[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]

1. train

[ Yawn. Stretch. Rouge wakes up, feeling shockingly well-rested, for once, and as she blinks back into conscious clarity, it takes a couple of seconds for her to realize that this is not her plush bed and that she's still completely dressed in her day clothes, makeup and all. Second point: she's moving somewhere. On a train. ]

What in the world...?

[ The good news is that she's used to weird things like this happening pretty much all the time. If it's not the good doctor, then she's sure it's aliens or interdimensional god-beings or whatever trouble big blue's rustled up. Still, the realization doesn't stop her from leaping up to her feet, standing on her seat so that she can actually take a look at where she's ended up (she's a bit short for the chairs.)

Drab. Bland. Boring. Outside is pure white, which reminds her of that dreadful time business that happened a while back and is the only threatening aspect other than the sheer lack of explanation for anything. At least there are other people. After a few moments of wide-eyed staring, she sighs, resting her head in her hand as she leans over the back of her seat. ]

You've got to be kidding me. I'm supposed to get paid today, and this happens?

2. first stop

[ the good news is that the train does stop, eventually, even if Rouge has scoured the thing up and down and found nothing really interesting. She's sure that there must be some goal they're headed towards. Maybe the one responsible will pop up and start giving her some exposition.

That doesn't happen. In fact, the dinky bar they end up in offers even fewer answers. Judging by her sour expression and semi-flat ears, Rouge isn't all too pleased to be here. ]

What a dump.

[ this is not her scene...

but she stays, because there's nothing better to do on that silly train. It doesn't take long for her to notice the pictures, perceptive as she is. You might notice the furry bat girl staring at you, then at a picture on the wall behind you, then back at you again, before she crosses her arms. ]

Isn't that you in the photo? Looks like you're having fun.

[ oh no, it's the embarrassing picture from the christmas party ]

2.

[ittoryu]

[meanwhile, someone here has never seen a photo before and is fascinated, as he peers more closely at it.]

Such remarkable art! Hahaha, is that me? It really does capture my likeness!

[femmebatale]

Well, of course it does. It's a photograph.

[ ... ]

Don't tell me you've never seen one before.

[ittoryu]

I've never heard of these "photographs", no.

[femmebatale]

[ a slow blink; then she crosses her arms, tilting her head. ]

Wow. What rock did they pull you out from under?

2!

[givethemhell]

[Yeah it's absolutely Wei Wuxian in the background of someone's sappy Christmas kiss photo, pantsing a rando.]

—Looks like it! Can't say I've ever had so much to drink that I've been unable to remember what I was doing that night, but there's a first time for everything, haha.

[Though he already knows it's probably just some weird Vortex World shenanigans GOD. He cants his head to the side, glancing down at-- ??? Well whatever he's seen weirder things, it's fine.]

Did you show up on the train recently?

[He sure feels like he'd remember seeing her around otherwise...]

[femmebatale]

[ WHAT A PHOTO... Rouge listens to him with a raised eyebrow and a half-smirk on her face, clearly amused (and not entirely buying what he's saying.) ]

Yeah, I did. I was under the impression all of us did, but it sounds like you might be different. Care to tell me what's going on here?

[ after all, he's asking that question, and he's in that photo, so... maybe he's from around here?! She can only hope. ]

[givethemhell]

[IF ONLY HE COULD BE USEFUL FOR ONCE IN HIS LIFE... He just laughs, waving a hand since he can see where she's getting at and doesn't want to wait too long to dash her hopes.]

Some of you did! Some of us were here before, but we got pulled in in the same way you all likely did. What have you learned so far? I could fill you in on the rest, but we haven't been here that much longer, so a fair warning I might have to answer your questions with "I have no idea", haha.

[femmebatale]

[ hmm. good to know. She tucks that bit of information away for later. ]

The basics. Aliens, time travel - what else is new? What I want to know is why we're here at all. They must want us for some reason, right?

i

[rateup]

[ should itaru even question why there's a pristine three-foot-tall bat talking about pay in a train going nowhere? probably not. this is a pretty lucid isekai dream, after all, anything can happen.

so fine, he'll entertain her question with an easygoing smile. ]

I know how you feel. It really sucks getting whisked away into who knows where right on payday. Like what if you have plans on that day?

