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

[catmemes]

[ The demand earns a somewhat baleful look, but Kai does slope off to fix himself coffee. ]

Do you want something?

[ Since he's already up. The offer is clearly kneejerk, but once it's out he doesn't try to take it back. Actually putting it all together takes some concentration, though, so we waits until the brewing starts to turn back in Seimei's direction. ]

You think it's awake?

[emyoji]

I think it's active.

[ Is the city alive? Well, he isn't so sure he believes that. It's functioning, reacting, but the land itself feels empty. There are no voices or spirits and no natural energy flowing through the invisible veins. But something must be conscious, because it's observing them, reacting to their presences. Seimei taps the table with a thoughtful fingertip. ]

Tea, thank you. If it can conjure up something good, I'll have that.

[ Even though he doubts they'll get a formal set from the strange kitchen. ]

I wonder if there is someone here. Maybe they are looking for something.

[catmemes]

Someone as in someone in control here?

[ He gives a thoughtful sort of rumble as he goes to paw through the kitchen for tea. What he finds are fairly cheap teabags, which he dunks into a mug with a philosophical shrug. If Seimei wants something better he can find it himself. ]

You think someone could mask themselves that thoroughly?

[emyoji]

Someone must have built all of this originally. Whether they are still in control is a more difficult question.

[ He shrugs with a careless smile, then takes a good look at the cup Kai brings him with its steaming water and little paper teabag. The smile fades somewhat, creasing his expression with small folds of restrained concern. ]

If they are still in control, then it is their domain. They know where to go and how to hide to avoid our notice. Against the experience of the crafter, we don't even have backstage passes. We can only keep searching and try to catch them in between plans.

But we can catch them.

[ He takes a sip of the tea, smile fixed despite the fact it hasn't steeped long enough. ]

That's what makes these places interesting.