(no subject)

[recollecters]

EVENT

Reverted The city of Recollé...have you looked beyond the city lately? It may be time to do so. I. The good news, perhaps, is that everyone is back in their original bodies. The last few weeks may have been trying and embarrassing for several of you, but never fear! You're all in this together. The nice thing about returning to your original body is that everything else seems to disappear along with the unintentional swapping. Your dreams on the evening of the 16th and the 17th are unoccupied and you're blissfully alone. Hallucinations fade away and the city almost feels brighter and cleaner. The messy paint job from May and June slowly flakes off to reveal a sparkling almost-new landscape below. All buildings, landmarks, flora and fauna are back to their original colors. The sky, however, is still painted a strange wash of colors and symbols. The other nice thing about returning to your original body is that it's much easier to feel the sudden, sharp pain on your palm at midnight on the 18th, a needling high-pressure pain that lasts for all of 30 seconds. Upon looking at your hand, however, you'll notice something new. In bright red font there's a new marking that reads: 13 Days:23:59:59. 58. 57. 56... The timer steadily counts down, each second synced with each beat of your heart. As the days pass by the timer will slowly shift from the red to a dark, ominous purple. The glow of the mark becomes harder to ignore, and there doesn't seem to be a way to remove it. Good luck with that. II. The Retrospec app doesn't seem to be much better. The scrambled messages and posting errors seem to have stopped and users are no longer receiving messages and pictures about themselves. In fact, the app seems to be quiet for a while. As users continue to use the app they will find that any post, comment or message that they send via the app will be tagged with a different ID. Instead of their name, all messages will be from Alpha##### or Beta#####. The string of numbers will be unique for each user and cannot be changed at any time. Individual mailboxes will be attached to your name, but the Alpha/Beta ID has made its way there, too. Over the course of the rest of the month, Alphas (those who have had the app for at least a year from August 2017) will find that messages to other Alphas are sent more easily than to Betas (those who have had the app for less than a year from August 2017) and vice versa. Messages to anyone from the opposite "faction" may drop out half-way or appear blank entirely. It might be wise to find a better mode of communication in the meantime. III. Even if you're alone in your dreams, you're not alone in the waking world. No one is free from the timer on their palm, though they may come to find that it impacts some users more than others. Some users will experience a steady pulsating in their hand as the timer counts backwards, each second ticking by. Standing still just long enough will send the pulse out of their hands and through the rest of their body, over their arms and through their feet straight into the ground. The earth begins to shake under these unlucky users, little quakes and trembles that spread out and seek out anyone else nearby. Whether you know this person or not, whether you're alone or several of you are impacted by this earthquake, the ground beneath you splits open and you're pulled straight down into the crevice, falling aimlessly. Instead of finding your own life flashing before your eyes, you'll find yourself witnessing events, faces, and memories that are important to the user the pulses came from. On the outside of things, the user will promptly collapse into a coma-like state no matter where they're at. Inside their mind, however, a scene begins to set itself to welcome you as you land. It isn't a memory and it isn't a hallucination. It's a construct of someone else's innerworkings that have trapped you and blocked you in. As the haze around you dissipates, the puzzle you received earlier this month floats in front of you. Whether you have finished building it or not it is now fully completed and all of the words have faded except for "Gordian Knot." Your cell phones will not work in these dreamscapes, and even Retrospec seems to be disconnected. It's up to you to venture further into someone else's mind and help them untangle