retrospec | (no subject)

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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
Retr

spec Incorporated

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[Al is smiling that she is catching on, that forces him to move, practically rolling off her strike, before reflexively slashing high, to force her to move.]

[She has to leap back to avoid that one, and it's got her off balance for a second - she's got good reflexes for games, but she still doesn't really know how to move instinctively with a "sword" yet.]

Whoa!

[Al drops his stick and dashes toward her, using his super reflexes to catch her before she falls. He didn't want her to hurt herself like that, he was worried that maybe he went too hard on her and she would get mad...and the fun would end...and he would just end up all alone again for being such a screw-up.]

WOOW! Okay...good dodge there, need to work on sticking the landing, but that will come with practice.

[And saaaaaafe!]

Ahahaha, I guess I need to work on balance too, huh?

[Still, she steadies herself once more.]

I just don't know how I'm supposed to connect my swings at all.

[In his mind's eye he just had the biggest relief ever. yeah! Fun is back!]

Hey, don't worry. I'm sure you get some memory or something to help, if not we could always practice anyway, or Tatsuo might be able to help you with some self-defence stuff.

[Once she gains her balance he takes a few steps back taking his stick and getting into his fencing stance]

Whenever you are ready.

[It'll take more than a small stumble to take her down! She takes up a stance once more, holding the stick with one hand by now instead of the two she tried with the kendo stuff. The stick is pretty light, so swinging it around with two hands feels a little weird, honestly.]

Alright...

[She pauses for a full moment as she eyes him, deciding what to do. In theory, this would be the time to come up with a strategy, but...

Well. She never was very good at those.

Which is why instead, she simply springs into action all of a sudden, darting to try to slash upwards with the intent of smacking his stick right out of his hand. Even if it doesn't work, however, she's already prepared to keep swinging, going for a speedy offense than planning anything on the fly.

This is probably the reason why she always plays DPS online...]

[Al waits, with a playful smile when she slashes upward, he sidesteps it, and either dodges or parries the fury of attacks she is doing. Just to let her attack him without trying to get back at her.

Yet. He is having fun dodging all of these strikes.]

[Midway through, there's another slight pause and a blink-

And then the onslaught just begins anew, but faster, more fluid. There's no more awkward transitions from movement to movement, her swings blending into one another. Thrust into slash, into slash, into slash.

It isn't any particular style for sure. But it's suddenly far more efficient, and even without any extra speed or strength, it means the attacks are headed his way all the quicker.]

[Al notices the fluidity of her onslaught and now, will start taking her more seriously.

By instinct, he is using his faster than human reflexes, to dodge and parry her strikes. But now he adds counter attacks, high or mid slashes to her. Quick and light, with his arm tucked behind him he is much harder to hit, hell, he usually offers that side, where she can't hit him.]

[The counterattacks still give her some trouble, but thanks to her newfound knowledge, she's far more prepared to dodge. Weaving her attacks and parries and dodges, as though each move were choreographed instead of invented on the spot with a sort of instinct - no, muscle memory.

But then she tries to make a movement her body can't quite keep up with, a tumble to the side, and-]

Whoa!

[Into the dirt she goes.]

Edited 2019-02-15 04:07 (UTC)

[Al is smiling, he notices how much better she is getting! IT WORKED!

Al was really getting into it, this is super fun!

When she falls, he tries to change midstep to catch her.]

Crap!

[screws up his footing, and basically hugs the ground, laughing]

Apparently, I tried to hug a tree and missed.

You remember now! Well, your body does at least.

You doing alright?

[She sits up pretty quickly, at least!]

I'm fine, I'm fine! I wanted to move my body a certain way, but my body couldn't keep up!

[And back on her feet, dusting herself off.]

Yeah, though! I think I remember how to fight now!

[Al rolls and gets up pretty quick. It just seems like he doesn't have a care in the world now.]

Good! That's a sign that your body remembers!

You just need to practice, so your head remembers too.

Wanna go another round? OR do you wanna snack up?

You definitely earned some potato chips

[She looks at her stick for a full moment before turning to him, hand out.]

Snacks, please and thank you!

[Al just goes to his bag and opens it up.

Half is quite a variety of snacks. Other half is his school stuff]

Take your pick, I got plenty.

[She will be polite and only take one bag. ~~For now.~~

Opening it up, she definitely shoves a few chips into her mouth to eat before she continues this conversation - though at least she's polite enough to wait until she's finished chewing and swallowing, no talking while eating.]

Whew, that's actually a pretty crazy workout, huh?

[Al takes some pocky, lays down on the ground like he has done it a thousand times ~~because of homelessness but shhh~~]

Yep! And pretty fun!

I'm sure you're going to be a pro in no time, young grasshopper from the shadow clan.

[Of course, the first anime Al decided to watch, was one involving ninjas and samurai, so he added a terribly done eastern accent in the end. For levity's sake.]

[She raises one arm as though to showcase her muscle - not that there's much to show, and certainly nothing that can show through the sleeve of her coat.]

I'll have to keep practicing! I bet my body's the reason I couldn't keep up.

Those are fighting words.

And I do have the pride of Balbadd to think about since I am a prince there.

[Al is completely joking here, even if he is SOUNDING like he is trying to egg her on for a competition.]

Balbadd, huh?

[That's a totally foreign name to her for sure. She just grins in return.]

Are you sure about that? Isn't the prince's job just to sit around and look pretty while the knights do the fighting?

[Al smiles back, he just loves this girl so much right now, so he pretends to be stuck up royalty]

Huh! I was no lazy prince, I was trained in royal swordplay as a child by...

[He realizes he has no idea who the hell trained him and after a moment drops the act]

crap...I actually have no idea...I do remember practicing with someone in the courtyard a lot, plus I disarmed the legendary Sinbad!

[Nice landing Al]

[Blink blink.]

Like, the Sinbad?

[Al just smiles wide, yes, recovery!]

yep!

He taught me how to use my djinn too!

I think.

[Skimming over how Sinbad beat him with one punch afterward, but still, disarmed Sinbad!]

Sinbad, djinn... it really is like remembering the One Thousand and One Nights, huh?

That's so weird.

[More the situation than Al, of course.]

I wonder if my memories are going to be anything like that?

Sort of, there are major differences from sharazide's version but the feel of it is about right.

Who knows, I don't know if I would want to be from some storybook.

You?

Ops! I thought I responded earlier!

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that was not a complete tag

It's okay, I've done that a few times too

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