(no subject)

[recollecters]

EVENT

REVERTED. "Every moment is a fresh beginning." - T. S. Eliot Happy July, Retrospecters. Can you believe it's been nearly a year since the city was under attack and several of you were pulled and lost in Unreality? Time sure does fly, doesn't it? But don't fret. It seems as though the city is in for a real vacation this time...rest easy. THE BEGINNING Recollé has been fully restored thanks to the effort of the citizens working to paint the city back to life and breaking down the layers separating the city from most of its non-Retrospec users. The sky is painted multiple colors (a permanent fixture, it seems) and some buildings and plants are extraordinary but everything appears to be in solid, functional condition. All buildings are where they should be. The roads are safe. And everyone around you appears to be preparing for one of two celebrations... THE 4TH OF JULY With the 4th of July tomorrow, citizens of Recollé are preparing for their own celebration. Much like last year, the city will be preparing with a large gathering at Peach Beach, food trucks aplenty, discounts at several stores in Tisse and Enprise, and of course at 9pm sharp the beautiful and historical fireworks display will begin. Street vendors sell glowsticks and lemonade as everyone gathers to watch the show in the sky. This year, however, while the fireworks display still shows events of the city's history citizens may recognize a few new scenes added to the show. As they look up into the sky they'll notice scenes depicting several of the events that have happened over the last year ranging from the Retrospec bingo games to the nightmare fog to the mistletoe bats and more. This year will also include scenery and displays from the four regions around the city. Perhaps you recognize these events a little too well. Care to share the tale with your neighbor? TANABATA It seems as though this week is a non-stop celebration though. As the 4th of July ends, several members of the city are hard at work in preparation for Tanabata. Celebrated on Saturday, July 7th this year, residents are hard at work decorating areas in Tribunal Terrace and Chata with massive colorful streamers and moving in several bamboo plants. Stalls are set up and prepared and carnival games line the sidewalks for citizens to play. On the evening of the 7th, all are invited to attend the celebration and try Japanese cuisine, play a few games, and most importantly write a wish on a colored sheet of paper to hang on one of the bamboo trees. No matter how citizens choose to celebrate at this festival, for anyone who makes a wish and hangs it on the tree they will soon receive a Retrospec ticket in their mailbox. While your wish may take time to be granted, good fortune is upon you and a free gift has been provided. THE NPCS NPCs are back in the city and all is well. They are unaware of the layers they were caught between but they are grateful and happy to see you again! Professors will be lenient of students whose finals have been delayed, employers will inquire about your vacation time, and your friends and family may constantly badger you for time and attention. Isn't that nice? In addition, citizens of the city may now place calls to members outside of the city for up to five minutes. While that pesky growling problem still appears at the tail end of all conversations, citizens will be able to reach out to anyone in the world and speak for that length of time. Let's just hope your loved ones aren't too bothered by the previous radio silence. THE DREAMS What was that about resting easy? Perhaps you won't be able to as well as you'd like. Though everything appears to be fine, the moment you close your eyes beginning on July 3rd, you may find yourself plagued by strange, unusual dreams. As you dream you'll find yourself experiencing everything from wild scenarios set in space or on a pirate ship to everyday, mundane interactions. Your dreams will reflect who you are, but...maybe in a different light. Perhaps your siblings aren't related to you in your dreams, or perhaps your hair is a different color. Maybe you find yourself dreaming about a whole different lifestyle than the one you currently possess. Why, you could even be one of the lucky ones and dream about those memories you've been receiving since you've joined the app. Then again, you'll also find that you aren't dreaming alone. When you look, you may find that someone has joined you. It's easy to move in dreams and intrude on other people's dreams. You may choose to watch the scene play out or find yourself able to change scenarios within these dreams. Some of you will recognize what is and isn't real, but...what is real anymore? Aren't you curious what it all means? The moment you awake, however, these dreams will fade away and simply be dreams. THE QUESTS If you're looking for a way to pass the time and bring a little adventure to your life, a new feature on the Retrospec app is the quest hotline! By submitting a request, Retrospec will generate a new task for you to accomplish either in the city or around one of the four regions. While Retrospec cannot claim that all tasks will be exciting, all tasks given are important to the functionality of the city. Or perhaps you're interested in exploring Mementos or Tartarus...? Just what are these new places anyway? Strange. Happy questing! THE REGIONS Travel is available once more for the regions outside of the city, though do watch out for the common monsters that still linger between districts. It will take three hours by boat southward to Pesgare, an hour underground eastward to Respatrum, two hours west via horseback to Bosuma and seven hours via driving north to Magatus. Depending on where you travel though you may find some surprises waiting for you. Fishing season is at its prime in Pesgare and it's the perfect place for a seaside getaway this summer. The region remains untouched and stable, and the economy is thriving once more thanks to the repairs after their tsunami and the work of Retrospec users. In Respatrum, the workers in the mines don't seem to mind the heat and continue crafting and creating. Anyone who ventures into these parts will be put to work, but may be rewarded with small tokens and hospitality from the natives of this region. Bosuma, however, is a little different. The Swamp Witch is nowhere to be found though the forest is alit with bright, blooming flowers, strange multicolored animals and friendly natives from a nearby village in the woods. Monsters lurk the deeper parts of the woods, but one would actively have to go looking for them. But should one linger in this region for too long, they may soon discover that they'll start to see things...not just things, but people. Vivid, life-like forms of people you've seen in your memories will appear before you even if you're unaware of who they are. They seem to beckon you to come closer, happy to see you and encouraging you to explore the forest further. Some of these forms may engage in combat if the relationship you remember is a hostile one. Should you follow or fight them, however, you will soon find yourself lost in the woods and it may take days to return to the city. Do keep sight of what's real, won't you? Finally, over in Magatus, for anyone who has ventured there before they may be expecting the snowy mountains and ski lodge. However, it's summer! Snow isn't fit for the summer and as residents approach the region they'll come to find that the ice-capped mountains have been replaced with cliffs, sand dunes and a desert-esque climate. The iced-over lake is now perfect for swimming and further exploration will lead you to a path in the mountains that's the perfect height for cliff-jumping into waters below. This is the perfect region for you outdoorsy, camping types. Just be careful of the scorpions and rattlesnakes out there. THE CITY It's summer vacation everywhere. How are you spending your days? Maybe it isn't such a bad idea to listen to Joanne and plan your days with fun and exciting ventures. Parties and meetings and spending time with your friends...it sounds nice, doesn't it? Even if some of you may notice your friends seem...off. The city is peaceful. Everything seems to be calm and safe, so much that you may not even notice the difference at first. It all begins in mid-July though. One moment you're sitting in a café and the next you realize you're wearing an apron and you feel as though you should be working behind the counter. One moment you're sitting in your bedroom and the next you look up and notice that the items on your wall have changed. These little hallucinations are minimal and only last a few moments, but they will begin to increase as the month goes on and leading straight into August. But hey. It's probably nothing to worry about. Welcome to recolle's July log! The information above provides loose guidelines of things occurring this month, so please feel free to make your own prompts based on these. You are also free to create your own logs and inbox threads. Regarding Tanabata! If you would like to claim a free 10-20 point item, please head to the regains page and submit as normal! Please indicate that it is a Tanabata freebie. Characters are free to travel to one of the four regions this month (Pesgare, Respatrum, Bosuma, Magatus), but keep in mind the effects/changes as listed above. As a reminder, you may qualify for an additional freebie this month by threading out a dream sequence with at least one person experiencing a new AU! This thread must be at least five consecutive comments from you. Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here. Be sure to review the mods' question thread on the plotting post for important information as well!

