[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

[goldenrepair]

Don't tell me what to do.

[It's a gut reaction he can't help, but he at least doesn't spin on his heel and walk away. He simply levels Lan Wangji with a stern stare and thin lips.] Wei Wuxian thought he could go to Yunmeng. So we went to Yunmeng. [He hadn't told them yea or nay, but whatever.] Some women came, and I saw them. What they told me was horrendous. I brought them to the others to let them listen.

About Jin GuangShan.

I caught the two of you. [Which is offered very tightly, but he doesn't say anything else.] He left Yunmeng and us. He thinks he can have a thick face and walk back in? Tch. [There's a pause, and a furrow of his brows.] The two of you left afterward. I found you again at Guanyin.

[deadened]

[Out of all of those, the fuzzy white one is closest to what he'd actually pick for himself, and he's picked it up to feel the fabric and look at the sequins (it's so fancy...) when Wei Wuxian interrupts with The Sweater.

The chosen flamingo.

Which Wen Ning looks at with not a small amount of trepidation.]

A-are you sure?

[Wei Wuxian sounds so happy with it though...]

[givethemhell]

Microwave! [Microwave. Probably one in an abandoned sad employee lounge or one they borrow from a samples cart - which, speaking of! There's one in a nearby aisle, just chillin with some (probably cold by now) pretzel bites in little paper cups.

He slaps the top of the microwave after trotting over there.]

Have you seen one of these before?

[suddenlybees]

[ Haku is always out there, offended. ]

What, the mythics take a toll on their heads? So sad for them~ But they're not a lost cause, right? This one seems to like poptarts! Or, poptart wrappers. Shiny trash wrappers.

[crudest]

[it sure isn't - but baren will also tilt his head as if inspecting it]

Not wobbly or anything...?

Well - I guess this isn't exactly the ideal place for a nap in the first place.

[bywolves]

I didn't either. But that's helpful to know. That it can be something that important.

[ It just makes him worry about what he's missing... ]

[osuni]

Ah.

[AH]

For a samurai to be constantly told that he's careless... Isn't that a little embarrassing for someone in your position?

[givethemhell]

These little guys! [TAPPING AT A FLAMINGO it is doing a silly flamingo one-legged stand.] They remind me of you.

[Endearing and vaguely doofy...

He holds the sweater out, making grabby hands for the one Wen Ning is holding. He can tell he likes that one too so it'll also end up in Wen Ning's possession eventually, BUT FOR NOW. FULL MINGO.]

Try it on!

[goldenrepair]

Be silent. Don't say a word the whole way.

[To which, if Wen Ning complies, they walk along in nothing but quiet for some time. And then, finally, he begrudgingly says,] We're going to find Wei Wuxian. [Look. He spent thirteen years looking for the bastard, and this isn't going to set him back on the same goal just because, suddenly, Wei Wuxian is resurrected in another body.]

Now. [That he's had some PEACE.] Speak. What do you know about this place?

[supersoldier]

[And Sephiroth is as unmoving as before.]

That doesn’t mean anything to me.

[decryptic]

[ Sure sounds like deflection to 9S... ]

I only need water and sunlight to function, so I think it's safe to say our versions of "typical" aren't too much alike. A normal day for me would've involved dodging Machines, gathering intel... or when 2B was with me, a whole lot of fighting.

[ The last bit is dry, but fondly so. ]

My routine probably wasn't anything like a human's. We were at war, after all. Never a dull moment.

[bywolves]

[ He's already had his mini freak out about the train - now he's curious, if cautious. ]

It moves far faster than a horse can, too. I haven't been on it yet, if that's even possible. [ A beat. ] Wonder if it can actually run into people.

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts. ]

No, I just don't see the benefit of coming down. Why would I give up any advantages?

you say that now but just wait for okuni to icly say this to someone

[osuni]

[WHY DID HE SPIT IT OUT LIKE A BABY]

That's not a terrible idea! [actually that's a fcking GREAT IDEA WHAT THE HELL] If we make it hollow inside, then whoever you run over could end up inside the ball with you!

[NO THAT'S NOT HOW PHYSICS WOOOOORRKKKK, anyway Okuni is excited...... god]

But how should we make it hollow? Should I just trap you in a ball of ice? If the layer's too thin, then you'll end up breaking out too early...

