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

[merrygopound]

...

[ Rather hushed. ]

Are you a ghost?

[amberspirit]

[He pauses in his focus without pausing in his step, though he does slow a bit from the unexpected question.

And then he--laughs? Once, quietly.]

No. I'm not a ghost. You touched me, remember? [He raises a hand to her, palm up.] See for yourself.

1/2

[merrygopound]

I know you're solid!! That doesn't mean the rules of solidity apply here! They've already bent the laws of physics by dragging in a ton of people and look at you! You're like my age and you've got that fancy princess haircut and you look like someone serving the imperial court so you're already really medieval-looking and they died young back then and--

Ugh! I'm just saying, touching has nothing to do with it!

[merrygopound]

...

[ But she presses her palm to his anyway. Just in case she has to call his bluff. ]

... Stupid. So fine, you're not dead. Probably.

[amberspirit]

[There, see. He is absolutely still solid.

But he does have a kind of exasperated expression again as he draws his hand back to himself. Wow, he can't say he's ever had anyone to insult his hair or his outfit before!!] I'm not dead. I'm not a ghost. [Though, yeah, the hairstyle and the outfit really do scream Ye Olde Ancient Japan.]

I'm a sorceress's apprentice.

[merrygopound]

[ Someone had to tell him it was a really dumb combo. Sorry, Haku. ]

An apprentice?

[ Wait a sec-- ]

So you can do magic? Seriously?

[amberspirit]

[Let him live, he didn't choose the hime hair life!]

Yes. Some. I'm apprenticed so I can learn more since she is so powerful.

[Not everyone can walk around lifting a 250 pound dumbbell, Mizuki. Not a twink river spirit.]

[merrygopound]

[ Aren't you a dragon, sir. ]

Can I see some of it? Or is it like a super secret thing you can only do if you're in trouble, so don't frown at me if that's it--

[ She's definitely not from a world with magic. ]

[amberspirit]

[Well, he frowns anyway just because he's more use to frowning than anything else.]

I can show you some of it. [The nicer parts of it. Ha ha!] But not out in the open.

[merrygopound]

On one of the train cars, then?

[ Damn, he is frowning again. Mizuki herself can be grumpy, but it's usually at Date.

... God, hopefully she's not annoying him as much as Date annoys her, that would be terrible. ]

There's not a whole lot of... not-open places, [ she continues, hopping from one concrete path to a more forest-looking path with little white flowers growing along both sides of the dirt-covered trail. ]

[amberspirit]

Not out here, no.

[Easily, he hops after her with a surprising amount of grace for someone waltzing around in sandals. The forest path seems to feel a little more familiar, like his feet already know the way.]

Don't lose focus. Let's search the store first. I can show you in there.

[merrygopound]

Got it.

[ Then-- to the store! The store of wondrous delights and apparently pocky, unless Haku just keeps pocky in his clothes. ]

[amberspirit]

[To the store!

Yeah, there's pocky, which he got from someone from the store, but he does squirrel it away in his clothes when needed. At least the store gives them something to do instead of being idle.

Unfortunately, he doesn't get to wave his hand to open the door because it does that automatically. :(]

[merrygopound]

[ Sorry, Haku. Magic < automatic doors.

Mizuki goes a little wide-eyed, though, as soon as they step inside. ]

It's huge!

[amberspirit]

[ST...O...P. HE'S GETTING... WEAKER... THE LESS YOU BELIEVE... IN HIS MAGIC...]

Yes. It has things here I've never seen before.

[Well. A few. He steps confidently ahead; maybe because he has been here, but maybe because he's just always like this anyway.]

There is no employees or owner, not that I have found. The store has a rule, however: if you want to buy, you have to take as many as there are, or you have to take one that is large.

[merrygopound]

Isn't that taking "buying in bulk" a little too literally? What a weird store.

[ She has never been here, but she also isn't fond of trailing behind anyone like a duckling, so she'll match her stride to Haru's like she totally knows where he's going. ]

[amberspirit]

[The rhetorical question gets a glance out of him, but that’s all. He leads them down one of the first aisles they come across after entering, pace slowing mostly for her benefit.]

I would take only what you will need. In case there happens to be a curse we aren’t aware of.

[merrygopound]

I always only take what I need. Anything else is just pointless and it'd weigh me down.

[ Well, then. ]

So, a flashlight, matches, a canteen, a flash grenade...

[amberspirit]

[As different as Mizuki is from a certain other girl... surprisingly, they have some things in common. He gives her a look, though at least he knows of everything except...]

"Flash grenade"?

[merrygopound]

[ … okay, Medieval Lordling. ]

You pull the pin and when you throw it, it gives off this really huge flash of light so whatever's causing you problems can't see! It's great!

[amberspirit]

[listen,,]

I see.

[Thoughtfully, he glances down the aisle. This explanation didn't exactly tell him what a grenade looks like, but it's fine. Even fantasy Medieval Lordlings can throw things and cause mayhem.]

I can make you one if we don't find it.

[merrygopound]

… What do I owe you?

[ The correct question is "HOW DO YOU MAKE ONE AND CAN I LEARN HOW TO DO IT", Mizuki, but sure. ]

[amberspirit]

[Oh. Hmm. He looks her over as if he's trying to decide what he thinks she can do for him that may be beneficial on his end.

With the straightest face ever:]

A roasted newt, if you ever find one.

[merrygopound]

[ Also with the straightest face ever: ]

That's an aphrodisiac. You sure you don't just want ramen?

[amberspirit]

[WOW.]

It's a good bargaining tool. [Don't punch holes in his plans, geez.] I can get ramen on my own.

I'll think of something later. [Again, he starts walking.] I'm going to look for something. I'll find you in a bit.