recolle | MARCH EVENT LOG

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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.

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[Maya cringes, and it's actually visible.]

No, no. It's really okay--! I'm good, I-

[Then booming from her bag:] SERIOUSLY, LOOK AT THIS THE LAST TIME THE POWER WENT OUT! She was crying! This is someone who'll be in college in months! A would-be adult! And she's helpless without some bunny-shaped nightlight!

[She screams incomprehensibly then, preparing to just try and throw her bag towards the nearest gutter in frustration.]

[Rachel was going to protest Maya's words, when she's suddenly interrupted. Then Maya is screaming and raising her bag, and all Rachel can think to do is grab for it before the girl can toss it away.]

Maya! Calm down! I don't care about any of that! Please, just... just settle down!

[Maya stops short as Rachel grabs her bag. Her face is bright pink with embarrassment, tears welling in her eyes and her body shaking in frustration.]

Th- this-- please help me shut my stupid phone up before the loop starts again! IT KEEPS GOING!

[Seeing Maya crying like that, it makes Rachel feel bad herself. It's... it's not something she likes seeing. She knows the other girl has some anxieties of her own by now, but seeing them so raw and exposed makes her feel low as well.

She's about to try and console her when a recollection pops into her head, and her expression turns serious.]

Maya. I know you're upset, but listen to me. I think I know how we can make it go away. I remember when people talked about being stuck in the Retrospec building... it would only let them leave when they shared something. It's a longshot, but maybe the same is true here...

Sh- SHARED?!

[To say she's upset is an understatement - beside herself with her sheer and utter embarrassment would be more apt. Still, she realizes Rachel is trying to help. She takes a deep breath and frowns, wanting to shrink into nothing until she vanishes so she doesn't have to deal with this. Still...] M- maybe...

[She wipes her eyes with one sleeve, and sniffles. She sighs.] Fine, fine... just. GO ahead. It's not like you can't hear it anyway...

Just. Please Maya. You can trust me, alright?

[Rachel's tone of voice is soft as she reaches for Maya's bag. She does her best to smile, as she takes the bag and opens it. She reaches in and takes out the phone, and once she sets eyes on it, the "DELETE" option comes up.

She holds it out for Maya to see, smiling wide.]

See? What did I tell you?

[Let's not concentrate on how purely unscientific this is, she tells herself.]

[Maya looks ... ... distressed, but too tired to fight it as Rachel does this.

Yes, she... feels like she can trust her. She's not used to having someone she can lay that with, but it's kind of a good feeling in spite of it.

Or it would be if this wasn't being revealed to her. Embarrassing herself is one thing, doing it in front of Rachel feels ... unusually mortifying, and also seems to happen way more often than she feels like it should.]

I-- mm. That's...

[She sighs and takes the phone, nodding.] Th- thanks, Rachel.... [She averts her eyes, shuffling her feet, her face red as a nearby stop sign heading out of the school zone.] Why does this stupid stuff have to keep happening...

... I don't know Maya. And I'm sorry it keeps happening to you.

[She starts to reach out to her, stops suddenly, looks down at her hand for a moment... before assuming a more serious expression and putting her hand on Maya's shoulder.]

I don't think any less of you for this, alright? I'm the last person who would. You're... you're my friend. I have problems like this myself.

[Her face turns red a bit, as she says the next part.]

You can count on me, a-alright? Never to judge you, or not be there to help...

[Maya is still sighing as she pockets the phone, but stiffens up as she suddenly feels Rachel's hand on her shoulder. Now, for what she's known of the other girl, Rachel surely has never seemed like the most forward or affectionate sort of person. Be it for her social phobias or whatever.

So that much is surprising, enough she finds her own face heating up just a tad.]

R- Rachel...

[She reaches up to try and clean her face a bit with her sleeve, it already being sort of a mess from freaking out.]

U- um, thanks. That's... [She manages a smile.] Thank you. I really appreciate it, I probably... would've gone screaming home otherwise.

[For what it's worth, it's taking a lot for Rachel to open up like this. She smiles wider, in spite of how red her face is.]

I'm glad I could help. A-and... I could walk home with you, if you want? Just in case something else that's bad comes up...

[Feeling a little ... better, and more like herself, Maya gives an affirmative nod. She's not used to people opening up to her, so it's taking a moment to figure out how to process it.]

