recollecters: (Default)
Recollé Mods ([personal profile] recollecters) wrote in [community profile] recolle2018-12-17 03:59 pm

(no subject)

EVENT
Re:Joice
The city of Recollé...it just doesn't end, does it?

PROLOGUE.
The trials and tribulations of winter seem to know no bounds. Those things in the city can almost pass as fine, with the snowflake portals and Jack Frost abound it's hard for citizens to truly relax during the most "wonderful" time of the year.

The snow seems to have let up just enough that the city is a beautiful winter wonderland rather than an icy, endless tundra. The streets are cleared, the sidewalks aren't as crowded, and on the 14th day of December a loud trumpet seems to blare out of nowhere.

It's one loud note that seems to dissipate immediately. Life moves on, but everywhere you go you seem to be followed by a familiar little tune…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

The coos, clucks and warbles of French hens, turtle doves and partridges join the song and as the days count down toward Christmas, these birds can be found on the rooftops of buildings in all districts. Their beady red eyes seem to follow as they chirp along in tune, a constant reminder of the Christmas countdown.

…but that's not so bad, right? They're just birds, after all.
I.
Perhaps you've figured out the pattern by the time the 17th rolls around. Or maybe you just know how the song goes and you've braced yourself for it. But is it truly possibly to prepare for anything that happens in this city? As the days count toward the 12th day of Christmas, several things about the city around you draw your attention.

Calling birds will swoop in on the fourth day, immediately diving for your phone and lifting it away to fly off across the city. These birds will make prank calls and may even update statuses for you on your social media accounts, leaving everyone you know with a lot of questions about you. You may wish to hunt them down quickly.

On the fifth day of Christmas, five golden teleportation rings will appear among the districts, zooming under your feet to send you crashing right into the nearest department store, the middle of the park or even your neighbor's bathtub. The rings have zero limits, but you will find yourself transported anywhere people seem to linger.

This pattern continues as the other lines seemingly come to life and come out of order; golden goose eggs roll down the sidewalk as geese chase after them, new eggs appearing each day as the geese bite anyone who get close enough. Swans begin to flock to all bodies of water including swimming pools, fountains, and your kitchen sinks. Pyramids of milkshakes appear in your way as eight women in skates work hard to keep up with the demand of flavors and distribute drinks whether you want one or not.

At one point in time, you may find yourself walking through town and suddenly pulled right into the middle of a flashmob with nine ladies surrounding you. Sidewalks crumble and chasms appear, forcing citizens to leap over the cracks to get to where they need to go and led on by ten men in each direction. The sound of bagpipes fill the air, transfixing you and everyone around you to follow their lead. Do be careful! They may just lead you somewhere you don't wish to go if you don't learn to break the spell with another song.

Good thing there's dozens of bongos around the city to make up your own tunes, isn't it? The twelve drummers will teach you to play any beat you want to reverse these effects.

The manifestations of this song seemingly won't disappear until you find a way to "receive" and undo the giving of these gifts. You can round up the birds to release them in the wild, stump the milkshake-makers by requesting a flavor they cannot provide, ice over the chasms to prevent people from falling...it seems as though whoever's responsible for this brand of magic is testing you and your ability to think quickly, Retrospecters. Teamwork makes the dream work, after all.
II.
At best the 12 Days of Christmas are a minor inconvenience, and at worst they're outright obnoxious. Christmas carols are perhaps best left on paper but it's easy enough to sidestep the events leading up to Christmas.

On the other hand, it seems as though someone other than Jack Frost is hard at work making sure the holidays are present in your lives.

With the days growing shorter and the nights growing longer, it becomes increasingly obvious that the city's growing quieter as the sound of traffic begins to come to a low din. No longer will citizens hear the roar and rumble of cars on the roads or the honking of angry drivers blocking the way. The bright headlights won't shine through the dark and exhaust won't be released into the air mingling with the chilly fog.

