recollecters: (Default)
Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] recolle2018-02-03 06:04 pm

CITY EVENT LOG

EVENT
The New Administration
Wait, what?
*[ooc: please be sure to read all mod notes at the bottom!]



The third is when everything seems to start with a bang. On the third day of February, several crashes and bangs are heard and the sound of creaky metal ripples through the air. Those who look outside will see a sight for sore eyes. The moon and the stars brighten the sky and the dome is nowhere to be seen.

Instead, anyone in Tisse will find yet another addition to the wonderful city of Recollé. At the very top of the Towers sits a penthouse with wide windows and an empty office building, soft lights glowing and illuminating the area.

The city goes silent after that, but at the top of the hour every single Retrospec user receives a text from a user named Zee Carlisle.

Nice city you've got here. They weren't kidding when they said I would fit right in. I've always wanted to live in a city like this.

Jo, Maury and the rest of the team have given you a little bit of a breakdown in preparation for our little project, but they recruited me to step in. Seems like a lot of you want a more personal experience here with us at Retrospec. So let's talk. Get to know each other. I'll go first.

Zee Carlisle, Hiring Manager. Nice to meet you, etc. I've been watching you for a while, Retrospecters. Kind of a unique group you've got going. I like it.

Here's the thing. We've been experiencing some problems out of our control for a while now. The director's been trying to keep things under wraps for the last year, but HR and R&D finally convinced the higher ups that we need help. So. You want the whole story? Here's your story.

The storms are getting worse. You might've noticed. Calls are down, mail's down, communication as a whole is down and isolating you into this teensy bubble of a city. It's why the dome went up, had to protect our resources and start isolating the sources. More areas and more people even outside of your little group here are being affected, but you guys are the only people who can help us. Some of you passed your assessments with flying colors and I've already sent messages. You'll leave for your assignments in the morning at 9am, congratulations.

As for the rest of you, welllll…consider this an interview.

You see...as a Hiring Manager, I'm looking for recruits for our new project. The Recollé Restoration Initiative (going forward known as the RRI) is a project we designed here to not only help us, but to help you help us help you. Make sense? Cool.

You may ask, "Why should we trust you?" which is a completely fair question to ask. And hey, you don't have to trust me or trust them. But I think you might be interested to know that you and I have more in common than you think.

As a user on the network, you can contact me via text, phone or email. I'll also have some office hours and more resources than you could ever dream of. But enough about me. Here's your first assignment.


I.

On the morning of the fourth, users going through their assessment period (i.e. those of you who are working inside the city) receive a diagram from Zee. In this diagram, a dot labelled "Recollé" sits in the center and in the four cardinal directions are different labelled dots. To the south is Pesgare. To the north is Magatus. To the east is Respatrum. And to the west is Bosuma.

Citizens will find that they are able to leave the city limits now and can explore the open areas leading to these four points. While they will not be able to visit them just yet, they will be instructed that they must work together to begin structuring paths, roads, or forms of transportation between the main city of Recollé and these four locations. Zee may take requests and provide items should users ask, but it's up to you to work together and start brainstorming the best ways to create maps and connect these points together.

But the best way to do that is to start exploring, right? Hit the road and grab a friend to begin getting a lay of the land. Southward leads residents to the beach while northward leads them through the forest, east and west giving way to desert and open field areas the further they travel. The expanse of directions seems endless, but eventually citizens will find that they will hit a point where they're unable to enter. An "ACCESS DENIED" notification will pop up on their phone, notifying them that they've reached the entry points of the special assignments volunteers have been sent on.

But even with restricted access, there's plenty to be done and plenty to take care of as part of the initiative. Flora in the area needs to be identified and the fauna may be a bit problematic if you aren't careful. Some of these plants and creatures may even look familiar to you, but many of them won't!

Off-roading and camping are encouraged and despite the fact it's February the weather seems to be amendable to these ventures. Clear as many of the monsters as possible to make way for the paths, report your findings to your hiring manager, and look out for each other as you start to shape the land.

