[001] Voice

[bornfromdeath]

[The faint strains of music can be heard in the background. Kimihiko's voice is casual and relaxed. He's not used to speaking to a bunch of people at once, but hey. He's not shy.]

The technology here is better than I expected. If this is the future, then they have some pretty good developments.

[Exchange for exchange. A light dropping of information

Comments

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Oh, there's plenty of trouble here. You won't have to look far to find it. Now let's see...

[There's a short pause as he considers the "side-effects" he'd learned of so far.]

The most interesting thing I know of so far is that death is impermanent here... most of the time, anyway. People who die apparently come back to life a short while afterwards. Then again, some of them don't. I'm not entirely sure of the conditions required for it to occur, I'm afraid. There doesn't seem to be much of a pattern to it.

I've also heard stories about people gaining supernatural abilities from the Core when they arrive here, though I can't say I know anything about that for certain.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

...excuse me?

[Death is impermanent? That's probably the most alarming thing he could have said. He keeps his voice light even while his mind is racing.]

That seems pretty convenient, if unreliable. Although everything has a pattern. For something not to... now that is an oddity.

Supernatural abilities... you mean like something out of anime?

[Yeah, thanks, Shinji. Now that's what he equates that to.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Convenient? Yes, I suppose it is. [Unless you actually wanted to die.] As I said, I've not noticed any kind of pattern but, well, there may be one. I can't say.

I'm... not quite sure what you mean by anime. You're probably better off asking others about Core-given abilities, to be quite honest. I haven't developed one myself.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

Has anyone even tried to find one? [Or did they just assume it was impossible to understand like so many people did anyway?]

You know. Animated television? Bright colours, strong lines. Giant robots, schoolgirls with guns, idiots wearing short skirts while fighting monsters? A lot of people in anime seem to have unusual powers, from what I've seen. Just say the magic words and you can do anything it would seem. [He files away the information about the abilities for later.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

I enquired about it not too long ago but nobody could give any real answer. I suppose if someone really did try they might be able to find something.

Ah. I think it's safe to say that that kind of thing doesn't exist where I'm from. Though we do have magic, and monsters. Both of them in abundance.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

...!

Did you come from an anime? Worlds like that exist?

[Man, Shinji would... well he'd probably not give a damn. But he might be entertained.]

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Well, I... No, I don't think so. [What even...] It's a perfectly normal world, I suppose. It just happens to be very different to this one.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

"Perfectly normal", you say... when you say you have magic.

[Well, his world had a guy who can make people commit suicide with his voice, so why not?]

Hah. Well, I guess I can accept it. It's no weirder than this place being full of things that go snarl in the night.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

I'm not so magically-inclined myself, but there are powerful magicians in my world, yes. That's quite normal for us.

[He gives a quiet chuckle.] So you've met the local night-life, have you? Friendly fellows, aren't they? As long as you're inside by evening sirens, you should be safe enough.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

I watched them through the window last night. Quite a disturbing sight. I suppose that puts an end to any late nights out.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Unless you're terribly eager to fight them, I'd say it does. There are those that do, of course. Stay out all night, fighting the Darkness, whether it's for their own entertainment or the sake of others.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

Hah. I know someone that would have fun like that. But it's not my type of thing.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Not the thrill-seeker sort, eh? Can't blame you really.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

Isn't life enough of a thrill? [He's being evasive, but he sounds content. Even if he's not.]

I'm happy enough watching others seek their thrills.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

Thrill isn't exactly the word I'd use to describe life, but I suppose it's close enough. Still, if people really find fighting those things to be fun, well then, more power to them.

[voice]

[bornfromdeath]

It depends on your life. And it could be worse. At least they have the right targets.