recollecters: (Default)
Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] repeter2017-04-16 09:01 pm

APRIL TDM

TEST DRIVE
APRIL TEST DRIVE
The city of Recollé. A beautiful city you've called home for quite some time. While things can be a little weird, isn't that true of all homes? It's fully spring now, and there are flowers to be found everywhere. April's showers are a familiarity as well, the occasional downpour or drizzle keeping you on your toes.

What will you do today?

I.
April showers bring May flowers, right? Well, there are already plenty of flowers to be had, but that part of the old rhyme being true doesn't save you from the first part of it. While the weather forecasters do their best, their success rate for predicting the rain seems to be about fifty-fifty. Unfortunately, sometimes when they do predict the rain happening, they misjudge how bad it's going to be. Was the sky was clear when you last looked outside? It may not be quite so clear now. Hope you remembered to bring an umbrella today.

But it's not so bad, really! Maybe if you forgot to prepare, someone will share their umbrella with you. Not in the mood to talk to anyone? You can probably find some thrifty umbrella vendors on the streets of Tisse. When in doubt, there are always some loaner umbrellas scattered around in Apprassage at the Recollé Library as well. The library asks that you return any of the mismatched loaners found at the door, but it's not like the system is that strongly enforced. Well, other than the library stamp on the umbrellas, that is.

If you find yourself in Chata today, you could always buy a magazine off the street corners to hold overhead. If you look like you may buy something, vendors don't seem to mind if you idle under their awnings. Check out the latest fashions coming this spring while you wait it out. It looks like buckles are in, but some of the high fashion clothes look a little odder than usual. The hot, new dresses range from large like a billowing tarp to appearing more like an artfully arranged handkerchief than anything else. Fashion sure is weird sometimes.

II.
Recollé Square in Tribunal Terrace boasts a huge assortment of flower gardens scattered throughout the district, though they all appear to be whatever citizens felt like planting at the time. In fact, only flowers in Apprassage seem to match, especially around the University. Today, while the rain's stopped, a large group of people seem to be taking advantage of Recollé Square's mismatching for flower picking, crown and wreath weaving, and bouquet arranging. The activities seem to be loosely led by the city's PTA and some of the other socialite groups from around town. Then again, for long-standing citizens of the city this isn't unusual either. You seem to remember that this is an annual sort of thing even though there isn't actually a name for the event.

Some booths are set up around the park to swap seeds, flowers and food for cash or gossip, the guidelines a little more loose outside of the business districts. It seems as though lot of families are picnicking this weekend. There's even some kind of contest going on for the best flower crown - though usually the city tends to collectively pick a kid for the winner, so your best artistic talents might not get you the admiration you crave.

In addition, there's the most accurately judged flower-growing contest if you've been waiting for this day for a year or more, but that event tends to have the same people involved every year and the majority of Recollé isn't too heavily invested in it. They're here for the picnics and flower crowns, and it seems about the same as it always does. This year, though, there do seem to be more flowers than ever...and for that matter, they're a lot bigger than usual, too.

III.
Despite some of the fashion fiascos the magazines are displaying, maybe you should spend some time shopping this week. It may come as a surprise to you that your clothes haven't been fitting properly as of late. Those skinny jeans are just a hair too loose, and your favorite shirt seems baggier than it used to be. The problem, however, is that every shop you go to seems to stock clothes with the same issues. You're down a size or two or three, or maybe they're just marking everything down wrong. And surely you don't have the time or money to replace your entire wardrobe...will you take your chances? Complain to the store's manager? Or maybe you're an unfortunate soul who has to try and explain the unexplainable. Maybe offering a coupon will appease shoppers today.

IV.
Apparently walking around your neighborhood isn't quite as safe as it used to be - or it isn't safe if you want to trust your eyes. One second the little old lady who lives at the corner appears to be walking her pitbull just as she has every day for the last several years. The next, the pitbull is gone and she's walking a rather angry-looking caterpillar. Blink and you'll miss it, but as time goes on you'll see more and more of these larger-than-life insects wandering around. No matter how hard you try to explain it, the only other people who seem to see this as the least bit weird are people with the Retrospec app.

