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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sakura hadn't landed on top of him (thank goodness!), but she was close enough to startle Xiaolang once he's finally gathered his bearings and opens his eyes.]

W-WAH!

[He shoots up to a sitting position, heart racing (but that was just from the adrenaline of the whole experience, right? Right??), only to accidentally knock his head against hers and fall back down again. SMOOTH.]

Ow...

[He attempts to sit back up once more, carefully this time, putting a hand on the quickly throbbing spot on his forehead. At least the mitts were good for something.]

I'm fine, I'm fine, don't worry. [Well, aside from his sore behind and the forehead bump, anyway, but more importantly--] Are you okay? Did you get hurt?

A-ah.....sorry. [Sakura winces, rubbing at her own forehead for a moment from bumping into him in their movement, attempts to get up and back to their feet more. Or, with the way he shot up anyway.

Still, she herself seems physically fine, if one might ignore the way her heart raced from the adrenaline of the sudden drop and all. Which is probably drowned out enough from the screams heard from above.]

I'm alright.

[She shifts then, more carefully, in removing a skeleton's arm from her lap, then starting when she sees one of the spiders.]

These are fake, right?

[There was a tension in his chest that dropped away when he heard her answer, that he didn't realize he had until that moment, and there was an internal sigh of relief.]

Good.

[Xiaolang props himself up on his arms, picking through the dust and the bones and the spiders, and makes a face. Yech. He was going to be so grimy once they got out of here. His own nerves alight when he sees her flinch, worried something DID get to her after all, but he relaxes as he hears her question.]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure they're fake. [And to assure her, he picks another off of his clothes, gives it a good shake in her direction (making it's googly eyes wiggle), and tosses it away.] See? They all smell like cheap plastic too.

U-Um... sorry, about, you know... earlier. [He gestures to her head, cheeks more than a bit red, too embarrassed to elaborate further.] L-Let's see if we can find an exit! There's got to be one in here, right?

[He props one hand on the ground (or whatever counts as the ground with the tons of bones around), and offers the other to Sakura to help her up.] C'mon!

O-oh, the eyes.....!

[She can't help but let out a nervous laugh at that. It seems rather obvious it's all fake now, since seeing the googly eyes on them. She'd obviously figured the skeletons were fake, but not so quick on the uptake with the spiders, since that seems much more plausible they were real, especially in such an old house as this.

Still, she flails her hands a little in trying to reassure him, telling him she's fine, that her head doesn't even hurt anymore. She notes his flushed cheeks, unsure if he's just flustered with all of this or if he might actually be a little warm, uncomfortable or perhaps ill.]

But you're right. We should get out of here before my brother sends in a rescue party or something, knowing him.

[She then reaches, taking the offered hand in getting back up to her feet.]

Thanks.

[Was he ill? His heart was still beating a mile a minute, and his face felt like it was on fire. Maybe it was just the stress of the situation they landed themselves in? Not to mention the wolf costume was toasty as it is, so maybe he was just overheating. That's all it could be, right?

Sakura was fairly light, so it was no trouble helping her back up, but with all the weird debris on the floor (was that a plastic snake in there?), it was more of a struggle for Xiaolang, given his costume, but he manages. Why were all these things tangled around his tail, anyway?]

Uh huh. It is kind of late, so I wouldn't blame him. Especially with everything being so busy outside tonight and all. [Not to mention her brother is dealing with the loss of their father, so he's not wrong in worrying after her... but Xiaolang doesn't really want to mention that, given the situation they're in right now. Even he could tell that bringing up that subject when they're both already stressed was bad idea.

He realizes a little too late that he's still gripping her hand, and he hastily pulls it away, a new wave of warmth rushing through his body. He's really got to get changed out of this costume, before he gives himself heatstroke.]

I-I think it might be this way?

[And without waiting for her, he begins to hurry forward, feet occasionally fumbling against the stray bones on the ground.]

I'm sure if we work together though, we'll figure getting out of here quick.

[Because of course she is trying to be more focused on the task at hand than worrying about her brother. If anything she might be more concerned about Syaoran but he doesn't seem too ill if he might be coming down with something at least. Her own cheeks flush slightly at the lingering touch, but she's quick to shrug that off in them just getting distracted with the situation. It doesn't necessarily mean anything. Does it?

So she simply gives a nod, getting to her feet and then casually reaching to brush off a prop caught on his tail, to pick up her witch hat.]

Seems as good a direction as any, I guess. Let's go.

[She's quick to follow. Thankful it isn't like trying to keep up with her brother with his larger strides for each two of hers or so.]

