recolle | MARCH EVENT LOG

EVENT

RUMOR HAS IT
In the age of modern technology, people keep in touch 24/7. It's hard to find a resident that doesn't own a cell phone, a tablet device, or a computer. It's even harder to find a resident that doesn't use their devices every single day. But the wonderful folks at Retrospec know just how important it is for you to stay in touch with your closest friends. Retrospec also knows how important it is to bond with your friends and learn all about them. Isn't that how friendships are made? Why would you ever hide something from your friends? That just won't do. After all, Retrospec is all about sharing...

I.
In all parts of the city, all residents with the Retrospec app will notice they have one unread notification. You can ignore the notification all you'd like, but you can't do much of anything else either. Do you have an important essay to finish typing for class tomorrow? Are you trying to search for reviews on the latest restaurant that opened in Tisse? That's too bad. Until you check out that notification your device (and subsequently all devices you try to use) will freeze up.

When you finally get sick of being blocked from everything and open the notification, you'll find a video of…well, you. You don't recall anyone filming you, but that's not the most startling part. What's unsettling about this video is the narration over the audio revealing a deep, dark secret about you. The best part is that the video auto-loops so long as you have the app open, but even if the app is closed the video may very well appear on the newsfeed of all Retrospec members.

The good news is that there is a way to delete the video! With a little work (and after suffering the embarrassment of having their auto-loop blast for all to hear), residents will be successful in deleting the video. Willingly showing it to another Retrospec user will allow the video to play as normal, but at the end a "DELETE" button will appear. On the other hand, Retrospec is still new and filled with little bugs and glitches. That video will be deleted but it might be sent out to the entire network as a private message. It might even go viral on the hottest streaming website. But don't worry, these things are happening to everyone. Will you embrace your secret? Or will you be one of the ones desperately trying to hide it?

II.

Those who aren't glued to their mobile devices will notice that spring is starting to roll in as snow melts away. Birds twitter to one another as they nest in the trees and the rooftops of several homes in the city. The flowers aren't blooming yet, but residents know they will be soon.

Today's just like any other day…but it's strange. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but it almost feels as though you're being watched. No matter where you turn, you can't shake the feeling that there's a pair of eyes following every step you take and every move you make. Occasionally, you'll hear the flash of a camera but you can't catch the culprit fast enough.

Before you can duck into any of the buildings to escape, however, you'll find yourself ambushed by one, two, or maybe even three tabloids reporters complete with camera crew and microphones. The barrage of questions is dizzying, but it seems as though they want to question you about your secret that was publicized on Retrospec. Refusing to answer their questions will only make the reporters angry. Will you give them a full-spread report of your life? Will you run away and lead a pack of desperate paparazzi down the street? There must be a way to get rid of them once and for all!

…you might need some extra help though.

III.
There's a nervous kind of energy in the air as residents carry on with their daily routines. Kids joke about their silly secrets. Adults hope their colleagues won't judge them for the things they've done in the past. It's not so bad though. Everyone has an embarrassing secret they have to live with.

Oh well. Life goes on, and the city continues the way that it always has. For example, those in the Apprassage district will notice that the Recollé public library is hosting its semi-annual book swap. Residents can come trade their old books for new ones during the first week of March. The library will also be holding a bake sale with all proceeds going directly to the Recollé school district. Are you helping out at the sale? Are you perusing the stacks upon stacks of books to see what catches your eye? It's a great way to mingle with people and share stories.

And speaking of sharing stories, residents may look up and notice that a few people leaving the sale have a piece of paper taped to their back. It's not clear where this paper came from. You're fairly sure you didn't see anyone wandering around taping signs to people's backs. The poor sap in front of you appears to be oblivious, but upon closer inspection you may find that this paper reveals another secret about themselves. Will you alert them about this note, or will you let them walk around advertising their secret for the entire city? Think wisely; you might have your own secret taped to you, too.

