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 is exceptionally grateful that he only got memories of Modeste, and did not find himself with the dragon in his apartment. Those little flashes, it wouldn't be enough for him to figure out how to take care of her.

And why is that suddenly a concern?

Correct. Is there a good place we can meet, all three of us? My patrol usually takes me around the University.

But, it's really up to Augustine, he knows where Modeste has been able to be out and about without being bothered.

[Of course, it didn't take long for Augustine to realize that Modeste is somehow stayed at his landlord's place overnight after being enthralled by her delicious cooking. At least that's a relief for him. However, there is still the matter of his strange memories and how he got that gun and that gunshot wound.]

Well, how about we'll meet at the University then?

It's a big place, but Togusa knows the University well from having gone there. He can find them an out of the way area, almost like a quad between some of the Academic buildings. With school out, it's just the summer students around, so it's mostly deserted.

Thank Togusa's friends for pointing out that if Togusa was missing the scar from a wound he didn't remember getting, that likely meant that Augustine had it. And so this potential interaction gets even more awkward.

But Togusa is off the clock, civilian dress, so he is trying to keep this casual.

[Like Togusa, Augustine is also in his casual outfit as he walks through the University to find Togusa. Of course, along with his Poke Ball that contains his dragon friend, he brought along the revolver that is hiding underneath his shirt, hoping to return it back to its rightful owner. Although this makes him worried that he might get caught and labeled as an attacker.

Eventually, he manages to find Togusa as he waves to him while approaching the police officer.]

Togusa raises his hand in a casual wave. He is still surprised to see the professor alone, though. Where's Modeste? No...wait...there's, a way he can keep her around, isn't there? His brow furrows in confusion, memories that aren't his trying to mix with the ones that are.

"Hey," he eventually says. He gestures to the bench that he found, they definitely need to sit down for this.

"Let's- start this from the beginning," Togusa suggests, and he digs in his pocket for a familiar fortune-cookie fortune. 'Learn to walk a mile in someone else's shoes.' "You found something like this, too?"

[When he sees the fortune-cookie fortune Togusa had with him, he realizes what these strange events really, especially the fortune itself. Well, at least he doesn't have to ask if he encounters this strange phenomenon as he replies by showing his fortune with the same message.]

I'm afraid so. So I guess the memories I just saw is yours somehow...

There's a little bit of relief in Togusa's sigh, and he runs a hand over his face. "I couldn't understand it, at first. I saw Modeste," Togusa nods, "which is why I was hoping to see her today."

"I couldn't make sense of it, did Retrospec cross their wires? Does it mean you and I had known each other before? But, the more I thought about it, nothing else was coming up." Togusa shrugs. "But I checked with some other people, without telling them what I was seeing. It's not happening to everybody."

"Can I ask, what did you see?" He is cautious in asking, because some of the options in Togusa's mind are not good.

[So judging by this, Togusa has Augustine's memories of Modeste while he has some of his memories. At least he didn't get his dragon friend.]

Well, from what I can understand on our fortunes, it seems they swap our visions and items to let us get to know more each other. Although I still have no clue regarding that we knew each other before.

[As for his memories, Augustine frowns at the thought of them.]

Well, not only I see a vision of a shooting range, but I also saw some spider-like machines in another memory. To be honest, both of them doesn't make sense for me.

Togusa smiles a little fondly, then catches himself. "The Tachikoma. The tanks. I guess I still don't know how they fit into everything, but I know," Togusa waves a hand vaguely, "me, or other me, he was working with them before." He still tries to distance himself from the memories that he is getting. Some other Togusa, some other time. Maybe he can accept that much.

"I know they were hard-working, tried to make us humans happy. And then they got...decommissioned. I don't know why." And that idea makes Togusa frown. He barely even knows them, and they're just machines, so why is that memory so sad?

"Did you see anything else about them?" Togusa has to ask. Maybe Augustine could come to some different conclusions with what Togusa saw.

[A strange name for these tanks, but he is surprised that they have been decommissioned despite their hard-working nature. But now that he mentions this, Augustine wonders if the tanks Togusa mentioned have minds of their own.]

Unfortunately, that's all I can see in your memory. Though I wish I could see more if I could.

[Then again, maybe Retrospec might have set some limits regarding that memory.]

As for the shooting range memory, I saw you practicing there and it seems you're not happy for some reason. Do you know about this one?

