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recolle2018-04-03 05:59 pm
recollecters) wrote in recolle2018-04-03 05:59 pm
APRIL 2018 EVENT LOG
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THE WIND RISES The city of Recollé. By now, several of you have probably heard of the regions just beyond the city and some of you may even plan to travel! With the world at your fingertips, there's nothing stopping you from exploring and learning about the world around you. On the other hand...well. When it rains, it pours. I. Pesgare is known for its rainy seasons and even while it storms the markets are ripe with wares, the townspeople are friendly and the little village remains profitable. However, as April continues onward the rain doesn't let up. In the early part of the month disaster strikes in the form of a tsunami. The waves crash and pull the whole city underwater, disrupting the lives of the villagers and the area at least 300 miles out including all fishing boats, islands and more. Strangely, you won't notice until you cross the appropriate nautical points, dragging you straight into the water. Upon entering this region you'll find yourself unable to breathe at first, struggling until an air bubble fits itself over your head. The need to breathe is no longer a pressing issue and it allows you to get a clear view of the village. The village itself is mostly intact and the citizens of the village have their own bubble-esque helmets helping them navigate the waters. Delighted by your presence, they'll ask for help with Pesgare's restoration process of rebuilding shops, fixing their wares and even breaking apart a dam a few miles out from the village to drain the water. Though draining will help, it will still take time for the village to dry out. However, the longer you stay under water helping out or enjoying your stay, the stranger you may begin to feel. Your might find yourself gasping for air every now and then while being in the bubble. Perhaps your throat will remain dry and parched no matter how much water you drink. Or, perhaps, you'll look down and notice the bright shiny scales popping up in patches across your skin. Do you continue to help or do you abandon ship? You may want to make your decision quickly. The more fish-like you become, the louder the sound of the sea becomes as it calls you home to drag you further into the abyss below. II. It starts out innocently enough. One day you're out in the city going about your day, and the next the earth begins to rumble and the ground near the subway splits. The tunnels underground collapse in on themselves as a large region made of chasms, caves and forges uproots itself and begins to float higher and higher into the sky right above Recollé. Anyone nearby can watch as Respatrum floats upward and they'll be able to catch the glimpses of the small fire spirits escaping their hearths, cackling all the way as they race through other parts of Respatrum and even down into Recollé. These creatures will begin to inhabit large statues of varying kinds, aircraft, and appliances such as stoves, microwaves, televisions and more. The residents of Respatrum will extend a large bronze ladder down from the region in the sky to the city to allow citizens the chance to visit and return the spirits to their rightful hearths, but that's not always easy! While the fire won't burn your hands, the spirits are mischievous and having the time of their lives. Even if you manage to coax them out of their current hiding places, they'll be more than happy to hide inside of you instead. Those possessed by fire spirits will feel warm and suddenly overconfident, brash and unruly as they do things they may not have felt brave enough to do before. The longer the spirits reside in you, however, the more likely it will be that they make themselves too comfortable. A change of heart alters your personality entirely to be more reckless and dark feathers begin to sprout as large raven-like wings appear. Though the wings will help you fly, the longer you're possessed the harder it will be purge the spirits and bring Respatrum back underground where it belongs. Items from Respatrum cannot be brought to the city of Recollé and will immediately be possessed by fire spirits to jump back up into the sky. While it's easy to bribe the spirits with games, objects and promises, purging the spirits from these objects will take work and may require you to bring all items (or yourself) to the people of Respatrum to remove the pesky creatures. III. For those of you who want to get away from it all and take a vacation to Bosuma, you're in luck! The forest is bright and luminous as usual and the weird night pollen seems to have worn off. Your emotional state seems to be free from influence and you're able to enjoy a nice relaxing stroll through nature. Strangely though when you try to leave you'll find yourself on a path you know you did not take on your way in. Your feet seem to be on autopilot as you wander further and further into the woods, away from bright flowers and happy animals and deeper into thickets of vines and marshy wetlands. Trying to backtrack leads you on a continuous loop deeper and deeper into the woods as you soon come across a bubbly swamp, lush greenery and a small stone house. As you approach the house (or even as you try to leave), you'll find yourself confused about how you got there and you may not even recognize the people you're with. Who are they? And better question, who are you? Your own name? How could you have possibly forgotten something such as that? Fear not. While you ponder your name and your mere existence, the door to