» the city network

[ are you fucking tired of her yet

don't worry, she isn't sitting in the middle of a parking lot waiting for death today. or intending to put forth the question of what justice means to someone, if it exists and the like. no. truly, today don quixote is being somewhat normal as far as someone who speaks the way she does goes. promise. ]

A-hem! Whilst I know there is never a good time for a party, particularly in a city that one may find disquietingly peaceful, [ not that she does nope, ] what I wish to propose to thee is something that may prove more useful in the long run:

A festival-like gathering where we may show off, speak of, and eat the diversity we have brought with us from wherever we hail! For example, in my City [ note the implied capitalization ] there are very many Districts, and each one has its own tradiciones, cuisine, and even values which differ from even their close neighbors! It is a most fascinating thing, and I am one of several whom have the pleasure to be travelling through them all -- or I was, before now.

[ it was fun. not for like, a handful of them so far, but very fun. so cool to see the different sights. the different smells. the tastes. ]

I will not enforce thy participation in any way, but those who attend shall be granted food and a chance to speak on their own adventures, values, and world -- those who do not attend will be sorrowful saps whose spines resemble that of a curling worm, rather than the straight edge of a blade! If I have made myself clear, or thee find thyself angered by my word, then do come! There will also be a special surprise at the end, which I think many will be enamored by!

[ ... if junpei's gotten his firework source on board anyway. ]

Uhm, I do not wish it to be too soon, so in three days hence, when the sun has some hours to set, prithee do join myself upon yonder rooftop... ehm, here.

[ hold on she has. a brochure with a map. she's X-marking the spot it and putting it to the camera. it's an office building not terribly far from a cluster of apartments, located in the second district now open to them. ]

Of course, this shall not be thine only guiding hand to the excitement which awaits thee -- I shall provide an easy path as well, one that cannot be missed! I ask thee use this time, and this space, to talk and plan if thou would like, to inquire that which thee may wish to inquire, and also to issue any complaint thee may have ahead of time, particularly by those who see no point in such activities so I may thus convince you to join us regardless!

[ ooc: as a note to everyone else, the log'll be posted by the 14th to allow for newcomers to join in as well, and that's when it will be dated if forward dated ]

( It's everyone's favorite person, Kromer!!! She whistles to announce herself, then more properly introduces herself— )

Been a while, hasn't it? For those who don't know me, the name's Kromer. Pleasure's mine. I posed some questions last time I posted here, but I won't bother repeating them for you—I got the picture the first time. ( She pauses, then laughs shortly. ) Actually, speaking of questions—

I'm sure you've seen them! The kiosks over at the tourist center in city hall. You can ask them questions and you can get mostly useless answers. They've got some interesting ones every so often, though, like how this isn't the first time this has happened.

( She's been thinking on that answer for a while, and now she's just casually dropping it into conversation. Whatever. )

I'm collecting questions and their resulting answers, so if you've posed any, let me know... or you can pass them along to Junpei instead, if you're familiar with him. We're partners. ( in a way. ) It's nice to be able to make sure we're not needlessly going in circles, right? And putting all the information in one place makes it easier to put the pieces together.

( ... )

That's all. Let's do our best to work together and find a way home, alright? Chin up, everyone.

[Good day city-zens, it's User Name Junpei here with another paranoid rant about god only knows what. Just kidding, he's laser focused his paranoia these days, so, ahem:]

Hi, uh, I'm Junpei, if you didn't know. [A brief pause, while he internally laments that he will never get his goddamn codename, but okay. He's made peace with it. He holds up two fingers.] Two things.

[He leans forward and his head and shoulders go out of frame for a moment, while the rustling of papers can be heard somewhere beyond the camera. Should he have gathered his materials beforehand? Yes, for sure, but such is life. Enjoy this view of his t-shirt while he swears and drops something back there...

When he leans back into frame he doesn't hold anything up just yet.]

First, since it looks like people are going missing now, do you guys think we should have... I don't know, a system? To keep track of each other? I don't mean something like the buddy system— [Although he doesn't NOT mean the buddy system, always investigate mysterious liminal cities with a friend!!--] —But... something. Besides running around looking for signs every time. We need to figure out where they're going.

[He's convinced they're still in the city but Taken Somewhere, you see. Where, though... mmm. Workshopping that. He sits there looking grim for a beat, then sighs himself out of it and lifts up one of his papers.

It has beautiful birds drawn on it. Some people may recall his canary symbol idea from Setsuna's meeting, ahem...]

Second is... this. Somebody out there's gotta be better at drawing a bird than me. If you see these hung up anywhere... be careful of whatever's around. [Another beat.] And, uh, if anyone wants to contribute to the cause, I'll pay you in beer and gummies? Normal gummies.

