repeter | OCTOBER TDM

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! tdm

OCTOBER TDM

TEST DRIVE

OCTOBER TEST DRIVE
The city of Recollé...

When the crypt doors creak, and the tombstones quake, spooks come out for a singing wake. Happy haunts materialize and begin to vocalize...grim grinning ghosts come out to socialize...

Every year during the Halloween season, the city of Recollé comes to life with plenty of fall activities for everyone. There's something to do in every district if one were to take a look.

What will you do today?

I.
Family fun seems to be the theme today over in Tribunal Terrace. Several tables are set up and in a semi-circle near Recollé Square with stacks of pumpkins, carving tools, paint and anything else you may need to create your own jack o'lantern. Other stations are set up for face-painting and games to win mini-sized candy bars including a ring toss, bowling, and bobbing for apples. Be careful with the apples though. They like to wiggle and jiggle with their happy little faces staring up out of the water.

...so maybe apple-bobbing is for the brave at heart. Are you the artsy type to carve a beautiful pumpkin? Are you helping to run the games (or even cheating to get more candy)? It's time to relax and let your creativity flow.

II.
Pumpkin-carving not your speed? Never fear, horror is here. Over in Tisse there's plenty to do for those looking for a little more adventure. Several coffee shops have harvest specials made with pumpkin, maple, and pecan flavors. Over at Flix a monster movie marathon and costume contest are taking place (with a prize of two free passes for the best monster costumes.) But the highlight of this district is the annual haunted funhouse.

Anyone daring enough will find the usual spooks and scares in a haunted house, jump scares and fog machines galore. But...the house certainly didn't look so big from the outside. How did you possibly get shuffled straight to the center? No worries. This hall of mirrors will guide you out safely...if the walls closing in don't crush you first. It's a race against time as the halls narrow, and if you're one of the lucky ones you'll escape and exit through the main doors.

For those not quite so lucky, the walls will stop just inches from crushing you completely before the floor drops open and you find yourself on a slide, falling through the dark and tumbling into an underground room filled with plastic skeletons, rubber spiders and more. There must be a way out, right? Hopefully you aren't alone and you can navigate the lair with a friend or two.

III.

Meanwhile, the rest of the city's usual hustle and bustle continues. The shopping districts are busy, students wander the sidewalks after class, and that oddly-shaped ghost appears right in the middle of the crowd.

Wait, what? You could have sworn that ghost wasn't there before. Maybe you don't even believe in ghosts. You may blink a few times to clear your vision, but the faint outline of the ghost remains as a few more of them pop up around the city. They won't speak, but they will cause some trouble for anyone who gets too close whether it's by playing pranks on passerbys, stealing items and running away, sitting on a person and applying a gravitational force so they can't move or other crafty, sneaky tactics.

Are the ghosts messing with you? Or are you going to find a way to mess with the ghosts?

IV.
As the sun begins to set, a strange sort of fog rolls in. Several citizens of the city may not even think it's unusual and others seem to capitalize on the weather. The Churchhill Downs Stables are hosting their annual haunted hayrides through Recollé Woods as soon as the sun sets. There are plenty of carts and chocobos saddled up and ready to go.

Once passengers are seated the chocobos begin to trot forward into the woods as a pre-recorded ghost tour of the city takes place. The stories range from silly ones about two ghost children who like to play hide and seek in these woods to scarier ones about a jilted lover chasing her husband off a cliff at the edge of ocean. For the most part they're a bit cheesy and in good fun, but something about this haunted ride seems a bit...off. Peering into the fog you may see something strange that follows you, be it a monster or a shadow or an object. You may hear things whispering your name and you may see your greatest fear manifest right out of the fog and chase your cart through the woods. Even worse, it seems to follow you right out of the woods and back into the city. No matter where you run or where you hide, the fears from the fog will track you down and they change for every single person in the city.

Will you run or will you fight? You may wish to be careful since the creatures will fight back.