the house will open and a young woman will step out. Taking pity on you, she'll give you a glance and bestow a new name on you. It may be one with some significance to you or it may be one you've never heard of before. However, with a new name and a new identity comes a price. The witch has waited quite some time for new souls to enter this part of the woods. Memories are tricky, aren't they? Surely you want your memories of your life back and not just memories of another life you may have lived. The witch is kind and benevolent enough to take you by the hand and make you a deal. Complete one task for her in three days' time and you'll return to who you once were. If not…well. You'll find out. Tasks may range from something as simple as being kind to a stranger, performing on stage, collecting half-priced Easter candy or anything that will challenge you. The witch knows your greatest fears and will push you into tasks that conflict with your comfort zones. You're free to return to the city, of course, but the countdown begins as soon as the witch seals the deal. If the task is not completed in three days time, no matter where you are in the world, you'll find yourself pulled right back to the woods to take on a new appearance. Others will have to find you in the woods and identify you, giving your true identity back and helping you reclaim your rightful memories lest you lose yourself forever. IV. Perhaps you're feeling particularly brave and take a trip to Magatus. Known for its bright, colorful lights in the sky and its wintery atmosphere, it may surprise you to find that setting foot into the region sends you straight into total darkness. A dizzying sensation hits faster than you can blink and you'll find yourself knocked unconscious. Minutes later (or perhaps hours, or maybe even days), you'll awaken thanks to the howl of a wolf nearby and find yourself in a hidden cave not far from the main town. The sky appears to be its same beautiful colors and no injuries are present. Upon closer examination, a new mark appears on your skin and seems to glow an eerie color not unlike the heart stones from February. The color may even be the same. This mark cannot be rubbed off and it glows even through layers of clothing. Asking around the village will render little answers as the townspeople acknowledge it's a mark and think nothing of it. After some time though perhaps you'll get lucky and receive the answer you're looking for. "A curse", they say, and they gesture to the forest at the base of the mountains and surrounding the town. Wandering into the forest seeking an answer, you'll find yourself growing weak and fatigued, energy fading and the mark glowing even brighter as you hear the whispers of several voices around you. Coming from the trees, you'll hear them discussing your personal failures and things you regret, things you've been running away from or things you harbor guilt over. Maybe it's a lie you told your parents, or maybe it's something much, much larger. Even when you return to the city the mark stays though it doesn't glow as bright. As you ignore the mark, or even as you puzzle out how to remove it, the mark will begin to spread over your skin as more time passes. Without breaking the curse the mark will begin to sting and act as a constant reminder that it's there, bringing forth physical ailments as well. Those who are cursed will begin to feel feverish and delirious, chills running through them and something akin to a particularly nasty case of the flu plaguing them. Nightmares begin to haunt them as well any time they close their eyes, the mark manifesting their failures into their dream-like state. Whether by word of mouth, trial and error or simply talking it out, it becomes clear that the only way to break this curse is by admitting the failures the trees have brought forth and receiving forgiveness whether that's from who you've wronged, another party involved, or yourself. As the curse is broken, the mark simply dies down and all signs disappear into your skin, leaving you free to return to Magatus without fear of infection again. V. But what about those of you who decide to stay home this month? April is the beginning of spring and that includes Spring Break for all Recollé schools. Now seems like the perfect time to kick back and relax, right? Think again. At least once a week from April 3rd until April 30th, citizens of Recollé will hear the sudden flurry of papers and impact of boxes as piles and piles of undelivered mail falls straight from the sky (missing Respatrum, somehow) and into the streets below. There are letters and care packages, orders from Amazon.com and important documents and even some "FRAGILE, PLEASE DO NOT DROP" boxes that appear in these piles. As the wind picks up, the packages begin to dance through the street and scatter around the city and you may find yourself slapped in the face by a letter addressed to a friend. A stranger's package might appear on your doorstep. As citizens begin to sort through the mail it becomes clear that these are packages sent from all over the world from outside of the city to those living in Recollé, a backlog of undelivered mail from several months ago until now. While there are no signs that the outside world is aware mail hasn't come through, the packages themselves are a bit…unusual. Seemingly normal on the outside, as you approach to pick something up some packages may take on a life of their own and transform. Envelopes will open up and reveal razorsharp teeth, shouting the contents of the letter to whomever it is addressed to. Packages will sprout legs and begin to run away to engage