Comments

[compendiem]

i. 4th of July 7/4
[ The 4th of July is hot, noisy, crowded, loud, a lot of things that Minato doesn't really care for- but he's out there on the beach that evening regardless, eating his way through his 16th popsicle of the day, back flat on the sand (do not eat popsicles lying down on your back, you will choke) as he stares up at the sky, waiting for it to darken enough for the fireworks show to start.

When they do, though, he sits up properly to watch them, eyes wide and wandering, trying to take everything in all at once. ]

...I have no idea what I'm looking at.

[ Yeah, anything pre-December, he's just going to stare at and go wtf is that. ]

ii. Tanabata 7/7
[ A Japanese festival in the peak of summer is Minato's best excuse to wear this questionable getup, headband and all (minus the rusty pipe because it's Minako this time, but Clover who would kill him). He looks a bit more cheerful during this celebration, more sure as he lets himself be moved along by the crowds of people from food stall to food stall, and eventually makes it over to the bamboo trees.

He never really knows what to wish for on these, marker in hand and a strip of paper lying on the table in front of him.

He closes his eyes and tries to think... recalls a dream he once had... and starts writing:

Omelette ]

iii. Tartarus 7/8-
[ Minato doesn't know much about Mementos, but Tartarus feels more like home than any place he's ever been to, blood stained floors and creeping shadows and all. If you find yourself here, you'll occasionally see Minato around as well, always by himself— on the lower levels, the Shadows run away from him, headphone over his ears like he doesn't have a care in the world. On the higher levels, he's the one who runs, preferring to avoid enemies and sneak around them once their back is turned, his goal being to find the next set of stairs and ascend to the next floor.

He doesn't come unarmed, though, Evoker tucked under his shirt and both a bow and a thin sword in his hand. If you don't have a weapon on you, he offers one or the other. ]

Having fun?