II.

It's not just the outskirts of the city and open areas that need help. Some citizens who have lived here for a while may remember that February 3rd is traditionally known as Founder's Day, a holiday set up by the city to celebrate the foundation. In the days leading up to the third, banners, signs and all kinds of advertisements have gone up reminding everyone that this year is the 100th anniversary of the city's foundation. However, as the third approaches, Founder's Day comes and goes without any sort of large celebration. In fact, the annual parade is cancelled and instead citizens gather to discuss a more trying matter.

Breaking news hits the airwaves that Mayor Mayer, the entire city council, the head of police, the fire chief and other prominent figures of the city have disappeared overnight. As newscasters record TV footage in front of City Hall and the police station, Retrospec users will receive a new message.

Uh. Well, that was unexpected. I wasn't really counting on something like this coming up but let's roll with it and count it as part of your assessment. You want your city to keep running the way it did? Find your mayor and the others.

But hey...it's your city. What if you didn't?


Under your feet, blue pulses of light run under the streets and the sidewalks, energy thrumming beneath you as all lights lead back to the subway tunnels again. Will you be a hero and follow the lights to rescue these people? Or will you be a face of change and leave them to perish and redesign the city?

Those who do enter the tunnels will find that a new route has opened, a mouth to the left of the main entrance from the city. Unlike the other dirt-filled vine-and-rat-infested tunnels, this one is a sterile and bright silver path with floor to ceiling panels on one side of the tracks and floor to ceiling mirrors on the other. The path seems to stretch miles and miles under the city and the further you walk, the narrower the path becomes. The sound of wild animals echo through the tunnels from the other sides of the panels, and the mirrors to your left reflect skeletal forms of both people and animals alike. The closer you get to the end though, the louder the sounds grow and the panels to the right slide open to release several chimera-esque creatures who will do everything they can to guard the silver door at the end of the tunnel. These creatures can be defeated by normal means, and they will not hesitate to attack anyone who gets close.

Is it worth fighting to save these people? You decide. Those who defeat the creatures and find themselves at the silver door will receive yet another message.

Hang tight, I am grouping you with some of the others to finish this thing.


III.
Later on the fourth, no matter where you are, you may find something heavy resting in your pocket. A small colored stone shaped like a heart appears and even while tucked away safely it burns brightly. Holding it, the heart feels as though it's pulsating and you're flooded with an overwhelming sense of love for something special whether that's a person, an item, or an ideal. All users find themselves in possession of a stone, and soon another text comes through.

If you're anything like me, you're probably wondering what's up with the rocks. Had the techs run some tests on these. Don't freak out, but you might want to be careful with them? They're working as fast as they can but bits of your soul energy are tied directly to those stones. You break it or make it lose its shine, well, hard to say WHAT might happen.


Users who keep their stones on their person in their pockets or in a bag will find that whatever emotions they're dealing with will transfer to whomever they encounter. Feeling happy that the sun's back? Everyone around you will wear a smile. Stressed out that your loved ones volunteered for a mission and they're out who-knows-where? Everyone around you will pick up that same nervous energy. The stone's color will fade if you ignore these feelings and even worse, fissures may start to form if they continue to be ignored.

And though you may not know it yet, shattering the heart is the worst thing you could do: if the stone breaks, the thing that you love disappears from your mind completely. All memories and emotions associated with this heart will vanish without a second thought.

IV.
What's that smell in the air? Is it love? Close, it's cherry blossoms. It's a sickeningly sweet scent that occasionally blows through with the wind, strongest in the city and more faint the further you travel. However, citizens beware as invisible assailants appear to be on the prowl. Without warning, you may feel the prick of Cupid's arrow from behind. Though the effects only last two hours maximum, they're fairly inconvenient while on assignment. These effects include:

-Heart-shaped pupils
-A violent whirlwind of rose petals appearing any time you make eye contact with someone new
-Your emotions are intensified
-Your emotions are flipped. People you have a fondness for may now disgust you, or people you normally argue with may become your best friend


Inconvenient, yet manageable, right?