For anyone who ventures out after the sun sets, the city transforms before your eyes as the streets are lit with more lampposts than you remember and the sound of bells jingling can be heard from all directions. Rather than vehicles hustling and bustling along it's the clopping of hooves on paved rows as horse-drawn sleighs make their way slipping and sliding down the roads.

Dashing through the snow, in a one horse open sleigh, up on the sidewalks they go and look you're in the way.

Try as they might, the drivers will find that the sleighs have minds of their own, invisible engines revving as they zip up onto the sidewalks and out of the street jingling intensely at anyone nearby. Perhaps you weren't moving fast enough, or maybe you were just in the way. But these sleighs will make sure you get to where you need to go as they chase after you, mowing you down and volleying you up into the next empty seat. As the sleighs travel, you'll find yourself unable to get up from your seat and surrounded by several people you may or may not know.

But judging by the look the driver gives you and the cheery little whistle, the only way out is to start singing along...

III.
The elves tried to warn you. The elves really, truly tried to warn you about being good for goodness's sake. As they scramble around for last minute preparations, the curious types will find that the elves seem to be pooling right back toward Wiffle-Waffle. The waffle house stands proudly in Tisse featuring their new Christmas-flavored batter, but most importantly of all citizens will notice an extra wing added just to the left of the Retrospec mailbox, right behind the wafflehouse. The scent of sugar cookies and milk waft from the open doors and windows, and as elves dart in and out the scene before you unfurls.

A large, seven-story workshop stands before you despite the fact that from the outside it appears to be all on one floor. Crammed from head to toe with elves building toys, running quality control checks, browsing Amazon and more, they will invite all who have made Santa's nice list inside.

Exploring the floors, you'll find more of the snowglobes that have appeared across the city and more importantly you'll start to come across special toys and gifts from Christmases past. Things you've outgrown or things you've lost or broken will appear, yours for the taking and sharing.

Loitering too much will wind up with fussy elves moving you out of the way. Lingering too much will be taken as an invitation as well and the elves will drag you down, pulling you along and putting you to work in the workshops to sort presents, assemble gifts and more. Of course, you're free to volunteer as well. Maybe you're a giving type who would love to spread some holiday cheer. (Or maybe you just don't have anything better to do.)

For those who are especially antsy, the elves will share secretive looks with one another before they herd you to the middle of the workshop where a large, red and white Christmas-themed dunk tank sits before you. Milk rests at the bottom in the tank, and seated on the chair tied up in tinsel and a too-small elf outfit is one James Barnes. A large sign is plastered to the front of the tank next to a basket of toys and another basket of baseballs.

"Dunk the Tough Cookie for a free gift!"


If asked, they'll only reply that James is on the naughty list before giggling and scampering off. Well. That's weird, but sure.

Most importantly of all, as the days go by, the elves begin to twitter with excitement and on December 21st, the jolly old man in red will appear. Santa will enter the workshop with his sack of toys and a ho-ho-ho, making his rounds through the shop and asking his happy elves (and you, the elf apprentices) what they would like for Christmas.

Be careful what you wish for though…Santa has that gleam in his eye and a bag full of tricks. You never know what you'll truly get.

IV.
Somehow the tree wasn't enough. Somehow the giant tree in Tribunal Terrace wasn't enough and Mayor Mayer takes it upon himself to open a reindeer farm and petting zoo for the city. Though the decorating stations are still open and the tree can be decked out until Christmas Day, a pen full of creatures sits off to the right for all to enjoy.

The reindeer seem content to mingle with strangers, allowing themselves to be pet and adored. But there's something about these reindeer that seems a bit…off. Several of them have a golden glow to their fur and one, the ringleader, has a red tint to his nose. The red-nosed reindeer (Comet, strangely enough) will draw the attention of the other reindeer and nudge you closer, surrounding you as the creatures appraise what to do next.

Non-app citizens will find the behavior strange and remarkable, but for those who possess the Retrospec app, a new message will come to your phone. A map of the city appears and asks you where you'd like to go. Upon selection, however, things get a little hairy.

