recolle | JULY EVENT LOG

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JULY EVENT LOG

EVENT

SURF AND SUN
With the peak of summer upon the city of Recollé, many people are enjoying some time off to soak up the sun and hit the beach. Pops of green and blue sprinkle the city again though many people don't notice at all. Citizens remain as content as ever, complimenting one-another on their new tank-tops or asking for recommendations of the best ice cream flavors.

It's almost as if there's really nothing strange going on here.

I.
It's a pattern at this point. Those who have been a part of the Retrospec network for long enough have noticed that strange things usually begin on the third of any given month and perhaps some of you may be expecting it. But this time on the morning of the third, everything seems alarmingly normal.

Speaking of alarms, yours seems to be going off. "But I didn't set an alarm, it's summer", you might say, but it sounds strangely like the "wark!" of a Chocobo repeatedly. Some of you are able to turn off your alarms just fine, but others may not be so lucky. For a few selected citizens, disabling the alarm reveals a special pop-up notification from your friends at Retrospec.

A short message appears: B-I-N-G-O! Looking to collect some of your memories? Ready, set, go.

The message quickly dissolves and reveals an electronic 5x5 digital bingo card, each square filled in with an activity to complete. At the center is a prompt that hits almost a little too close to home, whether that be something you would do yourself or challenging you just a little to complete it. Shimmering just under the words of the center prompt, you can barely make out what appears to be a QR code before it promptly disappears.

Wait. Perhaps you may recall that someone once mentioned QR codes. Or maybe you're still learning how this network works and you're uncertain what it all means. There's only one way to find out, isn't there? Grab a friend (or even a stranger) and get ready to play in all districts of your beloved city.

Then again, maybe you really did get lucky and you weren't saddled with one of these cards, or perhaps you're the type to ignore silly games like this. There's plenty happening in the city elsewhere as everyone prepares for the big Fourth of July celebration. Tisse and Chata are bustling with people stocking up and hosting sales, not at all unlike the Founder's Day celebration. Everywhere you turn you may find yourself face to face with people offering samples or tempting you with the best deals around. Are you a shopper today? Or are you one of the employees counting down the minutes until your shift ends? It's just another day in the city of Recollé.

II.
Even though it's the middle of the summer, it's unusually warm for this time of year. A heatwave rolls through the city, but for some of you it's getting hotter than ever. It may be an ordinary day for you when it happens. Perhaps you're a student who's trying to enjoy their summer vacation. Maybe you're cramped up in an office all day desperately trying to soak in the air conditioning, or maybe you're running around trying to fill your bingo prompts. There's no telling where you will be when you come to realize a small item has made its way into your pocket or bag.

Upon inspection, you find a blue-colored fortune cookie, glowing as bright as the Retrospec logo. Some of you may throw it away, while others of you may accidentally break it or even open it out of curiosity. The moment the cookie is cracked, the glow stops and a puff of smoke emits into the air leaving behind a singular white strip of paper.

A short message: "Learn to walk a mile in someone else's shoes."

The heat intensifies for those who have read the fortune before a cool, calming breeze floats over you. Like the crash of a wave, you soon find yourself overwhelmed with a memory that isn't your own, or the feeling of power courses through your veins, the wind whispering a message of a power or memory obtained . Will you seek out who these memories and abilities belong to? Or will you keep them for yourself for a while? There's only one way to change back to the way you were, even if you don't know it just yet.

Yet even for those who aren't blessed with this fortune the heat's proving to be a bit much. The sun beats down intensely and everywhere you turn there are shops handing out cups of water to help keep everyone hydrated. There are several places you can duck into to borrow their AC, but all around the same time at 8pm on the 3rd, a rolling blackout hits the city. The lights go down and the air units stop working. It begins to have the effect of being cooler outside than it is inside (which you recognize as strange, but with the gray sky overhead it's hard to tell if this means rain or another sunset) and you feel the urge to go outside.

That's when it happens. As if on cue, the crickets begin to chirp and cicadas make their presence known. Fireflies begin to pop up in little groups, swirling around Retrospec users in synchronicity. Those off-network will remark how beautiful the bright creatures are, but don't find this behavior strange at all. However, the fireflies will follow users around the city all night long.

Will you focus on bringing the power back like you may have once before? Or will you enjoy the show? The fireflies will be with you no matter the choice.

III.
Down at Peach Beach a celebration's set up to take place over the course of the next two days. A stage sits on the sandy beach to host a variety of musical acts (including a few open mic hours) and food trucks are parked along the walkway. Some of you may notice that thanks to the fiasco during the food truck rally, several of the trucks have been stopped with parking boots. The boardwalk has a variety of games and specials to offer as well, fun prizes for anyone who plays along, buckets and pails prime for the taking to build sand castles and several carts selling Recollé's famous Peach Beach popsicles and ice cream parked along the docks. Best of all, the sun is high and the water's fine, the scent of the gray ocean wafts toward the sand.

