[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

[reloves]

[ Apparently she's still willing to try it despite the earlier "attempts", so she does get back on when he gestures for her to do so.

She glances behind her though to look at him. ]

.. by the way, what's your name? I guess you kind of forget to start with introductions when you're in this weird.. whatever it is place.

[dianxias]

Ah... incredible. [ sounds like the feasts of the heavens. not that xie lian really has spent much time up there yet that he remembers... his first ascension was a lot of fussing over xian le until he just decided "fuck it" and went down anyway.

but, still!! a place with magical, replenishing food stock! this could solve so many problems! xie lian can eat so many snacks!! peering around lan wangji, he spots a package of scarves and perks, deftly stepping around him to pull up one and peer at the packaging. there are at least twenty in there, in a multitude of colors. ] Let's see, let's see.. pink, blue, purple...ah! There's a white one. [ !!!

he turns back to his companion and offers him a smile. ] Will you share with me? This would be perfect.

[suddenlybees]

Haha, that's true~ And here I thought I could get away without one!

[ Kano tips the handtruck far enough that Minako is almost lying down instead of standing up, and she can just look straight up to see his upside down face. Most of his effort is now spent lifting the handtruck so he doesn't accidentally let go and slam the back of her head on the floor, than it is going forward, but they'll slow inch by inch down the aisle. ]

You can call me Gel-P. What's your name?

[dianxias]

[ can you hear the WHOOSH sound of that joke going right over his head. ]

Utsutsu....that's a very nice name. [ he's never heard anything like it! xie lian gives a proper bow of his head, making him seem less like a weird metal smashing hobo for a few minutes. ] I'm called Xie Lian, though many call me daozhang. It's nice to meet you, Utsutsu! Thank you for your help.

[reloves]

[ The bedding section of Costco has turned into cuddle central..

Minako is still walking along with him, but while walking she suddenly sticks out her arm to him. ]

Pinch me!

[reloves]

[ Minako seems to make no protests to being manhandtruckhandled over here, but since her face is so visible to him while she's lying like that, he'll easily be able to see the way she squints at him.

That is obviously a codename. She's not stupid! Two can play at this game! ]

V-babe.

[ She mostly manages to say it so quickly and easily since it's not really a lie when it's one of her nicknames.. ]

[dianxias]

Mm. Like you said, I don't know very much.... [ and he's quite curious, to be perfectly honest, about what sort of cultivators maybe he didn't know about. there's something so strange about this place...beyond the "electricity" (what) and everything else.

xie lian scratches his cheek, his expression changing into a briefly sheepish smile. ] Is it that odd...? I don't mean to pry, sect leader. It's just been a long time since I've gotten to see a powerful cultivator, is all. This daozhang is behind the youth, I think.

[ xie lian you look 17 but go off i guess ]

[dianxias]

[ something something trade globalization something south america cacao i teach history whatever this is fantasy

anyway, red bull. ]

Oh! [ oh. oh, that is an absolutely ridiculous amount of drink. xie lian watches him roll it out of the door, then readjusts the packages in his arms when another one clatters down. he gets his toe underneath the can, gently pops it up into the air, and catches it on top of his giant pile of muffins with a bit of wiggling.

tadaaaaa! ] There. I don't think I've had the 'chocolate milk' either! [ i guarantee you this can of red bull is going to explode directly in xie lian's face the minute it's opened. ]

[lightmage]

It's... Strange that some of us would arrive a month ago and others would arrive now.

Were there others, before you? People who had been here before a month ago?

[lightmage]

[ There was no punchline!! ]

[lightmage]

Oh - no, that isn't what I meant...

[ Hrmgngmg. Wait does that make it sound like she's arguing with Minako's self-assessment, too? ]

Not that you aren't lovely...!

[suddenlybees]

[ V-babe... Minako is in danger of being dropped, seeing as Kano has to stop walking for a moment, his arms shaking with the weight and shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. ]

Gotcha, gotcha~ Ahh, I hope I don't slip up and accidentally call you "babe" around others! V-babe. Okay!

[suddenlybees]

[ That was! the punchline!! ]

...It crossed the road 'cause it wanted to, see? The chicken. It's no good if I have to explain the joke...

[suddenlybees]

[ What the hell is this monstrous strength. ]

Well, we can't have that, so we might as well get both! I don't wanna add something more to your pile, though, 'cause that'll just squash the muffins...

[ They're already squashed, RIP muffins. But Kano gets hauls a gallon of chocolate milk out of the fridge, thinks to himself for a moment, then sort of pries Xie Lian's right pinky slightly out of the grip so Kano can hook it through the chocolate milk gallon handle. ]

Is this okay? Just sorta hanging there.

[ An entire gallon's weight on one pinky. ]

[dianxias]

[ he doesn't even flinch.

nope. he supports it with no problem at all. one pinky finger, an entire gallon of milk. ] En! I've got it.

[ martial gods are designed for costco shopping. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ It's unbelievably tempting to grab nine more gallons and hang one on each finger while leaving just his palms to carry the weight of the muffins and energy drink, but Kano spares him in favor of giving him a thumbs up and rolling his own drink down the aisle so they can set up a picnic spot somewhere outside.

He'd pick somewhere with a nice view, but everything is white with train tracks, and so the spot ends up being just right beside the tracks, so if something does happen, a train will be by in 2-20 hours to pick them up and shuttle them over to a hospital that doesn't exist. ]

Whew! Alright, we made it~ Thisty work carrying all that, isn't it? Why don'tcha take a swig of energy drink while I figure out how to tear the plastic off the muffins?

[dianxias]

Troubles...? [ hm. well! it wouldn't be dianxia if he wasn't getting into trouble, now would it?

he watches wei wuxian dig around in the void curiously, and ends up leaning over a bit to peer beyond this magical counter at all of these strange foods he's just casually pulling out. ] Anything's fine. I'm really not picky. Is there something you really like?

[ He Can Eat Anything. ]

[bywolves]

It should be easy enough to cover. [ Royce sighs, pulling his hood up. The fidgeting catches his gaze, though. ]

Do you have one?

[bywolves]

Just Duster. No mister. [ Royce corrects firmly. ] I'm sure you'll collect nicknames until you can find your real one.

[bywolves]

I'm not going to call you whoo. [ Royce says, raising an eyebrow. But he's also not going to call him his full name because there's no way he can say Wei Wuxian without sounding like an idiot. ]

Wuxian. [ Royce tries, and then makes a face. ] Hm. Wuxian.

[ he keeps saying it weird because he doesn't have any names like this where he comes from and it's very difficult okay ]

[bywolves]

I don't believe you.

[foodbin]

[She's trying to not look as awkward as she feels, but there's definitely a frown on her face.]

I got kidnapped to the world's largest grocery store, so no. Seriously, you said this place didn't have a name, but there has to be something you can tell me about where we are.

[bywolves]

Yes, and it's smart to do if your target has anything of value on them. [ Life lessons with criminals. ]

As far as I can tell you just take what you need and go. Is that stranger than the fact that we're here in the first place?

[foodbin]

[She feels herself kick the pot, and then hears it something before it hits the ground. That's why she looks down, and halts in surprise as she does.]

Oh, shit. Did it hit you? Are you good?

[foodbin]

Oh, yeah, I woke up there. I didn't really see anything that might help us get out, but I didn't exactly scour the shelves, either.