LOADING...

[recollecters]

[ At 9PM on the 1st, all phones or Retrospec-enabled devices will show flickering screens, until a static-filled image appears. It seems to be a security camera shot, in black and white from a high angle, of a simple computer room. Inside is Joanne Wiseman who many of the users may recognize - she looks young, blonde curls loose around her shoulders, and she also looks tired still. A young man who looks only slightly older than her comes in. He's dark-haired with a sweater and glasses, but a white labcoat that matches hers as well. Maurice comes over to stand nearby, watching the screen Joanne is looking at. Neither of them seem to realize they're being recorded. Joanne looks up, and speaks first. ] Did R and D know anything? [ Maurice shakes his head, says: ] No. They can't track them down either - it's almost as if... [ Joanne: ] They have to be somewhere. [ Maurice: ] Jim's trying to figure it out. You know we don't have anyone better at...ah, "creative" solutions? [ Joanne: ] No, I know, just...what if their souls are just, just - [ Maurice: ] I don't think they're gone. I mean - well, they're gone, but I don't think they're gone? You remember August, the one before last. They're, uh, pretty tough? [ Joanne: ] We're usually able to at least try to help them when we can, though! [ Maurice: ] Jo - look, we're doing everything we can. We'll find them. [ Joanne: ] Before they do? [ Maurice: ] Right. I mean...we have to, don't we? [ They both look worried. Before they do was said with a certain inflection - and hey, Retrospec. It looks like the employees have lost track of you for the month. How do you feel about that one? ] As of this post, character usernames are back to being their own names - or rather, characters will be prompted to put in their name as a boot screen loads. Now's your chance to change your preferred name, Retrospecters - but it appears whatever you put in will be locked in as your choice. Hope you didn't put in something ridiculous! 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. As a friendly reminder, you may also claim one of this month's freebie by submitting a thread from this mod post. This thread must be 10 comments from you and submitted before AC closes.

Comments

[spirithacker]

who pretends 2 care about people
whats the point??
plus it seems like a super pain

[thesettingsun]

Good. We can continue being friends.

[thesettingsun]

I'm not inviting you to the next poetry slam I go to.

[thesettingsun]

I admit to nothing.

[thesettingsun]

That feels like too much to hope for, and it really shouldn't.

[thesettingsun]

I know that it is. I'm just saying that's why a lot of people don't admit to the truth.

[thesettingsun]

Isn't there a middle ground? Can't you help me without getting hurt?

[He understands, but it still hurts.]

[thesettingsun]

Same. Who actually likes being angry? Even when it's deserved I don't enjoy it.

[jurai]

Anytime

Will do, though. Thanks again for the intro. We'll see how caught up I am next time Retrospec messes up

So like

Next week from the looks of things

[scythegun]

It's awful, isn't it? Being angry is just so tiring!

[thesettingsun]

And when someone/something makes me angry I get more upset over it making me feel horrible by making me angry and it's just a compounding pile of awful.

[scythegun]

Oh, absolutely! It's dreadful! That's why I like to get it all out of my system at once so I don't have to deal with it for the rest of the month.

[that's probably healthy and not at all weird!!]

[usurpers]

You’re not off the hook but ok.

[ gfragErffsWFAF JOHN YOU’RE BEING SWEET!!! ]

Thanks. There’s still plenty more to fight for in this city.

[jurai]

[Give him a minute to google up the word 'oni' because he isn't a WEEB!!]

Oh WOW

Safe to say I'm glad those things aren't here

[Then again, he had a zombie apocalypse to deal with here. Maybe it just seems like a bigger deal because that wasn't a one time thing.]

Freaky

You dealt with those things on a regular basis?

[jurai]

Will do! I'll be the guy in the bandana sooooo

You can't miss me

[Perfect! I'll just pop on over there~]

[sunnyspot]

My classes are in the morning and I usually tutor in the early afternoon on weekdays, so mid to late afternoons or weekends would be best. I can shift around my tutoring schedule, if needed.

Libraries are actually a great place to practice ASL, since it's an incentive not to talk. If that works for you, it works for me.

[clothes]

[ akutagawa is more interested in knocking this annoying woman-child off a cliff. if he wasn't too Dignified and Classy, he would just post a shitty 2007 cool story bro meme and go about his shitty day. but no... he has to run his mouth and make this poor girl's day shitty too. at least, he's determined to. ]

I had no intention of giving you the impression I care about your opinion on this nuanced topic. As with all things, anything worth doing is worth doing right, but if you're fine with mediocrity or will comfort yourself with the sour-grapes rationalization of a failure, then that's your prerogative. What was that you said?

~*That you have the privilege of thinking and talking like that says a lot about you

My consideration extends only to those who are worthy of it. What's the point in trying to encourage or worrying about someone who uses their past difficulties as an excuse to settle for having intangible or small, pathetic goals? Such people are doomed to mediocrity at best, and a life of misery at most.

Of course encouragement alone isn't enough to accomplish great things. You're a fool for even suggesting so. Stop wasting my time by projecting your weakness and inability to accomplish anything of value without someone holding your hand onto someone who will care and lick your wounds with you.

[clothes]

As if I wouldn't be even more intrigued after an answer like that. However, I know when not to pry. I won't press you for an answer, but I will say I hope this isn't the case for everyone.

[ the thought of some his friends or some shitheads he totally doesn't care about suffering shittily on the outside is unsettling. ]

[clothes]

You're right. Learning that the hard way is a painful lesson for an artist. Seeing it and watching others go through it was enough for me.

This is all sound advice. I've become so used to leaning more towards commercial success as of late. However, I was able to write something that did appeal both to my fans and to myself for the first time recently. It was well-received, and I want to chase the feeling it gave me again. Moreso now that there's someone whose acknowledgment I must gain.

[ of course that's what this is about... it seems akutagawa is more like his past self than he cares to admit. ]

[clothes]

That's disturbing, but it seems you aren't the only one who has experience with employment of that kind. I spoke with someone who as a ghost.

Understandable. That seems to be the consensus. I have had more near-death experiences during my 8 month stay here than I have in my entire lifetime.


I suppose there's nothing wrong with living in the moment. Life's cold, clammy embrace comes for us all eventually. Better to live without regrets than die mired in guilt and despair.

[clothes]

Of course not. There's no way my past self was so careless that he would die.

[ he was mixed up in a gang or something though...so it's not impossible... fuq ]

[flametheif40]

Asie from fire magic, fire doesn't hurt me, and I never feel hot. Last month I strolled in some volcano or something. Lava was everywhere...didn't...even...sweat.

Although I can't enjoy a hot shower like I used to -_-

Oh and I have a good idea of how to fight with a knife, even without my magic...ish.

[flametheif40]

I guess? hate to think about the rent to live there though...

[clothes]

...That is what's most important to me as well, albeit on a smaller scale. My sole interest lies in protecting those I care about. I'll be the first to admit I would be largely useless in any real attempts at stopping potential threats, even with my newfound ability, but if it's to protect the people who are most important to me, I would do anything.

[ including killing and dying!! especially for his beloved nazuna. truth be told, nazuna was the first person that came to mind as he typed this. other friends and family??? never heard of her. ]

[admiringly]

we've found each other now and that's what matters!!
what's your first favorite?