[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]

It's a deal, then! No backing out! If I'm going to risk breaking my neck right in half, then you have to uphold your end—!

[Though like, honestly, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR HIM. There are barely any footholds between the bricks and he can barely wedge his fingers there, let alone his toes.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce is a cheater with Elf Grace. And he's pretty sure this guy isn't an elf, which means Royce gets to enjoy his high sitting spot in... mostly peace. He watches in amusement from his perch, chin still resting against his closed fist.

In a dry, monotone voice: ] Almost there.

[givethemhell]

Somehow, I don't feel very encouraged!

[Royce is a TERRIBLE CHEERLEADER, Wei Wuxian is going to fire him immediately.

That said, funnily enough, he seems to get a couple of decent footholds in a row after that?? Funky. He does have to pause to stuff his pretzel back into his shirt though. Be glad it's in a paper bag.]

[bywolves]

[ Oh shit, don't suddenly get good at climbing!! And - oh. That's where the pretzel is. He was wondering, actually. ]

Think of it this way. You're building character. Strength in the face of adversity. [ Royce shifts. He's really, seriously thinking about stepping on any fingers that make their way up... ]

[givethemhell]

[Sometimes you just suddenly get good at climbing! It happens!! Sometimes you also just keep food in your sleeves without it being in bags but fortunately Royce will not have to deal with that.]

Who in the world would consider climbing a way to build character! That's terrible! You'd probably be the sort of person who thinks doing handstands while writing out rules is a good way to build character too, aren't you?

[Up, up he goes! He seems to be having an easier and easier time...]

[bywolves]

I'd ask how that's possible but I really don't want to give you more opportunities to speak.

[ Okay, but now it's starting to get Worrying. There's no way he's climbing all the way up here to just share a pretzel. There has to be some sort of reason. Did Royce piss this guy off somehow? He kind of... vaguely is dressed like the kid from the store. More like the guy that was insisting curses are real. Are they part of a gang, and Royce is their first target?

There's no way it's this innocent. Wei Wuxian is trying to catch Royce off guard by acting like an idiot, clearly. Royce stares down at him, shifting into a more tense perch. He refuses to be yeeted off this building. ]

[givethemhell]

You can't say that when I haven't even said anything stupid yet!

[Yet, as if it's an inevitability...

ANYWAY YEAH he's absolutely going to make it up there unless Royce decides to kick him off Mufasa-style or step on the hand that comes flying up over the roof ledge eventually.]

There—! Good time, good time. Not bad at all! This wall was terrible, though. Who builds things like this?

[bywolves]

[ Thankfully, Royce doesn't pull a Scar. He thinks about it, but something in him shifts uneasily at the thought of actually doing it, and that is so startling that he just forgets that Wei Wuxian exists for a hot minute.

So when he pulls himself up, Royce jumps just about out of his skin, scooting like half a foot away. ]

You -- [ Royce says, almost accusingly. Maribor above does he wish he had his dagger. He doesn't finish his sentence, just stares from his defensive pose. ]

[givethemhell]

[ROYCE........

Fortunately Wei Wuxian is only sometimes a dangerous man! And now is not one of those times. He mostly just seems pleased that he got up here, pulling himself fully onto the roof and immediately plopping down, legs crossed.]

Me! I did it, so hold up your end, alright? [OUT COMES THE PRETZEL BAG AGAIN, and Wei Wuxian pulls it out of the paper so he can cheerily rip it in two. As he's doing that, he glances to his left.]

—Haha, the view up here really isn't any better than it is on the ground after all, huh?

[bywolves]

[ Royce continues to stare for a long moment. When Wei Wuxian pulls out the pretzel bag, a voice in the back of his head that sounds suspiciously like Hadrian says see? he just wants to share food with you, Royce.

The pretzel could be poisoned, though. Better not risk it just yet. He doesn't reach out to take any, but he also won't protest it if it's shoved at him. He just waits to see if Wei Wuxian eats some first. ]

It isn't, no. [ Royce says finally, still suspicious. And then, almost thoughtfully: ] You really shouldn't have been able to make that climb.

[givethemhell]

[He is absolutely going to shove part at Royce TAKE HIS PRETZEL!! It's soft and warm with those Extremely Large pieces of salt on top, as soft pretzels do. Grade A deliciousness, right there.

He also doesn't hesitate before chomping into his own half either, so at least that's a pretty sure sign it's not poisoned.]

Mm - mm, hm! [AROUND HIS FULL MOUTH like a mannersless goblin:] It's not kind to make bets you think you have no way of losing, wouldn't you say?

[bywolves]

[ You know, he's never actually eaten a soft pretzel before. He's never even seen one. He looks down at it in his hand, trying to figure out what it is exactly - it's... salty bread?

He'll... he'll just hold this for a minute.

That comment gets a light scoff, though. ] What is with you and kindness? And what makes you think you're entitled to it?

[givethemhell]

[Wei Wuxian thinking he's entitled to kindness OH LORD that's a funny one. He can't help but laugh, waving his pretzel through the air.]

Hah! You sound a lot like someone I know.

[HELPFUL. Then, gesturing to Royce's pretzel half:]

Do you not like savory things? I have some sweet ones in here too, probably.

[AS HE JUST STARTS RUMMAGING THROUGH HIS ROBE WITH HIS FREE HAND and then fuckin shakes a sleeve out to see if anything is inside. It's fine.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce has never met anybody like Wei Wuxian, and he honestly hasn't decided if that's good or bad yet. ]

Don't -- [ Royce says, in the most exasperated tone he can possibly muster. ] Do not pull more food out of your sleeves.

