OCTOBER TDM

[recollecters]

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!

Comments

H.P. Lovecraft | Bungou Stray Dogs

[ohrlyeh]

(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!]

i. ugly laughter hi crystal

[sotenbori]

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. ]

god bless, i'm already laughing

[ohrlyeh]

...

[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]

ii

[lesinset]

[ 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. ]

[ohrlyeh]

Whoahhh. Brain sucking? That's so COOL.

[That certainly is a strikingly Halloweenesque ensemble. Is it for the event? Or does he just wear that casually, like Howard with his own collection of black clothing? Howard thinks it's the former, but who knows? Either way, the kid gasps, taking the cake and running off to tell their friends all about brain sacking vampires.]

Thank you. [He says, with a relieved sigh to his new savior. One awkward social interaction avoided!] A question. Do you have more where that came from, by any chance...?

[He's talking about the cake. Look, he can't miss out on the chance for free sweets.]

ii

[imaginex]

[... 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...]

[ohrlyeh]

[The children running out is one thing. The grown man actually following them is another. However, he only takes a few steps before he stops, looking over at Sakura with a slight frown.]

Oh, wait. There...isn't any free candy, is there? [SIGHS.] S-sorry, I got a little excited...

[He glances, self conciously, at the ground.]

Thanks for that. By the way.

i

[notbunaga]

[She overhears some Adams family reject muttering about fruit, so decides to step a little closer to be within apple grabbing distance.]

It's not that bad. Look.

[She reaches in.

Picks up an apple (rules are for suckers.)

And just.

Bites the face off of it.

And then, after some crunching and a swallow, she shows him the apple which - now faceless - seems perfectly normal.]

[ohrlyeh]

[This is a perfectly brutal move to most people.]

[Howard is not most people.]

Oh. Just like that! [He looks so relieved.] Ah, look how much better it looks...it tastes normal, doesn't it?

i

[moneyfight]

[ Fitzgerald is a self-made rich bitch. He has become so incredibly wealthy that he no longer remembers or can comprehend how the poor (or even middle class) live. This, his precious and vindictive wife, considers a crime.

Her feelings may also come from how she feels slighted that he didn't buy her "the thing that she saw that one time in a window" while they were walking together. He tried to say that he can't buy what he doesn't know she wants -- but the ensuing fight said that he should go to fall activities that the poor are engaging in. Which is a polite way of her saying she wanted him out of her sight until she cools down and doesn't want to run into him at their usual haunts as she isn't even know what she is going to do today.

So it is!

He squints at everything in confusion and mild interest. It is only when he hear such a comment that he pauses to see what is going on. Fitzgerald looks to the apples and gives a quick laugh! ]

What are these? Do the poor really create such oddities? [ Dipping his hand into the water, he pulls one out to get a good look at it. The vendor does not seem pleased at all with him until Fitzgerald throws a few hundred dollars at said vendor. ]

Here you are, old sport! [ Tossing the apple to him. ] As these apples are now bought up... how much is an apple anyway? Ah, well! [ A bright, dismissive smile. ]

Oh, wait. Don't I know you? Maybe? Either way, we can start carving the eyes out at any time you want to start. My, my, I didn't realize the poor had such carnival games.

[ohrlyeh]

[Howard quirks an eyebrow at this very ostentatious man, coming in with a swagger that simply screams "I'm the best, and there's nothing you can do about it". Howard has yet to think more on that before there's an apple with a face being thrown at him - he lets out a slight yelp, almost dropping the thing but luckily catching it in time.]

The "poor"...? [He finally says, making a face at the apple before turning its face away so it won't look at him. Did he really just see this man pay one hundred dollars for an apple? How strange.]

I...don't think we've met before. [Howard is sure he would've remembered this man, who he has decided, somehow, he doesn't particularly like.] And I'm sure we can carve them out, it's just...well, don't have a knife.

[A pause.]

Who are you, some kind of CEO...?

II.

[storytelleroftime]

[Magi can be easily mistaken for one of the kids, though she's a bit older. Of course, she's been watching for a while, enjoying watching a man squirm. But a small twinge of pity at this pathetic showing has set in and so she jumps in, grabbing a hold of his hand for a moment. Of course, she knows now people not on the app think she's a young looking adult so... might as well take advantage of that.]

"Ah, so this is where you have wandered off to. Move aside children, my" [She thinks up something quickly,] "-assistant and I have work to do."

[She pulls on his arm a little, mouthing the word "run" to him. Hoping he at least has the brains, if not the social skills, to catch onto her little plan.]

[ohrlyeh]

[Howard stares at her as if she just grew another head. Assistant? She's not the history professor he works for, and-]

[Oh. Ohhhhhh. Okay. He gets it now. He nods vigorously.]

Yes. Yes! I have to be on my way, sorry, I-

[And then he just...bolts, tugging his would-be savior along with him. Try to keep up, Magi!]

ii

[thesettingsun]

Professor Carter!

[This is exactly who you wanted to see to save you from unwanted social interaction, right? Shuji inserts himself between Howard and the children.]

Professor Carter's not a vampire, he's even cooler than a vampire. He's an author.

[As predicted, the children find this super boring.] Laaaaame.

If you stay here I'll tell you all about his books about shipwrecks, and old history...

[Rather than suffer through a lecture about broken boats, the children scatter immediately.]

[ohrlyeh]

Shuji...? Uh, Shuji, I'm not a professor, I'm just an assistant, and I'm not exactly an author either, and-

[His voice becomes quieter by the second before he just stops talking as he realizes what Shuji is doing is actually helping him out. Huh. Okay. He can live with that.]