[ like stay at home and laze about. ]

[femmebatale]

I've always got plans! This is interrupting my spa schedule.

[ it's hard to tell if she's joking or not...

it's a bit of a relief to see someone else around, at least, although she immediately gets the impression he's in the same boat she is. ]

I'm guessing you don't come here often, either.

[rateup]

[ a bat visiting a spa......... you know what, that's understandable. maybe she's from a world where various animals do stuff like humans do? because itaru's probably watched or played stuff like that before.

in that case, sweet. ]

Nope, this is my first time at this rodeo. I don't recall riding a train when I came to, either.

[femmebatale]

[ he's right on the money... ]

Well, that makes two of us. Looks like we're headed straight to the middle of nowhere, too.

[ she gestures vaguely out the window at the blank space outside. ]

2

[bakaomi]

Huh? No.

[ taka doesn't take pictures with people wtf...

but he'll walk over to look and. why is that him. he shakes his head. ]

Annoying...

[femmebatale]

No? That sure looks like you. Hair like that is hard to miss.

[ she says, as if she's not a three-foot-tall bat person in a heart-shaped tube top ]

Wild night?

[bakaomi]

No!

[ don't mind him as he reaches over to just

grab that photo and take it off the wall. ]

i

[suddenlybees]

[ ... ...... It takes a great deal longer for Kano to enter the train car, but enter he does, in time to hear Rouge's complaint over the rumbling of the train over the tracks and he sits down on one of the seats behind her so he can fold his arms on top of the headrest of the rest in front. ]

Got yoinked at a bad time, huh? Too bad, too bad~ At least you won't need money where you're headed: an all expenses paid shopping spree!

[femmebatale]

[ hm

she doesn't believe him ]

I've never heard of a shopping spree you get kidnapped to. Why don't you tell me what's really going on here?

[suddenlybees]

[ Wow, okay, Kano tried but now he is never telling the truth ever again. ]

Alright, alright, you got me. The answer is actually...

aliens.

2!!

[osuni]

[jokes on YOU ROUGE OKUNI DIDN'T GO TO THE CHRISTMAS PARTY

but it's probably a picture of Okuni wielding 106 kazoos with WWX pumped in the background though, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY!! Okuni looks at Rouge like she's the most interesting person she's ever seen in her entire life (and in all of fractura), and then moves to the side to look at her wings more properly.... look Okuni's attention is 100% caught by this, forget the 106 kazoos]

Are those real? Can you move them? Or did you just grab a pair from that general store and stick them on yourself?

[is a furry hiding somewhere in there?? okuni will NOT judge]

[femmebatale]

[ what is this!! Rouge stares straight back at Okuni, waiting for her to say something - but as soon as she circles around to the side, Rouge rapidly extends one of her wings to try and smack her in the face. ]

Hmph! How rude! Why don't you learn some manners before you start asking questions?

[osuni]

[Okuni absolutely gets smacked in the face, thank you Rouge. She lets out a little 'oof' of complaint, but aside from holding her nose for a second...]

So you can fly then! [AMAZING!!! Her questions have been solved by that gesture alone, she's ecstatic.] How nice... I don't think anyone here can fly like you, except for the dragon. At least, from the group that I arrived with. I don't know about the rest of the newcomers yet.

[she hasn't seen haku dragon in a while though, and she doesn't know that some people can air surf on their swords but WHATEVER, rouge is immediately superior just by having bat wings to fly with, even if she did bop Okuni on the FACE]

1.

[messianic]

[So: a few things.

1. Minato has seen some weird stuff in his time. This entire place is one weird bizarre thing to begin with, much less the stuff he's seen before.

2. He's on the train again.

That's not really bad or noteworthy, he just felt like it was worth thinking about, at least briefly. He's seated across the row from her by sheer chance, his hands tucked in his pockets, and expression contemplative.

Anyway, there's a furry in front of him. She's actually really pretty, which is a thought he doesn't want to examine too deeply.]

Ah... [HMMMM.] Are you a bat...? Is that a rude question?

MINATO...

[femmebatale]

[ she gives him an incredulous look. ]

I think the phrase is "stupid question."

[ sorry minato. ]

i'm so sorry

[messianic]

... That's fair.

[Honestly. Can't argue that. She's pretty obviously a bat.]

I guess I've just never seen a bat quite like you.