recolle | JULY EVENT LOG

Entry tags:

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

[ Koutarou always confirms with the front desk to make sure that Togusa isn't busy with some important meeting or something, when he drops by. Sometimes he ends up sending him a text message instead, telling him he had been around. It seems he can stop by a little while at least today and he hopes he doesn't end up being a bother but he needs to inform him of this one thing before he finds his apartment's shower and bed so he's not smelling of paint or is too drained to think tomorrow (because he's been awake for over 24 hours again). But around mid-day, probably just a couple minutes before lunch break, he is passing through the area anyway, taking the short way home for once. And yes, he needed to talk to Togusa.

So he just has to find his friend at his desk. ]

Hitori? Do you have a few moments?

[ In private, is what his tone of voice is saying. But it's also containing some "I really don't like this topic I'll need to bring up at all" and if anyone is able to read his tone of voice it's Togusa.

It's just a short message, to be honest, and he could have sent a text message days ago, and the person at the front said that they could deliver it for him, but it's better if he tells him in person...and also he can't hold this off any longer. ]

It's always amazing but touching the way Koutarou tries not to disturb Togusa. But sometimes Togusa worries that he doesn't make enough time for his friend. Koutarou is more important than anything at work short of bodies showing up (not that that's happening this week...)

Togusa looks up with a smile for Koutarou, but instantly his brow furrows in concern. He can read Koutarou well, and his friend is tired out, at best. But he is worried about something, too. "For you? I've got a lot more than that." He glances at the clock, then flips closed the file folder he was working with, stands up. Nope, Koutarou gets his full time and attention.

"Should we go somewhere, or just find somewhere more quiet in here? I can order in if you're ready for lunch?"

No, Koutarou doesn’t want to be a bother. (Okay, so he’s still working on some self-worth issues he gained during his childhood because of all the love his family had for his interest in art. You know, that love that doesn’t exist and is much more on the negative side. It’s much better than when they first met at least! But it’s a work in progress that makes him not want to be a bother.) At least the one he’s the least worried about being a bother to...which is probably no comfort.

“You don’t have to, just a little while is enough I don’t want to take up your time, I don’t really remember if I’ve eaten anything since breakfast whenever that was but I should find a bed first, maybe showering before that could bad by the way, I don’t wanna fall asleep in the shower, though I am hungry but that’s fine it can wait until breakfast once that happens and I have things to do once I’ve slept so I’ll be busy for a little while but---”

Oh, he’s rambling, he doesn’t ramble all that often unless he’s tired or upset and he’s both at the moment. One more than the other because he's too tired to be very distressed. He lightly bites the inside of his cheek. “You decide please.”

Togusa's eyebrows raise, lips part in quiet concern. He knows the signs, all right, (maybe a little too well from spending so much time around Koutarou during the stress of school and deadlines) and it is worse than he expected. Nope. Too bad Koutarou. You have your friend's full hour, and you are getting some food in you.

Togusa effortlessly switches into Japanese to take one extra mental burden off his friend. Sometimes it's just easier to go back to his first language. It's also the fastest way to have a conversation in this building that 95% of the people don't understand and the other 5% will politely ignore.

"Let me order us something, and we'll steal the break room. One of my tea stashes might be hidden there, too." He flashes a quick smile, before busily typing on his phone.

Once the food is on the way, Togusa leads Koutarou back where it's quieter. The concern isn't wiped all the way off his face as they sit down. "Didn't think you had a commission in the works, but this looks different than job tired. What's going on?"

School and deadlines could be stressful. He enjoys art though, it usually helps him to calm down for the most part, all his life. Still, those couple years back when he was still getting used to the country and on top of it had those extra family troubles... That had certainly been a mess, and he probably apologized a lot for talking Togusa's ears off.

It is easier to simply speak Japanese. He may have gotten the hang of English for the most part over the years, but sometimes there are still struggles with it, and he will probably end up forgetting words and get a much heavier accent (that one was already happening though) because he still has to think about pronunciations sometimes. Perfect grades was, for some reason, not the number one thing his parents cared about. As long as he passed and got enough to stay on in club activities, he didn't need to study extra, because that would take up time from his training and that was unacceptable.

"You really don't have to, I will manage somehow later on, it's nice of you though, but really you don't have to, so-" He covers his mouth with a hand for the time being, as Togusa directs him away from the vicinity of his desk and toward the mentioned break room. Also, to calm down a little. Rambling will help nobody.

"It's not a commission," he has to consciously stop himself from continuing to talk about that for another five to ten minutes (at least) and simply gets to the point. "I just thought you should know that Kayoko-neesan is dropping by with her family for a couple of days, since she's turning 34. SHe and Koji" her husband, "are going to someplace more of a vacation spot when she turns 35, without the kids, so they ended up coming here for some reason, I don't know why."

Togusa's eyebrows go straight up, his whole posture actually straightens up a little bit, like his face isn't enough room to express his surprise and slight indignation. "I should have guessed," he mutters. "This is family stress." No wonder Koutarou is buckling down into the idea that he doesn't matter.

Togusa pauses and he takes a breath before his first thought pops right out of his mouth. This is still Koutarou's family, and he still loves them. This is the possibility for a bridge mended that Koutarou so desperately wants, but Togusa is worried that if he wants it too much, he might backpedal on the reason he came here in the first place.

Or he's worried that his family might try to demand that price from him.

Togusa can manage to stomp down on all the snarky comments save one, "Re-mind me again, this is the sister who did bother to call you on your birthday without prompting?" There's a part of him immediately sorry for saying that, but a part of him needs to put this out on the table. How important has Kayoko acted like you are to her?