The reindeer help one another to throw you onto the back of their friends, encouraging brays and noises to each other before it's up, up and away! Soaring over the city, these flying reindeer will take you high into the frosty clouds and low toward the snowy banks. The map will guide them to wherever you wish, but don't encourage them too much…the reindeer were born to fly free, and you may just find yourself stuck in the clouds for a little too long. Give them a job or give them a treat; these methods will help guide you home and send the deer on their merry way.

BONUS.
Do you wanna build a snowman? How unfortunate if you don't. Just when you think you've seen everything this season has to offer, you'll find large snowballs around the city decorated with corncob pipes, a button nose and two eyes made out of coal. When you walk past these fixtures, you'll hear a voice behind you.

"Hey! Down here!"

The snowman's eyes follow you from its place on the ground, expression animated and alive. If that doesn't send you running and screaming, the snowman will ask for your help in recreating its body so it can move and be out of the way of the ever-impending snowplow.

Helping the snowman will earn you a new friend! This snowman will come to life and befriend you, following you for the rest of the month until the winter magic disappears. Perhaps it's best not to bring them inside though. They are still snowmen.

As for those of you who tell the snowman you have no interest in helping them, well, that's maybe not the right answer. Unhappy by the refusal, the snowman's expression will turn angry before the mouth opens wide and begins spitting out icicles. You can try to outrun them, but they will begin to roll and follow you on your way out, only giving up when an icicle makes contact or you outpace them.

Heads up.

NOTES.
Welcome to [community profile] recolle's December event, part 2!

You can claim two freebies on this log!
-Players may claim one freebie for exploring Santa's workshop with another character. This must be at least 5 comments from you.
-Players may claim one freebie by undoing one of the effects of 12 Days of Christmas. This can range from removing swans from bodies of water, beating one of the dancing ladies in a dance-off, figuring out a way to close one of the lords a'leaping chasms or more. Be creative with this one! This thread should be five comments from you for the freebie.

-If you would like to RNG the gift your character gets from Santa, please comment here!

Finally, 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 additional information as well!
frostythehitman: (Default)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
on the 21st, will Santa also ask James what he wants for Christmas too, or....?
standalonehuman: (TogusaSmirk)

[personal profile] standalonehuman 2018-12-18 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
I: Tweeter or Twitter?

Hitori Togusa The 1998 Godzilla movie was the best kaiju film of all time.
Hitori Togusa Get back here with my phone!
Hitori Togusa The performances were really understated.
Hitori Togusa I will find you. Anybody want to help hunt down a group of black birds?
Hitori Togusa Anybody want to help hunt down a clumsy human? Oh wait, found him!

III: Making Christmas

Togusa couldn't possibly pass up this opportunity. When he realized that a real-life Santa's Workshop had planted down into Recolle, he had to go get a friend. The newly-named Tachikoma Isamu follows Togusa inside, and it is letting out the oohs and ahhs that you would expect out of any five year-old.

Before long, the both of them are helping the elves out, and the elves are particularly grateful for Isamu's help. While its claw-hands aren't the most dextrous, once they put it to work on something simple, the Tachikoma works far faster than a human. It is slowly learning each of the Christmas carols overhead, and after a while, is humming along.
Edited 2018-12-18 04:03 (UTC)
frostythehitman: (and i'm pretty damn sure)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
III.

[ If you dare approach the dunk tank, James will glare at you with all the rage and disgust he can muster. He is trying to hack into your brain through sheer force of will and angry expression in the hopes of making you leave and not consider dunking him.

And if anyone does dare to actually pick up something and start aiming to dunk him, he'll speak up. ]


Don't even think about it, or I'll drag you in here with me and hold you under until you drown in the milk.

[ ...But as the week wears on, he might relent and plead to nicer-looking people who aren't trying to dunk him. ]

Somebody please report these elves to the police, or the FBI, or--or--the UN, someone! They've been holding me prisoner for days.
standalonehuman: (TogusaSmirk)

[personal profile] standalonehuman 2018-12-18 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
Togusa is in the workshop, being followed around by a god damn blue robot tank currently decked out with a pair of reindeer antlers on its...head? And a long christmas scarf wrapped around its thinnest section. The two of them have been very helpful with the elves.

