video; un: ihavequestion

[emyoji]

[ Seimei is relaxing in one of the restaurant booths, apparently having a hot cup of coffee when he decides to pop up on the network. ]

Hello everyone! Has anyone figured out if we can go through the top yet?

[ Since powers all seem to be dampened and no one he's met yet can fly, it might actually make sense if the city had an opening above them. Well, it's at least worth setting that thought out for the public. They might get a chance to test it eventually. ]

Ah, but for an empty city, it's strange how consistent this place is when it makes us food. You would think that we would get some bad cups of coffee at least. It's more strange that it doesn't make mistakes.

[ He takes a sip to demonstrate. See? Perfect every time! ]

Since I'm talking about weird, my friend said that the only people brought here are strange ones. I thought it sounded like a good theory, so I want to ask: what is your strangest experience? Yes, we're all different from each other, but are you different from the people you came from? Or if we see things that are strange, sometimes we attract more things... Or maybe you're completely normal and this is a fluke?

I just wonder if this is really the first time something like this happened for all of us.

[ How many isekai veterans are in the city? This is important. ]

Comments

[emyoji]

Aw, Satoru-kun, that's so mean! Making someone else go first even though I already asked the question!

[ He has to lay on the dramatics a bit, completely being embarrassing because he can be. ]

All right, if you insist. But you have to treat me, okay? [♥]

This didn't happen to me, but it was a popular story in my hometown. It's definitely one of the weirdest things I can think of! I'd call it "eating the cuisine in another world."

They say that a long time ago there was a talented magician. He was one of the most capable magic users of his time, but over time he became frustrated by the fact that no matter how much he practiced and trained, he still couldn't seem to match the oni and ayakashi that existed around our town. Eventually, he decided that they must have some kind of supernatural diet that made them naturally gain abilities faster than humans. One night he went out and hunted some spiritual animals that lived deep in the forest. After catching and eating some, the magician's powers did increase. It was rumored that he became a great beast almost like an oni himself, transformed by the strange food!

This place kind of makes me wonder about that, you know?

[oversize]

( wow, way to hit him with a story that immediately sinks in his gut.

eating spiritual animals is...just shy of eating curses, which-- )

so basically, this place makes you wonder if eating the other people here would give you their powers~?

kyaaaaaa, absolutely terrifying. i'll hide you away from the not-police if you need help, because that's what family does, but...

compared to that, i'm utterly normal~

[emyoji]

[It's also a bit close to home for him, but he's paying forward on trivia as requested. Partly because he really does have to answer the request, but partly because he genuinely likes Gojo so far. Always being different is a certain experience on its own.]

That's an extreme measure! Although it doesn't seem impossible, right?

[Don't youkai eat other youkai? It's not a great way of going about things, but it's not really uncommon either. He doesn't partake, but he's aware of the nature of things.]

I'm just thinking that we've been here eating food presented to us from a mysterious origin and we don't know for sure what kind of world it is. "If we eat food within Ryuuguu Palace, are we able to return to the surface again?" It's just an old tale I heard, but it has some relevance. We're travelers.

That said... Gojo-san, you're not going to secretly have me arrested, are you? I'm telling a story, okay? Just a story!

[oversize]

you know, that's a good point. we could be eating each other now and never know it...

you don't think we're meant to stay here, then? just passing through?

i can't believe i went from satoru-kun to gojo-san so quickly...my heart hurts....

[emyoji]

Do you think we're supposed to stay here?

[ He is openly curious now. Do people think they're just living here now, in this mostly empty city, with no chance of leaving? He's drifted from place to place so much over the years and been in and out of so many supernatural spaces that the idea of permanence is foreign to him. Everything is just "eventually." ]

That's because you're bullying me. Just because you're bigger, you pick on me. Implying my story is enough to call the police. Are you saying my storytelling is bad enough to be criminal?

[ Yes, that is a pout. ]

[oversize]

honestly? i'm not sure. i don't think so.
you have things you need to get back to, right? so do i.

hey, hey, i'm not bullying~ just tenderizing you with love~

i even said i'd risk my own innocence to protect you!! that's love!!

