1 s t . r e f l e c t i o n . v o i c e

[kindaqueer]

[It had been a few days since Kaname arrived in Luceti, feeling more than a little disorientated and confused. He'd been convinced it was all a dream until he woke up again the next day, his back still sore from those wings.]

[The voice that sounds out from the journal might sound a tad more distressed than he usually would. You would be too if you suddenly found yourself in another world with no one you knew! Not that he'd want to subject his family and friends to this place, if everything that guide says is true. Experiments, a war, people with mysterious powers... it'd be a lie to say it wasn't a little exciting, but for the most part, he's just worried about what'll come next.]

[And whatever that was going to be, he couldn't shake the feeling that it'd be best not to try and face it all on his own.]

This may or may not be a longshot, but is there anyone else here from Japan? ...er, on earth. [...] And it was 2010 when I left, but I guess people can come from different times even if they know each other, right? [He taps the journal a few times and makes a face. It is recording, right...? Awkward pause.]

...sorry, I'm still trying to figure out how all this works. So, does pressing this make it sto--

[The voice cuts off.]

Comments

[neverplaysfair]

There's quite a few of us. I'm from the Tokyo of 2007, myself.

[kindaqueer]

Tokyo? [Another person from a big city, wow.]

It must've been pretty hard adjusting to this place...

[neverplaysfair]

It wasn't quite so bad. I came from a smaller town before I lived in Tokyo.

[ Back when Tokyo was Edo. And Edo was smaller. Way, waaay back. ]

And where are you from?

/MAPS ARE HARD...

[kindaqueer]

Just a small town in Southwest Kyushu. It's still bigger than this place, but... it kind of has the same feel.

Maps are easy! DIRECTIONS are hard.

[neverplaysfair]

Rustic, forests all around, talking animals and mysterious wings? [ He giggles. ]

[kindaqueer]

M-Maybe not the exact same feel... but those first two points are right.

[And does Ponta count for the third point? He's... kind of an animal. If youkai count as animals. Huh.]

I can handle small towns and forests, but the wings are... definitely new.

[neverplaysfair]

You'll be used to them before long. It certainly helps that everyone has them.

[kindaqueer]

Yeah. It's still kind of weird, though. I haven't figured out how to sleep right with them, either...

[Not that he's been sleeping much while adjusting to all this.]

[neverplaysfair]

Not sleeping on your back helps. [ Yes yes, we are all bad Japanese here. ]

[kindaqueer]

I figured as much... but even accidentally turning over once wakes me right back up.

[Plus they're like... itchy in places. It's a very uncomfortable situation all right.]

[neverplaysfair]

You learn to stop quickly enough. Think of it like conditioning.

[kindaqueer]

Conditioning, huh... [A soft sigh.] I hope you're right.

[neverplaysfair]

Considering I rarely hear complaints from anyone who's been here longer than a few months, I'm quite sure I'm right.

[kindaqueer]

[...months.]

So, how long do most people stay here? I read there wasn't any way to predict it but... is there an average time at all?

[neverplaysfair]

Average? Not at all. Some are here and gone for less than a month, others have mentioned being here years.

[kindaqueer]

So there's no telling how long I could be here...

[Years...]

[neverplaysfair]

Nope. You might as well get comfortable.

[kindaqueer]

I don't really have a choice, right?

[neverplaysfair]

You could certainly choose not to get comfortable.

[kindaqueer]

I can't say that would accomplish much. I'd rather not stay here for as long as a few years, but I'm not going to deny that it... could happen.

[neverplaysfair]

Well, it's certainly what some people resolve to do. I can't say I've seen it benefit them, though, so you're likely in a better position if you don't bother.

[kindaqueer]

Benefit or not, I won't know unless I try, right? Better than losing any more sleep over it...

[It wasn't just the wings, after all.]

[neverplaysfair]

"Better" is your own decision.

[kindaqueer]

...why would someone choose something that isn't better?

[neverplaysfair]

What they find better may not be the same what you do.