[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

[wisterin]

[ She smiles and folds her hands in front of her. ]

I'm not trying to force you to do anything or to follow what I think is best in an ideal world. I know any world is far from that.

[ She sounds a bit wistful. ]

I'm Shinobu Kocho. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[disreguarded]

[ beau's lips twitch, anyway. she doesn't mind the fussing all that much. ]

Nie Beauregard. Beau's fine. [ she does as much of an elaborate bow as she can manage where she's sitting. ]

[wisterin]

[ That's quite the mix of languages in a name. How curious.

She bows in return. ]

Are you certain it's alright? A nickname is a bit forward for me.

[disreguarded]

[ she nods a bit. ]

I know. You can call me Beauregard if it makes you feel more comfortable? I'm still getting used to Nie, that's the only reason I'd say not to call me it. Just 'cause I might not answer?

[wisterin]

Is it a new surname?

[ Newlywed? But... Beau was flirting, so that can't be right.

Or she hopes it's not right. ]

I think I'll go with Beauregard for now.

[disreguarded]

Yeah, it's new. Better than my old name. [ she's fine with beauregard, shrugging. ] Whatever works for you.

[wisterin]

All right.

[ She isn't going to press. They've only met, and some things should stay private until the other person decides otherwise. ]

I'll let you rest in peace, but please could you keep your burns as dry as possible until they've healed more? As a favor to a concerned girl, if nothing else?

[ She just wants people to be as healthy and whole as possible. ]

[disreguarded]

[ beau's also stupid and doesn't see why her new last name could seem like a problem, oops. in any case, she glances over at shinobu, watching her a for a moment. ]

Yeah, I can do that. Sure. [ it's still weird to have people be concerned!! ] You don't have to go. I mean, if you're busy - just, you know.

[ she's very casual, but it's not like she's subtle about wanting company of any kind. being alone after murder mansion is not something she wants. ]

[wisterin]

[ She smiles. It's kind but amused. ]

I have no enemies to fight and I doubt anyone is endangering themselves unless they choose to jump off the train. I can stay.

[ Being concerned is part of her job. ]

Would it be too much of me to ask what led you to being so acclimated to being injured?

[disreguarded]

[ do people jump off the train... that seems dumb, even in beau's opinion, and she's no stranger to dumb ideas. anyway. ]

Nah, you can ask. [ she shifts, gingerly stretching. ] I was part of a group of monks at home. My job gets me into trouble. And the last place I was in before this one was full of things that were trying to kill me, too, so.

[wisterin]

[ Ask Shigure and Wei Wuxian about train jumping adventures. ]

My, what a dangerous life you lead. I'm no stranger to a place full of things trying to kill you either.

[ Although in her experience, monks are usually more peaceful than not?

Her expression shifts into something mildly apologetic. ]

I'm afraid if the pattern holds, there may be little respite in a week or two.

[disreguarded]

Seems like a lot of people here live kind of dangerous lives.

[ as for the rest, she blows a raspberry up into the air grouchily. ]

But yeah, I've heard a few people say we get thrown into different worlds? So I guess that's coming. Which is fucking annoying, and I'm tired.

I'm not gonna let this place dick me around forever, though.

[wisterin]

We're all a little tired of it.

[ Some more than others. She's smiling, though, so it's hard to tell how tired she is. ]

If you can find a solution, we'll all be glad to see it. No one's been able to locate the individual responsible for leaving us all those messages.

[disreguarded]

[ well, now she has to think of a solution. people are depending on her. ]

You mean the one who puts those weird faces in all their messages? [ huff. ] Yeah. Maybe we just - have to find the source. That's how it was before. Find the heart of this place, and then beat the shit out of it until it lets us go.

[wisterin]

Yes. I can't say with one hundred percent certainty there's only one. [ After all, there could be a collective behind being annoying about broken souls. There just hasn't been any way to confirm that she's found. ]

How did you find the source where you were previously?

[disreguarded]

Shit, that's a good point. It might be more than one. [ beau closes her eyes for a second. ]

It took us a while? We were in a mansion, so we had to find a room in that mansion that led to the heart. It was weird? You went in and it'd change, according to what you wanted it to look like at the time. We went in and it used the room to try and kill us.

[wisterin]

I don't want to endanger too many people here.

[ Even if they're all capable and willing, that doesn't mean they have to or should go through more suffering.

She accepts that to get out of this space that more suffering will likely be necessary, though. ]

I don't know if this place correlates to the mansion you were in, but it would make things simpler if it did.

[ Which means it probably doesn't. ]

[disreguarded]

[ she shrugs. ]

I don't know, I feel like we're already in danger. I'll do the best I can to help, but all the people I've talked to here? They're pretty on top of their shit.

Except for maybe like one or two, but that's fine, that's what I'm here for. We're just gonna have to hope there's a solution eventually.

[wisterin]

[ Who has she talked to here that's on top of things...? That gets Beau a curious tilt of a head, but Shinobu won't voice that question.

Because it's more like just one or two than except for one or two for Shinobu. ]

I would say recollecting all that you've lost would be a way to leave this place, but I'm afraid I can't say that's a guarantee either. I hope we can work well together, Miss Beauregard.

[disreguarded]

[ look, wei wuxian seemed competent to beau and so did wen ning, and she knows hunter is - sometimes the braincell, okay. they can defend themselves!! ]

I think we will. [ beau says, offering a bit of a smile. ] You seem like a smart lady, I'm the fucking muscle - we got this.

I really do wish I could remember the shit I'm missing, though. Feels like I'm fine.

[wisterin]

I'm sure there is more to you than just that. Please don't sell yourself short.

[ Please. Shinobu wants brain and muscle from people. Both are ideal. ]

It's not always memories.

[ She reaches up to touch her butterfly hairpiece. ]

[disreguarded]

[ beau tries to have brains and like eighty percent of the time she succeeds, but the other twenty percent she sticks her hands in dead, spider-infested horses. go big or go home. ]

Really? [ she glances at the hairpiece. ] Did you lose that and get it back? That - means it's like, part of your soul, right?

[wisterin]

[ Eighty percent of the time is better than zero. Just don't tell Shinobu about the spider horse. ]

Yes. Everyone I consider family has a similar hairpiece. [ There's fondness and a faint sense of yearning. She misses the girls she hasn't seen in months. ] My last name means butterfly.

[disreguarded]

[ it is now my goal for shinobu to find out about the spider horse ]

Shit, does it really? That's - really cool, actually. [ butterfly, for a girl that looks sweet like one. beau suspects there's far more to her than just that, figures she's not imagining the hint of danger. ]

You mentioned supernatural healing earlier - do you and your family live in a world with magic? [ she's just very curious, honestly. ]

[wisterin]

[ closes my eyes

Her smile becomes something more perfunctory than anything else. ]

I wouldn't call it magic. [ That's not quite right. ] I don't want to call it that. There are demons in my world, and they heal at an accelerated rate. The rate that they adapt and evolve is a little unfair.

[ She hates it! But she sounds like she's commenting on the weather. ]