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

[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...?

[counterclocked]

Weird, right?

[He moves away from the jabbing, but he doesn't seem that annoyed by it.]

Uh... Yeah, sure! [To the cool part... But then:] Uh, no. I mean, I assume not, but I should probably ask first to be sure. What's a Burnish?

[soulburns]

Mm, really weird, but if you're unhurt then maybe that's just a blessing...

[squints???]

Ah - Burnish are another type of people. I think it's something about... the fires inside of them keeping them alive... so they can heal... something... something...

[he's first aid trained but he doesn't know much else about that!]

[counterclocked]

I mean, not as much of a blessing as it not happening in the first place, but I'll totally take it over the alternative.

[He narrows his eyes slightly, but it's more confused than anything else.]

Yeah, uh, can't say I've ever heard of that. I definitely didn't get healed by... Sorry, is it a metaphorical or literal fire inside of them? I mean, it's a no for me either way, but now I'm kind of curious...?

[soulburns]

Ah, well... it's... I mean it's probably literal? But it could be pretty metaphorical. But!! My fire burns way hotter than any of theirs!

[ . . . ]

Metaphorically, I mean.

[this is

an explanation]

Anyway!! As long as you're not hurt, that's good - but you should probably change your clothes before you alarm anyone else!

[counterclocked]

So... Yours is definitely metaphorical, but theirs might be actual fire?

[He looks down at this uniform with a small grimace, nodding.]

Right. There are probably plenty of clothes here. Just - feels like I might get punished for changing out of the uniform, you know? Though I guess they aren't here right now, or at least I haven't seen them in a while...

[Who is he even talking about? A mystery.]

[soulburns]

Definitely a metaphor!! It'd be bad if a firefighter lit real fires, you know?! It could be illegal?

[stop talking

anyway]

Ha...? Are there people giving you trouble?

[counterclocked]

I'm pretty sure arson is illegal even if you aren't a firefighter...

[He has concerns! But he just gives a little shrug.]

Uh, that's a yes in the general sense. Not at the moment, so it's probably fine for now. [...] If you see a woman who's, like, mid-30s with dark hair in a bun or a guy who's probably in his 40s with short black hair, though, can you tell me?

[hunter explain]

[soulburns]

Yeah, yeah, but it'd be even worse when your whole job's putting them out and keeping people safe!

[it's be a PERSONAL SLIGHT]

... I mean, yeah, I can but...

[he's just going to put a hand on hunter's shoulder]

That doesn't sound like it's exactly 'fine'.

[counterclocked]

Right... Like an accountant being guilty of tax fraud, yeah? I get what you mean.

[It's not remotely fine, but like, it's fine. He shakes his head.]

They're my teachers. They have... experimental methods, I guess? [But.] As long as they aren't here, I'm more worried about who or what brought us here. You know?

[soulburns]

Yeah, I don't really get any of that either - something about souls being in pieces? But mine seems like it's all in the right spot...! I think...

[fuck if he really knows

anyway,]

Jeeze, even if they're teachers, that sounds really strict.... I'll keep an eye out for them!! But let me know if you ever need anything, alright? Galo Thymos'll come to your rescue anytime!

[counterclocked]

Really? So you don't feel, like, off or weird at all...? Because, maybe it's just me, but it feels like there's something wrong. I don't know if it has to do with my soul, though.

[He can't help but smile a little bit at that; calling them strict seems to amuse him, if nothing else.]

Ah, right, I didn't introduce myself... I'm Hunter. Nice to meet you, Galo.

[soulburns]

Mm, I've got a couple of weird feelings but... I did the inventory!! Still wanna fight fires? Check! Still wanna help people? Check! All the necessary parts to being Galo Thymos are here!

[why is the checklist only two items long]

But it's good to meetcha, Hunter. Maybe we should go and see about those clothes for you or else you'll give another medic a heart attack.

[counterclocked]

Right, but... If it's missing, would you even know to ask about it? Like, what if the concept itself is gone?

[But that's a little frightening even for him, so he gives a nod.]

Yeah, probably not a bad idea. You think there's a good place to toss these out once I find something else...? I mean, I'm assuming there isn't a void Goodwill, or that they'd want these even if they existed.

[soulburns]

[oh




oh fuck]

.... You ask a lot of good questions....

[counterclocked]

[Hm.]

I kind of feel like I should apologize, when you say it like that...?

[soulburns]

Huh? How come? I said they were good!

[GALO IS VERY MUCH AN IDIOT but he's gonna wander off anyway...]

Anyway, maybe you can get a backpack or something for your old clothes? Or else someone'll find them and start screaming over a stabbing that didn't happen.

I don't have an answer for your uh... disappearing concept question though. I'm not great at thinking super deeply about stuff like that... but I'm sure it'll all come back eventually!

[counterclocked]

[And off Hunter goes right behind him, following along!]

A backpack isn't a bad idea. Even better if it stops people from freaking out, right? So... Have you found a clothing store or anything here yet?

[To his second point, there's just a small smile.]

...Right. We'll make sure to figure it out.

[soulburns]

Not clothing but there's a huuuuuuuuuge store!! So we can try there?

[hope hunter wants a package of 10 different shirts]

But yeah yeah, that's the spirit!! As long as we keep trying, everything'll work out the way it should.

[counterclocked]

Okay.

[He nods his agreement, but as they go:]

So, a firefighter, huh? That's pretty impressive. How'd you get into that?

[soulburns]

Haha, I was saved!! As a kid, Gov Kray sacrificed a whole lot to make sure that I could get out of my own burning home safely!

[he's all big grins and bright smiles]

I think it'd be really awesome - to even get close to being that impressive! I wanna be a hero too, you know?

[counterclocked]

[He looks concerned for a moment when Galo mentions the whole burning house thing, but... If he's so positive about the situation, it feels wrong to bring that down by bringing up how awful it could have been.]

I mean, if you fight fires for a living, aren't you kind of already there? I mean, how many lives have you saved?