[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

[carrotkeeper]

Hey, you're welcome. And you know, I could teach you how to use all this stuff, if you're up for it. We'll call it 'Cooking Technology 101 with Iris and-'

[Oh, she waited this long to ask for his name, didn't she? Well, better late than never.]

Oh, right! What's your name?

[huanhua]

[ a duck of his head, the bowing gesture respectful. ]

Luo Binghe is my name. [ how rare is it that he has to introduce himself to anyone nowadays... he's just Scourge of The Earth Lord Luo most of the time! people run in terror! and now this young woman is going to teach him this 'microwave'. ] I leave myself in your care.

[carrotkeeper]

[This new version of Cooking Mama is supposed to be fun and this guy is as stone-faced as can be. Maybe once they get started, he'll cheer up at little.

That's her new goal, in any case.

There's a bright smile on her face as she claps her hands together, signifying the beginning of this kitchen adventure.]

Alright, Luo! Let's start with-what did you wanna make right now? I'll teach you as we go.

[huanhua]

[ he'll lighten up eventually, maybe?? who knows. this is an odd situation, though, the girl's brightness reminds him of ning yingying.... so, he acquiesces, easily. right now he's feeling a little unsure of himself, which is odd. ]

....Binghe is fine. [ and, with that, he glances back out at his meal from earlier. there's meat, vegetables, even a dough he must have made by hand--it's all the work of someone with a good hand at cooking. he's so ready for cooking mama. ] I was making soup dumplings.

[carrotkeeper]

[Binghe it is then.

And while she isn't sure how to make soup dumplings-that's a little beyond her, she's had them before. And it's not like she didn't watch her retainers cook, so-]

Okay, so first thing you wanna do is get it ready. We'll probably have to steam them, but it won't take long for water the boil on this. I'll help you prep until we get to that point. What do you need me to do?

[huanhua]

[ ah....well, this part's familiar. some of the guarded aura starts to fade, as he looks to the pile of ingredients, relaxing a bit. he's never really had anyone to help him cook, either.

eventually, he pulls the dough from where it was resting and splits it into two portions. passing one over to her, he starts to pull off a small chunk of it and flatten it with his thumbs. ] If you make circles like this and flatten them, I can fill them faster. They have to be thin enough that you can see the shadows of your fingers through a light.

[ his voice gentles through this instruction, as he holds up his own to the extremely bright light above his head. it's a lot easier than candlelight, actually??? ] Like this one.

[carrotkeeper]

[Easy enough.

She spends a quiet moment watching his movements before mimicking them herself. The thin, little circles start to take shape and she holds a finger under each one before letting it pass the dumpling test. She's slower than him, but it's coming together.]

It's kind of relaxing. Making these, I mean. Thanks for letting me help out.

[huanhua]

[ it is relaxing, isn't it? for binghe, it's always been a task full of memories. his status now means he rarely cooks for himself, and he doesn't want to, because it's not the same. it's not cooking in the little house in the bamboo forest, mastering every skill he could get his small hands on just to get a moment of praise from his shizun. he lived for the expression on his face when he was growing up, and still does now--not that they've been able to do much of anything normal anytime recently, but binghe's sentimental and the memory never faded for a moment.

her dumplings don't look bad. busying himself with the filling, he glances over, and then nods, approving. since he hasn't seen shizun yet, he... well, maybe it wouldn't be bad to share. she is helping.

a moment longer, as he mixes filling ingredients, then looks at her pile of dumplings. ] ...You should set aside six. For yourself.

[ it's only fair! ] If there's something you'd like in the filling, I can put it in.

[carrotkeeper]

Really? You sure? That's pretty generous of you.

[Iris isn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth and if he's offering her some of the dumplings, well, who knows when she'll be able to enjoy a homecooked meal again. This place might vanish-who knows.

But with a quiet hum, she gently shoves six of the more grody looking pieces of dough to the side.]

Well, when you're done filling your own, I'll just take extra of whatever you've got left. I'm not picky.