repeter | 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

[ as john lives under a rock when it comes to models and celebrities and such, it's safe to say that he doesn't recognize koga. in fact, he likely wrongly presumed him to be a young lady— that is, until he's addressed.

ah. ]

Why, takin' a survey for some business or somethin'?

[ call him curious. ]

I wish to liven up my garden so that it will be more welcoming for those who visit. An opinion outside my own will help me with that.

[So sort of a survey for something. Mostly though he would just like anyone who visits him to have a wonderful home environment. That includes beautiful things.

Of course it's also his own aesthetic talking but that's not the point.]

Which would make your opinion important.

[ huh, solid enough reasoning. john seems to think on this a moment, gaze flitting back to the available selection of seeds. as he answers, he'll point to the respective flowers in turn, ]

Lupins— Drier, plain soil. Need lotsa sunlight. Dahlias, too. And then there are sweet peas, which in contrast, should probably be planted in the shade...

[ koga didn't ask for planting tips, no, but surprise! john likes to talk, particularly about greenery. ]

[He seems quite ready to listen to the advice from one who clearly has so much knowledge! Humming thoughtfully, he rests one manicured nail on his lower lip as he looks over the different seeds and ponders color choices as well.]

So some flowers would be better suited to certain areas of the garden depending on sunlight and soil?

Yep!

[ a nod and smile, confirming this. ]

But don't worry, it shouldn't be a huge hassle. They're all pretty sturdy, after all.

Flowers were born in nature where conditions are not always so kind. It makes sense they would be sturdier than their delicate frames might suggest.

[The flowers get a fond sort of smile before he looks to the man he's speaking to.]

You know quite a lot about this. Do you work here?

[ he definitely appreciates that sort of thoughfulness— his smile may be easygoing, typically, but complete genuineness is a rarity. here lies the exception. ]

Haha, nah. [ most important question: would it pay better. john shifts his weight, hands sliding idly into his pockets. ] Grew up in the countryside, on a farm. But really, you could just say I've always had an interest in plants.

Perhaps I should hire you to help me with my garden then. [Is he serious? Is he joking? It's kind of hard to tell since that little smile has kind of been there the whole time as he studies seeds and talks to this young man here.]

I cannot say I grew up on a farm or the countryside. I've live in places like this my entire life. Still, I quite like anyone who puts such value in plants as you do.

Oh.

[ surprised? to put it mildly. john's eyes widen, glancing off to the side a second. indeed— it's difficult to tell whether he's being joked with or not. for the most part, he assumes he is, but very tentatively hopes to the contrary. ]

Yeah, well, the countryside's pretty nice! [ no, he much much much prefers it. that's not something he'll admit to right this moment, though. err. ] ... But, thanks.

You look surprised. Do you not believe when your elders offer a job?

[He almost has the look of a bird investigating something as he tilts his head to the side and leans forward. Koga maaaaaay have been serious after all!]

[ this flusters john for a few reaons. one) that'd actually been a real offer, what the heck and two) elders?!

focusing, though. he doesn't move backward, as perhaps may be appropriate, but his smile does become wry in a manner that may further betray him. ]

Didn't wanna seem too overeager, y'know? [ a light shrug, the smile widening to a lopsided grin. ] I could do the job, sure— you offerin' part-time, or somethin'?

Part or full. The choice is yours. I would happily pay you well for your services since it will be good to have someone helping me.

[Oh good. It looks like he's got himself a potential gardener. It will be good to give someone with so much knowledge a good job. Especially if it's one that this young man can end up enjoying as well.]

You would be welcome to a room on my property anytime you like as well.

[ wow, what the heck. this guy must be hella rich, he thinks. "pay you well" and then "a room"; it's too good to be true. john's smile falters only momentarily, an eyebrow raising as he considers this.

after a long, studious look, ]

... Is there some kinda catch here, one that I'm missing?

Hm? Why would there be a catch?

[He blinks and has something of a childish innocence to his expression for a moment. Right before he stands up straight again. Not that it's too impressive. He's rather small.]

I have the space and the money. My home is welcome to anyone really.

Cuz there usually is, ain't there?

[ it's not meant to be a cynical statement (although, it objectively might be), but more an answer he just thinks is a given. john pulls his hands from his pockets, allowing one to rest against his hip as he blinks at his smaller employer(!!). ]

So, yeah, workin' there a few hours a week would be pretty great. [ he (again, tentatively), hopes the other offers—of full-time and a place to crash at—might remain open, but he won't press it for the moment. ] I gotta ask: What the heck do you do for a living?

I'm a model.

[You get good money for that too! Especially when you've been doing it for more than twenty years now.]

It's not often I meet one who is not one of my children but it is rather refreshing. Still, there is no catch. You are welcome to however many hours you wish and a room when you desire.

[No catch. He means this 100%.]

[ oh.

it's all so unexpected (and yet, koga being a model suddenly locks all the puzzle pieces into place) that it gets a laugh out of him. ]

Ha, I probably should've guessed at that one, huh?

[ cities were really a whole different breed from the countryside, eh. ]

Startin' work next week sound good, then?

Of course.

[He reaches into his pocket to pull out a nice looking card on it. With his model name "Koga" and his address written there. Far more easy to find him that way.]

I leave my garden to your capable hands.

Thanks a bunch— I appreciate it!

[ accepts the card! he studies it, noting the model name. ]

Nice to meet'cha, Mr. Koga. [ testing the waters; he doesn't mind being corrected to something more formal. ] Name's John Becket, by the way. Just "John" is good, 'course.

[ after pocketing the card, he's extending a hand to shake. old habits die hard. ]

So polite. It's so hard to see that with the young these days.

[He gives him a fond little smile and takes the extended hand to give it a shake in return. With more strength than his tiny frame might suggest.]

It is a pleasure to meet you, John.

APRIL TDM

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