IV.
Isn't technology supposed to make things easier? That no longer seems to be the case as a power surge blows through all districts in the city. Appliances start to act up. Lightbulbs burn out. Electronic billboards deliver scrambled messages. Toilets back up, audio feedback blows out the eardrums of performers at the Atrium, toasters catch on fire, everything that could possibly go wrong seems to be going wrong. Are you stuck at work trying to calm down an entire store? Are you forced to go into a lockdown at school until they figure out what's wrong with the lights?

It all comes to a head though starting the night of March 4th. Street lamps are bright and shining on the streets of all districts. Tisse is just as crowded and loud as ever with live music and parties. Employees in Chata go through their nightly procedures to close shop for the evening. It all happens so fast, but one minute everything seems to be functioning and the next the city plunges into a complete blackout. All lights and sounds cease to exist.

Are you out in the city? Maybe you were fortunate enough to be at home already, but it's never a bad idea to check on your neighbors. Mayor Mayer seems to be sleeping through the crisis. It's up to residents to work together to solve these issues and try to bring their power back. Groups can link up and search for any knocked-down power lines in the city (and will most likely find them in Apprassage.) There are several emergency generators scattered in the city, but it's best to take a buddy before wandering in the dark. Residents can also create emergency response teams to hand out supplies and direct other citizens to safe zones as the generators begin to kick in. There are no limits to how people can help. In fact...there may even be some residents who have a few unique ideas.

BONUS.
Okay. So your secret's out. No big deal, right? It's out and you've embraced it and life can move on. If only it were that easy though. Over the course of the month of March, several residents may start to experience other tricks of memory. For instance, maybe you order your favorite coffee drink only to discover it doesn't taste quite the same. A trip to the movies might surprise you when the trailer for the next big feature stars someone who looks a little like you. Your favorite song on the radio might get interrupted by a conversation between two people discussing, well, you.

Look around. You may find you're not the only one second-guessing yourself.

Then again, some people just want answers. For those who are sick of Retrospec butting into their lives, you're more than welcome to head back to their offices in Tisse. Getting in won't be easy. In front of the door is a large monitor-type device and an interactive screen. If you want to step into their headquarters, looks like you'll have to grab a friend and play along.

With the success of a fully completed puzzle, the door will unlock and allow characters to step into the lobby. This time, instead of being completely empty, there are a handful of large glass tubes mounted to the walls. Inside these tubes are colored stones of varying amounts, though it's obvious some are more full than others. The doors in the halls will still be locked, vents and windows will be unable to open, and--huh. Didn't there used to be an elevator? Where'd that go?

There's a large sign that says "DO NOT TOUCH" in front of the tubes, but for anyone who blatantly ignores the sign, they'll be hit with an overwhelming sense of homesickness that will drive them out of the building and to wherever they consider home. But on their way there, they'll find themselves at the mercy of those pesky reporters again, this time asking for details about the story they created with the Retrospec building's new security measure.

Welcome to

recolle's March's event! As a reminder, 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 and be as creative as you'd like. As a note, memories in prompts I and II are from your Recollé AU. However, memories from prompt III may hint at a canon memory that your character has recovered! Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Is everything alright? I heard a scream?" said a voice nearby, someone walking up towards her. It was Chloe, though her hair color was all wrong. She'd apparently decided last night was a good night to dye her hair, and it was purple now. Standing there in a full-bodied cloak, she looked over at the young girl, a bit of concern in her features.

"Why did you throw your phone away, Alice?"

"It... there's a video of me... but it... I didn't make it, Miss Chloe! It's of my time in the orphanage and I didn't have a phone then! How could there possibly be a video of me.... when that happened? When I should have been alone?"

"Calm yourself. One of these, it appeared on my phone as well. Remember that it is possible to change things on videos, edit them, alter them. It is a fake," she said, shaking her head. "An elaborate fake, perhaps, but a fake, yes? If there is trouble that comes of it, you can call for help. Officers if need be, such as Monsieur Bigby or Togusa. Or others like me. Just be calm first."

