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.
liberal_arts: (fall in the dark)

i

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-18 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that even in all this wet, you can't find it in yourself to be conspicuous. -A familiar voice, stepping up beside him. And while Kasen had a reputation of his own, he wasn't what one would call a star in the same way Koga was.-

Did you need help getting home?
crow_dad: (Older than you think)

[personal profile] crow_dad 2017-04-18 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
If my children wish to pay their respects it would be rude to hide from them.

[He looks up from the article he's reading, smile on his lips. He's pleased to see Kasen here and is of course going to give him his attention.]

If you are to be my escort then I should reward you with tea when we get to my home.
liberal_arts: (your ever faithful poet laureate)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-19 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
Even if I said it wasn't necessary, you'd insist. -Kasen chuckled, shaking his head.- Still, it's pretty bad out there, and not about to be any better. I can have my car brought around.
crow_dad: (Curiosity)

[personal profile] crow_dad 2017-04-20 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
Those more mature in age enjoy the company of those younger for that burst of spring brought by their youth. [He tilts his umbrella enough to look at the sky.]

Mm. The weather is its own master. Still, I will not refuse your kind offer of a ride.
liberal_arts: (there lived a lil' boy who was misled)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-20 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
... Once again, I'm 35. I'll be turning 36 this year. -Take him seriously, crow-dad!!!!-

I'll text my driver...
crow_dad: (Tee hee)

[personal profile] crow_dad 2017-04-20 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
You are a fine young man too. [He looks younger than you but he's still older! Not that he ever shares how much older but is that really the point?]

Thank you. [Honestly he could easily have things like drivers and such but has always opted out of those options. Not that he refuses people taking care of their elders by offering him rides though...]
liberal_arts: (daylight breaking overhead)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-20 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Well I guess I'm glad you think so, but I do wish you'd stop calling me that. -But he figures he'll get the same answer as usual...-
crow_dad: (Older than you think)

[personal profile] crow_dad 2017-04-21 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not entirely sure what you are referring to, my child. [He might be serious or he might be teasing him. Either way Koga looks like he's thoroughly enjoying the moment.]
liberal_arts: (caress me with your sweet lullaby)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-21 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
-Just another sigh. But soon enough, the rather nice black luxury sedan pulls near the news-stand, the door opening automatically.-

I'd say age before beauty, but you have me beat at both, so either way, please, after you.
crow_dad: (Fond of the children)

[personal profile] crow_dad 2017-04-21 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
A fine recovery for a comment about age.

[He isn't the least bit annoyed though as pays for the magazine then gets into the car and sets his umbrella on the floor of the vehicle. Hands on his lap, he waits for his companion to get in with him before speaking again.]

It is good to see your business still thriving.
liberal_arts: (daylight breaking overhead)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-21 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
The art trade never withers. In good times or bad, people wish to behold beauty. That same philosophy has kept your career strong, too. -Kasen chuckled, slipping in beside the other as the door closed. The ambience of the rain hitting the roof of the car was honestly kind of pleasant... maybe he'd opt for that instead of turning on the music player.-

I just wish I had more to show for my own creative endeavors...
crow_dad: (Saddened)

[personal profile] crow_dad 2017-04-24 01:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Now that the car is moving, he actually slips his shoes off to enjoy being barefoot. Sighing happily, he leans back and takes a moment to enjoy the comfortable seats. Oh he's been offered drivers and bodyguards and the like in the past but he always refuses them. It's so hard for his children to see him if he can't go walking around plenty.]

Have you anything new for your own works?
liberal_arts: (grip and breakdown)

[personal profile] liberal_arts 2017-04-24 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Not much I'm truly satisfied with... I've started many projects, finished none of them. -Another sigh as he leaned back in his seat.-