repeter | SEPTEMBER TDM

Entry tags:

! event,
! tdm

SEPTEMBER TDM

TEST DRIVE

SEPTEMBER TEST DRIVE - EVENT AND FOURTH WALL EDITION
The city of Recollé...

...or, at least, a good mimicry of the city. It's been a few weeks since you've found yourself in this digitized version of your beloved city. You've found yourself surrounded by NPC versions of your friends and family who aren't a part of the Retrospec project, you've encountered strange and new places, and the viruses continue to appear despite the fight you've put up.

On the evening of the 17th, things change again. No matter where you are, Alphas and Betas will hear the sound of loud clacking, something similar to fingers typing frantically on a keyboard. The dial-up sound rings out, echoing off of buildings and in your ears as a bright blue flash of code scrolls before your eyes.

Perhaps it doesn't make sense, but your handheld device might help. It beeps to alert you of a new message, screen lighting up as a navigation app appears and seems to stick. It appears to be an ordinary app like Google Maps or Waze, but the destination is pre-installed and your feet begin to move on their own accord.

I. - IN-GAME CHARACTERS ONLY
If you're strong enough, you might be able to break free of the mysterious hold that's dragging you across the city and out toward the outskirts of Tisse. It's hard to locate the source of the pull, but everyone will find that as they traverse the city they're all heading in one direction. The navigation app cheerfully blurts out instructions as your body operates on auto-pilot, causing you to stumble through the city and the other districts.

You'll find yourself colliding into another user, soon walking in front or behind them as everyone around you begins to form one solid line. The human chain forms steadily and…aren't you lucky? You get to hold hands! Single file, everyone. Maybe you lucked out and you're holding hands with a friend. If you're stuck between two strangers, well, maybe that's a little awkward but the chain is impossible to break.

You continue to move. Locked hand in hand with every user in the city, you'll have to help each other navigate, avoid obstacles, and make sure you don't lag behind. Viruses linger and will follow this mass of people, snapping at your heels and attempting to devour anything nearby. Can you fight without your hands? It may be time to find out.

The night sky is a bit cloudy and your only source of light is the moon and the glow of lights on buildings you pass by in all districts. The walk shouldn't take you long, but as you venture further away from the center of the city the sun begins to rise and obscures your vision a bit.

Has time sped up? Or are you simply walking further than you thought? What an interesting question.

II-A. - IN-GAME CHARACTERS ONLY
The navigation app leads the group through a long, winding journey that ends just beyond the furthest point of Tisse as the day breaks. As the app chimes, the air before you shimmers as a glass-walled building materializes. Unlike the other buildings in the city, it appears to be solid and smooth, lacking the pixelated quality a majority of the city has by now. The human chain breaks and you let go of your neighbor. You're now free to explore this place.

Stepping inside, you find rows and rows of glass cases and chambers off to the sides and in stacks. Accommodated with work stations and instruction manuals, you may find yourself drawn to these computers before the empty cases. While the manuals appear old and frayed, there are instructions one can follow to create the person of their dreams. Are you looking for someone athletic? Simply change the input for a higher muscle mass than your average model. What about someone funny? Copy and paste some knock-knock jokes to embed in their code. It's easy to create anything you desire. The book allows for anything, even those who aren't exactly human. As you code and build, the glass cases and chambers begin to fog up, smoke whirling around inside as something begins to grow and take shape.

Be careful! You may have a clear vision in mind of what you wish to create, but the programming may have other ideas…

…for those who don't wish to experiment for themselves, or those who are strong enough to shake off those urges, there are several other floors to explore. Unlike the cases downstairs, these ones are occupied and filled with finished models pre-labeled "Projected Example" or "Reboot". Perhaps these faces are familiar to you, or they're someone who looks interesting. A lost friend. Someone from your memories. Someone who you feel doesn't belong encased in glass at all. The possibilities seem endless when it comes to who you'll find inside, but as you continue to stare at the case before you…the glass cracks.

II-B. - TDM/FOURTH WALL CHARACTERS.

