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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...

[Howard stares right at this man, pausing momentarily in his fingernail-biting as his lips twist into a frown.]

Nobody did, I just... [He points an accusing (and shaking) finger at the fruit.] Don't you agree that they're horrifying? Fruits shouldn't have eyes. Most things shouldn't have eyes. That way, they can't stare at people...

[HOWARD PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO WHO EXACTLY YOU'RE TALKING TO]

(( workshop comment here; his AU name is Kiyoshi Nanashima though he's called Kiyoshi Aihara everywhere except on the app. ))

I
[ Kiyoshi was looking for a place to sit to carve a pumpkin or two, when his dog, a friendly and cheerful bearded collie named Hesita, suddenly stopped, and he doesn't notice until her leash stretches. She has seated herself beside someone who's in the middle of carving, eyes pleading and a small begging whine coming from her. You don't need that pumpkin, right? She can have some, yes? ]

II
[ Like a rational person, Kiyoshi lies staring up at where he slid down from. He squishes a rubber spider in a hand and shifts so a plastic bone isn't poking him in the back.

It's not uncomfortable and he's in no hurry to be anywhere yet at least so...

He'll just take a nap after he's rolled out of the drop zone. He doesn't want anyone to land on him when they slide down, after all. And he puts an alarm so it'll wake up up long before he needs to be anywhere, too. But then, yup, time for a nap. ]

Bonus
[ He does not chalk it down to choosing "trick" on the app yet. But when he takes the animals out for a walk, they keep getting splashed. At this rate, Beatrice and Radish won't want to put a paw out the front door. The cats are both digging their claws into his shoulders and that's three for four looking displeased, two downright miserable. Hestia, on the other hand, seems overjoyed at all the random waves of water that splashes up on them. ]

I'm glad that you're happy but how many times'll I have to give you a bath?

Well, there's gotta be something, right? They couldn't have come down here and decorated without a way in besides the slide.

Maybe the door's blending in with the walls? It might be a game of some sort.

[The low light certainly didn't help.]

Yeah, buddy, eyes really suck.

[ completely deadpanned. his face is!! right there!!! ]

It ain't gonna eat ya or nothin' -- I mean, shit, ya know ya've been eatin' 'em for months like this an' ya didn't think it was an issue 'til ya got Retrospec. Jus' continue that blissful ignorance.

[She's definitely not the only one in the underground room, sharing it with a girl with weird... well, cat ears and a cat tail.]

I cannot say I am fond of it, no.

Hey there little buddy.

[ majima reaches over to pet this SUPER CUTE DOG ]

Ya know dogs don't eat pumpkins, right?

Edited 2017-10-18 05:31 (UTC)

[ She half-turns so they can have some semblance of a normal conversation. Well. For them. ]

Huh, since when are you my favorite? [ Her tone is immediately lighter, clearly she's already over being banned from getting one mini-candy bar from ring toss. ]

I know. That doesn't make it better.

[He tears his eyes away from the barrel. No need to give himself more nightmares, thank you! He'll just keep talking to this grumpy eyepatch guy!]

How do you even eat them? Do you bite their eyes out first, like you bite off the head of a animal cracker first, I wonder...?

... I do have an idea, but it is... probably not the intended solution. If there is an intended solution.

[she stares up at the way they fell from....]

I think it's exciting, reminds me of home you know? (she turns expectantly, tilting her head) What about you? Are you excited or scared to meet the- (she squints at the pamphlet. cause, of course there's a pamphlet.) jilted cliff lover?

[Marina follows her gaze, balking a little when she realizes what she's implying.]

You want... to climb all the way back up? That seems dangerous, at the very least.

[Elliot was at the terrace because it was part of his ReVA duties to help with these events. But really, even if he wasn't on the clock, he'd likely would've come to check out the festivities. It was nice that this town held events like this. Even though this was a huge city, it made it feel more like a community.

Being the intern, he was told by the higher-up volunteers that they had a "new volunteer" helping with running a booth today, and to run supplies over to him. If Elliot found it strange that a new volunteer sprung out of nowhere, he didn't question it. Instead he just grabbed the box of supplies (small candies, paint, etc) and hauled it over.

Except when he got close enough to see who the "new volunteer" was? He freezes and stares with a deer in the headlights look. Holy frick - it was a guy from the memories he's been getting. There was no mistake. How? No one told him this could--

But Elliot stands staring a bit too long, as some rather excited kids go running by and plow right into him- or rather, shoving him aside as they run passed. He yelps as he goes crashing to the ground. The box of supplies goes falling out of his hands and tumbles to the ground too, contents spilling out.

Welp.]

[ Tarr is also not a regular adult. For this event, he had gone all out in his tight ripped up white jeans over black leggings, an asymmetrical white sweater with strategically placed holes to show off the fishnet shirt under it, pale makeup with little flecks of glitter across his cheeks, smokey eyes and tousled just so bleached hair. Added to that was the black nail polish, chunky military boots and thick studded collar, just the perfect look for a guy who just holds a frosted cake topped with a tombstone out to the kid. ]

Not all vampires need fangs. Some will suck out your brains through your ears.

[ Please take the cake and go little human thing. Tarr didn't want to explain his outfit either. ]

Edited 2017-10-18 05:39 (UTC)

Not all the way. I can boost you a fairly significant part of the way.

[... but not enough, probably...]

But it's so high up, how am I supposed to get you back up, too? My arms can't reach that far...

