[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

[suddenlybees]

Oh. Hmm.

[ If he mentally sorts through all his enemies, finding one with the power to bring him and others here really narrows it down. ]

If the "who" I'm thinking about is the right one... do you remember dying at all, before coming here?

[bywolves]

... No, I don't remember. But it's possible. [ There were a lot of ghazel around, maybe they got in. ] Why?

[suddenlybees]

Well, see, there's this big bad where I'm from what goes around killing people and bringing 'em to hell— mine wasn't exactly like this place, but maybe it's sorta a communal hell? Sure looks like a communal hell to me.

[ Everybody here stuck with Kano. Hell. ]

[bywolves]

[ Oh. Well - okay. That'd... make sense. Royce is quiet for a moment. ]

Great. [ This is not what he'd imagined, but. He turns to glance up at the pillar again with a vaguely annoyed sound, grumbling mostly to himself: ] After I promised not to die and everything.

[ Back to Kano: ] I don't know of your "big bad" but I wouldn't be surprised if something dragged me into Phyre.

[suddenlybees]

So you got enemies of that caliber too, huh? Sometimes dying unavoidable, but hey- we exist here, right? So there's gotta be some way to claw back out of hell.

[ He's done it once before, but he's pretty sure he's not going to be lucky another time. He's pretty much marching to his death back home anyways, but being here is still a reprieve. ]

[bywolves]

Good point. [ He's not entirely sure he wants to drag his ass out of hell, but - he'd like to maybe at least try to climb up to heaven, maybe. He's snuck into harder. ]

You sound as though you may have experience with - what did you call it? Hell? [ hell, rel, phyre, same thing ]

[suddenlybees]

[ His term for it is the Kagerou Daze, but what used to be a cool name is just now sort of embarrassing, so hell it is. ]

Ahh... It was a while ago! Can't say I remember much about it either, 'cause I just sorta wandered around in the darkness for a bit before bam!! ...Opened my eyes and I was awake again.

[bywolves]

[ Royce wrinkles his nose. ]

That is spectacularly unhelpful. [ Royce. Be nice. He can practically hear Hadrian scolding him, which is annoying. ] How old are you, even? You look like you're only twelve, and you've already been to literal hell and back?

[suddenlybees]

[ WOW calling him twelve right to his face ]

I'll have you know that I'm thirteen, thanks!!

[ He is seventeen and went to hell when he was six, but the details aren't anything he wants to explain, so this is all Royce is getting. ]

[bywolves]

[ royce is not prepared for this insanity ]

Whatever. [ Royce grumbles. This twelve-thirteen-actually-seventeen year old is all he's got around at the moment, so he sighs. ] Look. I'm going to scout this place out. Try to see if I can find where our captor is hiding. Can you do anything to help with that?

[suddenlybees]

[ He really got the short end of the stick, having to talk to Kano, but he'll be able to fill in the gaps with everybody else. ]

Hm~ If our captor's hiding somewhere, they'd either be in the train that goes around everywhere so they can keep an eye on all of us, right? Plenty of food and stuff for sustenance too! You go scout the area, and I'll tackle the train, how 'bout that?

[ He will spend the rest of the week finding a good train car and holing up with a snack cart. ]

[bywolves]

[ That - see, that'd be sound reasoning if Kano hadn't mentioned the food part. Royce is Naturally Suspicious and now thinks Kano is going to go looking for snack, which like - fair, honestly. Royce's expression shifts into a scowl, but he just waves a hand. ]

Do what you're going to do. I'll figure it out myself. [ Annnd he's off, with a swoosh of his cloak. ]