two text posts for the price of one

[inordertobelieve]

▶ A. UN: anonymous123
[ Mikami is not okay. Granted, he hasn't been okay for 10 days now and most of that is not the fault of the strange alien planet he has suddenly been brought to, but being here isn't exactly helping either. He's gone through all the arrival procedures like sleepwalking and now he's spent a day or two just sitting in his apartment staring at nothing. A part of him still expects that this will all go away and he will finally fade into nothingness as he righteously should--- but that's not happening. He's still here, he's still breathing, and all of it is so so utterly wrong.

Mikami has never posted on the internet for advice before. That has always been the kind of lost and pathetic that happens to other people. He thinks about how low he's sunken and hits 'create account' on Prismagram. ]

I am dead. I have been made to understand that this is not the status quo. Why am I here then?

[ ... yeah, a very helpful post. He may be convinced to come off anon over the course of conversations, but that's a case-by-case thing. ]

▶ B. UN: mkmtr
[ Some time after that existential crisis is aired to the public, Mikami sits down and makes an actual personal account that he intends to use if needed be. He's not much of a social media person, never has been, but it seems useful to have in a place that is entirely unfamiliar. ]

Good afternoon.
I have recently settled in Lunatia after my initial arrival procedures. While I have been able to gain a wealth of information from officials and don't require immediate assistance, there are questions that I feel are better answered by other 'Moonblessed'. If you have a moment to spare, I would be grateful.

How well have you found your education from your old life to be valued in this city? For obvious reasons, we are without our certificates and cannot prove whatever degrees we may have obtained in the past. How would one go about having their academic status recognized?

Naturally, most knowledge would not carry over one on one, but there is still merit in being able to cite experience.

- T. Mikami

▶ C. [in person option]
[ There is a guy in a suit slowly exploring Lunatia Level 2 and visibly cringing at every bit of colorful decor or bubbly pop music. He looks like he hasn't slept well in many days. He also looks kind of lost. You may approach him in any manner you see fit, just wildcard me. ]

Comments

A | text | un: lightning

[lightningruins]

Ghost? Zombie? Just not dead anymore?

oh! vampire?

[inordertobelieve]

I haven't detected any physical anomalies compared to how I was before.

I died right before arriving here.

a | text | un: is4810

[divinesight]

[He still isn't altogether used to texting, but he's been picking it up surprisingly well, at least.]

Does it distress you, for the situation to be such?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Okay, let him just stare at this for two seconds. Is it... is it not obvious...? ]

Yes. I don't know what the status quo might be in other worlds, but where I am from, death is final.

A, text; username: inaban

[dereban]

It's not really that uncommon for dead people to show up here - not that I am on of those people, but talk goes around. It's not necessarily what you'd deem 'the status quo', but it's something to be made aware of.

Not to mention that I've also heard vaguely that Moonblessed don't exactly die permanently in this world?

Take my words with a grain of salt, though; they're things I've just heard from the grapevine rather than through personal experience.

[inordertobelieve]

What do you mean 'not permanently'? Even if it is grapevine talk, I am interested in the details.

Do we just wake up on the moon once again like I did upon arrival?

un: no

[terribletwos]

what do you mean dead/

[ As far as he understands it, death means no longer existing. So someone can't be dead and here at the same time, right? ]

[inordertobelieve]

Exactly as it sounds. My last memory is my own death. Then I found myself here, physically sound and seemingly alive.

A | username: absterge

[downswing]

You are agitated?

[inordertobelieve]

Yes. Is it not normal, in this situation?

text \ un : RE-L124C41+

[realimperfect]

How are you so sure that this isn't some elaborate purgatory for all of us?

Dante's Inferno with less circles and all the hedonism you could want instead?

[inordertobelieve]

'Sure' might be an overstatement.

I gained the impression, however, that most people here are alive in their respective homeworlds and thus have a vested interest in returning to it.

