[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

[stressweets]

You can buy golden fish - they can get you really nice items! On the other hand... [ fufu. yes, he laughs a little fufu. he's so happy about this. ] The cats can give you them too, and it's not exactly rare for them to... It's like if you really want something immediately, you can pay for it, but otherwise you can just wait it out.

[ so very f2p friendly. ]

[rateup]

Eh? NGL, that's pretty boring now that you mentioned it. There's absolutely zero gameplay in this at all? Even Paw Pals offered more customization and interactivity than this.

[ but he can't deny that he finds tonaneko's art style pretty cute, but come on. he likes living on the edge of his credit card. ]

But hey, at least you can still play it without wifi. I can't even access my other games at all.

[stressweets]

The beauty of F2P games...♪

[ not every f2p game works offline BUT YOU KNOW WHAT. ]

You're right that it's a little lacking though, and there's not a lot to do after you've bought everything or collected all the cats... [ ahaha. tsukasa closes the app, giving one more look at retrospec's before he pockets his phone again. to save battery. ] What kind of games do you like?

[rateup]

Any. I'm not too picky.

[ there goes his ruse of being a casual player, ig ]

[stressweets]

But you just play a few of them. [ hm............. ] There's not a lot I really stick with either, so I get it.

[ he's too honest for this he has no reason not to trust itaru's earlier words ]

[rateup]

You get me. Nice.

[ he extends out a fist - here man, gimme a fistbump. ]

Name's Chigasaki Itaru, by the way.

[stressweets]

[ HE'S NEVER? FISTBUMP SOMEONE OLDER THAN HIM BEFORE??? but he'll do it. fuck yeah, fistbump ]

Tsuka... er, Suzakura Tsukasa. [ he can recognize chigasaki as a last name, he'll introduce himself the same. ] My pleasure, Chigasaki-san, though I wish it could've been under less weird circumstances.

[ he still doesn't like that he's using retrospec as his litmus for weirdness BUT HERE WE ARE. ]

Shall we head to the store to check out their charger options then, Chigasaki-san?

[rateup]

Nah. Honestly, I couldn't have asked a much better place to meet other people. So we're good.

[ the less he has to put up a front, the better. ]

Also, I checked the store and I couldn't see any chargers. And even if there are any, I couldn't find any wall sockets either. RIP.

[stressweets]

[ oof. he's just uh

gonna turn his phone off then. save power. ]

It's not like I've never been without my phone before, but this really sucks. [ rip.......... ] Um... Are there, like, places to sleep or set up camp, or are we expected to do that on...

[ ....... ]

The train...?

[rateup]

You haven't spent the night on the train yet? [ because itaru hasn't done it either LMAO ]

Well, that shop should be well-stocked with camping shit. But at the same time, I dunno if I'd want to camp out in a place like this. The vibes are way too off, you know?

[ ...............god why is he channeling kazunari right now. but tsukasa would get what he's saying, right? right??? ]

[stressweets]

[ the.......... the vibes.............. ]

...Um, yeah. Uh huh. It just doesn't feel safe, right? [ that's

that's what that means, right ]

[rateup]

[ wait i just remembered that itaru would've slept in a train before because it's a feature in jp a3. feck.

but yes yes, itaru's nodding. tsukasa gets it. ]

Precisely. [ ... ] Wanna check out some pillows at the store anyway?

[ since they'll be here for a loooong haul. ]

[stressweets]

[ its ok i totally forgot about it too because i havent used that feature in a hot minute YOURE GOOD ]

Absolutely. I wonder if they have any cute covers...♪ Like with cats or patterns or- oh, My Petite Pony.

[rateup]

[ --record scratch ]

My what Pony?

[stressweets]

My Petite Pony. [ repeating it doesn't explain it, tsukasa. ] It's a very cute, wonderful show about magic and friendship and... ponies. It's mostly to sell toys, but I've really enjoyed it anyway.

[rateup]

...Ah. Like those magical girl anime that air every Sunday morning? I get it.

[ gonna call it prepure if someone brings it up ]

Yeah, sure, let's go look for it then. If we're lucky we might find some KniRound merch too to decorate our cars with.

[stressweets]

[ !!!!!!! itaru's great

also: ] KniRound?

[rateup]

What, you haven't heard of KniRound? It's been going on for twenty years, it's that epic.

[ basically the final fantasy in the a3 world ]

Come on, I'll show you. And in turn you can show me how cute these ponies are.

[stressweets]

[ oh, reminds him of... last fantasy, or something? that's Also been going on forever.

but perfect, so into the worst store in the world they go!!!!!!! where do they begin... ]

...I always forget how big these types of stores are. [ looking up! looking around. ] Where's the bedding? Or would it be elsewhere... Hmm.

[rateup]

Careful not to get lost, now.

[ even though... yeah, where do they even begin. the aisles stretch out for miles, it looks like. ]

Don't they have, like, a map for a place like this? But usually they store furniture items at the very end of the shop, so.

[ he grabs a cart, parks it in front of tsukasa. ] Here. This'll make our journey much quicker.

[stressweets]

...Don't tell me we're going to ride on it.

[ that's dangerous and bad and also something he's trying REALLY HARD TO RESIST DOING ]

[rateup]

Nope.

[ he's grinning widely ]

I'll be the one to ride it while you push me.

[ closes eyes ]

[stressweets]

[ um ]

You're not that old, Chigasaki-san. Or that young. Also, that's dangerous.

[rateup]

How is it dangerous when someone else is wheeling it?

[ so if anything goes wrong, tsukasa will be to blame, ]

Come on, we'll be there before you know it. Just hop on once you've gotten some momentum.

[stressweets]

[ HEY......... ]

This is such a terrible idea... [ but if it'd been one of his best friends offering it he would've gotten dragged in without that much of a fight, so okay. ] Get in, I guess.