However, for those who venture into the gray ocean you may notice that it takes a little longer than usual to cross the sand to the water, the distance stretching before you. The water's clear as ever and refreshing from the sun, though the waves appear choppier than you recall from the past. Perhaps that doesn't bother you. Perhaps you're a great swimmer or you tell yourself the waves aren't nearly as intimidating as they look. Several citizens are out there surfing and sailing. How bad can it be?

Do be careful if you venture further and further from the shore though; after a certain point far enough from the shore, adventurers may find themselves face to face with large, unidentifiable shadows under the water, a slick slide of something brushing against limbs in a gentle caress before the shadows retreat. Walking further will reveal a drastic dip in the ocean floor and you may sink under, the water strangely clear for being gray. Whatever touched you swims out of sight before you can get a close look, but it's clear its multiple fins and limbs propel itself forward and away.

Following it seems to be futile. The waves grow rougher and should you travel too far, the water will carry you back to the shore almost as if it's protecting you from harm.

Weird, isn't it?

IV.
But life goes on even aside from the weird ongoings of Retrospec. Life goes on, the world keeps turning, and the mayor still loves holidays. The Fourth of July is no exception and the city is bustling with activity.

Much like the day prior, the shopping district and the beach seem to be where many residents gather. Several others enjoy the day in Hollingberry field with friends and family, barbecuing and playing games together. Those with bingo cards will receive another sound of alarm, a startled wark! from their device before there is a flash revealing that one day has gone by since the game began. Those who harbor a power or memory that isn't their own feel the impact a little more heavily, urging them to find their match.

However, the world seems to stop as dusk settles around the city. Citizens hustle and scramble to pick the best viewing points for the annual fireworks show. Street vendors sell glow rings and popcorn and sparklers for anyone who wishes to play with the lights. The Mayor sits atop Seabiscuit in Recollé Square with an ice cream cone in hand, anticipating the time the bursts of color will appear.

At 9pm sharp, the first boom begins. Displayed across the sky appears the history of the city in pops of shimmering color, pictures painted across the dark tapestry above among the stars. With most of the city distracted though, now may be the perfect time to do some last-minute sale shopping or cross off a few things on your lists without question. It may even be the perfect time to sneak away from the crowds and get up to some mischief.

BONUS.
It's quiet around the Retrospec building, but the doors unlock for anyone who ventures toward them. They have been locked tight since the first part of May, but you can't help but observe that this seems to happen periodically. A pattern? Maybe, but who are you to look a gift Chocobo in the mouth?

For those brave enough to enter the building, they will find that rooms that were previously accessible are no longer available. Doors are missing, the elevator refuses to work, and the secretary's desk appears to be as clear of evidence as always. However, soft lights adorn the handrail of the stairs beckoning characters toward the second floor.

There appears to be only one room upstairs and the door is ajar. Is it a trap? Possibly, but further investigation shows that it was simply a careless action. Inside this room is another desk, a laptop seated on its table-top and the room itself not much bigger than a walk-in closet. Scattered around are books on biology and genetics, notes about evolution and hybrid animals. Comic books and horror movies sit in a neat pile in a corner near a small TV, screen frozen on a large monster of some sort. A table in the back is home to a few fossilized items in jars, along with empty coffee cups and house plants. In another corner is a clothing rack with a handful of costumes and a sewing machine sits on the floor nearby. Tacked on the wall is a reminder of the dates of the Recollé ReConvention.

What is all of this? A note on the desk reveals that all of this belongs to someone named Maurice and that "he better work harder or he will not receive his school credit."

But what's an intern doing with all of this research? What a great question.

Welcome to

recolle's July event! All characters will be begin in-game AU'd as Recollé residents. You may use any of the above prompts for ideas or make up your own based on the ongoings of the city! Prompts do not have to be set in the districts listed above. You can review our list of locations for what's available and be as creative as you'd like.

As a note, while you are more than free to use this log to play with the bingo cards and regains swap these are in effect all month! You are free to make your own posts all month long as well and these will qualify for your bingo cards. With regards to the regains swap, as per our notes how your characters switch back is up to you! This could be anything from a hug, a synchronized dance, a duel, etc. Be creative! There is no right or wrong answer.

Please see our monthly plotting post/event sign-ups posts here and here.

Any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Togusa's own options for 'authority figure' were Ichirou himself, and Detective Gabranth. So, he is completely off his guard.

