[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

[dianxias]

[ ahaha...ha... ] Something like that.

[ actually, he couldn't tell you where ruoye came from, which is a mercy, thanks to his fragments. he's always considered it something like his spiritual device, even if it's possessed. ] It's been with me for as long as I can remember. I felt a bit, ah, lacking, not having it, so... imagine my surprise when we returned, and I found it!

[ ruoye weaves through wen ning's fingers, once it gets an approving nod from its master. despite being just a strip of fabric, it's awfully animated, perking up and then nuzzling against his hand. ]

[deadened]

It seems like this place has been... generous, lately.

[a little nod to the sword at his side, there. that along with his core, and now xie lian's spiritual device-- it's going pretty well recently, it looks like, though he regained these before the last trip.

wen ning smiles softly as ruoye weaves through his fingers, giving it an affectionate little pet or two. cute!!]

I'm glad it's found its way back to you, Xie-daozhang.

[dianxias]

[ at that, the strip of fabric starts to make its way back to xie lian. it winds back around his neck and settles down, effortlessly covering the cursed collar at his neck.

which is good because he's clearly distracted, now. eyes lighting up a little, xie lian nods at the weapon-- ] Your sword! Would you mind showing it to me? I'd love to take a closer look.

[ once a sword nerd always a sword nerd... ]

[deadened]

Oh, of course...

[he unfastens it from his side, offering it out to xie lian; wen ning trusts him enough to hand it over without much consideration.]

I received it before... before we left, last time. It's been a long time since I last had it, though, s-so I'm still a little rusty.

[dianxias]

[ !!!

xie lian reaches out for the sword immediately. it feels like it's been ages since he properly held a cultivation longsword in his hands. he had to pawn all of his swords because he was so broke...so....

the moment their hands touch, though, xie lian's snapped out of the moment for a brief interchange. suddenly, the low warehouse lights of the notsco fade away, replaced with a cave. he's looking at wei wuxian, immobilized and infuriated, and there's an overwhelming sense of -- of sorrow, but of gratitude at the same time. "...and I have come to a conclusion. We’ll be going to Koi Tower to give ourselves up.”

That voice is wen ning's, though it feels like it's come out of his own mouth. From just the memory, he knows to do so is a great act of courage and bravery, to try and stop fighting, to put oneself to suffering just to try and help others.

These days have been a strike of luck", and his head nods. he agrees, it's the best thing to do. the rush of gratitude he feels for wei wuxian, stricken and pained and hurting is so strong that xie lian aches, for him. he aches for wen ning, and he realizes within the memory that "giving himself up" is going to lead to certain, absolute death for himself, and for --

--he blinks, suddenly, gasps, and there are tears at the corners of his eyes. xie lian blinks a few more times, shaking his head, putting himself back into reality. his hand still touches the hilt of the sword he's been handed, and his head lifts to look properly at wen ning, his eyes wide. ] I-- oh, Wen Qionglin.

[ what do you even say to something like that? to such an act of bravery and selfless sacrifice, to the love and care he has for wei wuxian? ]

[deadened]

[oh-- oh no. he has the distinct sense there's something abruptly missing, though he has... some vague idea of it. it's related to wei wuxian, he's sure, it's when he did... something, for his sake? his brow furrows there, especially at the sigh of the tears gathering in xie lian's eyes, at the way his voice sounds as he addresses wen ning.]

Ah-- Xie-daozhang, I... I'm sorry, did you...?

[he worries at his lip, unsure exactly what to think of this. there's... a lot that he doesn't mention to people, as a natural consequence of keeping his true state to himself.

at the same time, though, xie lian already knows what he's supposed to be. of all the people here, he's-- probably one of the safer ones to have learned more, but that reaction makes him think it's probably nothing good.]

[dianxias]

[ xie lian tries to keep any reaction off of his face, for wen ning's sake. his expression shifts into a soft, small smile. the behavior's not out of character for someone like wen ning at all--it really just confirms who he is. an utterly selfless, caring, kind young man, and it resonates his respect for him even further. ] I believe I have something of yours.

[ slowly, he tries to recount, so as not to miss any details. ] There was a cave....Wei Wuxian was there. I think he was paralyzed by something, maybe a needle, and he was angry...you sacrificed yourself? To some place called Koi Tower.

[deadened]

[ah. that's... a little worse than he thought. he frowns, trying to follow that reminder, to remember properly.]

