intro log.

[fracturamods]

welcome mingle

( AND SO IT BEGINS. )

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.

The place you've found yourself in is strange, certainly. It's probably worth exploring a bit. 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.

Well - that, and all the people who seem to have woken up alongside you, lost and also probably Doing Their Best™.

There's no need to fret that much though. It's hard to say exactly where you're going next, even though some places might feel a little bit more like a clue, but what you do know is one unshakeable thing:

There's still much more ahead of you.

Comments

[undeserved]

train

[ She doesn't remember going to sleep. Against her Pod's best wishes, she's gone about 72 hours past her last recommended charging period - so she's very sure that if she'd finally buckled and decided to take a break, she'd remember it. Her eyes flutter open as her systems slowly come back on (taking a little longer than they usually would), and she groans quietly under her breath, expecting to see Pod floating above her with an explanation, the cloudy gray sky broken up by the ruins of buildings. None of that is there. Instead, there's an unfamiliar roof, an unfamiliar window, and a rattling around her and beneath her that she instantly recognizes as vehicular.

As ever, there's a lot on 2B's mind lately - an endless amount of things to consider and worry about and torture herself over - but, for the time being, all of it flies out the window as she gets to her feet with a start and stares all around the interior of the train cabin. Without Pod, she's got no scanning tools, no map data, no diagnostics. What she does have...

Other characters might notice the woman standing up from her seat - even though her clothes and skin are a bit dirty, she's quite beautiful, and the blindfold on her face makes her stand out besides. If that doesn't catch their eye, the fact that her hand is going for the long katana on her back might. ]

stop zero

[ by this point, possible crises have been averted, and she's gotten at least a basic feel for what's going on, as much as anyone can. It's a shock to be among humans. More shocking than what she read on the marble pillar, frankly. But what can she do other than accept it? All she can do is press forward and try to understand. It's not like there's any way she can go back and help him like she meant to.

She hasn't found that yet.

She hasn't found much of anything in this weird place, honestly. The architecture in this building is reminiscent of some of the old ruins she's been through, so she's certain it's some kind of human construction - judging by the ships outside and the massive amounts of space, it's some kind of launch pad. That doesn't explain the lines and lines of chairs or the indoor spaces full of papers and multicolored liquids. After walking and walking and getting nowhere, she gives in to her curiosity, poking into one of the overpriced shops in the manner of a wary animal. She pulls a red energy drink out of a cooler, turning it over in her hands, trying to discern its purpose. There's a lightning bolt on it...? ]

...

[ she sighs, shaking her head in apparent defeat. Where is Pod 042 when she needs it? ]

[suddenlybees]

[ Oh. Yikes, yeah, don't do that. ]

Ahh- ah- ah, hold up! Hold up a sec! Stoooopp!

[ Kano shouts out, hiding behind one of the train's seats but about to wave his arms in the air in front of him to get 2B's attention— but she can't even see with her eyes covered and she'd just slice off both hands, probably. ]

There's no piñatas here, so, like, don't do that!

[undeserved]

[ well, she doesn't recognize this model of android -- but she obviously doesn't imagine he could be anything else. Despite the blindfold, the way she tilts her head towards him sure seems like she's looking at him. The hand hovers over the hilt of the sword, but she seems to be hesitating, at least.

What the hell is a piñata? ]

Where am I?

[ she opts for a more practical question. Perhaps if she weren't a combat android, she'd be more nervous about this spontaneous transportation - or perhaps she's simply run out of the energy to care. Either way, her voice is sharp as steel. ]

[suddenlybees]

Eh...

[ Kano has no good answer, but he has the safety of a squish seat backrest in front of him, and that'll have to do. ]

Not at a birthday party! Unless it's your birthday? If so, happy birthday~!!

[undeserved]

[ what is this guy talking about... she doesn't know what a birthday party is, and if Pod was here, it would probably explain. But it isn't, and not knowing only makes her mild annoyance less mild. Her mouth turns downwards ever so slightly, and her hand settles on the sword's grip. ]

Shut up and tell me.

[ when she learns he's human she will feel bad about this ]

[suddenlybees]

[ 2B... How is he supposed to both shut up and tell her anything? It's too early for me to bust out the charades, but we're going to have to do charades.

Kano puts a finger to his lips, and then opens his mouth to point inside. Which is it going to be? ]

[undeserved]

[ please stop taking her so literally kano. she may be a robot but please!!! 2B just stares at him (apparently, despite the blindfold) before grunting in annoyance and stepping away from her seat and into the aisle, heading towards the next car without so much as a goodbye. This android clearly isn't going to tell her anything useful. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ He's doing his best to stay alive, okok. So he breathes a sigh of relief as she turns and walks away, and Kano— because 2B clearly cannot see behind her and therefore if he's really really quiet, she won't notice a thing— gets back up and trots after her, hands in his pockets and smile on his face. ]

[undeserved]

[ no, she definitely notices. Immediately, actually. She'll let him follow her as far as the door to the next cabin; 2B stops in front of it, then turns halfway to stare at him, silently, slowly drawing Virtuous Oath from its sheath all the while. 2B doesn't actually say anything, and her expression - what can be seen of it, anyway - is unreadable. She just waits for him to make the first move.