Where are you? The last thing you remember was a wavering, dizzy spell that forced your eyes closed as you fell unconscious. Upon awakening the glass walls around you are stifling and thick, white and blue smoke dances around your ankles as you blink away black spots impeding your vision. Trapped inside a glass case held behind glass walls, it becomes clear that you aren't where you're supposed to be. Any items you had on your person are missing and the palm of your hand burns intensely for ten seconds as a black tattoo forms.

Branded as either a "Projected Example" or "Reboot", it isn't easy to understand what these terms mean. Perhaps that isn't what's important though. Rather, what's important is breaking your way out of this glass case and figuring out where you are.

Shadowed figures can be seen walking the hallways just outside your case, sometimes alone or sometimes with a friend. It's hard to make out any of their features, but you can hear the muffled words being said. It's only when someone is close to your case that you find your strength. The glass begins to spider crack under the pressure of your hand, allowing you to push and punch as much as necessary to break free.

There's no shame in needing assistance, of course. Some cases are thicker than others, and as the glass begins to crack it becomes easier to be heard by those outside of your case. How will you escape? Who will you find on the other side of the glass? It's a mystery and one that will not be answered until you free yourself of your enclosure.

Breaking free is easy if you try and it gives you a full range of motion. The glass won't harm you, but sparkles adorn your skin as the sunlight shines through the windows around you. You're free to explore the floors of the building and check out the other glass cases nearby. Perhaps you'll even lend a hand and help others who are trapped.

How did you all get here? That's yet another mystery that doesn't seem to have an answer, but more importantly…how do you get out of the building? This place is huge.

III. - OTA

Lucky for you, this building seems to be a safe haven from the crazy world outside. Though several stories tall and filled with cases and equipment as far as the eye can see, nothing strange seems to be happening and navigating the building is almost a pleasant experience. The glass walls allow for plenty of late-summer sunshine to filter in, giving you and everyone you're with a path to follow.

This path, however, won't lead you to the front door. The front exit no longer exists and any attempts to reroute to it will send citizens on their way through the halls of the building again. Several doors and laboratories are found on the journey though you may not enter. Labeled areas such as "memory restoration", "accounting", "legal" and "resources", these areas are scattered and just beyond your reach.

As you venture through the building and exit out the back door, the sound of music hits you full-force. Bright lights, thick grass and the sounds of children laughing await you. The grounds are vast and empty of other people. While the area is large and sprawling, it's evident that several iconic pieces of this area are missing.

A large sign hangs overhead, greeting you and welcoming you to Rainbowland. Complete with a carousel, children's rides such as spinning tea cups, bumper cars, the hurricane and the octopus, and a midway full of games, this amusement park looks like the perfect place to spend an afternoon.

Along with the usual set-up, Rainbowland is host to a special event for the next week. Scattered throughout the grounds are banners and stalls proudly proclaiming "WELCOME TO RETROSPEC." Carnival food of all kinds can be found at these stalls with the Retrospec logo plastered on the side. Eat these foods at your own risk! Sweets will grant consumers super-speed, meats such as hot dogs and burgers kick in a boost of super-strength, fried foods will cause a consumer to move in slow motion and drinks may cause temporary invisibility. Weird, right?

The midway has a few strange surprises as well. While most games are easy to play (and free at that, why isn't anyone around to take tickets from park visitors?), there are certain games set up by Retrospec themselves that have equally strange prizes. Stuffed animals of a variety of creatures from other worlds line the shelves (some you may or may not recognize), along with glass dolls of you and people you know. The likeness of these prizes is a little too spot-on; dolls will spout a common catch-phrase and stuffed animals will feel as though they are breathing.

Finally, in addition to the Rainbowland rides, Retrospec has provided a wooden roller coaster and a large ferris wheel, both branded with their logo. For those who wish to feel the rush, the roller coaster reaches speeds of up to 60 miles per hour and comes with several hills and one full upside-down loop. Riders, however, will experience brief hallucinations after this loop; as the loop completes they'll find themselves seeing visions of a dark, underground river. The hallucination seems within reach almost as if the cart they're in will dive straight into the water. The ride ends with all riders unharmed, however.