[ Is... is this a place to have fun... ]

wc. Dreams 7/3-
[ Dream prompts will be written out per person below; please refer to my ooc plotting comment or ping me at birdseed for something you want to play out, and I'll write the starter! ]

iii

[reaquila]

Oh yeah, I should have had my birthday party down here. It's so fun I could die.

[Nanashi's just going along with it. In truth, he's not having that much fun. This place is weird as hell and he doesn't understand why it's even here. The Tartarus is so bizarre and creepy. There's blood on the floors and walls? Why on earth???

Whenever a low level shadow approaches them he'll try to blow it up with fire magic. ]

I feel like going for some more barbecue. How about you?

[compendiem]

[ A birthday party down here would be sort of cool; Minato stows that thought away in the back of his mind for next year. He stretches his arms over his head, sword balanced dangerously against his hip as he rolls his shoulder to get it to loosen up a little before picking the weapon back up. ]

...I was going to save some room for a feast at the end, but snacking here and there won't hurt. You can do that without summoning?

[ The fire thing... He's jealous. ]

[reaquila]

Yeah, I can. I learned it from the demons and I never had a chance to use it until now.

[He just nods Nanashi doesn't need demons or summons to cast simple fire magic. Tartarus sucks. Electronics don't work in this place.

The gritty atmosphere is one thing..but the shadows are another. Nanashi looks at Minato in concern. ]

You brought your headphones into a place like this?

[compendiem]

[ The only thing he doesn't like about Tartarus is that the headphones only serve to provide a comfortable weight over his ears. He tugs them off to lay over his chest, fingers playing with the wire. ]

I was always listening to music when I fought in Tartarus. But it felt more like it played directly in my head than from a music player; I was optimistic. [ Where is Fuuka to beam soundtracks directly into their heads... He goes ahead and places them back over his ears regardless. ]

I used to spend a lot of time here, but... It's still so easy to get lost.

[reaquila]

All the walls and floors look the same after a while. It drives me crazy.

[You're right, it's too easy to get lost. Nanashi frowns and wonders if they'll ever split up by accident.]

Music would be a good distraction down here. What kind of songs do you listen to? Rock?

[Please don't say country.]

[compendiem]

Engrish rap.

[ Is that any better? Debatable. ]

Once you get up to the higher floors, it changes, though.

[ Somewhat. There's still too much blood splattered across the walls and floors, but sometimes the floors are dark and hard to see, while other times they're white and hazy, vision swimming with a pounding headache and just like he'd experienced in his memories, every second that passes saps away at his strength even when he's doing nothing but standing here and talking. ]

Should we head up?

[ Instead of heading back down... There are transporters around, presumably, so there's no need to re-find all those stairs to take the long way back. ]

i

[livingimpaired]

Whose to say?

[ His candid response as he comes to stand near where Minato is sitting. He tips his head back to stare at the various fireworks depicting scenes that he cannot come to understand. His shoulders lift and lower in a lazy shrug. ]

I suppose they're doing something different this year. [ Speaking of different, he takes out a glowstick. Lightly shaking it, he pauses to see that it isn't lit up. Ah, right. Bending the plastic until he hears a pop, he violently shakes it until it glows. ] Happy Fourth of July, I suppose.

[compendiem]

...Happy Fourth.

[ It's not a holiday that he's ever celebrated in his life— last year he was here, he imagines he'd been asleep and rudely waken up by the fireworks come late evening, because he wouldn't have marked the calendar for it like he did this year.

He lets himself flop back onto the sand- forgetting briefly that it's sand and having to close his eyes for a few seconds until he's sure all of it's settled back on the ground- and then opens his eyes again to look at Kei. ]

It's in line with everything though, I guess... A montage of what we're supposed to be proud of. Even if I feel disconnected from all of it.

[livingimpaired]

I do, as well.

[ There is no reason why he can't say that he shares in it with him. He takes in a deep breath as he lets out a sigh. His hands slide behind his back and he holds his wrist in a loose grip. ]

Even if I recalled these events, I probably wouldn't feel much about them anyway. There's no reason to feel anything about them, anyway. [ Kei is quick to add the later part. ] For most, these are just memories of our lives falling apart, after all. The fact you can feel nothing about them is probably the better response.

[compendiem]

[ He stares back up at the sky, just barely making out what might be a dragon, or a snake, or a worm- the sparks break up too quickly for him to discern what things are supposed to be. It feels that way about everything that happens, sometimes: things happening, but him so slow to process, that the disconnect is there anyways.

He breathes out, soft. ]

I guess I felt like my life were constantly falling apart, so everything going on with Retrospec was just... comparable. It didn't bring everything to a stop, because that's just how life always is.

