[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

points at eyes points at u hell yea

[givethemhell]

[HERE'S A MAN WHO DOESN'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT DEATH (his own at least) even after leaving a world where death wasn't permanent... There's no trace of ill will in the smile he turns toward her when she speaks up, all sunny grins and cheery greetings.]

Ah! Elizabeth - that's your real name, right? [SO HE ASSUMES but he hadn't actually met her before becoming Former BFF Future Rivals in an assassin school... Either way, he waves his spoon.] Of course, of course! Here - do you like sweets? Let's get you one, too.

[Having talks about (presumably) death and murder should only be done with good snacks at hand, after all.]

[illhearted]

[ JUST AS FRIENDLY THERE, nice to know. ]

It is, and I don't dislike sweets. [ so: she'll take one. hmmm, this is like, build-your-own right. Too Many Choices. ] Do you have any recommendations?

[givethemhell]

[Just as friendly and also just as much of a gremlin, truly he's a cursed being.

That said, he hums and taps his chin, looking over this build-a-bear style buffet.]

Depends on how sweet you like your sweets! If you're a fan of chocolate, you can't miss out on the fudge or brownie bits. Those wafer cookies are nice and light - and the fruit is all good! Berries are the best, I think, or maybe those cherries.

[illhearted]

Berries and I get along like Lady Mittens and cream. [ so: well. ] Perhaps a good amount of those...

[ and some other fruits. this is a very healthy sundae, or something. wow. ]

I don't like things that are too sweet, but I don't necessarily dislike them either... They're quite alright. I'm not too picky, really.

[givethemhell]

[Wow she really is just going all in on the heart health here, huh. Though his own sundae also has a lot of fruits and berries... Matchies.]

Hm, really? Fruits are a good pick in that case. Not too sweet, not too bland. Nice balance! Ah, how's that table there?

[After sprinkling the last toppings onto his sundae, he'll nod over toward the nearest table that looks nice and clean.]

[illhearted]

[ She just said she's not that picky!!!!!! The table's fine, so she'll wordlessly gravitate over once she's finished off her sundae with another few berries tucked into the ice cream.

Is he gonna sit in front of her or beside her........ she doesn't care, she's just going to poke at some fruit with her spoon. ]

It feels as if it's been forever since I had a treat such as this... The inspector's gift for my birthday notwithstanding, at least. [ ... ] He gave me a cupcake. It was very nice of him.

[givethemhell]

[LOOK HE'S BEING POLITE!! Polite enough, anyway.

He'll sit across from her so he can look at her directly while they talk, in any case - though he's busy taking a few bites of his own sundae first.]

Mmm—! Almost as good as Caiyi Town's. [HIS CORNETTOS.] A cupcake sounds nice too, though. Was your birthday very long ago? Just recently? Haha, though I guess it doesn't make much of a difference in a place like this.

[illhearted]

[ YOUR FANTASY CHINA CORNETTOS. why aren't they a fragment, aki. ]

It doesn't make much of a difference here, no. [ Time is a lie, just like in real life. ] But according to my memories prior to arriving here... Not too long ago, I suppose. A month and a half, give or take some weeks. I'd just turned twenty-three.

[ A nice number!! ]

The days between now and then have blurred together quite abhorrently though, however, as is usually the case when I'm entrenched in work - though I'm sure you don't know how that feels, unless your self was completely changed in that school we just left.

[givethemhell]

[I RAN OUT OF SPACE BUT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN damn

That's a fair and real mood though, but he brightens up upon hearing that, anyway.]

Ah! Happy birthday, then! Only just missed it, hm? Your twenties are such good years, too! [The irony of Wei Wuxian saying this when he died in his early 20s and lived like a maniac mountain bum before then.] Eat as many cupcakes as you can while you have the chance, alright? Eat some for me, too!

[He says, as if he won't just also eat his own?! GOD. It's fine though, it's fine. He also grins at that fuckin roast WHY DOES ELIZABETH NOT HOLD BACK.]

True enough, I've lost track of the days before, but never been lost in work of the sort most people dabble in! I've lost plenty of time to new inventions, but not a single moment to paperwork.

