[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

[supersoldier]

Afflicted?

["Weed them out". Her choice of wording lends itself to some very strange context.]

So they're unwanted.

[lightmage]

Magic corrupts.

They're - evil.

[supersoldier]

[At that, his brow visibly raises.]

I can use magic. [Shunted through his materia as a conduit, but magic is magic all the same.] Does your rule apply across worlds, too?

[lightmage]

[ You'd think she would step back or something, but she doesn't. She just gives a tentative nod of acknowledgment. ]

I don't know.

It's not even as if my own whole world is in full agreement on this.

[supersoldier]

[It isn't much of a reaction for someone who just labeled those who use magic as 'evil'; but her words more or less detail why.]

Magic is a weapon, like any other. A sword, a knife. Are they all wielding it to abuse or harm?

[Says the man who uses magic not kindly. The majority of it on him is offensive, but he's a SOLDIER, meant to fight and be thrown in conflict. It's a means to an end, and people understand that -- he thinks there might be some very striking cultural differences in his world, to have cultivated the kind of mindset she's just told him.]

[lightmage]

[ She seems to have to mull over that question for... A long time. ]

... Yes. Just before I came here, there was an attack.

[supersoldier]

[There it is, then.

An attack, coupled with talent that he assumes not everyone possesses. Unlike in Gaia, where anyone with proper training or effort could sputter out a basic level fire spell. It makes a little more sense now.]

On the kingdom you mentioned?

[lightmage]

Yes. They attacked Demacia and killed our king.

[ Even trained soldiers can't beat mages when they're caught so completely off guard. With preparation, maybe, but it had been by surprise. ]

[supersoldier]

So politics, then.

[Maybe it seems cold to water it down to that and nothing more. But isn’t that at the core of all conflict? Different wants, different world views. Never so simple as good versus evil, black and white.]

But it makes sense why you would view them that way.

[lightmage]

[ She nods. There's more she could say on it, but she doesn't want to bore a stranger with the politics of somewhere they've never even heard of. ]

... But you're a mage?

I'm - not making any assumptions, of course. [ Like, she's not trying to call a stranger evil! Haha! ] Different worlds and all that.

[supersoldier]

[He’s never been asked that question before. It’s almost amusing, despite the subject at hand.]

No.

[Mage isn’t even a term thrown around on his planet.]

But I am military. I’ve been trained to fight, and it’s a basic requirement to be able to wield magic competently, too.

[lightmage]

A military that fights with magic instead of in opposition to it...

How fascinating. [ She sounds kind of. Wistful? ]

[supersoldier]

SOLDIER is better for it. Magic allows for more strategic combat scenarios in any given battle.

[That being said, he takes her tone into consideration.]

You sound more interested than repelled.

[lightmage]

[ She nods tentatively. ] It just...

Perhaps it would have helped if we understood magic more. If we had known what to expect. That's all.

[supersoldier]

[It’s hard to know what to say. It isn’t as if his own opinions or viewpoint have any bearing on her world, so it may as well be wasted breath. Even so—]

Maybe someone will make the effort.

[lightmage]

It's hard to feel as if it isn't too late for that.

But... Thank you for the thought, I suppose.

[supersoldier]

No need to thank me for sharing an opinion.

[He hasn’t done her any favors just by having a discussion.]

For now, we have more pressing things to worry about.

[lightmage]

Right.

How to... Repair ourselves from being 'broken.' [ Don't like that. ] Whatever that means.

[supersoldier]

Our apparent souls in pieces.

[Holding back a noise that would be a scoff. How very vague and unhelpful.]

I still feel like myself.

[lightmage]

Me, too.

Wouldn't you expect to notice if something were missing...? Unless it was a memory itself.

[supersoldier]

[His frown visibly deepens. That... is not a welcome thought, but it isn’t one that he can argue against either. If a memory had gone missing, how would any of them know?]

That had better not be the case.

[But it would make sense. Pieces of themselves, gone.

He pauses.]

Offhand, I do know of something that’s gone physically missing.

[lightmage]

I'm missing a few things as well.

But objects aren't - they aren't what makes me myself. A few missing trinkets here and there can't be what it's referring to, can it?

[supersoldier]

Objects won’t be as poignantly missed as something like memories, no.

[And yet—]

But I’ve arrived here with everything on my person, except one item in particular. Why bother taking it at all, then? [That’s a rhetorical question, apparently, because-] What are you missing?

[lightmage]

My w... Weapon.

[supersoldier]

[...]

What kind of weapon?