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

[givethemhell]

[Can't believe the thing most worth scrutinizing in her eyes is his long-ass ponytail, wild.]

Mm, of course!

[AND OFF THEY GO. While they're walking:]

What are they, anyway? Those ramen packs... I didn't stop to look for long.

[merrygopound]

You know how the really good ramen has specialty shops? This is just kind of the cheap version. That's it.

You can take it home and toss it on the stove and it's not the greatest, but there's not a whole lot else as a better option.

[givethemhell]

[Hm... He sure is running into problems communicating with the people here.]

No, I don't know those, either. [The really good ramen shops. HE DOESN'T KNOW A RAMEN HE PREDATES IT. He also doesn't know what a stove is either, but at least he can extrapolate from context clues that it's some sort of heat source you cook things on.]

But if it's good food you're after, why not just enjoy the food on the train?

[merrygopound]

I'm fine, I just want to make sure I have stuff stocked. You know, just in case.

[ BE PREPARED. ]

[givethemhell]

[Why isn't she in the nomad group, honestly.]

Hah, smart of you. Where are you planning on storing it, though? This place won't let you leave if you try only taking a few of any item. Quite inconvenient!

[He has a pile of produce outside??]

[merrygopound]

[ because she's a knight!! ]

In one of the train cars, I figured. One of them is probably roomy enough.

[givethemhell]

[A knight out here beating people up with ramen packets and dumbbells.]

Do things stay on them if they change? I haven't actually tested that yet.

[merrygopound]

[ Like all good knights. ]

... I haven't, either. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't try.

[givethemhell]

Hm. Well! I'll help you set it up then, if you'd like. No point wasting all the effort of doing it alone if it won't even stick, hm?

[SPEAKING OF the bulk ramen is up ahead! Rows and rows of just. Giant cardboard trays lined with endless ramen packs.]

[merrygopound]

There it is!!

[ Mizuki instantly brightens, running forward. ]

And look, they've got a ton of different flavors!

[ Mizuki, maybe thank him for his offer first. ]

[givethemhell]

[He doesn't like being thanked anyway so THIS WORKS OUT JUST AS WELL FOR HIM. He's trotting along after her, curious about the flavors. Everything looks the same to him?? It takes him a moment to realize there are indeed different flavors listed on the outside of the packets.]

Beef, pork, chicken - spicy chicken? [Oooh, he's a fan.] They really do have a lot of flavors! Which ones are your favorites?

[merrygopound]

Tonkotsu, but that's not something I could find in a packet. The spicy chicken and the pork are both pretty good, though.

[ She's gonna educate him dammit. ]

[givethemhell]

Tonkotsu... I'll have to remember that! [For when they inevitably stumble into a world that has a proper ramen shop!!

FOR NOW, he'll just pick up one big thing of spicy chicken and a thing of pork.]

Any others? Do you want two or three of each of these?

[merrygopound]

That's good enough, I think. I gotta save room for all the flashlights I still have to buy.

[ Preparation!! ]

[givethemhell]

[WHAT'S A FLASHLIGHT. GOD HE KNOWS NOTHING. He'll just wait to see... what it is she grabs.]

Alright! To the flashlights, then? Ah-- but you don't have to buy anything, so you know. No one's around to take money and I doubt they'd be able to exchange for all of our currency, anyway.

[Considering there seems to be as many different currencies as there are people...]

[merrygopound]

... You sure that's not a test of character? To see if we're the types who'd steal?

[givethemhell]

First of all, I don't think so! Second, even if it was, I'd say we're legally allowed to take as much as we want considering our lives were interrupted so we could be brought here in the first place. The least they can do is provide snacks and entertainment without us handing over any money we came here with!

[The third unspoken point is that he'd steal this shit anyway if he had no way to pay or barter for it. HE AIN'T GONNA STARVE FOR A TEST OF CHARACTER.]

[merrygopound]

... You kinda sound really entitled.

[ He has a point, though. ]

[givethemhell]

Haha, do I? But I'm not wrong! [He waves a hand, indicating the wholeass store.] It's not uncommon to be offered recompense for troubles! I think our friendly pillar is doing exactly that.

[He is apparently chill enough with this entire situation to be okay with being offered kazoos and grapefruits in exchange for being kidnapped.]

[merrygopound]

... I hate that pillar.

[ Okay, child. ]

[givethemhell]

Mm, yes, it doesn't seem to have many fans among us.

[FAIR MOOD SMALL CHILD.]