[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

[femmebatale]

Oh, please. I'm a nice girl. Would I be mean to a shy little "burnish" like you?

[ probably ]

You're probably all alone, too, being so shy and all. I bet it took all your courage to approach a pretty lady like me. Why don't I make it worth your while? I'll take care of you if you do me a favor.

MINATO...

[femmebatale]

[ she gives him an incredulous look. ]

I think the phrase is "stupid question."

[ sorry minato. ]

[rateup]

[ oh thank GOD someone else here knows what wifi is. doesn't mean that it's of any help right now, though. ]

Nope. I've been looking for hours now.

[ it's actually for half an hour, but it felt like that to itaru. he leans his back against one of the shelves. ]

Starting to think that they're not letting us communicate back home, but I guess that's expected in a genre like this.

okuni to lwj: have u seen wwx naked? can u confirm some of my theories for me

[osuni]

[aki that fcking vidEO IM WHEEZING WHY DID THOSE PEOPLE INSIDE THE BALL HIGH FIVE EACH OTHER WHEN THEY CAME OUT AS IF THEY DID ANY WORK BESIDES JUST LETTING GRAVITY CLAIM THEM

but also]

You can do that? How?

[is wwx asking her to put him in a snowball and trap him in with like a STICK OF FIRE??? she's 99% about to think so, but wait]

a!

[givethemhell]

Spice! If there's a choice between any of that, it would be spice.

[He's absolutely thinking of the wrong kind of spice, but he would also absolutely be the kind of person who enjoyed cayenne hot chocolate...

Gesturing toward his cup, though! He's familiar with coffee now, even if it's not his favorite.]

What about you?

[suddenlybees]

[ Precisely because it's so melty and sticky. ]

Think we can stuff a person inside one of 'em?

[bywolves]

[ Royce watches the train as well, having paused to let it pass. He's not really even sure where he's going, since find a cultivator is a nebulous goal. Standing and watching a train zoom by seems just as productive. ]

What do you mean, faster than a sword? [ Because that was such a weird thing to say and Royce is determined to just be mystified by 95% of the population here. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ So the laws still hold; that at least is good to know. ]

Viruses, huh? Don't think you can catch that sort of virus here, do you? You'll be meeting one of the slab suggestions.

[bywolves]

[ NO IT'S STUPID he refuses to let anybody see his elf tiara-crown.

He will, however, eat more of the pretzel, since Wei Wuxian hasn't started foaming at the mouth or anything. It's really good. He likes the salt a lot, actually. At least the food here is good...? He's been living off of dried pork for the last month so literally anything but that is fantastic. ]

Hm. [ He's definitely missing his dagger, not that he's going to say that. He doesn't want anybody to know he doesn't have a weapon. ] Seem to be able to do all the things I normally can do, which means if I'm missing anything...

No ideas on who brought us here?

[bywolves]

I still have mine. [ But his name hasn't ever been particularly important. To him, at least. ] I don't know what I'm missing, if anything. So you're probably right.

[suddenlybees]

[ Warning bells are sounding in his head BUT THAT'S NOTHING NEW ]

Hm, hm, alright~ Is this an IOU favor, or do you got something on your mind?

[deadened]

Oh- if you don't have cultivators, I suppose you don't use them to travel, do you...

[He should have thought of that, probably.]

They can use them to fly.

[There's a thought faintly overlaid there, so it sounds a little like he says both we and they at the same time.]

[rateup]

...Ah, is that so.

[ so she heard his excited rambling just now. oh god, that's totally cringe, isn't it? he's internally dying inside, but outside he quickly recovers with a light laugh. ]

Well, I didn't think that something like that might happen. I did see a message when I touched my tattoo, though.

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't chase - he's pretty sure he'll see Sephiroth again, considering how small this place actually is. ]

I'll be sure to let you know if they do. [ Royce calls after him, like an asshole. ]

[bywolves]

[ what ]

To -- [ Royce pushes his hood back slightly, just enough to keep his forehead covered but not enough to shadow his eyes. He gives Wen Ning a baffled look. He picks up on that overlaid thought, trying to imagine even how that'd work. ]

To fly. [ you're fucking with him right ] Is that some sort of metaphor for something?

