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.

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I: Marinette;

[Marinette isn't so much a 'vendor' as a girl who's set up shop in a relatively dry street corner. Her little area is tiny and unofficial, but she does have interesting clothing splayed out. Homemade, even. It ranges from carpet dresses (maybe literally? That’s what's in fashion right now, apparently), to suits that look like they're made out of lacy doilies, to... actually cute regular spring clothing]

E-Excuse me!

[She offers you an unsure smile as you pass, waving her hand for... Far too long, honestly. This is awkward] W-Would you mind taking a look? They're not very good, but I'm trying to become a fashion designer, and, er--

[Who is she kidding. Her voice drops]

I... I really need to sell something. Please? I'll give you a discount!

[For the record, though some of the clothing made be weird (like the aforementioned handkerchief dress (that's not really a fault of Marinette's, just whatever weird fashion craze is going around), it does seem like it's expertly crafted. And some of the clothing is normal! Maybe there's something worth buying?]

II: Adrien;

[sitting at a cheap and small folding table close to the various booths around is Adrien, a deck of tarot cards the only thing visible around him save for a sign that reads "FREE READINGS". He calls out to you (yes, you) with a guileless expression:]

Ah, excuse me, hello-- I'm sorry to bother you, but... Something in your aura just called to me. Would you mind sitting down for a tarot reading? It'd be completely free of charge, of course. [he smiles sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck] I'm kinda new at this, but I get the feeling it might benefit us both. [he smiles brightly] So, what do you say?

III: Both;

[So, you're out shopping, trying to get some clothes that actually fit and aren’t completely hideous. You've got your wallet on you -- hopefully with enough cash that you can buy a few things. Or maybe you're just passing through. Regardless, no matter how carefully you walk or how you mind your own business, you can't escape the Marinette]

[In other words, a young girl with her arm full of a container full of cute little charms, is struggling to carry them and stay upright -- it looks like she's a little off-balance, and before you can properly dodge, she fails to turn at the right time and barrels into you -- the little charms scattering everywhere]

Sorry! [She stammers immediately, trying to catch your shoulder and steady you, but fails so spectacularly she falls on her butt] I'm so sorry! Are you alright?

[if you're particularly observant, you might notice a presence nearing you and a light touch at wherever your wallet is. It happens so fast you might miss it, but the new person- Adrien - is nimble, and if he succeeds, you will be missing one (1) wallet. Yikes!]

[Regardless, Marinette keeps on babbling, scrambling to gather up all the charms strewn about on the ground]

I really am completely uncoordinated -- are you hurt? Please tell me I didn't hurt you!

[She looks frantic, and honestly, kind of pathetic. If you help her gather the charms, she'll thank you to the point where it's almost obnoxious, but if not, she's just sheepishly gathering her stuff up and scraping her knee on the ground with a series of winces and light groans. This girl really is hopeless]

[that's where, if you didn't catch him pickpocketing you before, Adrien decides to show himself by rushing from somewhere behind you to get to Marinette]

Bridgette, there you are! I've been looking all over for you-- did you get hurt again? [he’s putting a hand on her shoulder and looking over her in a show of concern] Oh, geez...! Should we get you checked out? We still need to deliver all of these charms, too... [he turns towards you] I'm so sorry about this. We really have to go, but, please-- take a charm for your trouble? They're supposed to bring good luck... Though they don't seem to work for Bridgette at all.

[he says this with a sheepish smile, while "Bridgette" protests with a--]

Felix!

[ooc: we don’t have an au workshop, but the gist of it is that they're both con artists! Think miguel and tulio from road to el dorado. We have no regrets. If your character is observant, feel free to catch them, but if not, enjoy the shenanigans]

Edited 2017-04-19 02:34 (UTC)

[ jade is too nice of a girl to let bridgette suffer alone. in a skirt that clearly don't fit her and that is held up with a particularly large belt (bigby might be missing this belt as we speak, who knows, sorry dad 4 the wardrobe theft), jade bends down to gather as many charms as she can.

while jade's distracted, adrien will find that....

she keeps receipt and apple juice boxes in her purse? or maybe he wants some of the pizza port coupons she's got. that's fine. jade will huff about those later. ]

Oh, don't be so rude, Felix, she is doing what she can! If it makes you feel any better, I am not having such a wonderful day myself. [ once her arms are free of the charms, jade folds them and smiles lopsided but sincere. ] What do the charms cost?

Thank you. [Well, apple juice boxes and pizza port coupons are better than nothing. "Bridgette" gives "Felix" a pointed look as Jade comes to her defense, gratefully taking back all the charms and struggling not to drop them]

Well, these can turn your luck around, eheheh. They're five dollars, but since you were so kind... you can just have one! We're getting very low on cash, but-- ah, nevermind that! Thank you so much for your help.

[ok he's not taking juice boxes and pizza coupons, Mari, he has morals! ... or at least a whole one moral!!!

he will give Mari-- cough i mean BRIDGETTE a shrug right back at that look. he is? innocent? gosh.]

We're not that bad off... [but he doesn't sound very convincing!! he sheepishly tries to change the subject] I'm so sorry we contributed to your bad day, though.

[Well, what do you know? Was it the arts and crafts show already? Chloe was looking down at the table with all of the ... colorful outfits laid out for all to see. The more unusual of them didn't get much look, but considering that she was a purple-haired girl standing there in a foot-length, hunter-green cloak that looked like it was out of a renaissance festival, Chloe had no business giving people suggestions on fashion and style.

