004. Text // the world is an ashtray, we burn and coil like cigarettes

[manufactured]

I know there have been questions related to this sort of thing before – questions regarding people who serve a recurring position in our memories, people that were clearly important but that we've never met in this lifetime. People that we know intimately without directly knowing them at all.

For those who have experienced that sort of person... Have you begun to miss them, as time goes on? Or does it just feel empty in some way, for lack of a better phrase – as though you should care about these people, but inexplicably do not?

Are you somehow fonder of them now than you were in your memories, after having gotten to experience them with some distance between you as opposed to living in the moment with them?

I suppose there's some irony in spending the turn of the year dwelling on something I never had in the first place, but then, no one ever claimed anything Retrospec brings on is convenient in any way.

Comments

[manufactured]

I suppose my other question is whether it's fair to actively want that sort of thing. I have several for whom the sentiment is similar, but being able to interact with them in any meaningful capacity would involve Retrospec meddling in their lives.

Perhaps the tradeoff would be worth it, for some of them. But I'm not altogether certain.

[mr_fancy_car]

Retrospec is not something I would wish on anyone. But think of it this way: being able to interact with them is the silver lining to them receiving Retrospec.

[manufactured]

Fair enough, if a bit self-serving.

Though I can't say that Retrospec wouldn't be preferable for some of them, either; I can think of a few that would benefit from it, even. But then, the world I came from is just like that, and I acknowledge that isn't the case for several others.

[mr_fancy_car]

The world you remember has an app like this, or are you referring to a majority of people being blissfully unaware of what's going on?

[manufactured]

More along the lines of "As bad as this world can be, no thanks to Retrospec's help, the world I remember is infinitely worse."

[mr_fancy_car]

If it's all right, why do you say that?

[manufactured]

The existence of several overlapping global pandemics, all created, spread, and encouraged by humans. To my knowledge, three-quarters of a billion people have died already; despite the high death toll, bioterrorists continue to run rampant, perpetually improving on the potency and lethality of their weapons.

The world in my memories is completely immersed in a war that humanity isn't winning anytime soon, in other words.

[mr_fancy_car]

Does anyone else here remember a world like that?

[manufactured]

Not to my knowledge.

[mr_fancy_car]

I've heard of different ones, and this world is also preferable to those.

[manufactured]

How does the world your own memories compare, if I might ask?

[mr_fancy_car]

It seems normal. Extremely normal.

But I did receive a photograph that looked like it had a ghost.

[manufactured]

A ghost...?

[mr_fancy_car]

Possibly. There was a figure of a woman standing near me and the people around me, but she looked transparent.

I have no way of knowing if she really is a ghost, or if it's just some sort of...trick.

[manufactured]

[...There is a comment to be made here about Shu Takumi games but I will refrain.]

And that's the sole paranormal thing you've recalled?

[mr_fancy_car]

[THANKS I ONLY REALIZED THIS NOW.]

Yes, that's the only possibly paranormal thing in my memories as of now.

[manufactured]

[I AIM TO PLEASE.]

Do the rest of them seem similar to your life now, then? Retrospec oddness aside.

[mr_fancy_car]

Yes. They're mostly memories of people I'm supposed to know, and things that happened to me.

But they're not incompatible with my current life, if that makes any sense.

[manufactured]

I know people have mentioned parallels between this life and the one that existed back then - is it that sort of thing what you're referring to, or something else?

[mr_fancy_car]

Yes, it is. For example, my parents are lawyers, so I've been to court as a child. I received a memory wherein I was in court, but with someone else.