[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

[deadened]

Ah... y-you're probably right.

[He just- needed a minute. Several minutes. And while he looks a bit chastened, he doesn't seem hurt or offended; he cautiously pushes himself to his feet, taking a moment to wrap the chains attached to his wrists around his forearms so they're not in the way.]

If you don't mind it, then I- I would appreciate the company.

[deadened]

W-we won't.

[he at least has faith in his own ability to remember where they have or haven't been, it'll be fine, maybe.

off into the notsco they go! wen ning isn't the fastest, mostly because he keeps catching sight of things that are totally unfamiliar to him-- kangai might have to remind him they're doing something here, he's looking at a shelf of condiments.]

[infinitesadness]

[ that is a highly judgemental eyebrow aimed at his direction ]

I'm taking a small guess you don't know where Coruscant is.

[infinitesadness]

Sometimes it's even sweeter than the gifts brought back.

[ he smiles gently ]

The stories told last far longer than the physical after all.

[goldenrepair]

[There's a pause. Kara isn't stopping, but he thinks if he doesn't be--not polite--formal, he will just shame the Jiang name. Even if he wants to yell.]

Jiang Wanyin. [He can't stand it. He starts marching after Kara.] Stop! Have you been here for longer than... recently? Like some of the others? Is that how you know what a gun is?

[deadened]

[Mmmm he doesn't look so sure about the cheeseburgers... but the plain white ones, those are fine, he looks VISIBLY RELIEVED. Please spare him after the shrimp lights, which he still has not turned off because he doesn't know what electricity is or how it functions.]

Do you think so...?

[Just looking from the pants, to Wei Wuxian, to the pants... and then he nods.]

I-if you'd like them, then you should.

[infinitesadness]

[ that certainly is a blasé 'Hm?' look he gets back for it. ]

Of course. If you would follow me?

[ IS HE EVEN HOLDING HIS HALF ]

[deadened]

But this place-- it can definitely change things. I think... I should be proof of that.

[He's here and alive, isn't he? Something is going on.

There are also the memory problems he's already identified, but... he really doesn't want to talk about that with Jiang Cheng, of all people.]

[infinitesadness]

[ "as usual" gets a bit of an eyebrow raise but, ]

It certainly doesn't feel quite welcoming after the fifth or so. Perhaps it is meant to be that way on purpose?

[ at least he seems willing to learn The Truth™ behind kamoji's lmfsdfghgds ]

[unfriendliest]

[ he's

still not stopping. unlike some people, kara has no problem coming off as super rude. ]

No. They were starting to be used more often when I... [ when he first came into masamune's possession, but he can't just say that, so... ] ...when I served my old master.

[ let jc believe he was a soldier or whatever. it's not like it isn't technically true, given the mission he just came from. ]

[infinitesadness]

[ given how high strung everyone is already we'd all perish before the world hop even starts. talk about murder while we're not even murdering ]

You'd have to be incredibly well balanced to make it very far.

[ read: do you think these old man knees are up for rolling down the store on a giant ass fuckin watermelon?? ]

[givethemhell]

[STOP I'M WEAK

ALSO JUST SAY "I'D LIKE THE COMPANY" god why is everyone this way. He sure doesn't mind, in any case - it's way too boring, going exploring on your own! And it really is still exploring, because the trains are different and wild every time he goes through...]

It'd be my pleasure! We can start here, then, since we probably have a few more minutes before we hit the first stop.

[He says this while glancing out the nearest window, as if he has any fuckin clue at all where in The Void they are just by looking at the looping train tracks and vast nothingness they whiz by. IT'S FINE. He'll gesture Xie Lian forward, heading toward the door to the left. He opens it to reveal...! Just a regular dining cart, hm.]

Haha, not a bad first door!

[Maybe he can stuff more churros into his sleeves.]

[givethemhell]

[VIOLENT!! Wei Wuxian for one would love to have an amiable chat with whoever their pillar friend is, wow.]