B | text | un: 16

[shiliu]

without examination qualifications or advantages of birth, it comes down to simply proving oneself.

[ ....says this former grand marshal, now mere junior officer in the Moon Knights. ]

[inordertobelieve]

That is unsatisfyingly unspecific, but I suppose that's to be expected.

Considering the differences between this world and mine, I might well have to redo my entire university education though I'd prefer not to...

[B] UN: TachibanaS

[triggerhappytraitor]

Citing experience should be easily enough done without needing having the paperwork to prove it. It should be readily apparent if you have the knowledge or not.

[inordertobelieve]

'Readily apparent' as it may be, it's rather impractical to prove your basic abilities anew every time. Taking a test of aptitude once and regaining new certificates seems a lot simpler in the long run.

A - un: cooledition

[force_a_change]

(◔ૂ◔) Death is such a strange thing, isn't it?

And I'm assuming you're here for the same reason we're all here for, to be a "moonblessed". Unless you mean a more metaphorical reason for being here?

[inordertobelieve]

The opposite of metaphorical, actually.

I am looking for the 'why' and 'how' of being revived in the first place. Though the former might be hard to answer, I was hoping at least the latter had a known cause.

A - un: havefaith

[peacewithouttyranny]

A someone who is 'dead' and was among the first wave of Moonblessed, there isn't an answer for that I have found. Unless you count the moons or whatever force out there wants us here to produce Chroma for the world as the reason for what.

It does not seem uncommon for those who died on their world and then soon after found themselves on this world, seemingly revived and whole.

[Considering the way he died, he was surprised he has a body here.]

[inordertobelieve]

The moons are a reason but not the explanation I am seeking. Being revived by a completely random phenomenon is hard to believe. Bringing someone back from the dead can't possibly be this easy.

Do you have an estimate for how high the percentage of dead Moonblessed is?

text | un: stcethleannfan, B

[baitless]

That's a bit of a difficult question to answer, honestly, particularly since this world challenges so many of my previous assumptions. One can certainly demonstrate one's experience, but I have found myself mostly working with other Moonblessed who... well, understand our circumstances through personal experience.

[inordertobelieve]

This world certainly is a lot to take in and get used to. To say I am adjusting well would be a lie.

The Moonblessed still fall under the same legislation as the Prismals, right? That would make it difficult for me to keep up my previous career.

C, action

[machiavel]

[ seimei did see the posts, but they weren’t that interesting to him. someone is dead—so what? who isn’t these days? it does worry seimei a little to think that there are people who could come back to haunt him, but not enough to reveal himself when the original post was anonymous as well. then the second one, with a name attached… well, he didn’t finish school. he had bigger and better things to do.

so of course their only chance to meet would be when mikami is having a certified Bad Time out in public. ]

Are you looking for something?

[ …he asks, like some kind of bubbly salesperson, but they’re out on the street and they have no reason to interact except that seimei has chosen to. ]

[inordertobelieve]

[ It takes Mikami a split second to even realize that he is the person being talked to because that is how bad this time is currently being. He doesn't do well with unfamiliar surroundings even on a good day, but this isn't a good day and the surroundings are blindingly neon and ugly and it's... really not helping.

But okay, it's him who's being approached, so he straightens up a bit to look professional. The dark circles around his eyes sabotage this attempt, but it's fine. We're all fine. ]

Nothing specific, though finding a store that sells things that are neither neon nor glittering would definitely be a plus. I arrived recently, I'm still getting my bearings.

A | anonymous

[scythegun]

[Well, that hits a bit close to home, doesn't it. Not that Yeager's particularly bothered by it - and it isn't like he actually died (yet) - but after a bit of fiddling to make sure this is truly anon, he responds.]

I was pulled shortly before dying, but I'm surprised they managed to put you back together so well. At least, I'm assuming it's well enough for you to function. Perhaps your manner of death had something to do with how they were able to bring you here.

Or maybe you're mistaken and what happened didn't truly kill you. Is that a possibility?

