(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

[metafictions]

We have to begin somewhere.

[trueorder]

I suppose so. People do always like talking about themselves.

Anyway, I've never heard of 25th Ward. I suppose that means we live in different Japans. Can you tell me about it?

[metafictions]

That I can.

[There’s no point to hiding it, after all.]

It's located on the coast, bordering the 24th Ward. It was established only within the last couple of years, and there was a large initiative to bring new residents in with luxury housing.

[He remembers the words people are scouted; recalls standing on the top floor of Bayside Towerland with Kinshiro Nakane, above those endless stacks of people in identical, bland apartments, holding just the right individuals in their proper places. Even he had been brought in to curate a certain kind of world in the 25th Ward.]

Unfortunately, a natural disaster has left much of the Ward damaged. It may take some time to rebuild.

[trueorder]

It's always something to do with real estate.

I'm sorry to hear that the Ward was damaged so much. Were there many survivors?

[metafictions]

Yes. It seems that the only real luxury was the location: every apartment I saw there, save for a penthouse, was small.

[Were there any survivors? He'd heard from Travis about what it'd looked like when he'd sent him there, but... that was in the future.]

I'm not sure. I didn't get to find out before I arrived here.

[trueorder]

Sometimes, that is just how it is. So long as you have a beautiful view, does it really matter?

[ HA HA HA ]

How unfortunate. I'll hope with you that it was few. Tragedies like that affect everyone, you know, even if the criminal underground doesn't act like it does.

[metafictions]

Many of them were windowless, actually.

[i think they are actually getting that manzai routine in somehow]

Thank you. I'll have to put it out of my head until I know I can return home.

You said you were Japanese, rk? Are we talking about the yakuza?

[trueorder]

Even better!

[ what a great comedy duo ]

Right, of course. Shelved for later.

[ :) ]

I did. Forgive me, Uehara-san. It's me -- Soma. And we are talking about the yakuza. Though, the clan I was with disbanded which lead to the creation of RK. The group not the username.

[metafictions]

Oh, I was beginning to wonder. Good to chat with you again, Soma-san.

So you must be hitting the ground running in a world so closely controlled by yokai gangs. [Lucky guy. Not that he's aware Soma is Enma.] Could you tell me more about the RK? From the way you're talking about it, it doesn't sound like just another clan.

[trueorder]

Well, it's always nice to be doing familiar work.

[ Buh-dum-chh. ]

I don't mind. It is a criminal organization that I built up from the ground roughly two-three years ago.

I have to say it's funny to use the phrase "criminal organization" to describe it, even if that is how most would. You certainly didn't assume it was some lawful body.

[ LOL ]

I realized since my clan was dissolving that there would be a power vacuum to contend with, and took advantage of that empty space.

[metafictions]

You did say it formed out of a clan.
I was going to say that lawful bodies don't form out of criminal organizations, but that's not always true, is it?

[So, Soma's a powerful member of the yakuza back home, is he? When they'd met, he had mentioned about as much.]

And here you are, back at square one. But something tells me a man with your kind of patience wouldn't be discouraged by that.

[trueorder]

It isn't, no.

[ Soma feels a rant tingle on the tips of his fingers. He feels the desire to actually complain about what formed out of the criminal organizations that dissolved. Indeed, it was a lawful body, but the darkness had become so vast and empty that no matter what "good" was created; it did not bring order.

"I'm not bitter," Soma says, bitterly. ]

You're right. I'm prepared to work my hardest. But I'm sure it isn't just me that feels that way. We all have a goal that we're working towards, and that helps to ensure we all have a purpose.

[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. :)

[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.]

[trueorder]

Our conversation will become circular if I end up agreeing.

But that's also life.

[ HA HA HA just stuck forever in cycles ]

[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?

[trueorder]

We might not all be dead, but I am.

And that's fine.

[metafictions]

[ 🤨 ]

Yes… I recall you saying someone was choking you, before you arrived.

You’re at peace with it?

[trueorder]

It was looking quite dire for me. :)

Still... I wouldn't say that I'm at peace with it, but I'm fine with it.

Pedantic response, I know, but I've never been the "big emotions" type.

[metafictions]

Don't worry. I'm not so showy with my emotions, either.

Let's just say you've accepted it, then. What do you plan to do with your afterlife, Soma-san? The same as you did in life? Or something more?

[trueorder]

Yes, let's say that, Uehara.

I plan to do as I did in life. I was a tool for others and I'll be a tool, again. Isn't that funny for a leader to say? Leaders usually think of other people as tools or partners or some other term. But really, a leader should be willing to do what is necessary for the majority to succeed.

[metafictions]

[This feels...]

A leader lives in service to those that they lead.

[He wonders, mulling the direction of this conversation over, if Soma is leading him somewhere intentionally. Quite possible. But why? And to where?]

It sounds like whatever clan you've been assigned to has been given a formidable ally.

[trueorder]

That's right. Bravo! :)

I'd like to think so, but I'm only human so we'll see what I can do for them.

[ Right, the leader in service to those they lead. Enma in service to order. But what about the others? Hm! Food for thought. ]