On February 14th though things become a bit harder. Yet another message comes through.

Hope you've been having an easier time with the residual effects than I am. You know what makes everything easier? Teamwork. And that's what today's assignment is all about. Happy Valentine's Day.


The first person that you see on this day may be a friend or a stranger, but soon you will find that a strangely magnetic force binds the two of you together. For the next 24 hours, you and your partner will be stuck together and must work together. Whether this is working on the road construction assignment, the rescue mission or just going about your everyday lives you'll have a built-in companion for the day. Who knows? You may even find yourself stuck with up to two additional people, too.

But what if you stray too far from your partner(s)? No worries. A red string will bind your hands together and ensure you're always connected, simply falling away once the 24 hours are up.

THE FUTURE.
So this is life now, isn't it? A year's gone by since Retrospec's impacted so many lives and it may feel as though you're nowhere closer to answering questions. Perhaps you're just starting your journey with the restoration company. Either way, your help is most appreciated and acknowledged. As you work toward the goals assigned to you, you will be rewarded. For an excellent show of teamwork, at the end of your assessment you will find yourself on the receiving end of a brand new memory or vision of a life lost. Some of you may also receive a ticket in the mail to pick up an item at the Retrospec mailbox by Wiffle-Waffle. A message will be sent not long after.

Congrats, you passed. Come to my office in March if you're ready for harder assignments.

Welcome to [community profile] recolle's February event!

Please read these notes carefully!

Prompt I may be played with however you want! There is really no right or wrong answer, and as mentioned Zee can be reached at his inbox to provide you with any tools your character may ask for to connect the four points to the city. You are free to make up plant names and what effects they have on the eco systems as well and report these back to the NPC if you wish. As of right now, the only monsters roaming the grounds are those in the above bestiary though other earthly wildlife may be found.

Prompt II will require some coordination! If you complete a thread with someone in which you defeat the monsters and get to the silver door before 2/16 at 9pm EST, please hit up Zee's inbox! ICly (and oocly) your character will be put in contact with the small group of others who have worked toward this endeavor and given the next step to save these important NPCs.

Prompt III will have set consequences! If your character breaks their heart, they will lose memories and feelings associated with something they love. Breaking the stone is entirely optional, and there will possibly be a way to regain these memories later down the line as a reward for the future, but please keep this in mind!

The Future will only be applicable once you've met your freebie requirements for this log! Remember, the requirements for one free memory are 15 comments spread across at least two threads (min. 5 consecutive comments each) using these prompts. For the free 10-20 point item, one of these threads must be with a character you haven't threaded with before!

A mod-posted Retrospec post may go up if necessary to connect city players with group players, dependent on player action!

As always, you may also create your own logs or inbox threads based on these prompts. Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here.

Happy anniversary, Recollé!
hauntedsavior: (met your stare with blank expression)

[personal profile] hauntedsavior 2018-02-13 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
Same. Just got a memory of a glowing flower a few days ago, but nothing too weird happening so far outside of... you know.

[part of this is certainly natural curiosity, even without the part of her that's getting thrown out of whack by the stone or whatever's causing that. there's some... interesting possibilities in the future now that this is a thing, she thinks.]

You get anything interesting yet?
digthefuzz: (watch | where's the beef)

[personal profile] digthefuzz 2018-02-13 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Kurt may have gained a bunch of powers, but he's still shrimpy. With a beleaguered sigh, he agrees.]

Here goes nothing... sorry, dude.

[He mutters towards the cow as he gets into position. Then he grunts and does his best to push at that weird cow!]
hauntedsavior: (met your stare with blank expression)

[personal profile] hauntedsavior 2018-02-13 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
[and congratulations, the two of them have now committed a farm crime. the cow is on the ground, its hands grasping slowly at nothing, and the important part is that now Anna can pick up her wallet and put it back in her jacket pocket where it belongs. when she's got that all sorted out, she turns to him.]