She's expecting a fight. Either that, or an explanation!! ]

train

[fishingforcompliments]

[Ooh, what a pretty woman!

...a pretty woman with a sword. Flayn's eyes go wide, and she sucks in a breath from where she's been admiring her from a few seats away.]

Ah... I do not believe there is anything in here that requires fighting!

[undeserved]

[ Well, she certainly doesn't look like a threat - and the fact that she's trying to talk suggests as much, too. Tired and confused as she may be, 2B isn't the type to cut down someone without a good reason. Her hand hovers around the hilt, but doesn't take it yet. ]

What is this place? Tell me what's going on. Now.

[ boy she is going to #regret this when she finds out they're all humans ]

[fishingforcompliments]

[Hm.]

I am afraid I do not have the answer to that... I am still attempting to figure that out, myself.

[undeserved]

... Then you woke up here, too.

[ can she trust her? There's not really any way of knowing. But maybe she can at least get some information. ]

[fishingforcompliments]

That is correct.

[She nods once, her brow furrowing slightly.]

It was quite a shock to wake up somewhere other than my own bed!

[undeserved]

[ that much, she can sympathize with. It's beginning to feel like she'll never get to rest. Then again, as long as 9S is still in that state, she can't rest, anyway. She wonders if he's here, too, for the first time, and almost certainly not the last.

That can wait until later. Without Pod, tracking him will be difficult. Information-gathering is the practical first step to take. 2B's stance relaxes enough for her arms to drop to her sides, although one gets the sense she's still ready to snap into action at any moment. ]

I don't recognize you. What's your designation?

[fishingforcompliments]

My... designation?

[That's a funny way of asking for a name! Flayn looks confused, but there isn't much to be done about that. She can kind of get what 2B is asking for from the context, though, so she'll just go ahead and introduce herself.]

My name is Flayn. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss...?

[undeserved]

[ on second thought, she should have figured that this android wouldn't have one - it's obvious by looking at her she's not military personnel. 2B sighs under her breath slightly. ]

Just 2B is fine. [ her head tilts slightly to presumably glance out one of the windows, although her eyes are covered. ] I never entered sleep mode. And I don't recognize this vehicle.

[ plus, Pod isn't with her... something strange is happening. ]

stop zero

[messianic]

[It's not like he intends on peering over her shoulder at what she's looking at (which is tough because she's basically as tall as him, almost, in those heels), but she looks so quizzical (even through the blindfold) that he has to come over...

He's munching on pocky as he does, but he at least politely finishes what he's eating before he speaks.]

... I think the blue color is a better flavor, but I know some people who really like the red.

[As if that's what she's confused about...]

[undeserved]

[ she glances over her shoulder at him; she wasn't taken by surprise - she's been on edge since the moment she woke up, really - but neither was she expecting him to approach and offer his opinion. Her brow furrows, though it's hidden by the blindfold. ]

... This is food?

[ she sounds slightly incredulous. ]

[messianic]

[Oh no, did he run into another dragon...???

Minato tilts his head a little, blinking.]

Well... no, it's an energy drink.

[...]

So, sort of, I guess? It probably has calories.

[Blindfold... She looks human (and very pretty at that), and yet...]

[undeserved]

[ nope, just a sad robot.

Right. An "energy drink." Not a term she's ever heard before, but she's not so stupid she can't put those pieces together. It's probably not something that would affect an android. 2B makes a noncommittal "hm" sound. If 9S were here, he'd probably know some tidbit about this - actually, he'd probably want to try it.

A reminder of what she should be doing right now. With a gentle shake of her head, she turns towards Minato, somewhat awkwardly holding the drink towards him. She doesn't want it!! ]

... Nevermind. [ a beat. ] I'm looking for someone.

[messianic]

[Minato accepts said drink because it would be awkward to leave her standing there with an arm outstretched, but he's not going to drink it. Can you imagine Minato on an energy drink? I sure can't.

Instead, he glances at it, and then shoves it into his pocket. It barely fits.

Close enough.]

Oh--I've seen a handful of people around. Can you describe them? Maybe we've already met.

[It's worth a try, right? His wandering around might be good for something.]

[undeserved]

[ nice regular human interaction everyone ]

He's... a Scanner unit, male model. Short, white hair. [ she trails off, then frowns ever so slightly. ] ... He's not currently functioning.

[ to her credit, she stays remarkably even as she explains it. It sounds foolish when she hears it spoken aloud - looking for someone who can't even move - but wouldn't both of them be broken, if that's the criteria for being here? It wasn't like she'd gone terribly far.

That's her rationale, at least. In reality, she simply doesn't know what she'll do if he's gone, other than continue trying to find him. Even if she has to go backwards to do it. ]

[messianic]

[If he was from any other game but the game with a literal battle android, he'd probably be a bit confused by this. They're words that he knows, but not exactly in this order, or put together like this.

But...

... They're words that sound familiar to him in a different way.]

Sorry... is he an android?

[The way she talks... it reminds him of Aigis.]

[undeserved]

That's right.

[ it's a bit of a relief to meet a human who actually knows what they are. Maybe not everyone here is from a past so distant they haven't got a clue. ]

We're both YoRHa androids. Our appearances should be similar.

[ his apology strikes her as odd. Is he feeling sorry that 9S is offline? She can't imagine it would actually matter to a human like him. ]