[sorry, he has no edibles. also never mind that one can get beer and gummies without joining his danger birds cause. sign up for art club!!!]

[ good morning city-folk, how's your day? today's broadcast is brought to you by our sponsors Fuck This Place, in partnership with Fuck Heine Especially. the video begins after the phone's owner sets it on the ground, so the camera angle is a little strange, but he never claimed to be some marvel of photography here so you get what you get okay.

badou also plunks himself on the ground in what appears to be the sidewalk in front of some nondescript convenience store. the shelves of which he'd just raided if the plastic bag he sets down beside him is of any indication. within its contents one can find a bright pink energy drink, a generous helping of cigarette cartons, and what appears to be a family-size bag of off-brand twizzlers. #bachelorlife, amirite?

there's bruising on his neck that's only just begun to fade, and a splint around his left wrist that's already got various crude drawings on it, all courtesy of mr. artist himself. he works on fishing himself out and lighting up a brand new cigarette before even addressing the camera (made all the more difficult by that fractured wrist) so enjoy five minutes of nicotine addict ASMR. ]

Hey. 'Sup. How ya doing. Have y'all seen my dog? Lost him a bit ago, about yea high, real pale, red eyes, no eyebrows, answers to the name Heine or Fuckface.

[ for ease, he's provided a supplementary visual, which he holds up to the camera with all the flourish of a child's first finger-painting. BEHOLD his uncanny portrait! yes, his commissions are open. ]

( cut for image :') )
[ he crumples the paper with perhaps a lot more ire for someone supposedly "missing" his ""dog"" but a deep drag of his cigarette quickly calms him back down. there's a beat-up lighter in his hand he can't seem to stop fiddling with. ]

Thought about putting some signs up and slappin' 'em on some milk cartons but who knows what the fuck whoever's-in-charge-here considers """vandalism""" and I ain't about to go around testin' it like some of you can't seem to stop yourselves from.

[ a-hem. ]

Speakin' of — that survey we were given here. How many of ya answered that honestly? Shit's startin' to get real personal, though I think I'd remember if I'd been asked about the worst fuckin' day of my life.

[ which begs the question he's sure everyone's already thought about by now: how the fuck do these people know them that well? ]

---

( EDITED: because someone (me) forgot to include injuries.... smh )

[ HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. okay, okay, okay. he'll press enter. ]


friendly neighborhood anonymous here.

so this was going to be a post about a database i'm working on with some other people and hopefully more people but one of those people seems to be unreachable now so this is also an APB for Gregor.

onto other shit: we've been working on a document that keeps all the facts we know and all the theories we're currently trying to prove/disprove. it's encrypted for obvious reasons but click the link and I'll get you access no problem [ for all those who have come across his videos on how to use encryptions and how to make yourself purely anonymous, fear not! the stupid naming conventions continue: satanwasababyboomer.doc but its safe to assume that anyone who clicks gains both access to view and edit pretty quickly. ]

this tech is pretty old for me. i'm doing what i can to make it both secure AND accessible. if you're talented with early 2000s technology c'mon down. maybe you can make something work that i can't.

i have to admit i'm not the greatest at keeping on top of things like this. could really use the extra hands in general. there are some other people looking to do the same thing as this but hard copy. mingle with them if that's your bag. assuming they reply here (please reply here if/when you see this... if you want to).

also just for my own curiosities: calling all tech people. engineers, programmers, whatever. let's put our heads together. help one another out.

ps: if you want to annoy someone that's pissing you off I recorded fart sounds, you're welcome.

╰(▔∀▔)╯ ( ´ ▽ ` ) ╰(*´︶`*)╯

i'm looking for data on ability users in this place! no need to tell me what it is! just tell me - is it perfectly fine? help a detective build a case! ٩(｡•́‿•̀｡)۶

[ When the video begins, the room being recorded is dark except for two lamps on either side tilted to create a spotlight in the center. A woman has her back to the camera, wearing a black leather jacket, a tank top, and red pants. ]

Things sure have been getting interesting really quickly. Murder, mystery, organized fights to the death! I thought this place would be dull, but it's been really lively.

However, it's also been grim. I think it's time to brighten the mood.

So, tell me-

[ Now she turns half-way, whipping her hair out and twisting her front side to be noticeable. It's all about the T&A. ]

When it comes to women, what's your type? [ Then, she smirks. ] And if you think a boring answer like "I don't like women" will suffice, I'll just say-

[ Then she twists and whips in the opposite direction, back side still front and showing off her flexibility. ]

When it comes to men, what's your type!? Don't even think about evading the question because I will get an answer, one way or another.

Is this thing working? I think it is.