You're apologizing to that thing? It's a thief, and a cow. It'll be fine. It's not like it's going to get hurt.

[she puts up her hand to her hair and tries to smooth it back down now that she can do it. it's less than effective.]

Anyway. Can't call each other "accomplice" for the rest of this conversation. It's Anna.
argone: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Sunny Smile)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-13 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know. Dude was flying though.

[Which means probably not.]

And what? You just...concentrate and poof there's a magic super arm? Geez. Makes my research seem almost pointless.
argone: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Grinning)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-13 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Kara can gloss over the whole 'loss of limbs' thing pretty easily given her line of research. Being involved with that made talking about dismemberment a little passe.]

I don't think it's weird. I'm pretty interested, myself. I mean, it's not like my life is exciting, even if I like what I do?

[Really, truly, a lot of it is just sitting around waiting on things to test.]

I anticipate we'll be singing a different tune in a few months though.
taishou: © ғᴏʟᴋʟᴏʀᴇ, 1390673.ᴘɪxɪᴠ (039)

iv, I'm fuckin laughing Jan

[personal profile] taishou 2018-02-13 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kuro was getting ingredients for Valentine's chocolates, at the bequest of their babiest sister who is clueless about the going ons of Recollé, but to suddenly just. Have Kaz pop up out of nowhere with something weird going on... ]

Did you just pull that out of your suitcase, Kaz? [ Amused, bemused? Both, really. Also what's up with his eyes? And are those rose petals..? ]
digthefuzz: (watch | yeah right)

[personal profile] digthefuzz 2018-02-13 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
We... we did it! [He just cheers without enthusiasm and looks down at his own hands, contemplating what they've just committed.] Hey, well it's still a cow... I feel kinda bad, y'know!

[Then he aims a meek wave towards her, and smirks at her imperfect attempt to fix her hair.]

I'm Kurt. Even with a year of Retrospec, this has to be one of the weirdest first meetings I've had... but um, still nice to meet you I guess?
argone: <user name=cupcakegraphics> (Big Sis)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-13 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
[Shrugging, Kara takes a longer sip of the now cooler coffee. That's pretty heavy, despite how simple it sounds. However...]

It's not really up to me, though. It's up to her.

[Finishing off the drink, she sets the cup down.]

And right now, she's out of the city. She got sent to someplace underground, to try and sort out some of what's going on.
livingimpaired: (Default)

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-13 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
No, Kara, it's up to you.

[ He rests his hands on the table, interlacing his fingers. ]

Even though you've shown her love and affection, you've made it her choice to ask to be your sister. One that you would say "yes" to, correct? [ Looking up, he watches her expression close. ] She was cast out of your family by your parents. Do you really believe that she'll be capable of asking if she could be your sister?

[ A small tilt of his head. ] Do you think she could handle possibly being rejected by the one person that has stayed with her for this long? [ He shakes his head. ] Impossible... so when she returns, whether she be victorious or not, you should ask her if you two could be sisters. A reward for all her hard work.
Edited (i can't get that sentence to work in my head oh my god) 2018-02-13 02:23 (UTC)
hauntedsavior: (count the years of isolation)

[personal profile] hauntedsavior 2018-02-13 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
Ugh, yeah. I like what I do as much as I can, you know, but... it sure as hell isn't interesting.

[while they walk, she can't help but think about what the future could hold. it could be fun, or it could be terrible, but either way it'll be better than this.]

Is there anything you hope happens to you? Weird question, I know, but anything goes. How often are you gonna get this chance?
leaveittomother: (12)

...Sorry Kei. You're apparently very triggering. At least in a good way.

[personal profile] leaveittomother 2018-02-13 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
[There's quite a few things she could say to those words. Things she'd like to say but now wasn't the time. Instead, she nods again with a small cough.]

Ah, yes. Yes. We probably should move--

[Are you alright, Mother?

