[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

[rateup]

i.

[ itaru at first thinks that this is yet another lucid dream from playing way too many videogames last night; it's not the first time he's had one of those, after all. hell, there's even a marble slab of exposition here that kiiiind of explains the situation. ]

Ah, so I've been isekai'd... No way.

[ yes way. he's scanning the marble column for more info - ]

Wonder how I can change classes, though...?

[ just gonna check all over his body for signs i guess???? ]

ii.

[ by this point, either someone's already explained to itaru what tf going on with this place, or he's gotten some ideas on how this world acts himself. on one hand he's thrilled???? but on the other hand -

there's absolutely no phone reception. at all. which really sucks for a guy for itaru who practically has an internet addiction. but maybe he's not looking hard enough, so off he goes roaming around the space, holding his rose-gold smartphone out like a dowser for any form of signal that would appear in his phone. he can be found flitting from one traincar from another (while taking a bite of pastry every time he passes a food cart), or even at fantasy costco where he's also looking for a powerbank to charge his phone with. thankfully the batter is at 80% but, as they say, nothing lasts forever.

his mind, however, will broadcast his various thoughts to whomever is around, like:

...Come on, come on, I'm supposed to be ranking... Been waiting for that SSR for months, what the shit... ]

ii

[crudest]

... even people like you are brought here...?

[Baren's saying that out loud, because he's an asshole.

But he's hanging out, lounging on a Fantasy Costco hammock as he watches Itaru make another round through the store, raising a brow.]

Tell me if you find the closest wi-fi network.

[rateup]

You'd think that a huge shop like this would have everything from powerbanks to routers...

[ he's just gonna slump on the floor, his legs are tired ]

But yeah, I don't get it either. I don't remember doing anything unique to get myself transported here. Must've triggered some flag without me knowing it.

[crudest]

Oh I don't know, would you prefer a memory of being carted off by a giant monster and then carried across the sky?

[He just keeps casually swinging on his hammock.

He apparently got snacks though, so he's going to toss a little package of fruit snackies at Itaru, who did not ask for them.]

i

[quickpersuader]

[There's a young... probably a boy? A teenager at least, looking at the marble slab as well. They glance over at Itaru when he speaks up.]

Isekai'd...?

[What does that mean.]

[rateup]

You know, isekai. Getting transported into another world to fulfill some magical purpose. It's a pretty common genre nowadays, to the point that I'm dreaming about it right now.

[ this is one hell of a lucid dream, ok ]

[quickpersuader]

I see. I didn't realize that was a genre. Then again, I don't always get to stop to read whatever's popular when I visit new countries. It's also possible it wasn't popular there.

I don't think this is a dream, though.

ii

[suddenlybees]

[ Ah, yes, the old song and dance of holding your phone up towards the sky to no avail. Kano kicks his feet a little as he sits in his train car, so that the bottom of his boots just barely graze whoever's walking through the narrow aisle. ]

Looking for reception? You gotta be patient~ We're almost there!

[rateup]

[ itaru looks up from his phone, tilting his head at the boy. ]

Where exactly are we going? Don't really remember an announcement going off.

[suddenlybees]

[ Where are they going? That's a good question, one that Kano doesn't have any more of an exact answer than gesturing vaguely with his arms. ]

Around~ But in between two and twenty hours, we'll be at an airport, and there's gotta be good reception in there or the businessmen will lose their minds. Keep an eye out for it, yeah? If you miss the stop, you'll have to wait for the train to loop all the way around, or, like, climb out the window and walk back.

ii!

[givethemhell]

[On one hand, Wei Wuxian understands ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that Itaru's brain is broadcasting here. There's no indication that he's heard anything one way or another either, but it's fine! He can still help!!]

Ah - are you looking for the electronics? [HE KNOWS THIS. He helped Hunter out back when they'd all first arrived! And at this point he recognizes phones and charges thanks to his experience with Magic Olympics, so it's practically like he's not from 200 AD at all!]

There are some over this way! What are you looking for?

[rateup]

[ 200 AD's practically the stone age, but itaru will take all the help he can get here. ]

A powerbank. And a phone charger too if available, I just need to plug this up ASAP before it dies on me.

[ are there even any sockets to plug into? ugh, imagine living in a world without electricity at all. can't be him! ]

[givethemhell]

[What the heck is an ASAP. Questions for another time, maybe. For now, he waves a hand vaguely off to the right before starting in that direction, gesturing for this poor man to follow.]

I don't know what a power bank is, but there may be some chargers over where they keep the DVD players.

[Maybe, but still no wall sockets, probably! Wow Itaru is going to suffer.]

So you know, I doubt you'll be able to use it here. There isn't really anyone to call.

i

[bakaomi]

[ taka was just walking by, not really paying any attention to itaru

except then he hears what he says, and it makes him stop walking. because now he's laughing. ]

Isekai'd?!

[rateup]

[ you know what, this isn't the first time he gets laughed at by a 15 year old, so he's just going to take this in stride. ]

Well? Am I wrong?

[bakaomi]

No, but it's the first time I heard it described as that.

[ it's actually pretty refreshing, in a weird way ]

i

[wisterin]

[ He's using isekai in a way that she hasn't really heard before, but he's not wrong even if she doesn't know the exact context. It is a different world, but... ]

How do you know you want a change, if you're still looking for it?

[rateup]

For future reference. I mean I can work with any class, but if they're letting us change anytime...

[ he continues patting himself down, but then his right bicep starts to heat up a little and he rolls up a sleeve to find a tattoo of a pixel crown on his skin. ]

Huh. Don't remember getting a tat either. [ did something happen on the way here? hello??? ]

[wisterin]

My, are you royalty? Is that what's in store for you?

[ Her tone is cavalier, but her gaze is focused on his emblem. It seems like they're getting them right away now. ]

i.

[osuni]

[Okuni is looking at her first weeb and she doesn't even know.... tragic!! Otherwise, she just watches Itaru pat himself down like she's waiting for something exciting to happen, before finally piping up from her peanut gallery.]

Are you looking for your tattoo? I've seen it on people's belongings, so it might be on your clothes instead of skin.

[rateup]

Clothes?

[ checking his pants, the front of his shirt... hm. ]

Could you check my back? I can't see it from here.

[ it's not there, of course, but he's starting to feel a little tingling sensation on his bicep. ]

i

[decryptic]

[ So many new humans... some more incomprehensible than others. 9S watches Itaru curiously for a few seconds before speaking up. ]

What kind of class do you mean?

[rateup]

You know, the ones OP mentioned. The factions?

[ he's still patting himself away, don't mind him ]

ii.

[messianic]

[Minato's actually in the technology aisle(s) as well, looking for something similar--for his headphones, not his phone--but when he hears that thought, he backtracks down his aisle and to the next one over.

Aha!

There he is.]

... Any luck finding any wifi? I can't say for sure that there isn't any, because this place is huge, but I haven't found any yet.

[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.