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

[zerotohiro]

Something like that.
Why are we waiting for an app to tell us what to do? That seems so...backwards.
But I'm glad you didn't get infected. As cool as the powers were, it was kind of a mess.

[keystaff]

Well, we're not the ones working on it to know what might be hacked or messed with somehow this or some other month, so. We just have to wait and see and deal with things as they come? I guess. I mean, unless one of us was working there to be able to warn us ahead of time or take control somehow, but. I am not sure if that's possible. Or at least, it hasn't happened yet, obviously.

But....I know. I spent a lot of the time helping Xiaolang-kun during it, at least. I'm just glad it seems like everyone is alright now.

[zerotohiro]

From what it sounds like nobody's going to be able to actually work there or get any information from them. That doesn't mean we can't work on it on our own though, right?
I'm glad everyone's okay, too. What'd Xiaolang turn into anyway?

[keystaff]

Well. We can try. And uh, he was a werewolf? I first found out when he was outside my work waiting for me. I didn't actually realize it was him at first....

[zerotohiro]

He was stalking you???

[Why that's the first thought he has we just don't know.]

[keystaff]

St -- no! He said he'd meet me at work to walk me home. I just didn't realize he was already waiting like he'd said, since he was transformed at the time when I came outside. Once I figured it, I took him home with me for a while.

[zerotohiro]

That's...really nice of you. He didn't try to attack or anything?

[Wow. Xiaolang must really like her.]

[keystaff]

No. I mean, he didn't seem thrilled with onii-chan, but I don't think they ever really liked each other? And he did try fight Derek-san to protect me too.

[zerotohiro]

Maybe he's just territorial.
But as long as he didn't hurt you I think that's the only thing that really matters.

[keystaff]

Territorial? I hadn't thought of him that way. But it ended up fine. I mean, that he didn't attack or infect me or anything.

[zerotohiro]

Pretty sure it's a dog thing.
So now...we just wait until whatever happens next.
How do people even deal with just waiting around?

[keystaff]

I've never had pets. I mean, not before I moved in with Fai-san and his cats. But Xiaolang-kun and the others have Jasmine and she's really sweet. So I guess I didn't figure he might be like that.

But I guess I'm just used to it? I've been on the app over a year now. Even if I was not on it for a month or so at one point. There's still a lot we are still figuring out. And unless we get control of the app ourselves, it's not like we have any other option?

[zerotohiro]

I just have Max and he's not exactly a dog. Ferrets don't even count as a normal pet, I think. But that's fair enough.
I guess if you look at it that way, we don't have another option. But that's why I'm going to learn what I can and try to write the app myself.

[keystaff]

They are less common in comparison to cats or dogs, I suppose. True.
Try to write it yourself? You think that's possible?

[zerotohiro]

If I can at least read the code and understand what's in it, why not?

[keystaff]

Wouldn't the original code be on their computers though? Or -- I guess I don't know as much about this sort of thing. But if you can figure it, worth a try? I'm not sure I could help but maybe others here might be good with codes too to be able to help you figure it?

[zerotohiro]

You've never heard of an overwrite? It's just about getting the source code and seeing what I can work with.

[keystaff]

I'm okay? With technology? But I'm nowhere near as good at this sort of thing as you are.....

[zerotohiro]

Don't worry about it too much, Sakura. If I figure it out, I'll let you know.

[keystaff]

And if I find anything, I'll let you know too. I mean, probably more likely you will than me, but.

[zerotohiro]

I don't know. You've been around longer than me. Maybe you'll be the hero we all need.
Or at least the one that finds out something important.

[keystaff]

Eh? Me? Oh, I'm not sure about that. All along I've had help from everyone else too....

[zerotohiro]

Heroes can still get help too, Sakura.
But I'll let you know what I find and when.

[keystaff]

I suppose. That's why there's a lot of stories about them teaming up together, right?

But sure. Thanks, Hiro-kun.