prismatica | two text posts for the price of one

▶ 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. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You are not alone, no. Nor are you alone in having accepted death in all its finality, before awakening again in this place.

Unwelcome though it may be, it remains the situation we find ourselves in. What will you do in the absence of the answers you seem to require?

To start with, I have not yet given up on finding more answers. Asking people on the internet is merely surface research.

One way or another, though, I appear to have been given no choice but to try and integrate into this strange new world for the time being. I'm not happy about it, but it is the only way forward.

Not to be altogether discouraging, but we were all given the same answers that you were. Or, perhaps more accurately, we are all managing the same lack thereof. I dislike the relative dearth of information, but it's something that one learns to live with, simply due to the absence of another choice.

I haven't been here long. Only about a month or so. You'll find that the local population is not unkind, and the people in general are about what you would expect with a few exceptions. The world itself and its goings-on are interesting enough to keep you busy, should you allow them to.

I don't mean to accuse you of being untruthful - this is simply a matter that I will have to re-confirm for myself. It might seem contradictory, given it was me who posted the question to start with, but I still need to fact-check as much as I possibly can. It is already difficult enough to fathom my own existence to start with.

What would you consider the most interesting aspect of the world, from your perspective? There is no guarantee we lived even at all comparable lives, so I am curious.

The moon cycles were explained to you upon your arrival, I assume. It's interesting in an objective sense, though rather in a way that makes one understand why wishing that one should live in interesting times was considered a curse.

There are a large number of strange occurrences here; that's merely the most consistent, from what I've experienced.

It seems plenty cursed, I would agree. I've been trying not to think about it too hard, but I assume I'll be forced to before long.

I am also not enamored with how it ties into the monetary system. This entire planet is one big violation of privacy.

At least the level of intimacy required isn't high. Hopefully you're aware of that much; it makes the whole thing more a matter of inconvenience than an invasion of any sort.

It isn't high, but it is above zero and that's where I would like for it to be.

I am more than willing to work for my livelihood, but any expressions of affection and the like shouldn't be owed to anyone, no matter the intensity.

Are you so opposed to divorcing the act from any meaning, should it serve you to do so?

Yes. Not incapable of it, but strongly opposed. My physical autonomy is very important to me.

Meaningless physical gestures have their purpose to others, I am sure, but I prefer to not get involved.

You do acknowledge that you're causing your own problems in their entirety, I hope.

I do not.

[ It's this world's fault for being weird and creepy, leave him alone. ]

Is it actually possible to make a living off merely handshakes and the like, additionally to Demichroma?

I serve as a priest.

I get what I can from administering rites, and from laying on of hands during prayer should the person be receptive. Otherwise... Well, I'm obviously not partaking in what you seem determined to consider affection. Menial contact is enough.

[ Look, anything past a handshake is affection to Mikami, and he wants none of any of it. But that aside, this is kind of relieving to hear and he breathes out upon receiving the text. ]

I see. So there is a significant enough number of people sharing your religion from your original world so that you could build a community?

There are a sufficient amount of people who are curious about and willing to discuss religion with me. I do not begrudge people their existing faith or beliefs, and I do not seek to convert the masses. But I obviously find faith and worship to be worthwhile.

[So, not really. Just people that are down for religion as a whole.]

I understand. There is merit in such a set-up. Though my faith does not dictate any services or rites, I do understand the solace offered by religious rituals.

[ In moderation, anyway. He thinks rich church decorations are kind of gross. ]

Perhaps we can discuss it sometime. Other people's thoughts on such things have always been of interest to me, after all.

I would not mind this at all. Theology has become quite the pressing topic for me, now that the existence of other worlds has been revealed.

My actual username is 'mkmtr', by the way. I was not comfortable having my passing be public information, which is why this post was made on a throw-away account. It is nice to meet you.

The pleasure is mine. You can call me Gray; we can meet whenever you would like.

Either way, hopefully this does become easier for you in time.

My name is Mikami. I'll likely contact you again once I am more settled. It should hopefully not take me too long.

I am sure the shock of arrival will wear off soon.

[ He looks like death right now, no pun intended, and he'd like to make a dignified impression at... some point. ]

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