The voice cut through her thoughts like a bell. The girl couldn't have been much younger than Luna. Worry lined her scarred face as she spoke with a tenderness that she couldn't remember ever hearing before. The pain and blood didn't seem to matter when that child was there. Even if the word choice was odd. It wasn't just 'mother'. She was saying 'Master' as well.

Please wait. We'll help you now. It's okay. It's going to be all right. We're sorry, Mother. Please hold on for a bit longer.

Ai's grip on the shopping list and cart tightened quickly. The sharp pain was gone. The stench of blood--her own blood--was gone. It wasn't a bad memory but she could suddenly see why Kei had reacted in the way he did.]


M-move to the checkout.

[It was a small stumble of her words. It's all she'd let herself show. It wasn't the right time.]
hauntedsavior: (count the years of isolation)

[personal profile] hauntedsavior 2018-02-13 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Kurt. got it. she's focusing more on that second part, though, about how long he's been a part of this whole thing. and there's no way she's gonna waste another second feeling bad for that cow, unless she has to deal with it again. and she'll just have to handle it herself if Kurt's gonna feel bad about it.]

Holy shit. I've only been doing this for two weeks. This probably isn't the weirdest thing you've ever seen, then. Where should my expectations be set?
argone: (Wistful)

[personal profile] argone 2018-02-13 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Now that is a question. A hell of a question, at that. Kara finds herself thinking through the myriad of possibilities, because like with anything she wants to answer correctly. Not just well, but correctly, in this case the most truthful answer.]

I want to gain superpowers, of course. I want the power to help people. I know it's vague, but I want to improve the lives of people.

[Her heartstone thrums.]

Not just help them, but make them feel...I don't know...secure? Does that make sense?
notyourutopian: Do not take! (Just moving along.)

[personal profile] notyourutopian 2018-02-13 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Eleanor chuckled at the sound of retreating claws.]

Your legend proceeds you.

[She let her eyes wander the walls as she thought over the question.]

Well, so far this all feels like something akin to a sterile laboratory hall. Maybe something along those lines? An operating suite or lab?

[Eleanor they are here to rescue people that is a terrible suggestion.]
digthefuzz: (watch | guten tag)

[personal profile] digthefuzz 2018-02-13 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, a newbie. [He answers her question with a light shrug.] Don't set them anywhere. They'll find a way to surprise you no matter what.

[Still, he can't help feeling bad for the cow... so he takes a few dollars from his wallet and drops it down by the cow's hands before stepping away from it.] There.
me_matey: (this unstoppable girl is a lady jolly ro)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-02-13 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
-Despite all of that, stumbling back, she still couldn't help giggling.-

Okay! Okay... I'm done. Sorry. I just... didn't know if I'd ever have another chance to say any of that.
me_matey: (and the gears will spin and the sinners)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-02-13 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Another month for people to get into trouble. Some already have...," May sighed, shaking her head.

"I gotta... have faith they're gonna be okay. Because I literally can't do anything else."
me_matey: (even now the feeling seems to steal away)

[personal profile] me_matey 2018-02-13 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
-Some cosmic gratitude could be paid to Kei having a full head of hair. Had that not been the case, May's reaction would have been considerably worse, but even with all that considered, she didn't miss the fact that his hands had originally been going for her throat.

And the cradling of her head wasn't that much better. His hands were clammy. The look on his face was strained, as if he was in pain. Something reflected in those eyes... was terrifying.

Her hand trembled as she raised the water bottle to him. More than ever, she noticed how much taller he was than her, how his shadow covered her completely... She was silent.-
livingimpaired: (Default)

at least this is a good way finally

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-13 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Kei was already starting to turn to head toward checkout as she started those words, but halted. He turns back when she cuts herself off as he looks at her face. It's the faint sound of crinkling paper as she holds onto the shopping list tighter. ]

Ai.

