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]

—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.

[pseudonyms]

...you feel it too, huh? [She's nodding though because she's planning on being careful, but she's gesturing for Hunter to follow her. Time to explore my dude.]

It's weird. I can't sense anything that would make this more clear, but this definitely isn't familiar at all. Do you recognize any of the other people so far?

[counterclocked]

[He follows easily, trailing behind her at a comfortable distance.]

Yeah. See, the weird thing is, I've been jumping around to a lot of different places today, but there's always been someone with me? But now she's gone, and I just feel like something is about to happen. And, maybe this is pessimistic, but I'm kind of assuming it isn't going to be good.

[To her question, though:]

No, nobody else. What about you?

[pseudonyms]

No. My production team and my manager are gone, and I thought maybe my friends would be here but so far I haven't seen them.

[Though...] What do you mean you've been jumping to a lot of different places today? And who are you missing? [Hunter explain.]

[counterclocked]

Your production team...? Do you make movies or something?

[He pauses, though, tilting his head slightly.]

It's kind of a long story. I mean, that's not to say that I mind telling you, it's more like... Do you want the long or short version, basically? Because the long version is, uh, pretty long.

[pseudonyms]

Music, actually. [She has no problem admitting that, but she hums a little at his answer.]

I wouldn't mind the long version if that's okay! It might give us a clue why you're here, at least, and then we can figure out how the rest of us showed up.

[counterclocked]

Oh, man, really? That's awesome! Do you sing, or play an instrument?

[He seems genuinely enthused about this, though he grows a little bit more somber as she asks that.]

Well, I was moving between a lot of places, like... I was in the woods for this competitive marathon my school was holding. [Which explains the uniform, though not necessarily why it's bloodied.] But it was in the middle of the day, until all of a sudden - everything went dark, because we all kind of, uh, jumped in time? So now it was night where we were. Or, when we were, I guess.

[There's more, obviously, but he'll let her digest that first.]

[pseudonyms]

[She's like. Going to process all of this before she turns to look at him over her shoulder.]

We'll get back to me in a sec. [So she's not answering about her status as an idol, but she'll be happy to answer, like, after this.] I don't think I've ever met someone who can jump in time before. Why were you jumping? [...] Are you hurt at all? Your uniform's kinda wrecked.

[counterclocked]

Oh, yeah. Well, yes to the uniform thing, no to the being hurt thing. [...] Not that it's somebody else's. That's not what I mean. Just - it's all healed up now, so you don't have to worry about it, that's all.

[He's getting that out of the way first of all, because it doesn't seem as important as what comes next.]

Yeah, uh... I wish I had a good answer for that. There was a lot of weird stuff going on, so I kind of just had to roll with a lot of it as it happened, you know? I didn't even realize we'd changed times until later. I just thought there was, like, some weird eclipse going on that I hadn't heard about.

[pseudonyms]

[She's alarmed? Hunter? Don't just leave it at that!]

That's good to know. [But the rest of that is a little confusing even for her.] You know that sounds a little hard to believe, right? Not that I don't believe you! But how do you not notice at all? What kind of competition made you guys hang out in the woods and put you in danger?

[counterclocked]

...Yeah, it's hard for me to believe too.

[It's been a wild time.]

It was supposed to just be a normal capture the flag deal, so we were all out in the woods, but my school doesn't really... let us off campus very often, to say the least. I think some people with different goals took that as an opportunity to do stuff while our teachers couldn't monitor us. Like, Ferris Bueller's Day Off if it was actually Battle Royale.

[this is the stupidest possible explanation and rise doesn't deserve this]

[pseudonyms]

[The worst part is that she actually understands those references if the wide-eyed nod is anything to go along with.]

So like...a boarding school, and while you guys were off-campus you were pitted against each other instead. Something like that?

[THIS SOUNDS TERRIBLE.]

[counterclocked]

Lord of the Flies might have been a better analogy. I'm not sure if it's that we're pitted against each other as much as that some people just make really awful decisions, but... Well, the effect's kind of the same in this case, apparently.

[He runs a hand through his hair, sighing.]

Sorry, I'm probably freaking you out.

