[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

[bywolves]

[ Wow, someone saying thank you. That's new. Royce's eyebrows shoot up, surprised, but - maybe he shouldn't be. ]

Don't mention it. [ Royce says, after a pause. ] I don't like chains.

[ Which is - more than he means to say, and he clears his throat before continuing on. ]

I have a question or two for you.

[deadened]

Mm. I think most people wouldn't, but... many wouldn't do anything, either.

[He knows how people are, he's not naive to how the world works; he's just relieved he's met someone who will.

Wen Ning gives him another nod, though-]

I-I'll do my best to answer.

[bywolves]

[ Normally Royce wouldn't bother helping strangers. Not for free, anyway. But chains are a sore spot for him, and so he's pretty much obligated to at least put in some effort.

His thoughts are all over the place, but he's remembering the sound of crying people in cages, and because sharing is caring, Wen Ning can probably hear it too. Thanks, Home Base. ]

What is the name of the world you come from? [ A beat. ] And do you have any enemies that are capable of this?

[deadened]

[That sure is something, and it throws him off at first-- both because he's not sure where the sound is coming from, and because it strikes a chord that he really can't place. It seems familiar, but he can't put a finger on it now that he's trying to--

Wen Ning raises a hand to his head, giving it a little shake to try and clear it, though his expression's a little distant.]

Huh-? Oh, I'm sorry-

[he doesn't entirely catch the first question because please I can't google whether it would have been earth in ancient fantasy china... but he does shake his head after a moment.]

Something like this... I don't think it would be possible at all, back home. There is a way to transport oneself to another location, but- not to a completely different place like this one.

[bywolves]

[ Royce just assumes it's another world anyway, since he's run into all these people who have been telling him about places like North America. Why is there a north? Is there a south? Is there an east or west? So many questions. ]

I don't think it'd be possible where I'm from, either. I've never even seen... what are they called? Trains?

[ He gestures at the train in the distance. There it go. ]

There has been... a lot to take in.

[deadened]

I-I see...

[That's almost more of a whisper, he's busy watching that train in awe and a little bit of alarm-- but mostly the former.]

What a strange thing. There's... there's nothing to pull it.

[bywolves]

[ He's already had his mini freak out about the train - now he's curious, if cautious. ]

It moves far faster than a horse can, too. I haven't been on it yet, if that's even possible. [ A beat. ] Wonder if it can actually run into people.

[deadened]

I wonder if it's faster than a sword...

[He doesn't explain that, like, at all, just continuing to watch the train as if what he said made perfect sense to him. Fortunately this is also before his experience getting yote by the train, or he'd have nothing to do with this.]

Mm, but it seems to stay on that-- that metal pathway. It seems easy to avoid running into it.

[bywolves]

[ Royce watches the train as well, having paused to let it pass. He's not really even sure where he's going, since find a cultivator is a nebulous goal. Standing and watching a train zoom by seems just as productive. ]

What do you mean, faster than a sword? [ Because that was such a weird thing to say and Royce is determined to just be mystified by 95% of the population here. ]

[deadened]

Oh- if you don't have cultivators, I suppose you don't use them to travel, do you...

[He should have thought of that, probably.]

They can use them to fly.

[There's a thought faintly overlaid there, so it sounds a little like he says both we and they at the same time.]

[bywolves]

[ what ]

To -- [ Royce pushes his hood back slightly, just enough to keep his forehead covered but not enough to shadow his eyes. He gives Wen Ning a baffled look. He picks up on that overlaid thought, trying to imagine even how that'd work. ]

To fly. [ you're fucking with him right ] Is that some sort of metaphor for something?

[deadened]

N-no?

[It's exactly what it sounds like?]

You stand on it, and it flies.

[it's literally sword surfing.]

[bywolves]

[ is he getting punk'd? is ashton kutcher waiting around the corner to tell him sword surfing isn't actually a thing ]

... Right. [ The thing is, Wen Ning sounds completely serious, and Royce likes to think he's pretty good at telling if someone is lying. It doesn't seem like it. ] And that doesn't cut your feet to ribbons. And somehow you can balance while it's moving.

This is something only cultivators can do? [ Whatever, he's seen weirder he guesses. Done weirder, too. ]

[deadened]

It is. A normal sword isn't capable of flight, and it... requires spiritual energy.

[Again, like this is just an absolutely normal thing to say to a person.]

A-and you don't, um. You don't stand on the edge. The flat of the blade is wide enough to balance.

[bywolves]

[ Royce just... stares at Wen Ning for like a whole fifteen seconds. ]

You understand that's the most ridiculous thing I've heard all day, right? [ And he's been portal'd to another dimension today. Not unbelievable, just. Ridiculous. ]

[deadened]

Is it really that strange...?

[He just blinks at that, because, well. Flying swords are so normal in comparison to waking up in a strange place, or so he thinks.]

It's- fairly basic for cultivators, at home.

[bywolves]

Hm. [ Without thinking, he pushes his hood back so he can push his hair back out of his face - it's irritating him, he can't help it. Doing this, he accidentally reveals the crown tattoo that winds around his head, showing on his forehead. ]

It is strange. We don't have flying swords where I come from. Or people in unbreakable magic chains.

[deadened]

[Oh, it's fancy... he's doing his best not to stare, but he is definitely looking at it curiously.]

Are those a common mark, where you're from...?

[Look, he can't help being curious in turn.]

[bywolves]

[ ah shit ]

No - no. [ Royce says very sharply, pulling his hood back up hurriedly. ] No, it's - someone's idea of a joke, I'm sure. Wasn't there before I woke up here.

[deadened]

-mm. It seems like an odd thing to do to someone...

[He hasn't seen his own, so his brows knit slightly at the idea of it-- why would this place just give someone a tattoo like that? The same reason he woke up alive?-- but the idle thought that it looks nice, though comes through as well.]

Maybe it isn't permanent?

[bywolves]

[ Oh. Royce catches that errant thought and sort of shifts. Does... does he say thanks? Does he even acknowledge it? He's unsure, so he just pretends like he didn't hear it even though he totally did. ]

Feels permanent. [ He mutters. The sort-of compliment mollifies him slightly. ] I ran into someone earlier who thought it was a curse. Very encouraging.

[deadened]

[look, he is just a litle soft creacher, he Canot change this.]

Really? I-it doesn't look like any sort of curse mark I've seen...

[They don't look remotely nice, for one thing, they pretty much always look like they're something dangerous.]

Why did they think so?

[bywolves]

He didn't bother to explain. He probably thought he was too important. [ Huff. ] And curses aren't real, anyway. It's a tattoo. An insulting one.

[deadened]

I've seen curses before, it just... doesn't seem like one to me. Usually they're-- they're much more unpleasant.

[So, you know, fingers crossed it isn't in fact a cursed tattoo!]

But if you dislike it, then- maybe that's unpleasant enough.

[bywolves]

[ Royce rubs a bit at the tattoo absently, and his thoughts come with the motion, just a snippet - furthest thing from a king, do they know what I am - before he drops his hands to his sides. ]

Unpleasant is a word for it. There has to be a way to get rid of it. [ And then, wryly: ] Preferably without losing my head. Or skin.