retrospec | LOADING...

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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
Retr

spec 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You passed out?!

[SORRY SAKURA, the rest of this mystery is very compelling, but as your worrywart boyfriend, that's the info he's going to latch onto first. Granted, given how cagey he was about passing out in that one memory of his, maybe this was karma, but HE'S STILL CONCERNED....]

Was it because you used too much of your power? Do you think the card did that to you??

I think so? I'm not sure on why but it's probably trying too much in wanting to see her? I guess.

[Or something like that. She's not sure. Probably there might be some limits at least, on what she can handle with Record. Which might explain it. At least, she assumes it's something to do with her messing with time, with trying too much. Which was probably what her mother had meant with that warning of hers?]

[Unseen on his end of the screen, he bites at his lip, puzzling things over in his head. He didn't know how their abilities worked in that other world, or their limitations... though no doubt 'Syaoran' did. Still, to think Sakura would go to such lengths, just to see her mother again...]

... your mother was probably trying to look out for you with that warning. I don't think she'd want her daughter to push herself that hard in order to see her again. Even if it was just things from her past.

[Though it still baffles him how her mother even showed up in the first place, unless her magic involved summoning ghosts, somehow--]

You said there was a new card in your memory, though? Do you think it might have been the one that was involved with... the other thing you saw your mother in?

[Because the mention of a new card doesn't necessarily click with a new set to him-- it could just be another Clow Card she hadn't gotten back.]

But using the magic, that's probably the only chance I have. I mean, outside of photos and stories of her from others. And that's not the same. I wish I did remember more about her myself.

You mean me seeing her at the lake? Remembering falling from the cliff? I'm not sure.

[Record seemed to deal more with time, memories. She's not sure if she could say the same for that other one time. But probably, Sakura wasn't aware necessarily on how much it would drain her, to use Record then as it was.]

[... Sakura, honey :( He knew Sakura felt strongly about her mother, especially now with her father gone too, but to think she would go to these lengths to see her again... or, rather, that her other self would, but he wouldn't put it past this Sakura to attempt it, either.]

But at the risk of your own health?

[... ... ...]

... I'm sorry. I shouldn't be the one to judge you on your actions. It's a complicated matter, and I don't blame you for doing what you can to see her again. I don't want you hurting yourself, but... I don't know. If I had an opportunity like that to see my father again, I can't say I wouldn't take it too.

[But let's not make this about him-- though since they're on the subject of fathers--]

You said you saw your parents last month, though...?

I'm not sure if that was the first time I used it? Maybe I wasn't sure that would happen?

I'm not sure if it might work, if I went with you to Hong Kong to try it once I have the card again, for you to see him too. But I can let you know when I get Record again though?

I saw my dad again too. With onii-chan, with the ghosts and all the other month, I mean.

[If there was the chance it might work, if she might be able to help him and others with Record, Sakura would be glad of it. Even if -- well, there might be that risk of her exhausting herself as a result. She's not sure if it might be the case each time she uses the card or not.]

[He's not really sure what flusters him more-- Sakura proposing to go to Hong Kong with him someday, or that she'd go to such lengths to have him see his father again. Because, honestly, while it's touching, it's one hell of a thing to offer--]

I I don't

I don't want you to push yourself for my sake, either. I wouldn't mind seeing my father again, but it wouldn't make me happy if you're wearing yourself out to do it. If you were to come with me to Hong Kong, I'd rather you have fun and enjoy yourself than worry about any of that.

[But, again, they're focusing on him more than her, and he doesn't want that!! Especially not after reading that last bit, which makes his heart twist in his chest. Considering her dad died in Recolle, of course they'd wind up seeing him, but he couldn't imagine how that might have felt for her.]

Your father, though... was he doing alright?

[Aside from being dead, of course]

I just figured, that's probably where he would be, right? Since that happened before you moved here and all.

[Besides, obviously this would be a big deal and something they would need to plan ahead on. Tickets, talking to their families about it and all. Though she should probably have guessed this would be his reaction. That he wouldn't want her to push herself for his sake.]

I think so. I mean, I kind of reacted better to him than the rest.

... when I was little, yeah. My mother and my sisters never really spoke much about him, and we never kept any photos of him around, so... it's different from how it is with you and your parents. I don't think I know enough about him to miss him, to be honest. It's not that I'm not curious to meet him, but...

