[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

[glooming]

[ In retrospect, it was a bad idea to give him that hint. She realizes that now. She's going to get scolded, she thinks but doesn't broadcast.

Her hair flattens against her head, and uncertainty flickers in how she glances to the side.

What do I say? How doe she get out of this? ]

I'm gloomy.

[ittoryu]

[he has no idea what he did wrong??]

... Well, we can't have that! Is there anything I can do to make you happier, little miss?

[glooming]

[ Her right hand forms a small fist, and she crosses her right arm against her chest. ]

Gatcha.

[ Looking at his outfit (assuming it's like his icons), she isn't confident he'd know anything about the pose she just did or what she just said, but she wants to see if there's any familiarity for anyone. ]

Do you know it?

[ittoryu]

[yep it is]

Can't say I do.

[glooming]

[ She visibly droops, from her hair to her gaze to her shoulders.

She's not surprised, but it still... ]

Do you feel different?

[ Broken. Like what the marble says. ]

[ittoryu]

Hm... not so far as I can tell! I feel like normal, to be honest.

[glooming]

Me, too.

[ So how much should she believe? She gives one last look at the marble slab and tucks her notebook away somewhere. ]

We're okay.

[ittoryu]

[he nods.]

Mm-hmm! We're standing here and talking, aren't we? And as long as we're capable of looking for a solution, we'll be fine.

[glooming]

[ He's so bright and cheerful, so sure of himself. It's almost like—

.... ]

How do you know?

[ That they'll be fine as long as they can do something. ]

[ittoryu]

That's how I've always lived my life!

[glooming]

... I'm gloomy.

[ But he's right. They should be able to do something, but what? ]

[ittoryu]

Why? What now?

[glooming]

[ She'll never admit that sometimes, it's just something she says, especially when she doesn't know what else to say. ]

Where do we go from here?

[ittoryu]

First... we explore our new surroundings! Knowledge is power, after all. It would not do us well to be caught off-guard.

[glooming]

[ The look she gives him isn't expressive, but the question in her eyes is, will he explore with her?

It's not a question she voices, so hopefully he's a mindreader even if her thoughts aren't being accidentally thrown out to the world to hear. ]

[ittoryu]

[he's not a mindreader, but luckily, their thoughts are on the same wavelength—as he points in a random direction.]

All right, that way!

[glooming]

[ She follows, not unlike a duckling. ]

[ittoryu]

[he has no idea where he's going.

but eventually, they hit a train spot, and would you look at that, the train is coming.]

Shall we board?

[glooming]

[ Utsutsu doesn't expect anyone to know where they're going, but there's just something about Shigure that makes her want to follow him. It's... weird...?

She nods and gets on when the train stops for them. ]

... Origami.

[ It's an echo chamber because her thoughts sound at the same time as her speaking. ]

[ittoryu]

[he blinks.]

Hm? You want to make origami? I'm afraid I don't have any paper...

[glooming]

To pass the time.

[ Because who knows how long until the next train stop? Also, because she likes it. She technically has paper, but... it 'd be bad to use that specific paper.

She looks at her feet. ]

[ittoryu]

... Well, shall we look around, then? I'm sure we can find something to use, even if we have to get a bit creative.

[glooming]

[ She nods, and if she looks a little brighter, it's no one's imagination. When she comes across a snack cart, she pauses. ]

What about a napkin?

[ittoryu]

That should work. It might be a little flimsy... but there's nothing wrong with a challenge!

[glooming]

[ A challenge...

Well, she is the one who wanted to do this, so she's going to go through with it. She grabs a napkin and starts folding a very, as Shigure predicted, flimsy bird.

A very misshapen flimsy bird. ]