Pandemic:Japan Intro (702 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 2 on 21 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <zsmall.at.chirashi.net> (View user info) at 2005-06-21 01:54:43 EDT
To everyone: This was inspired by The Caes Pandemic series. I realize that it sucks quite a lot in comparison to The Caes writing, but what can I say? The Caes writing is inspirational to me and has made me want to write something like this. My apologies in advance if this is offensive.
To The Caes: I'm really sorry if this offends you in any way. Please just leave a review that says -2 DIE! or just -2 with no comment and I'll understand.
Intro
Elijah and Lem walked down Ginza Street taking in the scenery, gazing up at the many skyscrapers that surrounded them and glaring at the beautiful women all around them. The street was similar to Fifth Avenue representing the cream of Japan, sporting all the designer brand names at extraordinarily high prices and ladies dressed in their finest wardrobe strutting around like queens or, as they preferred to be called, princesses. The Chanel shop was right across the street from the department store that housed Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, Gucci, and Tiffany. Sometimes for kicks they went into the all glass Hermes building. Elijah looked towards Lem and saw that he was lost in the curves of the beauty that had just passed by.
"Lem! What's the matter with you, bro?" Elijah could never understand how he could get like this; they walked down the same street everyday.
"Huh?" Lem stuttered. "Sorry, what were you saying?"
"We walk down this same street and see the same type of girls everyday. What is so fascinating?"
"Huuh....?" Lem's voice faded.
Elijah would just have to wait until they reached the coffee shop where they would waste as much of their day as possible. Work had been moving at a sluggish pace and they had absolutely nothing to do in the afternoons.
Elijah looked around again as they neared Eurostars Café at Ginza 2 Chome. He was amazed by how much fashion had changed in the 6 years he had been in Japan. The girls used to like to be super tan, wear platform boots and have hair ranging in color from bright yellow to purple. Now all the ladies carried parasols to keep the sun off their immaculate Asian skin and dyed their hair the exact same shade of brown. It was getting very hot and humid, he would sweat just standing outside. It wasn't the rainy season yet, but in another two weeks the land of the rising sun would become hell.
When he came to this country he had been just a boy of 21, freshly graduated from a small university in the states. Moving into Tokyo from Williamsburg was like being thrown into ice water from a warm bed. It was a whole new world out here. A veritable paradise for "hakujin" (white person) he had more girls than he could count and had hastily broken up with his girlfriend back home. He missed her now, but she wouldn't even reply to his emails. Karen. Elijah reminisced about his time with her, their first dance competition the silly conversations they always had. "I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you leave." He always said when they parted. She would always say, "What do you think this is, a buffet?" when he grabbed her ass. "Wake up, fucker!" He had always,
"Huh?" Elijah faltered.
"Where the hell were you? We're here already!"
"Oh? Yeah. Right. Sorry."
They smiled and said konnichiwa to the girl at the cashier, she had seen them come in for the past two weeks now at the same time everyday. She giggled and told them to go upstairs to get their coffee.
"She's pretty cute, eh?" Lem said in his horniest Canadian accent ever.
"You think every girl is pretty cute, get your head of your pants for a second will you? We can't even have a decent conversation anymore."
"I'd like to get my head out of my pants and into her!"
"Oi vey, you never fuckin' change, you know that?"
"Kike!"
"Chink!"
It wasn't insulting at all anymore. It was just the way they ended their conversations. They ordered their usual and lit up two cigarettes. They talked and laughed about the usual topics, morons at the office, how to improve their decaying business.
"Do you believe in God?" Lem asked suddenly.
"What?" Elijah could not believe the words he just heard come out of Lem's mouth. Lem hated these kinds of conversations.
"Do you believe in God?" Lem asked again.
He must be serious. "Yeah, I suppose I do." Elijah responded.
"Why?"
Did there have to be a reason to believe in God? Faith is not something that could be explained; it just is. But he did have a reason. He had given up Judaism a long time ago, religion just seemed to stupid to him after moving here. Life was so much easier without religion. But Elijah still believed in God. Why?
"I can't believe that humans are highest form of life. We can't be the last step in evolution, there has to be a higher power. God may not exist as we traditionally believe him to exist, but there has to be something more than what we are. I would call that God. And I believe."
"So Aliens could be God?" Lem queried sarcastically.
"You're an asshole." Elijah laughed.
"Shit! We should get back, Eli. We've been gone for two hours!" Lem grabbed his suit jacket and ran downstairs to pay the bill. Elijah couldn't understand how someone like Lem could be so generous. He always paid for coffee. Elijah walked outside and caught up with Lem.
"Thanks for the coffee, bro." He said sheepishly.
Lem chuckled. "No problem, sailo. Your big brother's got your back anytime."