[ He calls her name, but his lips press into a thin line. His eyebrows furrow as he looks over her expression -- a silent question being asked if she had regained a memory. Because of him? He flinches a little as he steps back. Like he may be as poison to her. But as he starts to pull away, he remembers just seconds ago she drew closer to him. Yes, I am thinking of my feelings rather than acknowledging her own. Right? ]

Being a foster mother is already giving you late nights, it seems. [ He steps forward, a pause before he begins pulling the items out of the cart to set into his own. ] As nice as it would be to offer you my arm as we walk, I believe we'd make a strange pair if it was with two carts, Ai. I hope you will allow me to indulge myself in worry like this.
livingimpaired: (Default)

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-13 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ He takes in a deep breath before taking the water bottle from her. His lips do feel chapped even though his hands remain sweaty, clammy. Holding the bottle in his hands, he stares down at it in question. His fingers twist around the shape of it before he offers a weak, pained look to May instead. ]

It's okay. [ He hands it back to her. ] I'm afraid I'm not in the mood for an indirect kiss from a woman that collapsed in the middle of the street. That sort of scene is not particularly my style. [ Still, he attempts to make light jokes but he sees the way that she is looking at him -- and he knows that she saw what he had intended to do. In her weakened state -- if we were alone -- would she have survived?

His gaze drops before returns to her face. ]
I'm back. I slipped away there without realizing... but I'm back. I'm sorry, May. That must have been frightening for you.
okitactless: (pomesada)

[personal profile] okitactless 2018-02-13 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
[thanks for losing my notif gmail

ANYWAY]


It's strange to kidnap them for no reason, too... what could they possibly be doing down here?

[This sort of critical thinking isn't Yasusada's strong suit, but then, he's mainly here to act as a bodyguard anyway, so maybe it doesn't matter. Still, none of this sits well with him, and he adjusts his grip on his sword.]

I hope it's not a trap...
leaveittomother: (12)

good for them, at least. perhaps not so good for recolle

[personal profile] leaveittomother 2018-02-13 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Who was that child? Had she been the one to stab Ai? No, she was free of blood. There was no way someone could have done that and not be splashed back--wait, no. No. This wasn't the time to do that. She straightens her back.

She swallows.]


Aha... well. Maybe. [What was that about 'Master', though? Again she had to focus her thoughts to the present. She gives a faint, sincere smile that's quite different than her usual.] I...really can't say thank you enough. I do apologize. I don't know what came over me.

[Beat.]

I think you're right, though. I think...perhaps I was meant to be a mother. [That child in her vision definitely wasn't her own child. No, she felt surprise at her appearance and gentleness. Maybe not a birth daughter but whoever she was felt that Ai was her mother.]
burningblossoms: (Confused)

[personal profile] burningblossoms 2018-02-13 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe.

[She had heard from Souji about a lab. But this feels different. Very different.

Rounding the corner, she stops, a large silver door coming into view.]


Guess this is where we were heading? Should we open it?
livingimpaired: (Default)

it's not too great for them, no!

[personal profile] livingimpaired 2018-02-13 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
You showed me kindness just now, didn't you? If I couldn't offer anything in return, it'd make the action meaningless.

[ It would probably amuse Kei to know the stone in his pocket glows more brightly upon those words, filling itself up on him continuing to live by the idea that spawned the heart-shaped stone. All items make their way into his cart as he offers his arm and her side of the cart to help her walk toward the checkout. ]

Do you? [ Is that the memory that she had regained? The memory that she could be? Kei wants to ask more but realize that the grocery store probably isn't the best to delve any deeper into their memories and issues. ] It seems I have a good judge of character, then.
leaveittomother: (5)

[personal profile] leaveittomother 2018-02-13 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
Mm...yes, that's true, isn't it?

[She really didn't deserve a friend like him. She holds onto his arm tightly, ignoring any looks that might arise. It doesn't matter. She's just grateful for the help.]

Yes. We can talk about it later, I think. [It probably wouldn't the best place to discuss just what a Master-Mother could be, after all.] I'll have to buy more next time I visit to make up the difference.