you in a game of tag. That pesky wind continues to be a nuisance as it blows heavily and creates a whirlwind of color and letters that trap you in place. Good luck with your spring cleaning, Recollé! You're going to need it. BONUS. While all of this is going on, the cherry blossoms are blooming, the birds are singing, and sometime on April 4th, all Retrospec users will receive a message from Zee. Jo already gave you the heads up, but we're working with some weird effects that are sweeping in as residual from other places. Kind of makes it hard to gauge just what's happening out there, but hey. At least Maury took a vacation finally. Citizens will also find as spring rolls in, small rabbit-like creatures begin popping up...and multiplying...and will be more than content to follow Retrospec users around. They love being fed and exploring, but do take care not to follow them too much! They don't always notice where they're going and could very well lead characters right out of the city and toward one of the other regions. Welcome to recolle's April's log! The prompts are simply loose guidelines for you guys to play with and make up your own fun adventures for the entire month! You may also create your own logs or inbox threads based on these prompts.For prompt 3: please do not give your characters their canonical name as their new fake name! If they do not already remember their canonical name, we ask that you come up with something else. Other characters who do not venture into the swamp will remember your character's name but they will be unable to speak it for the first three days, or until characters complete their tasks. Characters who fail and lose their identities will still have mannerisms of their former selves but will need to be identified by others to regain their true selves. For prompt 4: the curse mark can be located anywhere and spread anywhere, and it can be any sort of failure your character would personally be affected by! You are also free to play with physical ailments and nightmares as much or as little as you'd like. For prompt 5: this is only mail coming from the outside and addressed to characters in-game! This is not mail that is outgoing and after this mail will resume its usual "cannot be delivered" status. At this time, phone calls out are still unavailable. FINALLY: Each prompt is eligible for one free memory! That is to say you are able to earn up to five extra free memories if you thread all five of these prompts. For freebies to qualify, we ask that the thread that you turn in working toward each objective is a minimum of 5 comments from you and shows clear intent to work toward each prompt's goal (i.e. helping in Pesgare, rounding up fire spirits in Respatrum, regaining your name/doing your task for Bosuma, breaking your curse in Magatus, and delivering mail in Recollé). Please note that we will not accept multiple threads for multiple freebies on the same prompt. Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here. |
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[Atsushi is running a little behind here, his surprise at the sudden disappearance of the package’s appendages, along with Heigo’s explanation, taking a moment to sink in. It sounds...far-fetched? But it’s clearly the only logical explanation as to why a package would be addressed to the author of a book and not the recipient.]
Oh...you’re probably right. I wonder why it never arrived until now?
[Atsushi’s eyes fall to a corner of Heigo’s robe that had fallen loose when he’d snatched the package, and it’s then that he notices the bandages covering Heigo’s neck.]
Oh...did you get hurt, Heigo-san?
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Well, with an online ordering system that bad, I'm not surprised their shipments get backed up. I've got it now, that's what matters. Do you have to leave right away, or can you -
[Oh shit, his neck! That's hardly something he can explain away without inventing vampires or some ludicrous thing that may or may not be possible here, and two cover stories in one discussion - with Atsushi, of all people - feels excessive, so eventually he sighs and peels the bandage away. Beneath it, the curse mark on his neck glows dully in the dim room.]
- that. That depends on your definition of "hurt."
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How did you get this?
[Atsushi has a million other questions, of course, but the most important one is:]
Does it hurt?
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[Heigo swats his hand away in a moment of sheer panic, then immediately takes hold of it in silent apology for the near-violent gesture, making sure to keep his grip light enough that Atsushi can pull free if he wants. He selfishly hopes that won't happen, because having Atsushi flinch away from him would make him feel like a complete monster.]
- sorry. I just - I don't know if it's contagious, so - I'm sorry.
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But Atsushi doesn’t pull away; Heigo’s hands feel warm and soft around his own, and Atsushi’s worried expression softens just a bit.]
It’s okay.
[Atsushi rests his other hand on top of Heigo’s, hoping that the contact is at least a little bit reassuring.]
Do you want to talk about what happened?
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Something happened in one of those areas outside the city again. Nothing as dangerous as last time... [When Atsushi saved his life, which really must have him wondering why he chose to befriend such a disaster magnet.] ... at least, not as immediately dangerous. But I'm - I'm not well, and this has something to do with it.
