[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]

[ Usually, she doesn't condone breaking that many laws, never mind treason, but in this case, she doesn't think this Genshin deserves to be a ruler. That's not how most countries work, she knows.

But she likes conviction in a person when that conviction is taking down people who delight in making others suffer. ]

You were prepared for what followed. I can't condemn you for that.

[ She supports him. Terrible. ]

[ittoryu]

[shinobu understands... sometimes you just gotta murder and then also probably die afterwards.]

You honour me. But yes—I have been prepared for a very long time now.

[wisterin]

Is that why you're so insistent with your proposals?

[ That she has never received? Or would he have tried with her? ]

[ittoryu]

[he probably tried at some point during their mafiau history tbh. either way, meeting her through that world first has taught him that she will almost definitely reject him............ alas.

otherwise, he totally would. would you like a proposal right now, shinobu?]

Well, I am the only heir to my clan. Should I die, our bloodline ends with me. Unfortunately, time isn't on my side...

[wisterin]

[ Shinobu doesn't want a proposal, but if he can propose in the middle of this conversation, he should.

Her brows knit together in concern. ]

Are Genshin's men after your life at home?

[ittoryu]

Hm? No, nothing like that.

But I can't wait forever to kill him. Besides, it depends on when my subordinates can create an opportunity for me. It could be years from now, or only a single one.

[wisterin]

... Will you tell the woman you plan to marry and have a child with about your plot?

[ She's not against his murder plans, but to Shinobu, family has always been the most important to her. She's not naive enough to think death will never touch any family or that every marriage is full of love, but Shigure is more or less choosing this ambition over everything else. ]

[ittoryu]

[he shakes his head.]

If I tell her, she'll be considered an accomplice, whether or not she has any hand in it. Even my father and grandfather do not know.

[to them, shigure is just the child who constantly gets into trouble, but only that of no concern. they would never dream that this is what he's capable of.]

[wisterin]

[ She smiles at him, but there's no warmth.

What he wants is to do everything on his own without taking into account what others might feel. It's a halfhearted kindness in her eyes. ]

Whether or not she knows, she could still be punished just for being your wife. It's better for her to know and still want to marry you than not at all. It'd be better for the both of you.

[ittoryu]

[in response, shigure takes on his usual light-hearted tone, any seriousness apparently done.

shion will likely never forgive his actions. his family would be appalled, as well. shigure understands well the feelings those around him would have—so at this point, why spend additional emotional capital on a wife who doesn't even exist yet?]

... Well, we'll see. It's not as if I'm anywhere close to finding anyone, so it may very well never be relevant. The fact that I openly despise Genshin is why I'm something of an outcast to begin with, after all! Hahaha!

[wisterin]

[ He may be done being overtly serious, but Shinobu isn't. Her smile is replaced with a frown, and her brows are furrowed. ]

Please don't laugh so easily about that. I won't condemn you for your goal, but for as quick as you are to propose to someone, you are trying so hard to be alone.

[ It makes her sad. ]

[ittoryu]

[... well, this is unusual. shigure's carefree attitude is genuine for the most part, but that makes it that much easier to hide when it isn't. even aldo, whom he let it slip around, wasn't willing to fully voice his suspicions. people have always let shigure control the mood.]

Does it seem so grand as that?

I would say that I've been blessed with fortune and happiness—so much that it would be greedy of me to ask for anything more! It is simply time for me to pay my dues.

[just as the blossoms he loves give way to summer, he accepts his life as something fleeting, meant to fade for the sake of something more important.

he cannot protect everything. perhaps he isn't even protecting anything at all. when this happiness inevitably comes crashing down, he's selfishly deciding what will be lost, rather than leave it in genshin's hands. shigure will tear that right away from him.

and as long as he can minimize the political ramifications, then truthfully, he doubts his death would cause much heartbreak. not the way shion's would.]

[wisterin]

[ On some level, Shinobu knows the foundation of her argument is shaky. As a demon slayer, she's ready and prepared to die at any moment. Just like Shigure, she knows her time is short. The difference is everyone she cares about knows that she can die at any moment, sooner rather than later. ]

No. I won't call you grand.

[ Her honesty is pure and without malice. ]

Even if you can and are willing to die at any time, please don't disregard the people who care about you—or the people who will care about you as they come to know you. You're ignoring their feelings.

[ She smiles, but once again, there's something heavy and melancholy about it. ]

It would ease my heart more to know you and have lost you than to lose you without really knowing you. [ ... ] I can also die at any moment, but I still want to know you. I still want to care about you, Shigure.

[ittoryu]

[in a way, what she says is like something out of a fairy tale. those around him gave up on understanding him, as it was more trouble than it was worth. he loves them all the more for still caring about him, despite his flaws.]

You honour me with your words, Shinobu.

[wisterin]

[ Her smile doesn't waver from what it's been. ]

It was an invasion of your privacy, learning this the way I did, but will you let me learn more about you more naturally?

[ittoryu]

There really isn't much... I'm a rather simple person. If anything, you're far more of an enigma, Shinobu!

[wisterin]

My, I don't think I'm that difficult to figure out, and I wouldn't call regicide simple.

What do you want to know about me?

[ jan do you know kny and/or do you care about spoilers ]

[ittoryu]

[i know spoilers so go wild]

Well, what do you do back home, for one?

spoilers for beyond the kny anime

[wisterin]

I slay demons.

[ This is the perfect time for him to get some insight in how. Despite what emotions may be overt and apparent or genuine, there is an underlying anger that's deep-seated and always present. Even with the gravity of this conversation without smiles, there's a frustration that won't go away. ]

[ittoryu]

[... ah.

he's quiet for a moment, processing what happened, before he gives her a light bow of his head.]

... It seems that it is my turn to apologize, for the invasion of privacy.

[wisterin]

[ Shinobu smiles because of course she does. At least, with his memory and all the other memories she's experienced, she can't be caught too off guard.

It was only a matter of time. ]

Am I less of an enigma?

[ittoryu]

... I would not say one can understand everything about a person just from one memory—but one can learn a lot from what they're willing to die for.

[wisterin]

[ ... Ah. ]

Is that so? There are a few things I would die for.

[ And that she would also kill for. ]

What did you see?

[ittoryu]

... You were talking to someone else—about how you had ingested poison to defeat your enemy.

[wisterin]

[ It comes back to her, little by little. ]

My younger sister. I wanted her to know if I died, it wouldn't be in vain. It would be as I planned.

[ That would be her ideal way to go, as gruesome as it is. ]