video.

[shigeharu]

[The feed cuts in on Hanbei, sitting in the library. There are a few books stacked on the table near him and one open in front of him - if you look closely, it's all along the lines of The Way Things Work. Just catching up on a few centuries' worth of scientific and technological development and all that.

But he's just had a thought that's a bit distracting, which clearly means it's time to bother everyone else about it. (That, and making an appearance is an easy way to try and feel out whether anyone else from home has wound up here along with him...)]

You know, I don't know if I'd even say the fact that we're all here in the first place is the most interesting part about all this. Or that people have apparently lost powers.

Have you been paying attention to the language we're using? Talking, writing with, even thinking in. It's a little eerie, isn't it? I shouldn't have to stop and consciously think about it - [he pauses for half a second and switches to Japanese to finish his sentence] - to do this.

[And he switches back to the common language, since he knows not everyone here will have understood the Japanese.]

It's convenient, I'll give them that, but...well.

Comments

[Voice]

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

Interesting.



The language we are speaking here is none of the languages spoken in my world.

[shigeharu]

I'm no expert on linguistics, so I couldn't say that much, but whatever it is...well, I'm only fluent in Japanese, so it's nothing I should know either way!

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

I speak every language ever created in my world, so I am certain in regards to my own. As this is not one of them, and you naturally speak none other than Japanese, the ability to use this language must have been granted upon arrival.

[shigeharu]

And not even just the ability, but the fact that it somehow takes priority over the ones we already have. That's what really interests me.

[Although...every language? Whoa. He's not asking about that right this moment, but he's definitely making a mental note about it.]

voice;

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

[ he's still being a bit...careful about his appearance, about showing his face on purpose. especially on this clever little face-stealer. whatever it is, he knows he can't trust it. especially because he doesn't understand it.

that doesn't negate the very human instinct to make some sort of spoken connection. ...especially when the topic at hand--or one of its related topics, anyway--is so...pertinent. ]

"Lost their powers?" Do you...happen to know any more about this?

[shigeharu]

Mm, not much, I'm afraid! But it's been mentioned by a couple others already - that some people have supernatural abilities, and that they don't seem to be able to use them since arriving here.

voice;

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

...Supernatural abilities. [ all right. that's one way of putting it. ] That wouldn't happen to be something you've experienced for yourself first-hand, would it?

video

[waypastcool.livejournal.com]

Huh, that is pretty weird. This whole time, I thought I was speakin' plain old English.

[He scratches his head and makes a soft 'hm' sound.]

[shigeharu]

It wouldn't.

[Though whether he'd be straight about it even if he had experienced it first hand might be questionable.]

[shigeharu]

It is a bit insidious, isn't it?

[waypastcool.livejournal.com]

Insidiwhat?

[Guh. Nevermind.]

Dunno what I think about it, but I guess it's better than havin' to hire a translator or somethin'.

[shigeharu]

It's convenient. Suggests a rather dangerous precedent, but it is convenient.

[waypastcool.livejournal.com]

What's so dangerous about it? I mean, it's not like they're usin' mind control.

[shigeharu]

But to be able to change something so...basic about how we think, and for it to seem so natural?

It certainly sounds as if they'd be able to use mind control, doesn't it?

[waypastcool.livejournal.com]

Yeah, now that ya mention it, that's mondo fishy. Plus, they totally took my speed and turned those ponies into humans.

No tellin' what else they can do.

[shigeharu]

It may be that they're, mm, benevolent enough not to take such liberties.

But at this stage, there's really little proof of that one way or another.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Right. Of course not.

[ not that he expected a straight answer out of it, either. ]

...Me neither.

But it must be...disturbing, for people who have.

[waypastcool.livejournal.com]

At least one of those god guys seems pretty cool, but I'm not gonna act like everything's peachy. Sure there's free housing and stuff, but it could totally be a trap.

[shigeharu]

It does seem like it'd have to be!

Almost makes me relieved, really. I think there's plenty to be disturbed about without adding that to the pile.

[manskirt.livejournal.com]

Yes, well. Doesn't this sort of thing happen to you often? Strange lands, unfamiliar faces, danger around every corner--confusing letters you don't quite understand...

[wingsandwill.livejournal.com]

It seems our minds have been tricked into believing it is our native language, which is not a particularly difficult feat.

video;

[satisfies]

Hyahaha, this blows all those cheap "learn a new language in a week" programs out of the water! Learned this one without having to do anything at all... man, it's so convenient it almost makes me want to cry a little.

[shigeharu]

It's always prudent to remain aware of the possibilities.

[shigeharu]

The danger at home was so much more straightforward! I feel a bit spoiled, in retrospect.

[shigeharu]

Is it? It would be rather impossible for anyone from my home.