Haha, well, they would certainly have a lot to explain. I don't blame them for keeping their head down!

[He sees that tiny lip twitch, too! HE'LL GET A REAL LAUGH OUT OF ROYCE YET... New goals. He laughs a little, clearly amused by the stupid joke.]

I'd love to know that, myself! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to figure it out this time around.

[givethemhell]

Chicken wings!

[Helpfully just. Answering the question aloud that Kara didn't mean to voice, it's fine.]

They're pretty tasty, but have nothing to do with driving the train. Probably.

[givethemhell]

[SITTING UPRIGHT and immediately just lying back down again it's fine.]

I'd like to see your swordsmanship someday, if you have that kind of arm to wield with...!

[infinitesadness]

[ that's like the fast track answer to making it his problem. KARA. ]

Hopefully, there are others who are just as skilled then.

[goldenrepair]

[OOF. Dammit, Wei Wuxian! WATCH WHERE YOU'RE GOING! As if he didn't just stop and about-face without any sort of warning. He does, though, give Wei Wuxian a small push to restore the Divine Distance of Safety.]

No store owner? Why would there be a shop with no owner?! [Ugh! He's going to lose it.] I'm not--you just shut up. I'm not going to listen to someone who left us. Don't act like you care about what I do.

[He turns around to keep going. What do you know, the eyeball is gone--nope, there it is, moved somewhat down Jiang Cheng's back. Still staring judgmentally at Wei Wuxian. The words, however... stop him in his tracks. He twists back, face as sour as if he'd eaten a lemon.]

Don't do that again. What game are you playing?

[unfriendliest]

Storing food isn't a skill.

[ how bad off is this guy that he doesn't even know that ]

[givethemhell]

[WHY THE FCK DOESN'T HE LIKE THE CHEESEBURGERS!! They're classy and a perfect match for the shrimp lights that Wei Wuxian is absolutely not helping him turn off because he thinks it's hilarious. RIP Wen Ning, too good for this world.]

Mm, I think I will!

[Not in white though, white ain't his color scheme. He'll toss the white pair over toward Wen Ning and rummage through the racks until he finds a black pair for himself, because of course.]

I wonder if these have pockets...

[As he starts feeling up a pair of pants.]

[souheki]

[A nod, the Lan Wangji equivalent of repeating the phrase. Then--]

Itto-ryu?

[Could it be a clan name? Shigure obviously isn't a cultivator, but...]

[unfriendliest]

[ well he looks vaguely disturbed by that! but sure, it's fine.

he's still not going to try the food, though, because weird? also he has priorities. so he's going to just turn toward the head of the car and leave i guess. ]

[deadened]

[Because they're TOO MUCH, please let him live!!

Anyway he's doing the same thing as before and just putting these pants on over his existing clothes, because Wei Wuxian may have gotten him to remove his shirt but anything else is not happening in public, thank you!]

Oh, should they...?

[He's checking as well, because a pocket would be pretty useful-- and ah, there it is. There are two of them, how useful is that-- he's already gently stuffing his pockets full of those pouches.]

[givethemhell]

[(collective player voice) dana what happens if you die in the voice]

Or just very determined! If you fall, you can get up and try again!

[This poor old man's knees would be broken in a hotass second if Wei Wuxian had anything to say about it.]

[infinitesadness]

[ that dry quiet chuckle SURE SAYS OTHERWISE, MY GUY. YOU TRY STORING LASTING FOOD ON VARIOUS PLANETS WITH ALL SORTS OF VARIOUS NEEDS AND EACH ONE BEING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER ]

I'm very glad you come from a place where such knowledge is not a necessity.

[souheki]

[He knows where to find all of things, by now! Water even comes in its own containers here, incredible. Before any of that, though, he lets his gaze follow Xie Lian's hands, looking at the shackle. HM.]

May I assist?

[He does have Bichen with him, even if he can't use it properly, and his spiritual energy is just as strong as it should be. It would be remiss of him not to offer.]