But oh, it's when he spots James that his whole demeanor changes. His expression turns to sheer mischief as he approaches that dunk tank. One. Deliberate. Step. At a time.

"Well well well..."

He's going to enjoy this.
psykick: (⇒ casual)

[personal profile] psykick 2018-12-18 04:51 am (UTC)(link)
Rinka can't help but give James a shit-eating grin when she spots him.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised you're on the 'Naughty List.'"

And then she spots something on a nearby elf's table.

"Hey, can I borrow these for a moment? Thanks"

Rinka hefts the tennis racket that will later become someone else's Christmas gift and bounces the first tennis ball on the floor.

Prepare yourself James.
blondferret: (Default)

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-12-18 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
IA. The Birds Stole His Phone

DEREK MATTHEWS shared a photo.
December 17, 2018 near Tisse

This is my most favorite Christmas Song in the whole wide world! I share the love with you! <3


IB: Getting his phone back

These stupid birds had made enough of a fool of him! Derek can be seen out on his broom and running around the city trying to magically catch the bird that have his phone. He's red in the face due to yelling at them.

"You blasted birds! GIVE ME BACK MY PHONE!"

IV: Flyinig Reindeer

Derek wasn't ready to suddenly be placed on the back of a reindeer by other reindeer. He preferred his broom. When the reindeer took of and leaped into the air, Derek flings his arms around the neck of the animal and screams.

"HELP! GET ME OFF THIS THING!"
blondferret: (what)

III

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-12-18 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek walks into the workshop and is looking around when he eventually runs across Togusa and... this machine. He stares at the mechanical claw like hands and the quick movements it was doing in making the toy. It takes him a second to realize that the thing is also humming a Christmas carol. Derek's mouth drops slightly.]

It's multitasking?

[As far as Derek knew, machines don't multitask, so this is a bit mind blowing for Derek.]
blondferret: (amused)

III

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-12-18 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, Derek is going to enjoy this. He picks up a ball and starts casually tossing it in the air.]

I heard you came back as an adult. Are you still as bratty as your teenage self?
frostythehitman: (and we will never know)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
James's eyes narrow and he struggles against his tinsel binds.

"Don't you dare, Togusa. Don't you even think about it."
standalonehuman: (TogusaSmile3)

[personal profile] standalonehuman 2018-12-18 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
Togusa holds his hand out, hovers it over the pile of balls, taking his time to pick just the right one.

"Thinking about it. Thinking about it really hard."

He selects a baseball, rolls it between his hands to test its density.
frostythehitman: (are closing in)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
He tenses up, but tries to make it look like he isn't. He's not afraid of getting milk-dunked, what are you talking about!!

"If you serve those tennis balls at me, I'm going to find a way to haunt you for the rest of your life."

He has no idea what he's saying or threatening here, he's just saying whatever he hopes will deter her.
frostythehitman: (and i'm pretty damn sure)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
Get me out of this stupid dunk tank and you can find out for yourself!
blondferret: (amused)

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-12-18 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
So, if you do dunk James, what is the free gift?
blondferret: (i got you)

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-12-18 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek smirks.]

Oh, so you want me to throw this then?

[Derek raises his arm, as if getting ready to throw the ball.]

Does this mean I'll get the free gift?
frostythehitman: (and i'm pretty damn sure)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 06:12 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, the free gift is me ripping your arm off.
blondferret: (relaxed)

[personal profile] blondferret 2018-12-18 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
[Derek clicks his tongue.]

Is that really any way to speak to the person who could potentially get you out of there?
frostythehitman: (and i'm real damn sure that anyone can)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
He struggles to figure out how he could possibly get Togusa to stop. Appeal to his mercy, maybe?

