CITY EVENT LOG

[recollecters]

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 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!

Comments

[livingimpaired]

Ah, I don't think I'll be able to taste anything for awhile.

[ Yet he sounds fairly pleased about it -- the fact he burned his mouth so bad. He sits up involuntarily, never enjoying to be slumped over. It is then that he happens to catch sight of someone walking by, but no sudden explosion of rose petals follows. Kei pauses, lightly tapping his knuckles against the glass, before turning to look around.

And the area does not explode into petals. ]

Well... that solves that mystery. [ He breathes out a sigh. ] It isn't permanent, but it may come around, again. I have no idea what triggers it, but it is over for now.

[argone]

[He is a weird dude, so that doesn't seem all that off. Not to her, anyway. Maybe to someone else, but there's definitely weirder things he could be doing and saying.]

A relief. Better that the world doesn't go all American Beauty whenever you have to make someone's mapo tofu. I'm not sure what rose petals would add to the flavoring, but I doubt it'd be any good.

[A little joke, but something to lighten herself up, too. It's been a heavy few minutes, but she's reorienting.]

[livingimpaired]

[ Kei lightly chuckles. He then opens his mouth slightly to breath out slow -- cooling his burnt tongue some. ]

Certainly, I also don't think any health inspector would appreciate it anymore than I would. [ He helps to lighten the mood rather than drag it down. His eyebrows come together as he wonders why he would even think to do such a thing in the first place -- but decides not to wonder too hard on it. ]

But with this my livelihood is safe... until I decide to make things odd at the shop. [ A beat. ] As I recall, you saw it, but still... I had decided to offer a fifty-percent discount to those with this app. Seventy-five if the person seems like they're having a truly awful time. Though... I'm uncertain if people will be feeling particularly good after eating my food.

[ The spiciness of it has attracted more than enough spice fiends, but he can't imagine the average person would be happy about it all. He returns to drinking his coffee. ]

[argone]

[Well, yes she saw the discount. It didn't mean she was insane enough to try the really spicy stuff, but there was a certain niceness to the rest of it. It certainly didn't help her sleep at night, but then you didn't go into a place like his expecting not to feel at least a little pain after.

...even if it was advertised as ramen.]

Probably not. But it's a good way to clear out your sinuses, and sweat out a few gallons. Has business picked up with the discount?

[livingimpaired]

That it is.

[ Kei cheerfully agrees. His mapo tofu might be the only thing that actually brings him some sense of mundane happiness. It may be why he has made his father's ramen shop into such an establishment instead. ]

A little bit, yes. I'm quite relieved. It means that I can also get to know more of the people on this app, too. [ On that note, he takes out his phone to set it down on the table. ] I'm not like you, Kara, in that I'm not curious to uncover the mysteries surrounding this, but I am interested in finding out more about people.

If there is another positive to this all, it is that it's dragging me out of my somewhat reclusive nature.

[argone]

[Kara laughs again, a bright and genuinely happy sound. It was so very true. he was a recluse, and he'd pegged her completely from day one.]

That's fair. You got me, I'm just...y'know. I like doing science, even if this is so far outside of my area of expertise.

[It's certainly not retrofitting people with new, mechanical parts...]

But I feel you. The people I've met on the app seem nice enough. And I knew a couple of people already, like my not-quite sister.

[livingimpaired]

You're curious and you want to help. [ He offers a smile, and there something comes from it. Something like actual emotion rather than simply smiling to smile for another person. ]

I believe you'll be able to come up with something, or see something that has not yet been noticed by others -- even if it is outside your area of expertise.

[ A pause as he drinks down more of the coffee. And he looks up over the cup. It is carefully set back down on the table. ] Your not-quite sister?

[argone]

[sipping coffee and mulling over how to respond to that, Kara swallows a little thickly. Little-K is...a complicated issue.]

Kara Lee. She's a foster kid living in the city. My parents brought her in, and for whatever reason didn't like her. Said she was a bad fit. I liked her a lot, and I stayed in touch.

[Leaving out the fight she had with her family over that.]

She's not quite my sister. She's also fifteen. Smart kid, real smart.

[livingimpaired]

Kara Lee. [ He repeats the name over carefully, nodding. ] It seems odd to say, but I'm sorry that your parents found her to not be a good fit. Still, it is good that you remained in touch with her. I believe you helped give her a sense of hope, then? After all, no child likes to be told they were a bad fit in a family, even a foster one.

[ Kei praises her with a half-smile. ]

She's not quite your sister, but even in these brief words, she sounds like one to me. Even if your parents don't consider her as such, I think it is all right for you to call her that if that is what you want, Kara.

[argone]

[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]

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.

[argone]

[Kara leans forward with a huff, propping her head up with a hand and staring down at the table. That's...actually a ridiculously good idea. She can't exactly argue against the logic of it. That it comes from Kei, in that dispassionate but somehow comforting voice, makes her feel all the more like it's the proper, logical course of action.

Her free hand drums fingers on the edge of the table as she mulls that over. The kid really did need somebody, and he was right that she probably wouldn't ask. She seemed kind of broken down, in some ways. But so bright in others.

And it would be good for her self esteem, knowing somebody really wanted to be family, rather than leaving her in limbo. Adopting her was out of the question, the paperwork just wasn't something she could complete now...and she wasn't well off enough to totally provide for Kara. But...]

Yeah. [A firmer nod.] Yeah. That's the most logical thing. I'll ask. I doubt she'll say no, and it'd be good for her.

[livingimpaired]

I agree.

[ His fingers flex, tightening as he holds his hands together. ] I'd offer to give her some free meal at the restaurant to commemorate the occasion. But one would want it to be a positive experience and not a "sinus-clearing" one, hm?

[ Kei attempts to make a light joke. He sees her expression and finds himself drawn to the sorrow of it. It causes his back to tighten and he isn't certain -- no, he doesn't chase after the reason for his emotions. This is becoming a mantra for him. Don't get curious as to why. ]

In any case, you should look happier.

[argone]

[Kara snorts a laugh and leans back, smiling much, much more genuinely. Congratulations, you got her to smile. Despite everything on her mind, and all your talk about not being seen as responsible, you...Kei Shiragaki...have earned that title today.]

You're right. Nothing to be down about. Despite how heavy today turned out to be.

[livingimpaired]

Indeed. One need not feel dragged down by the world when there is something to look forward to in the future.

[ It doesn't make him happy to see her smile. It doesn't make him feel much of anything to see that she's no longer under a rain cloud. He still smiles in the usual wooden fashion that he does at her, because he has brought her to this state -- it isn't right to take it away. ]

[argone]

[Well, that's just as well.

She's content, and happy to just sit here, really. He's not the most talkative, or emotive, man but he's decent company.]