"You're here-" early? No, but something is off. Togusa curiously tilts his head at Matsuoka's attire. "On the clock, or off the clock?"

"Ah, thanks." He reaches for the chocolate without even thinking, looking at the Detective, rather than paying any attention to what he's doing.

[It's spicy. Ridiculously so. Far beyond chili chocolate, which is actually conceivably enjoyable. It's not so spicy a person might joke or gag, but well into the realm of "oh god, WHY?"]

Ah. I'm on leave for a few days. There was an incident and... [he kind of rolls his hand along, implying administrative hullabaloo.] I had to discharge my weapon, so all those hoops, y'know.

Also, gotcha.

He pops the chocolate in his mouth, and then it takes a second to hit. And in that second, Togusa's poor face goes through a series of complicated expressions. Brow furrows in concern, because wait, that was Ichirou mixed up in that thing he heard a rumor about? Then his mouth puckers tight and his eyes widen because wait, what did I just eat? And then Togusa has to try to stomp down on that expression for the sake of not offending Ichirou.

It all leaves him quickly grabbing for his mug and why does it have to be coffee? It gets him swallowing the chocolate quickly to just try to end this, and then coughing once.

He holds up a finger. Pause while he tries to regain some equilibrium. "I have. Multiple questions." And we might be stuck on 'what the hell did I just eat?'

[He's laughing a little.]

Sorry, sorry. I'll take you out to lunch sometime to make up for it, fair?

It was just culinary chocolate I melted and added a diced up habanero too. Only one. So not SO bad, right?

But ask away.

Togusa shakes his head and takes another drink of coffee. Okay, that's starting to make it better. "See." He points at Ichirou. "You put effort into that. I can't be as mad. Because that's actually funny. Hand that to my best friend, and I swear, he'd probably ask for seconds."

Let's keep the mood a little light, then. "So, wait, you got that Retrospec game, too, then?" He pulls out his phone, and shows his own card. Two of the spaces are scribbled out, as in Togusa isn't even considering them. 'Find someone who broke into Retrospec and slap them' and 'Play a prank on an authority figure.'

"Now. Seeing as how there are only two people on the app who count as an authority figure to me." Togusa grins wickedly. "And you're one of them."

[There's a bit of a scoff.]

Come on now, you can TRY.

But I think I'm pretty good about being aware of my surroundings.

The smile that Togusa gets on his face in response to that says it all. I'm sorry, was that Ichirou challenging Togusa to a challenge? If so, he has brought any consequences squarely upon his own head. He holds that smile for just an extra second before he slowly moves on to his next question.

"So... I knew Izunia was on leave. You were mixed up in- that, too?" With a vague hand-wave to match Ichirou's earlier gesture.

Yeah, I stumbled onto the scene and tended to the victim.

[And had to let the perp get away, but he doesn't really mind that, since he stopped a murder.]

So I'm on leave while they investigate all that.

...It's kind of part of why I pranked you, too.

There's a quick look of relief on Togusa's face before he shifts back to worry. "They did survive? Thought I'd heard, but nobody'd told me for sure."

He wants to ask if Matsuoka's okay, but, well, maybe not right here. Besides, what he said was a little confusing. "But what does that have to do with Retrospec's game?"

[He sharply inhales.]

The culprit is on retrospec.

...The cut they made - they cut the guy's hands off, he almost bled out - was pristine. It was like...y'know how industrial water pumps are used to cut holes in steel and stuff? It was that. And he did it with a katana.

Playing along with Retrospec...does things. And I think it's best if I do, to see where it goes.

Togusa inhales sharply. He can just picture what Ichirou is saying, and his face pales slightly. "Shimatta..."

And then his mind makes the double-logic-jump that Ichirou just did, and he looks at the Detective more grim-faced. He pitches his voice quieter. "Damn it all, we were worried about this, we were talking about the possibility just last month. That people are getting dangerous powers, that they can't control, topped off with very violent memories that dont make sense." Togusa frowns further.

"You want to give in to the game to see if you can keep up." A statement, not a question. Togusa completely understands the way of thinking. He truly doesn't like it. But he understands it.

[There's a small nod.]

...I've remembered some things too. Little things. That I almost wouldn't know weren't normal, if I hadn't talked to other people about them.

And...

My son, too.

So I can't just take it slowly anymore. I have to try anything I can to get deeper into this.

There is a visible flinch when Matsuoka mentions his son. How could Togusa have forgotten about that? Ichirou is a father. Something Togusa has always wanted for himself, but has never gotten. But it puts Ichirou in a different position. "You have more at stake than the rest of us," Togusa admits. "More to protect, but also more to lose." There is a sudden, desperate tone in Togusa's voice.