[Ugh, he's got to calm down. That casual brush to his costume, even if it had been a helpful hand, had sent his heart wildly beating again, and it felt like the breath had caught in his chest. This was so stupid-- what was he so stressed about? Maybe it was the spooky story Mio had told him earlier about this place, about the wax corpses that looked like real people? Maybe this was how they caught people to make them into those things??

... no, no, that was ridiculous, and this was ridiculous, and he needed to think straight to get them out of here. Besides, if someone was trying to come after them, they could always call for help--

-- wait, duh.]

Hey, check your phone, and see if we have any connection in this place! Maybe we can call someone to let the owners know we're stuck down here. [And he frowns a bit.] Unless this is a normal thing, which I doubt. It seems much too dangerous.

My phone? Oh! Maybe if I call Fai-san, he can come or call others to help. We might not be the only ones having trouble getting out of here.

[Or. She hopes not, but. If there were others stuck here like them, the sooner they figure getting help, the better. If they can manage a signal here that is. Which, it seems they can't. When Sakura does pull out her phone to check if there was any signal to call or text someone.]

....Looks like we're on our own. But we can look for a way out ourselves. If there was a way down here, there should be a way back up if we keep going. And if we hear or see anyone else, maybe they can help.

[Meanwhile, Xiaolang's digging in his waistcoat for his own phone, in case his phone happened to have better service, but he pauses as something Sakura says catches his attention.]

Fai...? Just who's--

[But his hand finds his phone, and the question remains unasked as he pulls it out to check. Nada on his end too, it seems.]

... shoot. I guess so. But we can probably use the flashlight app to light our way, or get other people's attention if there really is more of us down here. [And there's a small sigh of resignation.] You're right, though. If they dumped all of this stuff down here, clearly they had to bring it in from somewhere.

[Unless they dropped it all from the ceiling, which... he wasn't too keen on thinking about. Best to keep it rational.]

It shouldn't be that far, though! We were almost to the exit when we dropped in, so we're bound to reach a wall if we keep going!

Fai-san! He's a friend, a social worker who's helped me out a bit lately is all. But that's true. The flashlight. Just using that won't drain the battery too much? I don't think.

[Though, if their phone kept searching for a signal, that might drain the battery a little faster than they might expect. But hopefully that wouldn't be an issue if they figure their way out of here quick enough. She gives a nod, following closer after finding the flashlight app and using it to get a better look at their surroundings and direction.]

Right! We must be close. Or -- close to the stairs or something.

[Xiaolang shakes his head, although it looks like his thoughts are preoccupied elsewhere.]

It shouldn't, but I have a portable charger, just in case. We can even use mine as a back-up, if worse comes to worse.

[It's hard to meet her eye at the moment, as the subject he's about to broach was a sensitive one, and while it probably wasn't the best situation to be discussing this sort of thing, Sakura's previous comment had him too concerned NOT to ask.]

Um... I know we haven't... talked much this year, but...

[And he chances a glance in her direction, cheeks flushed.]

Are you... are you doing okay? With math and class, and... other stuff? [Like stuff that might involve a social worker, maybe??]

Oh, that's good! I should start carrying mine with me. I have one but I usually end up leaving it back home on my desk after charging it again.

[Though, she blinks, pausing from her shifting to follow him and shine her phone's light to lead their way, when he asks how she has been. He -- he didn't have the app. At least as far as she knows. So she isn't quite sure just what to say exactly in answer.]

Well, I'm not failing Maths at least, thanks to Prompto-san helping me with it! I've been managing homework alright so far, since I get to do some at work if it's quieter.

[Other things though. Well. She can't really say on how she saw what looked like her mother. Or that strange stuffed toy and his contract. Those strange memories. Let alone everything with the app. Usually she might smile and try brush it off, reassuring him without a second thought, not wanting him or anyone else worrying.

She's probably grateful for the lack of proper light down here in shadowing her features as she bows her head briefly when answering. Fai was a friend, and just happened to be a social worker, but it didn't mean anything, didn't mean he wanted to adopt her. Or her brother. Her brother was old enough to care for her at this point.]

But um. Otherwise I've been okay. My brother and I manage to get by and take turns with the chores and stuff.

[He sighes, putting his phone back into the pocket of his waistcoat.]You should be more mindful. You never know when there's going to be a situation like this where you'll need it. [If this has been months before, this would have been said more critically, or meanly, but now it's just a gentle admonishment. He cared about her (as a friend!!!!), so he didn't want her to land into trouble while he wasn't around. ~~But boy, does he not know the half of it--~~

But the moment she ducks her head, Xiaolang knew something wasn't right, and he immediately regrets opening his mouth. There were one or two things that had stuck in his head (what was this about work? Weren't they too young for that?), but he refrained from mentioning them, not wanting to make things any more awkward for the both of them.]

