(post-mingle) text; un: UEHARA

[metafictions]

Good morning, everyone. I hope you're well.

[read: he hopes that you're not too hungover and that none of you died out there last night.]

Despite the different clans to which we've been assigned, we all find ourselves in strange territory in Jigoku-cho. It may look close to what several of us recognize as Japan, but as you might've already discovered, familiarity does not guarantee similarity. The other day, I met a man who could have easily been from my world, perhaps even my continent or country-- only to discover he hailed from a completely different planet.

So, I'd like to begin gathering information. [He's no Sutoku, but this is important to all of them, and-- as he's been taught-- there are no shortcuts when it comes to investigation.] The more that we know about our fellow lost souls, the more we will have to work from as we learn more about this place and why we're here. We can start with something simple. If you would like, please share where, and when, you are from.

I'll start. I am from Tokyo's 25th Ward, in Japan, on Earth, in the year 2005.

(ooc: feel free to threadjack around! ✌️)

Comments

[demonrebel]

As much I like to skirt around the rules, I don't think it's possible without some convincing.

[A major bummer in his opinion but maybe there's a chance the youkai here will make their end of the bargain and save his world. That would be nice.]

Even so, there might be a hefty fine for breaking one of these supernatural contracts and I'm not too eager to find out what that might be.

[lonelinessloop]

Oh no, we haven't had anything like that.

[ And she's definitely got mixed feelings about 'decreasing the rate of violent crime' given her family. ]

What were the original 23 for?

[metafictions]

Oh, they're just their own municipal regions. [Like Queens and Brooklyn in New York. Sort of.] I don't recall what differentiates Tokyo's wards from other cities' wards, but only 24 and 25 had a special purpose like that.

Sorry to talk bureaucracy. It just seemed like a very notable difference, is all. Is there anything else different about your Japan and Jigoku-cho, by the way, or has it been mostly familiar to you? I have to say, being Japanese, I think we've got a tiny bit of an edge in this city...

[horrifictie]

[ He's also surprised he didn't mention it right away, it's his favorite conversation starter! ]

ok cool!
really looking forward to it.

[aceslow]

Different versions of a place you know. It's like something out of a science-fiction novel.

[ Yes, he puts in the appropriate hyphen, even when texting on this horrible little brick they call a communicator. And typically he wouldn't fess up to reading that stuff -- but considering the circumstances, he'll bend on that particular rule. ]

But Japan nevertheless exists in most of the worlds. Are there any other duplicates that you've noticed? I certainly haven't run across anyone from a variation of Revachol.

[metafictions]

Truth is often stranger than fiction, like they say.

So far? Different forms of hell, different afterlives, people from the same world yet separated by a few years, more than a few who've come from another city populated by yokai much like this one... the commonalities just seem to go on, but the one with the most regularity is, of course, the existence of varying Japans.

By the way... blekksprut, all the way at the top, mentioned that they could speak French. I'm curious to know if Revacholese (?) and French are mutually intelligible, if you've got the time to chat.

[kikuichi]

[...]

I don't believe so. Humans do have their politics and wars, but nothing so drastic.

[It's too bothersome to explain, anyway.]

[metafictions]

I was here and there, and I liked most of it. I would have liked to stay in California longer, though.

[Santa Destroy-- home of burnouts, assassins, and burnout assassins-- is a distant cry from the glamor of Hollywood and the culture of San Francisco.]

You could extend that question to... everything here, really. Why promise a final reward to a mess of captives, much less pay them a salary? [Kamui don't say that on the network or the powers might dock everybody's pay.] I don't know what this all adds up to yet, but I wish I did.

[deadtective]

[ah, the west coast...one of the few parts of the country that she hadn't made her way to before getting yanked into literal hell. it makes her wonder briefly, not for the first time, if all that chatter about Hollywood vampires was more literal than most people realized.]

That one I can at least answer...or half-answer, assuming that shit works kind of the same way it did back home. A lot of creatures like this are fuckoff strong, right? But they've got rules they need to follow, or else they can't do jack shit.

[bureaucracy truly was an infernal creation, if you think about it the right way.]

Like, I'm not gonna be a completely cynical bitch and say that they're not planning on paying up when it comes time to spit out the reward...but it wouldn't surprise me if the contracts opened up a hole for them to actually use us for whatever the fuck it is they need.

