(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

un: midnightmocha

[nerine]

Southern California, late 2010s here!
I'm not too surprised about other places and times
More on the side of, being surprised at being here at all.
That's what I get for napping while on the clock I suppose! 🤷‍♂️

[metafictions]

[There's no use in assuming anything off the bat, but Earth is starting to look suspiciously popular here.]

Really? A good friend of mine is originally from Southern California, too. [AND the late 2010s, but that's neither here nor there.] Have you heard of a city called Santa Destroy?

Hmm... so, you were sleeping before you arrived, do I have that right?

[nerine]

Oh c'mon
Santa Barbara has its ups and downs, but it's nice overall!

I kid. Santa Destroy is not on our map so sounds like an alternate situation here.

[metafictions]

[He's trying to mentally place Santa Destroy on a map-- Santa Barbara seems wrong, isn't it by San Diego or something???-- when.

oh. that was a joke. oops.]

I think you might be right. I also see from your conversation with Tequila that you do actually have youkai where you're from? They're just stories and legends in my world's Japan.

[nerine]

Well... You see the sorta-kinda complicated part is that it's either youkai native to my side of the grass
Or maybe they're from a completely different lawn

Wow, lame metaphor
But I hope that makes sense?
That being said, in my world, it's full of creepy crawlies, as well as magic and ESP

[metafictions]

No, that makes complete sense. Alternatively, your world is in one house on the universe's street, and they live next door?

[That's how he describes separate worlds, at any rate.]

The supernatural exists in my world, too, but it's not nearly as commonplace as it sounds like it is in yours. There are people with finely-tuned senses for things like the world of the dead... or... to continue our metaphor, people who are able to go outside and cross the street.

[nerine]

Next door neighbors sounds way better than what I just tried to write.
And it sounds like you have ghosts
Are we talking about ghosts here?

[metafictions]

[oh boy. here he goes.]

It's more complicated than that, though there are definitely spirits around. Instead of someone who's died, imagine a person who has left the house willingly, can enter through any window or door that they like, and can see through your blinds to learn of your whereabouts if he likes.

[nerine]

So


Stalker ghosts

[she's trying, honestly]

I kid, but it is starting to sound more like astral projection

[metafictions]

[no, stalker ghosts is pretty much right]

Of a sort, yes. It's a little too complicated to explain in detail here.

So, if visiting 'neighbors', among other things, are that common in your world, can you think of any reason that you might have appeared here suddenly?

[nerine]

Hm
I can't think of any tangible reason
Except for sleeping on the job which is probably some sort of strike against me
I'm not sure if it's enough to send me to Hell though.

[metafictions]

I doubt it, too.

Maybe there really isn't a rhyme or reason to why we've all appeared. It could be completely random, for all we know.

[Which makes him feel, a little, like he wasted his time asking everyone... but it's better to have more information, if only to rule it out, than less.]

[nerine]

Yeah, could be
It's easier to assume that than think that there are some specific individuals picked out to be a Lost Soul
I mean, 'lost' seems to give that impression to me.

Though
A weird thought
And maybe it's too early
But if this is some sort of afterlife then...

[There's a long pause before another text from midnightmocha appears.]

Nvm
As one film put it, there's a difference between mostly dead and all dead.
We're probably just the latter at the very least.

[metafictions]

No, no, that's an interesting line of thought. You can keep going, if you like?

[After all, he's heard more people saying they could have died, rather than they're sure that they did die...]

I'm the last person who would pass judgment on you for anything 'weird'. Believe me.