That's... that's good. But, uh...! I can still help you with math, if you want! I'm getting used to my classes now, so you don't have to bother Prompto or anything like that!

And, um... [His cheeks are turning redder still, and his heartbeat was picking up again. What was he getting so stressed over?] You can always text me or call me if you... if you need somebody to talk to. A-About anything. Really. I don't mind.

[This is totally what friends do, right??]

I know. I'll try remember next time to keep it in my bag once I finish charging it. [Better to be prepared. Next time she might not be with Syaoran or someone else who has their own powerbank to charge their phone.]

You would? If you don't mind. I mean, this stuff is...it's been years, for Prompto-san, so it'd be more 'fresh' for you?

[She doesn't like feeling like she is imposing on either of them. But neither of them seem to mind and are extending the offer anyway. So she might as well take them up on it? In wanting to pass her tests or exam and all, at least. Still, her head tilts for a moment as she glances to Syaoran, blinking as her own cheeks heat a little.]

You're sure? I know I have your number from when we've met up outside of class sometimes for homework.

[She doesn't want to presume. Let alone accidentally end up texting him something a little more personal than he might be comfortable with. Or something to do with the app for that matter, and confusing or worrying him with that.]

[He gives a quick shake of his head at her question, still red in the face and pointed avoiding her glance. Maybe he was so flustered because he's never really reached out to anyone like this before? Yeah, that totally seemed legit enough.]

I-I really don't mind, honest. It'll be good practice on my end, and I probably know more math than Prompto does, anyway. [WHOOPS that was mean, but he's still a little bitter about someone else muscling into his tutoring territory (not that it was Sakura's fault or anything-- it couldn't be helped, with Xiaolang not being in many of her classes this year and all).]

And yeah, I-I'm sure. It's just been... weird... not having you around all the time, that's all.

[And then, almost on reflex--]

Not like I missed you or anything like that, though!

[XIAOLANG YOU WERE DOING SO WELL NOT BEING A TSUNDERE, WHY THIS]

E-eh? You think so? I just figured, since he finished high school and all he'd know all this that we're learning already and be able to help.

[She hadn't meant to seem like she was replacing Syaoran or anything. Just that she knows he's busy with his own extra curricular activities and all, so she figured it couldn't hurt to have a back up of sorts for when Syaoran might be otherwise occupied.]

It's been weird? I didn't mean to be avoiding you or anything like that!

[But o-oh. Well. How else had he meant that if not that he'd missed her? Sakura isn't quite sure what to make of him sometimes, blinking and looking almost apologetic as she follows.]

[No, Sakura was totally in the right with all of this, and to a degree, Xiaolang knows this as well. But there was just something about some other guy swooping in to take over for him that made him mad at the guy in question, and he didn't really know WHY.]

I mean, that's... true, but he could have forgotten half of it by now, too. Just because he's an adult doesn't exactly mean he's smarter.

[He manages to finally take a glance towards her (the salt towards Prompto helped damper his nerves a little), and his heart nearly skitters to his throat at the look on her face. Did he accidentally hurt her feelings? Her next words only drive the point home, and he mentally scrambles for a way to fix things.]

I didn't mean it like that!! I-I mean, I have completely different classes than you now, so of course we wouldn't see each other a lot, and you have a lot going on, so I know you haven't been avoiding me, and--

[God, he's rambling, he's got to get a hold of himself--]

... o-okay, fine, maybe I did... miss you. Just a tiny, little bit. Like a nano-bit.

[LIES HE TOTALLY MISSED HER BAD, he just can't say it without wanting to die of total embarrassment??]

Ah, I hadn't thought of that. But he doesn't seem to have forgotten all of it when he sits down with me.

[Or so she figures. He has helped her pass thus far since she was getting help from him at least. She wasn't failing because he showed her wrongly on how to work out the problems and equations. Not that it is too difficult, given she's only thirteen and still has a way to go in school yet but still.]

That's true though. Different classes do cut into our time we usually see each other in school. I mean....eh? Um. Maybe we can make a time each week then, to go over homework together or something?

[That way even if their classes weren't all together, they'd at least see each other then? She does feel bad if he was missing her. And, well, if she would admit it to herself, she kind of misses seeing him as often. She's so focused on him and reassuring him that she doesn't see something on the ground and stumbles, tripping and instinctively reaching out with her hands in expecting to catch her fall.]