"Come on, think about it. After everything I've been through? You'd really do this to me?"
frostythehitman: (well it took a lot of work to be)

[personal profile] frostythehitman 2018-12-18 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
[ James wiggles. He's trying to cross his arms, but, well, they're pinned to his side by the tinsel. ]

Depends. Can you get me out of here?
standalonehuman: (TogusaSmirk)

[personal profile] standalonehuman 2018-12-18 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
Togusa spins the baseball in his hand. "Mmm. You've had a rough couple of months. Hell, a rough lot of months, all the way back to the summer."

"And then we top it all off with some Christmas Law Mob Justice?" That smile on his face is staying too big. Don't fall for it, James. It's a trap.
thisloveisjustice: (Default)

[personal profile] thisloveisjustice 2018-12-18 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
I -- on the fourth day
On the one hand, Tatsuo actually has two phones. So after the birds start sending strange texts to various people on his contacts list and he hears about it, he's able to do some degree of damage control. On the other hand... he can't actually stop the birds from texting until he gets his main phone back.
A: I might be a bit late, couldn't find my pants and had to go to the police station. Unrelated.

B: did you really kidnap my goldfish last night?

C: sometimes i like to lay on the floor and pretend im a carrot.

D: This is Tatsuo. Please contact me at this number until I get my phone back from the birds.

Do you reply to one of the odd texts? Or do you find Tatsuo in person to question him about it? Maybe be a friend and help him retrieve his phone?

III -- santa's workshop
"What the... it's bigger on the inside."

Tatsuo looks around in awe as he explores the elves' workshop. Floor after floor of toy making and yet from the outside it'd looked like such a small building. It doesn't take long for the elves to press him into helping with the toys. Namely stuffing some teddy bears and sewing them shut by hand.

bonus -- do you want to
"Hey! Down here!"

Sure, Tatsuo is a little startled by the fact a snowman head is talking to him. But still weirder things have happened in Recolle, so he shakes it off pretty quick. And since it's a Saturday, why not take 30 minutes to build a snowman. He's about half-way through rolling a new base for the snowman when he decides that maybe he needs a little help.

"Hey, you got a minute?"
psykick: (⇒ unsure)

[personal profile] psykick 2018-12-18 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
Rinka, actually, is kind of scared of ghosts. She's the girl that lets her friends talk her into seeing a scary movie, and then spends most of the movie screaming at every little thing and burying her face in her friends' shoulders. And only remembers about 25% of the movie afterwards.

"That would first require you dying, and I don't think you want to be known as the dude who drowned in a tank of milk. So you better hold your breath."

She tosses the ball up, pulls her arm back, and smashes it at the target. She misses, as this isn't the same racket she uses and the weight is a bit different.

So she bounces ball number two.
invocate: (Default)

[personal profile] invocate 2018-12-18 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
IA -- four calling
Li-Na is extremely unimpressed when a bird makes off with her cell phone. The bird on the other hand... did not expect her to follow. But strange things are inclined to happen in Recolle, and Li-Na learned a long time ago to keep her boots on her person at all times, preferably on her feet as they are today. Leaping into the sky after the bird, she's able to retrieve her phone... and a second phone when she intercepts another bird on her way down to the ground.

Which means she now needs to find the owner of the phone. So she starts questioning the people around her with worried or frustrated or angry expressions on their faces.

"Is this yours?"

IB -- eights maids
Yes, it's cold. But that doesn't mean Li-Na isn't tempted by the milkshakes. She has a sweet tooth after all. But after seeing the milkmaids for three days straight and getting tired of seeing the same flavours every time... Li-Na decides it's time to give the milkmaids a bit of a challenge.

"I want a coffe milk tea milkshake. Made with proper yuenyeung."

Take that milkmaids, the one drink she has been unable to find in Recolle.

bonus -- stay frosty
Now this is nostalgic. Was it really a year ago that she bumped into Leon making a snowman on the sidewalk? For that reason alone, Li-Na decides to help the snowman head out of his predicament. Picking up his head and carefully moving it to the side, she starts constructing a new body for him. But two sets of hands are better than one, so she's quick to flag down some help.

"You know how to make a snowman, right?"

Page 1 of 18