[ Retrospec brought things into his life that were impossible, but in terms of the actual happenings? Manageable. ]

[livingimpaired]

You did? Is it because of your emotions not being as bright and vibrant as others?

[ What an interesting conversation to have while fireworks go off overhead. Two people disinterested and disconnected from the show while so many seem to be in awe of the designs and colors. He smiles, despite himself, as he tucks his hands into his pockets. ]

Or was there another reason?

[compendiem]

[ There are probably many reasons- multiple, multifaceted- that he could come up with if he sat there and picked at his brain, but Kei touches upon what's oftentimes first and foremost on his mind, that disconnect that prevents him from really feeling and experiencing everything in full like how most others seems able to do.

He isn't so wrapped up in it now, but the admittance still comes with a sigh and a shrug. ]

Mostly that, I suppose. I think things will turn out however they turn out- if it's good, then great; if it's not, then I'll find a way to deal with it somehow. Emotionally... what I feel doesn't matter anyways. The world will progress how it wants... right?

ii!

[sharplydressed]

[You're not supposed to look at other people's wishes, true, but look! It's right there on the table! And who the hell can ignore such a bold declaration... "Omelette". Really, here's a man who knows what he wants out of life.]

--Are you setting the bar low this year?

[compendiem]

[ He truly does, glancing up at Kashuu with a very firm shake of the head, serious expression set on his face as he sets his markker down, wish apparently complete with just the one word. ]

It's the opposite, actually. I probably should've wished for something more practical, but... I've been having this recurring dream, where I was eating an omelette so delicious, I woke up crying.




[ He is remarkably serious. ]

[sharplydressed]

[THIS IS A MAN ON A MISSION.]

...Okay but shouldn't you be a liiittle more specific, then? I mean, just sticking "omelette" down could get you the world's worst one.

[compendiem]

[ That's a good point... He goes ahead and amends it:

"Elliot's omelette"

...No, that would absolutely guarantee the world's worst one, so he quickly adds to the front of the wish-

dream!Elliot's omelette ]

Like that...?

[sharplydressed]

[That is definitely much more specific... He leans over to peer at the wish and then nods.]

Yep, that looks better already. Wouldn't it be great to wake up to that tomorrow?

[compendiem]

Yeah, but it's impossible. It's only a dream, after all, and Elliot's omelettes...

[ Are a nightmare, not a dream. ]

But I guess that's what wishes are for. Things that probably aren't going to happen, but you hope they might.

the first one

[destiny_key]

[Sora, who's only on his third popsicle, plops down on the sand beside Minato around the time the fireworks begin. The area is crowded, not suffocatingly so, but enough that he'd rather stick to someone he knows.

He's basically just chewing on the stick when Minato speaks.]

What d'you mean?

[compendiem]

[ Minato can barely feel his mouth anymore with how much ice he's eaten, tongue dyed deep blue as he nods his chin up towards the fireworks- whatever scene he was confused about has already disappeared in a shower of sparks, but whatever replaces it is similarly unfamiliar. ]

There, see? Usually it's rings or flowers or something that the pyrotechnicians do... These are a lot more complicated, so I can't tell what they're supposed to be. [ Whoever created the fireworks must be a magician as a side-job, with the ability to cram so much detail into a scene ]

...Maybe we're seeing it upside down?

[ Maybe people on the other side of the beach is seeing it properly. ]

[destiny_key]

Um...?

[Sora squints up at the fireworks, and yeah, they're definitely a lot more intricate than the normal sort. But this is Recolle, and things like this are definitely pretty ordinary by now.]

I dunno... Maybe? But, um, I dunno.

[He stares upwards as the next few scenes burst in the air, trying to examine them closer.]

They kinda look like... stuff that's happened?

[compendiem]

[ He tilts his head to the side and tries to imagine the rest of the quarter rotation to make a full 180 degree flip, but that doesn't make anything clearer and only serves to make him feel a little dizzy, squinting in trying to make out what looks like a poster with large bold font. ]

...Oh. That's last year's ReConvention, isn't it? Minako had a meet and greet there, and I escaped to photograph some gatherings. I can't believe it's already been a year since then. It was fun.

[ """fun""" because he remembers absolutely nothing about dragons and monsters tearing down the building, the ocean getting swallowed up and people disappearing left and right in the days to come. Blessed NPC ignorance. ]

[destiny_key]

Um... yeah. S-super fun.

[Sora, on the other hand remembers every detail, including Minako's photoshoot, losing her in the crowd and confusion, and fighting all those terrifying monsters. He'd barely kept it together. He and Minato must have very different definitions of fun.]

...That one looks like, uh, Christmas, I think.

[compendiem]

[ He turns his gaze to towards the sky, squinting and then eyes widening a little in recognition. ]

Christmastime was fun too. We made snowmen together, didn't we?