitting out grass from between his teeth.]

...control your balloon, child. [Wow, he can't believe he just said that.]

I'm sorry, are you alright?

[ He'd been too late to catch the man before he fell, and his progress across the grounds to help him up is hindered by the pack of dogs pushing past him to chase after the runaway balloon, half of which turn around partway and whine at him to send off another because the first has gone too far and out of sight.

So by the time Ryoji makes it next to him, he probably doesn't need the help anymore, but that doesn't stop him from offering a hand and a genuinely apologetic frown. And a few curious dogs. ]

Where are you headed? It's been snowing, so the grass is quite slick.

[Well, at least this kid has some respect for his elders. He still "harrumphs" a bit as he pulls himself fully upright with the offered hand.]

I'm fine. Takes more than a fall to break my bones. [He seems a bit annoyed by the dogs, but mostly just pushes them away a bit when they get too close or try to sniff them.] I was just trying to get home through the chaos.

I'm glad, but I certainly don't want to test those limits! [ The only good broken bones are wishbones, and only if you're lucky enough to get the larger half. ] Why don't I accompany you? The crowd tends to kindly part whenever I takes these guys for a walk.

[ What dogs are still clambering around, Ryoji slips several loops of leashes from his back pocket and clips them to their collars. The rest he calls by name— Gracie, Pepper, little Blue— and does the same; they're generally well behaved dogs, if a little (a lot) excitable around flying balloons, drifting snowflakes, and new faces. ]

I can see how they would accomplish that. [He looks more relaxed now that the dogs are on leashes. A pause] You are quite the responsible young man. Your parents must be proud.

Thank you!

[ He takes the compliment graciously, without any hint of modesty. If he could make his parents proud acting as he always does, then it's something worth being happy about. That whole balloon incident will just be shuttled off to the side here and not mentioned... ]

Of course, I want to do what I can. I'm who I am today because of everyone who's taken care of me.

You are welcome. [A pause at the "everyone" comment.] By "everyone," I assume you are referring to more than just your parents, are you not?

Most people aren't raised by just their parents, after all. There's my teachers, my pediatrician, tour guides at the museum, the cute barista down at Expressive...

[ He counts off on his fingers as he goes, though he might've gotten a bit sidetracked towards the end there. But he feels strongly that they've shaped him as a person, from the languages he's able to speak to his love of hazelnut creamer. ]

Ah. I suppose those count as well. [He doesn't really remember most of the adults from his own childhood, admittedly.] Where did you learn to handle those dogs? [They do seem to be behaving pretty well now.]

Hm? Oh, the dogs. [ Ryoji glances over at the dogs, which are all a bit scattered with a couple leading in the front, some meandering off to the side, but all bound to him by the handful of leashes. ]

I'm not their owner, so you can thank their families and trainers for what good dogs they are. [ At the mention of "good dog," several of them turn their heads and their tails start up, and he can't help but laugh. ] In fact, I'm sure you can handle them well too. Would you like to take one or two of the leashes?

Well, they do seem to understand how they're supposed to behave. [That's the closest to amusement you're going to get from him.]

Ah, I suppose that makes more sense. [Well, he's never really handled animals before, not even trained ones in the army. Still, they don't seem to mind who's holding their leashes, so he reaches out to take one.]

Good dog...

[ He was going to hand over the leash to one of the larger dogs— calm, content to plod on next to people instead of yanking the leash from the front— but the words "Good dog" sparks another wave of high energy throughout the pack, and at the last moment he switches the loop for one with a small toy poodle at the end. ]

You're all good dogs, [ Ryoji assures his charges, tightening his grip and making a mental note to brainstorm other praises he can use. ]

[He does realize that might have been the wrong word to use, but doesn't seem very inclined to admit that. Still, he holds on to the leash quite tightly.]

...what is this one's name? [Dogs can understand their names, right?]

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appraiser - 2017-01-24 20:29 (UTC) - Expand

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humanitarianherbalist - 2017-01-25 03:24 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JANUARY TDM - OVERFLOW

ryoji mochizuki | persona 3

so i don't know you but so excited to see ryoji - i!

ahh i'm excited for the chance to play him!!

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