[illhearted]

[ She's not going to eat cupcakes for you, Wei Wuxian, eat your own cupcakes. ]

You're an inventor? [ wow.... she is just............. NO, SHE'S GENUINELY SURPRISED, SHE JUST DOESN'T SHOW IT. ] ...Please tell me they're more useful than the speed skates you tried to make with magic.

[givethemhell]

[He'll also eat his own cupcakes WHY CAN'T HE HAVE BOTH.]

Those speed skates were very useful, you know! [HE STILL LOVES THEM maybe he'll make another pair here...] But no, I'm a cultivator and most of my inventions were adjacent to cultivation.

[illhearted]

[ THEY DIDN'T SAVE HIM THEY'RE NOT USEFUL ]

I'm going to assume you don't mean agriculture nor simple gardening.

[givethemhell]

[Yeah but he still thinks they're neat.]

Mmhm! You can think of us as exorcists of sorts. We deal with spirits, the undead, fierce corpses, ghouls, curses, non-human entities - things of that nature!

[illhearted]

There's a number of men who claim to be able to do the same thing back home as well, primarily those of the cloth.

[ if they'd ever met a real demon though... they'd never. ]

I suppose your main inventions dealt with making your job more efficient then.

[givethemhell]

Hm. Claim to, is it?

[There's a little quirk of a grin, since he sure reads the implications there. IF ONLY THEY COULD BE as wild and out there as the grandmaster of demonic cultivation, wowee.]

But yes, more or less! Compasses that can track down specific creatures, wards that protect from resentful energy, so on. The cultivation world still uses my inventions to this day, hah.

[And that's despite their massive hatred for him!]

[illhearted]

I don't suppose you'd have any of those on you currently that I'd be able to return with to my own world? [ at least she sounds vaguely amused. a shade of it. ] The compass might be useful, should it actually work properly.

[givethemhell]

I could make one for you, if you'd like! And I can guarantee that it'll work just as it should. [He's very proud of his creations and the fact that they aren't shit okay!!] Or any other number of arrays or charms that you may want.

[Is he gonna have to make Elizabeth her own paperman HE WILL!!]

[illhearted]

[ PLEASE MAKE HER A PAPERMAN... she might not trust it but please make her one. ]

And what would its price be?

[givethemhell]

[ELIZABETH TRUST HIS CUTE PAPERMAN!!! The question seems to catch him off guard though, and he blinks once before laughing and waving his free hand.]

No price, no fee! Ah, true enough, some cultivators like to solve people's problems for a bounty - but I'm fine as long as the things I make can help people along, even a little.

[illhearted]

How magnanimous of you. What do you do about food and shelter?

[ money is exchanged for goods and services after all ]

[givethemhell]

[Boy that just has him LAUGHING LIKE A SHIT. In his first life he was adopted into a wealthy family and then just lived in the mountains like a bum. And then in his second...]

I travel with someone who has deep pockets.

[(wei wuxian voice) i'm a sugarbaby]

[illhearted]

[ (typing into google) did the victorian era have sugar daddies ]

You're the type to be pampered by someone wealthier than you. [ She Sees. ] Congratulations on your arrangement, Wei. I certainly hope you entertain them enough to make their patronage worthwhile.

[givethemhell]

[i hate that wei wuxian makes things like this happen... HE LAUGHS because he's terrible.]

My benefactor is none other than the illustrious Hanguang-jun, our very own Lan Wangji! Ah, Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan... He gives me more to be entertained by than the other way around, I'd say.

[Then, waving a hand:]

Anyway, we just happen to be lucky enough to be working on the same case for now, and he's been kind enough to share his lodgings.

[illhearted]

[ Lan........ She thought better of him, given their last experience together... ]

I see. You should find a way to repay him for his kindness and for putting up with you.

[givethemhell]

[If only she knew that Lan Wangji was closer to his teen self and his current self is Wei Wuxian's biggest enabler...]

Should I compose him a song? Bake him a cake? Buy him the best fruit in the market? Ah, well, he can just buy his own fruit so maybe not that one.

[THEY DON'T HAVE TO BUY THINGS HERE ANYWAY.]