[mingle] the space (january).

[fracturamods]

interim mingle

( WELCOME BACK, TRAVELERS. )

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. Or did you get something back recently?

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. It might've changed since the last time you saw it.

You might have changed since the last time you saw yourself too - perhaps with a new emblem on your clothes, or a portrait on your skin.

There's no need to fret that much though. You've already gone through the ordeal once, and you might be able to see results from it. Even so, it's best that you don't get too comfortable, because there is still the unshakeable feeling:

There's still much more ahead of you.

Comments

[descried]

... Yeah, but you, uh, kind of looked like you were having a panic attack. Or something.

[lightmage]

I see.Fortuitous, then.

... At the very least, the plentiful food does seem like a good omen.

[quickpersuader]

[Probably not, anyway.]

Do you know what those symbols mean, sir? I can read most of it, but...

[At least they're polite?]

[descried]

Considering they're kind of complicit in mass abduction, or whatever you want to call this? Yeah, they probably have reason to think they won't be popular.

[bywolves]

[ Sensible answer. He likes it. ]

I've done some looking around. Very little makes sense. Have you, by chance, found those responsible for... spiriting us away?

[infinitesadness]

[ your adultest adult is here to sigh and drink all the tea ]

Ah- I see.

[ does he tho. clearly, he's gotta do it the old fashioned way. ....though it seems like even that won't get the answers he's looking for, hm. ]

I suppose it will show itself with due time.

[lightmage]

i. wtf is a train, even.

[ Lux is standing somewhere in The Center, looking at the train that she has apparently just stepped off of. She has one hand on her chin as she looks it over curiously. ]

... Is this hextech? I've never seen something like this - nothing so big. Or fast...

It must be at least partly run on magic, right? I mean, coming to a place like this?

[ Weirdly, it's hard to tell if she sounds like she thinks that's fascinating or horrible. ]

ii. emblem???

[ If you happen to be looking at Lux at just the right time while she's exploring - wherever - you'll see her hand idly drift down to an emblem on her cloak.

She looks down at it, and... Apparently was expecting to see something else, because her shoulders jump. After a moment of looking at it, she tears it off of her cloak and throws it to the ground, then starts to walk away.

... But only gets a few steps away before she awkwardly turns back around to grab it again. ]

iii. wildcard.

[ she's exploring, so she can be found anywhere, walking around with a 'generally confused' sort of aura. a real 'i'm hoping someone will stop me and ask if i'd like them to explain everything going on' sort of expression. ]

ii

[lightmage]

I imagine it's meant to feed a large crowd. Perhaps it's for festivals or celebrations?

[ Right? That sounds plausible? Sure. ]

[stressweets]

「i. we're not in kansas anymore」

[ wow, this space sure is a place. one look at his phone at least tells him it isn't connected to retrospec's particular brand of nonsense, but then -

what is it connected to? he finds the answer before he really wants to, settling in the center and half-mumbling the words on the stone to himself as he reads. and, after that, he just sort of- sits down and stares at it. frowning. ]

...Why is it always souls. [ cmonnnnnnn. ] Can't I have a normal school year for once?

[ What does this mean for Suou and I, anyway? Are we both fragmented? Or is it just double-layered? I still remember what I remembered before... his face scrunches at the thought very briefly. that's a really weird sentence. That's a really weird sentence.

and so on, this sort of meandering wondering about memory bs and souls and like, ]

「ii. this is the lost cat option」

[ after tsukasa's done pondering the meaning of life, the universe, and everything being souls, he goes to explore... and with his mind tired out... realizes something really, really important.

He's Lost His Cat.

so catch tsukasa pretty much literally everywhere, either looking under things or crawling around on his hands and knees or both, making that pspspspsps noise people do when they're trying to get a cat's attention, in-between actually calling for her: ]

Ajisai... Ajisai? [ What if I can't find her? I'm the worst owner ever. comes across quite frequently as it's clear he's more than a little worried. the moment he sees someone around too, he heads over— pauses for a moment, then more resolutely continues so he can ask: ] Um... Sorry to bother you, but have you seen a very pretty kitty cat around here? She's a cream-colored tabby. Her name is Ajisai — ah!

[ he claps his hands, he's Got It. ]

If you could roar like a lion, she miiiight come..? Her best friend is one.

[ aight, kid.

but feel free to find him stuck somewhere trying to find a frickin' cat, the world is your oyster! ]

ii

[lightmage]

By... Putting ourselves back together, supposedly.

Though I'm not sure I appreciate being called broken.

[infinitesadness]

[ hm...... ]

I suppose so.

