retrospec | (no subject)

I'll keep this short and to the point to give you guys time to strategize, catch up, all of that.

Congrats on your Magatus missions. Looks like everything's been cleared out as best as we can, but the region's been evacuated thanks to a couple of factors.

The new problem is we just added a bunch of people to city limits.

I've got some good news and some bad news.

Bad news: need some people out in Pesgare to do some deepdiving and recovery. It doesn't look like there's anything out there that'll kill you, but I need something from down there to stabilize Recollé itself.

Good news: got the subway working. Did you know it was just about coding? That's a little crazy to me and okay, I might have found out on accident, but…whatever was blocking exits from the city was just a false creation.

It means getting out of here and checking out the progress outside. The trains will be ready for departure in about a week, I'll get some maps drawn up and everything. I could really use some of you on location scouting.

Finally…who knows about machinery? We've got a problem we should probably look into, but keeping track of that eye's a huge pain in the ass.

Discuss, get in touch with me, prepare. You know the drill.

Zee Carlisle
Hiring Manager
Retr

spec Incorporated

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[They can both be pros at Not Looking At Each Other Right Now.]

I... I guess so?!

[It comes out a little bit too loud.]

I asked some other people who met their... ummm, significant others in both this life and the past. Someone said they remember feeling the same way back then, so they were happy to find them again in this life. But some people move on and find new love too, and...

[Oh god this is a disaster.]

-But I definitely, definitely remember thinking how cool and awesome you were. And... [She has got to be beet-red by now.] ...how you were really important to me, too.

[She's hanging on every word, and with every pause, she's keenly aware of the way her own heart is pounding away. To her surprise, that same fear from her memory comes back when Yuuki mentions finding new love. It's just the lingering effects of that memory.]

[She listens, takes in every Yuuki says then draws in a deep breath.]

You've remembered more than I have, of course. But... it's hard to mistake how I felt in that memory when I saw you. And... I've always felt like something was... missing. I could never find anything to fill that void. This might sound silly and really sappy, but... maybe I was meant to come here.

[And even though she still can't quite look in Yuuki's direction, she lets one hand drift to the middle of the table.]

Whatever we are to each other here, I know that Asuna wouldn't want to lose you.

[She pauses, hesitant to complete her thought. But in the end, Asuna's feelings are hers too, aren't they?]

...and neither do I.

[Maybe her heart stops for a second, or maybe that second just feels absurdly long and stretched to its limit. Either way, her elfin ears catch those last few words, and for a second she can't come up with words to respond.

Part of her wants to chase the giddy feeling rising up like soap bubbles, but her more cautious side is wary, warning. There's still so much she doesn't know, so many ominous feelings she's been pushing aside in favor of living in the moment.

Living in the moment. Something her past self did too, really. Not for the first time, she can't help but muse how similar they really were. How, in spite of being separated by completely different lives, by completely different times, their feelings still lined up so cleanly.

The thought brings a strange feeling of calm, a small smile making its way onto her face. Yeah... Yeah, they both just lived their lives to the fullest, didn't they?

That's just how they were.

With much more confidence than she'd had mere seconds ago, she raises a hand to place gently over Asuna's.]

Yeah. I know... Both me, and the Yuuki from before...

Neither of us would've wanted to leave you, either.

[She'd always heard of moments like these described as electric, a spark passing between two people when they touched. Yet that's not what she feels as Yuuki's hand comes to rest on hers. Instead it's comforting and warm, like sitting by the fire on a winter's day.]

[There's still so much to remember, so much to learn. She still doesn't have a strong sense of who Asuna really was or the obstacles she'd faced. Fear still nagged at her as well, certain that more painful memories awaited her.]

[But she wouldn't have to face them alone.]

[When she finally works up the nerve to look back at Yuuki, her cheeks and even the tips of her ears bright enough to guide Santa's sleigh. The smile she offers her is awkward and shy, but there's a shine to her eyes that hadn't been there until this moment.]

And I promise, no matter what happens from here on out, we'll face it together. And--

[And what remains a mystery, as someone clears their throat nearby. Oh! Right! They had actually ordered food, hadn't they?]

[And Yuuki's just going to jerk her hand back, settling both hands in her lap like a child who's been scolded.]

Oh! Umm, thank you!

[She. She totally forgot they were getting food. She's just going to avoid looking at the server and stare very pointedly at her order, continuing to do so even when they leave.

...But once they do, although she keeps her head down, she can't help but give a short snort before breaking into a full laugh.]

[Asami mutters something that's close to a thank you as well, fiddling with the napkin-rolled silverware until they leave.]

[Her attention snaps back to Yuuki at the snort and, though she makes a valiant effort to fight it off, within seconds she's cackling right along with her. It's the first time she's laughed like that since she learned about her past life, and it feels wonderful.]

Maybe next time we should hold off on sharing memories until after the food gets here?

Speaking of memories... I don't know if it works this way, but maybe the more time we spend together, the more we'll both remember?

[She catches her laugh this time, avoiding another giggle fit as a warm smile returns.]

I swear, it's not just an excuse to spend time with you.

[Yuuki finally stifles her laughter after a moment, although that impish grin doesn't disappear when Asami asks her question. In that time alone, she's recovered enough to ask teasingly:]

Are you suuuuure?

Oh, who am I kidding. Like you need an excuse.

[Oh. So that's how it's gonna be.]

[She lets out a huff and folds her arms over her chest, turning away with a dramatic flounce. Her head is tilted back at such a drastic angle, her lip jutting out in such an exaggerated pout, it should be obvious she's playing. ~~That or she's not nearly as good an actress as she claims to be.~~]

I'm trying to help both of us, and this is how you treat me. I don't know that I will ever be able to get past this.

[But her lips can't help but stay curved into a smile, and she opens her eyes and looks back at her once more.]

...and here I was going to tell you how I thought you were cute from the first time we met, too.

[Beware, Asami has also leveled up her teasing skill!]

[It's a powerful payback, because Yuuki immediately goes red again.]

Y-yeah! So you should be grateful to be in my presence!

[She and Kokichi often traded teasing, but this is already so different from the norm. It's hard to fend back words like that with the same ease she does her brother's jabs, and it shows in the strain in expression, and the flush of her cheeks.]

[Upon seeing the reaction, Asami's smirk dulls into a gentler expression. A little teasing goes a long way, after all. Emotions still linger from her earlier memories as well and with them an instinct to be protective and gentle with Yuuki.]

I won't argue with you there.

[She sneaks in a bite before continuing, the pause long enough for her mind to start swimming with the confusion of all this again.]

Y'know, I have so many questions about our past lives that I don't even really know where to start. [She lets out a long sigh.] Was it hard for you when you first started remembering things?

Oh yeah, it was really rough.

[She crosses her arms, looking up sullenly.]

First I remembered being a samurai... then I remembered being an ant. I seriously couldn't figure out what was going on until I remembered they were just VR games!

At least we can lean on each other now to at least try and figure out how all the pieces fit together.

[Then she wrinkles her nose.]

I'm not shocked since I just saw Bus Driver Simulator in an online store, but... playing as an ant? In VR? Who thinks that's a good idea?