[pseudonyms]

So a different kind of terrible. I see. [But she still manages to make it sound like a kind statement and doesn't appear to be too alarmed. So maybe that's a little weird. They're still walking along and she seems to be keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary even as they talk.]

...it's okay. It just makes me wonder how you got here instead. But if we can avoid a similar situation that'd probably be for the best, huh? [Let's not descend straight into anarchy. It's fine. Has Rise ever read Lord of the Flies? That's debatable, but she understands enough.] And anyway I asked, didn't I? I wanted to know. [Ergo. Even if she was freaked out, she would take responsibility.]

[counterclocked]

I think everyone probably wonders why we're here instead of back home. But hopefully we can find something that can shed some light on that, right? I don't see anything yet, but...

[As they wander aimlessly through this void, he tilts his head slightly, looking her way.]

Unless you've got anything else you want to ask... Your turn, right? Honestly, your music is probably more interesting than whatever I've got going on.

[And less traumatic.]

[pseudonyms]

But that doesn't mean it's not out there. [She'll finish that sentence because if anything she's an optimist! They can't be stuck here forever...probably. Haha, anyway!]

I still have a ton of questions, but I think they can wait. It's only fair, isn't it? [She offers him a smile because no, she's very curious what the hell was going on in Hunter's world, but she recognizes the diversion for what it is.] Well...I'm an idol. Or, I was, but I took a break for a while so now I'm coming off of my hiatus. I've been performing for a few years and I was doing commercials and movies and stuff before I quit. I thought maybe I was done forever but the break helped change my mind.

[And because she isn't sure Hunter knows what an idol is, just by glancing him over, she'll clarify.] It's like a pop star.

[counterclocked]

Seriously? That's so cool! Are you still doing movies, or do you think you're just going to stick with music for now? What got you into it in the first place?

[There's honest enthusiasm in his voice as he looks her way, smiling.]

I feel like I should be asking for your autograph or something.

[pseudonyms]

Not yet. [And here she looks a little nostalgic.] I lost a few starring roles when I took my hiatus and getting back to where I was is gonna take a while. So for now? It's just music. [That's also a tricky question, but...well. Hunter doesn't have to know all of the details!] I entered a contest when I was younger and I won...after that, I started working with my manager to start recording and putting on concerts and stuff.

[She laughs though.] You're sweet, but maybe you should tell me your name first. [Since they definitely skipped that part.]

[counterclocked]

I bet you'll get back at it pretty soon. I mean, if that's what you want to do. [The smile stays, as he nods.] You think I could hear sometime?

[But then he looks appropriately sheepish at the reminder, nodding.]

Ah, right... Sorry! I'm Hunter. It's nice to meet you.

[pseudonyms]

It is! [A little too quickly, but she's very passionate about this.] I've...really missed it more than I thought I would, so I want to go back and be the best me I can be for my fans. You'd really want to listen? [That's not a no? She'll 100% put on a show.] I shouldn't fall out of practice just because I'm here, so sure. Anytime.

[But she'll commit the name to memory.] Nice to meet you, too, Hunter-san. You can call me Rise.

[She'll get into the Risette thing later.]

[counterclocked]

Of course I would. Any time you want. It's important to you, right? I mean, the music, not... whether or not I specifically listen to it.

[And it's nice to see someone so passionate about something they love, enough that he's breezing on past his own awkwardness.]

Oh, just Hunter is fine. I mean, if that's okay. Rise, though - I'll remember that.

[pseudonyms]

I think both can be pretty important. [It's nice to know that people want to listen, mostly, especially given some of her worries were about if she'd still be relevant.]

But we'll put the show on hold for now, Just Hunter. [And it's back to teasing him, but she doesn't mind dropping the honorific. She's more casual about it than most.] We still have a mission to do! [She waves an arm at the open space around them.]

[counterclocked]

I'll, uh, look forward to it, Just Rise.

[He nods, very seriously (no), before looking around.]

Are you picking up on anything? Because all I see is the place we just left, and... [...] Hang on, is that a train? Do you see that?

[He points in the direction in which there very much is a train chugging along.]