Uhh... sure! Sure, no problem!

[She slaps her own face, and her expression shifts to a far brighter one.] Alright, let's go then! Hopefully ... not too many other people caught me freaking out, ha...!

[Fat chance of that.]

[If it makes you feel better Maya, Rachel's not used to opening up to other people to begin with.]

Heh. If they did, we can... face that together too, I guess. No one can blame you for getting upset.

[With a bit of an over-dramatic bow bow, she motions Maya onward.]

After you, then!

[She takes up her own bag again, gripping it tightly. She gives a nod after the bow and begins to trot down the road. While her expression was brighter, there's still a heavy air of nervousness around her.]

Thank you, really. It's all just really... embarrassing.

[They might not be able to blame her for being upset, but...]

I know that it's, heh... kind of childish, really...!

[Rachel wastes no time in falling in step behind Maya, her arms crossed behind her back as she walks, her own bag hanging down behind her.]

Believe me, if there's anything I know, it's embarrassment. But... you probably have a reason for feeling that way, right? I mean, I don't mean to pry or anything... but most people aren't afraid of things withotu having a good reason.

Edited 2017-04-02 02:30 (UTC)

[Maya nearly misses a step at the question, and laughs a little woodenly.]

I don't have any reason that doesn't sound incredibly stupid, honestly. At least, why I think it's the case...

... Maya, come on. [Rachel nudges her softly with her elbow.] I've just finished saying that you can rely on me for that sort of thing. Believe me, I'm the last person who'll see this sort of thing as dumb. I-

[She stops short, before choosing to continue.] I have experience with this sort of thing. Trust me. I'll respect it if you don't want to talk about it, but I can promise nothing you'd ever tell me about this sort of thing would strike me as stupid.

Edited 2017-04-13 02:31 (UTC)

Mmmmn... [She tilts a little to the side as Rachel nudges her, and she shakes her head.] No, you're right.

...when I was little, I once got stuck alone at home one night. It wasn't my parents trying to just leave me there, mind you...! But there was bad weather passing over soon, and Mom had run to the store thinking she'd be back in a few minutes, right? I was in bed! But she got stuck, a tire blew out, and the storm hit. Our power went out, Dad was at work, and I woke up with this storm just beating down at our house and it was dark and I was alone and...

[She frowns, looking down at her feet.] I know all the reasons for it, but when it's dark and I'm alone, I still just kind of... freeze up, sometimes.

[Rachel follows along, listening intently. By the time she's done, Rachel has a grave, concerned look on her face.]

Maya... [Without thinking, she reaches forward and grabs her hand.] You don't need to feel ashamed of that! I can see why you have a fear like that... that must have been awful.

You don't need to feel ashamed of that.

[Maya looks momentarily alarmed as Rachel suddenly grabs her hand, and the blood rushes to her face. She realizes she's suddenly digging down a little deeper than she's used to, and just tries to laugh it off.]

Oh, ah. Heh! Ah... don't worry about that, really! It's not like it's something that even comes up much, besides this stupid app trying to make our lives miserable...!

... [Rachel frowns, and squeezes Maya's hand a bit tighter.]

Maya... you can't tell me not to worry about it when you were so upset just now. I don't want to pry it out of you, but...

[She takes a deep breath.]

A problem my mom and I had for a long time was that we weren't honest with each other. I'd have these problems and just never tell her about it. I didn't want her to worry about it either. You don't... you don't need to be that way with me, okay?

[Maya's eyes turn to Rachel, more than a little surprised. She actually looks like she's completely blanking for a moment, before smiling a bit more genuinely.]

...right, okay. You're right, I guess I don't... Just, I guess for right now, I just wanna get home, yeah? Put this stupid thing out of my mind.

[Rachel nodded slowly, squeezing Maya's hand again before smiling.]

Alright. I'll walk with you the rest of the way, if that's alright?

[Maya hesitates for a moment, just staring at her. Shen she squeezes her hand back, and nods.]

Mm! Thank you, I'd appreciate that!

Alright then! And remember... you can always rely on me, Maya!

[And they're off... with Rachel making sure to keep a grip on Maya's hand all the way.]

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MARCH EVENT LOG

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