whatever mystery is hidden within themselves. IV. So about that timer. As time begins to run out, more and more people begin to experience dream dives and encounter the knots of others that they must fix. Even inside the dreamscape, the timer glows just as brightly as it had out in the real world and it continues counting down. At least it gives you a sense of time and just how many minutes, hours, or days you've been stuck inside someone's subconscious. You might even realize that the timer is directly tied to just how much time you have to unravel the knots of your friends, loved ones, and strangers. Easy, right? Take caution, citizens. The monsters and demons lurking in the corners of someone else's psyche can manifest to something quite powerful. You will not wake up and be booted out of someone's dream if you are attacked, but your physical body and mind will shut down and remain unconscious for one week. Be careful how you approach these knots, however! Should you change any part of them too much, the host will find themselves rejecting this new information. Too great of a change will result in the loss of an important memory to them and no way to recover it inside the dive. Even with these possible losses divers are responsible for fixing what's gone wrong and relieving the knot wound tightly in the host's mind. Venture forward, explore, and break it apart to awaken then. You will be greatly rewarded for your effort. Failure to break the knot and save the host from this comatose state will result in all parties suffering a loss. At first it may not be obvious, but over time it will be clear an important memory or item has left your possession. Is it just limited to dives though? Some users will feel that even with successful diving they don't quite feel like themselves. It seems as though there's some further self-evaluation they must meet in order to fully recover who they are...or were, as it may be. Tick-tock, Retrospecters. Mind the time. BONUS. Ever since he moved in back in February, the lights have always been on in Zee's office and home at the top of the Towers. Office hours are whenever he feels like making them and he's usually reachable by phone, email, or app. However, beginning on the 18th, messages to his inbox begin to go unanswered. Checking the inbox itself will reveal a change as well. Delta#02018329 is no longer receiving messages. On the 19th, the lights go off permanently. Beginning on the 20th, anyone who ventures to his office will find the building empty and locked, no sign of Zee at all. Reaching out to him receives a bounce-back error message. Any previous correspondences with him will remain, though his name has been replaced with his Delta ID. It's hard to say what's happened, but after some time, all users will finally receive a message from Delta#68422. Stop him. No other messages will be sent or received from this account. Welcome to recolle's August event, part 2! As notated in the plotting post, the dreamdives are now live! Players are in charge of creating their own unique dive experiences for characters to explore and play through. These can be as harmless or as dangerous as you'd like. However, please be sure to let us know here if your character will be failing a dive and what memory/item they will be losing! For Prompt II, characters IDs will be comprised of the following: The date your character first appeared on Retrospec (so in Zee's case, that was 02/01/18) and the last four digits of your character's IC inbox as found in the HTML (in Zee's case, 8329.) These IDs will be more relevant in September, but for ease of playing/making sure no one ICly overlaps please use these numbers! Friendly reminder that if your character will be keeping their new AUs, please reply to this comment on the OOC plot post! As per Prompt IV, characters who are failing to recover their original AUs will begin to notice something is off and will not be able to accomplish what is needed to regain their original AUs. What this is is up to you! As per the plotting post, threading out successful dream dives will earn you a free memory! Qualifying threads must be at least five comments from you and can be from you either hosting a dive or participating in one. Please note that failed dives will not be eligible for freebies. 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

