recolle | JULY EVENT LOG

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JULY EVENT LOG

EVENT

SURF AND SUN
With the peak of summer upon the city of Recollé, many people are enjoying some time off to soak up the sun and hit the beach. Pops of green and blue sprinkle the city again though many people don't notice at all. Citizens remain as content as ever, complimenting one-another on their new tank-tops or asking for recommendations of the best ice cream flavors.

It's almost as if there's really nothing strange going on here.

I.
It's a pattern at this point. Those who have been a part of the Retrospec network for long enough have noticed that strange things usually begin on the third of any given month and perhaps some of you may be expecting it. But this time on the morning of the third, everything seems alarmingly normal.

Speaking of alarms, yours seems to be going off. "But I didn't set an alarm, it's summer", you might say, but it sounds strangely like the "wark!" of a Chocobo repeatedly. Some of you are able to turn off your alarms just fine, but others may not be so lucky. For a few selected citizens, disabling the alarm reveals a special pop-up notification from your friends at Retrospec.

A short message appears: B-I-N-G-O! Looking to collect some of your memories? Ready, set, go.

The message quickly dissolves and reveals an electronic 5x5 digital bingo card, each square filled in with an activity to complete. At the center is a prompt that hits almost a little too close to home, whether that be something you would do yourself or challenging you just a little to complete it. Shimmering just under the words of the center prompt, you can barely make out what appears to be a QR code before it promptly disappears.

Wait. Perhaps you may recall that someone once mentioned QR codes. Or maybe you're still learning how this network works and you're uncertain what it all means. There's only one way to find out, isn't there? Grab a friend (or even a stranger) and get ready to play in all districts of your beloved city.

Then again, maybe you really did get lucky and you weren't saddled with one of these cards, or perhaps you're the type to ignore silly games like this. There's plenty happening in the city elsewhere as everyone prepares for the big Fourth of July celebration. Tisse and Chata are bustling with people stocking up and hosting sales, not at all unlike the Founder's Day celebration. Everywhere you turn you may find yourself face to face with people offering samples or tempting you with the best deals around. Are you a shopper today? Or are you one of the employees counting down the minutes until your shift ends? It's just another day in the city of Recollé.

II.
Even though it's the middle of the summer, it's unusually warm for this time of year. A heatwave rolls through the city, but for some of you it's getting hotter than ever. It may be an ordinary day for you when it happens. Perhaps you're a student who's trying to enjoy their summer vacation. Maybe you're cramped up in an office all day desperately trying to soak in the air conditioning, or maybe you're running around trying to fill your bingo prompts. There's no telling where you will be when you come to realize a small item has made its way into your pocket or bag.

Upon inspection, you find a blue-colored fortune cookie, glowing as bright as the Retrospec logo. Some of you may throw it away, while others of you may accidentally break it or even open it out of curiosity. The moment the cookie is cracked, the glow stops and a puff of smoke emits into the air leaving behind a singular white strip of paper.

A short message: "Learn to walk a mile in someone else's shoes."

The heat intensifies for those who have read the fortune before a cool, calming breeze floats over you. Like the crash of a wave, you soon find yourself overwhelmed with a memory that isn't your own, or the feeling of power courses through your veins, the wind whispering a message of a power or memory obtained . Will you seek out who these memories and abilities belong to? Or will you keep them for yourself for a while? There's only one way to change back to the way you were, even if you don't know it just yet.

Yet even for those who aren't blessed with this fortune the heat's proving to be a bit much. The sun beats down intensely and everywhere you turn there are shops handing out cups of water to help keep everyone hydrated. There are several places you can duck into to borrow their AC, but all around the same time at 8pm on the 3rd, a rolling blackout hits the city. The lights go down and the air units stop working. It begins to have the effect of being cooler outside than it is inside (which you recognize as strange, but with the gray sky overhead it's hard to tell if this means rain or another sunset) and you feel the urge to go outside.

