(no subject)

[recollecters]

Posting from this network, you'd probably assume I got my job back. Hey users. For those of you who're new, my name is Zee. Sorry to say it, but you've been pulled into the Retrospec project now. Not sure what that is? Get someone else to explain it to you, there're plenty of people who've been around for way longer than deserved. So…you'd probably assume I got my job back, and I kind of did. I kind of did, but there's a funny little thing about Retrospec and memories. Let me tell you a brief story. Once upon a time, there were the four founders who came to this planet, founded the city of Recollé and started the Retrospec project. Yeah. Another planet. They're technically aliens, I might technically be an alien, some of YOU might be aliens, it's hard to say. So anyway you have the four founders: Spinnato, Cavendish, Mahoney and Vanderweele. These four created an ideal project to protect life on other planets, offer inhabitants a safe haven to recover from tragic events of their world that were being destroyed (as planets are wont to do) and "regrow" the place you once called home. The problem is that the four of them weren't entirely in agreement on what sort of people should be "worthy" of being saved, or who should be able to become part of the Retrospec project to preserve their souls and recreate what was lost. Souls are a tricky thing. I should know, given I think mine was floating around in the endless abyss for a few months while my body regenerated. There was such a controversy amongst the founders that one of them, Vanderweele, ended up wiping out an entire family line. There are relatives left from the Spinnato family. Cavendish and Mahoney decided to spearhead the project themselves and sentenced Vanderweele to life in solitary confinement. Once that happened, they began changing how the project was one. They hired some of their own family members. They changed and became the "new" Retrospec. Vanderweele's not dead though. And as a master of illusion, you can guess where this story is going. I'm not going to do this vague and hiding bullshit that the company's fond of: Vanderweele is out there and meddling with the affairs of this city to overthrow and regain control of the project. All of these weird storms that are happening, the things that mess with your soul? That's Vanderweele's work. So why am I telling you this? …Vanderweele got to Retrospec. A lot of you asked if Retrospec knew I was alive again and at the time I didn't know if they did or not, so when I got back to this layer (thank you, by the way. All of you.), I went to headquarters. Everyone inside doesn't even seem to remember that they were working on the project. I don't know WHAT he did, but their memories…everything's scrambled. The entire tech department resigned and I'm not sure if Maurice thinks he's working in a normal mailroom or what. They're almost on the same layer that you guys are before you wake up. Or that's how it seems anyway. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it looks like it's just you and me. We need to start moving and putting a stop to this to fix everything. I'm not saying you have to. If you want to sit this one out, fine, but I have a feeling most of you want to do something about this. Bring people back to themselves. That kind of thing. You're all pretty stubborn from what I've noticed and that's the good thing. There are some things I need to check. I'm learning how everything works here and I'm trying to understand all of their notes, not to mention I need to retrieve a few things and wait for a field agent but you'll hear from me soon. I have an idea, but these things take time. Stick together. Talk to each other. Keep focused. Oh. I guess also I should mention I moved offices? I'll be staying at headquarters for a while but my remote office is easier to access. Head to the public library, you should be set to get past the scanners on the back of the building and the door will appear for you. I'll be reachable by text, too. Good luck. Be in touch soon. Zee Carlisle Hiring Manager Retrspec Incorporated Characters' display names are the same as whatever has been previously chosen and are permanently locked in! 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, though you're free to hit up his individual inbox later. 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

un: li xiaolang

[cardcaptured]

[... well. That was a whole lot of information confirming what he's suspected before, and what others have told him-- as well as something entirely more troubling. However, the main point that sticks out in his mind, the point that he's personally invested in, he needs to comment upon:]

You say 'bring people back to themselves', but... have you considered they're better off not being who they were? That they might not want to go back to who they used to be? How can we be the ones to decide that for them?

un: BIG DECK ENERGY

[jurai]

You took the words right out of my mouth, kiddo

You can't restore one life without erasing another

[cardcaptured]

... exactly.

What the founders were trying to do-- what Retrospec was trying to do, originally-- I'll admit it was noble. But sometimes some things don't need to be fixed.

I know a lot of people who've gone back to having happier lives without the burden of their past selves on them. Who are we to go and take that away from them again?

[jurai]

Couldn't have said it better myself

On the other hand, who knows what potential they still have for this Vanderwheele guy to exploit

I mean, he's been so charming with us so far

[cardcaptured]

... I'm not sure. Vanderwheele messing with the rest of the Retrospec employees isn't something I'm thrilled with, either. If he has access to how the app is run now...