Sigh, boy, this app was really a headache, wasn't it?

"H-How could I be calm! This thing has me - how could it be a fake when I did do what it shows! Even if it's just a silly thing it's still something I did!" she bit her lip, not even wanting to touch the phone.

"Miss Chloe, that is far too dangerous. I-I don't think I should have a phone. I was much happier without one."

She shook her head and leaned down closer to Alice, so that she was closer to eye level. "There are fake videos like this on the internet, I assure you. It is not the same thing as you. It only looks like you, I promise. I know that it is frightening, but you are not alone, are you?"

Best not to remind her that the phone going away wasn't going to make Retrospec go away.

"A very good fake video, Miss Chloe," she whispered softly, glancing at the thrown away phone. She supposed she would have to thank Mr. David for the very protective case, the kind that could handle being dropped, an otter box, he called it.

"I'm... I'm not alone," though that fear had been plastered in places too. "Will you stay with me a bit?"

"They've proven that they are good enough at this to make it believable," she said, shaking her head and reaching over to offer the young girl a pat on the shoulder, hoping to give her some physical and emotional support in the action. "And of course I will. I have time at the moment. What do you say that we go fetch some ice cream? A little of the leche could help I think."

She swallowed and looked at the phone on the ground, biting her lip before reaching down. Her fingers hovered over it for a few moments, clenching and then unclenching to wrap around the phone and pick it up, though she put it in her pocket, trying to ignore all the noise.

"Ice cream sounds very nice, could I have chocolate chip?"

"I am the one purchasing the ice cream, so I do not see why not?" Chloe said, nodding quite firmly at that. "As long as there is no reason you should not have it, then we are off to fetch you ice cream. It makes every day better than it was, if you ask me." She really hoped Alice wasn't lactose intolerant.

"Oh no, I'm not allergic to anything in it, I don't think. I think the only thing that I ever get bothered by is wool, it's terribly itchy! But I didn't get to have ice cream very often, that was a special treat!" even before she moved into the orphanage. "What's your favorite flavor?"

"Then in that case, we are in luck," Chloe said, grinning as she motioned and started to head in the direction of the local ice cream parlor. "And I think, if I were to choose something? It would probably be a mint flavor. I have always liked fresh, sweet tastes like that."

"Oh have you ever had mint chocolate chip, Miss Chloe? It's the perfect thing for a hot summer day and combines our two favorite flavors!"

"Oh yes. I love that flavor quite a bit," she said, nodding in pleasure. "It's a very nice, easy flavor to enjoy most days, but especially when it is hot outside. Oh so cooling."

She looked around, to see where they were and saw the ice cream parlor not too far up ahead.

"Miss Chloe is that it?"

"Yes, that is the one that I was thinking of taking you to," she said, leading the way directly towards the parlor with a pleased look blossoming on her face. Yes, her mood was already improving just seeing it, and she hoped Alice's was too.

Alice's mood was vastly improved, the matter of the phone and the video all but forgotten. She was practically skipping now alongside Chloe.

"You know, I think it would be so much fun to come up with an ice cream flavor!"

If that was the case, then she had successfully done exactly what she'd set out to do with this. She laughed as the two of them walked into the parlor, shaking her head. "I would not be so good at it, but I would think it could be quite fun, yes." She might make something that was very grape or minty. "But in the meantime, you may get what you please. It is my treat."

"Chocolate chip with rainbow sprinkles!" she exclaimed happily, practically jumping as she held Chloe's hand with both of hers.

Chloe laughed again, far more brightly while they went up to the counter and she placed an order for Chocolate Chip with the rainbow sprinkles and a simple mint chocolate chip for herself. She didn't want the flavor muddied. "People need to remember the joy of coming to get ice cream," she said to herself, grinning as she did. Frankly, they needed to remember what it was like to be young.

MARCH EVENT LOG

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