That's when it happens. As if on cue, the crickets begin to chirp and cicadas make their presence known. Fireflies begin to pop up in little groups, swirling around Retrospec users in synchronicity. Those off-network will remark how beautiful the bright creatures are, but don't find this behavior strange at all. However, the fireflies will follow users around the city all night long.

Will you focus on bringing the power back like you may have once before? Or will you enjoy the show? The fireflies will be with you no matter the choice.

III.
Down at Peach Beach a celebration's set up to take place over the course of the next two days. A stage sits on the sandy beach to host a variety of musical acts (including a few open mic hours) and food trucks are parked along the walkway. Some of you may notice that thanks to the fiasco during the food truck rally, several of the trucks have been stopped with parking boots. The boardwalk has a variety of games and specials to offer as well, fun prizes for anyone who plays along, buckets and pails prime for the taking to build sand castles and several carts selling Recollé's famous Peach Beach popsicles and ice cream parked along the docks. Best of all, the sun is high and the water's fine, the scent of the gray ocean wafts toward the sand.

However, for those who venture into the gray ocean you may notice that it takes a little longer than usual to cross the sand to the water, the distance stretching before you. The water's clear as ever and refreshing from the sun, though the waves appear choppier than you recall from the past. Perhaps that doesn't bother you. Perhaps you're a great swimmer or you tell yourself the waves aren't nearly as intimidating as they look. Several citizens are out there surfing and sailing. How bad can it be?

Do be careful if you venture further and further from the shore though; after a certain point far enough from the shore, adventurers may find themselves face to face with large, unidentifiable shadows under the water, a slick slide of something brushing against limbs in a gentle caress before the shadows retreat. Walking further will reveal a drastic dip in the ocean floor and you may sink under, the water strangely clear for being gray. Whatever touched you swims out of sight before you can get a close look, but it's clear its multiple fins and limbs propel itself forward and away.

Following it seems to be futile. The waves grow rougher and should you travel too far, the water will carry you back to the shore almost as if it's protecting you from harm.

Weird, isn't it?

IV.
But life goes on even aside from the weird ongoings of Retrospec. Life goes on, the world keeps turning, and the mayor still loves holidays. The Fourth of July is no exception and the city is bustling with activity.

Much like the day prior, the shopping district and the beach seem to be where many residents gather. Several others enjoy the day in Hollingberry field with friends and family, barbecuing and playing games together. Those with bingo cards will receive another sound of alarm, a startled wark! from their device before there is a flash revealing that one day has gone by since the game began. Those who harbor a power or memory that isn't their own feel the impact a little more heavily, urging them to find their match.

However, the world seems to stop as dusk settles around the city. Citizens hustle and scramble to pick the best viewing points for the annual fireworks show. Street vendors sell glow rings and popcorn and sparklers for anyone who wishes to play with the lights. The Mayor sits atop Seabiscuit in Recollé Square with an ice cream cone in hand, anticipating the time the bursts of color will appear.

At 9pm sharp, the first boom begins. Displayed across the sky appears the history of the city in pops of shimmering color, pictures painted across the dark tapestry above among the stars. With most of the city distracted though, now may be the perfect time to do some last-minute sale shopping or cross off a few things on your lists without question. It may even be the perfect time to sneak away from the crowds and get up to some mischief.

BONUS.
It's quiet around the Retrospec building, but the doors unlock for anyone who ventures toward them. They have been locked tight since the first part of May, but you can't help but observe that this seems to happen periodically. A pattern? Maybe, but who are you to look a gift Chocobo in the mouth?

For those brave enough to enter the building, they will find that rooms that were previously accessible are no longer available. Doors are missing, the elevator refuses to work, and the secretary's desk appears to be as clear of evidence as always. However, soft lights adorn the handrail of the stairs beckoning characters toward the second floor.

