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

[survivaltricks]

a. right outside fantasy Costco

[WELCOME TO SPACE EVERYONE!!! if you happen to be hanging out outside fantasy costco, you may run into a scruffy looking young man pushing a cart full of bell-tinged cat ears. he has like. . . a hundred of them. what the fuck]

[anyway if you happen to meet eyes with this enterprising teen, he is gonna hold out a pair for you, wagging it slightly to jingle the bells attached to the ears. his expression is perfectly even as he says:]

Meowy Clawsmas.

[IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE]

b. Wildcard

[hit me up if you'd like to do something specific!!]

a.

[messianic]

[Minato............. accepts it. He didn't have anything in his hands anyway yet (he couldn't find a clerk to pay and that's!! Stealing!!), apparently, so he accepts the cat ears after tugging a hand out of his pocket.

... He reaches up (one hand still in his other pocket, nerd), and puts them on his head.

And:]

And a happy Nyan Year.

[His expression never shifts.]

[survivaltricks]

[well, at least one of them doesn't feel too bad about stealing. "stealing." is it really stealing? Akira's definition of "theft" may be pretty fast and loose]

[either way, he flashes this blue-haired stranger a thumbs up, his own features still bland and unchanging]

Purrfect.

[heh. get it??]

[messianic]

[Of course he does, it's the most obvious pun of the lot.

Minato just quirks an eyebrow in return, tilting his head so the ears jingle.]

But is it really Christmas?

[genrouzan]

[ a perfectly even expression too, as he takes the ears, puts them on and says: ]

I have no idea what you just said.

[ But nyan to you too good sir. ]

[survivaltricks]

[BEAUTIFUL]

Sorry.

[said in such an even way that it's clear he isn't really sorry]

I was speaking Catonese.

[not actually a thing, Akira]

[genrouzan]

[ He cuts a Nyashing Figure. ]

Nah, I understood you. Just not whatever a Clawsmas is.

[ what up it’s ya boi from a land where Christianity ain’t a thing. ]

a

[suddenlybees]

[ Oh, heck... Well, okay. Kano takes the ears and places them on his head, a little bounce in his step to make them jingle. This is going to give him a headache within the next five minutes, he can already tell.

That doesn't stop him from grinning and doing the nya pose. ]

Meowy Clawsmas~! Is it that time of year already?

[survivaltricks]

[ALSO BEAUTIFUL. the more people who dress themselves up in these totally non-festive cat ears with bells, the better!!]

Actually, the last time I checked, it was March.

[w. wait]

But you can never start celebrating Christmas too early.

[says capitalism and retail]

[suddenlybees]

And when was the last time you checked?

[ Because it's like, August, not March, at least from Kano's perspective. But he's so done with the summer heat by now anyways, so Christmas coming soon would be a real blessing.

He shifts his weight from one foot to the other so he can constantly and annoyingly jingle his ears. ]

But yeah! You're right! So we gotta celebrate the best part of Christmas too, right?

[ Presents? No. ]

Cake~!!

a

[pseudonyms]

[What the fuck is right? But like. The worst part is she 100% accepts these ears and her expression brightens as she slips them on. Jingle bells and whatever.]

What do you think? Do they suit me?

1/2

[survivaltricks]

[JINGLE BELLS, MOTHERFUCKER!!]

[also there is, like]

[the briefest of pauses]

[with Akira's features slackening slightly in vague recognition]

[it's definitely an expression Rise has seen before from the casual fans she might run into on the street!!]

[survivaltricks]

[but, out of an abundance of politeness and the uncanny ability to remain calm and collected at all times, Akira merely lifts a hand to his mouth and clears is throat]

Absolutely, they do.

[his response is quick and perfectly deadpan. although he's being truthful!! they do suit her!!!]

It's uncatty how well you can make them work.

[uncatty. uncanny. get it. okay that one is a bit of a stretch]

[pseudonyms]

[Weird to see an idol at least four years younger than you expect, huh Akira? But she catches that look and even though she does recognize it as a look of recognition she doesn't seem to mind or even say anything about it! If Akira's not bringing it up, she's definitely not.

Especially not while she's now wearing cat ears.]

That one could've used a little work, but I'll give you points for creativity. [It's fine? She's actually pleased that he seems to be taking this in stride.] Guess you can never be too early to start celebrating. Are you handing these out to everybody?

a!

[givethemhell]

[WHAT DOES ANY OF THIS MEAN. He takes the ears when they're offered and shakes them around a bit to hear it jingle merrily...]

—Yes! Thank you. [HE HAS NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON. After flipping the headband over in his hands a few times, he... slides it onto his head?? And looks at Akira with an expression that seems to say did I do it right?

Granted, even if he didn't, he seems pleased by the little jingling sounds he now makes any time he moves his head around, which is A Lot.]

Haha, what a fun little toy!

[survivaltricks]

[Akira gives his new companion a thumbs up of approval. yes!! he did it right!! AKIRA IS PROUD, though one would never tell with how blase his features remain]

Consider it a welcome gift.

[Akira you're new too why are you handing out welcome gifts]

Something to boost morale.

[givethemhell]

[HE CAN FEEL THE PRIDE IN THIS THUMBS UP!! He has never seen this gesture before in his wholeass old life but he's immediately mimicking it and giving Akira one right back, grinning brightly.]

How kind of you! And you know just what to get, too. My morale already feels boosted!

[He reaches up and flicks one of the ears so it jingles again.]

Here - want to trade? You can consider it a thanks!

[PULLS OUT A HANDFUL OF KAZOOS from his robes... He has so much bullshit shoved in here, it's a veritable knapsack full of useless garbage.]

a

[spitefires]

[ well. he had been debating whether or not to approach the person wearing bells and cat ears, but it seems they found him first.

lio isn't going to take these. he narrows his eyes to akira instead. "Meowy Clawsmas".... ]

What are these for?

[ like they could serve some actual purpose at all. he's giving akira the benefit of the doubt. ]

[survivaltricks]

[no one is safe]

Fun and profit.

But mostly fun.

[Lio may refuse the ears, but Akira continues to hold them out. and likely he will do so until they are taken]

a

[merrygopound]

... What are you, five?

[ Sorry, Akira. She's a grumpy kiddo today. ]

[survivaltricks]

Seventeen, but thanks for asking.

[:( he thought all kids liked christmas. . .]

Not interested?

a

[foxweddings]

[I'm so sorry but she takes one look at those cat ears and her expression suggests he has just pissed her off for a quick second--

Also she's got a santa hat on, covering her entire head.

And is wearing a blanket like it's a skirt, tied around her middle. It looks particularly stupid seeing as she's got a kimono on? And something is very obviously bunched in the back of the blanket, though what it is will be difficult to tell. A pillow? Maybe this girl needs a butt pillow to remain in place.

Regardless, after this young youth jiggles the cat ears at her:]

What on earth is a "Meowy Clawmas"?

[SHE IS NOT HIP LIKE THE YOUNGINS]

[survivaltricks]

[those are some. . . fascinating fashion choices, but hey. who is Akira to judge? THE SANTA HAT IS FESTIVE]

It's the standard Catonese seasonal greeting.

[Akira no]

[he gestures to the santa hat with his cat ears]

It's good to see you in the holiday spirit, too.

a

[fishingforcompliments]

I beg your pardon...?

[She doesn't get it.

But she puts on the cat ears anyway.]

[survivaltricks]

[that's okay. she doesn't have to Get It, so long as she wears the ears]

Nevermind.

[he doesn't want to explain it]

They suit you, though.