(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

audio;

[metafictions]

[Text was the first option Kamui had worked out, so it takes him a moment to change it back to audio. When he does, the voice is a little softer and quieter than all his determined info-gathering might imply.

Obviously, he hasn't heard of Etheirys, but--]

You've... seen your afterlife? Really? What is it like?

[starshepard]

Oh no, I've never personally seen it. But everyone knows that when we pass we return to the Lifestream where our souls are washed clean and we wait to be reborn.

sorry for the wait!

[metafictions]

I see. So, there's no real hell where you're from-- you simply wait to be reincarnated?

Believe me when I say this isn't what most of us would have imagined our afterlives to look like, either. [If they all are, truly, dead.]

no worries!

[starshepard]

Exactly. So long as one doesn't burn out all of their aether they'll always return to the Lifestream.

[ She smiles. Death was something she considered beautiful as it was often a choice. But then the Final Days began and death became a horrifying occurance. ]

What is it you imagined your afterlife to look like?

[metafictions]

[Things are a little different for Kamui's situation, but in general:]

Somewhere barren, hot, and unlivable. At least as far as Hell goes: most cultures see it as a place of punishment. Either way, it's a far cry from the city we've all found ourselves in.

[starshepard]

That sounds absolutely dreadful but as a place of punishment, I suppose that makes sense.

I have to say, this place is certainly more exciting than that or what we understand about the Lifestream.

[metafictions]

It is a punishment, after all.

As for Jigoku-cho, I agree. In Japan, a city like this might even be a tourist destination. It's as if they're encouraging us to indulge in vice while we're here. As I told someone else earlier, it seems counterintuitive to tack more sins onto our tallies if we're in the afterlife, doesn't it?

[starshepard]

I suppose this place does have a lot of things that would draw in outsiders or make the afterlife a more interesting stay.

I'm not sure what you mean about sins.