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TEST DRIVE

MARCH TEST DRIVE
The city of Recollé...

...probably needs your help.

I.
Like most holidays, Mayor Mayer will come up with any excuse to hold a celebration and have fun in the city. Today for St. Patrick’s Day, the city seems to be awash with shades of green almost overnight. Green ribbons, lights, shamrocks and garland adorn every windowfront and street lamp. Corned beef and cabbage are the specialty at several of the hottest restaurants in the city. Shamrock shake season is back in action, and mint-flavored coffees are available at both A Good Bean and Expressive.

You could just celebrate with some fun and silly traditions today. Or you could slowly realize there’s a distinct hissing sound coming from somewhere near your feet. As you look down, a serpent winds itself around your ankles before slithering off down the street to follow someone else. One by one, several snakes of all shapes and sizes begin rising up from bushes and sewers and tall grass, taking up space on the sidewalks and the streets of the city. Traveling in packs, these snakes slowly start invading the city and turning up in places you may not anticipate, leaving you to have to fend them off and chase them out of city limits.

Mayor Mayer puts out an emergency alert, demanding all citizens work together to fight back against this snake epidemic. Will you work together to get rid of these creatures and release them back into the wild? Or will you find yourself overwhelmed and looking for a place to hide?

II.
At the beginning of the month, two large domes eclipsed the Recollé Art Museum and the Atrium, the city’s concert venue. The "Modern Living" display has been open for a few weeks, depicting life in the city of Recollé with art pieces and sculptures inspired by buildings and famous figureheads of the city including the police chief, the fire department, and Mayor Mayer. But even with that display at the frontmost portion of the museum, it’s the commotion further inside the museum that’s drawing in the crowds.

Word on the street is that people are beginning to see famous works of art run amuck through the city. At first, it seems like they’re just stories, but as you step out of the museum after an educational afternoon (or even if you happen to be in Appraassage), everywhere you look the art pieces begin to take on a life of their own, slipping out of the museum into the city. With these figures running around, the city continues to warp to their familiar backgrounds and create a new image of the city itself. Several citizens have been working to try and persuade these pieces back to the museum, but they could use an extra hand. Some of the art pieces are quite talkative and may even befriend some people! Others, however, seem to want to find replacements so they may spend more time outside of the museum, capturing an unwitting suspect to drag back toward their frames and lock them away.

Luckily, there’s a way to combat them after weeks of varying success. Should you encounter one of these works of art, a simple touch with a paintbrush will freeze them, plastering them to nearby objects for easy portability. Good luck getting them to hold still long enough to find a paintbrush though. You may need to work on the art of persuasion in order to send them back.

III.

The Atrium seems to be having trouble with their electricity issue still, the lighting issue still unsolved as employees look into the wiring and circuit breakers to bring back the power. As employees continue recruiting strangers off the street to try and locate the source of error, you’ll find yourself among these groups that are brought into the dark concert hall and sent on a mission to check the sockets of the building and ensure everything necessary is plugged in.

Even with a light source such as a cell phone or a flashlight, the light doesn’t spread too far as the sound of leathery wings flap somewhere above you. The sockets in the walls are filled with cords that are plugged in or places that spark with silver-white lights. Getting too close is dangerous, and should you lean too close to examine you’ll find yourself getting shocked and blown away from the wall.

A small, electric buzz fills your ears as a closed circuit overtakes you, rotating around your body and providing you with a light source and a dangerous kind of weapon. Electrically charged, anything or anyone you touch will run the risk of being shocked and burned. The lights are out in the wings, and somewhere up above you’ll hear the flapping again as a large, skeletal bat swoops down from the rafters to challenge you. This bat is in the same situation as you are, crackling with electric energy that can shock anything that gets close enough. It will be relentless, following you through the music hall until you find a way to escape, or you fight back and shock the creature into a state of confusion. Light returns to the bulbs above for every hit the monster takes, but that’s still pretty dangerous, isn’t it? Fighting fire with fire is a risky position to be in, but it looks like you don’t have much of a choice here.

