text; un: 013 | labelled IMPORTANT

[blattella]

Okay. Hopefully me putting IMPORTANT at the top helps denote this as actually something I personally think is important. Got the idea from username dynamight, so credit goes to them!

But serious talk: this is an experiment. Or it's an Abnormality, maybe? An enclosure either way. Either this city itself wants us here because it's lonely and it wants people around, because what's the point of a city without people in it right?? Or the scientists outside want us in so they can shake us up in this little jar and write down their results. Not sure what end goal there, we'll find out soon enough.

If anyone has any proof or any other theories, please feel free to discuss. I'm open to ideas. And I know figuring out what this place feels pointless, but if we can aim towards figuring out the what, then we'll be able to figure out the how soon enough, right?

And has anyone gotten any useful information in general? I've been nosing around, but all I get is redacted snippets with no actual details to work with. Which cycles back around to my two theories above, I guess; either we really are the first ones to get sucked into this Abnormality and it's just been made out of several lonely people wanting a better life and world, or it's artificially made in which case there's not going to be any public figures or history to learn about.

Anyway.

I just think that we should all check in and talk about anything we've learned. Don't feel like you have to talk to me only, either. Talk amongst yourselves. Information should be freely shared so we can get out faster.

Also if you saw me at the party, hi, I'm the guy with the bug arm, that's me, if you didn't know. Yes it's disgusting. Yes, I hate it too. No, the food or water or air in this place isn't the reason I have the bug arm. I've had it for twenty years or so now.

Okay that's it.

[feel free to mingle online, he's just desperate to feel like he's achieving something here!]

Comments

[gurge]

I see. How sad, wanting to die and being too powerful to be killed. It's lonely at the top, isn't it?

Both of these assume you have something more to offer. Do you?

[blattella]

Not really.

Look what's the deal with the psychologist stuff? I've had enough of this as a kid, I don't like it now from a stranger.

[gurge]

So defensive. How else do you get to know your fellow prisoners? Should I ask you to go out for a beer after work?

[blattella]

Just asking a question about your interests, pal. Answer it or don't.

[gurge]

And I did. I should flatter you by telling you you're in a category of "interesting people"?

As you've discovered, there are no ways out and no explanations for our situation. Survival necessities are aplenty.
What's next? Discovering which of our neighbors are the threats, no? Or in my case, worth a chat.

[blattella]

Alright, if you're going to stick to that, I won't badger you anymore about it. Sounds fake though.

Anyway, how about yourself? Name, threat status, fun and interesting facts, favourite kind of snack.

[gurge]

Well you insisted I not speak more intimately about your condition...
You really should choose your battles.

[ he's teasing. probably. ]

Oh! Sure! Getou Suguru, a blanket low to middling for now, like you I am "previously ambidexterous" (laugh), and cold soba!

[blattella]

Not good at that, better when other people do that for me. Hahahahahahaha

Man, if I was in another life, I'd be able to rig you up something so you could be ambidextrous again. What's cold soba like, though? I feel like I've heard of it, but I don't think I've eaten it. They sell it here?

Gregor, by the way. Sorry if I'm touchy, Getou Suguru. Funny to be touchy over an arm, huh??

[gurge]

I suppose that's why you were in the situation you were in.
So what now, Gregor? You're not indebted or commissioned by anyone here. What battles will you choose when they're of your own volition once again?

[ how do you trust yourself again once you choose the wrong side of a war? conviction convinces him otherwise. ]

"Rig me up something"... You mean a prosthetic?
I admit, the thought's crossed my mind, but the likelihood seems low. It wasn't a decision I expected to face at all.
But, not funny. A little sad.

They're cold buckwheat noodles served with a dipping sauce. So refreshing at the end of a long, hot summer day!
Should you ever get the chance, please partake and think of me fondly.

[ bro chill you're scaring the hoes ]

[blattella]

I kind of am. Got a new job, and some of my co-workers are here with me. I gotta make sure they make it out, or my boss'll tear my head clean off my body. But here, in a place like this, we can all choose whether we fight or we're peaceful.

I kind of want to be peaceful for a bit. That's my choice. Once I get tired of that, I'll work the rest out.

Yeah, I'm a pretty handy sort of guy in another life. Don't have any of that knowhow right now, but it's pretty neat to see what another me can do, you know? If that makes sense. It probably sounds insane. I can explain it if you want? It's a weird story though hahahahahahahaha
maybe a little sad too..........But life is sad, I guess!! [Things that normal, mentally stable people say!]

That sounds really nice, actually. Cold noodles and dipping sauce...........I could probably cook noodles. And find a dipping sauce. I think they sell noodles here, so you should have some too! We have kitchens and everything, so why not indulge a little in your favourite food, right buddy?

