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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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Derek is really confused.]

What? How? When? Why? I don't understand.

...

[She's quiet at first, but then she answers his questions, one at a time.]

I stabbed him, as you can see. With a knife. Last month. As for the why... I was sick.

[Derek's brow furrows in confusion.]

Sick? What do you mean sick and how did it lead to this? This can't be real...it's... it's just a dream... Leon's alive...

People who are connected to Retrospec don't stay dead.

[She's trying to distance herself from the situation by keeping her tone even, but it's difficult.]

The short version is that my past self - Shion - had a terminal illness that basically drove her mad. I got it back... although I guess you could say this was a more kind insanity.

[Oh right... that happens. It's one thing hearing about and and another thing knowing a person who has gone through it.]

I head about a dead body getting taken to the morgue last month... I didn't realize it was Leon's... wait... [Derek pause to think.] this was why Xiaolang and Li-Na were so upset last month... why didn't I put the pieces together!

Nobody likes to talk about dead bodies. Or people close to them being murderers.

Uh well, I work in a hospital, so dead bodies are kind of a thing, especially when you work in oncology. Aren't there way to prevent your illness from causes you to go manic?

[Derek walks up to the scene and looks at the scene. The blood, the closed trunk where Leon's body is.]

What happened after this? What did you do?

Just because dead bodies are 'kind of a thing' doesn't mean that you like to talk about them. Unless that's what you're into? Are you into that sort of thing?

[There's a pause, and then a sigh that follows.]

As far as I knew from my memories, there wasn't any cure. But I went on Retrospec and asked for help. To see if I could find someone who could get rid of it. If it was even possible. And I did. After that, I needed to catch myself a bit and... I ran into someone I didn't want to run into and tried to push him away. Not physically, of course, but more... [She shrugs, in a rather defeated way.] I walked away from him and I did some important things before I went to the police station to turn myself in. Like I had planned to do the whole time.

I do read a lot of autopsy report on deceased cancer patients.

[Derek continues to listen to what Mio was telling him.]

So you just left him huh...

[That's going to leave one hell of a blood stain...]

Did Shion do things like this too? Kill people important to her?

I didn't want to remove him from the place, and I didn't want him to be immediately found, either, in case... a certain someone saw him.

[Her tone continues to be relaxed, but there's something about it as well that seems somewhat sad, too.]

She did. I remember that much. She lost trust in the people around her... and thought they had all betrayed her. So in revenge, she did horrible things.

A certain someone? You mean one of his cousins?

[Li-Na and Xiaolang?]

Mio... I'm sorry that your sick... I wish I could help. Have you check with doctors yet? The NPC's doctors are back, so there might be one who knows something. My area of knowledge is a bit... specific, but I could try to help you find out so you don't have to be like that.

... Yeah.

[She breathes out through her nose, mulling it over in her head.]

But I'm not sick anymore. I got someone's help to get it out. The other doctors-- I wouldn't be able to explain this illness to them. They wouldn't understand.

[Not understand? Did she even give doctors a chance?]

[Derek walks back over to Mio and stands in front of her.]

So you're better now? You won't go killing people anymore?

[She didn't, but from the information she knows, her illness isn't detectable by normal means.]

I'm fine, yes. I won't... hurt anyone anymore. I wouldn't still be alive if I wasn't better.

[Derek nods along as he listens.]

Well, I don't know if others will give you slack for what you've been through, but you've seemed to try to right your wrongs with this. Plus, illnesses can make people do things they wouldn't do if they were in the right mind. I've read enough medical journal to know. Besides, it was Retrospec who gave you that illness... that's just shitty of them. Retrospec talks about how they don't want us to die, how they want to fix our souls and they give you something that can undo what they are trying to do? That just doesn't make sense. They should keep that stuff like that out of our lives.

They haven't. But then again, one of them doesn't know about my illness... even if the other does.

[She bites on her lower lip, a little nervous.] I don't know, though. If they want to fix our souls, they might be forced to give us the things that we don't want, either. Because it was something that was embed in our souls to begin with. It's not like they can pick and choose what they give to us and say 'oh, this person can't have X' without it being unfair to everyone else, I think. It's a part of who I was, even if I don't like it. It's something that I have to accept, in the end. But I'm not necessarily going to like it, though.

Maybe I did try to right my wrongs... but I'm not really all that sure if it's going to be worth it in the end, having to live my life out like this.

[As Derek listens to Mio he can't help but disagree. If he accepted all that Retrospec was giving him, then he would have to accept what Retrospec could give him, and he refused to do that. He refused to accept that fact that because of Retrospec he could die because of something he didn't do, but what what Harry did to Draco. No! His hands ball into fists at his sides.]

Live your life out how? What do you mean?

Basically, I have to accept my sins. Even if it might have been the fault of an illness, I have to live with them. But where I am right now, it's kind of lonely. I don't know if I'll be able to live... no, if I won't break, I guess.

[She smiles, but in a way that seems rather sad.]

But then again, I might already be broken. [Hollow laughter falls from her lips as she swings her arms over her head, looking a little sad.] I know others might disagree with me. That we aren't our past selves, but... I don't know. How do we even know our lives in that town are even real? The time we spent before receiving the application could have been something implanted in us to begin with.

At the same time, I think that even if I got all my memories back as 'Shion', I wouldn't wind up being entirely like her. All my experiences matter, in the end. And it's because of that... it changes a person. They won't wind up being the same person they were before because of those experiences. I think those are real, at least. I want to believe in spite of me having doubts.

If they're trying to restore people's souls... and put them back in the worlds that they're supposed to be in though? I don't want that. I don't have anywhere to go back to. The person I love the most doesn't either. So I can't go back. I wouldn't want to, even if I could.

[As Derek listens to Mio he starts to shake with frustration. His voice laced with annoyance. How can she accept her life the way it is? It's not even her fault!]

So that's it? You're just going to accept your so called "fate" that Retrospec has dealt you? You're going to accept what ever shit they throw at you and not fight back?

I never once said that I wasn't going to fight back. But I'm not going to run away from what I'm given, either. If 'Shion' is who I used to be — no, who I am, I can't just simply run away from that!! But I'm not going to become that person I was in the past, either. I'll use what they give me to become a better person.

[That's exactly how she'll fight.]

[Derek shakes his head and what Mio's saying.]

You may accept that you use to be Shion and are her, but I can't accept that I will be Draco. I can't! I don't... I don't...

[I don't want to die!]

If that's what you want, that's fine. I'm not accepting who I was because I liked her life. I don't have a single happy memory as Sonozaki Shion.

[She says those words in what seems to be distant.]

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I probably don't deserve an answer. But what don't you want?

[Derek closes his eyes and screams.]

I DON'T WANT TO DIE!

[Derek takes in a ragged breath.]

I don't want to die...

[Her tone is stern and her eyes narrow.]

Get ahold of yourself. You're here now, aren't you? You're not going to die.

Edited (order of events) 2018-07-14 04:48 (UTC)

[Derek shakes his head.]

But I could later! You don't understand the kind of world Draco comes from. And Retrospec gives back wounds your other self gets in the memories. I felt Draco get hit by a magic curse that sliced him open. I watched as his murderer knelt over his body acting all sorrowful to cover up what he did! I've known about this for months and I've barely just figured out how I might survive the curse if Retrospec gives it back to me. I can't die! I have a family to protect! You say that you'll just fight back to what ever Retrospec gives you, but I can't. I can't fight back being magically sliced open!