As for the ferris wheel? It's just a ferris wheel, several stories high with bright blue, encased cars to give riders a bird's eye view of the entire city and protect them inside. As you reach the top, the car will come to a gentle stop and the view from the window will change. Instead of the beloved city of Recollé, the landscape below is different. Perhaps it's a landscape you recognize, or it's an area of a battle-ridden world. Perhaps you see your friend's high school that they've seen in their memories or islands from another life. Every view is different, but by the time you reach the ground again you're back in Recollé.

It's a carnival and it's fun, but several things that don't belong to Rainbowland seem off. Those with a keen eye and who have been around for a while may come to realize one important factor; the symbol is drawn inaccurately. The Retrospec symbol is missing a few loops and the particular shade of blue used is too dark to match.

A counterfeit Retrospec...is it possible?

Maybe it's best just to stick with what Rainbowland itself has to offer.

IV. - OTA
So maybe carnivals aren't your thing. No matter! You can leave Rainbowland whenever you'd like and make your way back to the city.

On the other hand the city and areas around it may not be as you remember it. "Projected Examples" might not recognize this place at all, but "Reboot" will recognize that the pixelation of buildings, the NPC status of people they may know and the glitches that occur aren't normal by any standards. Exploring the city will allow all visitors to ride the trains and visit the various locations Alphas and Betas have access to, create and travel through the digital scape of half-constructed concepts, and they'll find they're even more susceptible to being attacked by bug-like viruses. These viruses will follow newcomers, snapping and biting to try and devour them. Defeating one will generate two more, and while they aren't as prominent in the digital scape you may find yourself with your hands full.

There is no way to reach the outside regions of Pesgare, Respatrum, Bosuma and Magatus at this time, but there's plenty in the city to keep you on your toes. Visitors may have to find lodging for the next few weeks whether that's with friends or strangers, but at least all of the buildings remain standing.

And if that doesn't keep you busy enough, the NPC citizens of Recollé are happy to provide you with jobs. If you choose to speak to any of these people, they'll go off of their pre-assigned dialogue and provide you with a small quest.

"Find ten bananas and deliver them to someone with red hair."
"Pet every dog that you see."
"Catch three fish from the ocean and sell them to a neighbor."

Some of these quests may not even make sense, but they'll be assigned nevertheless. Upon completion of each quest taken on, a triumphant sound will play from overhead and a banner will appear displaying your new title. Deliver those bananas? "Gone Bananas" will flash over your head. How about those fish? "So Long and Thanks For..." will linger for a while.

Too bad no one told you those banners won't go away. When you're alone the title will be hidden, but as you speak to more people in the city the banner reappears, hovering over your head for the entire length of the conversation. The titles will change as you complete new tasks, but it appears as though they're permanent now. Congratulations!

BONUS. - OTA
Everyone will be equip with a handheld device much like a cell phone but downgraded. Containing only a drawing application, the game of Snake, the Retrospec app and the navigation app to lead you back to that glass building, it's...pretty useless. Technology in the city is hit and miss in its pixelated state, but perhaps it's better to ask the Retrospec network what the next step is.

While Alphas and Betas are still posting as their A/B IDs, "Projected Examples" and "Reboots" will find that all posts and comments are tagged as their status and their name. Examples and Reboots will also find that a "Welcome to Retrospec" guide pops up, giving them only a brief moment to read the guidelines before a bright flash appears, snapping their photo for their profile and connecting them to someone new on the network.

Whether you're sending or receiving messages, a string of colored text, numbers and code will leave or enter your device. These devices also need to be charged constantly, so be careful when taking them out of the house! You'd hate to get cut off at the worst possible moment, wouldn't you?

Welcome to the

recolle test drive meme, fourth wall event, and September event part two! Please review these instructions for this particular event! As we are combining a few different options here, we want to ensure players know what options are available. Thank you!