BONUS.
With only a few short weeks left until the end of October, Retrospec's Halloween Mode is in full swing and popping up on new users' devices. Retrospec users will find their application decked out in cheerful Halloween colors, and their userpics in a randomized (work safe) costume. However, there's always a trick to each treat and this time the seasonal mode can't be turned off for new users. Notifications chime with zombie groans, a rousing game of Candy Crush must be played and beaten before you can use your device again, and the new Trick or Treat function has a few upgrades. When a user enables this function, they will be met with the phrase "Trick or Treat?" Users who select "treat" will get one virtual candy! Yay! The catch though is that they will also find themselves in a costume representing that specific candy.

Should a user pick "trick", however, they will find all sorts of harmless but unpleasant things happening to them including but not limited to pranks, being splashed by vehicles driving through puddles of water, being unable to speak in anything but rhymes and other such things. None of these effects last over ten minutes, but the game will show up periodically over and over again and even giving you the option to play the game with others.

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!

For current players, TDM threads will not count toward your Trick or Treat freebie! Additionally, please remember that TDM threads can only be used for bonus points, not regains.

Please note: you will need a reserve to apply, and current characters must have full AC posted at the time of their reservation.

Your October TDM directory is here, and your AU workshop is here! Our mod questions thread for this TDM is over here!

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Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[This was a first...a cop trying to chase down a ghost. It was almost like the scene from a comedy and Ritsu is laughing to himself. Perhaps a little too loudly though as he watches him struggle with the spirit.]

[ He can't say anything with his cheeks held hostage!! I also had to shuffle in a new icon for this tag, so he can back off from Hinata and give him this look. ]

Yay. Let's go.

[ The most energetic response he can muster, said with zero energy whatsoever. He's trying. ]

[Cleo had been trying to scale the damn wall when Marina drops from above. Well. Okay. She sheepishly detaches from the wall, trying to pretend she didn't do anything odd, and praying Marina didn't see that.]

I am... Is this a normal part of haunted houses?

Do I look twelve to you, sir?

[ She gives him a rather scrutinizing look for a moment before she's all smiles, even though there's just something about the grin that looks like she's tempted to snap a man's arm off. Although she keeps her tone airy and polite. ]

I'm seventeen, first of all, and I'm not the one who's making it creepy. That's all on you. [ Mio laughs, however. ] Although it is almost Halloween, so if you really wanted creepy... I wouldn't mind providing that, too. ☆

[ He nods his promise, an easy one to make because very few things make him laugh out loud, or react more than a smile, if that. Somebody saying her name certainly isn't something he would laugh about, when he hears that admittance, so he looks back down the road, looking for faces this time instead of general nothingness. ]

Somebody you know? Did you recognize their voice?

Noooope! Not yet! We have to introduce ourselves, you know?! Hinata Morisawa has joined your party~!

[ this is minato's cue to introduce himself. hinata even like, will smith gestures to him to give him the hint. ]

In that case, what's your faaaaaaavorite monster? Or if I'm surprising you, I guess I can't ask, can I?

[ red eyes, red eyes...some kind of demon? hinata pulls his paints closer, humming thoughtfully. ]

[Cute, this girl was dressed as a cat. Marina had been considering a witch for Halloween herself...]

No, this is the first time I've ever seen something so complicated. How long have you been down here?

a.

[She's curious enough to wander around the square, and the first place she stops is the pumpkin carving table. After a few minutes of progress on one of the pumpkins, she steps back to look at her incredible creation. After a short pause, if she sees anyone else looking—]

Hey, I never claimed to be an artist.

b.

[And after she's done with pumpkin carving, she heads over to the buckets of apples to bob for. She gets close to trying for one before she notices those faces, and then she's backing up fairly quickly with a quick, low curse. After sucking in a breath and letting it out, she looks towards whoever might be closest to her.]

...Go on. You should give it a try.

ii.

[Luckily for anyone who finds themselves stuck with her in this strange underground room, they manage to miss her increasing statements of distress as the walls closed in, but they can hear the tail end of her shriek as she tumbles into a pile of rubber spiders and skeletons. She makes a face as soon as she sees where she is and what's around her before she turns to her companion in this room.]

Do you hate this as much as I do? I hope you hate this as much as I do.

bonus.