[inordertobelieve]

It is a very slim possibility. I was bleeding out and I was rather far gone by the time I lost consciousness. There is no reason to assume I'd have been found anytime soon to that.

Though upon arriving here my injuries were healed without a trace. Physically it's as if the event that ended me had never taken place.

Were you healed?

text;a

[champagnetower]

Whoaaa!!!
You can use the internet when you're dead?!
That's a real game changer!
What's it like?!

[inordertobelieve]

Surprisingly enough, it isn't any different than using it while alive.

Granted, physically I am apparently alive again to begin with.

b | un: mrsjohnson

[uncredentialed]

There might be something to be said for putting all of us on a level playing field, so to speak.

[inordertobelieve]

The playing field is not actually level, if you ask me.

We may all arrive here with nothing but our differences in age, experience and capabilities remain ever-present. In accordance with that, the losses suffered by people who are younger are lesser. They have an easier time picking a new career here without wasting years of specialized education in their homes, for example.

A | un: lancerblue

[battlefrenzy]

Hey, I'm dead too. It just happens. Neither of us are in purgatory, as far as I know.

[inordertobelieve]

I'd have been surprised to find myself in such a place to begin with, but it's always good to have negative confirmation on the matter.

a. un: sencha

[anbu]

[A late reply comes, after several have already filled the poster's queue.]

Have you found a satisfactory answer?

[inordertobelieve]

Sadly, no.

I have learned that the percentage of dead Moonblessed is far higher than I had initially anticipated. My question likely seemed repetitive to many. And yet, research into the matter is severely lacking.

The most answer I've been able to obtain from others is 'the moons' which is about as flimsy as our reason for being here is to begin with. I'm going to approach the Prismal researchers looking into our arrival at some point in the future. The fact that the moons can put us back together after mortal injuries without leaving a trace of these is, if nothing else, an important facet of their power and I am hoping they have looked into it a bit further than that.

text | un: stormflower

[sleepinglotus]

It's not commonplace, but there are people here who had already passed on before arriving here alive and well. Some also arrive with their last memories being before that event took place while others clearly remember their demise.

[inordertobelieve]

I had not heard of that latter option yet.

After arriving here, the idea of parallel universes with minuscule differences is not as hard to stomach as it once was, but it's still a lot to accept at once.

a; un: anonymous

[penpoint]

You're not the first and won't be the last deceased person to arrive. Good for you, you get more time. Congrats.

[inordertobelieve]

Thank you.

[ He's been depressing about how little he wants to actually have this extra time to enough people already, so he figures it's faster to just let it stand for now. ]

There certainly is a far larger community than I had initially expected. As ridiculous as it sounds, I am beginning to feel that a newly-dead brochure at the Government Centers would be of use.

c.

[dissimilates]

[ kogami's no stranger to the new and the lost, and while he usually minds his own business if they seem capable of finding their way around the city -- it takes some getting used to -- he steps in from time to time.

he's casually dressed this time, jeans and a henley, and a book that practically touted a trashy compilation of the most sensational, torrid crimes found in tabloids. light reading, and all that. ]

Found your apartment yet?

[inordertobelieve]

[ The book immediately draws Mikami's attention and he reads the title in full before he even thinks to reply to the strangers that just approached him. His social priorities aren't quite in order yet.

Then, he finally nods, straightening out his posture. ]

I have. Fortunately the instructions provided on the Iris moon weren't that lacking. I'm trying to find my bearings around the rest of the town, but...

[ He sighs in frustration. ]

That you were able to identify me as new right away speaks for itself.

b

[grylls]

Your qualifications determine how to prove them. Some are easy to demonstrate and have accepted, others are hindered by technological advancements.

[inordertobelieve]

Social differences might also be another obstacle. I doubt I'll be able to get my full law education recognized here - and that's only fair, I am not actually familiar with the current legal system.

But I would like to at least build up paper credentials for up to a basic college education.