citynet | un: junpei

[The video opens on Junpei in an office chair - in his Secret Club Meeting Room (read: generic office building conference room) although this is not a secret meeting. This is Junpei spinning slowly in an office chair while he holds the camera up, tilting as far back as he can without tipping the chair over. So it's going great.]

So, city-zens, [.....ahem,] I've got some miscellaneous questions for you.

First, time travel: real? Let me know. [......,] I mean, you know— Before you got here, that is. Like how experienced are you in the realm of quantum... quantum-y goodness? I just thought that maybe it would be real for somebody else by now, but I dunno... Let me know that one instead.

[Cough. Anyway.]

Second, are we all just, uh... hanging out now, I guess? Um, like— who's trying to clip through the weird fog and get out still? Anybody? I'm looking for group, or whatever you call it. We can do code names.

[Junpei is not a gamer.... don't believe this... he's just cringe and thinking about half-press-A-ing through the universe, to wit as he spins faster in his chair:]

Third, whoooo's all in for simulation theory? [as dryly as possible, womp...] Eh? Woooo yeah... simulation theory...!

[The video tilts as he lets go with one hand to hold up... a pinched-fingers hand puppet 🤌... it's still fine, he's doing great. He pitches his voice up higher for the puppet, because of course he does:]

But Junpei, how is this a simulation? Well duh, why else would this place be like a city that doesn't know what a city is supposed to be like? And all the weird loading fog? C'mon! Buuuut Juuuunpei, are we all full of tubes and stuck in goo pods like in that movie?— [Ah, ahem, cough. He puts his hand down.] Maybe.

Or uh, whatever else is in the theory pile. Half the people I was messing around with about theories went and disappeared, soooo... Well, I'm gonna get serious cabin fever if I can't figure something oUT—

[Local Man Tips The Chair Over and Totally Wipes Out, stay tuned for updates. The video ends when the phone drops face down onto the floor, bye.......]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

In the city where nobody dies?

[Honestly? Kind of, yes, he fears death. He knows full well the exact sensation of being violently shredded, among others, and he's not too keen on repeating any of those, but -

Needs must? Needs... exist. There are needs. His self-preservation isn't that high.]

Anyway, I guess I wanted to meet the guy who put us all here and give 'em a piece of my mind.

At least until recently, I had only heard of one person surviving death. To assume it would extend to everyone was quite bold. No matter what you think of the risk, I am glad you survived.

[ She also didn't believe it was true until now, because who would just suddenly believe a rumor like that? Without proof? But then there was the haunted house, so a (disturbed) believer has been born. ]

Should you meet the puppetmaster, do tell how you would impart your 'thoughts'. We should all benefit from a reminder that there is someone behind this and that they are not friendly. Already, I have begun to hear people speak of this place as though there is no one to seek out behind the curtain. People are becoming comfortable.

[He thinks for a second--] I've got two, unless I'm forgetting someone.

[A shrug, anyway; he's not entirely convinced that purposely tripping into the fog barrier was all that dangerous, but maybe he'll try it again and get a limb cut off and change his ways. Who can say.]

As for the mastermind... I was thinking a punch in the mouth. But I'm not too sure we all need to be paranoid all the time, [it's pretty stressful for him for example!!] so I'm just... not getting into it with people who aren't already into it, you know? Other fish to fly.

[fry. he doesn't know.]

Oh? When? Do you remember the name?

[ It could have been before she arrived, or she simply missed hearing about it. One doesn't usually go around asking who has recently died... Though maybe she should start. ]

Paranoia will serve us nothing but weakened thoughts, even if wariness should not be entirely discarded. Others will undoubtedly be forced to learn a balance one way or another, and as you say it will not happen with a lecture.

Not sure it's my business to go telling people about it if you didn't hear it already... You can ask around.

[He's all for the sharing of information, to be certain, but "people who died here" is, hm, personal. Not his place.]

What do you think it's going to take, if a lecture doesn't do it?

[ She would like to argue that this sort of information should not be treated as private in this city when it may be a vital puzzle piece to their entrapment, but not in what is considered a public sphere and not when she knows too little herself. She also respects when those boundaries are laid, so long as it does not interfere with her and hers.

The amount of not knowing still exceeds the knowing, but sadly she was accustomed to that before arrival. Ignorance is madness. ]

We have so many singular individuals, I am reluctant to suggest that any one thing would ignite a change in everyone's understanding. But, for most...pain is the universal teacher.

[ Is she biased? She's biased. ]

It is possible that only continued torment at our captor's hands will force people to accept that complacency is no defense in a war.

Dunno. People have been through it plenty of times already, and still...

[He shrugs. Still, so many people are content with "it could be worse," no matter how many times illusions kill them or they get tormented by their memories or whatever else. He can't relate, but he does see it.]

I bet if the mastermind would actually drop in and speak to us directly, that'd change a few minds. Not sure how to force their hand, though.

Have you considered the possibility that he has already done exactly so, without us ever spotting him?

[ Here she is, continuing the sunshine parade. ]

I have already wondered if there is one among us who is not actually so displaced as they claim. If they have as much power as they've already revealed, it could seem impossible to discover if this was even true, let alone who it could be.

Yeah, I guess. But it's been just about six months, right? So what the hell could he be doing?

[Wouldn't the mastermind be bored! Just hanging out with them!]

A fair point. But the Devil is patient.

Okay, but same problem: how do we force the guy to tip his hand?

What is the current estimate regarding our numbers?

[ She cannot be expected to keep up with checking on that. Though perhaps she should be. ]

No idea. Guy tried taking a headcount once, but not many people were willing to respond... I'm not sure I can blame 'em.

[If only the kiosks were still around, they could probably ask those.]

[ Well, that is inconvenient for her.

There are a few moments needed to consider how many faces she has seen at different gatherings and those who have been repeatedly noticed. Then there's the network. Her own acquaintances aside, she has done her best to keep track of the trends in this city if only for her own curiosity. A notebook has been helpful, but most of it is memory. She is one to watch. ]

If I were to offer a hypothetical estimate of, perhaps... nearly one hundred captives, would you say? If anywhere near that, even if there are a hundred more, then we do have more cause to worry. Should he plan to fill the city, as it is now scarcely populated while the walls yet continue to expand, how long might that then take him to accomplish?

[ Is she going to need to take up gardening? ]

Dunno. Especially since we keep disappearing... Though it's possible the guys in charge of bringing us here aren't the ones controlling when we disappear. If there's something out there trying to send us home— well, I don't know. I just think that could be possible.

And a headache, honestly. We need a big clue to really kick it off.

un: junpei | video

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yikes time

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