SHE'LL GET HIM NEXT TIME SOMEHOW mumble mumble INSPECTOR GADGET mumble mumble

[osuni]

[for the third time huh.....

Okuni looks at him as if she can just Sense his Unwillingness, but then she pauses]

Hm. [hmmm] I think I can manage that, perhaps. It'll be difficult, since it's not really in my nature...

[BUT!!!]

Will you give me your name? So that I can tell the next person who to thank for the idea.

[deadened]

N-no?

[It's exactly what it sounds like?]

You stand on it, and it flies.

[it's literally sword surfing.]

[bywolves]

[ is he getting punk'd? is ashton kutcher waiting around the corner to tell him sword surfing isn't actually a thing ]

... Right. [ The thing is, Wen Ning sounds completely serious, and Royce likes to think he's pretty good at telling if someone is lying. It doesn't seem like it. ] And that doesn't cut your feet to ribbons. And somehow you can balance while it's moving.

This is something only cultivators can do? [ Whatever, he's seen weirder he guesses. Done weirder, too. ]

[decryptic]

I don't like my memories being overwritten, short-term or not.

[ Not because of any protectiveness over his own life or mind, but because his memories are proof of 2B and the time they spent together. ]

... But I have to admit, it was a valuable glimpse into what human society was like. [ He looks up and around at the Space. ] Being here is one thing, but it's nothing like walking on a busy street or listening to a cheering crowd. It was the first time I actually thought humans were... fun.

[deadened]

It is. A normal sword isn't capable of flight, and it... requires spiritual energy.

[Again, like this is just an absolutely normal thing to say to a person.]

A-and you don't, um. You don't stand on the edge. The flat of the blade is wide enough to balance.

[givethemhell]

[HE'D LOVE THE TIARA CROWN LET HIM EXPERIENCE IT!!

But he's happy enough that Royce seems to be enjoying his share of the pretzel, at least. There is a whole new world of wild microwaveable foods that Wei Wuxian can show him... Also an entire train cart that's just a chicken wing bar. Great things await them in the future.]

Oh, be careful with that. They can take things you'd really never expect! Someone here forgot how to write. [It's hilarious, honestly.] But no, we don't have a clue yet. Whatever is communicating with us through the pillar seems capable of talking to us everywhere we go, but I don't think anyone knows who or what is behind it.

[givethemhell]

[Wei Wuxian happens and a lot of surprising things tend to follow, it's true...]

We can figure out how to turn them back off. That way you can take a break if you need to! [Though he personally would always have his shrimp lights on, if he had shrimp lights to wear at all...

But comfortable is nice! That's one mission successfully accomplished, as far as he's concerned.]

Good, good! Pants next, then.

[Be glad there are no matching shrimp light pants.]

NO DONT ASK LWJ THAT

[givethemhell]

[FSIJFISJF STOP LET THEM HAVE THEIR MOMENT OF SUCCESS i'm proud of them...

This is also where he'd wave a hand to emphasize absolutely nothing important, but he can't since he's partially trapped in snow, so he just wiggles uselessly again.]

Fire talisman! I still have one left.

[And he's absolutely willing to use it on this...]

[osuni]

[Okuni gazes back at him wordlessly for a several, long moments. Her first instinct is to clasp her hands together and scream about how Chuuya really is a pervert stalker liar but this whole situation is a little too discombobulating and it feels a little redundant to accuse Chuuya yet again of something he's already denied... also ZERO of her questions have been answered here????]

No, I don't travel outside of my home very often. And even when I do, I'm not welcome in those types of places. [bars being... resting areas? places to kick back and relax? It's not like anyone would welcome seeing a Kumou in such a public area] So there's no way I would have met you, and I don't know your name.

But you know mine. And you're wearing my brother's earrings that you say were a gift, but you don't remember him giving them to you? [Because he must have. He would never let them get stolen -- ] How is it that you know who I am, but you don't know Baren?

[deadened]

[are you just typing shrimp lights as much as possible to torment ME, SPECIFICALLY.

Anyway thank god there are no matching pants.]

I-I'd rather not attract too much attention with it...

[So while Wei Wuxian is handling the pants situation, Wen Ning is busy inspecting the sweater to find a way to turn them off. They came on, so it must be here somewhere?...]