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

God help me, if you ask one more time—

[And her tirade ended abruptly at the feeling of someone ripping something off of her shirt. She whirled about, ignoring the nosy protests of her coworker. She's worked up enough to skip straight to accusatory.]

[The fact that it was Lucy didn't help much.] The hell are you doing?

[Lucy remained unflinchingly disagreeable in the face of Freya's anger, and she shoved the folded up paper into Freya's hands without a word.

She didn't say that she didn't write it; that would probably just make the suspicion worse.]

Edited (I can use words, I promise) 2017-03-05 20:16 (UTC)

[Her gaze dropped suspiciously to the paper, unfurling it, then flicked back up to Lucy's flat stare. This sort of thing would land Lucy as the #2 suspect, but with Lucy snatching it off her back...]

Fynn. [It's almost a growl, the way she uttered it, and smashed the paper back into a ball again.] Isn't this a bloody lovely day?

[See, not her fault! Lucy jammed her hands back into her pockets.]

Sure is.

[Freya was probably busy, and Lucy had...probably voided her spot in line already, ugh. She turned on her heel to shuffle to the back of it, revealing a paper decoration of her own:

Ask me about: the 27 homes I lived in.]

So... about when—

Shove off! [She fished a small pocket knife out and chucked it at the other fireman, simple as something to throw. He gets the picture; probably best to leave her alone for a while.]

[Freya ran a hand through her hair as she glanced back at Lucy and—that was weird.]

Hey, hold up. You've got one too.

[Lucy stopped for a moment, glancing back over her shoulder with a blink. She couldn't see anything on her back from here; there was too much hair in the way and she hadn't twisted herself up into a pretzel.]

What?

[The line for the trade-in wasn't that long, but Lucy was still antsy about getting back to it in time.]

[Freya let out a long breath, and waved Lucy back over.] Let me get it.

[The teenager furrowed her brow, but backed up a few steps. It was remarkably unlikely that Freya was making it up, but surely she would have noticed if someone put any paper on her back.]

[She made sure to brush Lucy's hair out of the way before removing the sign. Tape in hair was not a fun time.]

[And, likewise, Freya passed the paper to her silently. Sure, Lucy already knew about her name and Freya hadn't a clue about this one, but she felt obliged not to ask about it. Or at least, not now.]

[The moment of stunned silence between Lucy unfolding the paper and her face twisting in anger was remarkably short. Though maybe anger was too strong of a word; it was more like the response of someone who'd had salt jammed into never-healed wounds—over, and over, and over. Tired, but violent all the same.

Lucy crumpled up the paper and furiously jammed it into her pocket; she'd get rid of it elsewhere. She didn't trust the curious looks of too many strangers here.

...she should say something. That was what you were supposed to do, right? Even if this exact situation was otherwise improbable.]

Thanks.

[Her voice was still growling with frustration, but it was directed elsewhere—not at Freya.]

[Freya brushed a hand through her hair again, finally calming down, and her other hand settling idly on her hip. She wasn't looking directly at Lucy.]

That's my line. You could've just let it be.

[Lucy scuffed her feet, huddling her shoulders and not looking directly at Freya.]

You could have blamed me if I hadn't done anything.

I'll be honest, you weren't first on that list. But after seeing you with one, who knows both of us that well?

[Christ, could this be more awkward. She glances back to the toasted copier, then back at Lucy.]

Can I ask you to help carry that? Rather not talk to that dill right now.

Dunno. Don't really talk to anyone about it.

[Well, her old social worker would know. But this seemed astoundingly out of character for him. And how would he know Freya's name?

Lucy glanced back at the wrecked machine; it didn't seem too heavy. She'd...basically completely lose her place in line, but cookies didn't exactly pair well with the smell of burnt electronics. She could deal.]

Fine.

'preciate it. Really mean that.

[Freya moves to the other side of it, picking up her pocket knife on the way, and crouches down.]

Sorry if you're busy.

[The teenager's shoulders huddled up a bit, and she mumbled.]

Don't mention it.

[The copier wasn't warm to the touch, so Lucy didn't have the "is this going to burst into flames again" paranoia to deal with. It wasn't light, either, but with Freya helping she wouldn't end up dropping the thing on the way out of the door.]

[It's nice knowing that with as much warehouse work as Lucy does, Freya didn't have to worry about how much her smaller roommate could lift. She led the way, pushing the door open with her hip.]

What were you in line for, anyway?

[The copier was much heavier than the ninety-nine (exactly) Isaiah Mustafa cutouts she had to move around a sales warehouse once, but far, far less perplexing.]

Cookies.

[A small huff.]

They'll probably be out when I get back.

[Freya rolls her eyes a bit at the last pouty bit.]

I'll buy you better cookies, sunshine. That time of year for girl scout cookies, anyway.

[No she WILL pout!!]

...fine.

[Lucy's shoulders do ease up a little, though.]

MARCH EVENT LOG

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