Oh, do you not have the Retrospec app? Think again. The sound of chirping crickets will follow you until the next time you look at your mobile device or a public computer, prompting you to accept a profile and upload a user picture. Congratulations! It seems as though you've been selected to be a new tester!

...it's going to be one of those days.

BONUS.
While the Retrospec app only infrequently has posts from the company itself - and those have thus far proven to be universally useless - this month there is an onslaught of updates. At least once per day there's a picture of a new type of flower or insect, along with a "fun fact" about whatever the company has posted.

Did you know, for example, that wasps feeding on fermenting juice have been known to get "drunk' and pass out? Ancient civilizations burned aster leaves to ward off evil spirits. Ticks can grow from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a marble. Roses are related to apples, raspberries, cherries, peaches, plums, nectarines, pears and almonds. Houseflies find sugar with their feet, which are 10 million times more sensitive than human tongues. Praying mantises prey on other insects, and perhaps you'd better watch your step.

Wait, what?

As usual, any attempt to get the company to reply about the increasingly disturbing information they're sending out is useless. The daily facts grow less and less useful and eventually seem to be nothing but fun facts about how flowers and bugs could kill you or one another. Kind of unfortunate for you, if this is your first time getting any messages whatsoever from the app. How do you unsubscribe? Good luck figuring it out.

Welcome to the [community profile] 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! The April 2017 TDM directory can be found here. The April 2017 Workshop can be found here. The mod questions comment is here.
sallonsy: <user name=awkward> (06)

1/2

[personal profile] sallonsy 2017-04-19 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh.

Marie's turn to heat up in embarrassment. Of course no one would be crying about their hospital bills in the middle of the rain! That only happens on her soaps. And she was so ready to pay for his brother's treatment, too! (Marie...) ]


I-is that so? No, it's alright. I should have realized it sooner... [ Like maybe it's an American joke? No? Oh well. ] I'm not angry, though. You have a true talent, Taichi.

[ no she's just naive ]
sallonsy: <user name=awkward> (02)

[personal profile] sallonsy 2017-04-19 09:39 am (UTC)(link)
And you are cute, so I forgive you.
extradordinary: (12.)

1/2

[personal profile] extradordinary 2017-04-19 09:51 am (UTC)(link)
Huh? You're not mad...?

[ Marie... Taichi actually looks astonished by this, like he can't believe she's so okay with it— okay with him, really. ]

H, haha...! You don't have to humor me, either!! I—

[ wait what ]
extradordinary: (4.)

[personal profile] extradordinary 2017-04-19 09:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ nnnnnoooooOOOoooOOOO

Cue him slumping back down into crouching position, holding his head with both hands and rocking back and forth on the balls of his feet.
]

H, hospital... now I really need to go to the hospital...

I can't breathe...

[ Shot through the heart, and Marie's to blame. ]
sallonsy: <user name=awkward> (01)

[personal profile] sallonsy 2017-04-19 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ I mean, ultimately, he didn't do anything bad. But now she's confused. What? Why??? Is he really that sickly?

???? ????????? ]


Oh no! That's terrible...

[ But Marie has a feeling that the hospital is not the answer. She bends over to lean in close enough to try and face him. Look at her!! ]

I know! We can go to the mall. Shopping always soothes my soul. After that, we can have a relaxing cup of tea. Or walk along the beach!

[ Things she hasn't had the time to do with anyone lately... Until now. It makes her chuckle. ]

I'm so glad I made a cute friend today... Now I have someone I can do all these fun things with together!
extradordinary: (7.)

[personal profile] extradordinary 2017-04-19 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ He can't look at her!!! She's too cute... help him.

But eventually he lifts his head and flashes the biggest smile he can manage, both because he can't believe his luck and because he's so grateful.
]

Jeez... you're gonna make a guy drop dead, y'know!

[ This is so unfair, it's the sort of thing that'd make him lie facedown in a puddle and cry for 5 hours if this weren't actually happening. A nervous laugh later, and he pulls himself up to half-crouch. ]

Okay, just— give me a second to not throw up. [ ???????? ? ? ? ? ??? ] —I'm super psyched, now! I'll hold all your bags, pinky promise.
rhygret: (goddamnit Handsome Hal)

[personal profile] rhygret 2017-04-19 11:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ That...is an oddly-relevant shot in the dark, wow. But actually not as far-fetched and sarcastic as Rhys would've interpreted it if h'd heard it only an hour ago. You know, before the whole "your dog is not a millipede, enjoy!" thing. ]

I...nnnno? I mean. I'm sorry sir, Mister Kaiba. There's definitely an insect...s-situation going on here. What is it exactly you think is going on with the bugs? Just. Out of curiosity.