IV.
There’s also something weird going on at the Recollé Zoo. A silver door stands out against the brick building, but as you approach it, the color shifts from silver to blue. Should you open this door, you’ll find yourself entering an area with a blast of snow hitting you straight in the face, a whirlwind temporarily blinding you as the door closes behind you. Inside an icy cave, you’ll find several small, egg-like structures with unborn creatures suspended in time. The mouth of the cave lies before you, ergo the exit from this weird region.

Be careful on your way out of the cave, however. Even briefly nudging one of these eggs will cause it to splinter and crack, the creature hatching from the ice and beating its small fists against the ice-eggs next to them. It’s a chain reaction as these little monsters awaken one by one, freeing their brethren and swarming the area. Rushing for the mouth of the cave, you may see them disappear into the snow and dive down, hiding in wait and ready for attack as they trip you up, cause you to fall on your face and temporarily freeze your limbs. You’ll have to fight your way through these groups out into the snow and all the way back to the other exit hidden among the tundra. A silver door can be found on top of a snowy hill, but the journey forward is a long and treacherous one.

Better move fast. The snow shifts beneath your feet and you’ll find yourself sinking down the further you go. Hope you dressed warmly.

BONUS.
The new app on your phone won’t leave you alone no matter how many times you quit it. Retrospec is desperate for your attention, blinking and flashing until you open the new message waiting for you. Upon opening it, however, it might not be the message you were expecting to see.

Hey, welcome, sorry this is so last minute but we’re in the middle of an operation right now. I think this was already in the works before the rest of the team disappeared but I’m doing damage control to get you up to speed. Some of the others might be able to explain it better than I can though. Post to the forum, ask around, and forward all other questions to my office. Z.

The message disappears just as quickly as it came, presenting you with a directory of people to reach out to. However, all of the names seem to be missing, leaving you with a list of randomly generated letters and numbers. Take your chance and click a name. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find someone helpful.

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, threads on the TDM can be used for bonus points but also memory regains. Players may also earn one (1) freebie memory regain by turning in a thread of 5+ comments with a character who's TDMing.

Friendly reminder that current players must have full, passing AC before submitting a reservation or an application.

Your March 2019 AU workshop is here! Our mod questions thread for this TDM is over here!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He didn't really think about the lack of clothing in this situation until he felt her touch on his muscular upper body.

Such soft hands, did she use moisturizer? His body should be very warm to the touch, right? WAIT! Monsters! RIGHT! Monsters...focus on those.]

I won't, but let's try to laugh at this someday, okay?

[Al shoots off a blast of fire, like a flamethrower to melt some of the snow with the intense heat and hopefully scare some monsters, then he sprints, keeping in mind his cute passenger he tones the speed down a bit, but HOLY this hill is HUGE!

Even with his super speed in this form, the snow and carrying a passenger make this difficult. He shoot off more flame from the knife as he runs, to both get monsters and to melt snow with the intense heat of the blasts.]

[It's awkward to be sure, though Asami is running on a powerful mixture of annoyance and anxiety, worried about escaping these creatures(and not hurting them if possible, she doesn't want to get banned from one of her favorite places) and wishing there was more she could do and not let him do all the work.]

That's going to depend on how this ends.

[As Al scorches the surroundings as they dash by, Asami can feel the heat from the attacks in her perch. All things considered, she's handling this pretty well.]

[Or at least she was, until she saw several of the newborn monsters scrambling for the exit to block their way. Maybe it's a fear induced illusion, but they start to blend together, less a group of monsters and more a tidal wave... one that's going to slam into them before they can reach the exit.]

Look out! [Well. That's helpful.]

[Is now a good time to mention, he thinks he died in his last life via tsunami?

Upon seeing the massive tidal wave, it practically gives him a flashback and he is stunned for a few moments.

So when she said yelled, it snapped him to reality, two things he can do...and he hates the backup plan.]

Cover your ears if you can.

AMON ZEL SIKA!

[A massive explosion of fire erupts violently in front of them, it sounds like a massive bomb had gone off, he had wanted intense heat more then actual flames, whatever snow was left had turned into water instantly and some had evaporated, making the place humid as hell.

