[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

i

[quickpersuader]

I've been trying to figure that out myself.

[The voice of the nearby... is that a boy? Looks like a boy, although it's hard to tell anyway since their body is fairly compact and partially swamped in a brown coat for a grown man much, much taller than them. At any rate, the nearby teenager sounds mildly puzzled as they take in the text.]

It isn't like any language I've seen before, and I can read the rest of it just fine.

[So...???]

[bywolves]

[ oh hey it's a - child? a teenager? interesting. ]

Mm. [ It's the same for him, which is why he's so annoyed. ] There must be someone who speaks it. Or can decipher it.

Must not be very important.

[quickpersuader]

Hopefully not, but I'm sure we'll find out one way or another soon enough.

[Because if it's important, it'll probably come to bite them in the ass, and if it's not, it's not.]

Did you just find yourself... [Uh. They just kind of gesture at everything.] here? or somewhere besides where you expected to be.

[bywolves]

Yes. [ Royce says, with a sigh. ] I was in a cave, and then suddenly, I was not. I assume it's the same for you.

[ He's going to be cagey about giving away too much information here, but... he might as well get an idea of what everybody knows. ]

[quickpersuader]

[A nod. If they noticed him being cagey at all, they're not commenting on it.]

I was in the middle of traveling with a motorrad.

[bywolves]

A - what?

[quickpersuader]

[...?]

The one I travel with is named Hermes. He has two wheels and can't fly.

[bywolves]

I have no idea what a motorrad is. I would've guessed a horse, but horses don't have... wheels.

[quickpersuader]

No, it's a vehicle. [Hmm...] Do you not have motorized vehicles where you're from?

[There's countries like that.]

[bywolves]

Not as far as I'm aware. We have carts. Horses. [ He assumes motorized is like, Advanced Horses?? ]

[quickpersuader]

[Advanced horses...]

It's like... a piece of metal with two wheels, one in front and one in the back, and it has a motor inside that makes it go as long as it has fuel. When you ride it, you have to keep balanced.

It can go really fast, so it's useful for traveling.

[bywolves]

[ it sounds like death ]

Hm. I'll stick with horses. [ Because at least you might survive if you fall off a horse? ]

[quickpersuader]

Horses aren't too bad, either. But I made a pact with my motorrad, and he'd be in trouble without anyone to let him run.

[bywolves]

Wait - can it speak? The... motorrad.

[quickpersuader]

For better or for worse, yes.

[bywolves]

[ ... squint ]

I... right. [ He's not even going to try to wrap his head around that. ] Did you have a name?

1/3

[quickpersuader]

[Opens mouth.]

2/3

[quickpersuader]

[...Closes mouth???]

3/3

[quickpersuader]

[??????!?!]

...I did.

[bywolves]

What do you mean, you did?

[quickpersuader]

I... can't remember it.

[This is really distressing???]

[bywolves]

[ Ah. For a second, he has to reassure himself that he remembers his own. He does. Thankfully. ]

Have you always not been able to remember it? Or is this new?

[quickpersuader]

This is definitely new. Hermes always calls my name, and...

...

My name is really important to me.

[bywolves]

[ He swallows the shitty comment that rises to his lips and tries a different track. Polka dots, Royce reminds himself, with a sigh. ]

Must be part of your soul being broken, if we're to believe the words up there.

[quickpersuader]

I didn't think it would be... something like that.

[Hnnnnnn. This is much more troubling than anything else encountered thus far.]