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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

[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)

[She turns her attention back to the fire as well, still lazily stirring the embers around.]

Guess that depends on what your definition of a good person is. Helping out new people, including risking your life to save a person you've only just met? I'd say that's good person material. Not sure I'd be much help with friendship, though... even the people I was closest to on set haven't texted me since we wrapped.

In a way, I'm kinda in the same boat. I came here to try and prove I'm more than just the part I play. [She lets out a hard laugh, shaking her head.] Granted, I thought I'd do that by taking part in a couple of shows with award winning directors, not discovering this app and fighting monsters.

When you put it like that, good point. I guess I don't know if I'm good on the inside you know?

Sounds incredibly lonely...surrounded by people but not really connecting with any of them.

[When she mentions how she thought she was going to prove herself Al laughs with her.]

On the bright side, the producers can't throw anything at you more stressful then what the app will.

Think of it as extreme method acting, I like to see Tom Cruise run from all those monsters like we did.

Who among us really is good, though?

...oh good lord, I sound like someone who just took their first philosophy course. Sorry. But the fact that you're worried about that kinda makes me think you are? Crappy people don't think about stuff like that.

[She smiles, the expression a little warmer this time.]

I already know a little stage fighting and I've started taking fencing lessons, but this will definitely give me a new skill set for the next role.

As for that... it can be pretty lonely, but I know it makes people happy when they watch the show. That's why I don't mind doing the signings. It's nice to know I can do a little bit to make someone else's life a little better.

But... it's not wrong to want something for yourself at the same time, is it?

[Al chuckles a bit, smiling a bit appreciating that even a stranger, thinks he is good...maybe the other's were right, maybe he is way to hard on himself.]

At least your not smacking me with chopsticks, unlike the first time I talked about good and evil. Which, geez, I think I need to get a rabbit's foot or something for my bad luck now that I'm thinking about it.

I don't really think there is anything wrong with that, none of us are born to just give to the world without taking something for themselves.

[Says the theif]

Oh yeah, you could definitely do your own stunts like their nothing.

Who knows, maybe you'll get some magic and really bring magic to every performance.

20 bucks says people will still complain it's a "fake effect" even if it's legit.

[She allows for the possibility she could be wrong, but he hadn't even hesitated to use his power to save her, even at the cost to himself. He'd have to do something pretty awful to change that opinion.]

To be fair, if I had chopsticks I'd probably be throwing them into the fire. I've never believed in lucky rabbit's feet though. Wasn't very lucky fro the rabbit, was it? [Her expression turns thoughtful.] Tell you what. When we get back to town, I'll try and find you a place where we can get you an omamori. My grandpa gave me one for my first audition.

[The thoughts of how this insane world might propel her acting career are making her forget about the stress, at least for a little while.]

I would love to use magic, but what are the odds of that happening? Oh, I can already see all the videos online trying to break down how the tricks work. They'd be good for a laugh!

[Al didn't think about it as a cost to himself, he wanted friendship. Almost desperately a friendship that could last and not taken away from him by fate like so many others. Even at his worst, he was usually under the influence of something else or he had very good reason to do it.]

You know, how did a rabbit's foot become good luck anyway? Seems kind of dumb, but so does walking under a ladder...It's just common sense that you don't, if it falls on you, yeah, bad luck, but the ladder didn't do anything.

What's an omamori?

[Al thinks a little bit, about her odds and more importantly, how ridiculous the explanations could go]

Hmmm, I really don't know. Even if you don't have magic, you could get something like super strength or something. So it's still possible for people to go "Wait, how does she lift three people like it's nothing? That has to be CGI right?"

OR you could fly! and people will still try to find the wires...who knows, maybe you'll do a superhero role, cheesy cape and all for, half the budget.

[Al smiles a bit wider, trying to think of ways the app could be good for her acting career or how people might react, is actually a bit fun. His old conspiracy theory gears are turning to try to come up with something ridiculous he might have heard before the app.]

[That's a good question, and she has absolutely no clue as to the answer.]

I bet it was someone who hated rabbits. That's the only explanation.

An omamori is an amulet... normally get them from a shrine, but I don't know how easy that would be to find here. But there are always other options if I can't find one!

[She snickers, thinking back to some of the shows she used to go to at the Magic Castle when she was still living on the west coast.]

Oh, they'd go nuts trying to figure out how I pulled off that kind of an illusion. But hey, I'd go for one of those super hero movies. If it goes well, you're set for life!

[It's nice to think of the positive aspects of life in this city thanks to the app. She'd been so busy trying to fight off her anxiety she'd never looked for the silver lining.]