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.
true_noir: (Cloak15)

[personal profile] true_noir 2017-04-19 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[This girl, it would seem. She was definitely wearing one right then and looked quite comfortable in it. When the flowers were put on Chloe's head, she grinned at her and nodded. It was definitely weird, but then again... what wasn't weird these days?

Chloe smiled and motioned for her to follow while she walked over to some of the patches of flowers that she could see. She glanced at her and winked.]


Tell me a little about yourself. It will help me choose the flowers well.
originallutece: A+ joke would bark out a laugh again (happy; HAH)

[personal profile] originallutece 2017-04-19 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Call for a cab, then.

[She reaches for the other bottle, though she doesn't actually drink. She's going to need all the help she can get, right, and that means not officially starting til they get back to his place.]

And tell me a story or two. I'm the only reason any of the science in his books is remotely accurate; in exchange, he takes me out to dinner.
trappingheart: (pic#11274063)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-19 11:28 pm (UTC)(link)
...Even if you don't wanna get your socks wet, you're gonna get sick, dumbass.

[ The dirt is another matter entirely...still, she doesn't sound angry as much as she is chiding. Eijun's a bit on the dense side, but he's still a friend... ]

And you'll get even more sick if you give me your umbrella. Keep it above you and don't step into any goddamn puddles.

[ Still, it isn't as though they live far from each other. ...Maybe it wouldn't hurt just to stand next to him. As long as it's not too close. She has a reputation to consider. ]

They really made you practice in this weather? They're fucking slave drivers over there.
tire: fallencrows @ tumblr (very yelling)

[personal profile] tire 2017-04-19 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
BUT UR MY BIG BROTHER!!!!! CANT I ASK U ANYTHING BIG BROTHER SENSEI


plus u said its good 2 ask questions in class right?!?!?!

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She doesn't mind the word, so long as he doesn't actually do it? Not because it's gross, but because it's a waste of food and would be a damn shame to see. But she goes with it, like she goes with anything even if she's the one jerking things around, because there will be no puking today. ]

Oh! Let's do that, an ice cream eating contest! You'll get brain freeze before you puke, and then it's my win!

[ She's deciding this already, confident in how much she can eat and how quickly no matter who her opponent is, fistpumping in the air as she does because her hands are always out in the open, swinging at her sides, swinging at people's faces... Nervous habits have no place. ]
originallutece: ie fucking obnoxious as hell (talk; carries herself like a queen)

[personal profile] originallutece 2017-04-19 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
You inch ever closer to that category each time you give me that look, Ardyn.
sharplydressed: (captains gonna captain)

[personal profile] sharplydressed 2017-04-19 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Nope! Seeing it sit somewhere where it can shine is totally enough. Plus, it'd look way cute on you and it's pretty much my job to make sure people are always at their cutest.

[This dingus is just naturally the kind of person who hemorrhages compliments Just Because... It's both a blessing and a curse (for the people around him, mostly), since it means he's a walking embarrassment eight times out of ten.

That said, he'll hold the stem end out first in case he wants to take it for himself, but also offer:]


Want me to pin it in place?

[Since boy does he know how tough it can be, finagling flowers into the back of your own hair... The braid he's wearing today is speckled with baby's breath that he snatched up from arrangements in his home, and getting them to lay perfect at the very back had been actual hell.]
standalonehuman: (TogusaHeadScratch)

Re: Bonus

[personal profile] standalonehuman 2017-04-19 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey, you said it, not me," Togusa laughs and scratches his head in thoughtfulness. "But sometimes you just bring it out in women, I swear. 'Was not gay until met Mariko.' It needs its own category."

"That was not a challenge, by the way." Not. "We're safe. I think." He points a finger and eyes Mariko mock-suspiciously, but, just like with her, there's far too much amusement in his face for it to be serious.