His gaze is cast downward, and he's watching the rise and fall of Togusa's chest rather than his expression. He nods slowly, because that's what it is. Family stress is, to him, worse than any other form of stress. There is nothing he want more than for his family to accept him as he is, or at least for them to not resent him or ignore him for the choices he has made.

But then he shakes his head in response to the question. "No, that was Naoko-neesan. Kayoko is the middle one who's son is supposed to inherit the dojo once he's old enough because he's the oldest grandson and father has no more sons." Because, from what he has gathered, that step-brother he apparently has running around somewhere in town is not a martial artist of any kind. And a girl can't inherit his father's dojo, for some reason. Otherwise the pressure that had been put on Koutarou would have been a lot lighter, considering he has three older sisters, all much more interested than he had ever been.

He still keeps his hand over his mouth when he's not talking, so he won't keep talking endlessly.

Right. Right right right. As soon as Koutarou starts reminding him, it jogs his memory, and Togusa nods his head along with his words. Despite Togusa's own feelings on the matter, the situation is what it is.

He very gently reaches up to take Koutarou's hand, pull it away from his face. Stop that. "You don't need to diminish yourself," he mutters. "Especially not around me." He lets go and lets his hand drift back. "I'd rather hear it all, let you get it out now, if you're so worried about blowing up around her."

"Do you think this is what I was talking about some time ago? That she wants to try to mend things between you? Starting to realize that she misses her brother?" He's going to try to stay positive, for Koutarou's sake. His friend's anxiety says it all about what he really thinks is going to happen with this visit. Or maybe that it's so unknown, so unheard of, that one of his family might reach out to him.

Since he doesn't talk that much about his family these days, it might be easy to forget. Because despite wanting their acceptance, if he doesn't talk about it as much, maybe he won't need to think about it as much, because it only hurts. "I know, I just..." He bites his lip instead, since Togusa has pulled his hand from his face. "I don't want to complain when I know it's not going to change anything."

He shakes his head again, much more slowly. "I don't know. It was probably just convenient that I'm here and can show them around, probably. And somehow Nozomi" that particular niece, "found out that one of her celebrity crushes is one of my students and wanted to meet him... I didn't even know Sena-kun was a model, and that's supposed to be private, isn't it? Student records, and those things."

"Mmm," Togusa nods. Just convenience, and of course they're taking it for granted that Koutarou would help out. There's a twinge of anger on his friend's behalf again that he has to stomp down. "But this could be an opportunity."

Togusa pauses, he shakes his head a little, let's not continue down that line of thinking until he has a better idea of what Koutarou truly wants. "What is it you really want out of this? You're worried that something is going to go wrong, but okay. What does this visit going completely right look like? Even if you think there's no chance that would ever happen?" For Koutarou's sake, again, let's keep this as positive as possible.

They take it for granted because he wouldn't be able to say no, so it's as if their taking him for granted is accepted and confirmed. He knows that saying yes isn't going to help him, it won't make them take him less for granted, but he's not able to say no.

If he had worn a yukata right now (he wishes he was wearing a yukata right now) he would have clenched to the long sleeves.

He shakes his head, because he doesn't know what might come of this visit. He has no expectations whatsoever, at least, he's trying to not have any hopes, because he doesn't want to be disappointed. If you don't have any expectations or hopes you can't be as hurt, right?

There is a part of Togusa's heart that breaks for his friend, when he can't even vocalize something that Togusa thinks is simple. He reaches out to gently touch Koutarou on the shoulder again. "Koutarou."

What more can he even say? "All right. Okay. We'll get through this. You don't have to just try to handle it all yourself. You need a place to hide out, my home is open, okay? Wherever you need me, I'll be there. You just need to make it through a couple of days."

Meanwhile, it is going to take every single piece of Togusa's self-control to not ruin things for Koutarou or try to take it into his own hands. As much as he wants Koutarou's family to just see what they've done to him. To see how much they still mean to him, even after all this? Focus on the part that is important: be there for Koutarou.

Their food arrives, and Togusa brings a takeout box of noodles over for Koutarou. At least get something into him.

He nods slowly, and finds a seat in the room. For a while, he says nothing, but he squeezes the box of noodles between his hands, and just blankly stares at it for some time.

"Thank you, Hitori."

He's really, really grateful to have him. He can't ever express with words how much it means to have his support, for him to be his friend. He was really lucky to have ended up with him as his roommate all those years ago, really lucky to have had his acceptance as things went to shit with his family.

"You're welcome. You're always welcome." Togusa knows he doesn't need to push the point too much, the message will get through. It's only for short periods of time that Koutarou forgets, and thinks he's a bother.

This will pass.

And so the best he can do is start to act like this will pass, to try to get Koutarou's mind onto other things. So, it's not quite mindless babbling, but harmless gossip. He's supposed to meet up with Professor Izunia again soon, and how the hell did they end up being- whatever they are? Friends? Ardyn came by to check on Togusa when he was sick, so okay, maybe they are friends. It still feels weird, and the man still has zero sense of style. Where did Togusa put all those drawings he did of him in class, anyway? Just, something, anything, to try to take the edge off the tension he can still feel in Koutarou.

There is a very fleeting smile passing on his lips. It’s not really in his eyes, though, only a upturn of the corners of his lips. He knows that Togusa is sincere, and knows he always has been, always will be.

He focuses on eating the food. He doesn't have an appetite despite being hungry.Meanwhile, he tries not to think about the coming week. Not that that is possible.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

JULY EVENT LOG

A

Re: A

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject