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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 nods.]

I wrote one when I was hanging out with Tatsuo. You? Have you written anything?

[In goes another takoyaki into his mouth.]

I feel like I've already gotten my wish, somehow.

[No one said Kenta couldn't be extra sappy when he is talking of Jirou.]

[Derek grins at Kenta's response.]

Awwww, should I expect to see more of those flower petals around you now that you're a married man? There must be something you can wish for.

I'm not sure if I'll get them more frequently... it seems to have calmed down a little in the past few weeks, but the with the wedding...

[The answer is yes, Derek, he's going to be Sakura Flower Petal Boy all summer.]

I'm sure I'll think of something eventually.

So that's a yes to the petals then?

[Derek shrugs.]

You could just wish for a good first year of marriage.

I guess I could. I'll think of something with Jirou.

[He can always wish himself good things with Jirou, after all.]

Did someone help you with putting on the yukata?

[Derek nods.]

Yeah, Tatsuo helped me. This yukata is his. What do you think? Does it suit me? Do I pass for a dashing Japanese man?

With your hair and eyes? No chance. But it looks good on you.

[If anything, Kenta is the one that could pass for an old school samurai.]

Wow, you didn't even stop to think about it.

[Derek adjusts the yukata a bit.]

But thanks. This is much more comfortable than a suit.

Derek, you're blond with blue eyes. Do you really think you can look like a Japanese person?

Yukata are made for this type of weather. Honestly, if I didn't have to go to work, I'd wear them all the time in summer?

Well people in Japan dye their hair so it could be possible...

[Derek folds his arms.]

You should tell Jirou's mom to make yukata's a new fashion trend so you can wear your yukatas when you want and no one will wonder why.

You still don't have the facial features for it. Your nose is too big.

And Hirata is very much American even though she works with her Asian origins. But I guess I could ask her. Yukata still aren't professional attire in Japan unless you work in an onsen, though, so that wouldn't help much with wearing them all the tiem.

Well you never know the fashion industry. If fanny packs and other ugly 80's fashion can come back, why can't yukatas make a mark in the industry.

[Derek blinks for a second.]

Did you just insult my nose?

... What? No. Japanese people just have flatter faces and noses and facial structure in general than European people, that's all. That's why you couldn't pass for Japanese.

Good, because I quite like my nose...

[Derek glances around at the different stalls.]

What stalls do you prefer? Have any games you're particularly good at?

The games where you try to aim for the prize with the balls or hoops are usually good... but mostly I buy food and drinks these days. Or the occasional mask.

[Because the masks can make for pretty, traditional decorations afterwards.]

I do appreciate the masks.

[Derek points to his own sitting on his head.]

I have to pulls this down every time I see my sister and her boyfriend in the crowd so they don't recognize me.

.... Why? Are you stalking them?

[Derek, seriously, what?]

[Derek looks slightly offended at Kenta's accusation.]

I'm not stalking them. I'm observing them from a distance. I'm making sure the brat is treating my sister right, keeping her safe, making sure she has fun. I can't ruddy well get an authentic observation if they know I'm there. Thus the mask.

[Derek lets out a sigh.]

This is what older brothers have to put up with and do when their little sister starts dating. How else will I ensure her happiness?

[Kenta is just going to .... stare. At you. Derek. Because what.]

.... By letting her make her own decisions about her own life and butting out of her business?

Are you still wondering why you piss off every woman you speak to? Because it looks pretty clear to me.

[Derek looks slightly (only slightly) taken aback.]

I let her make her own decisions! I let her date that kid didn't I? And what do you mean it's clear to you why women get pissed at me? I think most women would appreciate a man who looks out for his little sister!

.. Most women would appreciate being seen as people who are capable of making their own decisions without someone else's unwanted input, Derek.

I'm saying this as a friend, Derek, but I'm going to be brutally honest with you. You're not looking out for her. Stalking her on a date is not looking out for her. It shows you don't trust her, or her boyfriend, to make decisions for themselves.

[He's trying to be delicate about this, Derek, but really, now...]

Also, you did not 'let' her date that kind because she never needed your permission in the first place. That's not your decision to make. And if that's how you behave with all the women in your life, then it's no wonder so many of them do not want anything to do with you.

[Derek gives Kenat a look that reads: "Are you serious?"]

Kenta, they're fourteen, of course I don't trust them to make decisions for themselves. They're still growing, developing, meaning they need guidance! Do you know how hard it is to raise two teenagers? You don't even have any younger siblings to take care of! My parents are all the way in England. That means, watching out for Noah and Sakura lands on my shoulders. I'm their guardian !I have to protect them. That means, [Derek starts counting on his fingers] going to the doctor appointments, going to the parent teacher meetings, helping with the homework, budgeting the money our parents give us so we aren't out on the streets. And if observing Sakura on her date is going a bit overboard for other people, then so be it! She's my little sister! I was there when she was adopted, when she took her first steps, when she went off to her first day of school, and when she got of the plane to come study here.

And I let other grown women make their own decisions! Are you crazy! I'm not that stupid! How I treat Sakura and how women view me are completely different topics!

[Derek, give Kenta some credit, he actually listened to all of that and took it in. It's true, he doesn't know what it's like to care for a younger sibling. But there's one thing...]

Derek, I hate to break it to you, but... your sister is a woman. So how you treat her and how you treat other women is...really not that different.

Why don't you trust her?

SHE'S FOURTEEN! She's not a women, she's a teenager! BIG DIFFERENCE! You have no idea what it's like when your little sister brings a boy home and introduces him as her boyfriend!

And you haven't seen me around other women. I treat then very differently!

[That's Derek's story and he's stickin' to it!]