"I don't see why they wouldn't give you one. There's enough problems that we can't solve without you. Hell, you've been here longer than most of the officers here, some of the detectives, too."
frilly: <lj user="coexistence"> (And that's why I called you today)

[personal profile] frilly 2017-04-19 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Wow a wink!! Winks are so cute... Madoka follows obediently. ]

Eh... It's kind of hard to talk about myself on command. Um... I'm pretty ordinary, I think? [ That's not a good answer and she knows it, but it's all she really believes... ]
prometheanflame: (what)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-04-19 11:47 pm (UTC)(link)
...Who drew that? [Not that he's complaining about the weird bird itself - ostrich? chicken? - but someone clearly had too much free time coming up with a fantasy creature and editing a well-known painting.]

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-19 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Yes he did but ahh... let's call it even, she thinks as she looks up at him and sees his forehead already reddening. But never mind that, casualties as a natural consequence of war!

Mafuyu sits up suddenly and looks for Iggy— the beetle, who'd gone after the dog treat and she just. Stares for a moment. Lowers her voice to a hush. ]


It's distracted. We can get a jump on it.

[ They can still fight, come on ]
prometheanflame: (no don't do the thing)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-04-20 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
[She's not screaming, it's a good sign. Or he could be bleeding and she doesn't care. Either way he has to go home. Both of them.]

No, we can escape. [Holds an arm in front of her dramatically.]
true_noir: (Pretty Flower)

[personal profile] true_noir 2017-04-20 12:02 am (UTC)(link)
[Just by saying that, she'd given her a big hint on what she wanted. Chloe found a few lilac bushes and plucked a pair of sprigs from them, along with a collection of daisies.] Humility and innocence are certainly traits I'd use to describe someone who thinks they're ordinary...

Besides, a little purple will look nice in your hair, wouldn't you agree?
buncho: (100)

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-20 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ They could and they should but— ]

No! [ She pulls down on his arm, jumping up to grab him if she has to ] I don't want to lose to a bug!!
true_noir: (Cloak5)

[personal profile] true_noir 2017-04-20 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
...John Faed, I want to say? I used to know such things better, but I'm not exactly sure.

But, if you want to visit the museum, I am pretty sure you will find quite a few paintings of chocobo instead of horses. [She shrugged and smiled.] Don't worry. It was hard for us all to believe what we were seeing at first. Especially that nobody seemed to notice but us.
rhygret: (cool story bro)

[personal profile] rhygret 2017-04-20 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh.

...Ohhh. That's. Flattering, actually? Rhys knows he's relatively good looking but he's not used to having someone actually hit on him outside of an awkward blind-date sort of scenario. It's...nice.

And of course has him smiling a tad bashfully, letting out a small laugh. ]


Oh--no, yeah. I get that. You uh, don't have to worry about that. Twenty-five.

[ Please feel free to hit on him a little, he thinks. That would be nothing short of awesome. ]
Edited 2017-04-20 00:15 (UTC)
ghostdrives: (♒ Can't hold a candle to her)

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2017-04-20 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Hey, dude. You try to remember to bring all of your supplies when you have 5 am swim practice.

Terra has to be thankful for the fact that there's people actually sitting in between them. Otherwise, he would have earned a wet smack from her disintegrating notebook for that.]


...I don't wanna talk about it.

[Huffing and crossing her arms and so ready for this class to already be over with.]
rhygret: (that sure did happen yup)

[personal profile] rhygret 2017-04-20 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
...Yeah. [ Rhys is slow to answer, almost dubious, but he winds up nodding even though he knows the other man can't see him. ] Is that--you've seen that too?

[ Please let that be the case. He's getting weird stares from people because he's staring at their mutant bug-dogs. Formerly dog-bugs? Whatever. He's trying not to have a mild reality crisis over it and the nervousness is probably creeping into his voice. ]
counteracts: (i always wondered how far we could go)

I!

