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

The last time I slipped up at all was in May, and I'd backed myself into a corner at the time.

[He has to ask.]

What are the rules?

...Don't call you up in the middle of the night to drag you out of bed, don't go and crash into your place at random.

[ he's mostly fucked up when he's been too out of his head to care. ]

Are those the only rules? [he's quiet and then] ...Why?

No. [ he has dozens of rules he lives by and never talks about. ] And 'cause it's your place? And I had to just, like, not call you up and make you come over all the time whenever I would've just climbed up to the top bunk or whatever.

[ so he just didn't, until he remembered dying and fucked up because that was a little too much, and so was remembering fighting bro the first time even if now he weathers the memories of either variety with little more than a moment's pause. ]

But... that isn't... [He rubs at his eyes again with the back of his hand. He remembers in his memories he was even less expressive with his body language. He wonders if he'll get like that again.] If it's for you, then okay. But if it's for me then it isn't what I wanted. I never wanted that.

It's not like I get that upset about that stuff anymore. [ dying, bro, whatever. he does, but like - ] I don't sleep well but I think it's not even entirely about dreams, so it doesn't really matter. I don't scream, I don't have panic attacks, I just wake up and get antsy or I never fall asleep. It's not like it's anythin' to worry about.

That isn't even the point right now, although it's still ten kinds of concerning and we need to talk about it. The point is why you won't reach out to me and why you won't believe that I think of you as home. Like, why? Does it hurt less to think that way? Is it just too impossible for you to accept that you're worth it? Why did you decide all this?

It'll only be concernin' when it gets worse, which it might. I think I do need a single, though at least Yuri'll be in another room and if I tell him not to wake me up he won't.

[ that's said flippantly, although it has actually worried him. maybe he can just put his sword somewhere he can't get at it when he sleeps? ]

For the rest, I don't think we're thinkin' about home in the same exact way.

[AGH. Okay he's putting a pause on that one for now.]

What are you thinkin' of it as?

It's not just tied to people, it has to be tied to a place. Because, like, I didn't even feel entirely okay goin' to Yuri's the other time, because it wasn't...my place. Maybe he's fine with me goin' there whenever even when I don't have a right to be there, but it wasn't...safe, I don't know, not entirely. Not that any place is actually entirely safe.

[Dirk is quiet for a moment.]

If I understand correctly, you mean a space that you can control, that's yours. It's the space you return to when you're done being who you have to be for other people and just relax into bein' yourself. Maybe more than that, it's the space that other people are at least not supposed to enter without your permission. [Is that it?]

Yeah. [ that more or less seems to cover it. ] Anyway, that's what it used to be like.

[ as in, at one point in time dirk did share that space and therefore was granted the dubious honor of having to deal with dave in that space. he does not currently, nor does anyone else in the family or, in dave's mental categorization of the world, the universe.

...

his iguana aside. ]

[He didn't know.]

I would have stayed.

We were all gonna leave eventually, bro.

Maybe, I sure as fuck wouldn't have moved just so I could choose my own curfew and breakfasts. I would have put it off. [Because that's all it was to him: a desire to get more autonomy in his life, not from Dave but from their parents. A desire to decide his own food and his own sleep and not have anyone telling him what to do. He moved into dorms first because it was the easiest step to take to get free, and then he grabbed an apartment with Jake because rent is expensive and Jake was his friend and all his siblings wanted to stay at home. It was always about autonomy, and nothing else.

This isn't worth that.]

Edited (wtf was that sentence that i wrote) 2017-07-07 05:05 (UTC)

We can't change the past. Or...well, not without lots of dead bodies, which is dumb.

[ technically, dave could, but the thing about time travel is you don't use it like that, to change big shit. not unless you really absolutely have no other choice. ]

Like I said: it's not a big deal, I just...don't like intrudin' on people, at all, not like that. It was easier to ignore before all of this, but I never really liked it, not entirely. Now I just...

[ he's not even sure how to put it. ]

...I just really don't...it doesn't help.

Dead Daves are the enemy.

[Dirk doesn't think of it as an intrusion and maybe they need to talk about that more, but it maybe doesn't matter as much.]

Are you okay elaboratin' on what you mean? About it not helpin, and what you don't... somethin'.

TZ said it often enough.

[ the nickname's just as flippant and thoughtless as everything else he says. it's the same way he keeps calling ami aradia, and he didn't even talk to her that much; he just has trouble thinking of her right. ]

It stresses me out worse, and I'd rather just deal with it alone then start worryin' about where and when I am.

I'm not sure what you mean, about 'where and when'. The past life, or somethin' else.

I don't like goin' to other people's space to get comfort, and I don't have a space I want to go [ rooftops is about It at the moment if he thinks about it ] and I don't like worryin' about what else they should be doin' or might've been doin', and it gets too loud.

So I don't text people as much as I used to, I guess, although half of that is I keep startlin' myself out of wanting to.

[He really, really wants to hug him. As if that would make up for it. As if that would turn back time, as if he could protect Dave that way. He can't. It's selfish, really. In the end he probably just wants that hug for himself.]

Not sure I know what you mean about startlin' yourself out of it.

I keep openin' Pesterchum on automatic instead of the textin' app.

[Ah.]

Billy Pilgrim has come unstuck in time.

I am not gettin' into a Vonnegut quote war with you.

[ and yet he recognized it. ]

Anyway, it's an easy way to keep from buggin' people as far as habits go, since everyone's always all grayed out.

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