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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!

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"Oh -- mostly I lie in bed and think about everyone who hates me until I fall asleep, and then I'm unconscious so I don't think about it anymore."

......

"...Sorry, that's not helpful." He coughs lightly under his breath. "I guess... you've just gonna understand that if they're not going to support you now, they never really supported you at all... That's what people told me. And... it's something you gotta tell yourself until it sinks in, or it's gonna keep eating at you forever."

The problem, Gar realizes, with trying to give someone a pep talk, is that it doesn't come out very well when you only half-believe the advice you're giving. He is sixteen years old, and he spends most of his waking time caught in the throes of his own existential angst.

"I mean, it's hard.........."

He lets that word hang for a while.

"..........But you don't have to stick with those people. Even if it is... family. You can find... better people."

The first thing he says, though, that's kind of exactly her sense of humor? Or it will be, in a few years, but right now it's still funny and it gets a laugh that sounds a lot like another sob, but she turns her head and she's giving a pathetic kind of smile after he says that.

Then he goes on to the rest. And he's saying a lot of things that make sense. He might not believe it himself, but he's not wrong, and right now it's feeding into exactly the right kind of negative impulses that she wants to feed. She wants to listen to him, to believe that her parents never actually supported her—so she will.

"I can. I have a better person. I have Rose. She can help me through anything." God, she loves Rose so much. They might not be perfect but thinking about her makes Anna happy and she can just... she can do anything she wants to do as long as she has Rose with her.

"You're pretty smart."

"Me?"

Gar turns to her and blinks in surprise before he flushes a little red.

"N-Nah, I'm just... saying what I've heard before. But it's not... hearing advice and stuff that helps, you've still gotta just... do it for yourself."

...Maybe he really should try and take his own advice sometime.

"Maybe don't write off your parents totally, but... yeah. You should... go spend time with your girlfriend."

Maybe he should. It seems to be working a little for Anna. Her arms wrap around her knees and she looks at him directly, trying to force some kind of smile. Mostly by thinking about Rose.

"She's back in the city right now. Don't worry, I'll see her again soon enough." This part feels familiar. She knows Rose will be there waiting for her when she's back ho... back in the city. No. Home. Home is right. This isn't a home for her anymore and it never will be again.

"You didn't have to say anything to me, but you did anyway. You could've just kept walking." Her voice feels softer when she asks her next question. "Are you just drawn to sad girls?"

"Oh - well, I mean."

Gar is drawn to all girls, but he will refrain from voicing that thought aloud right now. He's too shy to do much about that, anyway.

"I'm supposed to be a hero, I think, so... it's probably heroic to help people when they're not feeling well. Anyway, it's not like there's anything else super urgent to do right now... I think this is some kind of dream."

She'll leave the part about heroism for later, because he's just said something that doesn't make any sense and that she's also been repeating in her head on and off for a little bit.

"I wish this were a dream," she says, and the smile's gone as she looks forward again, into the middle distance. "I've been trying to tell myself this is just a nightmare and that I'll wake up next to my girlfriend and my parents will still love me."

This seems too realistic to be a dream, strangeness aside. The city does strange things sometimes—does it? How does she know that? But the emotions she's feeling are absolutely real. She sighs again.

"My name's Anna."

"Oh."

He says, realizing that given it is her dream (he thinks), she certainly isn't going to recognize it as such. He wonders what exactly she thinks his role is in all this. Perhaps green people aren't too uncommon in her world? ...That would be nice, actually.

"I'm... Gar." But he thinks he knew her name before already. "If, um... you ever need to talk more about this, I'll... probably appear." Maybe.

"You want me to walk you to the bus stop or wherever? Like I said, I'm not busy. ...And you can tell me more about your girlfriend if you want."

Gar. It's another thing that sounds familiar in ways she absolutely cannot place. But Anna's not going to worry too much about that, because he's just offered to do something very nice for her, and she could use a walk back to the bus... stop? Station. Right, she came here on a bus and she has a return ticket with her things, next to her, that she's kind of forgotten she had until now.

But her feet push against the ground and she starts trying to stand up, because she feels like she's in much better spirits now, even if this will all probably hit her again on the bus ride back to... back home. She wipes one eye and sniffs again.

"You don't want to hear me gush about my girlfriend," she says, trying to smile. It's easier than it should be.

"Oh... no, I definitely do..."

He tries to sound as convincing as he can, as he, too, gets to his feet, stumbling a bit from the lack of blood circulation. Looks like these dreams were still relatively realistic. It isn't that he wants to hear about how girlfriend more than that he thinks she probably would want to talk about her.

"How'd you meet?"

"On campus," she says, offering it more quickly and effortlessly than anything so far. And, because he asked and doesn't seem like a cop, "We were sneaking into the same bar together. And we just started talking. She has five sisters that I don't know that well yet, but I want to get to know them because... I don't know. I'm a part of Rose's life now."

That's what she hopes, at least. She hopes Rose views her the same way. "She's really resourceful and we have the same sense of humor and she's so cute." Oh, this might be getting embarrassing, but Anna can't stop herself. Not right now. "She's the cutest girl I've ever seen." She can... probably find a picture if Gar asks.

"Five? Wow."

That's a lot of family to take on. But... maybe that's what she needs right now. Gar continues to amble quietly besides Anna as she sings the praises of her girlfriend, and he's gratified that her mood has improved so dramatically.

Maybe he should go into counseling or something.

"...You wanna show me?" She definitely wants to show him. "...How long ago was this?"

She definitely wants to show him. She has her phone on her, in her pocket, but it's not a model that's out in 2010, but she still recognizes it as her own phone, and she knows how to operate it like she's never been without it for a day in her life. She pulls up a picture of Rose, and realistically it's a composite of a lot of things that Anna has seen over the course of her storied life, memories and idealizations melding together and forming the smiling face on her lightly glowing screen.

"She's so beautiful when she's happy," Anna says, the flutter in her heart clear in her words. She doesn't seem concerned about the flower growing from Rose's face. Maybe she should be? Maybe it just seems normal. "We met a few months ago." That sounds right, even though she's not entirely sure of what day it is today. It doesn't really matter, right? Look at how happy she is.

Is that a flower growing out of her eye?

...No, it must just be perspective or something. Apart from the odd placement of the blossom, she is indeed quite attractive. Gar glances at it for a few moments before handing it back over with a faint smile.

"She's pretty."

Anna is pretty, too, but he doesn't feel the need to share that.

Up ahead, a small rectangular glass awning is looming out of the darkness. ...It looks like they've reached the bus stop.

"Well..." He could say a lot of things now, like about how love probably doesn't last too long when it's only been a few months, or that she should really rethink her decisions here. But he knows he would absolutely hate hearing anything like that... So she certainly won't want to hear it.

People... have to follow their own paths, right?

"You'll be back with her again soon. And... maybe don't think about all of this for a few days until you feel better. But I bet you two can figure out something you want to do with your life..."

Edited 2018-07-09 21:13 (UTC)

Anna's really... really glad that he understands this. That he knows what she needs and that he believes in them so much, and in her heart and in her mind, all that waits for her in the future with Rose is the two of them just being... so, so happy together. For years to come. She looks at the bus stop ahead of them and feels her back straightening and her energy returning to her.

"I'll do everything I can to put this out of my mind," she says, and slips her phone away with the picture of Rose still up on it so she can look at her girlfriend for the entire bus ride home.

"Thank you. I'm sorry I was such a wreck, but... you really helped." She can't really think of a good way to express how much Gar's help means to her right now, so—because it seems completely natural to do, of course—she leans down to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Oh -- No pr..."

Gar instantly turns the color of a bruised apple as she makes contact, the red-green combining to form a somewhat odd sight. Is this his first kiss? This counts, right? This can totally count. It's a dream and she's obviously not interested and he doesn't even know if it's like, really technically her, but whatever it's his first kiss.

Gar takes a step back and stutters the rest of his goodbye.

"Y-Yeah, n-no, I was -- happy to... Yeah, just -- Hahaha..."

Get ahold of yourself, man.

"...H-Happy to help..." He rubs at the cheek and tries not to look too much like a loon. "Hey... Have a safe ride back... And, uh, I'm sure your girlfriend is... lucky to have you, too.

"Bye."

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