[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

[unfriendliest]

[ wwx's got him there and he hates that.

so obviously, he's not going to answer. dealing with wwx isn’t his job? figure it out yourself, binch. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ WHO GAVE KAZOOS TO THE KUMOUS THIS IS TERRIBLE

but kara's just going to shoot an annoyed glance over his shoulder and keep walking. she's short, maybe he can outpace her? anyway she can't be worse than tsuru armed with a bunch of tantous he's wrangled into his tricks. he can totally ignore this.

even if she is kind of testing him. ]

[ittoryu]

Er... have you looked in a mirror recently, Ookurikara?

[souheki]

[He is absolutely going to get a serious answer.]

Both. Many hop.

[no, really]

The stronger they are, the more precise their movements.

[unfriendliest]

I don’t need a mirror, it’s right h…

[ his voice trails off as he reaches up to grab the ends of his stupid mullet and finds that it’s

brown, actually?

?????

sorry, shigure, he’s staring blankly at his own hair instead of finishing that sentence. just give him a minute. ]

[ittoryu]

[he waits patiently!]

[unfriendliest]

[ math.gif ]

It’s… usually red at the ends.

[ can time travel dye your hair?? WHAT HAPPENED, HE DIDN'T AGREE TO THIS ]

[souheki]

[A younger Lan Wangji likely would have gotten flustered at the obvious implications, but now he simply inclines his head. His ears don't even turn pink; he's long past all of that.]

We have been acquainted since adolescence. [It's... kind of a non-answer, but that's just how he is. He's not being purposely difficult, Chuuya, honest. (Not right now anyway.)]

[ittoryu]

... Maybe someone dyed your hair while you were asleep?

[???]

[unfriendliest]

I would have felt it if someone did that.

[ besides the fact that he didn't realize his hair was different, but someone touching you is completely different!! his scouting stats aren't so bad he won't notice that.

...he hopes. ]

[goldenrepair]

[This just makes him more irritated. He has a short chain, and he hates when it gets yanked around. The words don't sound like normal words, of course, and he looks over his shoulder at Kara.

But doesn't say anything.]

Stay here. I'm going to scout. [He faces forward again, letting go of the hilt of his sword. It... does not fall into the snow. Instead, it lowers into a hover near his knees.] ...The dogs could track, if I had them. [Which seems to be more to himself.

Without hesitation or warning, he steps up onto the sword like it's... a skateboard and just hm starts flying quickly away to make a sweep of the area. But he does come back when he's finished.]

[unfriendliest]

[ he's about to tell jiang cheng to leave it, that it's not probably worth chasing down someone with a gun when all they have are swords and no way to find the shooter anyway.

but then he does that, and kara is shocked into silence.

what the fuck? what the fuck!!! all he can do is watch as jiang cheng makes his rounds, but as soon as he's back - ]

Why do you use it like that?

[ the sword, obviously. it's disrespectful?? kara would hate if someone tried that with him! ]

it's very true

[goldenrepair]

[Immortality is a curse when you're always suffering.]

Even you can have limitations. We could both still be dead.

[Reaching up, he presses his fingers against the center of his chest. The worry abates. He's being stupid, he thinks, and probably very not Jiang-like in his anxiety. His parents definitely wouldn't be proud of him. He sighs raggedly. This is the equivalent of being rude to Jesus without knowing it.]

I apologize. [This time, he offers Xie Lian a short, respectful bow with his hands.] I am leader of Yunmeng's Jiang sect. I will find out what's happening.

because i love you

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano lowers the balloon scraps to his lap so he can place his hand over his heart and give his introduction as much sincerity as possible. ]

My name is Gel-P, keeper of souls. The most frightful ones have been kept in containment, like you see here... But now it's escaped! Through no fault of your own! So don't go popping balloons like that again, 'kay?

[suddenlybees]

[ When Hajime tells Kano what the hell they're even looking for, but not even then. ]

Hm... You'd know better than me, so, here, let me hold down a sleeve, and you give yourself a feel. Instead of whoosh, it should be more of a...? Psssssssh?

[ The gasoline is right there. They can try that next. ]

[goldenrepair]

[After he returns and steps down, he holds the scabbard at an angle so the sword has an easier, more clean line to enter. His expression is confused verging on insulted.]

Like what? Learning to fly with your sword is one of the basics of cultivation.

[dianxias]

That's very unlikely.

[ believe him. look he remembers. he spent 100 years buried in a coffin to chill himself out and did not die. also he was "trampled" to "death" once! still, he says so more serenely than concerned... the cultivator does bring up a good point, though, and xie lian taps his nose, thinking about it.

...oh, but he's apologizing? xie lian waves a hand - ] It's no worry. [ and realizes about five seconds later he

has no idea who yunmeng jiang are.

it's hard being old. xie lian smiles. ] Ah! I see. [ no he doesn't? ] Then, I hope it wouldn't trouble you if I came along? Much like you, I'd like to get to the bottom of this place, Sect Leader Jiang.

[unfriendliest]

I’ve never seen anyone use a sword that way. What if you break it?

[ hey guess who’s also a little insulted. swords have feelings too, man :/ ]

cries

[goldenrepair]

[Jiang Cheng is going to sear the skin from Kano's flesh when he finally learns this is a lie, but WHATEVER. Wait for that day, you absolute gremlin.]

Gel... P? [His accent butchers it, it's fine.] That sounds ridiculous. [But he has... no way of knowing whether these foil things do have souls in them like some kind of soul-housing bag.]

Fine.

[suddenlybees]

[ ...Kano's just not going to mention he meant stuffing a person inside a microwave AND WE CAN MOVE ON because a marshmallow is the second best thing, like being in your own personal bubble except you're surrounded by candy and don't have to look at the outside world or whoever's set on pestering you. ]

Mallows are squishy, so air's gotta get in somehow! Let's see, candy aisle should be up near the front by the cash registers...

[ He's made enough trips to the store to at least know where the registers are, hard to miss since they're at the entrance while the rest of the store is a maze, and all they have to do now is to find a jumbo Peep to hollow our and stuff Chuuya inside. ]

[ittoryu]

Then I can only assume something strange happened when you were brought into this world!

[wait—he tugs at one end of his hair.]

My hair hasn't changed colour, has it?

[thankfully, his hair is normal. i mean, aside from the fact that no one can decide what shade it is, but that's normal.]

[suddenlybees]

[ Kano just

smiles

Drink your coffee and stop being so suspicious. ]

[unfriendliest]

[ what ]

How would I know?

[ WE JUST MET ]

[goldenrepair]

It would not break so easily. [Well... it depends on what happens to it, listen.] But I would sooner die than allow Sandu to break.

[Though he can't say much about Zidian... Which makes him glance down at his empty fingers. Dammit.]

You wouldn't allow anything to happen to yours either, I'm sure.

[deadened]

It's all right, really-!

[there's a faint jangling from the chains as he raises his hands, so he quickly just-- tangles his fingers into the scarf's fabric, instead. he's eventually going to wear this thing thin messing with it.]

I'm... more used to answering to Wen Ning, but I don't mind it either way.

[he's not being called ghost general so, you know.]