[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

[givethemhell]

[ENDLESS OPTIONS, WELCOME TO COSTCO. Wei Wuxian excitedly tries to mime the shape of a pizza roll but it honestly makes no goddamn sense.]

Instead of being flat with the cheese and sauce on top, it's a little dough ball with all of the fillings on the inside! They're this big, so they're the perfect size for snacking, too. And they stay warm forever.

[Or CLOSE ENOUGH TO IT those little things are nuclear, wow.]

[quickpersuader]

[INTRIGUING.]

I want to try that one, then.

[givethemhell]

They're this way! Ah, by the way - they make you take a lot of stuff with you when you leave this place, but you can mostly just save it for later and pass it out so others will take it and none goes to waste.

[WAVES A HAND. He's long since gotten into the habit of just throwing excess product at everyone he walks past...

After that, he turns and starts gesturing up ahead. TO THE FROZEN FOODS AISLE.]

[quickpersuader]

[TO THE FROZEN FOODS!!]

It seems like you could feed a small country with all the food here...

[givethemhell]

Oh, without a doubt! Maybe even a medium-sized one? Ah - remind me to show you the giant watermelon after we get our rolls!

[The giant produce is IMPORTANT.]

[quickpersuader]

Giant watermelon?

[What!!]

[givethemhell]

Giant watermelon. Giant! The biggest you'll ever see in your life! You'd need five people just to roll it anywhere, probably!

[He throws his arms out as far as he can, standing on his toes. IT'S EVEN BIGGER THAN THIS.]

[quickpersuader]

Something like that really exists?

[The kid is trying not to sound dubious, but... they're dubious.]

[givethemhell]

Really, really! Want to see before we heat these up?

[Since they're at the freezer with his beloved pizza rolls, and it takes all of a few seconds to reach in and snatch a box.]

[quickpersuader]

[You know what? Might as well!!]

Yes, please.

[givethemhell]

This way, then! You'll love it!

[THE GIANT PRODUCE...

He'll trot on merrily in that direction but honestly, it won't be hard to spot. Especially considering there are other Very Large Pieces Of Produce just. Hanging out. Like that tomato the size of a small child, or the pineapple that towers two people tall.]

[quickpersuader]

[Holy crap it was real.]

Wh... how could anyone grow them this big?!

[givethemhell]

Magic!

[He says very confidently, and not at all like he's pulling answers out of his ass because he thinks it's hilarious.]

You'll find a lot of other big things here, not just food. Like scarves and kazoos!

[quickpersuader]

[Sounds legit.]

But...

Why?

[Are there like... giant people here, or...]

[givethemhell]

Not a clue! [Once they reach the produce, he helpfully reaches out to pat the giant tomato.]

That just appears to be how things are here. You either have more than your fair share of a normal-sized thing, or just one very large version of a thing.

[quickpersuader]

It doesn't make it easy to use it efficiently...

[...]

If all of us are just taking from it, is the stock dwindling?

[givethemhell]

Hah, you're right about that. That's why people just give out pieces of whatever they need, you know? Otherwise we'd just be leaving a bunch of rotting melons outside of the store. It would be terrible!

[IT ALREADY IS TERRIBLE. He shakes his head at that, though...]

Mm, it isn't. The store is always full no matter how much we take.

[quickpersuader]

So for now at least, it's being restocked regularly.

[That's good to know, although Kino isn't really the type to assume a secure food source will necessarily remain that way forever.]

I'll have to make another trip here later... Where can we cook the pizza rolls?

[givethemhell]

Microwave! [Microwave. Probably one in an abandoned sad employee lounge or one they borrow from a samples cart - which, speaking of! There's one in a nearby aisle, just chillin with some (probably cold by now) pretzel bites in little paper cups.

He slaps the top of the microwave after trotting over there.]

Have you seen one of these before?

[quickpersuader]

[It's... a box?]

Does that heat up food?

[givethemhell]

It does! You open it like this- [Hits the button!] -and then put these little guys on a plate inside!

[After ripping the pizza rolls open and stealing a sample plate, he'll dump them on and slap the whole thing inside.]

Then you use these buttons over here to set the time. Most boxes will show on the back how long you need to cook something for. Isn't that convenient?

[quickpersuader]

Ohhh. That is convenient.

[Watching in awe!]

[givethemhell]

It really is! It takes no time at all, too. Some take seconds.

[Not pizza rolls, tragically, but a few minutes is still pretty damn fast to him.]

[quickpersuader]

Something like this would make traveling so convenient... I wonder if there's a more portable version.

[givethemhell]

A more portable version would be even better! Haven't seen anything like that myself, but you could probably ask someone else here, since there are people from hundreds and hundreds of years into the future.

[His future, at least... It ain't hard to beat out someone from triple digit years.]