RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[daemonized]

ARDYN IZUNIA

Ardyn Izunia. Professor of law. Lord of law. Liege of law. The one grading your papers. Leave a message.

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( old contact post here )

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[daemonized]

Is this someone also on Retrospec?

[anguinous]

Not at the moment, at least not that I know.

[daemonized]

I see.

[Then that is a little more difficult.]

Then perhaps that's for the best, if they remain oblivious. A surefire way of knowing if they suddenly become a user of Retrospec is to merely check the app.

[But, ah, he wonders how much that actually helps.]

Know you're not alone in these memories bringing doubt and uncertainty. I've experienced my fair share as well. Keeping it to yourself does little good in the end.

[h y p o c r i t e there are a select few he refuses to tell.]

[anguinous]

Does telling people help much more? I suppose there's a sense of relief at first, but beyond that the facts stay the same. Then two people are concerned instead of one.

[daemonized]

I've found that it can. There's a sense of solidarity to be garnered from it, not to mention that you know someone else exists around you to help you solve the ever-growing mystery of who you once were.

[anguinous]

Perhaps that is a mystery I have no wish to solve.

[daemonized]

Then that is your decision to alone to make. Regardless, what Retrospec is doing to us is not a switch you can merely flip off.

[anguinous]

[ Not a switch you can merely flip off?

Laurent supposes not. Although if it became bad enough, he could definitely think of a way to make it stop permanently --

The thought makes Laurent stop a moment, surprised at himself. The spectre of the man in his dream seems to loom over him, the sense of helplessness, the knowledge that there was no way out and nobody coming to rescue him. He can feel that mindset already mixing in with his own, and a spike of panic has him back off from the conversation for a few minutes. Then -- ]

I suppose you are correct.

[ You're wrong. ]

[daemonized]

[If this were more than just text, maybe he could read the other's expression and fish a bit more, out of a fledgling sense of concern. But it isn't, and there's little Ardyn can see through the words blinking up at him on his phone, and so-]

Would you like to tell me more about what you remember of this man?

[At least he can offer an ear to listen with, which might make the rest of the night more bearable for Laurent, if this is truly keeping him awake.]

[anguinous]

Given the option, I'd rather find a way to forget about it entirely.

[daemonized]

Perhaps you'll get what you wish for one day. That Retrospec should disappear from your phone and you'll remember absolutely nothing at all.

Is that what you're hoping for?

[anguinous]

I'm not certain.

I'm certain I was happier before all of this.

But there are some people I wouldn't want to leave to puzzle this out alone.

[daemonized]

[Happier. Perhaps that was true. But more ignorant as well, and-- well, he cannot change what he knows now, and he knows for certain that he would not wish to be ignorant, no matter the nature of the truth that awaited him.]

Then that's something we can both agree on. People that I care about, that I would hate to leave to the machinations of Retrospec, just for my own peace of mind.

[anguinous]

I suspect I owe you another cup of coffee for listening to all this.

[daemonized]

Well, who am I to turn down free coffee?

In all seriousness, you are always welcome to text me if you find yourself awake in the wee hours of the morning. If we are not here for each other, us poor fools under the thumb of Retrospec, then what do we have? I gladly cling to the sense of solidarity between us all.