If this didn't work, against the tidal wave monster, he has one more trick up his sleeve, but she might have to drag him out.]

Edited (reword and changed icon) 2019-03-21 17:35 (UTC)

[Meanwhile, Asami is about five seconds away from jumping down and snatching that weapon away from him and hacking her way through if she has to. She's already formulating strategy when he says to cover her ears. It's not exactly easy to do without jumping off, and she practically puts him into a full nelson. She'll apologize later.]

Whoa! [She somehow wasn't prepared for the brightness of it all, and it takes a little while for her vision to clear. When it does, she's relieved to see that the creatures ahead of them are gone, and any that are left are keeping their distance. She hops down off his back and moves to look at him, the expression on her face unreadable at first.]

You...

[Then a foot stomps into the now-mushy ground, her hands balling into fists thrust down at her sides.]

Are you CRAZY?!? You might be fireproof, but I'm not! And what if we're still in the zoo? We're going to have to pay for this!

[She'll, uh, get around to the thanking part eventually. Just let her vent a minute.]

[Al squints, it's not that he doesn't get where she is coming from.

He makes a very tired sigh and rubs his forehead]

First off, we aren't in the zoo anymore, probably another dimension, been through mysterious doors before.

And I'm sorry...you must be terrified, would you believe me if I said that I panicked for a moment too?

I did what I thought would get us both out of here alive if we had time I would have talked to you about it.

I didn't actually hurt you though, did I?

[He generally sounds patient and understanding, even if at times some annoyance comes through]

[Those are some excellent points. For the moment at least, Asami will ignore all of them in favor of venting.]

Being in another dimension isn't exactly comforting. Getting out of this cave is one thing, but it looks like there's a near blizzard outside and neither one of us is equipped for it. That still leaves the problem of getting home.

[She puts a hand to her temple, trying to steady her breathing.] It's moments like this, when I'm trapped on a possible ice planet with someone who can light himself on fire that I really wish I'd listened to what my mother said when I was younger.

[Thankfully those breathing exercises start to kick in, and the sheer panic gives way to more rational thought.]

I... I'm fine. And... I'm sorry, it's just, well, the strangest thing I saw before I moved here was the poetry open mic at my favorite coffee shop.

[She bites her lower lip, then offers him a slight bow.]

M-my apologies for venting at you like that. And thank you for saving us from those things. You're not hurt, are you? Or tired from using an attack like that?

[Al clenched his fists and takes deep breathes, it's not really anyone's fault.]

It's... it's alright...this is scary stuff. I'm fine for now, but my magic is finite, if I run out, I die.

I can pull that trick off once maybe twice more before I have to recharge. If I must I have something with more kick, but I would be useless for a while.

IF I took my freaking bag we would be fine...

[Okay, that's good information to have. They just need to--

[Wait. Wait. Did he just say he'd die if he ran out of magic? For a moment she looks angry again, though there's concern mingled into the expression as well.]

You... [Deep breath again.] You'll need to be more careful then. Hopefully we can find a way out quickly, but we'll need to handle things more strategically so you don't run the risk of getting hurt.

[She glances over her shoulder, where a few of the monsters are still eying them.] We should move out of here. This cave might've been their home after all. And if we can find something along the way I can use to fight with, that will help. I've had some fencing training because of my job, so I can be useful.

[Finally, her expression softens into a smile.] And since it looks like we're traveling companions, at least for a little while... I'm Asami.

[Al smiles back softly, is she worried because she needs him to live for now? Or because she actually cares?

He rather believe the second, but he doesn't think he is worth the fuss, so the first one works. He extends a hand to shake.]

Al, and don't worry, I get sore and tired when I'm low on magic. Recharging isn't hard, I can rest, or absorb another source of fire.

It's nice to meet you, I think this is the 2nd most awkward meeting I've ever had.

and I'm good friends with number one, hopefully, we get to be good friends too.

[Al actually looks outside and notices the blizzard]

Oh, we might just be half a day north of the city...

that's strange, if this was a shortcut, this should be a two-way door and, no monsters.

