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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.
trappingheart: (pic#11089853)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-17 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I heard that, you asshat! You'd just love that, wouldn't you? You'd have way more time to take naps in your car and eat donuts!

[ Jerk! Rude! ]

We gotta make sure it doesn't run away, and then we can beat the shit out of it! If you try to hold it down without a net, it might slip out and fly away or something. And I'm not letting a single one of these guys go without a fight.
outpunch: (got the glory)

[personal profile] outpunch 2017-04-17 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
What would I do with all that time, I wonder.

[Hey, Juzo's not telling you that he's been just kidding. Even if he was just kidding.]

A big net...a huge net, even. Wouldn't fishing shops have those? But it's going to be expensive, I can tell.

[He can't imagine her having too much many on her right now, or even in general.]
trappingheart: (pic#10641136)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-17 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure that we can afford it on a policeman's salary, right? Isn't this sort of thing a job for our oh-so-brave protectors of the people?

[ Oh, so now she's sucking up-- ]
outpunch: (really)

[personal profile] outpunch 2017-04-17 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't tell me that because of an economic crisis fallen angels aren't getting paid for...whatever fallen angels do.

[He doesn't want to fund this net, dammit! But does he have a choice at this point?]

Oh-so-brave? Try harder next time, Tsushima, this sucked hard.

[He turns on his feet and it seems like he's ready to leave—]

Hey, what are you waiting for? An invitation? I'm gonna regret it, but I have some cash.
trappingheart: (pic#10641117)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-17 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Look, that's just the name of the [ totally real absolutely not made up ] gang, alright? I'm not an actual angel, and even if I was, it's not like angels have infinite money. You've gotta rely on the good of the public! In return for your support, you get my magnificent artwork and outrageous charm! Isn't that a good deal?!

[ Look, she didn't actually expect him to buy it...but the fact that he did is good enough for her. ]

I'll come up with something better when I'm not in mourning. These are my funeral clothes, you see.

[ It's just what she wears every day-- ]

But it looks like you are good for something, Donut Patrol. Maybe there isn't anyone who can even remotely control you after all...
outpunch: (pic#11050274)

[personal profile] outpunch 2017-04-18 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
Wait, you're not thinking you're an actual angel? [This is quite the revelation.] Maybe you're not as deranged as I thought you are.

[So, shitty artwork and being irritating in exchange for money—]

No, it isn't. It's the worst trade deal in the history of trade deals, maybe ever. [And yet:] Hurry up, I don't have all day for this.

[Listen, everything is better than patrolling the streets, especially when enormous bugs are waiting around every corner and you can't quite beat them without exposing yourself to their owners.]

What are you blabbering about? Remote control?
trappingheart: (pic#11089662)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-18 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
Huh? Of course I don't. What do you take me for, some kind of preschooler? Who the hell would actually believe something like that?

[ Yeah Yoshiko, who would ever? ]

Don't you think you're over-exaggerating a bit, though? The worst trade deal? Officer, I'm hurt. You wound me. If you can't trust an innocent high schooler, who can you trust?

[ Still, the words do seem to get her off her feet and following him, so that's a good sign. He doesn't even need handcuffs this time. ]
Edited 2017-04-18 07:27 (UTC)
outpunch: (pic#11050284)

[personal profile] outpunch 2017-04-18 08:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Do you really want to hear his answer on that, Yoshiko. Do you really want this. At least he's doing a good job holding his laughter back.]

Innocent? What a joke.

[Hey, wasn't it a high schooler that blackmailed him once—not that he remembers, of course.]

How big was that shitty bug, you remember?
trappingheart: (pic#11089633)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-21 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Oy, Donut Patrol, don't laugh, okay? This shit is serious.

[ Looks like the time for their back-and-forth is over-- ]

That bug was fucking huge, okay? Sucker had to be at least the size of my arm from the elbow down, at least, and I didn't even get close to it. He was a fat little shit, too, the kind that looked like it'd still have some fight in it if you crushed it...
outpunch: (go for it big guy)

[personal profile] outpunch 2017-04-22 07:19 am (UTC)(link)
I'm impressed, you remembered so many details instead of squealing and running away.

[How important Sassy was to you, Yoshiko. He may be mocking her again, but that's how Juzo is. Which doesn't mean that the first part was a lie, no, he's a bit impressed.]

We're gonna crush it for good.

[It's kind of weird that huge ass nets aren't sold out by now at the shop, but Juzo can't question that for too long. What matters is that they managed to get one and that means they're more or less ready for the other part of the plan.]

So, where did you see that shit last time?
trappingheart: (pic#10641127)

[personal profile] trappingheart 2017-04-22 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Mulberry and 6th, right on the corner. You know how there's that little concrete wall off the sidewalk to separate it from the park? It was right on that wall, dead fucking center. Exactly where my favorite cat hangs out. It was hairy, and had those goddamn big bug eyes and it was just curled up without a care in the fucking world.

[ It must have swallowed her cat whole, or like, absorbed it-- ]

I-I would've fought it right then and there, but I didn't want to be late for class.
outpunch: (pic#11050329)

[personal profile] outpunch 2017-04-25 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
[Will they learn the truth about Sassy before it's too late...]

Right. So we sneak up on it, throw the net and beat the shit out of it. I bet you want to do that last part of the plan alone?

[You know, all that avenging stuff and so on.]

You didn't want to be late for class? What a joke.

[He has to give her credit, Tsushima is really good at them.]