(no subject)

[recollecters]

It's been brought to my attention (again) that some of you are looking for compensation for the work you're doing. I'm open to that. So tell me, Retrospecters, what is it that you're looking for? Money? Answers? None of the above? I'm all ears. The scouting project seems to be working out okay. I don't know if any of you have found a place that's really good to relocate or recover but maybe we should talk about that, too. …finally, bit of a morality question for you. What's the priority here, you think? Working on chasing Vanderweele down this rabbit hole of a wild goose chase (wow that is too many animal analogies), or memory recovery of the company itself? Both of them are about as convoluted as you think, but not impossible. Wait, not finally. One more thing since someone brought it up: in case you haven't noticed yet, you might want to pay attention to the things you've managed to bring back because, and I hate to make it sounds real drastic, but the fate of the world kinda depends on it? Just a little. Welcome to your destiny, everybody. Anyway discuss. I'm back in the office, so drop by if you need something. 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: EN GARDE

[undiningaffection]

If the fate of the world really is at stake, I'm not sure we should be squabbling over getting paid.

Though perhaps a little less ambiguity would help? It seems like an awful lot of guesswork for something with such high stakes.

[hauntedsavior]

Speaking as the first person to scout down into the sixth layer? We don't know shit, dude. Vanderweele's planning this out so we have to be reactive instead of proactive.

[undiningaffection]

I'm still new enough that I'm trying to piece a lot of this together, but surely enough's happened that you have some idea, right?

[She was really hoping other people had more of a clue than her.]

[hauntedsavior]

All right.

We're trying to stop an ancient, crusty wizard named Clarence Vanderweele from harvesting our souls and using them to create his own ideal version of humanity.

[undiningaffection]

Oh. Is that all?

[Not pictured: Asami totally freaking out.]

Chasing him down would seem like the obvious choice. But I wonder if there's an important detail we're missing that we'd learn from the memory recovery.

[hauntedsavior]

He's been hiding underneath reality for most of my time here and I think he wiped everyone's memories of him because we caught him. Zee missed it because he was dead at the time, but he's fine now. Working to recover everyone's memories might put a bigger target on his back, since he's the only one we have left who can track Vanderweele -- but he's probably gonna hit Respatrum next, if I had to guess. Maybe we'll get some more fire spirits to give us dope-ass raven wings there.

Probably starting to feel like you tuned in right at the series finale.

[undiningaffection]

It does seem that way. I just hope I won't have to play the confused friend asking questions at every commercial break too much longer.

Given all of that, it sounds as though there's something in those memories he doesn't want us to know. But even as a newbie, I'd be shocked if it were that easy. I can't imagine this guy is going to sit idly by as we get closer to foiling his plot, either. If this really is the season finale, we need to be ready for anything.

[dereban]

Honestly. Getting paid can come after we're not screwed over. Although good luck trying to get anything not ambiguous.

[undiningaffection]

Don't get me wrong, if they wanted to cater a really nice buffet before sone of these little adventures, I wouldn't mind. But it's not my priority either.

I had a feeling directness was too much to hope for. Still, it's better than no help at all.

[dereban]

Honestly, I doubt anyone would argue against free food. Or free anything, really. But it's not like it can be helped considering that, well. The situation being as it is. And I suppose that's true.

[undiningaffection]

Maybe when we finish saving the world, we can have a nice potluck.

I just wish I could start... doing stuff again. I'm starting to remember things, but I haven't lucked out and gotten any of the abilities I remember having back.

[dereban]

That'd be nice.

And that's fair. But you'll probably get them at some point, even if it isn't immediately. As far as... I'm aware, anyway? I wouldn't know, my past life didn't have any abilities.

[undiningaffection]

I've met a few people who have started to recover things, so I'm hopeful. How much of your past life have you remembered?

[There'a a brief pause, then a second message comes through.]

Wait, is that rude to ask? I'm not sure how everyone feels about it.

un: Jamie Doh

[floret]

for real
All this time we've kind of just been getting assignments and then doing our best to accomplish them, and like... trusting that that's how we can help save the world
But to hear him asking "hmm, what should we try to do" at this point is scary! What if we choose the wrong thing??

[undiningaffection]

I feel like I'm still too new here to make any kind of informed decision.

But the best you can do sometimes is make the choice your heart's telling you to and hope it's leading you down the right path.

[floret]

That's deep...
Is your heart telling you anything?

[undiningaffection]

I can't shake the idea that the memories are important. But... maybe it's because I'm only just starting to remember who I was.

[floret]

What kind of person were you?

un: zero

[decipere]

well, you know what they say
money makes the world go around!

[undiningaffection]

True, but does it really matter if there's no world FOR it to go around?

Re: un: EN GARDE

[flametheif40]

"Less ambiguity", this, belive it or not is a major improvement.

Although I'm told Zee might be more like one of us then Retrospec, he works for em(and presumably gets paid) so close enough.

Agree with you on our payday, hard to get butterbeer if the three broomsticks and the rest of the world goes boom.

[undiningaffection]

I'm not sure whether I'm relieved or terrified that a common response I've been getting is, "This was WAY worse before!"

I'm not crazy about working for free, of course, but we can squabble over money after the big crisis is averted... though it sort of feels like an RPG, the shops are gonna keep selling stuff even when the meteor is hurtling toward the planet.

[flametheif40]

Maybe both?

One month they are saying "we got hacked" to "I meant to say, kinda, not REALLY hacked, that implies someone else was screwing with us"

Or my personal favourite "Manuel debugging required" >_<

At least the NPC's don't have the same annoying catchphrase every time you look in their inventory to buy stuff.

[undiningaffection]

Both seem appropriate, that's for sure.

It feels like I'm starting to get a headache just from reading all that, I really don't know how you all managed.

No, they just buy back weapons for a third of what you paid, even if you accidentally bought one too many...

[Look, she can go on for days about her least favorite tropes and frustrations...]

[flametheif40]

Mostly out of necessity, cryptic as hell, stuff happens then at the back of your head you go "Ooohhh, that's what they meant"

Kinda like when quests are vaguely worded and the quest marker actively screws with you because of course, it does.

Although...we did once get SUPER enhanced sense of smell when we had to pick up some ghost repellent flowers.

So, sometimes they actually help out.