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

[justchords]

as a lawyer in a past life, and an aspiring lawyer in this life, fuck it, yeah we can

ghost votes

[zerotohiro]

Sweet. That seems legit to me.
Anyway so I guess they do this a lot?

[justchords]

yeah i've been on this stupid app for a year, and let me tell you, there have been multiple times where i feared for my life and shit, i have had this thing for a YEAR

sorry. i need to process that

[zerotohiro]

Dude, take your time.
I've heard people have had this thing for almost two years and I'm still not sure how I managed to miss all of this.
A year is kind of a long time anyway.

[justchords]

i swear this thing might have dragged us to actual hell. i can't get any work done. i miss school. i miss shifts. and no one seems to understand WHY except for people who're stuck in the same hell

it's like getting the app gives you a reality check you never wanted

[zerotohiro]

What excuses can you even give in that case? If people off the app really don't notice what's going on how do you even keep up?
Or is it not even worth trying?

[justchords]

well one of my jobs, my boss is on the app, too, so that makes it easier

the other one is weekends only, but if crazy stuff starts then, i just bail and pray to some higher power i'll still have a job when shit dies down

school is... makes friends with people in your classes. know who to trust for notes and will understand when you inevitably disappear for a week or so

[zerotohiro]

...that...is surprisingly solid advice.
I'm not sure what I was expecting actually but that's better than whatever it was.
Thanks for the actual answer. I'll keep that in mind.