[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

[quickpersuader]

All of them. I'm a traveler.

[wisterin]

[ It makes her wonder the status of their relationship more than anything else. She notices the different name. If their fondness for each other doesn't cause harm to those around them, it's something that should be cherished. ]

That would be quite the stark contrast. [ She sounds amused. ] Wouldn't most of them be because of you?

[wisterin]

My first name is fine, but may I ask your age?

[ She's a liiiitle too formal and old-fashioned to let that slide without checking. ]

[stressweets]

[ Shinobu-san, maybe....... ]

Um... Seventeen. I'll be eighteen next April. [ almost there, baby!! ] Which still a little ways away, I guess... At least, according to home. I'm not really sure how that works here.

[wisterin]

I'll be nineteen in February. [ Whenever that is. She doesn't know how time works here either. She isn't going to pretend she does. ]

If our impersonal greeter is to be believed, a year could pass here and if we return to our homes, you would still be seventeen.

[givethemhell]

[She really has... Wait until she sees the even older models.

The question gets a nod, though! He doesn't find much point in hiding his abilities normally, and now is certainly no exception.]

Most likely! I'm used to handling tricky situations. Nothing too out-of-the-ordinary for where I come from, you know?

[givethemhell]

Oh, of course not. That would be implying that I have a knack for getting into trouble or troubling the people around me!

[How he can even manage to say these bold and obvious lies with literally zero shame is a true feat in and of itself.]

[rateup]

oh it's how you laugh but in text
sometimes people go with hahaha or hehe but it's up to you to be honest

[ they're just s

they're just standing there

but at least itaru will refrain from using shorthand for now. ]

[souheki]

[Yeah, it's... it's a lot. Lan Wangji's lived a lot of life in his 35 years, so he's getting by, but he can't deny that it's... uncomfortable, at best, to be missing such important pieces of himself. He can only imagine how it must feel for the younger people around here, or even for those who simply don't deal well with change and loss.]

It appears that the purpose of traveling to other worlds is to regain what we have lost. But it is not guaranteed. [Granted, they only got dumped in one world, but somehow he doubts it was a fluke.]

[rateup]

...Ah. Like those magical girl anime that air every Sunday morning? I get it.

[ gonna call it prepure if someone brings it up ]

Yeah, sure, let's go look for it then. If we're lucky we might find some KniRound merch too to decorate our cars with.

[rateup]

Damn.

[ even itaru would've gone for a snack run to the nearest convenience store first to replenish his stash instead of potentially poisoning himself. ]

In that case, put 'em in here. [ pats cart ] We'll look for something more longer-lasting next, like instant ramen. I know some self-heating cup meals too, just in case.

[rateup]

Ah, so I've heard. Not sure if I should be jealous or not, 'cause of all the sports games they all had to play.

[ itaru dabbles in every genre of video game, but sports games like wii tennis or whatever is probably his least fave. it's just too much work, even in VR. ]

[wisterin]

I would say you should feel ashamed for lying to me so easily when I've only been friendly to you, but I'll agree. It's more than a knack.

[ :) ]

[wisterin]

[ What a guy Itaru is, adapting to all these ye olden timers. So considerate. ]

Are there other ways? This sounds like language that's developed after my time.

[ Teach her chatspeak that she'll only use in emergencies. ]

[bywolves]

I told you, I showed up a few hours ago. [ He folds his arms. ] Read the center pillar, had the rules explained to me, all of that.

[givethemhell]

[DRAMATICALLY PLACES A HAND TO HIS CHEST.]

Me? A lie has never blackened my tongue so much as even once in my entire life!

[wisterin]

[ Because his tongue is already black is at the tip of her tongue, but she will take the higher road here because she is mature (citation needed). ]

Of course, of course. You may continue to be like this at your own expense. I've received your insincere apology, and that will be enough for me today.

[givethemhell]

[CITATION NEEDED!!! SHE ALMOST MURDERED HIM WITH A SNOWBALL!! It's a moment he'll hold dear to his heart.

Either way, with a laugh and a wave:]

Thank you! This humble cultivator will remember your divine mercy for days to come!

[He's also immediately turning to flee after a polite little bow, just in case she changes her mind. MAKING A BEELINE FOR LAN WANGJI BYE.]

[wisterin]

[ is he really calling himself humble after the conversation they just had

the only thing that follows his retreat is this ]

[stressweets]

[ !!!!!!! itaru's great

also: ] KniRound?

[glooming]

[ She's at a loss, if her standing still, staying silent, and staring blankly is any indication. ]

[stressweets]

[ ...ugh. ]

Then there's no point to celebrating birthdays, should we even find out the month here. [ SIGH. ] Ugh... I was looking forward to it, too. Birthday parties are always a lot of fun. And there's cake and ice cream.

[glooming]

[ Lost is a good word for it. Utsutsu can't say that person isn't around, so she doesn't say no. ]

... Let's look.

[ She starts walking some random direction. If they don't know anything, any place is a good start, right? ]

[decryptic]

...

[ She's perceptive, he thinks. All he's done is put a hand through a silly little snowman, but she's gleaned more from it than anyone else here probably has about him. He thought it before, and he'll think it again: she's scary. ]

I've seen plenty of androids fall in love and go mad with grief. Strong emotions may not seem productive on the surface, but they create variability, and that's the key to progress.

So to answer your question: yeah. We're uploaded with personality data to start with, but any number of things might cause a shift in an android's outlook. Though there are probably some things about us that will never change, like how a kid will never stop being attached to its parents.

[wisterin]

Why not celebrate? It's still a happy occasion you were born, and it's still a happy occasion that you're alive and getting older.

[ It's a good thing even if time resets. Grasp onto your life and any chance of extending your happiness. ]

You'll have another birthday to celebrate you.