[ And to cling to a tiny shred of hope that this isn't actually some psychotic break and is just reality going totally ass-backwards. It's actually the more preferable outcome in this scenario. ]
sharplydressed: (detective kashuu is on the case)

1!

[personal profile] sharplydressed 2017-04-19 11:18 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, my thoughts too.

[For that pensive "hmm", that is... He knows that fashion is often dancing on the edge of acceptable vs. ridiculous, but some of these things tip right over into Purely Ridiculous... That poncho isn't even sensible?? It looks like a tent?!

Either way, he doesn't have an umbrella to offer either, tragically. He's standing here weathering out the rain, himself, and had been passing the time judging fashion trends hardcore.]
flowrite: (fai-jealousy)

[personal profile] flowrite 2017-04-19 11:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Fai perks up at that--not that he wasn't already pretty perky, mind. But he's usually vaguely worried that people will look down on him for still taking classes at his age.]

Ah, I'm going back to get my masters in social work! Once I have that I can get my clinical license. What about--

[The words cut off, and Fai's steps slow. Speaking of age, something mildly horrifying has just occurred to him. What if he's planning to hit on a guy who might possibly be straight or could be nineteen years old? Not that Rhys looks like a teenager, but sometimes you just can't tell.]

You-- You're going back to school, right? You're not fresh out of high school?

[A somewhat diplomatic and yet horribly un-subtle way of asking "Please tell me you're not ten years younger than I am." There's a laugh on the edge of his voice, but he does look... mildly concerned.]
skald: (kuusikymmentäneljä)

[personal profile] skald 2017-04-19 11:31 am (UTC)(link)
[Man, the coffee place is a good idea, given how crowded the awning under La Playa is and the ever-present risk that one of the greeters is going to tell them to clear out so paying customers can sort through the discount books. Especially if they still have an hour of this...]

Well, can I buy you a coffee? --As a thank you for the bag! [she tacks on, lest he think that she's just asking him out and think she's weird, and now she's still talking] You just really helped me out and I still feel bad about taking it, so...
physix: (4)

[personal profile] physix 2017-04-19 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
W-Wow, I don't know what to say.

I could fall for you!! [Only that she means it literally, Akane nearly trips on Reiji while grabbing the flowers herself. ]

Sorry. Are you hurt?
skald: (seitsemänkymmentäyksi)

[personal profile] skald 2017-04-19 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
Mm, that's true... maybe I can play up the accent-- [she's about to start going into an elaborate scheme, her accent slipping into something more recognizably Finnish-influenced for the last few words. She is totally willing to use the foreigner card as an out if it might get them answers to the beetledog question

but oh, he's digging for his phone, now probably isn't the time.]


--Oh, that's a cute ringtone. [she says cheerfully, her accent back to almost-fluent. The strange thing, though, is that the chirping noise continues even when his phone is in his hand. After a few seconds, she slowly reaches into her bag to pull out her own phone. This is... getting a little too weird; she claps one hand over the top of her screen, glancing at Zaveid to see if he is also finding this strange.]
daemonized: (03)

[personal profile] daemonized 2017-04-19 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
[He chuckles at that. It's both humorous and disturbingly true.]

You knew the risks when you signed up for it. Inane questions, tedious staff meetings, a keen temptation to start drinking.

[One that Ardyn has mostly avoided, though he won't be one to ever turn down an invite.]

Do you regret it? Do the benefits not outweigh the risks to one's health?

[Ardyn's way of asking why she chose to teach.]
rhygret: (that sure did happen yup)

[personal profile] rhygret 2017-04-19 11:48 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh my god Fai, why. Why this?? Rhys looks young but he's certain he doesn't look...that young, does he? He puts a modest amount of thought and effort into his appearance when he gets up in the morning despite how little he usually cares about dressing up for his job from hell, but to find himself being asked that of all questions makes him sputter a little, halfway to eating a mouthful of ice cream.

