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

[thesettingsun]

I'd say something about 'when pigs fly', but flying pigs is a lot more likely these days.

[scythegun]

Honestly, I'm surprised that hasn't happened yet.

[thesettingsun]

Can you really be sure that it hasn't?

[scythegun]

Don't do that, now I'm going to start wondering if it really did happen at some point...

[thesettingsun]

I'm going to lose sleep over this and I'm dragging you down with me.

[scythegun]

How cruel! What have I ever done to deserve this? I'm innocent.

[thesettingsun]

You're as pure as the driven snow. I'm just a terrible person, clearly.

[scythegun]

Oh, of course! You clearly must live to torture someone as innocent and pure as myself~! Whatever shall I do?

[thesettingsun]

There's no hope for you now. Suffer in eternity.

[scythegun]

I can't believe you'd hurt me like this! Don't you have even the tiniest bit of compassion for someone as wonderful and charming as me~? ☆

[thesettingsun]

Not really, no.

[scythegun]

This is the part where you're supposed to agree, you know!

[thesettingsun]

It's that terrible person thing again.

[scythegun]

Truly you are the worst...

[thesettingsun]

The most awful person you have ever known.

[scythegun]

You are! How do I put up with you?

[thesettingsun]

Stockholm syndrome, probably.

[scythegun]

After long enough I guess you can get used to anything!

[thesettingsun]

Is this how we've survived Retrospec. I think that's seriously how.

[scythegun]

Oh, absolutely. We've made it this long through willpower and our ability to adapt to the bizarre and incredibly stupid!

[thesettingsun]

Maybe that's how app users are selected. Being able to deal with this bullshit.

[scythegun]

Oh, that's interesting. That certainly could be possible, couldn't it?

[thesettingsun]

There doesn't seem to be much of a pattern to who gets the app otherwise, right? Other than 'lives in Recolle' and 'can operate a computer'.

[scythegun]

I've been assuming that it happens at random, but maybe they did put some thought into it. It's something to consider, anyway!

[thesettingsun]

If new people are getting the app even when they can't find us, the process has to be at least semi-automatic, but there still might be some criteria...