(11/2)

[erythristic]

To those recently introduced to the Retrospec application, welcome.

Ms. Wiseman's comments yesterday lead me into a jumping off point for a small reminder. If you are affected physically by your recollections and you would like a medical professional to look at what's changed or you require attention for matters related to this app that would be difficult to explain to another doctor, contact me. My name is Grell Sutcliffe, and so far I've been handling such matters for quite a while - I've also been physically changed myself, so I understand how disorienting the experience is. All visits and information are kept confidential, as would be expected for any patient. If you want to tell people, it's on your own time.

And going off of that, I have some findings for us all, ones that I confess are not reassuring in the slightest. If you'd rather not read this for peace of mind, none will judge you.

[the rest of this post is hidden under a collapsible link - letting people choose if they want to read on.]

Death is not permanent. At least when it comes to Retrospec users. There was an incident of someone being resurrected recently, and if you know who it is, I advise you to not go babbling about it. That's their information to hand out. But regardless, I personally could confirm the death, and on the same day, the person was in a hospital room unconscious but most certainly alive and recovering. No, I don't know how they did it, no, I didn't help them. I'm as baffled as the rest of you are going to be, and I cannot tell whether this information is anything short of frightening. Quite frankly, I was debating whether I should release this knowledge at all, but after consideration, it's best that you know.

I'll try to answer any questions as best I can.

Comments

[explodosafe]

You think? That'd be nice, I was already fearing that I'll become some ghoul or werewolf or whatever other monster with all the points those half memories are pointing toward.

Not really, except maybe that my reflexes and gut reactions to certain things have changed as well. Like becoming more aggressive, but only in the way of wanting to fight things that are clearly a Bad Idea to fight. I've tried to block a blade with my bare arms, for instance.

[erythristic]

Have you received memories where you were able to successfully combat such things, or is this remaining an instinct alone?

[explodosafe]

My memories are a real hot mess, nicely put.

But the short of it is, no. I fully embrace it in those memories and it makes me turn into something that CAN actually do it and get away with it. I also remembered a guy who turned himself into -I dunno, some weird living pin-cushion of blades that grew out all over his body and he blamed me for it.

[erythristic]

I don't think that's the sort of thing you can blame anyone for but yourself. You're the one who became a blade hedgehog.

[explodosafe]

Nah, that was somebody else. It came up in the fog last month, but since then I do remember chasing him down a street and cornering him - at that point he does something and blade hedgehog happens.

He tried to fight me to save his friends and I just took all those blades and socked him in the face.

... I know how that sounds.

[erythristic]

After what took place during August, I'm trying to suspend my disbelief in regards to anything happening in this or any past lives.

For now, I'm wondering if you've heard of the regular meetings on Sundays at the Dojo. In the evenings those of us with access to this app can meet and train our skills - you might meet someone willing to teach you some more defensive maneuvers to counteract your instincts to block blades with your arms alone.

Alternately if you wind up needing stitches I'm very good at those. Almost guaranteed to not scar.

[explodosafe]

Fair enough.

Thanks for the thought, but I'm already practicing martial arts that are focused on just not getting hit to begin with. Capoeira is good for that. It's mostly just my instincts that are making me worry. I'll keep it in mind, though.

Aw, no magic wound healing?

[erythristic]

I'm a doctor, not a wizard. Your body will be stronger for the healing on its own.

[explodosafe]

Alright, sorry. I'm honestly starting to be unsure where to draw the line with that one nowadays. Do you have to stitch people back up often?