He winds up having to catch some on the back of his hand when he wipes his mouth hastily. ]


Y, yes? I--why?? Do I look like I should be out of high school?
skald: (yksitoista)

ii

[personal profile] skald 2017-04-19 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
It's not wasting, it's a learning experience! [Tuuri says cheerfully, her arms full of yet more flowers in case the supply situation gets dire. Is this an Official Work Thing, or did she just happen to run into her boss at the park and volunteer herself to grab more without waiting for an answer in an attempt to be Helpful? Both are equally likely.] Besides, I'll take some of the flowers with the broken stems. I can just bobby pin it in.

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ Look at Mafuyu's hair and know that it would be the shortest braid, if it doesn't unravel right away. She reaches up to tug at a strand of hair as if imagining what it would look like to have flowers there, but then huffs in frustration and drops her hand. If the 7-year-old hadn't snorted, she would have, to get that point across. ]

When you win, you make friends! No one wants to be friends with a loser!

[ What are these passive motivations?! ...Alright, if that's what it'll take, Mafuyu will just have to give him that shojo life. ]

Fine— new terms! If you lose, you have to buy both of use a milkshake.

[ She might also break his arm. It's not sharing tea and dainty cakes in a cafe, but best case scenario, he's only down $10 and some pride. ]
creativenonfiction: (Tu 10:12 am fuck me in the ass)

[personal profile] creativenonfiction 2017-04-19 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
That's pointless. None of them would want to date you.

[kuNIKIDA]

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The badly drawn flowers— some with four uneven petals and some with six depending on how much space her poor planning allots— are all forgotten for the arrival of the bear claw and milk. If she was going to be difficult and withhold her name, it's the extra milk that wipes all thought from her mind. ]

Mafuyu Kurosaki! Who're you?

[ She sweeps her arm out across the table like a windshield wiper to clear out the space in front, then holds her hands out to receive the food. ]
buncho: (100)

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 12:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ What is something she can slap him with. Her fists are tempting. ]

I don't want to date them! I want their money!!

[ ah... ]

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 12:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. But those are the guys you need.

[ The fact that she might be bothering people is never given any consideration I guess ]

There's no school today, but the public library's open— all the nerds you could ever want in there.
standalonehuman: (TogusaLaugh2)

Re: Bonus

[personal profile] standalonehuman 2017-04-19 12:09 pm (UTC)(link)
It pulls a laugh out of Togusa, and he bats at her hand as if to wave it off. "Not like that, get your head out of the gutter, Mariko!" He points at her accusingly. "See? See. This is why we're not at the meeting the friends stage yet. But by all means do your worst. There's no way you're scaring her off."

He is able to find a picture on his phone and hands it over. The tone of his voice grows very fond. "She is brilliant and philosophical and completely out of my league but I'm going with it." He leans back in his chair casually. "The actual challenge is going to be finding a day that the both of us are off. You and me. Gentiana's on a University schedule."

"How bad they got you working right now?"
creativenonfiction: (2:30 am fuck me in the ass)

[personal profile] creativenonfiction 2017-04-19 12:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't sound so surprised. Why wouldn't I be here? I'm not so old I can't keep up with technology.

Shouldn't I be asking what you're doing here talking to me? I hoped I was finally free from you.
creativenonfiction: (11:50 am fuck me in the ass)

[personal profile] creativenonfiction 2017-04-19 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hokusai style. Kunkida waggles the umbrella around again.]

... It looks like a zebra.
creativenonfiction: (2:00 am fuck me in the ass)

[personal profile] creativenonfiction 2017-04-19 12:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[His intentions are pure.]

At least try to lie about it!!

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ If people don't want something sweet, they should get out of a bakery and buy sandwich bread. But that point isn't as important to make as Mafuyu scrunching up her face at Takumi's reaction to honey crystals. ]

You know, crystallized honey! You can crunch on it like candy and that's waaaay better than liquid honey! [ It's also waaaay too much sugar to eat all at once but okay ] You can get a big wad of it and stick it inside the bread if that's better, and it doesn't drip anywhere!