[mingle] the space (april).

[fracturamods]

interim mingle

( WELCOME BACK, TRAVELERS. )

There's nothing but the clatter of train tracks, and the odd feeling of almost floating.

When you wake, it's hard to tell exactly what it is that you're missing - only that you are. There are pieces that aren't quite right, even if you're not sure where those pieces would normally be. Pieces of what, exactly....? Well, if you had to put a word to it, it would be - yourself, probably. Or did you get something back recently? In addition, characters will find that they've been allowed to bring back souvenirs from this most recent trip - trinkets, nothing violent, but items that can fit in your character's pockets, whether that be sentimental or otherwise.

The place you've found yourself in is strange, certainly. It's probably worth exploring a bit. For those who have been here a while, they might notice some expansions. Though it just as easily seems that the only form of welcome or explanation that you have, comes from nothing more than a slab of marble.

It might've changed since the last time you saw it. Today it reads:

(*´ω｀)o That wasn't so bad, was it?
Hey, you know how that old song goes?
Do you believe in magic? (☆▽☆) Do ya?

Hope you found what you were looking for!

You might have changed since the last time you saw yourself too - perhaps with a new emblem on your clothes, or a portrait on your skin. In addition to that, it seems like Home Base is on the fritz again…?

It seems that suddenly and at random, characters will be able to suddenly see visions of memories that aren't their own flash before their eyes. Pieces of your lives or where you were before this will suddenly slam into other's heads, as clearly as if they experienced the event and the feelings themselves. You might have an inkling of where your memory went and what it was - but you'll need to talk it out with that person in order to recollect it in all its strength back to yourself. Don't you want to keep those precious parts of yourself? It's best if you don't fall more to pieces while you're here. (Memories that have been lost in fragments cannot be sent to others - that's more fun for the future!)

There's no need to fret that much though. You've already gone through the ordeal once, and you might be able to see results from it. Or maybe you'll get a glimpse of where you're going next. Even so, it's best that you don't get too comfortable, because there is still the unshakeable feeling:

There's still much more ahead of you.

Comments

02

[peakfan]

[ guess who's wandering around the place and accidentally found himself here! it's Shen Qingqiu! There's a nostalgic expression while he wanders, clearly remembering fonder times but it certainly freezes and twists when he spots a familiar head.

It's can't be. ...Can it?

.....No one else makes that expression. It has to be. Fuck!! ]

Shidi?

[lqg]

[ oh no, he knows that voice, he turns with a jolt as he slams the locker door shut ]

Shen Qingqiu?!

[peakfan]

[ AW SHIT, HE DOESN'T HAVE HIS FAN TO COVER HIS FACE. ignore that momentary spark of amusement in his expression, lgq. are there embarrassing baby photos in there? he wants to see- wait.

hOW ARE THERE EMBARRASSING BABY PHOTOS? PHOTOGRAPHY DOESN'T EXIST YET FOR THEM. WHAT IS HAPPENING?! ]

What a strange place to find you in.

[lqg]

It is-- when did you arrive?

[ it's weird to see someone he actually knows here, but he's not entirely sure he likes it - is this place starting to target members of cang qiong? is it random? shouldn't shen qingqiu be home, far away from all this mess? ]

[peakfan]

A short while ago.

[ he's a little agitated about it but nothing he can do about it now with the system giving him error messages. what does that even mean!? how can the system be down!! ]

Has Shidi been here long?

[lqg]

It doesn't matter. What matters is finding a way back to Cang Qiong.

[peakfan]

[ his fingers twitch like he wants to fan his face bUT A CERTAIN KEY ITEM OF HIS IS MISSING. he settles for crossing his arms to contemplate instead. ]

I take it you've been here for a while.

[lqg]

[ he tries not to grimace, and fails ] It has only been a few weeks.

[peakfan]

[ his poor shidi ]

Ah. How strange.

[ his eyes slide back to the locker, considering ]

Have you learned much in your time here?

[lqg]

Only that this place is terrible. [ huffs!! it really is!!! ] It tends to change to different realms, for no apparent reason. And everyone is missing things.

[peakfan]

[ aw shit, they're in a world hopper scenario ]

Hmm.........

[ no fan to fan but he sure can attempt to look contemplative for his shidi while he dies inside. ]

I seem to be missing a certain item [ HIS KEY ITEM ] but I did not realize everyone else was as well.

[lqg]

What are you missing?

[peakfan]

[ LIU SHIDI PLS..... CAN'T YOU RECOGNIZE A CERTAIN THING IS MISSING WITHOUT HIM COMING OUT AND SAYING IT? SAVE YOUR SHIXIONG SOME FACE. ]

My fan has vanished. But..... [ his hand goes to his sword, face twisting when it continues to feel like metal and nothing else. ] I seem to have lost something even more important.