[But it's not important enough for her to push herself over, is what he wants to say. Because, really, there's nothing in the world that would justify that for him. Never mind they couldn't actually go to Hong Kong because of Recolle's weird tampering with things, but neither of them really knew THAT.]

... reacted better to him compared to who?

[GUESS WHO HASN'T FOUND OUT ABOUT HER FEAR OF GHOSTS YET]

My dad and brother talked about my mother a lot, and we always had photos of her. But maybe, for your family it was too painful? I'm sorry.

[They could talk all they wanted about the idea of traveling. It just wouldn't actually happen. Not until they figured this out with Retrospec. Not that they knew that, yet.]

Compared to my reaction to all the other ghosts?

[She isn't usually one to be spooked to hide behind the nearest person, but. Well. Yeah, since regaining her memories of Touya telling her about the ghosts he could see, it kind of unnerves her some. A lot.]

No, it's... fine. I guess it's just different for other families. I never really stopped to think of why, but... maybe that's true. Maybe it was just too hard for my mother to talk about it with anyone else. I never really thought to ask.

But I've seen the photos at your old house, yeah. She must have been a wonderful person if they were always talking to you about her.

[Not that he doubts his own father was a good person-- his mother wouldn't be so heartbroken if he wasn't-- but he can't envision anyone who brought Sakura into the world being someone awful.]

The other ghosts have been bothering you? What did they do?

[Because she had always seemed pretty level-headed over ghosts prior to this, or at least enough so to go to Sorey's ghost hunts. If something had wound up distressing her, though, HE WILL NOT HESTITATE TO KICK SOME SUPERNATURAL ASS.]

Maybe next time you talk to her or see her you can? But that was just my initial thoughts. I could be wrong and there might be other reasons.

Ah, that -- I remembered something. Onii-chan kept talking about the ghosts he could see. I couldn't see them myself, but I knew they were there? So it kind of. Creeped me out.

[To say the least. Understandably. Sakura sensing their presence but not seeing them might easily have freaked her out all the more even if not for Touya adding to it by telling her about them and their appearance.]

No, it... might be too personal. She's not the sort of person who talks about her feelings a lot. She doesn't really talk a lot in general, so she probably wouldn't appreciate it. [Though we see where Xiaolang gets it from, anyway--] But... I don't think my sisters wouldn't mind, if I asked. They talk about everything else, anyway.

[But something about that second part stands out to him, and he can't help but ask:]

Wait, your brother? He was in your memories? You mean he shares the same kind of memories that we do?

[NOT SURE WHETHER TO BE AMAZED OR FULL OF DREAD, TBH... because that's one more person who can piece the puzzle of their past lives, but he might... also remember that other version of him being a jerk, too. And Touya really didn't need more ammo against him...]

It's worth a try? They might remember and know more. If you want to, I mean.

[He shouldn't feel pressure to ask, just because Sakura has heard about her own late mother from her father and brother. If it's something more private in his family for whatever reason.]

Onii-chan is my onii-chan, even in my memories. So I think so.

[RIP Xiaolang. Never really stood a chance at getting in Touya's good books.]

[He doesn't really feel any pressure in regards to it-- in fact, talking about this with her had opened up a new curiousity he didn't know he had. He never asked about his father before, because no one else had really mentioned it, but... maybe he was the one who had to do it. The one who needed to bring this back into the open after all this time.]

... maybe. It's been over ten years now, so it's been more than enough time. I just wonder if it's something I should ask them in person about. I don't know when the next time I'll be in Hong Kong will be...

[Never mind the fact they can't actually leave the city, but he doesn't want to leave Sakura alone during all of this either. Speaking of family, though--]

That's... interesting. I know that's not always the case, having the same family situation here and in your memories...

[Much like him and Syaoran's ABSOLUTELY EMPTY HOUSEHOLD, but]

... actually, come to think of it, I think... I might remember your brother too? I couldn't really recognize the face in my memory at first, but... the other me was trying to win something at a festival booth, and he was competing with him-- your brother-- for the prize.

[Which tbh sounds very on-brand for Touya, so]

Hm. Well, maybe you can arrange to go see them and ask then? Depending on how soon you could figure arranging it. If it might be a while, it might be better to call them? Something like this, that does make it kind of more personal and complicated though, I understand that.

But you were -- he was competing? What was the prize?

[Touya why were you competing against a kid for a prize at some game? At a festival? Really?]