[Moments after picking the trick option on her phone, she's figured out quickly that something is amiss, and she looks less than pleased about the events that are currently befalling her. Maybe that will make sense when she turns to you and says—]

I'm going to throw this phone in a lake, this is giving me such a fucking headache... Why. [And then, involuntarily—] Um, hi.

[Forced rhyming is truly the worst fate.]

[ how does he keep hearing the stars in her speech what the heck. he sighs!!! heavily!! ]

Forget it -- what didya wanna do in the first place?

Ah - my heroooooooo! [ it's the shoelaces. which, well, hinata has pretty amazing balance? but even so he can't really handle that while he's walking so he's windmilling his arms and may knock into rowen. luckily years of friendship probably mean rowen won't just drop him on his ass RIGHT.

RIGHT, ROWEN.

ARE YOU A TRUE FRIEND OR AREN'T YOU!!! ]

Ehhh, I'm usually way harder to catch with a prank! Whoever did this is top notch...

[ We just don't know... but it's somehow there as she finds herself giggling a little more in amusement. ]

Hmm, that's the hard part, isn't it? There's just so much to choose from! Are you any good at bowling?

(AU workshop comment over here! He's a 28-year old history professor's assistant/shut-in writer that likes writing about shipwrecks and pens the occasional sea-related horror story, when he isn't trying to avoid crowds and too much social interaction)

i. the hills (and apples) have eyes

Someone needs to cut their eyes out. With a knife, preferably.

[If you were just passing by, you might have heard these particularly dark and ominous comments come from one (1) tall, bony man with long inky black hair, biting down on his thumbnail with a nervous expression on his face.]

[He's looking at something. And what is that something? The barrel full of smiling, happy fruits.]

[He continues to mutter to himself:]

I don't...I don't like them looking at me...

ii. interview with the vampire (and the goth-looking shut-in)

Cool costume, mister!

[The costume contest is just about to start, and there seems to be a few overexcited young kids hanging around one figure in particular. Howard stands, shaking his head as he lifts up his hands, as if in apology.]

No, no, I-I'm not, this is how I normally dress...

Is that a WIG? Nobody EVER has long hair like that! It has to be a wig!

P-please, I'm not part of the costume contest, I'm not supposed to be here...

You're a vampire, right? Only vampires wear super dark clothing like that! Where are your fangs, though?

[Howard looks around frantically, finally meeting the eyes of whoever might be passing by. Any regular adult could probably get out of this situation. Howard is not a regular adult. His expression says it all, to whoever he's looking at:]

[Please help me.]

iii. trick or treat!

[This is annoying. He's just trying to use his device, why does he need to play a game? But very well. It isn't too hard, but...]

[Howard just stands, eyebrows furrowed as he attempts to clear this level. He's not having a great time with it though, for as he mumbles:]

I hate this game. I hate it. It only makes me want to eat lots of candy...and I just ate an entire bag of Halloween chocolate yesterday for dinner...

[Someone needs to get themselves a better diet.]

wildcard: whatever goes!

[Throw whatever prompt you want at Howard here, I'm up for anything and everything!]

Sora's been seeing the ghosts out of the corner of his eye all month, but he hasn't had the mental capacity to deal with them on top of everything else. He just can't do it right now. So, he's mostly been ignoring them and giving them a wide berth, and hoping they ignore him right back.

This girl, on the other hand, seems to have had the exact opposite idea. She's looking right at it, almost like she's trying to get its attention. Sora can't help but stop and stare.

He jumps a bit when she waves him over, but comes over anyway. Hopefully, this ghost business won't make anything worse...

"No, yeah. I see it, but um... Maybe we should leave it alone."

Usedta be, before I lost my eye.

[ he considers this for a moment ]

Nah, I'm still good. Let's do it.

It was an accident! [ She's a little petulant. ] I didn't think her face would be in the way of my throw. I still don't see why I was banned though...