All characters who are TDMing 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!

Since this is a special event, the TDM is tied with a fourth wall event as well! For players who are fourth-walling characters (canon versions, different canon AUs, CRAU, versions from other games, etc), please label your top-level as "Projected Example." Players who are TDMing to app will fall under "Reboot" and we ask that you label your top-level as such! And finally, characters in-game are not required to label their top-levels with anything. This way, it's easier for your gamemates to know who's TDMing, who's just playing around, and who's already in-game.

For Prompt III, any characters who choose to ride the ferris wheel will be able to see the landscape of any canonical world once they're at the top. It doesn't matter if they would recognize it or not, but the image will be brief until the car moves again! Likewise, stuffed animals won from the Retrospec midway games can be creatures your character would recognize from their memories or from other canons they may or may not recognize. Use your best judgment!

Prompt IV may be used to create new scenarios and threads based on the prompts from Part One of September's Event! Please feel free to read the prompts in event log one and create your own scenarios for your top-levels. Additionally, you are free to make up your own silly/serious fetch-quests and titles that would be rewarded to your characters.

While normally we do not allow this, please remember that current players may earn one freebie by threading with someone who is TDMing! This thread must contain 5 consecutive comments from you to be eligible. In addition, all players may use any threads accrued in this event for bonus points.

As a special note, we will also allow current players to use a thread from this Fourth Wall/TDM/Event for their AC proofs! As this ties into a game-event, we are making an exception. However, your other proof(s) (at least ten comments) must come from sources outside of this log. Likewise, as this is an event log instead of just a standard TDM, you may use this log to trigger regains as normal.

Please note: you will need a reserve to apply, and current characters must have full AC posted at the time of their reservation.

Your September 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. well this is creepy as fuck

a. those in glass cases
[ well. whether or not dave strider recognizes anyone in the cases, he'd feel pretty bad about just leaving someone in them. sure, he's quicker to respond if he recognizes a face inside, but you might not have the slightest idea who he is when he breaks the glass with the hilt of his sword to get you out.

it's just some mysterious dude in jeans and a sweater, okay. and sunglasses. at least there's sunlight outside to explain those!

(he wears the dumb shades even at night. rip.)

dave holds out his right hand to steady you as you come out of the case, at least. ]

You doin' a'ight? That probably wasn't fun. I mean, if you were aware in there. I...assume you might''ve been? In which case, like, wow, probably claustraphobic, yeah? Want to go outside? We can probably go outside.

[ of course, this is the response netted if he doesn't know you. if he does, i will specially write you something, ok. ]

b. those who are not any longer or never were
[ if you're not caught up in a case, however, whether you were previously and escaped or if you're an in-game character who was never caught, dave can be found occasionally peering into the cases and frowning - moreso the ones that have been broken out of, as he is interested in trying to free the ones who haven't.

he toes at some of the glass shards on the floor, frowning. ]

You know, it's one thing when department stores decide to celebrate holidays early. But it's like, one month too early for this creeptastic bullshit. Or, like, why hasn't Christmas broken the front lines here, too? I'd take mistletoe bats over whatever the fuck this matrix bullshit thinks it's goin' towards.

[ he's mumbling to himself, maybe, or maybe talking to you? it can be hard to tell with dave. ]

iii. may as well have fun at the fair though

a. carnival games
[ dave's actually pretty good at some of them! others, though? well, he can't seem to win the water pistol race thing no matter what he does, and after losing aGAIN he huffs a long-suffering sigh. ]

Okay. I have to regain my honor here somehow, let's do a different game or have a real live race. Ten losses can be avenged with one win. Hell, I'll even take a tie at this point.

[ yeah he's like. REALLY bad at the gun-related games, it's kind of hilarious. ]

b. weird-ass monsters
[ he does eventually win at least ONE prize but he holds up the stuffed monster from [insert your canon here tbh] and just. what is this. ]

My mascot knowledge is usually pretty on-point and enclyclopedic because, like, of course I have only the most useful information memorized and that was way more useful to my life than, say, the periodic table, but yeah I have no idea what the fuck this is.