Elijah felt a sudden chill and looked toward the sky. Dark clouds were rolling in steadily and the temperature had dropped by 4 or 5 degrees. He felt the nervous tension build in his stomach making him excited and feeling empty and like he had to go to the bathroom at the same time. It was rather strange that they should get a sudden storm with no warning. It wasn't even rainy season and the forecast had predicted clear skies and sunshine all week. He felt an odd sense of dread, not unlike that of being close to a deadline and being under prepared, as the first sprinkle of rain wet his cheek. His throat tightened as he swallowed hard trying not to vomit. He waited but nothing happened and as soon as the feeling had overtaken him it washed away. He picked up the pace and caught up with Lem as they tried to get back to the office before it started to pour.
User Reviews
Submitted by notyou (user info) at 2005-07-13 19:59:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I like.
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-06-23 22:03:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
hahaha, yeah, well actually in the next piece... It's like you were reading my mind.
Submitted by hcp28 (user info) at 2005-06-23 15:08:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
This was great! Now I'm expecting hot zombie asian chicks... please don't disappoint.
Submitted by Benny (user info) at 2005-06-22 23:09:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
A very nice read. Based on the writing ability I have seen so far I believe that you'll be able to handle action sequences. After all you can't have zombies without action because their ability to talk about their problems isn't all its cracked up to be.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-06-21 19:17:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
you need to write more stuff.
Submitted by Yes (user info) at 2005-06-21 13:08:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good start, keep it up.
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-06-21 11:57:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
thanks for the constructive criticism, will definitely take heed.
there will be some zombies coming soon, this was actually just the intro... not sure if I can write action sequences...
ganbaruzo!
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-06-21 08:38:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
good. keep it up.
here's my critique:
don't do this: "hakujin" (white person)
just use the word, and then give us hints as to what it means so we figure it out.
Submitted by Jungle_Jimanee (user info) at 2005-06-21 08:03:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I liked the style but it had absolutley no Zombies in it. I hope death and violence are lurching round the corner soon ...
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-06-21 07:26:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Dude, even if this wasn't good (and it is), this would require no apology. Like Kre8rix said, tons of people wrote stories in this 'world.' I'm just the only one who is still going with it, because I don't know how to shut my fat mouth. Well, now I guess there's two of us.
Rad, I appreciate it, but cut that out! I think I'm starting to get 'overrated.'
Williamson(?) has a point...when I read this I honestly thought you were Japanese. It just...reads like Japanese. Weird. Anyway, I like the interactions between your two characters and the cultural descriptions of Japan.
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-06-21 06:11:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Will do. Thanks mate.
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-06-21 06:00:12 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
yeah, man, would be happy to give you some advice. My email is right under my name, just drop me a line if you need job connections or whatever...
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-06-21 05:00:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Hahahahahaa Whipped.
Hey, I'm thinking about living in Japan for a year and teaching english to those crazy little critters.
Any advice?
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-06-21 03:17:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
yeah, I get Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves, and dark haired hollywood actor. It's better than the fuckin Jerry Seinfeld I used to get in the US. And yeah, you live here long enough you change or maybe it's just the constant beat downs from my wife...
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-06-21 03:05:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-06-21 02:56:25 (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh, thank goodness. I was a little worried, because I don't want to tread on anyone's work... I'm pleased that it requires no apology, I just felt shitty that I couldn't be more original.
-==--=-=-==--=-=-=-=-=-=
Jesus Christ. You're one of them!
Just think back; once you were American. Your people once covered the earth in SUV's without concern for the environment or people living on this planet. Your nation invades others 'cause it damn well feels like it and your people, no matter how stupid, ignorant or rude will never EVER apologise!
That' the American Way!
But alas, you've become a jap.
By the way, when that god damn movie "The last Samurai" came out did everyone call you Tom Cruise? Everyone fucking said I was like Tom Cruise even though I'm a blue-eyed blonde-haired aryan boy who doesn't suck arse (the bipolar opposite of Tom Cruise).
Submitted by supadupapupa (user info) at 2005-06-21 02:56:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Oh, thank goodness. I was a little worried, because I don't want to tread on anyone's work... I'm pleased that it requires no apology, I just felt shitty that I couldn't be more original.
and I forgot to post the inspiration:
http://www.ubersite.com/m/61238 -- Introduction -- Jack McCallum
thanks so much, truly a diamond in the rough
http://www.ubersite.com/m/68760
The latest installment of The Caes After the Pandemic
Submitted by Revolutionman (user info) at 2005-06-21 02:45:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
kickass, keep going.
Submitted by Kre8rix (user info) at 2005-06-21 02:18:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
There's a search box to the left of your screen.
Type in 'after the pandemic', there are ( as of right now) 87 submissions under a series that was instigated by Jack_McCallum.
Start with his and move on up the list.
Don't get me wrong, Caes is a fantastic writer and one of my favorites, but there are a whole lot more people that added to the story as a whole.
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2005-06-21 02:07:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You understand that it is actually Jack's pandemic series?
Ceasar just owns everybody at writing.
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-06-21 02:02:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Good post.
+2
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-06-21 01:58:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Even before I begin I can see the jap culture has worn off onto you. Apologising profusely for something that is no problem. You sound like a nipp.