[Cleo, this idea is terrible.]

...Before we try that route, why don't we carefully check the floors and walls? Look for any cracks that might indicate a way out...

[... she wasn't even thinking about herself? gotta help anyone else in there.]

I suppose... I've looked, but don't see any.

[Cleo, pls...]

Uhm, let me do a look over, too... that kind of stuff is easy to miss.

[After all, Cleo hadn't been in there very long before she arrived, or so she'd said.]

Ah, I'm Marina, by the way. I figure if we're gonna be bunker buddies down here, we might as well know each others names.

[... Holy damn, he kinda does look like a vampire, where did she put her sketchbook--

Sakura is observing the massacre afar, pitying the children's newest target... though when the man suddenly glances up and shoots her a plea for assistance, thoughts of drawing take a backseat and Sakura straightens. Oh... oh she knows that look.]

U-um, guys! Just a second!

[The kids turn, glancing at Sakura with some confusion. To their eyes, she doesn't look much older than them -- and seriously lady, if you wanna interview the vampire, wait your turn. Under such stares, her tongue nearly turns to ash before she abruptly claps her hands together]

Uh, I mean... did you guys really miss the free candy outside? They're giving away the large candy bars, as many as you can grab--

[The words are barely out of her mouth before there's a literal stampede of children gleefully running for the doors. That worked almost too well...]

I'm Cleo. It's nice to meet you, Marina.

[She holds out a hand to shake? this is totally the time for it, right?]

[Well, it's never a bad time to be polite! She'll take the hand and give her a shake, as well as a smile.]

Nice to meet you, too! Alright, if I were a door, where would I be hiding...

[First things first, check beneath all the skeletons and objects on the floor for any trap doors. The idea of having to go further down to get out was alarming, but she might as well.]

Nothing down here...

[She is, in fact, crawling around on the floor right now, essentially. #hotlookz]

Do I need to be concerned about lake creatures? Seriously, what is with any of these features?

[And then she just kind of drags a hand down her face.]

I'm just not going to speak. I feel like I'm about to... [She squints her eyes a little, like she's trying to stop something from coming out.] Shriek.

◤ I.
[ This is Shinpachi, obviously enjoying his time at the Terrace's family-friendly event. By that I mean he's vengefully pointing at the lone apple bobbing in the tub of cold water, splashing around a bit and hitting him with the water. ]

I swear I'll get you next time!

[ It's mocking him with its endearing smile and mini-Charleston dance. As for its fruit brethren, they've been nicely cut up into slices. They're actually a hit with the kids, since they come with little cups of caramel dip. ]

Want one? They're delicious.

[ Originally the kids were supposed to do it, but they found it funnier when he had trouble with one particular one that's been giving him trouble, and he fished out the plain ones to catch this particular smiley one. It's nicknamed Apple Capone. ]

◤ III.
[ Ghost problems a hoy! What a person might might mistake for a spooky tap on the shoulder prank by a ghost... is actually Shinpachi! Please don't ignore him, he's in a pickle. ]

Hey... Have you uh...

[ He really doesn't know to explain this without having to accept that the goddamn specters exist and are tormenting him. It's the face of complete unamusement. ]

Do you mind helping me? This group of ghosts is playing keepaway with my neighbor's rabbit doll, she's crying, and you know how unfair that game is.

[ Speak of the devil, that poor rabbit flies right over their heads and just out of Shinpachi's reach or reflexes. Cripes, he really doesn't like reliving his days of being tiny and bullied as the new kid like this, thank you. ]

See? This is really unfair, drop it you see-through freaks!

[ He... will still try to get it back, with or without assistance. A good few yards away, there's a bright red ghost, laughing at these silly humans as a whole. ]

◤ BONUS.
[ Well, he picked treat because why wouldn't you when the choice is given by this goofy, if otherwise very good at being seasonally relevant, phone app. He's not testing his luck. Except now he's gotta deal with being in a costume that does nothing for his handsome figure. It's like, one of those cutesy mascot costumes. What does he have to say on this little side effect, well... ]

What are white gummy bears even supposed to taste like?

[ He could either be at school going to his next class, or working at Club Sunshine, attempting to be a cool, charming host. Not today, he guesses. That said, he'll roll with this, it's only temporary and better than getting splashed by random water. Please be entertained by this un-bear-ably silly grad student trying to get around, or host guy waiting tables and greeting customers. ]

◤ WILDCARD.
[[ If you want to do another one of the TDM prompts or just wing something, I'm totally cool with that! You can contact me via PMs or

tantou if needed. ]]

Edited 2017-10-18 06:10 (UTC)

Thank god. I don't know if I could deal with it if I was stuck with someone who thought all of this was awesome.

[And then she gets a better look at all of this, and—]

Holy shit, please say there's a door here.

[Derek fakes a shocked expression.]

I'm not your favorite? And here I was going to suggest we do pumpkin carving. You know, do a throwback to our when we were kids. But I get a feeling I'm not worthy enough to grace you with my company. [Derek dramatically sighs.] What happened to my cute little sister? Where did I go wrong?

[ HI BRUNO HOW ARE YOU HINATA IS SLINGING AN ARM OVER YOUR SHOULDERS ]

Ooooh, are you going in? Let's go together then! After all, it's way more fun in a group!

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OCTOBER TDM

god bless, i'm already laughing

Gon | Hoozuki no Reitetsu

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Shinpachi Nagakura (au: Shinpachi Kuramoto) | Hakuouki

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