[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]

Aw, I almost gotcha~ But I'm part of the first group, y'know? How are you so sure nobody saw the kidnapper?

[ Don't let everybody speak for him!!! His lies aren't 100% debunked just because absolutely everybody disagrees with him. ]

[rateup]

It's not like I'm dead sure, I'm just giving you the benefit of the doubt as a newcomer. Besides, the idea of our kidnapper being one of us this entire time is too easy.

[ itaru's presumably played a lot of videogames like that. ]

Why don't you tell me something I don't know that's actually the truth, hm?

[suddenlybees]

That's how they get you, by dangling the solution right in front of your face but you go "nah, too easy," and walk on by~

[ But let's see, the truth... truths are boring, and Kano likes being 100% sure before claiming things as truths... ]

Well, that aside, why don't you tell me everything you know first, and I'll fill in the gaps? You can avoid a lot of bullshit on my part if we do it like that!

[rateup]

Meh, I've got barebones. I'm only going off what was said in that exposition slab, and that no one's seen the mystical force that brought us here. That there's a first group that arrived here on the first month.

Now my question is: what did you guys do to pass the time for an entire month? 'Cause I'm already getting bored around here without the Internet distracting me.

[suddenlybees]

Hum... Eat, sleep, went on walks... Not much different from home, really!

[ There were a lot more people to pester, though, so that's one wonderful difference from home. Almost everything here is a step up, actually, if only his favorite people were around. ]

To be fair, this place is a lot more different than where we were before. No one's told you? About the island? With the shaved ice? Rollerskates?

[rateup]

What the hell, that sounds freaking fun. Can't believe I missed out on the good stuff.

[ he could do without the rollerskates, though. ]

So what happened? Did they have wifi there?

[suddenlybees]

Was there wifi...?

[ He's not somebody attached to the internet, so it didn't cross his mind to try and connect at all. ]

You know, I have no idea! Couldn't get a wifi password out of anyone! Does VR need internet? There were those sorts of things out there- playing golf at a volcano and ice hockey while glaciers crumbled beneath your feet, that sorta stuff, so the technology was definitely there.

[ Itaru definitely missed out on a lot of fun stuff, and now he's going to be thrown into the mafia world where every other person is liable to die. ]

[rateup]

[ you had him at VR, not gonna lie. but at the mention of golf and ice hockey in weirdass levels like that makes itaru recoil a little. ]

Mmm, I change my mind. I wouldn't want to be there after all.

[ ew, sports. and not the e- kind. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ Golf is barely a sport, Itaru, come on. ]

Not a fan, huh? So, what sorta thing do you occupy your time with when there's no wifi? I bet we can find something here~

[rateup]

[ it's still the same thing! you run around chasing balls all over a large property, rain or shine, with people watching you intently! though he will admit that playing golf and the sort with a gaming remote is much better than the real deal. ]

I usually just take a nap until the wifi comes back up...

[ he seriously has no other hobbies apart from gaming, but - ]

Oh, and practicing scripts, I guess. I'm a theater actor back home.

[suddenlybees]

Oh! You're a seasoned liar~ How interesting!

[ That's all an actor is, after all, and it takes one to know one. ]

How's your... mm... hm... What's the theater term for making shit up as you go along?

[rateup]

...I don't think that's really that deep, kiddo.

[ even though kano's got it right in one. still, he's just as good at not letting his feelings show, and thus the comment slides right off his back. ]

You mean adlibbing? Pretty well, I guess. I haven't mastered it completely yet, but it's handy in a pinch if the scene requires it. Or if you've forgotten some of your lines, for example.

[suddenlybees]

Yeah, that's it! That's good, you're gonna want to hold onto that skill! You're not going to have any lines where you end up, after all, but you won't be let off the hook just because~

[ There were definitely some guys out there last month looking like stage frightened actors... ]

Looks like you won't have any problems whether you get your mind addled or not, though. I got my fingers crossed for you~

[rateup]

[ -- record scratch. ]

My mind's gonna get what?

[suddenlybees]

You're gonna get mind fucked.

[ Yeah. ]

[rateup]

My mind's already blown upon coming here. What's the difference?

[suddenlybees]

It's something like... Okay, so, like, you're an actor, right? You ever get so into your role, that you believe it one hundred percent that you're your character and everything playing out is real? That's what acting's like, right?

[ Something something the magic of theater. ]

[rateup]

[ he nods slowly. ]

Yeah... The more involved you are in a role, the better your performance will be. It's called method acting.

[ a pause, as he thinks it over. ]

Did something like that that happen to you last month, then?

[suddenlybees]

Something like that~

[ Exactly like that, but what is a straight answer? That's pretty much a given, though, so Kano won't expand on his own experiences. ]

Whatever side you're on, do your best method acting, 'kay? Pretending's a lot more fun than not knowing what's going on, see?

[rateup]

You don't have to tell me twice - I'll always give it my all in my performances. Still, thanks for the info. Least now I know what to expect.

[ even though it's vague as hell. itaru would like to grill him for more details because there's only so much an actor can make do without a script and a setting beforehand, but considering kano's apparent penchant for lying, he decided against it.

besides, playing games blind is more fun that way, you know? ]

Oh, think this is my stop. [ yes, he still thinks the airport will have wifi. ] I'll see you around, uh...

[suddenlybees]

[ It's up in the air whether any of this will help or not, but that's no longer Kano's problem once he's let Itaru go. ]

Oh, right, introductions! You can call me Gel-P! [ He can pretend it's a stage name or something. ] What's your name?

[rateup]

[ itaru just gives him a blank look as the train pulls up to a stop. ]

No, for real.

[ it really does take one to know one. and itaru was roommates with an even worse liar back home, so he already can sort of tell. ]

[suddenlybees]

For real, for real~ A preferred name means more than a given name, right?

[ It's not like "Kano" is his given name either. He should be able to choose what ridiculous made up name he wants, and Itaru can do the same. ]

[rateup]

[ he sighs. well, he's got a point there, and itaru's not one to prod if the other party doesn't feel like it... so. ]

Right. Well, you can call me Itaru.

[ the train doors slide open towards yet another wifi-less landscape, and itaru gives the other boy a short wave before heading off. ]

Later, Gel-P.

[suddenlybees]

[ May Itaru one day find wifi and never leave his room all month afterwards. ]

See ya, Itaru! Bye-bye~