» the city network

i know we lose our powers and stuff
but did anyone else have someone else in their head and lose them too?

do those people show up here?

just in case

[ Then, because grandpa raised him to be a polite boy - ]

sorry, this is yuji itadori! nice to meet you!

I hear everyone is having a good time at the Haunted House. Seems like this place really keeps you on your toes, huh?

If anyone wants a break from all the excitement, I'm in the market for some extra hands to make some desserts. Cupcakes, cakes, maybe some pies. We can decorate them too to keep up the holiday spirit.

I'm pretty good at bandages and first-aid these days if you need a patch-up job after a busy night, too.

This might be a silly question. But how do you suppose we should be counting our birthdays here?

I technically should be 19 now, I think.
But if it's Halloween, I'm still a bit away from my birthday, too.

Should I be 18 or 19?

[ there's a monk. a buddhist monk, dressed nape to ankle in ceremonial robes, bare feet on hard tile floors. the penthouse behind him is classy and tasteful, but a jarring modern contrast to his clothing. it doesn't take much movement to realize his right sleeve, however, is completely empty. cheerful and chipper, he smiles and waves at the camera. ]

Hi hi~! Oh. I've been here since the first of us and not properly introduced myself on the network. My apologies, I'm a bit shy. [ yeah right. ] I'm Getou Suguru — [ the bow of his head is just deep enough to not be impolite. ] — a shaman from Japan. Back home, I specialized in hauntings and strange phenomena, as well as karmic work and even some chakra alignment. If you're suffering from strange aches and recurring nightmares, compulsive thoughts or stranger whispers, unprecedented cravings...

[ he's extremely animated through each of these symptoms even though he rattles them off like a medication commercial: acting out an ache in his nonexistent arm, a hand over his eyes for the nightmares, holding his head for thoughts and whispers, and... something a little more devious for cravings as he winks. ]

Please don't hesitate to visit.

[ a map link identifies his location. he's not very worried about stranger danger, is he? there's a long beat where he just smiles, and it seems like the feed might end, but then he acts on another thought that's been rolling around in that silly head of his: ]

Ah, and... Satoru.

[ to throw himself at the mercy of the public image is... a lot. he must know it, this man who values his pristine image. is it apology enough then, to make himself look like such a fool? he slides onto his knees mid-screen, clapping his hands together in prayer. are there tears? there might be tears. ]

Can't you please finally forgive meeeee?

[ what an embarrassing note to end on. ]



[ note: this character is a villain who hates humans so please check the journal for content warnings! i caught covid in the middle of sept so sorry for the abrupt hiatus; i'm working my way through backtags soon. no worries if anything's too old! cheers ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

The seventh day of the seventh month already. I didn't think we would be in this city for quite this long, but I guess it's also a surprise that we're here to begin with...

Does anyone else celebrate Tanabata? It might be nice to hang up some wishes. If only to do something new around here.

[You better believe Kamui has already tried everything else.]

Additionally, has anyone seen a good wish tree candidate around? [He's pretty sure they're out of luck on the bamboo front...] It needs a decent amount of boughs. There are a lot of people here.

This world has many conveniences that far outstrip those of my own. Some of the wealthiest nobles of my home would never imagine the quality of life one of middling status here would enjoy and it has been an eye-opening experience for this humble one.

That being said, there are some basic resources I have had difficulty procuring. I'm not sure if they are simply absent from this world or if I am - ah - what is the colourful turn of phrase? Barking at the wrong tree?

Something like that.

( List of Required Materials: )

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!]

Uh, hello everyone. It looks like we might be here a little longer than we hoped for, unless anyone has figured out how to leave yet.

[ He tries not to sound pesimistic about it. ]

I mean, whoever brought us here threw us a really dull mixer and hasn't made themselves known, so a lot of people are probably looking for places to stay and figuring all that stuff out.

No one's asking my opinion, but I would encourage everyone not to live somewhere too secluded. We don't know what might happen, and if you need help, it may be difficult to reach you. I know most of us probably don't know anything about each other, and it can be difficult to trust strangers, but putting city blocks between you and your nearest neighbor won't make things easier.

That's all.