Togusa's brow furrows and he shakes his head. "That could be anything. I've done a lot of training in my time. Had to spend some extra time on the range to try to catch up to everybody else," he has to admit. He waves a hand around them. "I came here for college. Grew up in Japan before then. Originally didn't intend on becoming a cop. And firearms are more restricted there. So, I didn't get any hands-on training until late."

"Help me connect the dots, then," Togusa suggests. "I was just getting little pieces of, I suppose, you and Modeste? She was- smaller, something different. But it's different than just a puppy growing up into a dog." He shakes his head again, slight disbelief. "I know there has to be more that makes this all make sense?"

Well, that's not the only thing I saw. I did seem to see you wield a revolver model I recently.

[As Togusa mentions this, Augustine began to realize why he wants to let him bring Modeste with him.]

I'm still figuring that out right now as well the time placement of them. But judging by those memories you've got from me, I can guess that Modeste's growth pattern is vastly different than other animals.

There's a brief look at the mention of the gun, but Togusa will let that sit for now. He's much more interested in Modeste. "Yeah!" He nods emphatically. "She was," he tries to hold his hands up, estimating the size of the Gible, "a lot smaller. But I saw her grow bigger, all at once. Vastly different is one way to put it," he laughs a little.

"But it was more amazing than scary. I didn't have a clue that she'd grown up from something so tiny."

Me neither. Although, I do know more about Modeste's child form.

[Augustine then pulls out his red device and shows a picture of the Gible Togusa just saw in his swapped memory.]

One of which is its species name of her child form. Gible.

Togusa perks up in interest, and he tilts his head to see the screen better. "Hunh? Oh, she's kind of cute. Bitey, but cute. Gible, hunh?" Land shark. No kidding.

He pokes at the device, itself. "That's not- quite a palm pad? Thought those went out of style years ago?" Or is it another thing that Retrospec had given him?

I could say that. I can also say she might be a little aggressive before she was calm down by the other me of that memory.

[Not to mention he wonders how in a world did the other him endure that bite from his memory.]

It may look like it, but it's some sort of a digital encyclopedia of the creatures I saw so far. I got it from Retrospec.

"Encyclopedia? So there's a lot more of these- creatures out there?" Togusa looks at the picture again more dubiously. "I mean, if she's one of a whole species, that's got to be true. Have you looked through it yet? What else is in there?"

[Augustine replies by slowly slide through pictures of other creatures, including the blue small crocodile that he recently remembered when Silver showed it to him.]

These all I can find in this device. Though to be honest, I can't exactly say that this is truly an encyclopedia. Not only most of the data of other creatures are missing, but there seems to have no information about them other than the names I remember from my strange memories.

Togusa perks up at the picture of the little blue frog, almost reaches out to poke it. "Aw, it's cute!"

"But you don't know anything about them? And the thing Retrospec gave you isn't jogging your memory?" He frowns a little bit. "Why does Retrospec keep giving us this stuff if it doesn't help us remember?"

[At least Togusa is somehow attracted at one of the creatures. Though it might be a little strange for him to hear him say that.]

So far, I have no memory about this device. All I know is that whenever I remember a creature, it will update itself with it. It actually did it once with Totodile.

[Great question. One that he might figure out soon.]

I don't know. Maybe it is trying to hide it's secrets until we get that memory in other ways?

Togusa frowns a little. "There's- another possibility, one that a few people have been kicking around. That the things from our worlds don't exist again until we remember them. Points to a much more subjective view of reality than I like." He sighs deeply, and runs a hand over his face.

"It's not a perfect theory, doesn't apply to everything people have been experiencing. But it's an idea."

[Worlds somehow restored when they remembered them?

He just thought these memories belonged to their previous lives, but that theory alone surprises Augustine a lot.]

Items from other words exist again when we remember them? Now that I think about it, my friend has some letters that somehow updates itself when she remembers new memories. And these are just ordinary paper letters, which is impossible for it to write new information by itself.

And, Togusa's eyebrows go so high up he even straightens up a little, as if his face is not enough space to express his full surprise. "H-unh. I can't say, personally, that I agree with it. Only way we'd prove it for sure, in my case, is if the Tachikoma start showing up. I-" He laughs a little.

"Heh, I'll admit, I'm keeping an eye on a few things, in case they change. Got a little toy tank on my desk, in case it turns into a spider at some point. Like the horses or the fruits."

[Continued here. And I'm really sorry! This got lost in the notif!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JULY EVENT LOG

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There was a lovely OOC discussion about which starter Togusa would pick

Hey, I like Froakie as well! :D

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