[frostythehitman]

III/IV.
[a]


[ The scene can best be described as chaos. Whoever finds themselves in James's dream will see him, dressed in his classic WW2 uniform, standing in an old plane hangar with the doors wide open and the roar of a just-launched rocket blowing out everyone's ear drums. Over the din, a man in a purple outfit can somehow be heard screaming about how they are too late, victory is his.

James isn't even listening, instead looking over the hangar for anything, anything at all, that might help. Eventually he finds motorcycle he can hijack and drives it right up to you, dream invader. ]

Get on! We have to go after it!!

[b]


[ James has been sat on this rooftop for hours. It's chilly out, on the cusp of winter, but he's dressed in some warm black clothes and doesn't seem to mind. Instead, he's lying prone on the roof with a sniper rifle set up on a stand in front of him. He has his hand on the grip, but relaxed--his finger is nowhere near the trigger. Right now, he's just staring through the scope, watching a scene play out at the front door of a nondescript house a mile away. If an observer were to see what James is looking at though--perhaps through a pair of binoculars or another scope aimed at the same spot because this is, after all, still dream logic--they might see who James is watching: his little sister Becca and Zee, having a friendly chat.

James checks the winds and finally decides to make his move. He positions his finger over the trigger and begins taking aim. ]

[a]

[blondferret]

[Derek looks at James wide eyed.]

W-we? Since when?

[Derek looks at the motorcycle in front of him. Why is this happening to him? Why is he being involved in a fight he has no purpose being in?]

Bloody hell!

[Derek reluctantly gets on the bike behind James and places his hands on James shoulders.]

I swear if I die...

[frostythehitman]

[ James ignores his protests (but let's be real, at least one person on this bike is going to die here). As soon as Derek is on, he immediately kicks off at the fastest speed he can, zooming straight out of the hangar onto the dock just outside. He pulls a rope out of nowhere (look, it's dream logic, okay) and, one hand still on the bike handle, ties it around his waist. He lets the long end of the rope flow behind him. ]

Grab the rope and hang on tight!

[ Once the bike is going as fast as it can, James starts standing up on the seat, practically riding it like a skateboard.

This motorcycle is about to drive straight off the pier and into the ocean. ]

[blondferret]

[Derek's eyes widen as he realizes what James is about to do. You've got to be kidding him.]

Are you INSANE!?

[Derek has to also get up on top of the motorcycle too in order to hold onto James. Like hell we has going to go straight off the pier.]

DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

[Hear that panic in Derek's voice James.]

[frostythehitman]

[ He looks over at Derek and gives him a cocky grin. ]

Have some faith, why don't you? I'm a professional!

[ If he wanted to say more, he doesn't get the chance to, because the bike is at the end of the pier and he can't delay any further. He leaps off the bike and reaches for the just-launched rocket ahead of him. Thankfully, he manages to jump just high enough over it that he lands on top of it, his arms grappling the sides of it as though he's trying to lift it. Whether Derek managed to keep a hold on him throughout the whole jump, or he lost his grip and is now flying behind in the wind by the rope, he's a part of this ride now. Let's pretend that this is how physics works.

The rocket is now beginning to climb hundreds of feet in the air. ]

[blondferret]

[Derek is clinging onto James for dear life.]

A PROFESSIONAL WHAT?

[Why, why is he being involved in this? What he wouldn't give to have his Nimbus 2001 right now instead of clinging to this kid.]

[frostythehitman]

Soldier! Rocket-jumper! Weapon destroyer! Your choice, because none of it's going to matter unless we disable this thing!

[ James starts shimmying along the rocket, feeling like the flesh is going to peel off his face at these speeds, looking for anything, anything at all, that could be of use.

Unfortunately, he does lose his grip for a moment and is sent sliding back, nearly getting blown off the rocket entirely. James only just barely manages to grab onto the back wings of the rocket.]

[blondferret]

[Derek barely manages to hang onto James when he grabs onto the back of the wings of the rocket. He then climbs up James and grabs onto the back of the rocket to. Over the blaring of the rocket he yells at James.]

How are we suppose to disable this thing?

[frostythehitman]

That's what I'm trying to figure out!

[ He fights the air as he pulls himself up along the rocket once more, this time managing to make it to the head of it. There, he sees a metal panel on the side of the rocket that has a notch in it--just large enough to fit his hand into to pull it open. As he yanks, the panel comes clean off and flies away (watch out for debris, Derek!)

Inside the panel is a complex knot of wiring. It's impossible to comprehend. James turns toward Derek and shouts. ]

You know anything about electrics?!

[blondferret]

[Derek shakes his head.]

No! But I can do some magic. But I don't know if I have spell to stop this...

[frostythehitman]

[ Well. Fuck it, he decides. He doesn't have the time to do this with any semblance of subtlety or care. So he just jams his arm into the knot of wiring to grab hold of a meaty chunk of it and pull.

James manages to yank out a bundle of torn wires, crackling with electricity, but now the panel of the rocket is sparking and hissing angrily with energy. He tosses the ripped out wires to the wind and gestures to the panel. ]

What about this? Do you have anything for this?