That's... where we used to live. Where he stayed. [his awful gremlin cave.] I had to... there were more of us living there, from the Wen sect. He took us all to the Burial Mounds with him-- older people, children, people who had nothing to do with the war against our sect. If they came for us... it would be terrible.

[he looks troubled as he recounts that, going back a bit to work through the memory-- maybe a little sad, as well, because he knows what happened in the end. that they did. that it was terrible, and he wasn't there.]

I don't remember who else it was that they wanted, but I don't think that I was alone in it, was I...?

[dianxias]

[ xie lian's in no position to judge. he slept on the side of the road and anywhere he could find the space for the majority of his 800 years, and now sleeps in a shrine with no door and holes in the roof. and, to hear wei wuxian protecting the innocent warms a part of him he's since tucked away--the one that resided in montevallo, watching their clever friend shelter orphans and innocents alike. it all checks out; its funny how things are so similar between worlds.

his heart aches. it's always the innocent people who hurt, isn't it? the fragile ones, the ones who don't deserve to. sinners pits, full of women and children, instead of people who deserve punishment. it's unfortunate that that's a constant, too, and xie lian sets that aside for later too, focusing properly on wen ning's question. another person.... after a beat, he nods. ]

En. I couldn't see who the other person was, though, or tell... [ his brow furrows. ] I'm sorry. [ too bad... if only he could be more helpful. ]

[deadened]

I-it's all right. I think it must be... someone I forgot, so even if you were able to tell me, I don't think that it would matter.

[and because fragments aren't shown in these memshares, xie lian doesn't get to know yet either, sorry xie lian.

but he reaches a little further, tries to put more details together, fingers laced to keep his hands still.]

It must have been after I... it was my fault to begin with. [a quick shake of his head, there.] But that wasn't anything recent.

[that certain destruction wasn't so certain after all, if it's an older memory.]

[dianxias]

[ that's okay he will find out someday, his social link is strong,

xie lian looks a little surprised, at that revelation, and then --he looks relieved? ] It wasn't! I suppose I'm glad to hear that much, at least.

[ it's not a Good Thing by any means, but to know his friend came out of that at least somewhat alright is..kind of nice? it's all relative. small things. the relief on his face fades, though, it not lasting. ] ...Wei Wuxian looked to be in quite a state, too. [ the demonic energy coming off of him... not great. ] You two have been through many hardships, haven't you?

[deadened]

We... we have.

[his face falls at that, with another headshake.]

But young master Wei has been through more than I have. I'm relieved that I've still been able to support him.

[wen ning might have been made into a fierce corpse, but- wei wuxian really has suffered at the hands of the world, and so little of it has been anything he could have deserved, in wen ning's eyes.

he realizes, a moment later, that in this memory xie lian must have seen what wei wuxian originally looked like, but... he's just not going to mention that. if it's nothing xie lian already knows, it's nothing that's his place to explain.]

[dianxias]

[ hm. the response brings a little smile to his face, and xie lian nods. people like wen ning... truly are the best kind of people, the kindest. the kind of people xie lian lives for, that show the goodness of humanity. ]

I'm sure he's as relieved as you must be. It might be a bit bold to say so, but...it seems like Wei Wuxian needs someone like you to take care of him. [ by which means he clearly, absolutely, definitely needs somebody like wen ning around.

but he's nice enough not to say that! so. ] It's quite nice that you two have had each other.

[deadened]

[wen ning is a very good boy, it's true. shame about the whole being undead thing!!

anyway! his ears go slightly pink at xie lian's words, because-- well. how can he not be pleased to hear something like that? even so-]

It isn't just me. He's had young master Lan here, too, since before I arrived.

[they're busy being stupid about it but you know, wen ning still thinks it's good for both of them to be here together. he's never bedgrudged anything about their feelings; he wants to see wei wuxian happy in the end, after all.

now if they'd just get it together.]

[dianxias]

En. [ the noise is agreeing, a fond smile on his face. that's very true. since that very first world, those two... ah, humans and their love.....

xie lian ducks his head, though, in deference, the bow natural. ] I am very sorry to have taken such a thing, young master Wen. I hope it was returned to you in full--but, thank you for sharing it with me nonetheless. [ there!! and that should be the end of it!!

too bad because wen ning is going to get hit with a memory. he's first treated to pain -- xie lian is holding up a statue that ostensibly is of himself. it's five meters long, massive, and made of gold. the entire atmosphere is one of suffering and pain. from there, the memory starts to unfold. ]