[lqg]

[ the fan is one thing but if he's missing EVEN MORE STUFF then we have a problem. the fan can be replaced. ]

Was it your sword? [ a beat, then ] Mine was missing when I arrived as well.

[peakfan]

[ it can but he's sad and missing his fan ]

Ah? No, Xiu Ya is here but.. [ his cultivation is hecked? liu shidi?? hello?? can't you tell?? has this place messed up your head? ] I cannot use it.

[lqg]

[ no, no he cannot. the ability to sense other people's spiritual energy is a talent that's long forgotten, along with how to consciously pull on his golden core, and anything related to cultivation - the ability to use cheng luan is frankly, a stroke of luck because the habit is so deeply ingrained in him he doesn't need to think. he's simply wielding his blade, like anyone else.

which is why he cannot think of why shen qingqiu can't do the same. ]

Why not? You still know your techniques don't you?

[peakfan]

[ that sure is a squinty expression of lqg when he seemly doesn't pick up on the hints. are you being purposely obtuse?? was he too subtle?? does he need to spell it out?? liu-shidi work with him here-! ]

My techniques yes, but it seems like Without A Cure has come back.

[ is that a big enough hint?? take pity on your shixiong! ]

[lqg]

Without a Cure? [ the thing is, he didn't forget that, not really. he remembers shen qingqiu having an... affliction, gotten from protecting luo binghe in a tournament and yet when he tries to call on the nature of it, what it does to him, liu qingge's brain goes to static. no matter what he does the memory comes back weird, too fuzzy about the kind of beast, the kind of tournament, how they were able to cure it so at least shen qingqiu can continue to live somewhat in peace. it makes his head ache, because the more he thinks on it the worse it gets, until liu qingge's face is pinched and he is rubbing his temple to make it go away.

it's happened to him before, this strange sensation - but normally he's been able to brush it off. that other people are talking about their own homes or their own fanciful ideas, but in front of shen qingqiu he can't shake it the same way. ]

I see. [ except he doesn't and he can't and it's the worst thing that's probably happened to him since he got here. there's something he could do to help, he knows there is, but he doesn't-- he can't figure it out. liu qingge doesn't think he could figure it out even with a sword to his throat, which is a little bit what it feels like when shen qingqiu is right here clearly asking for help. ] This place, it messes with people.

[ it's the best he can do because he at least knows that's true, even if his brain is absolutely messing with him now. ]

[peakfan]

[ sqq certainly is frowning at that reaction, the slight nagging feeling growing until it feels as if the system has awoken from its temporarily out of service state to tell him he’s got a quest alert. ]

I’ve begun to understand more of it as time passes. The nature of things this place seems to deemed important enough to forget.

[ at least he’s pretty sure that’s what happening here, the way liu-shidi seems to blank at the mere idea of what he’s talking about ]

The process of returning that which is lost…. I haven’t heard much about it yet but I’m sure we’ll find a way to do so for you as well as myself.

[lqg]

[ important enough to forget.

shen qingqiu may be right, but the phrase sticks to his ribs in the worst possible way, making the static in his head roar with what is missing. he really is forgetting something, something else, something he hasn't even thought about until home arrived in front of him.

he takes a deep breath. settles himself. whatever is happening, it's not something he can punch away with ease. ]

I found Cheng Luan with me when I returned here. I was here, then somewhere else, then back. And it was back with me. [ he wonders if that's the same, but it's the only thing he can think of. it was the only thing he thought he was missing, until recently. it's not great. ]

[peakfan]

[ well at least that answers where things will return. ]

The place you were taken to- it was not there? What more can you tell me of it?

[ he didn't think about it until this moment but having a system to keep track of both your main and side quests sure does make a person's life easier. if only it wasn't such an aggravating little shitheel as well ]

I wonder what it is that allowed it to be returned to you.

[lqg]

No. [ he lets out a little breath - this he can talk about, this he knows his head is on straight about and won't send him back into static hell of ungraspable truths. ] It was a school for training assassins. All of us there didn't have our usual things and different memories.

[ actually now that he explains it out loud it's super fucked up? what? he didn't think too hard on it because that's just not his style but now that he is he wishes he wasn't. seriously, he was a whole other person there. what in the hell? ]

[peakfan]

[ his face is just completely out there making 'r u shitting me' expressions before straightening back into something approaching neutral. ]

So you're inserted into another place like characters of the story. Fascinating. [ TERRIBLE. ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. HE ALREADY LIVES THAT LIFE WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN. time to start sweating bullets if somehow his secret gets revealed because of this ]

But you remember as if you lived that life?

[lqg]

[ honestly that reaction is 100000% valid

he hums, thinking it over. ] Yes. But it wasn't too different from home.

[peakfan]

[ he huffs a laugh very, very quietly ]

I would expect not. It was still you after all. The only thing changed is location.