LOADING...

[recollecters]

Welcome back, users. Looks like we were able to bring you back online and tracked again...here's hoping the layers are settled now, but the readings are off the chart. We're doing our best to stabilize the city for December while we track some of the magical sources we're picking up. It may take us some time though, so please bear with us! We may be working through the holidays, too, if this keeps up. But it's okay. You opened the doors and new routes for us to check. Stay positive, users. December is a special time of the year. What's your favorite holiday tradition? You'd be surprised how thoughts shape things here. Please take care. Joanne Wiseman Technician 2nd class Retrspec Incorporated Characters' display names are the same as whatever they chose last month and are permanently locked in! Newbies may pick a new name for their first use on Retrospec, but whatever they pick will also become permanent. 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

[fiddlestick]

Oh, huh. Can't say that's a tradition I've heard before...but sounds easier than cooking!

[thesettingsun]

It's a Japanese thing. Christmas Eve, romantic dinner with your significant other. Christmas Day, KFC.

[fiddlestick]

Ohhh, okay, that makes more sense!

So Eve is kinda like Valentine's day?

[thesettingsun]

Almost exactly like it. Couples exchange gifts, the nice restaurants have been booked ages in advance, that sort of thing. Honestly it's more like Valentine's Day than actual Valentine's Day is in Japan.

[fiddlestick]

Oh wow. That sounds really nice, but also hard to imagine so many places being open on Christmas Eve like that.

Does that mean you're going to do that for Christmas Shuji?

[thesettingsun]

Can't do the couples things when you're single.

[He's not as fine with that as he'd like to pretend he is.]

And I would like to hope that in the US, restaurants actually close on Christmas.

[fiddlestick]

Oh, right....

[welp that's right, he forgot about that]

Aha, maybe you could make some fried chicken?

[thesettingsun]

That's easy enough. Won't even require innocent retail workers to work on Christmas.

[fiddlestick]

Right!

And maybe you can invite a few of your friends over!
With how many Japanese people or just folks who are from out of town, I'm sure there's a number without plans for Christmas.

[thesettingsun]

I should. It's nice just being thought of when your support system is in another city.

[fiddlestick]

Yeah! I know I felt that last year since I was new to the city and couldn't go see my family for the holidays.

[thesettingsun]

Last year I invited John over for Thanksgiving, and he seemed a lot happier than if he'd spent it alone and without his family.

...it's a huge relief that he remembers me again.

[fiddlestick]

He remembers you again? oh, that's wonderful! Does that mean he's back on the app?

[thesettingsun]

No. Last month a ghost replaced me as his best friend.

[fiddlestick]

Oh....

That's bad. Sorry.

[thesettingsun]

It's okay.

[It's really not.]

The important thing is that everyone is normal again.

[fiddlestick]

Right.

Wherever those ghosts are now, I hope they're happy.

[thesettingsun]

Me too.

I wrote them a hopeful story, so at least there's that.

[fiddlestick]

Really?

That's really nice of you. Any chance I can read it?

[thesettingsun]

Didn't save a copy on my laptop first, sorry.

[fiddlestick]

Aw, that's too bad. Oh well.

[thesettingsun]

I can write you the cliff notes version if you really want.

[fiddlestick]

Oh, that's okay! Maybe I'll catch the next story you write.

[thesettingsun]

I'll send you the second draft as soon as it's ready, how about that?

[fiddlestick]

Really??

I'd love that!