[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]

[Up close, she can see the way it twists on its own and while a part of her thinks this is some kind of elaborate prank-

Why not play along. It's not hurting anyone.

So she kneels down beside him, holding the back of her hand out in case it's like a dog and needs to give it a little sniff. Maybe it has a nose? Look, she's just out here trying to cope.]

Hey there little guy, uh-Little Ruoye? I won't hurt you.

[dianxias]

[ im proud of you, iris!!!

anyway ruoye has always been a fan of women! the gentle thing, imbued with the spirits of--well, that part's unimportant, since it's not like xie lian can remember right now, but ruoye is gentle and frankly a little childlike, so iris will find no harm.

ruoye wriggles out from behind xie lian, and rubs up against her fingers. yes hello. xie lian offers a smile to go with it too. see! harmless. ] There's nothing to be afraid of. [ who knows if he's talking to iris or ruoye... ]

[carrotkeeper]

[This is so weird. She doesn't move her hand away and lets it rub against her, taking a chance by patting the top of its fabric-y head with a single finger only after a few peaceful moments have passed. Please don't bite her.]

Sure is a friendly little...ribbon. It's pretty cute. How long have you had Ruoye for?

[dianxias]

[ it does not bite! in fact, it has no teeth! it curls up against her fingers, though. rub rub rub pay attention to me!!! ruoye is very friendly!

xie lian laughs a little, sheepish. ] You surely wouldn't believe it if I told you how long. [ he should probably give up on trying to hide any of his life secrets nowadays considering there's an entire shrine to him somewhere hidden on the train??? thanks hua cheng. ] It was only recently returned to me, though.

[carrotkeeper]

Try me-you might be surprised.

[That answer piques her curiosity and who knows, maybe the lifespan of a mysterious, living piece of fabric is easier to swallow than he thinks.

The creature's growing on her in any case and she's more than happy to give Ruoye all the attention it deserves. Little scritches here and there, tiny pats on its head(????)-this turned out better than she thought it would.]

Glad you got it back though. Seems like it missed you a lot.

[dianxias]

[ ahaha... ha... ] Um, well.... it's been eight hundred years or so? I've lost track. [ which is what happens when you're old as hell.

ruoye continues to cutely wriggle, now diving around her wrist and between her fingers, darting in and out like it's trying to play a game of keep away and not responding to the fact that its master is feeling vaguely sweaty over being an immortal again. ]

[carrotkeeper]

[Now-

When she said Try me, she thought that his youthful appearance would belie a far older age. There's plastic surgery and skincare routines and-

The point is, he says 800 years or so and that causes her to stop. Her hand stills against the little ribbon for just a moment, before moving to pet him again. It's hard to tell if this guy is messing with her or not.

Then again, she's also playing with a magical piece of dog fabric in the middle of a grocery store in a world she wasn't in last night.]

Wow, no kidding? That. Yeah, that's pretty unbelievable alright. [The briefest pause, and-] Are you like an Astral or something?

[dianxias]

[ the sheepish laughter comes out again, and xie lian feels the urge to rub the back of his head. or shrink away, or something. he's used to being eight hundred years old, he's not used to telling other people about it....

not to mention... ] I'm sorry, I don't know what that is, so I don't think that's the case... it's a bit of a long story.

[ local god sits on the floor with enchanted cursed object that harmlessly plays with nice girl. ]

[carrotkeeper]

Oh yeah? I mean-I've got nothing but time right now. You wanna tell it?

[It's okay if he doesn't. There's something all too intriguing about this 800 year old non-Astral being with a magical pet. It's like a story's coming to life in front of her eyes.]

I'll listen.

[dianxias]

It's not a terribly exciting tale.

[ if you ignore the part about being a prince and ascending and descending and there being a horrific plague and trying to stop a drought and living as a hobo and then ascending again and then , ]

In the short run, I'm, ah. [ this is weird. it's weird to just be able to say this kind of stuff, so he smiles, though it's sheepish again. ] ...well, I'm a god? Recently a god! Ah, well, sort of. It's complicated?

[carrotkeeper]

[It's not like she hadn't suspected this was the case. God, Astral-they're similar and a nearly limitless lifespan seems to be part of that deal. Immortality and having weird magical things happen around you.]

Well-

[She's thrown, just a bit, to be talking to a god. How formal should she be?? Or maybe this is fine. They've been talking normally until now, so-]

I guess-congrats on your promotion to....Astralhood. Whenever that was. What was it like? I mean, is there a big place all the gods hang out? Are there others like you?

[dianxias]

[ xie lian huffs, a little embarrassed and sheepish, cheeks pinkening at the attention. no, really, he's not anything worth that much exciting... he's a garbage god...... literally...,

but it's kind of freeing to answer questions like this, so. he scratches his cheek, thinking. ] En. Um, well, there's the Heavenly Capitol, if that's what you're asking. It's a bit like a city, and every god has a palace there. I haven't really spent much time up there, though, so I'm not sure if I'm the right person to ask...

[ xie lian would much, much, much, much rather be among humans. he feels useful that way; if he has the capability to be helping people, whether godly or not, he's going to do it. he's not quite sure how to explain ascenscion, sort of that it feels like... ascending, having done it three times now, so he moves on to the last question, letting the teacher part come through. ] Ah, but, yes, there are many heavenly officials--it's easiest to separate them into categories... there are literature gods and martial gods. The Heavenly Emperor is a martial god, for example, because of his skills with cultivation and martial arts. Literature gods are scholars: the most famous is the palace of Ling Wen.

[carrotkeeper]

[That's different from the Astrals-not that she has intimate knowledge on how they work. All she remembers are the stories her dad told her as a kid and has only seen a few through Noct's ability to summon. They weren't super chatty or friendly.]

Woah. Heavenly officials makes you guys sound like, I don't know-like regular people can send you letters or text messages asking for help with potholes or wishes or whatever. It's pretty cool.

[Makes them seem a little more human.]

So what kind of god are you? Literature?

[dianxias]

Mm, they can always send prayers, and the gods should do their best to answer them.

[ not all do, though.... xie lian is not part of that group. as always, he'd rather be on the ground.

iris's question makes him laugh again, sheepish, his brows knitting together. well, that's not an unusual observation..., he thinks to himself, amused if not kind of resigned. ] No...no, I'm a martial god.

[ coming in at 5'8 and looking like he weighs maybe 150 soaking wet, you wouldn't think it, but no! xie lian, the flower crowned martial god, flower in one hand, sword in the other. he ascended not because of his knowledge, but because of his sword. he knows... he knows it's surprising....... ]