There appears to be only one room upstairs and the door is ajar. Is it a trap? Possibly, but further investigation shows that it was simply a careless action. Inside this room is another desk, a laptop seated on its table-top and the room itself not much bigger than a walk-in closet. Scattered around are books on biology and genetics, notes about evolution and hybrid animals. Comic books and horror movies sit in a neat pile in a corner near a small TV, screen frozen on a large monster of some sort. A table in the back is home to a few fossilized items in jars, along with empty coffee cups and house plants. In another corner is a clothing rack with a handful of costumes and a sewing machine sits on the floor nearby. Tacked on the wall is a reminder of the dates of the Recollé ReConvention.

What is all of this? A note on the desk reveals that all of this belongs to someone named Maurice and that "he better work harder or he will not receive his school credit."

But what's an intern doing with all of this research? What a great question.

Welcome to

recolle's July event! 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 based on the ongoings of the city! 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, while you are more than free to use this log to play with the bingo cards and regains swap these are in effect all month! You are free to make your own posts all month long as well and these will qualify for your bingo cards. With regards to the regains swap, as per our notes how your characters switch back is up to you! This could be anything from a hug, a synchronized dance, a duel, etc. Be creative! There is no right or wrong answer.

Please see our monthly plotting post/event sign-ups posts here and here.

Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The Beach. Ah yes. The wonderful beach. Home of many wonderful things. Sand, sun, surf, crabs, and it's the perfect place to relax. Pen's here for a day trip, just because she can, with it being summer and all. Short shorts, a t-shirt, bare feet, with no plans to do anything.

At least, until she spots a friend. And a friend she knows damn well qualifies as someone that knocks a tick off her bingo card. Quietly, she moves along the sand until she's up behind Dante...floating an inch or two off it just to be safe.]

Hey Dante!

[And then the flat of her palm slaps him hard on the ass. -smack!-]

Whoa!

[It isn't quite a yelp that escapes him--that would've been much higher pitched--but Pen's definitely managed to take him by surprise! Instinctively Dante twists, one hand going behind him almost as though he's going to retroactively protect himself, but there's a grin on his face and laughter in his eyes as he catches sight of her.]

Hey, Pen.

If I didn't know better, I would've said you were coming on to me.

[But obviously he does know better. He's just teasing!]

What's up? Just can't resist anyways after that show on Saturday? I can't blame you.

[Flexing her fingers, Pen grins up at Dante, a cheeky little smile that says it all. She did it because she could.]

Barking up the wrong tree there, Dante. I like boys, but I tend to prefer the geekier types than you though.

[That had been quite a show though. Not bad for, y'know, you. She's just not that into you though.]

I was just filling out my bingo card, though. Slap someone that broke into Retrospec. Didn't say it had to be on the face. Figured one cheek was as good as any other.

And I'm pretty happy dating Ari. That doesn't mean I can't joke, right? I figure you know me well enough to know I don't mean it. [He's grinning right back as he shrugs. Pen's not quite his type either, but he's never been one to pass up an opportunity for a joke when it's presented to him so perfectly!]

You know, I'm charging for those. [He points to the table and sign, even though she can't see it, then tips his head to the side in some gesture of acknowledgement.] That was pretty good though, so I'll let you get away with it for free.

[She snorts a laugh and peers around him, her feet continuing to float just off the sand. She laughs again, shaking her head.]

Hah, yeah, I mean it was pretty good I think. Almost wanted to wait for you to bend over but eh.

[A smack is a smack.]

You had a lot of takers?

[He almost jokes that "you should've asked!" but no. No, he wouldn't have. Not in public, where it's a little too close to exhibitionism for his taste.]

I've had a decent amount so far. Enough that I think I've marked off this dumb lemonade stand from my own card plus some.

[He'll keep giving away the lemonade until it's gone, though. He really doesn't want to have to bring it back home with him...]

What about you? Since you've obviously got a card of your own.

[Yeah, and she wouldn't have asked anyway. It doesn't exactly work for her style, which is as unexpected as the Spanish Inquisition.]

That's cool.

[She flips out her phone and shows him a scanned copy of her card. Not a lot of progress yet, though definitely one for him.]