She did look at the spring selection, though, before blinking. Oh, had the girl been speaking to her? She smiled at her quietly.] Oh, that's alright. I was looking at a couple of these pieces. You have quite an ... interesting selection.

[It's true, Marinette can already tell from a cursory glance that this girl has no fashion style. In theory, she should be an easy mark]

You think so? Er, I wasn't sure what to make, the fashion here is so odd...

[She rubs the back of her head sheepishly]

Are they completely horrible? I did my best...

Well, let us say that your fabric choices in some cases are close to ... enlightened, yes. [Which wasn't necessarily a complement. Ghandi wasn't known as the snappiest of dressers.] But that does not mean they are bad... just awkward choices.

But this sun dress does not seem so bad here, and I could use something simpler for the season.

Oh, you think so? Thank you. I want to be a fashion designer, so... I've been trying to keep up with the trends here. [It seems like a lot of work was put into the clothing, at the very least.]

[Marinette does light up at the implication this girl will actually buy something] Oh, please! It would really help me out! I'll give you a discount...

Hmmm, I'm not quite sure the fabric choices are all that common to current trends, but perhaps with time... [She shrugged, considering and then nodding her head. Well, if it would put a smile on her face, why not? If it didn't fit well later, she could always just hang it in her closet or something, right? It wasn't as if she wore all of her clothes.]

I don't think I caught your name, though. I am Chloe. It's nice to meet an aspiring artist.

Maybe you could help me out? What are the trends right now?

[But she sees the other girl circling the bait and--- caught. Yes.]

Oh, thank you so much, Chloe! [Huh, why does that name put a bad taste in her mouth--] I'm Sabrina! It's so nice to meet you.

Hmmm. No, I don't think I'm the one to ask such questions. I am always a little bit behind behind, after all. And, it is lovely to meet you today. Hopefully you'll have success in becoming a regular fashionista one of these days.

[Ahem, but to the point.] How much is this one?

Well, really, anything would help. Like I said, I'm very new to this... but I appreciate the vote of confidence, Chloe.

[It seems like "Sabrina" doesn't have too much confidence in herself!]

--Um--- since you were so kind! I'll give you a discount. How about... fifteen dollars? Is that too much?

Fifteen? That seems fair. [She had absolutely no clue what the price of the outfit should be, but fifteen seemed fine enough. She reached for her purse and pulled out some cash to pay her.] As for advice, my best suggestion is maybe to pick up one of the fashion magazines one of these days, to see what is trending. It might give you an idea or two?

[Fifteen is actually pretty reasonable - Marinette's plan isn't to overcharge her]

Can you help me out, do you think? I don't even know where to start.

[Marinette hands over the goods, clapping her hands together above her head and bowing slightly]

You're incredible! Thank you!

Hmmm, I can give you a suggestion or two on magazines, in the end, but I do not think that I know that many really good ones. I have watched the 'Project Runway' from time to time, but that really doesn't tell you how to do it right, now does it?

[She tried to give her a reassuring smile, though she really was little better than a cheerleader at this stage.]

[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.

[She's better than a store, and her clothing is absolutely serviceable and won't fall apart at any given moment, surely. Marinette, if nothing else, knows how to work people, and she took the time to study this man before calling him over. She sees his hesitation and his natural resistance, but he -- like most boys -- is susceptible to the clumsy dogooder persona she's become expertly practiced with putting on.]

[He takes the bait.]

Thank you so much! I worked really hard on them.

[Looming is right, considering Marinette is short, herself. But she doesn't seem intimidated, more just eager to impress him.]

[(But that advice-- if she was less professional she might break character and laugh)]

You noticed, huh....? Sometimes I'm so clumsy I don't know how I make anything work. [A sheepish laugh] But you're right! I'm... confident! I'm confident!

[saying it over and over doesn't make it true, but okay.]

[Alison was sheltered in the sense of being well-cared for, but she's both sharp-eyed and shrewd, well-traveled thanks to her father, and knows a con when she sees one. Or feels it, this time. Though it's a close thing. They're good. The girl slamming full-tilt into her almost — almost distracts her from the very light touch from the boy.

Before he can dip out of sight and out of mind, she's reaching to grab hold of his wrist. If she succeeds, this touch skirts the edge of painful. She's stronger than she looks.]

Hold it.

[she absolutely succeeds and he immediately raises his other hand in mock surrender. it would look less fake if he still wasn't holding her wallet. a d r i e n]

Woops. Wow, how did that get there?

[.....................believable]

No idea.

[The grip tightens by a hair. Just a little bit. She's smiling, pleasant, but her eyes get the flinty, hard look of someone who knows they're being gamed, and doesn't like it.]

How about you tell me all about it?

[She's not dealing with one but two of these scammers, and the other one is getting on in this too---]

Felix! I can't believe you! I was working myself to the bone to sell these, and you're stealing!?

[where could this be going...]

Edited 2017-04-27 05:56 (UTC)

[Where is this going, indeed. Alison's grip doesn't loosen, but her gaze now is split between the boy and the girl.]

Yeah, Felix. [She is tempted to shake him, but doesn't.] Shame on you. Hand it over.

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APRIL TDM

Adrien Agreste & Marinette Dupain-Cheng | Miraculous Ladybug

iii, i hate both of you btw

you love us, btw 1/2 zia's coming

you love us lots?????? it's a fact

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