[fuben]

Interesting... I've experienced the opposite with those I've encountered. I'm one of the few who doesn't seem to be experiencing as much cognitive dissonance or distress. But then this isn't so different from my daily life before... I am a bit concerned if anyone unaccustomed to this is accepting it at face value.

Have you heard anything more about leadership other than their vague promises to meet with us soon?

Related, are you perhaps also part of the Sutoku Alliance?

[fuben]

I've run into someone who likewise finds more trouble than he should. It's a little difficult to refrain from trying to guide him here, too, since he doesn't seem to want it.

For his sake, at least, I hope that this place proves to be more of a landing pad than a destination. I could accept this for myself, but he isn't the only one who I think wouldn't deserve a fate like this.

I'm inclined to hope for now, I think, particularly if you're meant to live.

[nerine]

Not much on the leadership front I'm afraid.
As for me, I believe I have been folded into the Tamamo Clan.
Sounds like they've been picking and choosing, but on what criteria, one can only guess.

IM SORRY THIS NOTIF GOT EATEN

[metafictions]

That's impressive. It's difficult to imagine the process for leaving your own planet could become so standardized, but it seems like it's already down to a science for you. It takes a great deal of effort to leave the planet, period-- much less for a holiday.

Do you feel as if your world is bigger, or smaller, for the ability to travel so far?

[wait a sec, he just noticed-- he's being complimented?]

Ah... Thank you, by the way. I'm not sure it was that cool, it was just an observation...

[perfectlytimed]

Some, but probably not the majority. There are government workers from other departments, some military types, and some whose so-called 'management experience' comes from heading criminal organisations.

I suppose I understand the reasoning behind it, but it still leaves a rather bad taste in my mouth.

[metafictions]

That... definitely sounds like a significant detour from my timeline. [HA HA OH BOY WAIT UNTIL YOU GET CANON UPDATED.]

I'd have to agree: Texas was dope. [Is he allowed to say 'dope'? Is he cool enough? Whatever, when in Rome. Or Jigoku-cho, or something.]

Minus the yokai, it's extremely close-- at least to some of the busier areas. There are some differences, but the overlap's undeniable. It's hardly 1:1, though-- nor are any of the Japans that everyone else seems to remember. In my situation, my Japan had two extra metro areas that no one else has heard of.

[metafictions]

Let's all work hard and do our best, Soma-san. :)

[He has no idea where the man's been assigned, but like he'd said: they've all got a goal to get out of here, wherever they happen to have landed.]

Luckily, you've already got experience. I hope you're able to do your job safely while you're here-- I'd hate to lose such good conversation.

[trueorder]

And I hope that if we ever come to odds you know that it's nothing personal, but me just doing my best. :)

[no_kyouken]

Some of 'em really hated their yokai, wouldn't make 'em happy to hear.

Joku's a pain in th'ass but... Dunno, needed his help in Hakagemachi or I'd be dead a couple times over. Ain't the worst partnership.

[metafictions]

[That's how it usually goes, isn't it? He'd do the very same-- even here.]

Of course not. Work is work. That's the reason we're here.

[Not to make friends.]

[horrifictie]

i dropped it and the screen cracked so not great.
communication this instant is beyond belief. the only thing that comes close are the payphones.

[trueorder]

Our conversation will become circular if I end up agreeing.

But that's also life.

[ HA HA HA just stuck forever in cycles ]

[nerine]

But hey, the texting still works!
Definitely recommend getting a screen protector though.
And yeah, instant communication is cool isn't it?
text, audio, OR video if your heart wishes!
And a map so you can get to different addresses
Though it probably works differently here.

[camyoflage]

i'd be doing that no matter what!
so look out for your fellow man alright?
i could be anybody~

[metafictions]

Then, speaking of life, allow me to change the subject.

[Maybe they won't end up clashing. They don't need to get ahead of themselves, even if he'll always be prepared for the occasion.]

Have you changed your mind at all? Or do you still think we're all dead here?

[metafictions]

[Where Kamui’s from, the line between a paper-pushing bureaucrat and an enforcer “processing” lawbreakers is all too often razor-thin. He gets it.]

I see the logic too. Administrators are administrators, wherever they may come from.

Still, it’s strange to ask you to enforce the laws of a place to which you’ve only just arrived. Even you, Chief Justice.