I. [AUDIO]

[wordsoul]

[ The sound clicks on, and then there's a surprised pause. It's just a little bit unexpected; here he thought he'd be fussing with the buttons for another ten minutes before he could figure out how to transmit but, well.

Seems that technology's pretty much the same everywhere.

A few noisy taps near the microphone, and then: ]

Hello.

[ He leans

Comments

[wordsoul]

I'm sorry to say.

If it's any consolation, this doesn't look a great deal like Japan either.

[wordsoul]

... Hm. An old part of a European town, maybe.

[ Unless he means historical in the functionally historical sense, in which case... well. Kubota's not one to believe in time travel, but he's not one to believe in being whisked away to the other side of the world in the blink of an eye, either.

There aren't many options for a skeptic in this situation. ]

Do you remember how you got here?

[voice]

[couragetodare]

Dunno who sent the invite, but this place is Anatole. People get dragged here and we haven't found a way back to where we came from. [Small pause.] Yet. Dunno who wants us here either. Or why.

Uh, here- you can take a look at this is you want? [ Insert a text link here idek]

Info. It might help.

[voice]

[wordsoul]

[ Looong silence while he reads. And quite a long one after he's done reading, too. ]

... Thank you for the help, but I'd be lying if I said I weren't dubious about it. I'm sure you know how it sounds.

[ But it'd be a lot of effort to go to just for a prank, wouldn't it? It doesn't help that it's adding up with what he's seeing. ]

Then we're some kind of filler workforce?

[voice]

[couragetodare]

Don't blame you. I still wanna believe this is a Genjutsu. [A sigh.] Give it a while. Take a look around if you want- but be careful!

[Silence as he considers. Filler workforce? Scorched for working then? ] I don't think so. The native's got that covered and for some of us getting the work is pretty damn hard, y'know? They don't want us here. We don't wanna be here.

[voice] 1/2.

[wordsoul]

"Genjutsu"...?

[ voice ]

[heartbetween]

Hey. This place is called Anatole. Looks like Naruto already gave you the info, so, uh, welcome, I guess?

I'm Kaien, by the way.

[ voice ]

[wordsoul]

Well, it's nice to see everyone's friendly.

Hi there, Kaien. I'm Kubota.

[ voice ]

[heartbetween]

Well, it's mostly us outworlders that are friendly. The locals don't like us, sorry to say.

Nice to meet you too, Kobuta!

So, where are you from?

[ voice ]

[wordsoul]

That's okay. You can't please everyone - especially people who don't want to be pleased.

From Earth - ah. Japan. Tokyo, but I was in Yokohama when I was picked up. And you?

voice; ... /fixes quietly

[mnemotechnics]

Hey, man, I hate to say it -- But. You're probably not going to be able to pay for those groceries.

[ A pause. ]

Time to find a new store?

voice; flsmdl the amount of cockups I've made in this post. 8( Don't worry bb.

[wordsoul]

A new store?

... I don't mind interuniversal relocation, but that's going a little far. I'll never get the same kinds of discounts.

voice;

[mnemotechnics]

Yeah, the people here can be pretty stingy with their prices. [ LOL NOT THAT HE'D KNOW /STEALS EVERYTHING ]

Tough luck, I guess. Welcome to Anatole.

voice;

[wordsoul]

I'm glad to know; I'll keep that in mind.

I could cut down on cigarettes...

... Do they have cigarettes here?

[ There's a long-ass pause, because GOD WHAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE CIGARETTES WHAT THEN. ]

-- Thank you, by the way.

voice;

[marked_songbird]

[a quiet exhale] So many new ones...

It looks like someone's already given you the link to Mello's post.

voice;

[wordsoul]

Mello has a way with words.

I had a look through the transmission history. Considering how many new people you get, you seem like a close community.

voice;

[marked_songbird]

He does, doesn't he?

I suppose we do. It helps that many of the natives aren't too fond of us, so we turn to each other for help when it's needed.

voice;

[wordsoul]

It's good of people to be charitable when they're also disadvantaged.