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[recollecters]

Hello, everyone! As you've probably noticed, we've been having a few problems - I mentioned earlier that something got knocked out of balance, and we had to recalibrate, but in a few days we should be able to drop the emergency measures. Please be aware that there is an incoming storm, class four. General orders for that kind of thing are to report to management for any known threats and follow instructions, but so far what's known is "that might be a little annoying" and "hope it isn't". Theoretically it'll probably be related to the holiday, I think, because a large group of souls focused through the needle of a pin on one thing can sort of shape a thing around them. That's sort of a really inaccurate way to put it on the technical side of things, but I think it's the easiest way to understand it! At any rate, we'll know more once we're in the thick of things. Please take care as usual; resources aren't exactly what some of you seem to think they are, and we had to expend rather more than usual in the past month or so to keep things with a few of you steady. Joanne Wiseman Technician 2nd class Retrspec Incorporated Per the mod plotting post, you may use this post to obtain one of this month's freebies! This month's freebie can be earned by turning in a thread on this post that has 5 or more consecutive comments from you with someone new. We define someone new as someone new to the game, or simply someone your character has never tagged before. Please feel free to use this post as a network mingle. Every toplevel can be considered a new post, and threadjacking is permitted. No NPC response will be given. Usernames are the character's full real AU names, not aliases or chosen nicknames or usernames, and seemed to have filled themselves in; nothing characters do can change or obscure their names currently.

Comments

[daemonized]

When are you not having a "few problems", I wonder? When was the last month of normalcy that this city experienced? I think, for once, you should merely consider having /problems/ as your baseline state.

And it would be much appreciated if we could get through this particular holiday without any fuss. I suppose that's merely asking for too much at this rate. A man can hope.

[standalonehuman]

November was pretty normal.

[daemonized]

"Pretty" normal still does not constitute normal in the way that would be satisfactory to everyone here.

But I think we're far beyond that point now. Should we take note that there will always be an inconvenient spike of growing oddities when holidays approach? Brewing storms and the like?

[standalonehuman]

I did have to spend part of that month riding a giant bird to help herd other giant birds. So. My scale of normal is getting skewed.

But what does the calendar have to do with it? It makes a twisted kind of sense if we're going by the idea that thought shapes reality the way Retrospec is pushing. That the local collective unconscious might be shaping what happens when it hits. We're all thinking of an upcoming holiday, so what we see becomes something like what we expect.

Would explain why October was so horrific, and the mistletoe bats.

[daemonized]

That is exactly my line of thinking. All of us, so focused on a day that has meaning to many; the actual day itself, regarding where it falls on the calendar, is superficial in comparison to the importance that we place upon it.

There's theming, too, after all.

[standalonehuman]

Right. And it's probably getting fueled by not just the people on the app, but everyone in the city. It might be easier to influence if it was just us.

Expectation turning into reality.

Is that what might also be driving some of the things appearing in the city? I remembered the micro-machines, they showed up in the hospital. A friend remembered those vending machines, then they appeared. It has to enter the unconscious somehow before it can become reality?

[daemonized]

And yet there are cases of people being sent items from Retrospec, and their memories regarding that item returning to them only afterwards.

[He does not go into detail regarding that, but he knows it to be true.]

It goes both ways, it would seem.

[standalonehuman]

Oh. True.

Side note, I got a new toy.

The memory needs a little jog, but once an individual remembers, some of those memories get applied to the city. One influences the other influences the first?

[daemonized]

For now, that's all we have evidence of. Though I wonder how these items that we know nothing about in the first place get whisked into existence?

What toy did you receive?

[standalonehuman]

Tatsuo and I had an idea on that one. The more an individual uses an object, the more of an imprint they leave on it. It's a pretty common idea in Japanese spiritualism, so this made sense to the two of us. That Retrospec can somehow pluck these items out of the aether, or recreate them from the memories of the souls they are working with.

[Oh, this next message switches to VERY PRIVATE.]

Okay. Proof I like you, Ardyn. I was really tempted to use this to just mess with you.

[The next message is a video, an image of Togusa looking at himself in a mirror. He is wearing what looks like a standard set of police riot gear, except that it has no markings on it.]

"Now you see me..."

[With a slight shimmer of light, Togusa vanishes. The feed is still rolling, looking at an empty mirror now, so he clearly hasn't moved. Just gone invisible.]

[daemonized]

[Ardyn's eyes widen in both surprise and the feeling of being vaguely impressed. That's quite the toy, for certain, and immediately he can only think of ways in which it might be helpful to the lot of them.]

Well, Togusa. I'm almost disappointed that you didn't try to play a trick on me.

That's quite generous of Retrospec.

[standalonehuman]

Well, so, don't tell The Kids. They're not off the table.

[Meaning Dante, Prompto, and Noctis.]

It suddenly puts some perspective on why a guy who seems normal isn't just getting pasted in the field when things like spider tanks exist.

[daemonized]

Because you focused more on stealth than brute strength? A cunning mind, rather than one that charges in, guns blazing?

[rebellions]

pretty sure the last time they weren't having "problems" was a year or so ago
ever since then this city has been nothing but one big "problem"

[daemonized]

A year ago, before this app came into our lives. Yes, the source of our issues is laughably obvious at this point.

But more and more of the mystery, slowly unravelling. Do you think it'll be another year, or two, or three, before we have answers?

[rebellions]

at this rate?
i'm not sure if we'll live long enough to see all of them
considering getting anything of substance seems to involve those storms and we all know how well those go

[daemonized]

You don't think we'll be forced to fight more monsters again, do you? How tiresome that's turning out to be. Though I suppose my sword has not seen action in quite a while yet.

[rebellions]

wouldn't surprise me if that was that
in fact it might be kinda easier that way?
better the devil you know etc
whatever it is i'm sure it'll be bullshit

oof i lost this notif, i'm sorry!

[daemonized]

Well, whatever it is, you'll promise to be careful, won't you? Our previous lengthy and terrible adventure is seared very clearly in my memory, and I would hate for you to get yourself killed if you found yourself experiencing the same thing.

no problem!

[rebellions]

what the hell's that supposed to mean
i'm an adult
i can take care of myself

[daemonized]

I'm an adult, too! But am I immune from death and/or harm? I think not. Your point is invalid.

[rebellions]

point is i'm not gonna get myself killed
so you can take your concern and kindly shove it

why don't you focus on staying alive instead?
old man or not it'd be shitty if you kicked the bucket now

[Translation: "I'm fine so stop worrying about me and take care of yourself".

... Hey, at least he's made an Honest Attempt at expressing concern and that's more than you can expect of him most of the time.]

[daemonized]

[Ah, well! Surely this is progress as Ardyn sees it.]

It'd be "shitty"? Do you mean you'd feel bad if I did die a terrible death, Ragna?

[rebellions]

[Goddammit, Ardyn.]

look i'm not some kinda sociopath who wants everybody around him dead kay
and i guess you sorta helped me out that last time
so like
i owe you
in a way
so it'd suck if you up and died

but hey i ain't gonna stop you if you've got a death wish or some shit

[Typing that was an actual torture that has certainly shaven a few years off of his lifespan, you know.]

[daemonized]

[Aw, Ragna. That's sweet of you. :') ]

I assure you, I much prefer to stay alive if at all possible. Still, especially knowing that you'd at least frown /somewhat/ if I died, I shall do my best to avoid it here in the future.

I'll even be sure to check in with you, just to ease your mind.