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

[counterclocked]

the space

Oh, god, not again.

[That's the first thing this boy in a bloodstained gym uniform says as soon as he comes to, but as he explores this initial area, if he sees someone:]

Please tell me you aren't going to hand me a melon.

[what]

welcome primer

[He seems to be fairly calm as he reads everything over. At least, until he reaches a certain point in the inscription. He blinks a few times before glancing at whoever happens to be nearby.]

...Wait, murder? [He looks back at the marble.] Okay, that definitely says murder. [Back to whoever’s near!] Why does that say murder? Couldn't whoever wrote this have left it at 'or don't?'

[HE’S SO TIRED OF MURDER]

the store

[He's just kind of wandering through the aisles, clearly looking for something. Should he see anyone nearby:]

Hey, you got a second? [...] Sorry, introductions first. I'm Hunter. Okay, now do you have a second?

the store

[givethemhell]

[WELL HE CAN'T HAND THIS POOR FOOL A MELON WHILE THEY'RE STILL IN THE SPACE but he can absolutely hand him a melon in fantasy Costco. Which is exactly what he'll do.]

Hunter, is it? Of course I do! You can call me Wei Wuxian. Though- [HM.] -could you do me a favor in return? I need someone to hold onto this for me. Just for a little while!

[He pulls a wholeass cantaloupe from his sleeve.]

[counterclocked]

[He looks at the cantaloupe for a long moment before reaching out to take it, although he's looking around like he's expecting something else to happen. After a second:]

Okay, just the cantaloupe this time.

[And after that nonsense that will probably make no sense to WWX, he continues with more nonsense that will make no sense to WWX.]

Cool. Nice to meet you, man. But, see, the thing is, I was looking all around this place, and I didn't see anything like phones, computers... DVD players... [The important things in life.] Did I miss the aisle they're on? I mean, have you seen any?

[givethemhell]

[JUST THE CANTALOUPE THIS TIME?? Wei Wuxian's also looking around a bit after he does, because maybe this guy knows something he doesn't... about cantaloupes. NOTHING'S HERE, THOUGH. IT'S JUST THEM AND MELONS.

Hm and now he's speaking in tongues.]

—Nice to meet you, too, but I have no idea what it is you're looking for. [He has probably passed by the technologies, but what are they?? A mystery.]

What do they look like? I've walked around the store a few times already, so I've probably passed them!

[counterclocked]

[Well, before addressing most of that, he's zeroing in on one thing.]

Wait a second, you don't know what a DVD player is? How do you watch movies if you don't have one?

space

[suddenlybees]

[ what ]

Mm~ I won't hand you a melon, but if you get one, I won't mind having it?

[ He steps back a little, seeing the blood, but takes the time to ponder over why a melon. ]

Ah! It's a housewarming gift, right? Pardon the intrusion~ Nice place you've got here!

[ Wherever the hell this is. ]

[counterclocked]

...Yeah, sorry, I'm fresh out of melons. I'll put them on my packing list for the next time I wake up in an endless void.

[After a moment:]

I'm Hunter.

[suddenlybees]

Good to meet you!

[ ...he does not offer his name back. Haha. ]

Melons are su~per important in times like these, you know? Never know when you're going to end up in an endless void~

[counterclocked]

[A long moment, before:]

And your name is...?

[Anyways.]

Right. Hey, can I ask... What's the last thing you remember before waking up here?

primer

[pseudonyms]

Tell me about it. [She's definitely standing behind him and reading over his shoulder, a fairly unimpressed look on her face.] Hopefully nobody gets any bright ideas while we're all here. How's that going to solve anything?

[counterclocked]

—Oh, sorry.

[As soon as he notices her reading over his shoulder, he's stepping aside so she can get a clearer look at the marble, frowning slightly.]

But - yes, seriously, thank you. I mean, I agree... I just hope nobody is, you know, gung-ho about trying out all the options this mysterious welcome message on this mysterious marble slab in the middle of this mysterious void gave us.

[pseudonyms]

[The smile she gives him is one that says "it's okay" but she ambles up to the primer to get a better look.]

Laughing wouldn't be so bad if you think about it. [It would at least be the kindest of the options available.] But the rest...I don't think any of us are just used to showing up in strange new places without a heads up. If it were me, I'd want to find the mysterious writer of the mysterious welcome message on this mysterious marble slab in the middle of this mysterious void before doing anything else.

[She's. Maybe teasing him but also she's 100% serious, whomst the fuck is responsible for this.] Think we should look around?

[counterclocked]

...Maybe not most of us. It's been a weird day.

[He moves on, though, with a nod.]

Yeah, looking around can't hurt. [Or maybe it could, because he follows that up with:] Just be careful, okay? Something about this... Well, actually, everything about this seems wrong.

primer

[soulburns]

Hey your—what? No, that wasn't my first inclination at all.

[A MELON?? but galo is obviously going to be taking inventory of hunter's uniform?? he's gonna reach out to hold onto his upper arm to steady him]

What happened here? Are you in pain?

[counterclocked]

Oh, no. No pain! I mean, I got shot, but I got better? Somehow.

[His tone makes it clear he also doesn't know how that happened, but it's probably fine. He tugs at the collar of his shirt to reveal that there's no injury underneath the bloodied patch of fabric.

More importantly:]

Wow... Your hair. It looks like something out of a cartoon.

[He's mildly surprised rather than judgmental, but he's definitely staring.]

[soulburns]

[wh

what the hell. galo is going to investigate - partially by like

jabbing at where the injury should be]

Thanks - you mean I'm cool, right?

[that's probably what he means]

Are you a Burnish...?

the store

[fishingforcompliments]

I have a great many seconds!

[Flayn smiles.]

My name is Flayn. It is a pleasure to meet you.

[counterclocked]

Nice to meet you, too.

[He offers a smile, even though he seems a little bit distracted looking at her hair. Anyways!]

So, I've been looking around, but I haven't found whatever aisle has, like, TVs and computers and phones... That kind of thing. Have you seen one around?

[fishingforcompliments]

...I apologize, but I have never heard of any of those things before.

[She can't show him to something she doesn't know, alas.]

But I will gladly help you search for them! Could you describe them to me?

the space

[survivaltricks]

[GOOD NEWS: Akira does not han dhim a melon!]

[BAD NEWS: Akira hands him a pair of cat ears]

[wh. . . what's worse, here. . .]

[counterclocked]

[He takes the ears as they're offered, but he just kind of stares at them rather than putting them on.]

Oh, okay. That, um, that's new. [...] Sorry, who are you?

[survivaltricks]

[Akira's mouth twitches as he totally fails to offer up an explanation for the ears. his fingers dip into his pockets]

Akira Kurusu. But please, call me Akira.

[well, at least he answered that question?]

And you?

primer

[foxweddings]

Oh, I believe many of us were thinking of murder regardless. Best to get it out in the open, neh~

[I'm sorry but the lady wearing a construction hat doesn't seem to be all that concerned]

[counterclocked]

[He looks (he tries not to stare, but it's not far from that, honestly) her way for a long few moments before he responds, shaking his head.]

...Wait, hold up a second. Why do you automatically assume a bunch of people who got summoned to a bizarre void with train tracks and some intense stained glass architecture are already planning way to kill each other before even reading the inscription on this very ominous slab?

[foxweddings]

Well, there are humans here.

[Yikes. That sure is a statement to be making]

I certainly don't trust anyone I've seen yet. Best to assume we'll all kill each other at a moment's notice than assume the opposite and be wrong.