[ She doesn't even need to turn around to acknowledge who she's talking to, they both know who it is!! ]

Edited 2017-10-18 05:17 (UTC)

For ten it has to be a surprise, fufufu~

[He chuckles curious what the boy might come up with.]

i- pumpkin carving

(halloween. what a strange american tradition full of tricks and treats. Tsuyu had heard of the bizarre holiday but never got to experience it. until now. she was determined to explore the culture of her new home by checking out the fun at tribunal terrace and, after politely observing people take pumpkins, she decided to have a go at carving her very first pumpkin.)

Hmm. (she thoughtfully taps her finger against her chin, licking the corner of her mouth as she stares down the round pumpkin.) Where to begin?

i- games

(in keeping up with trying new things, Tsuyu had made it her mission to try every town square game there is. she isn't particularly interested in the candy so when she does win, she hands it off to the nearest person.)

Here's a treat for you. (and just like that Tsuyu's eyeballing the next game to beat.)

i- bobbing for apples

It's just fruit, right? (she stares blankly down at the wiggly, jiggly, homestuck fruit. they looked oddly adorable but surely they were just fruit and not alive?)

ii- cafe

(there was a lot to take in at the local shoppes and cafes. so many options and seasonal options that she'd never thought to consider. for a small town girl coming to a new foreign city, it's almost daunting to see all the specialty items being advertised and highlighted. so it's not surprising that Tsuyu hung back from the end of the line to carefully go over each item on the menu. with a pensive sigh, and a finger tapping at her chin, she turns to her companion, or the nearest person.)

What do you suggest? There's a lot of options.

ii- haunted funhouse

Hey, lets check that out. (with pumpkin spice coffee in one hand, Tsuyu points at the haunted house. it looks pretty harmless and fun but, she knows it can get scary so she turns to her companion and offers her free hand.) If you get scared you can hold my hand.

iv- hayride

(Tsuyu's been pumped for the ghost tour, she's braver than most but this would give her a chance to learn even more about the local history. plus who doesn't love a good horror story about the new city you live in? dressed up warmly in flannel and a scarf, she jumps up onto the cart to take her place.)

Do you think we'll see a ghost tonight? (she's kidding, as evident by her friendly smile. or is she?)

choose your own adventure

(hit me up with your own tag!! i am sleepcoast on plurk if you'd like to boop me!

i'm still deciding on some details for her AU setting but here's my workshop link. i've decided she's going to be a student from japan, studying to get into american universities!)

Honestly, there's days I think that's the best idea, but Retrospec would probably fuckin' mail it back to ya, still full of water an' lake-creatures or some shit.

[ yes hello. he apparently didn't even notice the rhyme yet. ]

[If it was someone she knew it might be even worse because she couldn't see them here? Shaking her head in reply to him, she does another look to the fog.]

No, it was like a whisper...but no one was there?

[Something catches her eye and she notices the figure closer to the cart and she jumps closer to Minato.]

D-Did you see that?

"Oh, thank god. I was starting to think I was the only one." Marina sighs with relief, placing one hand on her hip and tapping the other against her cheek as she stared between Sora and the ghost.

"I mean, it's gotta be fake, right? I just can't figure out how it's being done..." Or why apparently only the two of them could see it. As she says that, the ghost reaches out into the pocket of a passerby and pulls out their wallet, floating away as he rifles through the cash inside triumphantly. Marina does a double take, mouth ajar, and sputters for a moment.

"Wait-"

Most people don't aim that badly.

[Derek is highly amused that Amanda is not turning around.]

Is this how you're always going to treat your favorite brother? Not even look at me in public?

Well that's fuckin' cheerful, damn, who pissed in your cereal?

[ god, lovecraft, some people's eyes really were cut out with a knife??? can't you be sensitive. ]

Only a few moments...

[she sighs, looking back at the wall.]

I couldn't find a door or anything, though.

Honestly? Knowin' all the shit that's happened 'cause of retrospec, I wouldn't be too surprised at this point. That scare ya, or excite ya?

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OCTOBER TDM

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natalie goodman | next to normal

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H.P. Lovecraft | Bungou Stray Dogs

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tsuyu asui | my hero academia

bonus

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i. ugly laughter hi crystal

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iv;