(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

[standalonehuman]

So we're back to the real issue, which is the desire to exist without interacting with people.

[godcards]

You know, I really do think the career criminal path would be better suited to my tastes, if you'd just stop trying to meddle and be all... helpful or whatever it is that you're trying to do.

[standalonehuman]

Being a criminal and dying by 25. That's the story that, according to you, society has been writing for you for your whole life.

Why give in to what they want now?

I think you've got more than that in you.

private

[godcards]

It's never been about giving in. I've always been fighting against what everyone else says about me, including that whole "potential" nonsense. Because every few months I'd be with a new family, with new expectations, new levels of caring and new levels of whatever "potential" they saw in me before they hand me off to someone else. You're just another one of those people. I'll ask you right now: what is it that you see in me? Because I doubt you really have an idea of what makes me the way I am, and you're just going to base your answer off of your culminated experience of dealing with people like me in your already biased situation. Because that's what I've been dealing with since I was a kid. Everything is a struggle against what others want of me. Whatever stupid self-serving shit that'll make you feel better because you helped me, the poor Egyptian kid, so you can pat yourself on the back and return to your privileged lifestyle and send me off to somewhere new.
At least if I die in my 20s I don't have to deal with that sort of bullshit everywhere I go anymore.

Re: private

[standalonehuman]

You had every reason to leave me behind to die in that reality twist. Don't give me that 'I was the last one seen with you' crap. Last my superiors knew I was investigating a burning building that nothing could put out. The cover story was right there.

Why didn't you?

[godcards]

I didn't know your cover story. You end up dead and I WAS the last person with you. I didn't want to get involved with more cops or end up in the psych ward again because of any... concerns. It's not like I know what happens to people if they die in one of those other realities.

[standalonehuman]

So pragmatic. Is that really what you were thinking in the moment? Just covering your own skin?

[godcards]

Yes.

[standalonehuman]

Why do you want me to give up on you so badly?

[godcards]

It's expected. You might stick around for a few months but you'll lose interest and go do something else. Then someone else will come along and the process repeats itself. It's not sustainable or worthwhile since I'm not going to offer a moral payout for someone.

[standalonehuman]

I don't give a damn about some payout. If I wanted to go take the moral high road like so many of my colleagues, then, yeah, I'd brush you off and pretend it's inevitable that you and I will cross paths professionally again.

But I think I can help you do something about it, and I also think you want me to.

You just don't think you can.

[godcards]

[ he wants to tuck tail and run, but wouldn't that be proving togusa's point? ]

Yeah, "just believe in yourself Malik. It'll all work out!" like I haven't heard that before.

I don't need a formal education to know that the deck is stacked against me. Believing doesn't get you very far, realistically.

[standalonehuman]

I'm not saying to believe in yourself, Malik, I'm saying to work your ass off. If you find something that you actually care about, which might be easier if you start learning things in an environment that doesn't set you off, then that will be easier.

[godcards]

You think I wasn't working hard before? Come on. That's unfair.

[standalonehuman]

I think you are looking for a way out that isn't working hard, because you haven't gotten anything back from work before.

[godcards]

Shut up.

[ bingo! ]

[standalonehuman]

Which means that if someone is going to take a chance on you, all someone would ask for was for you to hold up your end of the bargain.

[godcards]

How do you even have any bargaining power in this? I'm the one who would be doing the work. If it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out for me, not for you.

[standalonehuman]

I can't make you. But if you want to use the 'carrot and stick' analogy, stick doesn't work.

[godcards]

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuugh

[standalonehuman]

I'm not gonna beleaguer the point.

But I'm not going to walk away, either. Even after we solve this Retrospec crap.

Hmm. So we should add 'punch Jim' to our list of Retrospec payment demands, too.

[godcards]

Yeah, yeah.

I can at least agree on punching Jim. Right in the face!