(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

[armati]

Just as a suggestion: While you're trying to "bring people back", please do attempt to retrieve your PR department, if you have one? Everyone on this app is having something of an existential crisis, and I can't imagine you're helping very much.

That said, it was an interesting read. Unless there's something particularly special about me that I don't know about, I doubt I'll be of much use to you, especially since you haven't actually told us anything that needs to be done. (Again: PR department, please.) But I can't say it isn't relevant to me anyway, if only from a philosophy-of-identity perspective.

In other words, you have my curiosity, though I can't say for sure that you have my attention.

[godcards]

They have never cared for PR... Not that it matters, because there are plenty that eat this kind of news up anyway. Even with the existential crises, and even if they only give the vaguest, barest scraps of information. They have always been that way.

[armati]

So this is more informative than usual?

[BUT IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING???]

[godcards]

[ YEP WELCOME TO RETROSPEC BUDDY ]

If you can believe it, yes. Usually we get a paragraph about something that is going to happen or something that we need to do, but with little explanation or why we should be motivated to "help." Typically, it is just to clean up after Retrospec's messes or to be a buffer between them and this Vanderweele guy.

Yet people are falling over themselves to be used. Zee has laid out more information, but more or less is still asking the same thing. That anyone interesting in "helping" should be at the beck and command of whatever Zee says, even though Zee, and Retrospec for that matter, do little to help its users.

[armati]

The only reason that I can see to assist unquestioningly is the idea that we're reliant on the usefulness of others if we don't. Perhaps it's callous to put it that way, but it's true.

I've no doubt that the others are willing to try to save, if not us, then themselves. It's just the nature of things. So it comes down to a matter of trusting their ability to do so, if we decide to not assist ourselves.

Either way, we're at the mercy of others if we don't assist. If we do, at least there's a sense of control.

[godcards]

I have control over myself. I have the ability to decide what best benefits me. Of course, I don't like being in the middle of this power struggle either, but I can also think for myself and do things my own way without being reliant on Zee or anyone else, for that matter. But that is just me... I prefer to have control over my own doings than letting anyone else jerk me around, which is what will inevitably happen if everyone starts lining up to follow Zee.

[flametheif40]

This belive it or not, is the best I have seen them.

Granted, I didn't know him for long before he got assassinated but still.

That in of itself might tell you how effective their PR department was(if they had one, who the hell knows)

[armati]

[oh my god he hates this

who runs a company like this who the hell does this]

Don't they understand that they would be much more well-received if they weren't like this? As it stands, everyone seems to hate them, and half of the people here seem to want to dismantle their organization entirely.

[flametheif40]

You think people who mess with reality and play with people's souls would be a little more sensitive.

[armati]

I'd hope they wouldn't want to accidentally destroy their own company, at least...

[flametheif40]

Ditto, although Vanderwheel might just do it on purpose and rebuild.

If I remember correctly he killed some kids from a rival family that wanted to be decent human beings.

Something like that.

[thisloveisjustice]

Nah, they never needed a PR dept. Even when the HQ was still physically in Tisse, no one off the app could see it or even knew Retrospec existed. Except the Mayor. The Mayor always knows.

Let's see. There was Janet in HR, and she was way better than Jim, who was in R&D. We all still universally hate Jim thought we haven't really heard from him since him and Janet got married.

Joanne, Janet's younger sister, was always really sweet, but she was also in R&D so she had a tendency to get too techy for us plebeians.

Maurice was overworked and underpaid, and honestly, he started off as Jim's intern before getting put in the mailroom, so you really can't blame him for being a little grumpy.

So, NGL, them bringing Zee on as Hiring Manager was a HUGE improvement.

[armati]

I'd think the fact that they have such a bad track record, along with the fact that they're guiding a bunch of civilians through an existential crisis to save the world - or whatever it is they're doing...

I'd think that would be more than enough to warrant a PR department, actually? At least for engaging with their users.

[thisloveisjustice]

Considering we're going through this whole processes without a consent form in sight... But hey, maybe the next step after hiring Zee is hiring a PR dept. They do seem capable of learning, eventually. So maybe!

[armati]

...This is the result of them "learning" for the past two years?

[he's not mad

he's just disappointed.]

[thisloveisjustice]

You have to understand. Jim set he bar REALL LOW.

[blondferret]

PR department... please! If they were rated solely on their customer service, they would get the lowest star rating.

[armati]

I'm beginning to see that.

[he is normally a very patient man

but the sole reaction he tends to have to zee is "go fuck yourself," he's just entirely too polite to say so.]

[blondferret]

Yes, yes. Any feelings or thoughts you had that Retrospec as competent, just toss it out the window, fine your favorite alcoholic drink and open it. That's really the only solution.

[armati]

...I don't drink, but I'll be sure to keep that in mind.

[blondferret]

Or your favorite food and dessert are options. Like this!

[Insert picture of the food Derek is eating at the Izakaya (curry, yakisoba, grilled chicken hearts, dumplings). Arthur will also be able to count like 8 empty bottles of sake in the picture. And that's just in the picture.]

[blacksong]

them having a pr department would require them to have any semblance of common sense
which is asking for a lot
but trust me you think there's nothing special about you now until you remember some REALLY weird or messed up shit

[armati]

Surely not everyone's life has been completely ruined by this app to the degree that everyone complains about.

[...look his introduction to retrospec was derek "i can summon water with a magic wand MY LIFE HAS BEEN RUINED" matthews

y'all are a little melodramatic and he is very tired]

[blacksong]

[Look Arthur they have REASON to be melodramatic, you just don't understand!! (Yet.)]

i mean i can't speak for everyone but uh
personally?
yeah this shit REALLY SUCKS

[armati]

[It is entirely true that he does not, but to his credit the most he's got is "i'm a walking water fountain, LIFE IS AWFUL", a rising suspicion that he should probably call CPS, and the completely ominous and surely not-relevant-to-him-at-all warning that he may not get to keep all his limbs.]

I'm not doubting that it's difficult and highly unpleasant for some.