[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]

[ here's where she'd say "isn't it obvious?" except he's obviously a human except he isn't, so she may as well play along. ]

I'm just what I look like - a bat. [ the leathery wings on her back unfold a little bit, as if to hammer the point home. ] Now, what makes a Burnish different from a human?

[suddenlybees]

[ A bat. He really should've seen that coming, but he deserves that answer. ]

A Burnish is... hmm, well, it's different! Fundamentally different! Like the difference between a crocodile and alligator!

[femmebatale]

Sorry, honey, but I know a crocodile, so I think I know the difference.

[ she doesn't like him but!! she knows him!! ]

You'll have to do better than that.

[suddenlybees]

[ But does she know an alligator--

Okay, maybe she knows more about animals than he does, so he tries to find a different example. ]

Mm... the difference between a sweet potato and a yam...?

[femmebatale]

So you're saying there's not really any difference at all.

[ scratch that, this guy is definitely making things up - or, at least, shady. ]

Why so secretive? Feeling shy around me?

[suddenlybees]

It's a fundamental difference...

[ He just doesn't know what the difference is!! But he can't say that. ]

But I guess I can't fool you at all, huh? Truth is, I'm super super shy, so cut me some slack, okay?

[femmebatale]

[ hmmmmm...... ]

You poor thing. You must be really nervous in a place like this.

[suddenlybees]

[ Hmm. ]

...Yep. Super scared and nervous and therefore people must be nice to me~

[femmebatale]

Oh, please. I'm a nice girl. Would I be mean to a shy little "burnish" like you?

[ probably ]

You're probably all alone, too, being so shy and all. I bet it took all your courage to approach a pretty lady like me. Why don't I make it worth your while? I'll take care of you if you do me a favor.

[suddenlybees]

[ Warning bells are sounding in his head BUT THAT'S NOTHING NEW ]

Hm, hm, alright~ Is this an IOU favor, or do you got something on your mind?

[femmebatale]

I'll let you know later. For now, you can just be my escort.

[suddenlybees]

[ So he's going to owe her something later, and work for her in the meantime. It's more than just a single favor, but he supposes being taken care of isn't a one time thing either. ]

Sure thing! Where do you want to go? I've been up and down this train— and also up and up and up this train, 'cause there's no end to it— and around most of the places here too.

[femmebatale]

[ well, that was easy. She flashes a fanged grin. ]

What a gentleman. [ not. his behavior is still WEIRD but whatever. ] What do you mean, there's no end to it?

[suddenlybees]

Like... that's it. There's no end to it. Or, like, the front, at least? Spent hours and hours trying to get to the front so I could drive the train, you know? But I couldn't ever get there!

[ It's a magic train with these sorts of magical safeguards precisely so people like Kano can't sit himself on the conductor's seat and proceed to derail the entire train. Unfair, really. ]

If you don't believe me, why don't we go see for ourselves?

[femmebatale]

[ There goes that plan. Her smile quickly turns to a frown at that news. ]

Ugh. This is going to ruin more than my afternoon, isn't it? [ what a pain... but she's sure Sonic will show up sooner or later to fix this. Or maybe Shadow will. Where trouble goes, those two are never far behind. ] All right. Show me.

[suddenlybees]

Aye, aye~!

[ It sure is going to tank her mood! Sonic would've been able to burst through all the doors in a jiffy, but Rouge's stuck with Kano, whose max speed is a light jog as he makes his way to the door and opens it up to the car before them. Again and again it's step step step open, step step step open, door to door to door and it's pretty endless. Painfully slow going, too.

Car number seventeen. Car number twenty eight. Car number fifty one. Whenever Rogue gets tired of this. ]

[femmebatale]

[ yeah, she's stopping this around car twelve, thank you. As they pass through the door, she reaches out and grabs a fistful of the back of his shirt, hopefully stopping him from walking further. She's pretty strong, but she also weighs, like, 80 pounds, so who knows... ]

All right, all right, that's enough. [ after a second, she releases him, her eyes narrowed in suspicion (not directed at him for the first time in this conversation.) ] So we're stuck on an infinite train. There still must be something powering it - a Chaos Emerald or something.

[suddenlybees]

[ Geh—-

Kano gets choked a bit, but he's slow enough that he backpedals easily to save his airway. ]

A Chaos Emerald...? Like in the Sims? I guess that could be it...

[ Some malevolent overlord picking people up and dropping them wherever the hell and watching while they run around and play pretend in various places? Sounds like the Sims. ]