There might be an abandoned town nearby, and hopefully, the buses are still coming, or the door that I went through earlier this month might be there.

If anything else, it's shelter and we can probably loot some things.

[She shakes his hand, even manages something approaching a smile. She's still a little too panicked and weirded out to come across as cheerful, but it looks like the anger has abated for now. Progress?]

I'm scared that a more awkward meeting than this is even possible. But it would be nice to have a few more friends here in the city, no matter how strange the circumstances are.

[The whole situation is far afield of anything she dealt with in her career, but she closes her eyes and thinks about it from a different perspective, the side of herself that's been playing video games for years.]

This almost seems like a trap. But if not, I'd be willing to bet there's another exit hidden away somewhere. [She shoves her hands into the pockets of her hoodie.] I've always done well in the cold, but this might be pushing it, especially a journey that long. Maybe there's cold weather gear in that town, even something to protect us. If that's where we are, of course.

[Excuse her while she douses any positive thoughts with a bucket full of pessimism.]

[Al just smiles widely, she seems to be adjusting now and that is going to be helpful. Sides, it's clear now she is new to the app and she is open to friendship, even with all of this crap going down.]

She didn't see me shirtless in the first ten seconds, but it is still quite the story, I'll let you be the judge of how awkward it is later. But I think you would agree that it's at least as awkward as this.

[Trying to be a bit lighthearted to lift the mood a little.]

Seems like trying to find shelter that's not here is the plan.

I could set myself on fire, make the trip easier and if we can find places to rest along the way that would be grand.

Long shot, but it's probably better than staying here or going back down to look for another door since their mother might come back.

[With that, he closes his eyes and changes back, it's a small fading effect to him being his normal, non-muscular, clothed self. Jeans and a jacket he zips up and puts the hood over his head.]

If you've been through something like this twice, then you have rotten luck. [Oh look, there it is! It's a wry smile, prefacing a sarcastic comment, but a smile nonetheless.] If your luck's that bad, maybe I should just try my luck going solo.

That's our best bet. I don't think I like the idea of you using up your power so recklessly though. If the mother comes back... and thank you for putting that thought in my head... better we have a way to fight her.

[She pulls a magazine from her satchel and rolls it up, hopefully before he can see the picture of a couple of girls in fair costumes, including one with blue hair who might look a little... familiar.] Maybe you could just light this on fire and we could use that? I mean, that would work... right?

[It works in the movies!]

I'm ready if you are.

[Al just smiles to shoot back a sarcastic reply, because, what's a better way to bond with strangers then sarcasm?]

Awww, you welcome. It's always nice to know I'm so loved and appreciated.

It's a real gift.

[He doesn't notice what kind of magazine it is but he is thinking]

Hmmm, probably better to save in case we have to take shelter in a cave or small cabin.

So, I guess let's get to it then.

[Al looks at the door and steps outside...and feels the cold right away with her.]

[She tucks the magazine away once again before they leave. She'd really prefer they don't have to take shelter in any other caves because who knows what might be lurking in them, but she's prepared.]

[The cold's not so much biting as it is gnawing, cutting through the hoodie even as she pulls it more tightly around her face. Visibility's terrible, though it seems like the snow is slowing down at least a little.]

I hope you're having better luck seeing out here than I am. [And the snow itself feels a step or two shy of quicksand as it sinks beneath them.] I didn't bring a compass with me, since I didn't plan to go on an arctic expedition today.

[Al doesn't feel heat well enough normally, but the cold makes that problem much worse. He looks around, and he thinks he sees the outline of a building.

Points to it, shivering]

I think I see a building that way. Maybe we can wait out the storm there.

If I knew I was coming back here, I would have brought magic soup among other things.

[It's none too soon, as the cold is beating Asami down something fierce at this point. She nods, pressing forward through the storm even though she's having trouble navigating the snow. Flats aren't exactly the ideal footwear for an arctic expedition.]

I can think of a couple dozen things I'd probably have with me!

[The building's small, and it's seen better days, but it doesn't look like there are any gaps letting the cold air and snow in, at least. She throws open the door, fingers crossed there aren't any other monsters lurking inside.]

