APRIL TDM

[recollecters]

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 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.

Comments

Shouto Todoroki | My Hero Academia

[glaciers]

[I.]

[Shouto spends as little time at home as possible, especially now that his father is back from work. Which is why he's settled himself in the library... he was certain it was sunny just a few hours ago, but now it looks like it's pouring down.

He's starting to eye the library umbrellas. His mother would be worried if he came home drenched, even if he's somewhat reluctant to take them.]

What if I forget to bring it back...?

[He's actually concerned about it, this nerd.]

[II]

[He's going through the flower stalls one by one. His mom deserves something nice for having to deal with both him and his father daily... The problem becomes he knows absolutely nothing about flowers.]

I want to say thank you. What kind of flowers do I need?

[Wildcard]

[Shouto is in a comic book shop and has started an intense debate whoever's there. His expression can only be called a death glare. His voice is almost dangerous.

Whatever was in his hand has gotten crumpled up. It looks like an old copy of another comic book.]

Captain Might is clearly the better super hero. The way he rescues people with a smile makes him superior to every one else.

wildcard

[feistytrader]

[Oh hey, it's his buddy Shouto... Who is getting into a heated debate about super heroes. Again.]

What's so good about always rescuing people with a smile? All the best comic heroes are mysterious and masked.

[Absolutely no one asked him, but here we go anyway.]

[glaciers]

[He is still glaring even as he turns towards Silver.]

Because people need a smile more than they need mystery. Especially when they're in the middle of a stressful situation. A smile that says "everything is alright" is better than any mask could ever be.

[feistytrader]

Not everyone likes a reassuring smile. Not every smile like that is genuine. If you've got something covering up your face, everyone you rescue gets to make up their own version of you. It's perfect.

Besides, when you have that one lousy day where you're really pissed off, you don't have to fake a smile. Or if you get a black eye or stung by a wasp, you're safe.

[glaciers]

If you've got something covering your face nobody knows anything about you. I'd rather a hero be honest.

If you genuinely like being a hero, your smiles would be honest. [He's just going to ignore the last two things.] A real smile is a real smile.

[feistytrader]

Nobody's honest. Not all the time. I'd much rather follow a hero that could be anyone. Heroism shouldn't be some golden standard. It should be something that anyone could rise up to meet, even if it's not a simple or easy journey.

[glaciers]

There are honest people. Few and far in between, but they exist. It's not easy or simple, but that makes the ones who fulfill that clear and honest niche better.

[feistytrader]

Good is good, no matter the source.

[But they're reaching an impasse. Silver glances at whoever he was arguing with before he walked in.]

Who does this nerd think is better than Captain Might, anyway?

[glaciers]

[Like they aren't all nerds here, arguing about the merits of each superhero.]

The Scourger. [Extra fictional Punisher.] I bet it's because he's gritty and dark.

["They're so much better than all those above shining hero of justice--"]

They are not.

ii

[seventhprogenitor]

There's many kinds of flowers that would suit your intentions.

[... So many. "Thank you" is such an ordinary sentiment, how boring.]

For what are you thanking them? Are they family, friend, lover?

[glaciers]

[He's a very ordinary sort of kid.]

For putting up with our family, especially my shitty old man.

It's for my mother.

[seventhprogenitor]

Ah, a gift for your mother! How charming -- you're a fine young man, aren't you~? Most people wouldn't give two thoughts to their kin, taking for granted the one that cared for them growing up... well, whoever that was for them, parents or not!

[Let's see, gratitude for a worn mother... Ferid peruses his flowers and settles his hand here and there, picking while he muses.]

Bell flowers should suit you well enough, along with some white hyacinth -- gratitude, constancy, and regret at her having to put up with it in the first place. Only a few sprigs of the latter, though, they can be rather... crowding, and the most important part of this is thanks you wish to give her -- well, I won't bore you. My own daughter tells me I have a bad habit of rambling~.

[... Alison doesn't appreciate his lessons like she used to. Ah, rebellion. He'll wrap the small bouquet neatly in white paper and hold it out, though he won't let go of it just yet.]

I'd like it very much if you could repay my services with a story, or even to sit in and help me with tending to customers for a short time. Tending to flowers is the pinnacle of relaxation.

[glaciers]

Nobody but my mother calls me that...

[Even though he looks a bit confused about it, Shouto doesn't protest. He also looks entirely interested in the description of the flowers that Ferid gives him. It's doubtful he'll remember it later, but it's interesting in the moment. Especially if he wants to give mom a nice bouquet like this another time.]

It's interesting. I don't know anything about flowers.

[He's not that confident in his story telling ability or his customer-skills, but.]

I'll help. What do you need done?

[seventhprogenitor]

[Very much a fine young man!! It's rare that the younger generation considers his ramblings about flowers interesting, so Ferid's taking a shine to him. More people should consider Shouto one.]

Take out any that seem to be wilting and replace them with freshly cut ones. See that the potted plants are well-watered, and that no one's trying to sneak off with anything out the back. It's usually just children who wander in and want to take something back to their mother, so don't be unkind, simply ask them what they'd like and ask for a piece of candy or something similarly insignificant in return.

[glaciers]

[People have more than enough reason to not consider him one. As he can't read Ferid's mind he'll just nod as he gets his instructions.]

I'll do that.

[He'll look over the flowers, these ones seem to be just fine for now.]

Do children like that come in often? [He can very easily see himself doing something similar. Especially when he was little.]

[seventhprogenitor]

More than you'd imagine. Their parents always apologize, but it really is no trouble at all, nor is it the child's fault for being undisciplined enough to leave their caretaker's sight in the first place. It's an adult's responsibility to ensure the safety of their children.

[And anyone who does can get the flat of his shoe, to be quite frank.]

[glaciers]

I'm only used to my own family.

[He's pretty sure that's not the usual way of things, but it's still what he's grown up with. His mother who's suffered through his father's giant ego and Shouto suffering through beauty pageants because he was his "crown jewel".

Ugh.]

You said you had a daughter?

1.

[heroforall]

[Izuku happens to be carrying a stack of books for shelving nearby when he spots a familiar head of bi-colored hair.]

Ah! T-todoroki! Hm? [He glances at the umbrellas as well.] I'll help you remember. In fact, you could just bring it to school tomorrow and I'll return it for you. I have another shift tomorrow afternoon.

[glaciers]

[His gaze slides toward Midoriya as he considers the offer.]

I don't want to impose... I'll come with you tomorrow.

[heroforall]

T-there's no need! Unless you're interested in checking out a book. I have to come back tomorrow anyways.

[He sets the books down on a nearby table. They're getting quite heavy.]

[glaciers]

I don't mind coming to the library.

[Shouto watches him set the books down.]

Do you need help with that?

[heroforall]

N-no, I got it. You don't need to trouble yourself.

[His hands linger on top of the books.]

But it's fine if you want to come back. But you should take the umbrella. It's raining really badly right now.

[glaciers]

[He remains looking at the stack of books.]

Maybe I can stay until the rain lets up...

Are you going to be okay?

[heroforall]

Yeah...but I don't think it will any time soon.

[He blinks in surprise.]

Yes? I do this all the time! I was just setting them down while we talked.

[glaciers]

[That wasn't actually what he was talking about, but thinking back on it, he can see where the issue was.]

I meant going home. Do you have your own umbrella?