(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

[dereban]

[ While she could have used her normal online handle, she wants to keep that a secret, so you get someone going by Queen along with a display image of a black heart. ]

That sure was a whole lot of yikes to read, I'm not going to lie.

Also while I'm at it, I can't possibly be the one concerned with the "bring people back to themselves" part, right?

[thesettingsun]

I would really like to read that as helping the people who've lost network access and forgotten all the bullshit that's happened regain their memories and not. The other thing.

[dereban]

Well, it sure is good he's being cryptic then, because that sure helps all of us make a decision. As if we literally had a real one to make to begin with. Not to mention that if it does bring the others who got off the app "back", it especially rips any sort of choice away from them. In that hypothetical, it's still pretty fucked up. Not that I'm saying that having forgotten is honestly any better. But it's still bad, imo.

[thesettingsun]

Unfortunately, I have to tell you that he's way less cryptic than anyone else in Retrospec who used to send us messages.

[dereban]

Still doesn't make it any better, though.

[fiddlestick]

Yeah, these posts tend to be pretty full of "yikes".

I'm a little concerned about that too. I hope it means making people remember some things about the app again, but that might be too optimistic.

[dereban]

Good to know that this is standard practice, at least.

I mean, I honestly can't say that I would be optimistic about the situation given everything but if they're going to forcibly being their memories back? They would have to make sure that they wouldn't, I don't know, get taken away again? Because who's to say that can't happen all over again?

[fiddlestick]

Yeah, that's true. Though we aren't even sure HOW memories get lost in the first place, so without knowing that who knows if we can come up with a solution to keep memories around for good.

But I don't know, if I forgot the app, I'd like someone to help me remember again. I don't wanna go back to never noticing anything.

[dereban]

Yeah. Basically what could happen is people could repeatedly and regain their memories and that's not great to deal with, I'd bet. I mean, people's opinions differ, right? If you're able to make the choice to remember, that's fine. But ripping the ability to choose from those who just simply can't is wrong, to me.

[hauhra]

It does seem to be a little too open to interpretation, very few of which are probably going to be good news for us.

[dereban]

It is definitely suspicious, no doubt. Leaving out information is honestly not the best look on a person, either.

[hauhra]

I don't think their reputation is something that any of the employees of Retrospec care about, unfortunately -- even the ones who claim to be on our side, like our friend Mr. Carlisle here.

Not when they're basically gods... which makes me wonder all the more about what they mean by "bringing us back to ourselves" considering the apparent goals of the Retrospec project.

[dereban]

Well, it's good to know that they obviously care so much.

And honestly, they shouldn't be playing his with people's lives but I realize that I'm fucking preaching to the choir here; it isn't as if they're going to listen to us, being on our side or not. They're just simply going to do what's 'right', in their eyes.

[sleepingknight]

Suuuuuper yikes

[dereban]

I'm glad someone agrees.

also UN: Lily

[sleepingknight]

I feel like this was a bad time to get this app...

[jurai]

[un: BIG DECK ENERGY]

Yeah, one of the perks of this app? Getting the cryptic and slightly condescending texts from the app itself


My guess is they wanna tap the people who've forgotten the app back into 'sync'


But it's not like you can trust something vaguely bullshitted like that

[dereban]

What a great perk! I should write a stunning review about it on Yelp!

Anyway, I agree that I wouldn't trust it, but even if I did? That's still putting lives of people in the palm of someone else's hand and who's to say that's any better?

[jurai]

1 star
"Who'd have thought this random soul-syncing company could be questionable!"

But you're right

Tough decision, and one that's kinda making us decide the fate of people who don't even get a say

[invocate]

I kind of hope 'bringing people back to themselves' means there's a way to help our friends who have forgotten about the app and their past lives to remember again. My best friend forgot and... I miss him. Even though I see him a lot, he doesn't remember me.

On the other hand... he might not want to remember. So I admit it's selfish of me to want him to.

[dereban]

As someone who's new to the application, I can at least give a fresh opinion on the matter based off what I know. To be honest? I personally think it's a little unfair to leave the decision of other people's memories - and souls, I guess - to other people; if they want to remember, I think that should be a choice made by themselves... But I'm also aware that they might not be able to make that choice. It's probably just not all that great either way, really, even if "remembering everything" might be "better" for them.

[invocate]

I don't think any of us want to force our friends to remember. If we could give them the choice, we would definitely ask them.

Some people got back some... really bad memories.

But if it came down to whether it was forcing them to remember with no ability to choice... I wouldn't want that.

[blondferret]

There are a ton of things to be concerned about concerning Retrospec.

But if you worry about EVERYTHING you will explode.

[dereban]

[ Sorry, Derek, but worrying about everything is pretty much in her blood, not that she's going to openly admit that. ] No fucking kidding.

[blondferret]

So you do know! Good. Well don't over work yourself with worry.

[Although she might not be able to tell yet, Derek is drunk.]