[Text]

[nachetanya]

It's a real nasty oversight of this network that because your full name is on it you can't do vagueposts, isn't it? 🤔 I guess it's more like Facebook that way, but you also can't sock at all either! It means you need to be honest!

🤷🤷🤷

I guess those heart stones make it seem like that's what they want anyway!

So two things, and unrelated, I promise!
1) I'll be 22 on the 17th, but because my best friend isn't on this app, I'm still not sure what I want to do about it all. It feels weird to include her with everyone else or exclude her because she doesn't get why I have mandatory community service now, among other things.

2) Is anyone immortal or immune to swords or something? ♡ It's weird how that's a real question now, isn't it . . .

Comments

[nachetanya]

Oh, quite a bit! Just on the app alone there's four of them.

[akatatai]

Four is a lot! But at the same time, it's kind of nice when everyone can band together and figure Retropec out
Like you, my three cousins are on here too, though the last one only just got it a few days ago

[nachetanya]

Four is a real lot, to be all on one app where there's only a few hundred out of how big this city is!

It's actually sort of statistically weird when you put it like that . . .

[akatatai]

You know, I've thought about that too

I guess there's no way to test this theory, but you know how most people that get the app realize that they have friends or family already on it?

Maybe the Retrospec staff looks for people we already know, or the app like infects our phones and makes people we text more likely to get it too! ...Or something

[nachetanya]

Oh, that's not a bad theory! But I thought the whole thing was that we were people who had souls from other worlds, so wouldn't we be picked before we ever had the app?

[akatatai]

Yeah, but they never said how many people have the souls, right? So maybe it's everyone in the city?
But I could also be super wrong. I'm just guessing

You'd think they'd just give Retrospec to everyone at once instead of making new users join month by month... it's weird

[nachetanya]

Maybe it has to do with those world layers which are preventing me from getting mail from my parents!

But no, that's a good idea.

I kind of hope that's the case?

[akatatai]

Really? Even though I said it, I'm not sure if I want it to be true or not

But speaking of parents, aren't there a lot more younger users than older ones?
I know some people are teachers or have kids, but it seems like most of us are younger than like... 30, maybe

[nachetanya]

I'd say that's true, yeah . . . I've certainly seen and know almost all people younger than thirty.

But!

Yeah, why not have everyone in on this? That would probably be for the best?

[akatatai]

Yeah. On one hand, it would be cool to not have to make excuses for Retrospec interfering with daily life

But also

I don't know if I want my parents on here...

[nachetanya]

Why not? 😲

[akatatai]

Uh... Even though my tattoos are from Retrospec, I hid them long enough that my family didn't notice

I can't help them, but there are kind of. A lot.

[nachetanya]

[ She hums and nods ]

Same for my own tattoo! Though it's only on my chest. Wouldn't that be easier if they were all on it too?

[akatatai]

It's kind of a two way street, I guess

But you got one too?
Did you try to hide it like I did?

[nachetanya]

It's in a spot that easy to hide in everything except my work uniform!

So I decided not to bother.

[akatatai]

That's so cool!
Mine's easy to hide too, it's all down my left side
So I can hide it under my clothes as long as I'm not wearing white!

Do you like yours? What does it look like?

[nachetanya]

It's stylized like a flower. It's incredibly intricate, with six petals in a circle!

[ . . . She didn't answer for the like oops. ]

[akatatai]

Whoa, that sounds so artistic! Flower tattoos are really pretty when they're done by a talented artist
Mine are... uh, let me get you a picture I drew while looking in the mirror

tattoosketch.png

I don't really know how to describe them

[nachetanya]

Oh, those are neat. . . ! They're a little on the tribal side, maybe? I wonder if there's some greater significance to them!

But oh, you look cute too!

[ I mean, he said he drew it so it's an approximation, but. ]

[akatatai]

Thanks! That's what I've been thinking, but I've been wondering whether they mean anything too
I haven't remembered anything so far, but
Either way I'm not too upset with them

No no no no I promise these make me look way cooler than I am!
I'm a pretty gloomy guy... I didn't draw my face for a reason
But I don't want to reject your compliment either sdhglk > <
Anyway enough about me!!! Happy early birthday!

[A flawless segue. Smooth.]

[nachetanya]

Thank you!!

But if that's how flattering you can make a gloomy guy, then I'm sure I'd look radiant in your eyes, with your pen! Should you make that my birthday present?

[akatatai]

You want me to draw you? Okay, I can do that!!!

I'll have to ask for a picture or see you in person, but you can count on me!
Art is pretty much all I'm good at, so I'll make it look really nice!

[nachetanya]

Oh wow, just like that! You aren't going to make some monetary request?

[akatatai]

Nope! Not if it's for a present.
And besides, drawing is fun! It'll be good practice

[nachetanya]

Excellent! Then I'll have to be a subject for you before certain other artists!