[Then what does it mean for the rest of them that were still under it's influence? It was too unsettling to think about.]

I mean, there was that one vision we all had back in November too... the one with his staff and the continents breaking apart. We still don't know if that was something from the past, or a warning for what was to come.

[jurai]

Even worse that he got in and messed with 'em without any of us knowing until now

Makes you wonder what else we've been blind to

[Crow closes his eyes behind the feed, thinking it over.]

Not like we got much choice but to help this Zee guy out. Standing by and letting it happen puts the game in Vanderwheele's court even more

Heh, sucks though, having to clean up his game

[scythegun]

It's no more fair than Retrospec deciding to inflict this on all of us in the first place. I'm not surprised Zee thinks the same way they do.

[cardcaptured]

It's no wonder. He was their hiring manager, after all. It's probably their company attitude.

Maybe he's happy to get his memories back after all of this, but he shouldn't make that assumption for the rest of us. Especially those who don't have a choice in that matter.

[scythegun]

Exactly. It seems to me that most people in Retrospec completely overlook that. None of us signed up for this - and I can't imagine most of us would have, if given the choice - and yet we're consistently treated as though our past lives are more important than our current ones. It's quite irritating, especially when many of us aren't fond of the memories we're receiving.

[cardcaptured]

It's true that our previous lives may have been more eventful, but... those aren't the lives we've been living up until now. We can't just jeopardize whatever livelihoods we have-- our school, our jobs, our other family-- over something that was pushed upon us.

It doesn't help that they said themselves they can't stop any of these changes, even if it's something that's a threat to the people they want to restore. I'm sure a majority of the people who lost the app don't want to be put through any of that again.

[scythegun]

I'm sure they don't. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. There are people I cannot connect with in the same way I used to because they no longer have the app, but to put them through that again? I don't think anyone could ever want that.

This entire thing has been unfair to all of us from the start, but they keep dragging new people in, even when it has proven to be something they can't control. I don't understand why they haven't stopped that, at least.

[blondferret]

Ignorance is not always bliss kid.

What would you rather have? Not knowing someone is screwing with your life or being aware of it and giving the choice to be angry about it or not?

[cardcaptured]

[GO HOME DEREK YOU'RE DRUNK]

I never said it was.

I'd just rather we have the option to know about what was going on without risking our mental and physical health in return. It's not worth it, otherwise.

[blondferret]

Are you saying you wouldn't want a magical sword that comes out of your hand?

[cardcaptured]

This isn't about me. This is about those who lost the app who would be getting everything they didn't want forced back on them.

I'd rather be without my sword than have someone lose an eye or an arm again.

[Like, honestly-- Derek saw first-hand what Mio did to Leon under the influence of her virus. He didn't want either of them to remember that ever again.]

[blondferret]

Then maybe retrospec should give them all a contract outlining the risks. Give them a choice.

[spirithacker]

mayb he just means remembering stuff from retrospec??
like
i kno my cousin was sad about her past self but
itd be nice if she remembered helping me
& she helped me again
instead of just thinkin im makin stuff up

i dont kno what i mean

[cardcaptured]

... no, I know what you're getting at. And truth be told, that's something that I'd want too.

[For Leon to be less willing to go along with this craziness, for Tsukasa and the others at school to understand why he was absent so much, for Fai and Touya to not somehow forget Sakura should something weird happen to the app...]

I don't think it's something as simple as that, though. Their goal has always been restoring us to who we 'used' to be. I don't think they'd stop at us just being aware of our surroundings. The rest of our memories and changes would no doubt follow behind.

[spirithacker]

if we save them mayb theyll listen 2 us if we ask them not 2 do that

[His mother says you should always ask nicely.]

[cardcaptured]

[Unfortunately, Shinji, this is one of the many examples of an adult being wrong.]

If it was as easy as that, we wouldn't have half of these problems. You know Retrospec has never been good at listening to people.

[spirithacker]

[Adults can be wrong but his mom isn't!!]

zee listened 2 me
he wouldnt just ignore us if we told him we didnt want somethin

[frostythehitman]

it's a little late to be having second thoughts about that

[cardcaptured]

For us, maybe. But not for the other people who are off the app. Just because Zee asked us doesn't mean we need to do it.

Unless you mean something else?

[frostythehitman]

i mean no one seemed to give a damn about that question before
what's so special about now

[cardcaptured]

Maybe because Zee's talking about us bringing people back into something that might have negatively impacted them before?

I've known too many people who's suffered from being involved with Retrospec. Making them come back to all of this after they've finally gone back to a normal life isn't right.