[ clearly, this is the most logical answer than Why Not ]

There certainly is more than enough variety for it.

[supersoldier]

No. Beyond the brief communique upon our arrival, there doesn’t appear to be a way to get in touch again.

[Which is a nigh unacceptable answer, making his otherwise stoic features tug into a frown.]

How long do you plan on staying up there?

[bywolves]

I'd almost like to see someone try to eat it fast. [ The hood tilts to the side slightly. ] Out of curiosity, mostly.

[lightmage]

That's what's so impressive. If it were just large quantities of one thing, I would imagine it was the entire inventory brought straight from whoever produced it, but...

[ Mass produced food does not make sense to someone from medieval times, it turns out. ]

[rateup]

For real? Is there any way to know that, 'cause this is literally a dream come true for me. You sure this isn't like any other country you've been?

[rateup]

Roar...?

[ he disturbed itaru's wifi search for this.... oh well, he's just chillin in one of the traincars right now anyway, resting up before checking out other places. ]

Not sure if I saw any other animals here. Maybe if you try speaking their language?

[ and not just the psspspsps-ing tsukasa keeps doing. ]

[bywolves]

Yes. [ Royce says, with a sigh. ] I was in a cave, and then suddenly, I was not. I assume it's the same for you.

[ He's going to be cagey about giving away too much information here, but... he might as well get an idea of what everybody knows. ]

[bywolves]

And where were you before you found yourself here?

[stressweets]

...Like meowing?

[ he's not gonna do th ]

...Meow. Meooow. Ajisai, meow~? [ going back to looking under itaru's seat— ] Mreooow?

[ i cant deal with this, it isn't even a convincing meow because he can't do that ]

[infinitesadness]

[ his face says he absolutely knows somebody who would and also can see how it'd end. anakin's not even here and he's already Tired because of him. ]

It certainly would be an experience that's for certain.

ii

[supersoldier]

It’s for more than one person.

[As much as he’s managed to gather, at least. There is no way this “store” is practically suited to single-person shopping.

Stepping forward, hair swaying behind him, he eyes the giant... pallet of tea.]

Plenty to keep us, as a group, well-stocked.

[Barring how ridiculous it is.]

[bywolves]

For as long as I need to. [ The real answer is this is a kind of quiet place to sit and think, and not have to worry about anybody accidentally hearing his thoughts, which is apparently a problem here. ]

Why, am I bothering you?

[femmebatale]

1. train

[ Yawn. Stretch. Rouge wakes up, feeling shockingly well-rested, for once, and as she blinks back into conscious clarity, it takes a couple of seconds for her to realize that this is not her plush bed and that she's still completely dressed in her day clothes, makeup and all. Second point: she's moving somewhere. On a train. ]

What in the world...?

[ The good news is that she's used to weird things like this happening pretty much all the time. If it's not the good doctor, then she's sure it's aliens or interdimensional god-beings or whatever trouble big blue's rustled up. Still, the realization doesn't stop her from leaping up to her feet, standing on her seat so that she can actually take a look at where she's ended up (she's a bit short for the chairs.)

Drab. Bland. Boring. Outside is pure white, which reminds her of that dreadful time business that happened a while back and is the only threatening aspect other than the sheer lack of explanation for anything. At least there are other people. After a few moments of wide-eyed staring, she sighs, resting her head in her hand as she leans over the back of her seat. ]

You've got to be kidding me. I'm supposed to get paid today, and this happens?

2. first stop

[ the good news is that the train does stop, eventually, even if Rouge has scoured the thing up and down and found nothing really interesting. She's sure that there must be some goal they're headed towards. Maybe the one responsible will pop up and start giving her some exposition.

That doesn't happen. In fact, the dinky bar they end up in offers even fewer answers. Judging by her sour expression and semi-flat ears, Rouge isn't all too pleased to be here. ]

What a dump.

[ this is not her scene...

but she stays, because there's nothing better to do on that silly train. It doesn't take long for her to notice the pictures, perceptive as she is. You might notice the furry bat girl staring at you, then at a picture on the wall behind you, then back at you again, before she crosses her arms. ]

Isn't that you in the photo? Looks like you're having fun.

[ oh no, it's the embarrassing picture from the christmas party ]

[bywolves]

[ oh, that is SUCH a relatable look, which is why royce doesn't just batman his way out of the conversation. ]

I assume it's not what you're looking for, though.

[infinitesadness]

It makes one wonder how such a thing came to be.

[ he can name a half dozen planets who could use such a thing without even thinking about it. ...........maybe he should find out if they ship interdimensionally. ]

I certainly can't fathom a reason for such.