[emyoji]

I suppose I do! So you think they'll let us go once we accomplish something?

[That's a good theory!]

I bruise easily. Be more considerate of sensitivity, okay? If I get too tenderized, what am I going to do?

They say the most important part of love is communication! Aren't you going to answer my question, dear cousin?

[oversize]

no, i doubt it. can a city really keep track of that many people and their accomplishments~?

but i'm sure, like everyone, there are things we have to do outside of this place, so it's not like it can keep us forever. maybe.

okay, okay, okay, don't be so cute. a strange experience right?

i mean, i died once. pretty much. sorta. that was pretty strange.

[emyoji]

I don't know. I haven't experienced many cities like this. Maybe they have excellent memories?

Although I don't think they can keep us here forever.

[ Or they won't let whomever keep them. Probably that one. He's quiet after the last part. No laughter or jokes or looks of skepticism. He takes a sip of his coffee, digests Gojou's words, and finally decides on his question: ]

Did you mean to? Come back?

[oversize]

( well, this took a turn. he should have gone with something a little more lighthearted. )

yeah. had to. everyone fights against death, don't they?

i'm guessing you've never died? or did you?

[emyoji]

Oh... Who knows?

[ Whether that is to the first or second question is up to Gojou to decide. He's not giving hints this time. ]

What? Ah, that's not even a story! I told you something really good and your done already? How unfair.

[ Humans are such cheaters. ]

[oversize]

whaaaaat, you want the story?

fine. some old ugly guy came and stuck a knife in my throat and then ripped me apart.

( okay, this is biased. )

i healed myself back up, and then i killed him back. he didn't come back, though.

[emyoji]

[ He makes the mistake of checking his phone again while he's taking a sip. So far, it has worked out fine, but this time Seimei ends up inhaling hot coffee, sputtering and coughing as he reads that reply. It takes him a moment before he can shoot Gojou a truly offended look. ]

You have terrible storytelling skills. At least try to work in some build up!

[oversize]

( aw, that was actually cute. he kind of feels sorry for that one. )

okay, okay. let's see.

i was pretty young at the time, like, a teenager. this guy had it out for me. needed me dead so he could fuck up something really important me and...my best friend were doing. a mission.

i guess i wasn't as good at my stuff as i am now. he managed to get through and put a blade through my throat. my head, my chest, my thigh, all over. just blood everywhere. really nasty.

voice, slides in here for some threadjackin

[gurge]

Feeling chatty? Satoru.

[ speak of the devil. enjoy making this connection, Seimei. ]

voice

[oversize]

( warm, amused--and therefore a little sharp, just slightly, around the edges. )

He asked for a story, Suguru. I do as I'm told sometimes.

[gurge]

No one wants to hear that one.

[emyoji]

Oh, I do! [ Ahaaa. ] So you two have some that you share. How exciting!

[gurge]

That's one way to put it. I should stab him again for calling me an "old, ugly guy", shouldn't I?

[ he's literally 3 months younger than Gojou. ]

[oversize]

Why's that? It's got everything exciting. Blood scenes, death scenes, fight scenes... It's a great action movie.

[gurge]

The ending was pretty sad, as I recall.

[emyoji]

[ There's a lot going on there! He wasn't expecting that new conversation to pop up, but maybe he should have? It makes sense. But he got his story and a bonus moment aside that feels personal and sincere, and Abe no Seimei pays back what he receives.

So a bit after the exchange has a chance to settle between the two, he sends his message to Gojou. ]

A few times. I guess, but I don't really keep count.

[ He won't necessarily tell anyone when he's paying them back or what it is, though. Fox context is optional. ]

[oversize]

a few times?

do you remember them?

[emyoji]

Just a few. It's inevitable for everyone, right?

I remember, but it wasn't as scary as it was for you.

[oversize]

once is inevitable. more than that, and it might mean someone is out to get you~

it shouldn't be scary. i think you got it right.