[ While he's focused on Derek and getting an answer from him, a robotic hand creeps out of the newly made hole. It goes straight for James's throat. ]

[blondferret]

[Derek sees the robotic arm before James does and his hands instantly goes for his wand. Pulling it out, he points it at the robotic arm.]

IMMOBULUS!

[He hopes he spell reaches the arm in time.]

[frostythehitman]

[ The hand has already begun clamping down on James's throat once the spell hits. Not too hard, thankfully, but definitely enough to make breathing hard and a little painful. At the very least, though, the spell keeps it from getting any worse.

He tries pulling back to get away from the arm, but it just pulls out of the panel entirely, disembodied with loose wires coming out from its shoulder. He tries to pull it off with his one free hand, the other grasping the side of the rocket to stay steady, and even tries banging it against the side of the rocket to knock it loose. ]

Need to--pull it off!

[ James's voice is hoarse from the pressure on his vocal cords. He motions for Derek to come closer and help pry it off of him. ]

b.

[godcards]

[ Well this is both intriguing and incredibly boring. Malik is just. There. casually laying on his stomach, head propped up with his hand. He's idly looking to the buildings ahead of them, very obviously not focused on this Zee nonsense. ]

So, are you going to shoot him or what?

[frostythehitman]

[ Malik is right. Sniper work is, for the most part, intensely dull. It's a lot of waiting for just the right moment. Unfortunately, Malik happens to speak up at that exact moment. He jolts in surprise at his presence at the exact moment that he happens to pull the trigger. And instead of the bullet going straight through Zee's heart, it ends up hitting him in his bicep. ]

Shit!

[ He tries to follow up with a second shot, but now Zee is moving too much for him to be able to target him properly, and the barrel of the gun is too hot for its aim to ring true anyway. The second bullet ends up grazing Becca's cheek. She begins screaming--a shrill, terrified shriek that can be heard even as far as where James and Malik currently are.

James practically throws the rifle aside. If he wants to get this job done, he'll have to do it close up. He crawls over the dedge of the rooftop, ready to rappel down the side of the building to street level. ]

Thanks for ruining an easy job.

[godcards]

[ Malik clambers to the edge of the roof, mostly just so he can hiss back: ]

If it was so easy, why did you screw it up? It doesn't take the long to pull a trigger!

[ Malik has never held a gun in his life. ]

[frostythehitman]

It's not pulling the trigger, it's getting the aim right--and aim is really easy to screw up if you've got people surprise talking at you.

[ He tosses a knife towards Malik--not to injure, but merely to give it to him. James doesn't trust him with a gun (he obviously doesn't know the first thing about them), but a knife is easy enough to handle for a beginner. ]

Come on. You got me into this, you're helping me finish it.

[ And with that, he drops down the wall of the building, using his metal hand dragging against the brick as a way to slow his descent. Catch up, nerd. ]

[godcards]

[ Malik is so surprised that James tosses him a knife that he nearly fumbles the catch. Of course, James hasn't been the same person as before, that much Malik knew - but he still can't not see it as weird that his Sworn Rival™ would give him a stabbing instrument.

He's not complaining though. ]

You shot him, he has to be bleeding pretty badly.

[ Or so he presumes. He had no way to see where or if Zee was even hit - he's fairly certain it wasn't him screaming.

There's no time to waste, though, and he climbs down the rope as best he's able. He's no pro - more used to climbing up things, usually over fences - but he manages to make to the bottom without falling on his ass. So that's a plus. ]

[frostythehitman]

[ James doesn't wait up for Malik to make his way down, instead trusting that he'll manage. He's already darted down the nearest shady alleyway, practically leaping over dumpsters and any fences in his way. He does, though, spare some time to look back at Malik to make sure his words are audible for him. ]

In the arm, no arteries. Non-lethal. We can't risk him getting away. And we have to make sure we silence the girl, too.