[ he squeezes it experimentally. ]

...I think it's breathing. I should like. Throw this.

[ hMMM. and yet he just keeps kind of going ??? at it in his hands. good job, strider. ]

c. magical foods...
[ luckily (?) dave is way too fucking paranoid at this point to try the snacks, so -

yeah no. he's like...staring longingly at a caramel apple.... ]

I know that's probably gonna like put me in a poisoned sleep or turn me bright green or something equally absurd but like. Do you think it would be worth it? I'm leaning to "yes".

[ dave strider: professional idiot ]

d. ferris wheel
[ either you're already in the ferris wheel and he slides in at the last second, or he's waiting outside in the line, hands in the back pockets of his skinny jeans. dave gives a nod when he sees whoever, though. ]

Wanna see what fun and exciting way this thing's gonna mess with us? Because, like, I am a huge fan of heights. And slow scenic rides through the air. So, like, I'm goin' on it either way and you're more than welcome to make this terrible decision with me.

iv. sidequest central

[ dave loves random bullshit so obviously he is ALL FOR the random sidequests. maybe you catch him listening to an NPC giving a quest, or maybe you run into him on one...or maybe he comes up to you because of one of them.

whatever the case, he's apparently wasting a lot of time on this. god. ]

Hey. [ he gives you a once over, then hands over a...pack of gummy worms? ] That should about do it - yes.

[ his banner overhead now reads "what do you call a worm with no teeth?"

dave looks low-key delighted, which for him is a little half-smile. ]

I'm tryin' to earn the stupidest title possible. What do you think, is this a contender?

[ this is a terrible use of time? ]

wildcard

[ or write whatever and i will roll with it! feel free also to pm me for specific plans. i'm also willing to thread out canon!dave or awash!dave if you want the non-recolle flavor. ]

Edited 2018-09-18 01:59 (UTC)

[ Mafuyu's in the ferris wheel, but she's standing on her seat rather than sitting in it, with one of those tight lipped grins on her face like she's trying really really hard not to smile but she's failing. She failed. She can't help it; she loves Dave and while ferris wheels are boring af, it won't be for long. ]

Dave— you stand on the other side, and I'll stand here. On my signal, you're going to jump, okay?

See, you took my terrible idea and like, ratcheted it up to eleven. I knew I could count on you, Mafuyu.

[ why the actual fuck is he going along with this! this is a terrible idea you idiots! and yet dave is getting into a standing position on the other side... ]

[ He can always count on her, just like she knows she can count on him. She makes sure the ferris wheel starts moving before anything else— their carriage lifts off the ground just over ten feet, too high for anybody to run up and grab them and pull them back down. It's too late to stop them.

One- two-

She jumps and stomps down on her side as hard as she can, the carriage swaying a little under her force, and when it starts swinging back to her side— ]

Dave! Go!

[ If they time this right, alternating jumps, theoretically they can make the entire carriage swing back and forth like a swing that gets higher and higher. It's like the teacups; you've got to put your own power into it to make the ride run. ]

[ this is totally dangerous and completely insane but you know what? dave strider doesn't mind. also, he is a master of time. so as long as mafuyu keeps up a pace he can work off of, he'll time things to land when she's in the air.

and their ferris wheel thing should rock!

hopefully not off the rails but u know. ]

[ The plan was to rock it off the rails, but it'll be them versus the engineers that designed the ride. The pace is fairly slow, set by the weight of the carriage that has to swing on its pivot, but they're approaching horizontal--

but also everybody in the carriage above and below them and possible more are screaming, indistinct but loud and Mafuyu laughs. ]

Look, they're having fun!

[ Listen to those screams of terror, Dave, does't that warm your heart? ]

I think they might be screamin' out of something else, actually?

[ AND YET...HE KEEPS JUMPING IN TIME WITH MAFUYU????????

DAVE????????????? ]

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