repeter | APRIL TDM

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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Isn't this where he should practice patience? Right. Takumi perseveres through this haggle, merely giving her a scowl of disbelief. He turns to face her, hand on his hip. ]

I don't have money, either. Why do you think I'm working?

[ So that he can have money. ]

If you want some samples, those are actually free.

[ Free nibble sized samples. ]

[ He'll have money when he's done working, and that money can be applied towards pastries. QED. Samples though, means she doesn't have to rely on Takumi's good will, much of which she's already expended. ]

Are you working right now, Takumi? Hurry up and let's go inside! I want samples!!

[ She remains hopeful that maybe he'll be nice and give her slightly larger nibble sized samples please ]

Yeah, I am. At least, I should be.

[ He sighs as he returns to the counter. Even if there's less people, it feels like he's handling fifty customers all at once. Despite everything, he doesn't shoo her away and instead takes out tiny pastries in the shape of bunnies.

It's... Spring. He didn't make these, by the way. ]

Don't eat all of it, all right?

I won't!

[ Mafuyu makes the promise readily as she hangs onto at least the proper side of the counter instead of the back with him, but as to whether she'll keep it... Not eating all of it can be stretched to mean she can eat everything except the last one. Which she's sure Takumi will catch onto immediately, so she takes two before he can stop her, one in each hand and bites down on the bunny's face in her right hand.

There's a thin layer of egg custard inside and it's delicious and yeah she's eyeing the rest of the tray. ]

[ Takumi is thinking over whether it's all right to let her eat more, but decides against it. It's still too early in the day to give in to his soft side. For now, he'll watch her expression and note whether these samples are worth producing in bigger volume and size. ]

So how is it?

[ Maybe if she praises it, she can have more. ]

[ She praises it— mumbling, as she does. With her mouth full, unintelligible sounds that are otherwise enthusiastic and eyes shining bright with full approval. At least she takes a break before starting on the second pastry, but when she finishes chewing and swallowing to be heard clearly after the first, she picks up right in the middle of what she was saying ]

—top it with coconut, and coffee bean eyes!

Please don't talk with your mouth full. [ It's actually gross to the point he kept his eyes closed throughout. ] Coconut and coffee beans, huh...

[ What the hell is he doing? Considering her opinion? Even if she's a handful, he wants to make note of possible flavor profiles that would enhance the experience of their bakery. He looks down at the bunnies, stroking his chin.

He'll be back with a sample just like that. ]

Here.

[ Yes she will take another sample. This time, Mafuyu takes a bite and chews with her mouth closed, eyes thoughtfully lifted to the ceiling until she finishes eating. ]

...it's milk bread? It's soft, but it could be sweeter, and you can add something on top for texture! Like the crystallized honey on the bottom of the jar that mom always wants to throw out but I won't let her.

Huh... I was hoping this would cater to those that don't have sweet tooths--

[ He was following along so well, engaged with constructive criticism... But then she completely loses him entirely. He blinks not once, but five times as if his eyeslashes are about to flutter off of his face. ]

What?

[ He knows what she's talking about. He knows what crystallized honey is like! He also knows the pain of having to heat the honey back up and taking it out of the container. It feels like a mistake to take advice from a weirdo. ]

[ 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!

[ They make savory stuff here, too... But okay. His eyebrow twitches as she explains herself. The thought of using crystallized honey sounds... almost sinful? ]

I know what it is. [ Don't take him for an idiot!! ] It just seems one-dimensional to rely on honey for flavor and crunch when there are better ingredients. I'll think about it.

[ He'll take it for now and pitch it to his mom if it ever comes up. ]

Have you been studying?

[ Honey isn't one-dimensional at all! There's sugar and... sugar. And that makes for a lot of depth, in Mafuyu's opinion, it's the amount of sugar that matters. But she can't claim to know as much about baking ingredients as Takumi, so she just huffs and lets it go. ]

Studying what? Desserts? Sometimes I read the back of the cereal box while I have breakfast.

[ Not for the nutritional label, obviously, but for the jokes and puzzles sometimes printed there to keep little kids entertained.
also lmao school ]

[ Oh man, she really screwed up this time. Takumi pulls the samples back before stashing them under the counter where they're safe. There's a rather irritated and grim expression on his face as he leans closer with hands barred on the edge. ]

I meant for school. Aren't your exams soon? Getting some good grades would be cool to share to your support group, too. If you need help, you can come by the center after classes.

[ Hm... ]

But since I'm not busy, I can help you out now.

[ Ugh! Mafuyu stares longingly at the withdrawn samples, but it's futile, because her appetite takes a hit at the mention of exams. It's going to be the end of the school year soon, which means finals, which means an entire year's worth of material she'll have to bs her way through, and there's too much to catch up on. ]

I don't need help! My grades are... I'm not going to brag about my grades! [ THERE'S NOTHING TO BRAG ABOUT ] Ah— hey, did I tell you? We were up against the eleventh graders last week in a practice match, and I scored two goals, Takumi!! I'll tell that story instead!

Is there even anything to brag about in the first place...?

[ If she had good grades, he's sure she would rain it down on him like the rapture is happening. Takumi has finals of his own, but he has reviewed the material for the upcoming exams with optimal time management. Now he kind of wishes he didn't, considering this lame rainy day.

... But he is interested in her story. Whatever it takes to get her out of trouble. He flashes her an encouraging smile as he backs off with the interrogation. ]

Two goals, huh. That's pretty impressive! Are you sure it wasn't just one? Let's hear the story.

[ A little teasing doesn't hurt! Little does she know he's going to make her study after this anyway. There's no escape. ]

[ One time she guessed all 5 questions correctly on a multiple choice pop quiz and she wouldn't shut up about it to Takumi for an entire week, it's true... So, see! She can get good grades without studying! She just needs to be able to guess and pray, so putting all that aside— ]

Two goals!! [ she slams her hands excitedly onto the counter ] Both were in the second half of the game, the defense tried to steal the ball from me but fell and sprained his ankle [ THIS WASN'T HER FAULT OKAY ] and I got the goal in from right over his nose! [ most people would stop the game at that point instead of shooting for a goal, but this is her story and she presses on ] Then later, I kicked the ball so hard, it hit the goalie's hand and bent his fingers back [ this one was her fault... ] but it bounced off at just the right height to head the ball and I did it!

[ that's why RIP brain cells, but she looks so proud, please praise her ]

[ Well, he wasn't that proud that time, but if she was happy, then what can he do? Aside from maybe force her to study? It's time to listen to this GREAT STORY OF HERS.

He's following with a courteous smile, but as she continues... it falls ever so slowly. The detail actually makes him wince and cringe a bit. Ouch. ]

What the hell? Are those guys okay?

[ WHO CARES ABOUT YOUR GOALS? ]

Yeah? [ They're still alive and that's what matters, who care about potentially broken bones or excruciating pain? ] Slap a bandage on them and they're fine.

—More importantly, I scored two goals! We won the game, 3-1!!

[ Meaning she didn't have to destroy the goalie's hand, her team could have won with just the one goal she made, but Mafuyu is still looking for praise, leaning up against the counter as if expecting a "good job!" or "congratulations!" or "i'm so impressed, here, have another sweet bun!!" ]

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