[Don't mind him, Sakura, he's just being a dumb boy who gets jealous over dumb things, so he's going to grumble a bit over her defense of his math skills, and leave it at that. (But he still thinks he's probably better than him)

His heartbeat picks up in tempo at her answer, which comes as a bit of a surprise. He was initially just fine with the idea of her texting or calling him, but... having set days to see one another was kind of nice too? It actually even made him... a little happy?? Not that he was about to openly admit it.]

Um...! I-I don't mind if you don't? Saturdays and Sundays are usually good for me because I don't have any clubs, but I can do any other day too if it works better for you...! There's also lunch period, but I don't know if you--

[The small scuffle of her feet, different from their normal footsteps, immediately grabs his attention, however, and he turns just in time to see her start to topple over.]

SUNNY--!!

[Acting quickly, his hands shoot out to hastily grab at her waist, using his arms as a brace for her to help regain her balance. Their sudden closeness is nowhere in his mind right now, his only concerns being of her safety and well-being. (Though the adrenaline was enough to get his heart jack hammering.)]

Are you okay?!

Yes, the weekends! That was what I was thinking.

[She starts to answer, agreeing, as she feels his hands reach to hold her, to stop her from falling. She gives a small 'thanks' as she regains her balance and steps slightly forward to not trip again in freeing her feet from the obstacle. She isn't immediately focusing so much on the closeness either when he helps her from tripping over. Sakura shifts, almost sheepish in her apology as she straightens a little more.]

Sorry.

[Xiaolang's arms remain steady around Sakura as she begins to readjust herself, although he can't help but sigh in resignation at her reply. Honestly, this girl sometimes.]

It's fine, but be more careful, okay? It's dark down here, and you could get seriously hurt if you're not paying enough atten...

[... Speaking of attention, guess who's finally paying enough of it to realize they're super close and like-- one step away from a proper hug??]

--ERK?!

[Like a gunshot, Xiaolang pushes away from her at lightning speed (hopefully she's gained enough footing not to fall over again??), his face red enough to rival a ripe tomato, and his heart practically stopping in his chest. Oh my god, oh my god, OH MY GOD-- he was just trying to steady her, he didn't mean to get that CLOSE--

In his haste to get away, however, his feet scramble for purchase against the ground and he fumbles backwards straight into something hard and metal, his head hitting against it with a loud CLANG.

... so who was he telling to be careful, again?]

Hm? Ah, y-yes....

[Sakura blinks, initially seeming confused at why he pushes away like that. But it is only once he has shifted and isn't quite so close that she realizes just how close their proximity was just now. Her face isn't quite as red as his, but there's still a flush of pink at her cheeks and nose too.]

Li-kun! Your head! Are you okay?

[Sakura flails a little, almost stumbling in her haste to get to him, to check on him after seeing and hearing his head smack against that.]

[The pain is enough to distract him from his previous nerves-- unlike their bump of heads before, which faded fairly fast, this was sharp and lingering, enough so to keep him put while Sakura rushed over to check on him. Ugh, but what even WAS that? With the whole... thing with Sakura earlier before (don't think about it, DON'T THINK ABOUT IT), he forgot to pay attention to his surroundings, which was a huge oversight on his part.

Once the pain subsided to a duller ache, he carefully opens his eyes, reaching up to gently prod at the spot of collision.]

... I'm fine. [Though he winces as his hand brushes against his head. Jeez, that's going to become quite the goose egg.] I'm sure if I get some ice on it at home, it'll be alright in the morning.

[His other hand, in the meantime, gropes blindly behind him, either to find something to support himself with, or just find whatever the hell he collided with. A look of surprise crosses his face, however, when his hand falls on something smooth, flat, and level, and he turns his attention square on Sakura.]

Sunny, shine your phone on this! I think it's a ladder!

But it might be a while before we figure a way out.....? There's got to be someone here that could help if you're hurt, Li-kun.

[She doesn't want him to have to wait. If he was hurt, he should get help as soon as possible. She should. But if their phones had no signal, she couldn't text or call anyone. Unless they yelled and someone was close enough to hear them, perhaps? But that wasn't guaranteed either.

But she blinks, pausing and looking up a little when he notices the ladder?]

A ladder? To get us back up to get out? [She shifts, stepping forward to aim her phone at the area where his hand is, blinking at the sight.]

Ah, it is! You did it, Li-kun! Quick, let's get up and we can find a way out and home again.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

OCTOBER TDM

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