I've had some luck. You just got me my second check. Some others in the works. I dunno, this is actually kinda fun, even as weird as it is.

Yeah. When they were talking about a game, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can run with this. It's just dumb enough to be pretty funny.

[It's when he's looking at the card on her phone that Dante finally realizes that she's floating (what? He hadn't looked down that far!)]

Whoa, nice. When did you learn to do that?

A month ago, thereabouts.

[She blinks at him, spinning in place and then letting herself drift up to eye level with him.]

You missed me and Freya floating a foot above the ground last week? You must've been drunker than I thought.

I was pretty wasted. [Dante has no trouble admitting this, laughing.]

When was that? When Prompto and I were outside jumping off the roof or something?

Wait you jumped off my roof? What the hell?!

[She had totally been making out okay?]

[Apparently Pen missed that development! So he gets a pass on missing this float thing, right?]

Well, yeah. What were we supposed to do, just sit around waiting for the buzz to wear off?

[He'll give her the actual explanation in a moment. Just let him have his joke.]

Uh. Not potentially breaking your legs for one?

[And putting holes in her roof.]

[Sorry, Pen, he couldn't resist!]

No chance of that. I found out a few weeks ago I can do something pretty cool. Watch this.

[And he's... jumping? Yeah, after he steps a little further away from his stand, Dante jumps into the air, as though testing his high jump for some sort of sports team. But gravity seems to have forgotten it's supposed to hold him down, because his jump carries him up higher than Pen in her entirety, topping out at about his own head-height. Even when he drops back down to earth, it seems to be a touch slower than a normal person would fall.]

Apparently the other me jumped off a skyscraper at one point and didn't die, so now I can do the same thing.

Hey!

[She swats at his feet, because why wouldn't she. It's not the craziest thing she's seen but it's certainly up there. And definitely since today.]

That's really cool. I mean...okay. Like, it's weird as hell that you remember it and suddenly you can do it. Like my Float spell only without the magic.

[Which is pretty cool too.]

That's been happening a lot lately.

[He isn't expecting her to swat at his feet, and Dante laughs as he feels the contact. He could jump over her head without even having to try hard for it!]

Yeah, it's the first time I've remembered doing something and then immediately been able to replicate it. But maybe they decided that if they didn't give it back right away, they were asking for trouble.

Anyways, that's why Prompto and I jumped off the roof. I realized I hadn't shown him yet, so what better way was there?

Fair enough.

[Pen can't help but snort, fingering a little shard of crystal around her neck. A second piece, just like the Tomato.]

I keep learning how to fight. First it was these Auracite things. Then a spear, and at fight club the other week I just suddenly remembered how to use a shillelagh. Which...seems a little weird. Also like something you wouldn't want to give me back.

A shillelagh? [Yeah, he's got no idea what that is. And he's generally got a lot of stuff going on at fight practices, between keeping an eye on everything going on and making sure that nobody's doing anything stupid, doing his own sparring and teaching, and the secret society meetings...]

Why wouldn't I want to give it back? Did something happen I need to know about?

[Pen... don't tell him you actually hurt somebody...]

An club. An Irish fighting cane.

[Nothing crazy. Though...wait ]

And I think you misunderstood. If I were Retrospec with return powers and weapons? That's what I meant.

[Whoops! She's right.]

Now that makes a lot more sense. You apparently threw me off with the whole shillelagh thing.

I've remembered a lot of fighting, too. Mine's almost all been swordplay, though. I don't think the other me used any other weapons.

[It's possible that he'd used magic, though... but that's a theory Dante's not exactly ready to share. It still seems too crazy, even seeing Pen floating right in front of his eyes.]

I've remembered a lot of fighting too. Like...with monsters and bad guys and stuff.

[At least, she's sure those people were bad guys. Bergan and Ghis, fuck those guys.]

Other me has had a lot of weapons though. I've seen her with magic spells and a spear and that cane, and a gun...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JULY EVENT LOG

Wildcard. You know what this is.

yessssssssssssssssssssssssss

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