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

a.

[messianic]

[Oh my god Mizuki no.

Uhhh.

He doesn't reach to try to stop her or anything, but he does like...quietly speak up.]

Excuse me... Are you going to punch that rock slab?

[merrygopound]

I don't have a pipe with me, so my only other option is kicking it.

[ Uh-huh. ]

[messianic]

[Uh... huh..... logically...]

... It looks pretty solid. Are you going to be okay if you do?

[merrygopound]

Yeah, I'll be fine. It'll be a little harder than a tree, but...

[messianic]

[He has a lot of questions, but he doesn't ask them.]

Will it help if you do punch it?

[merrygopound]

If I can break it, yeah. I don't really like it when marble's being rude.

[messianic]

[... Is it really the marble that's being rude though...]

... Is there anything else that would work as better stress relief?

[merrygopound]

... Unagi.

[ Well. ]

[messianic]

[Nods firmly.]

Let's go find some unagi, then. That sounds better to me, too.

[merrygopound]

Look... thanks, but I need to-- I need to find a way out. I can't just stay here and act like it's all fine when it's not.

[messianic]

[Hmmm...]

Alright. So even more important than punching the slab or unagi is finding a way out. There's something important you have to get back to, right?

[merrygopound]

... Yeah.

[ Mizuki hesitates for a moment, then clenches her fingers tightly together. ]

My friends are in trouble.

[messianic]

[Oh.

Well.]

That's definitely more important.

In that case... do you mind if I help you look for a way out of here and back home?

[merrygopound]

... Why? You don't know-- you have no idea who I am. What's in it for you?

[ Minato, what the hell. ]

[messianic]

[...???

Who hurt you, small child.]

Well... finding a way home is good for everyone... [Except him.] But mostly I just feel like if you've got something that important to do, it's important for me to help out how I can. That's all.

[merrygopound]

[ Her own family. ]

Then... if you let me help you, too. I guess.

[messianic]

[Minato hums softly at that, an assenting noise.]

That's fine with me. I'd appreciate your help, honestly.

[She seems like a perfectly competent 12 year old girl.]

[merrygopound]

Then...

[ She nods, decisively. ]

I'm Mizuki Okiura. Don't think that I'm just some dumb kid just because I'm twelve!

[messianic]

[...]

You seem perfectly smart and competent to me, Okiura-san.

I'm Minato, by the way. Arisato Minato. It's nice to meet you.

[merrygopound]

Just call me Mizuki, you're too young to be that stupidly formal.

[ Well then. ]

Nice to meet you too, Minato.

[messianic]

[He does not point out the obvious, which is that she's even younger than he is.]

Mm, okay. Mizuki then.

Which direction did you come from? We can narrow down which way to go from here from that.

[merrygopound]

Nnnn... that way.

[ And she points east, helpfully. ]

[messianic]

[Nodding... and Minato points to the north-east.]

And I came from that way, so... let's try the opposite direction?

[merrygopound]

Okay... makes sense to me.

[ With an approving nod, even. ]

I'm glad you're sensible, Minato.

[messianic]

[Somehow, this feels like a great compliment, even though she's twelve....... what mysterious power...]

... Thank you. I'll do my best to live up to your expectations.

[WALKING...!! walking.... walking........

Sorry, Mizuki, he's Quiet.]