Fifth Curse

[bondsofsuffering]

[Video]

So, has anyone else noticed that the network's been performing slowly lately? Unless it's something wrong with my COMP...

It's a little irritating, to be honest. I've run a few scans, but my antivirus isn't catching anything. Anybody happen to know someone good for checking out these things? There shouldn't be any files on here that would cause it to go so slowly all of the sudden.

[With a light shrug, he ends the feed there...]

[Video; FAIL!Filtered to men]

[...Only to start up another "filtered" one.]



So now that Tanabata's over with...

Men of Hinoto-Ri! I invite you to gather around and begin nominations for "cutest in a yukata." Nominations can be whoever you want, but... well, this is filtered to the men only, so it might be a little awkward if you aren't careful! Of course, anonymous nominations are possible as well if you want to take that route!

Voting starts in 24 hours, so get your nominations in before that!

((OOC: Yes, anyone can see the filtered portion. And anonymous posts are welcome, so you can simply indicate such in the subject line! Of course, assuming the virus hasn't killed your character's ability to filter/anon or anything...))

Comments

[bondsofsuffering]

The people here seem like they'd get upset if you were too blatant about it, but...

Well, let's just say I highly doubt even this government is completely devoid of it.

[bondsofsuffering]

...Actually, it seems to be more than just that.

I mentioned that this post was directed to the men of Hinoto-Ri, but it looks like my filter's down. It doesn't really matter now, but even when I went back and tried to change the post properties, it just won't work.

video;

[bondsofsuffering]

About that...

I already decided to add a guys' version for one of the others who replied. Somehow, a contest started on a whim has gotten pretty extensive...

video

[bondsofsuffering]

Talking with some of the others, someone pointed out that elegant would be good, too. I was thinking of "mature" for older ladies, but using an age bracket might be safer...

Ah, and it seems there is a little demand for a guys' version, too.

[tyrantball]

"...these are the weirdest voters Desco has ever seen."

[greatseal]

[poor Junpei...

is what she would say if he hadn't brought this on himself.]

Maybe we need to hold our own secret girls-only nominations to make it fair, Miki-chan?

[bondsofsuffering]

Well, when you come to a new world, it can't be helped if some things are different, right?

[tyrantball]

Desco sulks a little, puffing her cheeks out.

"Well, it's not anything like any of the other worlds Desco has been to."

[bondsofsuffering]

Ooooh? What were those worlds like?

[tyrantball]

"Well, Hades is where sinful humans go when they die! Then they become Prinnies and spend years and years being derided and abused while they work to pay off their sins and reincarnate! Desco liked it there. She used to play in the lava pools! And Desco is also a teacher at Evil Academy, a school that is also an entire Netherworld! That's where Desco met Princess Sapphire, and her husband, and Dean Mao, too! Dean Mao even ended up creating Desco's little sisters, the Mass Production Units, out of his burning pathos!"

[bondsofsuffering]

That's an awful lot of traveling. Is it common to go from world to world like that where you're from?

[tyrantball]

Desco blinks in a series of twitches cascading down her body.

"Of course! There are countless Netherworlds in this pluralistic universe!"

Desco's expression takes on a look of devilish glee.

"And one day Desco will conquer them ALL in the name of Big Sis!"

[Video]

[silvercoins]

Then there you go. One picture for the competition.

audio;

[leadthebeats]

It's not that hard.

[otakuro]

The filter's d --

You mean everyone in town is seeing what we're saying to each other

[Clearly this is the important bit.]

video;

[shibuyasmusic]

Unintelligible?

&dì**┬ª{·Pπ(₧Ä)Ç c╫─°ì*ú6HHbò8&dì*Ã⁠¤rđčŠĐćž▒ µQ9!Åëè²*à·/ ▓ë.╨▒ε*e}│]«kQ ╔┤:Ñ╨∩╢*≡*a°Cö⌡÷╜┘ Φ╒¿*$π╨9??

[The more he tries to speak, the worse and more garbled his words become, until nothing he says is coming through properly anymore, all sounding like this strange foreign language.

Joshua doesn't stop until a flashing message appears in the corner of his glasses saying TRANSLATION ERROR. He pauses, then grimaces, gritting his teeth for a moment before he starts speaking very, very slowly in Japanese...]

I... discovered the... problem. My translator is... not working... correctly. Something has... gone wrong... with it?

Can... you speak... Japanese?

[While his grammar and pronunciation of Japanese are completely flawless, Joshua still struggles to speak it, as though he is mentally straining himself to find the proper words.]

audio;

[bondsofsuffering]

I guess it just didn't seem like the kind of thing that would interest you.

[bondsofsuffering]

[...Well then.]

What about non-Netherworlds? Ones with humans and cities like this one.

[bondsofsuffering]

Seems that way!

[Despite this, he doesn't appear to be all that bothered.]

video;

[bondsofsuffering]

[Hizumi speaks in a flawless Japanese in return! ...Well, as long as you don't count a fake Kansai accent as a flaw, at any rate.]

Sure can! But d'you mind if I ask what language you're used to speakin' in?

[tyrantball]

Blink blink.

"Desco thought that their inclusion in her dreams of conquest was assumed."

video;

[shibuyasmusic]

[He certainly doesn't mind it, at least. He himself is speaking with a very proper Yamanote accent in return. Joshua gives a bit of a bitter laugh, pressing his hand against his forehead gently.]

This is... going to sound... a bit complicated. Japanese is... my native language... but where I'm from we... we were installed with this... microchip that... forces us to speak this... common tongue. It feels extremely unnatural... to force myself to speak Japanese.

I apologize for... struggling like this.

audio;

[leadthebeats]

It doesn't exactly interest me. I just did what I had to do.

[otakuro]

...

And, uh, obviously, they recognize that this was an elaborate ploy to, um, give secret compliments to the people we appreciate and admire most.

Hey look at the time I've gotta go

video;

[bondsofsuffering]

Well, it's not really a problem. Installed, though?

[That's an interesting way of putting it. Then again, with that collar he's got...]

Was that kinda thing normal for clones where you're from?