[gurge]

I see. Good luck on your short journey to pacifism.

Another you in another life...
It does sound strange to me, but I think we probably all do to each other. I'm sure I could tell you things I've witnessed that sound impossible. That's the nature of this place, right?
Well, perhaps you can tell me another time! Nonetheless, I appreciate you thinking of me.

Sure. In fact, the restaurants just magically serve up whatever food you ask for. That's likely easier than obtaining the ingredients that are less common outside of my country. Please treat yourself.

[blattella]

Thanks! I hope it's an easy one hahahahahaha!!

That's true, though. Just the notion of an empty night without any threats is strange to me, or was when I got here, so I bet there's plenty that you could say that'd really throw me for a loop.
Let's just say that through scientific hijinks, some folks in my line of work (myself included) can see alternate timeline versions of ourselves. Where we'd have ended up if we only made different choices in life, you know?? It's so weird to see what's constant in life and what's not.........




Wait really???? I haven't actually been to a restaurant. Figured they were completely empty, so never bothered. If I go to any particular restaurant and think that I want to try your soba noodles hard enough, it'll just appear? Really???? What happens if two people who want different things go together, you think??

[gurge]

...Ah. Now it makes a little more sense why you think you're disgusting.
What a tedious thing to have to bear.

[ SURELY THIS IS THE PROBLEM, AND NOT THE BUG ARM... wow not a single night without threats... what are you, weak or something... ]

I believe they come out as separate orders, but I didn't experiment with it much once my companion and I lost curiosity in favor of hunger.
Trying it out with a special someone sounds like a unique compatibility test. You should take a date. :)

[ he'll set you up. ]

[blattella]

[Look, if you're out at 3:13am and not in a residential area, you are Going To Be Sucked Up By People Juice In People Suits, and Become More People Juice. It's a thing! A force of nature, even! Very weird to watch those 81 minutes creep past in peace every night when it's just how life is back home!]

I don't know about tedious, but it's definitely weird. To see myself confident in one life, and completely broken in another, and to have both versions of myself slowly creep into this me. It influences you bit by bit, the more you wear them. But it's part of the job hahaha

Separate orders........So it DOES read into individual minds, rather than a shared idea of what a group might want. That's pretty interesting, don't you think???

I'm not going on dates though! No one'd want to date a guy they couldn't even really touch without making me transform, right? Maybe I'll take my two co-workers. Not a date, just an experiment and bonding exercise hahahahahahahahahaha

[gurge]

[ :) sounds gross. he would Consume the people juice. ]

I think I chose the right word.
Regardless of what an alternate 「you」 does, they are still separate entities. Why burden yourself with their triumphs and mistakes? Is that part of the job as well?

[ the irony of the conversation is lost on him. somewhere, right now, back in the Tokyo that he knows — there's someone else wearing the deceased flesh of Getou Suguru. ]

「Interesting」might be a stretch...
Is it reading minds or making educated guesses? We carry our preferences on us more than we might like.
For instance, Gregor-San seems like someone who would enjoy all black coffee and uncooked pasta.

...Ah. You transform when flustered, is it?

[ HE WANTS TO SEE... now there's a target on his back... ]

[blattella]

You could say that.

Hey, quick question. How are you getting those little sign things up? What's that mean?

[HE IS SUCH A SIMPLE MAN PLEASE TEACH HIM THE FANCY SPEECH]

[gurge]

Hmm? Those are just quote marks.
But I have some faces you might like.
╰(▔∀▔)╯
To better express yourself~.

[blattella]

It IS harder to tell tone over the internet with text......those faces probably come in handy.

Is it the little smiling face thing, when I type? I can press that. Hold on.




(⊙_⊙)？

[gurge]

[ LMFAO ]

That's exactly it, Gregor-San. (b ᵔ▽ᵔ)b

Oh, oops.
( ᵔ▽ᵔ)b
I can send you a document full of them for your perusal, if you'd like. ☆

[blattella]

How dare you use a little face with two arms???? Very deceptive of you, buddy.


(╯▽╰ ) (Is that a face that tells you I was being sarcastic in a nice way???? If you have a document that tells me the mood they give off too, that'd be great........Thanks!!)

[gurge]

wwwww
Fear not, I'm not as touchy about my arm as some. (︶▽︶)┌ But yes, that might be a good one to use.

Here you are.

[ SENT FILE: kaomoji.txt ]

[ be the menace i know you can be, gregor-san. ]

[blattella]

Better man than me! Better man than me.

(´• ω •`)ﾉ That's me saying thanks for the generosity! If anyone complains about me using these little guys too much, I know exactly who to point them at hahahahahaha

(Not really)(thank you though)

[gurge]

[ naturally ]

I think I can handle it.
You're welcome. Have fun~.