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

[inordertobelieve]

I don't know. That's the only honest answer I can give here.

[terribletwos]

if you think it will help, we can talk in one of the coffee shops.

private; i am SO sorry, i completely lost this notif orz

[inordertobelieve]

How do you feel about [insert location here] ? I am flexible with times right now as I have yet to gain obligations.

My real name is Teru Mikami, by the way. If we are to meet up, I do not want you dealing with the uncertainty of an anonymous stranger.

Re: private; no worries

[terribletwos]

yeah, that sounds fine.

roxas.

private;

[inordertobelieve]

This afternoon at 3, maybe?

I'll be waiting at the left side of the entrance. I'm a Japanese man with dark shoulder-length hair and glasses, for your reference.

Re: private;

[terribletwos]

okay.

[ This would probably be the part where Roxas would describe himself. Except he doesn't.

But he does show up at the place suggested, not bothering to look remotely inconspicuous as he searches for the person of the network's description. It might have helped if he had described himself at all since he may or may not look like his texts suggest. ]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Mikami thinks it's fair enough that his texting partner didn't describe themselves whatsoever. In this scenario he himself is the internet stranger wanting to meet up and it is reasonable to protect your privacy around him, to gauge if he's who he says he is before identifying themselves.

This does, however, mean that he's just kind of standing there now. He's wearing a green suit that is too plain for the fashion of Prismatica and he's looking... well, very tired, but otherwise like a respectable member of society.

He has no idea he's waiting for a teenager. ]

[terribletwos]

[ After a while, Roxas decides to hazard a guess since the man doesn't seem to be doing much other than just waiting for someone. It occurs to him that he doesn't really have any idea what a Japanese man looks like or what that even means. But the hair and glasses seem to match. He approaches the man, giving him a look that suggests he's studying him. ]

Are you the guy from the network that was asking about death today?

[inordertobelieve]

[ He never wanted to be 'the guy from the network' nor 'the guy who was asking about death' but now he's both of these things and it's almost uncomfortable enough to distract him from the fact that he's talking to a kid but only almost.

He blinks, visibly a little surprised, before nodding. ]

That's me. Roxas, I presume?

[terribletwos]

Yeah. Did you want to sit down somewhere? My explanation might take a little bit.

[inordertobelieve]

Of course. I'll pay for you, it's the least I can do.

[ He does feel a little bad about that now. The situation has just gotten even more awkward than before, but what can he do... This is his lot in life now, might as well just go inside the coffee shop and get a seat as they chat. ]

[terribletwos]

Pay for me? You mean the coffee? You don't have to. Like I said, I want to help, if I can. It's weird hearing you talk about being bothered at being alive again.

[inordertobelieve]

[ And it's also weird to hear this talked about out loud, but well, he'll deal. ]

As I said, I do not plan to waste this continued existence. I just don't feel like life should necessarily be extended past its given course.

[terribletwos]

[ Roxas gives him a more critical look. ]

I'm not supposed to be here either. I am because of my friends. They found a way.

I wasn't supposed to exist at all. But I don't regret having that chance. Without it, I never would have met the people important to me.

[inordertobelieve]

[ He nods, which is... extremely performative, given he doesn't understand a word of what is being talked about here. ]

Having only 'half' of a life, I believe you called it on the network. Your mere existence is magical in nature then?

[terribletwos]

[ Roxas is used to this sort of reaction by now. He doesn't like sharing any of this. But something about someone bothered by having a second chance gets under his skin too much to let go. ]

I'm what's called a Nobody. I was... created, I guess, when my Other lost his heart.

[inordertobelieve]

[ That makes absolutely zero sense still, but Mikami tries his hardest to not let his face betray that. Obviously this is something deeply personal and he doesn't want to be dismissive, he's just... having a hard time telling his brain to catch up and not be judgmental. ]

I can't say I really understand the situation, but I understand how it would give you a vastly different outlook on life itself.

I was born regularly and lived a very regular life up until here. I never particularly thought about the meaning of being alive before I was revived, really.

[terribletwos]

[ Roxas glances down, unsure how to better present any of this information. It must sound crazy to a normal person. ]

I've always thought about it because I never really understood what I was. I just knew I wasn't like most people. I didn't really care about anything else until I got closer to my friends and realized I wanted things to stay that way forever.

[ He clenches a fist lightly. ]

They didn't.

Some things happened and the life I knew... ended. I thought that was it.

[ Roxas looks back up at Mikami. ]

Then I was given another chance. Another body. Another life. I can't understand not wanting that.

[inordertobelieve]

[ Talking about this in person is indeed very different from doing so over text when the other person is a disembodied concept that only really exists as a catalyst for Mikami to sort out his own thoughts. Roxas now is a person and more than a person, he's a boy around half Mikami's age, if he had to guess. It makes Mikami regret just a little how blunt he's been this far. Commiserating with other dead people is generally one thing, but explaining the lack of will to live to a teenager is... well, it's another entirely.

Mikami looks back at Roxas attentively. If nothing else, it's clear that he's taking what he's saying seriously now, even against all odds of likelihood. ]

I think you're right to cherish what you were given. Your first existence was too short and plagued with questions no living thing should have to confront... and maybe that's where we differ.

Maybe how I feel right now is more comparable to how you felt when you first came into this world. Without meaning to be presumptuous, of course.

[terribletwos]

You mean not understanding why you're here. You need a purpose. Or it just feels like you're drifting along.

[ Yeah, that's easier for Roxas to relate to, much different than a blatant rejection of another chance. ]

Maybe that will come once you spend time around more people. People gave you purpose in the past, right?

[inordertobelieve]

[ Uh. There is some visible hesitation here. So much for his relationship to people, as a whole. ]

In a way, yes. I do feel a desire to contribute to the society of this world like I did in my own world. It does not feel as purposeful since all of this is strange and alien to me, but it is a path that isn't aimless either.

[terribletwos]

[ Roxas shakes his head. ]

Not like that. Like the feeling of belonging. Like they helped you understand more about yourself.

[inordertobelieve]

[ ...... ]

That sounds very idealistic.

[ Does he look like he has friends.... ]

[terribletwos]

[ Anyone can have friends! ]

What do you mean idealistic? Isn't that what friends usually do?

[ He looks highly confused by the statement. ]

[inordertobelieve]

[ Looks at Roxas. Looks at his cup of coffee that is very interesting right now.... ]

Finding people to belong with might be more of an accomplishment than you realize.