Categories
Anime

Isekai

Isekai operate on two levels. First, we have the experiences of a modern person. Second, new rules and experiences in the fantasy realm. The main character is nearly always rewarded from the new environment by experiences in the old world.

Isekais seem to argue that a competent Japanese office worker or student have the intelligence and drive (with a bonus) to make it in another world. These are worlds of adventure that lack today’s politics and bureaucratic structure.

Clearly, after some initial shock, main characters make the trade. It’s pretty rare that characters want to return to the old world, often it is not an option. Instead characters remake some part of the fantasy world in the image of the modern world; utopian politics; aesthetics. A dream world.

It is a world of remarkable freedom rather than imprisonment. There are exceptions to this rule and in those cases the main character does not get an overwhelming resurrection bonus: it is not complete fluff.

Categories
Fiction

The Monk Hit his Head

At the temple a monk retrieved something from a closet. As he went to replace it, the stool was positioned beneath the doorframe, and so with this arms reaching for a top shelf, and ascending the stool, he hit his head squarely on the frame.

He groaned. He walked the hard-wood floors as he rubbed the top of his head. It was that spot directly at the center.

Another monk walking the opposite direction asked him what was wrong. He said nothing was wrong while thinking bad thoughts. He said nothing was wrong but the pain was there.

He wandered outside and watched the monks sweep. Whereas before he felt serenity, now he felt agitation, a dizzy drop at the bottom of a bowl (he could not empty).

Categories
Fiction

Front Button

N was getting ready for a date. He matched with a girl next door type. In the pic that made him want, she wore a tank top and her hair short. Seemed like an old picture, but N didn’t care.

After taking a shower, N rooted around for a good shirt. He found on but it was missing a button. He decided against wearing it, but remembered that he saw the button the other day behind the dresser against the molding. He thought he didn’t have time to repair it as he had to drive downtown, but that he would find the button anyway just so he wouldn’t think about finding it.

He moved an end table and leaned down to retrieve the button but to his dismay the molding was slightly discolored and moist. In fact as he pulled the dresser away and used his phone, he could see that the damage was far more extensive.