I don't... really know if I want to go to Hong Kong so soon, that's all. Not with everything else going on, and I

['I don't want to be away from you' is what he wants to write, but that usual shyness blocks him yet again. The month without her in Respatrum was torture enough, but to do that again, now that they were dating... it'd hurt too much to even think about. And he didn't want to put her through that sort of emotional turmoil, either...]

I'd rather be here. I'd like to know more about my father, but there's other things that are more important these days.

[Like Retrospec and their memories, for instance!!]

The prize, though... I think it was a stuffed rabbit? I'm pretty sure I wasn't winning it for myself, though. Or-- the other boy wasn't, I mean. Something tells me your brother wasn't trying to get it for himself, either.

Hm, I suppose. There's almost always something going on here to deal with or help out with. But I wouldn't want that to stop you from seeing your family, Xiaolang-kun.

[Even if, obviously, getting their memories back, dealing with this was important. Sakura doesn't want that to get in the way. Let alone if she knew she was part of the reason he was sticking around here.]

A rabbit? I wonder who he was getting it for then. Maybe if we ask him he might know.

[Asking Touya about near anything from their memories might not be the best idea because. It's Touya, but. Well.]

It's fine. I never really saw them much before all of this, anyway, so this wouldn't be that big of a change. Besides, I have family here, too, so Hong Kong isn't my only home.

[Which was kind of a weird thing to admit, Recolle being his home and all, but... it's true. He'd made so many new connections and experiences here, ones that he wouldn't have before, and Sakura... she was a huge factor behind that. She was considered family too, in his heart, but admitting that outright would probably embarrass the both of them.]

I don't know if asking him would be the best idea, though. He might not have remembered it yet, and I... I might have been trying to win it for you, so if he realizes that...

... actually. Did he mention knowing anything about our other selves relationship, yet?

[DOES HE NEED TO RUN FOR COVER]

I suppose. That's true. You have your cousins here, at least.

But ah, yes. I'm not sure he would remember too much yet? He hasn't had the app as long as we have, at least. So he probably doesn't remember as much as we do.

[But then she pauses at that question.]

I don't think he has?

... yeah. And I'm sure Leon could tell me a little bit about my father, too, if I asked.

[Although talking to Leon lately has been painful, considering how much he's forgotten about the past year, but... it's fine. It was better this way, in the end, if he didn't get hurt from this anymore.

Sakura's delay in answering in his question spikes his concern, though, not wanting to think of what her brother would think about all of this.]

If your brother hasn't said anything yet, though... we should probably shouldn't tell him about it. Not now, anyway. He already doesn't like me seeing you here, so...

It's worth a try to ask. The worst is that he might not know as much as your mother or sisters, I guess.

That's his problem. It's not like who I date is any of his business. And it might not just be you. He might have been like this with whoever I was dating anyway. So I wouldn't worry about it.

[Overprotective bro going to be overprotective regardless. Probably.]

Well, that much is a given. He only stopped by with his family during the holidays, so he wouldn't have known my father as well as the others do. But you're right. Something is better than nothing, so there's nothing to lose by asking him.

[It's funny, though, how petulant Sakura seemed to get whenever her brother was involved, and he couldn't blame her in the slightest. With all the ways he's tortured her over the years, and with how surly he was towards Xiaolang... it's enough to make the most good-natured person grouchy. Still...]

He's your brother. I can't help but be worried about it. I know I'm not doing the best job at it, but... I want to try to get along with him, too. Your family's important to me, and I don't want to be the cause of any tension within it. It's true that who you decide to see shouldn't be his concern [Although a part of him is wincing over the idea of Sakura dating someone other than himself=--] but I want him to know you're in good hands.

It is better. Even if he might not remember much, it might be more than you recall. Or at least, I hope. If you choose to ask.

[Because it is up to him. It isn't Sakura's decision or right to force this. Just opening up that option and possibility if Xiaolang wants to learn more, to ask.]

You'd be doing a better job if he gave you more of a chance. I'm pretty sure for some reason even before we started dating he didn't seem to like you. But of course you're doing fine. You already do a lot to help me, Xiaolang-kun.

No, a lot of that is on me, too. I sort of get a knee-jerk reaction to him, and

I'm equally responsible here. Your brother's a jerk, but I shouldn't be waiting for him to make the first move. I should start trying to be nicer to him, too. I know part of it might have to do with Leon, since they never seemed to get along either, but...

[The last bit of that reply of hers gives him pause, feeling that insecurity nibble at his self-confidence. Sakura says he's done a lot to help her, but has he really?]

... do you really think so? That I've... been able to help you, I mean.

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