[It took a while with all the snow, he checks on her occasionally

In fact, it looks like no one has been here for a while, it was an older cabin! No electronics in sight, but there is a fire place!

Al closes the door behind them,feeling some relief but still very much cold]

Not a summer cabin by a lake...but I'll take it.

Oh sweet, a fire place, hopefully there are things to burn!

[His words give her pause. Her grandparents had always dreamt of a cabin just like that. She'd wanted to buy it for them eventually... if only the gig on her show had come sooner. When she answers him, her expression is more pained that it probably should be.]

It has four walls and a roof, and they're all intact. Don't need much more than that, do we?

[She glances to her satchel again, then pulls out the magazine and throws it in, making a point that it goes in face down. The truth is she has several copies in there, along with some eight by ten photos and an arsenal of Sharpies. Leftovers from a less than successful signing, which was the entire reason she'd gone to the zoo to destress. Clearly, that worked out just as planned.]

I've got kindling, though I'm not sure how long it will last us. We could break up the little bit of furniture that's left, but... that feels wrong.

[Al had started to look around before she said anything, he did look back at her and see the pained expression on her face.

Did she have some painful memory she wanted buried too? He looks apologetic, assuming that was that case. Maybe it wasn't the same kind like his own, but still. He didn't mean his words to hurt her.]

Yeah, we got what we need.

We don't have to worry just yet, few pieces of wood. Not much but I guess it might burn for a few hours.

If my supply of bad luck is out for today, that could be all we need.

[The last bit was said a bit light-heartedly, referencing her sarcasm earlier.

Al has zippo problems cutting up the furniture, but, he won't say that for now.]

Hopefully a few hours will be all it takes for us to get our bearings and find a way home... and hopefully before your bad luck refreshes.

[She sits down by the fireplace, hugging her knees to her chest and finally letting out a long sigh.]

My destressing trip didn't work out quite like I planned, but I guess I can't say it was boring.

[Al just laughs, "bad luck refreshes". She isn't wrong about that, most of his life it's been rotten luck. He probably laughs harder then appropriate at that.

He sits in front of the fireplace cross-legged, at first, it barely sounds like he is breathing before he comments sheepishly.]

Sorry that you had to spend your trip with me.

If it makes you feel better, today I was trying to be a normal human being, then this happened.

[If she knew all of that, she'd probably feel pretty rotten about the hard time she's been giving him. There's a difference between being difficult and being a jerk and she would think she inadvertently crossed the line.]

To be fair, the cold and the ice monsters were the biggest problems.

It's never as easy as you'd think, trying to be normal, is it? Granted, I don't burst into flames like you do, but it can still be a struggle.

True, not the most ideal and chill circumstance to meet someone.

Is there a point to it? The normal thing? Or do we just build it up more then it is?

[Al suddenly realizes, wait...she is NEW to the app right? Cause she seems to talk about "normal" life like she was on the app for a while.]

Wait, how long HAVE you been on the app?

Edited 2019-03-28 15:50 (UTC)

I'm not sure. I thought it would be nice to try.

[She's quiet at first, snatching up a poker and jabbing at the flames within the fireplace a moment. He did save your life, Asami.]

I'm new to the app but my life wasn't even normal, even before that. Been acting most of my life, and I... might have a recurring part on a fairly successful show.

[She ducks her head forward.] I... kinda pretend to have powers like yours, as a matter of fact.

[Al stares at the fire for a moment, he considers for a moment to not bother with her, but...she opened a bit, so isn't he obligated to open in kind?]

Ohhh, and you wanted to get away from fans, paparazzi and what not?

I never had a hold on what was normal to begin with, been homeless a couple of times and the cops in LA didn't like me much.

App stuff is basically what I am...fighting monsters? Some help training? Giving the new person a heads up? I'm your guy...but... actually being a good person? A good friend?

I don't know...[the last bit was said sadly, remembering how he forgot his friend's birthday, how he's blown up on people, literally and metaphorically]

Edited 2019-03-29 18:54 (UTC)