[ a flat voice can be heard, calm and quiet despite the current situation. oda clears his throat, and continues with a sigh. ]

I figured I would introduce myself, since it seems I won't be going anywhere anytime soon. My name is Oda Sakunosuke. In my world I worked as a detective, so I guess if anyone needs something like that, I can give it a shot.

[ he doesn't think he's very good at it, perhaps third-rate at best. but it's good to pool your resources together, right? collaborating in times of need or something like that. ]

I'd like to know what others did before coming here, and if you're still doing something related to it. Also, what's your favorite food? Mine's spicy curry.

[ yes it has been some days. yes this is not the first time she's spoken to the network at large. this time, however, she is showing her face and standing quite proudly this morning in front of a parking lot. cars, empty of gas but otherwise whole, scatter the background. ]

Good morn, dear fellows! I have come to thee today to ask a favor, to grant thee an honor, and help this young knight with a missive most important to all!

[ a beat. she swings into frame an umbrella, popping open the apple printed "lance" with a laugh before closing it as she continues, easy-going like she isn't going to be talking about what she is.

unbeknownst to most, don quixote needs this. ]

Thou may have seen some days ago an anonymous message regarding murder. Well! I am here now, asking thee to assist me with something like it -- nay, the exact same! I would like to see for myself, and as proof of the effects for others, what happens when one dies.

I shall not fight thee, unless thou shall wish for it for I am most happy to oblige, and I shall take only one volunteer. Whomever has the daring, the will, and the capacity to kill, I ask that thee throw thy hand up and seek to claim my life! My dear friends need not apply, for I shall reject thee post-haste!

[ she is NOT letting a fellow sinner do it. not her coworkers. she's been fussed at and she's going to be fussed at again. she might let one of the other city-dwellers do it, given they're both fixers (or formerly) but not her coworkers, war vet be damned.

gregor couldn't do it the other time, after all. ]

However, allow me to lay bare the possibilities of what may happen to thee should thou take it upon thyself to do so.

There is a chance thou may forget that which is most precious to thee, that thou will forget the moment of my death itself, and face... certain difficulties in speaking about it. [ she doesn't know if kromer mentioned that, but it's something regardless. ] I may suffer the same. The goal of this is to learn if it is the victim who forgets, if it is the murderer who doth, or if both have it struck from their mind; the secondary goal, a more personal one, is to learn if both may suffer from the others I have mentioned.

... I understand it is difficult to think of killing another, but I can assure thee, such a thing comes up frequently in my work. We are ever prepared to do so, and to die just as well!

[ helps they don't stay dead but she's not. gonna. say that. it might be odd to wonder what effects who in this case, but. well. a lady keeps her secrets. ]

Any who wish to act as witness may attend as well, for we will have need of thee. I thank thee heartily for thy time and thy consideration on the matter.

[ a small bow, hand to her chest and umbrella tucked behind her, and that's that. ]

[ There's a blur of color and too-bright fluorescent lights before the camera stops abruptly in front of the frozen food aisle of a grocery store. ]

See that? [ She probably means the frankly alarming amount of eggo waffles, zooming in on a few boxes for emphasis. ] They keep getting restocked somehow. [ And she's taken a lot. So she'd actually know.

Switching the camera view, Sylvie's face fills the screen. She looks awfully stern, like she's about to launch into theorizing or even a warning about the validity of the food. But she doesn't. Instead, inexplicably: ]

All of those are mine—even the ones that aren't there yet. [ ... she's serious. ] Fight me if you want, but I call dibs.

I'd like to keep this as efficient as possible, so I don't plan on talking your ear off.

Call me Daan. I'm a doctor. That should about cover all you need to know about me.

So, first question: is there already a clinic arranged by someone here? Have there been any injuries on top of there being a willing killer out there? Illnesses or whatever else. I can probably help you, even a little.

Second question: who has been here since the start of this whole mess of being trapped in a part of this city? Ideally, I'd like someone who can be informative, but I'm not overly picky.

oh yeah heads up
ive heard from certain people who committed this themselves and
apparently if you kill someone here
you get your memories wiped of the incident altogether
not sure why they'd go out of their way to do that here but they do this sort of thing where im from all the time so im very used to seeing it
probably can't say the same for other people from other worlds so you guys have to educate me on that

so uhh
im not saying you should or shouldn't kill altogether
im not your mom
but just keep that in mind the next time you got some kinda murderous urge or something
the reason why im anonymous right now is bc i don't wanna reveal who did that in the first place
it might lead to some awkward icebreakers on their part
also i wouldn't lie about something like this if anyone's wondering bc i got no time to waste on leading people on

but this is probably the worst thing any newcomer would wanna see, huh
whoops
well... welcome to this city, i guess

( ooc: feel free to threadjack and craft theories! kromer/@gripper will also be answering questions about things she knows as a victim as well. )