[suddenlybees]

[ Water and sunlight... like a cute little houseplant.

That's not to say the "typical" isn't all that unfamiliar to Kano, whose dodging machines are more like keeping out of videocams and avoid tripping alarms, sent out to gather intel and pull strings and avoid fighting as much as he can. ]

Hm, yep! Can't relate! Not at all! But you're not gonna tell me you were at war with humans, are you? What is it, like, the first or second law?

[deadened]

[Ah, he really should have run. But now that he's in this and not getting stabbed, even after that brief outburst-- okay. Okay, he'll go along with it; Jiang Cheng must have just arrived here also, or Wei Wuxian would surely have mentioned his presence.

Luckily for Wei Wuxian, he'd also helped Wen Ning figure out the network, and with his emblem's location it's hard to tell exactly what he's doing when he holds his hands close to his chest after Jiang Cheng declares his intentions. He just looks kind of like that image of the polite pangolin, while he sends a brief thought-message to warn Wei Wuxian he is being Hunted Down.

He looks slightly distracted when he glances back up to him, but quickly focuses again.]

Oh- I was told that-- that this place brings in people from different places and... times, as well. That we're all missing things, even m-memories, and that our souls are damaged in some way.

[bywolves]

[ Yeah honestly the whole Not Being Immediately Feared thing sucks - but he's getting a lot of useful information here, so he's not going to complain too much. Royce pushes his hood back just a little, though not enough to uncover his forehead. He really hates his tattoo, that's all.

He's going to continue to be suspicious, but... he figures he's stuck with Wei Wuxian for a while, so why fight it? Might as well just get as much information as he can. ]

I've seen the pillar. About half of it was unreadable, but I got the gist. [ Absently, he rubs at his chest, right at his sternum. He's also staring down at the pretzel like it holds life's secrets. ] Doesn't feel like I'm missing anything.

[deadened]

I wonder if it's faster than a sword...

[He doesn't explain that, like, at all, just continuing to watch the train as if what he said made perfect sense to him. Fortunately this is also before his experience getting yote by the train, or he'd have nothing to do with this.]

Mm, but it seems to stay on that-- that metal pathway. It seems easy to avoid running into it.

[decryptic]

[ 9S just kind of shrugs because HONESTLY... ]

Some kind of playacting weirdo, from what I could gather. I thought you might know. Kano said he was one. Your... cousin, I believe?

[ Or he was back on the Isle of Champions... ]

What is it that you cultivate?

[deadened]

They... do?

[HE DOESN'T SEE IT, they're so bright? And he doesn't view himself as especially birdlike...?

But if that's what Wei Wuxian's picked, then Wen Ning will do it. He doesn't bother removing his existing shirt to slip the sweater over his head, though he wraps the chains around his wrists and forearms so he doesn't need to worry about them getting stuck in the sleeve holes.

In the process, he engages whatever little button makes the shrimps light up while the sweater is halfway on, and yelps as there are suddenly little lights in his face-- he can't see, they're bright, send help]

[decryptic]

Nice to meet you -- circumstances notwithstanding. I'm not sure it's a good thing that any of us are here, if this inscription is anything to go by, but at least it's safe and quiet. Until the next "stop", anyway.

[ 9S himself doesn't feel particluarly grateful for any of this, but he'll try to put a positive spin on it for this human's sake. Not that... he(?) seems to need any reassurance, as calm as he appears to be. ]

[givethemhell]

[LET THE TATTOO BE FREE...!!

EAT THE PRETZEL TOO, GOD!! Wei Wuxian is already most of the way through his own half, squishing the remainder between his thumb and forefinger to make it into a little pretzel ball.]

Curious how that works, isn't it? Some things are easy to notice, like a sword or a bracelet. [Or a fuckin MONSTER DOG.] Other things are harder to pinpoint. From what I've heard, memories and abilities are also among the pieces some are missing.

please make it happen

[givethemhell]

[He does what he wants.]

Perfect! Or I could just reach out and drag them in.

[This is literally what's about to happen. They're going to kill everyone else in the void.]

Hm, hm... Well! If you just put me into a snowball, I could burn a hole in the center?

[quickpersuader]

Right. And... adding to that, even if you don't go on the train, are you forced to travel anyway?

[quickpersuader]

[It's... a box?]

Does that heat up food?