[personal profile] counteracts 2017-04-20 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
[With the new wave of bizarre circumstances settling over the city like a widely-cast blanket, certain aspects of life continuing onward had gotten a little... uncomfortable. The weather seeming to shift and worsen at random was, at most, a disappointment or an annoyance (depending on if he'd tried to set up any plans around sun or rain), but at least the worst of it could be warded off by an umbrella (even if that could never really stop you from getting soaked around the ankle from traffic, both on foot and on the road). No, worse by far was the kind of certain clothes were now giving—clothes that, for Morgan particularly, he had worn for months, if not years (in some cases), and knew that they fit just fine, thank-you-very-much.

A more well-adjusted person would've probably assumed that they had gained or lost weight in the interim, but he knew that wasn't the case, so of course it was probably just another weird thing tacked onto a list, one that had been steadily growing ever since he'd been graced with the presence of the Retrospec app on his phone a few months ago.

So, congratulations, Marinette. With all of this in mind, he was (slightly) more in a frame of mind to consider purchasing some new clothes, though getting asked by a girl selling them on a street corner was not how he'd expected to go about it.]


Hm? [As someone who'd lived in cities his entire life, he was naturally resistant to someone asking for his attention uninitiated on the street, but... well, she seemed earnest.] Oh. Alright. I can take a look. [It was enough to make him pause there at the make-shift "shop," leaning over a bit to loom (literally, as he's well over six feet tall) and scrutinize, placing one hand to his chin after a moment for added effect.

He speaks to her again, though his eyes remain perusing the arrayed clothes.]
One hint, though. [Now he looks up to her, gaze sharp, the hint of a smile even sharper.] You want to sell something, don't sell yourself short first.

[Just basic business sense.

Now he's back to looking again.]
Even if it's the truth—which I'm not saying it is—well, confidence can go a long way.
rhygret: (we're fiiiine)

[personal profile] rhygret 2017-04-20 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
Wait, this is a gift for your TA? [ Ohthankgoodness. Like yeah sure the guy works hard and Rhys has spoken to him a few times, but at least now he's fairly certain it means Rosalind doesn't have a beau on the side. That's reassuring--he could still try flirting with her a little and hope it won't be weird. ]

Something small and potted then?
prometheanflame: (no don't do the thing)

icon keywords x 100

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-04-20 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
[DON'T BE A CHILD.]

You're not losing, you're staying safe! [Frustrated, he pushes his arm back and stands in front of her.] It's not going to attack unless provoked, so don't think you have to fight it!
ghostdrives: (♒ When you consider everyone)

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2017-04-20 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, Aria doesn't have a bad disposition. She can get just a little grumpy at times.

She smiles easily once offered though, feeling a little sheepish for snapping. Honestly, she's grateful.]
Yeah. Actually, that'd be amazing. Thanks.

[personal profile] buncho 2017-04-20 12:27 am (UTC)(link)
[ Reynir escapes a dozen pairs of grabby hands just to be grabbed by Mafuyu, who takes his shirt sleeve and makes a show of dragging him away while she shouts over her shoulder at the kids. ] I'll bring him back when we're done! [ and then, to Reynir, ]

Let's go to Munch & Crunch! I want one of their deep fried burgers!

[ Still not letting go, so he can't escape. That thank you might have been premature. ]
prometheanflame: why is this his life (proud mom of four disasters)

[personal profile] prometheanflame 2017-04-20 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
No, I meant--

[She's not going to give the answer he's looking for, is she?]

If they were in the museum, I would have been among the first people to hear about the collection. [Working in the history museum has him work with a lot of the art museum workers.] Where did you hear about this?
true_noir: (Creeper)

[personal profile] true_noir 2017-04-20 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
[She shook her head.]

This will be difficult to understand, I think. Something has been changing lately. Until January, I remember seeing horses, until all of the horses everywhere became those birds. If I had an apple, I would demonstrate.

...I wonder if there is a fruit stand around here somewhere. [It was time to horrify this poor man.] Ah, I think I see a vendor over there. Would you care to join me for some fruit? it will help you understand.