[ IT'S!! GROSS!! UNSANITARY!! Royce rips off a very small piece of his pretzel and pops it in his mouth just to stop Wei Wuxian from pulling like a whole ice cream cone out of his sleeves of holding. ]

Who even are you?

[givethemhell]

[DON'T YOU JUDGE HIS BREADSLEEVES.]

What about the front, is that fine? [He pulls at some of the cloth for emphasis and a pack of gummies he'd squirreled away into the chest area falls out and into his lap. God.

GOOD QUESTION THOUGH!! Without hesitation, since no one here knows his name and that wouldn't stop him from introducing himself even if they did:]

Wei Wuxian! I was a part of the first group to get pulled into this place. And you?

[bywolves]

[ no it is not fine - which is probably clear by the expression on Royce's face. The lower half, anyway. Wei Wuxian can probably see the outline of Royce's face, as well as his eyes, which glow a bit in the dark the way a cat's does. ]

Duster. [ He's still experimenting with seeing if that name gets any sort of reaction from people. It hasn't, so far. ] The first group?

[givethemhell]

[WHY DOES THIS MAN HAVE CAT EYES THAT GLOW a normal person would probably ask, but Royce just gets a look of pale curiosity if anything. It's fine. DISAPPROVING FROWNS, those are things he is very used to seeing and can identify quickly.

There's also predictably not much of a reaction to the name, outside of a little lilting hum.]

Just Duster, yes? [Since he's used to all kinds of weird names by now, but single names are still kind of strange to him... As for the group:]

Mmhm! Ours showed up about a month or so ago, more or less the same way you all have this time.

[bywolves]

[ Huff. He's so mad his cool thieves guild murder name gets no reaction here. Rude. ]

An entire month? [ wtf ] Have you all been here this entire month? In this place?

[givethemhell]

[Life sure is different when your name doesn't inspire Fear And Loathing in the people around you, huh.]

Nope! We only just got back, actually. We were in another world before this. It's supposed to help us find our missing pieces, and I do believe at least one person got back something they had lost.

[His mind helpfully supplies a single, shuddery dog.]

—Have you seen the pillar, by the way? Been given the whole rundown?

[bywolves]

[ Yeah honestly the whole Not Being Immediately Feared thing sucks - but he's getting a lot of useful information here, so he's not going to complain too much. Royce pushes his hood back just a little, though not enough to uncover his forehead. He really hates his tattoo, that's all.

He's going to continue to be suspicious, but... he figures he's stuck with Wei Wuxian for a while, so why fight it? Might as well just get as much information as he can. ]

I've seen the pillar. About half of it was unreadable, but I got the gist. [ Absently, he rubs at his chest, right at his sternum. He's also staring down at the pretzel like it holds life's secrets. ] Doesn't feel like I'm missing anything.

[givethemhell]

[LET THE TATTOO BE FREE...!!

EAT THE PRETZEL TOO, GOD!! Wei Wuxian is already most of the way through his own half, squishing the remainder between his thumb and forefinger to make it into a little pretzel ball.]

Curious how that works, isn't it? Some things are easy to notice, like a sword or a bracelet. [Or a fuckin MONSTER DOG.] Other things are harder to pinpoint. From what I've heard, memories and abilities are also among the pieces some are missing.

[bywolves]

[ NO IT'S STUPID he refuses to let anybody see his elf tiara-crown.

He will, however, eat more of the pretzel, since Wei Wuxian hasn't started foaming at the mouth or anything. It's really good. He likes the salt a lot, actually. At least the food here is good...? He's been living off of dried pork for the last month so literally anything but that is fantastic. ]

Hm. [ He's definitely missing his dagger, not that he's going to say that. He doesn't want anybody to know he doesn't have a weapon. ] Seem to be able to do all the things I normally can do, which means if I'm missing anything...

No ideas on who brought us here?

[givethemhell]

[HE'D LOVE THE TIARA CROWN LET HIM EXPERIENCE IT!!

But he's happy enough that Royce seems to be enjoying his share of the pretzel, at least. There is a whole new world of wild microwaveable foods that Wei Wuxian can show him... Also an entire train cart that's just a chicken wing bar. Great things await them in the future.]

Oh, be careful with that. They can take things you'd really never expect! Someone here forgot how to write. [It's hilarious, honestly.] But no, we don't have a clue yet. Whatever is communicating with us through the pillar seems capable of talking to us everywhere we go, but I don't think anyone knows who or what is behind it.

[bywolves]

[ I can show you the world... microwavable wonders... ]

Wise of them. If they showed their face they'd be dead. [ Royce hums, tearing off another bite of the pretzel. ] Someone forgot how to write, huh?

And what have you forgotten? [ Maybe his lips twitch at that. He knows it's a ridiculous question. ]

[givethemhell]

[VIOLENT!! Wei Wuxian for one would love to have an amiable chat with whoever their pillar friend is, wow.]

Haha, well, they would certainly have a lot to explain. I don't blame them for keeping their head down!

[He sees that tiny lip twitch, too! HE'LL GET A REAL LAUGH OUT OF ROYCE YET... New goals. He laughs a little, clearly amused by the stupid joke.]

I'd love to know that, myself! Maybe I'll be lucky enough to figure it out this time around.