[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

[unfriendliest]

[ as he takes the yakisoba off the stove... ]

...Miso soup would go with it well enough.

[wisterin]

It would. Please help me make some.

[ As she looks for a saucepan to use, she glances at his yakisoba. ]

That looks delicious, Ookurikara. Do you cook often?

[unfriendliest]

I usually do the cooking at the citadel.

[ so. that’s a yes! since they decided on miso soup, he’s going to go find the ingredients first. as he does, shinobu will see a memory…

their forces clash with the takeda soldiers, with shinobu assisting in the rear, close to the camp in case they need assistance. the tokugawa should be safe with monoyoshi there to protect them. the battle is already going badly, but they’d only need to hold out until they could find a way to turn it around, or safely retreat.

then something changes in the air, and she knows that this battle is doomed. the revisionists will be targeting ieyasu. a quick glance toward the camp confirms that they’ve already begun the retreat - it’s a small relief, at best, but taking the risk to stay would have been worse. monoyoshi made the right choice, so now she just has to join them.

she fights her way to his side, through takeda forces and the revisionists alike, until she makes it back to the tokugawa leaders, noting with some concern that somewhere along the way, they’d lost monoyoshi. most likely, he’s out in the middle of the battle, covering the retreat, but that only makes it more imperative that she protect them instead. it’s a little easier with gohei here to help, fighting in tandem to repel their foes and clear the way. the battle hasn’t paused for hours, though, and she’s getting tired even as she defeats the revisionists who’ve made it uncomfortably close to ieyasu. her breathing is heavy and labored by the time they find the space to breathe, and she has to pause, kneeling and using her sword to stay upright.

”My Lord!”

the shout startles shinobu back to her feet, whirling to find the source just as gohei leaps in front of ieyasu to take a revisionist’s sword - another uchigatana, she realizes distantly, as she moves without thinking to brutally cut it down. she can hear nobuyasu cry out desperately, and gohei’s voice, when he answers, is weak enough to send a wave of dread through her entire body. after the injury gohei had taken, she knows exactly what’s happening, and can’t bring herself to turn around and watch.

“I knew it… I made a better farmer.” and maybe, under other circumstances, she would agree. they’d had this argument before, after all, but as gohei continues, the levity in his voice falls away. “If not for the war… my mom and dad… and Mitsu…”

his sister, she recalls - gohei’s motivation for joining the war in the first place. he’d lost her in some engagement near kakegawa, years ago. if not for the war, gohei’s family would be alive, and -

“Pardon me… for leaving first.”

- and so would he. all she needs to hear is nobuyasu’s agonized cry to know it’s over, and still she refuses to look back as her breath catches in her throat. this… this is why she never wanted to get close to anyone. it’s easier to be unfriendly, and keep her distance, knowing that someday, they won’t be there anymore. humans and swords alike - in the end, no matter what they choose, they always leave. and of course, the one time she let someone in…

her chest is tight, that all-too-human heart heavy with grief, but there’s no time to dwell on it now. the others have made it back, so they still have work to do. so she pushes it to the back of her mind, ignores the bone-deep exhaustion setting in, and keeps going until they finally make it home.

kara, however, doesn’t seem to notice the memory being shared between them. he’s already retrieved the kombu dashi, and is pouring it into a saucepan to boil. ]

[wisterin]

[ He may not notice the memory being shared, but he may notice that Shinobu's movements still. Her expression doesn't betray the tragedy of the memory except for how her eyelashes lowers, and she sets the kitchenware down. ]

Ookurikara.

[ Everyone has experienced so much loss here, but with someone so unused to these emotions, it must have hit so much more, as new as they must be. She doesn't know all the implications behind what she just witnessed—the sword knowledge, the history—but she can connect some of the dots. ]

I'm sorry. I've received one of your memories.

[unfriendliest]

[ he stiffens, but after a moment, kara sighs in resignation and shakes his head. ]

It's not your fault.

[ while part of him wants to ask what shinobu saw... he really doesn't want to talk about it, whatever it may have been. if it's anything like the others, it's something he'd rather not relive. ]

It's fine. Just ignore it.

[wisterin]

[ She shakes her head and smiles, apologetic with a tinge of a melancholy. ]

I'm afraid it shouldn't be ignored. It feels like something very integral and important to you.

[ She keeps her voice soft, gentle. ]

Running away only allows your fear to grow.

[unfriendliest]

[ oh. hm. dislike. ]

...I don't know what you saw, but I'm not running from anything.

[wisterin]

You keeping to yourself, so you won't get hurt anymore— What would you call that?

[ Sometimes, kindness is getting straight to the point, and she feels like Ookurikara is too straightforward for her to lead him around in circles until he finds what she means. ]

[unfriendliest]

Not being stupid.

[wisterin]

No. You are being stupid.

[ She says that quite cheerfully. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ he bristles. ]

There's no point in getting attached to anyone when it's all temporary, anyway.

[wisterin]

Death is something that comes for all of us.

[ That much is true. ]

That doesn't make our feelings temporary.

[unfriendliest]

That doesn't mean I should waste my time on it. All I need to do is focus on my mission.

[wisterin]

[ There's a small pause before she Smiles. ]

Is everyone here a waste of time to you? Are you a waste of time for us?

[unfriendliest]

[ that's








hm. ]

I didn't choose to be here. I have better things to do.

[wisterin]

None of chose to be here, and we all have better things to do.

[ His words are flimsy, and though her voice is as calm and composed as it usually is, she may as well be pointing a sword at him with her own words. ]

Someone you hold dear dying is both frightening and devastating, but you can't want to help people without caring.

[unfriendliest]

I'm only interested in stopping the enemy forces. That's all.

[ he doesn't need to care or be friends with anyone for that. ]

[wisterin]

[ Gently: ]

What are you fighting for?

[unfriendliest]

[ well. the answer to that is... complicated.

so he chooses note to answer at all. it's none of shinobu's business, anyway. ]

[wisterin]

Are you running away again?

[ She's patient and can wait for him to answer, but if his choice is not to answer at all, she can only needle him again.

This memory is important. She wants him to acknowledge it. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ if he continues to ignore this then maybe she'll stop ]

[wisterin]

[ If he continues to ignore, he gains Giyuu energy. :)

She smiles. ]

Ookurikara-san. Hello? I know it's hard for you to talk sometimes, but are you trying that hard to get people to dislike you?

[unfriendliest]

I don't care what anyone thinks of me.

[wisterin]

Or is it that you're trying harder to dislike people so you don't have to care?

[unfriendliest]

[ he gives an exasperated sigh. ]

If you're going to keep this up, I'm leaving.