He closes his eyes for a second. Get your thoughts in order. "What it is, that we're seeing. The visions and memories from Retrospec. Whatever the real source is, can we at least agree? It's some other Ichirou Matsuoka, some other Hitori Togusa. Whether it's a past life or a different time or even just made up, it's a different you with different experiences and, you're banking on, different abilities. Something that would make you be able to go toe to toe with a super-strong guy with a sword?" Togusa knows it's probably too specific, maybe even pedantic, but he has spent quite a bit of time working through exactly what these memories mean, in the global sense.

....Something like that. No matter what I remember, right now I still have a job I have to do, and if I have to play along to get the tools I need to keep doing it, I'm going to.

[There's another nervous tick. He's not scared of remembering more. He's fairly confident that no matter what, he'll prove to be the same person, even in whatever other situation he's remembering. But he's worried about his son. He doesn't want them to remember anything that'll hurt, or worse, discover some ability that hurts them or someone else.]

And maybe by doing that, I can find a way to resolve this, too.

Edited 2017-07-05 21:23 (UTC)

There is still a deep fear for the man, but Togusa can feel Ichirou's determination too strongly. He quietly sighs. "I could try to talk you out of this. List out every horrible thing I've been watching everybody else go through. I did warn you about the injuries coming out of nowhere, and that's only the start of it." One hand goes to his chest, settles meaningfully against the right side, over his lung. He very slowly shakes his head. "But none of that would stop you, would it?"

"There's no guarantee that this other Ichirou had a family, or that he was a man of justice. His memories overtaking yours, and you accidentally forgetting about what's important. That's why I worry about how much you have to lose. You are far more than just the job. Don't turn yourself into the job."

"But," Togusa runs a hand over his face, almost can't believe he is saying this, "with that said, what can I do to help you, then?"

I know, I know that. [He sighs again.] It's not really a very desirable situation. I just...I don't even know. [He rubs his face.] Even if I don't play along, you remember whether you wanna or not, right? So I might as well speed it up, if I can't stop it.

...I don't suppose you know anyone who has received anything weird from Retrospec, do you?

"I can respect that," Togusa admits quietly. "Just- keep talking to people. Keep talking to us. All right? So you're remembering why you're doing this."

But his other question is a good one. "Detective Gabranth got that stup-" choose your words very carefully, there, Togusa, "-uh, helmet." Which looks incredibly stupid. "How weird are we talking? I know a guy who got a pet dragon. I think I saw something about a baby tiger."

Something I can, uhhh.

Borrow.

[He hates having to admit he plans to do that, but hey. that but hey.]

Togusa actually snickers before he gets a hand up to cover his mouth. "So not the dragon, then."

Togusa has to ponder for a second. Not too many people have been getting, or at least not admitting to getting, innocuous objects. Togusa knows about the weapons, but taking one is even more dangerous.

"Buddy of mine got a whole pile of comic books," Togusa suggests. But he meaningfully reaches down and shifts a pile of folders. The motion reveals the corner of a very blue paperback book hidden on the desk.

[You're far too kind to him, Togusa.

He has no idea how to repay this, to be quite honest.]

Comics, huh?

That seems innocuous enough. Why don't you ah.. write their information down.

[He's presenting a notepad and pencil. Obvious diversionary tactic.]

If Ichirou is serious about gunning for it, then Togusa'll help. Especially if the alternatives are kidnapping a baby tiger or trying to steal a magic sword. He actually does write down James Barnes' information, though. The kid is probably the epitome of a good kid stuck in a terrible situation with Retrospec. The comic books with a character sharing James' name? Were just confusing. Togusa doesn't know how to approach that any better than he does the spider tanks.

More than enough time for Ichirou to make his move. It's a Japanese copy of Salinger's 'Catcher in the Rye.'

[Ichirou is actually surprisingly subtle about taking it. He used to be a delinquent, which meant he pinched more than his share of bottles and snacks from stores, especially considering his family wasn't especially well off in those days anyway.]

Thanks. I'll look into that.

Togusa doesn't even notice the slip, which makes his eyebrow raise when the book is suddenly gone. Exactly how many on their staff are highly trained in the skills of- the other side, for lack of a better term? Almost makes Togusa regret his spotless upbringing for a second, then realize how dumb that is.

"He's. Well, he's a good kid," Togusa says of Barnes. "He's just that exact kind of teenager who gets hassled by us too often even when he isn't doing anything."

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JULY EVENT LOG

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when you get that tag that you have to go get a new icon for

Re: when you get that tag that you have to go get a new icon for

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