[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

[survivaltricks]

We'll figure it out somehow.

[mostly because they have no choice, and Akira doesn't have the same sense of urgency that Luxanna does]

I'm Akira. Akira Kurusu, but just Akira is fine.

[givethemhell]

Really, really! Want to see before we heat these up?

[Since they're at the freezer with his beloved pizza rolls, and it takes all of a few seconds to reach in and snatch a box.]

[deadened]

I-it might be best not to risk it, really, I... do still need my hands...

[He can't just remove and reattach digits and limbs the way he could before, this is a Dangerous Proposal!!]

[femmebatale]

What's the least creative thing you can think of for me?

[ but she indulges, anyway, turning around and spreading her wings to curl them around her front. Since her top is backless to accommodate said wings, it's easy to see the plain tattoo between her little shoulderblades. ]

[quickpersuader]

[You know what? Might as well!!]

Yes, please.

[givethemhell]

[Hm actually no he's absolutely just blaming everything on Shigure being a whirlwind of chaos now.]

Is that why you wanted to come up here? Though I suppose there isn't much of a "sky" or "ground" to speak of, haha. It's fine! We'll probably get to see those soon enough.

[suddenlybees]

[ He really got the short end of the stick, having to talk to Kano, but he'll be able to fill in the gaps with everybody else. ]

Hm~ If our captor's hiding somewhere, they'd either be in the train that goes around everywhere so they can keep an eye on all of us, right? Plenty of food and stuff for sustenance too! You go scout the area, and I'll tackle the train, how 'bout that?

[ He will spend the rest of the week finding a good train car and holing up with a snack cart. ]

[givethemhell]

No water, no horses. No other living things period, I think? None that I've seen, anyway.

[Outside of that dog, says his brain, though fortunately the myriad of Sour And Scared Feelings that accompanies it doesn't transfer over along with it.]

[suddenlybees]

You can be both a traveler and...

[ whatever the hell this is ]

play pretend, right? 'sides, we're all travelers here, so that's nothing special?

[quickpersuader]

Who is "we?"

[femmebatale]

You don't know the half of it.

[ life is wild on sonic earth ]

And if you think this is nice treatment, you need higher standards. Especially if you think they're planning on stealing our life energy.

[givethemhell]

Really? That sounds absolutely miserable.

[Stated very matter-of-factly. HE'D HATE IT??]

I guess our missing pieces function in a similar way, but at least it isn't everything. What in the world was the point of handling things that way?

[suddenlybees]

[ Xie Lian will not be digging in the trashcan for scraps and leftovers anymore, that's why Kano's saying he can take what he wants!!! ]

Ah, in that case, we can help each other out! See, as the store manager, one of my jobs is to make sure all the food's fresh so it's in constant rotation. Come help fined the items past their expiration date or close to 'em, and you can have those! It's, like, August right now, so anything before then.

[dianxias]

[ xie lian can’t help but smile at the familiarity, though brief. he sets his box down to give him a proper bow back: despite being homeless for 800 years he never forgot his rich young prince courtesies. except once but he doesn’t remember it. ] You can call me Xie Lian. The pleasure is mine, young master Lan.

[ everyone is a young master when you’re old as shit. ] And....that’s quite kind of the people who own such a place. That sort of generosity is uncommon.... but refreshing, if so true. I’m happy to see a young cultivator looking out for the good of such a place!

[femmebatale]

So you're saying there's not really any difference at all.

[ scratch that, this guy is definitely making things up - or, at least, shady. ]

Why so secretive? Feeling shy around me?

[suddenlybees]

"We" as in all of us?

[ He gestures to either side of him regardless of if anybody's around. There's probably the sound of the train running along the tracks in the background, which is proof enough of other people's existences. ]

Surely I'm not the first person you've run into here. How unfortunate for you, if so~

[bywolves]

[ nope bye he's gone - or, well, Jiang Cheng is following him but yes, he's off to find some sort of mirror. ]

Please. [ Royce scoffs as he moves. ] It's not a curse, curses don't exist.

[quickpersuader]

[The answer to that last part is fushigi mystery because how do timelines work.]

So everyone who finds themselves here is forced to travel on the trains?

[rateup]

[ he tried oh so hard to maintain a laidback persona on here, as one can possibly have when they've been isekai'd. but because of the situation they all find themselves in, itaru figures that he can afford to let loose and reveal whom he really is inside - a filthy-ass gamer. so thanks, wei wuxian.

not that wwx knows anything about games anyway. for now. ]

Let's look for batteries first, then I'll show you what cartridges look like. Both of them would be too heavy to carry anyway while we're here.

[survivaltricks]

Neither have I.

[Mementos was. . . definitely different]

But I think it can be considered some kind of hub space. A between worlds resting area?

[femmebatale]

Oh, no. No napping when we've been kidnapped. And definitely no drinking whatever they leave out for us.

[ she hops up and vaults over the seat into the aisle, moving to stand next to his seat. ]

I'm going to do a little investigating, and you're coming with me.

[givethemhell]

[WHY IS THERE A WHOLEASS ASCENDED DAOZHANG IN THIS TRAIN???? One with a direct line to a god?? GHOST BRIDEGROOMS?? He makes an involuntary little sound of surprise, leaning forward far enough that he almost drops from his perch.]

Really...! What in the world? [Hm bad though, real bad if someone in that general Realm Of Existence (and GODS???) can have their shit interfered with by... a magic shittalking rock.] We're really dealing with something else then, hah.

[NOTE TO SELF: LOOK INTO THIS, PROBABLY. But he shakes his head, shelving those things for later since he knows Xie Lian's about to have his ass overwhelmed.]

Ah - well! First, it's called a train. They're powered by a lot of things! Steam and coal, electricity - you'll be running into a lot of that, too. It powers the lights, like those. [POINTS at wherever the nearest train light is...] They seem to make loops so we'll probably end up going past every stop at least once. There's the pillar, that enormous store, the airport... It's where they keep their "airplanes" - it's like a train, but it flies!

[The Future™.]

[goldenrepair]

[Wow, thank GOD for something as simple as familiar BOWING. Except, rudely, Jiang Cheng doesn't bow back yet. He's too suspicious of who the heck Xie Lian is, and he is not going to sully his Jiang name by bowing to someone who doesn't deserve it! Terribly sour. He does, however, tip his head very slightly in a nod.]

Jiang Wanyin. You know cultivation.

[It's not a question.]

[bywolves]

I've also just arrived. The more I learn, the more questions I have. [ Royce sighs, rubbing at his face. ]

Right. What gets rid of the chains? [ He's not going to admit it, but the chains bother him. ] The Art? A specific sword? Knife with a name on it?

[foodbin]

[The fact that he doesn't double down means she just makes a small noise of amusement before moving on, shrugging slightly.]

In that case... Rock kicking aside, are you as confused as I am?