[With his free hand, he pulls up the collar of his robe to hide it again, but the glow bleeds right through with only that one layer in the way.]
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[That’s no joke; Atsushi says it with all the seriousness in the world. Nothing good has come from those places as far as Atsushi is concerned, even if he is fond of Pesgare.
Atsushi glances at the mark again, brows furrowing.]
I wish I knew how to help...
[He still hasn’t let go of Heigo’s hand, and he squeezes it just a little tighter.]
I’m sorry it’s just been one thing after another...you must regret getting the app.
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And poor Atsushi keeps being present for them. Heigo doesn't know him well, not by any means, but he's not surprised the big-hearted boy has started to blame himself.]
You're the last person who should apologize, Atsushi. No, I'm not exactly having time of my life with Retrospec, but I wouldn't even have lived through my first day without you. This - [He sighs and looks away, his expression darkly troubled.] I think I do know how to fix this, but I don't know if... I can do it.
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Atsushi looks on with sympathy as Heigo turns away; whatever this mark means, whatever it’s effects are, it’s clear that it’s troubling Heigo beyond just being a minor annoyance.]
You don’t have to tell me what it is, but...I think you can do it, Heigo-san.
[Atsushi squeezes Heigo’s hand just a little bit tighter. Maybe he’s speaking out of turn, but...]
You seem like a strong person, even when you’re stressed. So don’t give up just yet, okay?
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How do I keep finding people like you and convincing them to stay in my life? I certainly don't deserve it. [The comparison to Odasaku really isn't much of a stretch at any time, never mind when Heigo's thoughts are so occupied by the man.] Let me ask you something, your answer might actually be the biggest help I could get: when you think of the person who hurt you worse than anyone else in your life, what do you want from them? To stay away from you so you don't have to think about it ever again? To come back and apologize? To explain why they did it?
[Now his expression is all pain, no smile at all.]
What could they do to make any of it better?
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I would want them to admit they were wrong and apologize. Leaving things broken without ever trying to fix them only hurts both people involved. If one at least tries, then there’s a chance things could be mended. If not, then the person in the wrong can’t regret never trying.
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He glances down at their entwined hands, absently dragging his thumb back and forth over Atsushi's skin.]
Would their reasons... mean anything, really? Would they be important to you, or no better than excuses?
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I think I’d like to know the reasons, even if I didn’t agree with them.
[He wonders what on earth Heigo did, but it really doesn’t matter. It’s not Atsushi’s business to know.]
That way maybe I could at least try to understand.
[Atsushi’s big, expressive eyes fix on Heigo then, a softness reflected in their depths.]
You really do care about them, Heigo-san. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t look so terrified.
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I really do. That's the worst part. No - the worst part is that I always did, that was never what changed.
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Heigo-san...it’s okay. Just do your best to tell them. That’s the only way you’ll feel better.
[Just. Ignore this adorably worried boy clinging to you, Heigo.]
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Atsushi, you shouldn't - [get so close, he's about to say, because this thing could be contagious. But if it is, doesn't that mean Atsushi's already out of luck from touching it earlier? Of course it does. He's just coming up with excuses to reinstate the distance between them now, and when he realizes that fact, he finally wraps his arms around Atsushi in return.]
- never mind what you shouldn't do. Thank you for doing all of this.
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Until Heigo finally hugs him back, and Atsushi breathes a sigh of relief. He honestly couldn’t stand being sent away right now...]
It’s okay, Heigo-san. Even if I end up with a mark of my own, it’ll be okay.
[He lets the hug linger for a moment before finally pulling back with a sweet, soft smile.]
I hope I helped. At least a little.
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[Granted, Heigo doesn't look or sound any better, but that's because he still has to take the action Atsushi's helped him to decide is right. He has no idea how he'll broach the topic with Oda, if Oda will respond to him over Retrospec after the way their last conversation ended, how to make this happen if not...
... but he's going to apologize. Not just that, he's going to explain himself and show that he knows exactly what put him in the wrong. Oda will never, ever blame himself for Heigo's shitty treatment of him again.
Sitting back, Heigo pushes his glasses up and scrubs both hands over his peaky face, then puts on the best smile he can manage.]
And if this takes any longer than it already has to pass, at least now I'll have a new book to keep me entertained until I'm feeling better.