...Thanks. [His shoulders slump as he feels the sudden tension of being accosted by a bunch of kids leave him. Thank goodness.] Maybe I should've told them that in the first place.

i

[vitis]

[ ask and it shall be given ]

[ because apparently john's happy to supply, or something!! after snatching one of the fruits from the barrel, he's whipped out his knife. despite his initial discretion in carrying something around like that in recolle, he's yet to get into trouble for it. he does, at least, have the foresight to turn his back to a nearby group of people.

the blade gets dug into the apple's eyes. then he shows it toward howard. it might now have two puncture wounds for eyes, but it still manages a smiling face. what a good sport! ]

How's it look? Better?

[ohrlyeh]

Much better.

[It actually looks far more horrifying, given that it still has its plastered-on smile, but Lovecraft doesn't seem to mind. He nods, pleased by the gesture. Even if there's still a lot more fruit with eyes yet to be carved out, at least this one isn't looking at him.]

It's handy to have that knife on you. Either way...ah, now it's not looking at me anymore. What a relief...

[A slight smile.] Thank you, John.

iii... god

[decompiler]

[ An entire bag... please. Inclined as he is to figure out how things work, how they do what they do, and why they do what they do, he's stopped questioning how Howard lives. Clearly, clearly it's working for him well enough. And sometimes it seems like—well, sometimes there's a part of Howard that strikes him as downright impressive. Like discovering alien life. Confusing, sure, but fascinating, exciting for its strangeness.

For his part, Royce does what he can to keep himself healthy considering he has a fair number of vices. Not that he's really leaning into it at the moment, having slipped into the room with a large, sweet-smelling beverage that he sets down on the table near Howard and his own scalding black coffee enclosed safely in a red steel travel mug that reads "if this cup is blue, you're going too fast." He peers at the display; another person might call it "looming," just before he slides into the nearest chair, but... you know. ]

That licorice is gonna be a problem, though. Big problem, for you.

[ He regards Howard's struggle with an impassive sip. ]

[ohrlyeh]

...I know what I'm about, Royce.

[He barely even glances up - he's rather used to Royce watching what he does. He's like some explorer entering some alien jungle, making brief intellectual commentary on the going-ons of the strange specimens around him. That's fine. He couldn't handle more than one Royce, really, but he's learned to deal with the idiosyncrasies of just the one.]

Ugh, I keep getting a low score on this level.. [He leans his head back to let out a defeated sigh.] I guess I just won't be using my phone for a while.

[He finally twists his head to look at Royce, hand already grasping that sickly sweet beverage to raise to his lips.]

Thanks for the coffee. [He sips. The sweetness helps with his frustration, at least.] At least you know how to appease my wrath...

[He lets out a short snort, like he's making a joke only he completely understands.]

ii........

[floret]

[ Jamie doesn't actually notice the beseeching glance, which is coming from too high an altitude for him to spot without craning his neck, but he does notice that the kids are getting a little out of hand. ]

Oh, um--excuse me! They've actually been asking people not to crowd around this area too much. Also, I think beat poets and stagehands tend to wear a lot of dark clothing, too.

[ And it's kind of rude to just ask someone where their fangs are...?
That being said, the kids are making some compelling points. Jamie takes a closer look at the object of their fascination. ]

...Ah! It's Mr. Carter!

[ohrlyeh]

...Oh. Hello, Jamie.

[The statement makes the kids grumble - awwww, man, why can't we just stay here? what's a stagehand? - but at least they start to give Howard some space. He scratches at his chin with a sigh, clearly glad he has room to breathe.]

You're not here to accuse me of being a vampire too, are you?

iii

[parodeity]

...Now I'm kinda curious what kinda chocolate you ate for dinner.

[ eyebrows raised as he comes to a stop nearby. he isn't sure this person is retrospec, because plenty of people play candy crush, but. ]

Like, the off-brand kind in pumpkin shapes, or a particular sort?

[ohrlyeh]

Hm? [Howard looks up from his phone.]

Well, it's more of the...mixed bag. The ones with the variety of chocolates, you know? The crunchy ones, the ones with toffee pieces, the ones that are chocolate wafers...

[How...illuminating. He's nodding like he knows what he's talking about, though.]

So I go with off-brand, because that's the cheapest. I find those to be the sweetest, too.

ii

[originallutece]

[Quite frankly, Rosalind is inclined to leave him. It's nothing personal, but she's got her own errands to run and one can't be swooping around saving everyone. Besides: he's an adult, and she's in no real shape to do anything strenuous anyway.

But she recognizes him, albeit dimly. He's at the university, isn't he? She's over in the physics department most of the time, but she's certain she's seen him bopping in and out of staff meetings once or twice before.]

Mr. Carter.

[Her voice carries, and the children turn. That voice has all the cadence of teacher in it, which makes them leery of her.]

A word, if you would?

ii, later with a hint of iii

[yakan]

[ Isn't that just a pitiful sight. Oh, Howard, Howard... Kiyoshi bites his lip to stop himself from laughing, and heads over to see if he can save his friend from this situation peacefully. ]

Mister vampire seems to have forgotten his fangs back home, that's no way to participate in a costume contest, is it? The fangs are the most important part of a vampire costume, don't you think? I'll go with him to find them, so he doesn't get lost because of the sunlight. Why don't you line up before he does? It'll take a while.