[ Sure, it's totally normal to refer to your sister as "the girl." ]

We can't let there be witnesses just running around freely.

[godcards]

[ Yeah, yeah, just give him a minute. He doesn't trail too far, though he doesn't have the same stamina as someone who is well trained or athletic. He's still basically an animate scarecrow that has had to dodge cops before, is all. ]

You know, I like this version of you a lot better.

[ Dream, real, fake, whatever-- whoever this James is supposed to be, it's kind of weird to not be at each others' throats, but trying to destroy Retrospec employees is more entertaining and productive anyway. ]

Next you're going to tell me, what? Destroy cameras, ransack the house, skip town...?

[frostythehitman]

[ He ignores the "this version of you" comment because he's really not sure how to interpret it. He knows James is supposed to have some kind of beef with Malik, but he neither understands it nor really cares for it. They have more important things to focus on now anyway. ]

Destroy camera footage, sure, but the rest? There's no need to be that severe. You just have to know how to disguise yourself and blend into the crowd.

[ By now, they've run across several streets and several more alleyways, and are finally closing in on Zee and Becca. Thankfully, Becca's crying is loud enough that he can easily tell where they've gone since their initial position. As he clears one more fence, he can see them, plain as day, a block away on a residential street in Viea. No one else around. Perfect.

He pauses behind a bush and waits for Malik to catch up to do some more last-second coordination. ]

[godcards]

You want to kill a man.

[ Don't tell him that something doesn't need to that severe. Even blending in presents a risk - Malik sure as hell knows he wanted to run away after his little stint of attempted murder. But he doesn't dwell on those particular thoughts, having to focus on keeping tabs on James instead. James, and this... mission? That they're on. ]

Okay, so now are you going to shoot him?

[frostythehitman]

[ 'Want' is a strange way to describe this. James has half a mind to correct him. It's not so much that he wants to kill Zee, or at least not something he personally wants to do. It's just a job. But he doesn't want to waste time explaining all that when they've got moving targets. ]

I need you to grab hold of her first.

[ He points to Becca. ]

Once I shoot, she's probably going to make a run for it and we won't be able to catch her. We need to get a hold of her before that happens.

[godcards]

Just... grab her? Alright. I can manage that much.

[ It doesn't bother him as much as it would a normal person, no doubt. It's more he's questioning James' motives that gives him pause, but he has half a mind to realize this isn't the time.

He's pretty good at sneaking, given that theft is still a pastime for him. He's good at avoiding detection and slight of hand, although the later doesn't matter so much now. He does, however, manage to cover Becca's mouth once he grabs her, so she won't continue to scream. ]

MORE PROMPTS, BECAUSE I CAN (OTA)

[frostythehitman]

I.


[ He disagrees with Togusa, but decides to go searching for Zee anyway. But he plans to do it on his own, thank you very much. He doesn't trust Togusa and whoever he's rounded up, so he's going it alone. And he's going to search in Bosuma. He's not sure why, honestly--he just picked that region arbitrarily. But it's a place he hasn't looked before (or even been to before), so it's as good a place as any.

It's while he's wandering through the forest, observing the plants and trying to track down some villagers to question, that you might find him. And he looks mighty suspicious too, the way he's trying to keep to the shadows and be sneaky...but sometimes, the rustling of a forest gives the truth away. ]

II.


[ It's on August 29th that James finally snaps back to his senses. Not because of any dream dives or Gordian knots, but just a plain old regain. One second he doesn't have it, the next he does. After two months of total amnesia (save for a few regained memories), his whole life comes back to him like a hammer to the head. It takes him a few moments to truly understand what just happened, and what's really been happening with him for the past few months, but when he does: ]

Aw, shit.

[ So anyway, that's why, approximately an hour later, you might find him with a shovel, frantically digging a hole under the gnarliest, nastiest looking tree in the park. ]