[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

[wisterin]

[ His references go right over her head, but they make her brows furrow nonetheless. ]

Are you certain? You do know some of your thoughts are being communicated, don't you?

[ Her smile is pleasant. ]

[rateup]

...Ah, is that so.

[ so she heard his excited rambling just now. oh god, that's totally cringe, isn't it? he's internally dying inside, but outside he quickly recovers with a light laugh. ]

Well, I didn't think that something like that might happen. I did see a message when I touched my tattoo, though.

[wisterin]

Yes. From that anonymous sender who wants to be hated or from someone else?

[ She's still smiling. Her composure doesn't shift a bit even with her insult. ]

[rateup]

[ even though he's heard worse, the way shinobu's smiling reminds itaru of someone from back home, and it's definitely not one of his fellow actors at mankai. it's a good thing he can still retain his composure through training, despite the chill up his spine. ]

...The anonymous sender? I didn't hear or see anyone's texts yet.

[ save itaru's own nerdy thoughts that she probably doesn't comprehend. ugh. ]

[wisterin]

[ It's infuriating. The anonymous sender, she means, not that Itaru gets the rest of her thoughts.

Her smile persists. ]

Would you like to test it?

[rateup]

[ she thinks his mental rambling is infuriating, doesn't she? a feeling of immense secondhand embarrassment washes over him, but he quickly gets over it as he gives shinobu a nod. ]

I'd like a demonstration first, if you don't mind. I'm not used to getting abilities like this.

[ please be gentle with a total normie like him... ]

[wisterin]

[ Shinobu is more than willing to oblige. She touches a spot on her back, and she sends him a simple text via home base:

Hello! Isn't this odd? ]

Please touch your crown.

[ She can be gentle. It's only if he doesn't care to try that her methods get.... more pointed. ]

[rateup]

[ he blinks at the sudden message, and brushes his hand over his tattoo. the first thing he thinks of is -- "oh... like this?" before he realizes that he used the wrong feature. let's try:

oh
ok i think i get it now
lololol ]

[wisterin]

[ There's a blank look that crosses her face at his message. A moment passes before she has to ask:

What does lololol mean?

Is this the new form of texting each other while in the same room but instead of in the same room, they're just standing in front of each other? ]

[rateup]

oh it's how you laugh but in text
sometimes people go with hahaha or hehe but it's up to you to be honest

[ they're just s

they're just standing there

but at least itaru will refrain from using shorthand for now. ]

[wisterin]

[ What a guy Itaru is, adapting to all these ye olden timers. So considerate. ]

Are there other ways? This sounds like language that's developed after my time.

[ Teach her chatspeak that she'll only use in emergencies. ]

[rateup]

oh, ofc
that means "of course"
and then there's tbh = to be honest
iirc = if i remember correctly
tho = shorthand for though

[ and the list goes on. after encountering other time-displaced people in this world, he's got to adapt at some point. ]

[wisterin]

My, people don't like to write much anymore, do they? All this shorthand... Is life that busy for you?

[ She's thinking. ]

[rateup]

oh, totally
i work a white-collar job from monday to friday
and i dont rly have a lot of time for myself except for the weekends
but sometimes i'd have to practice and do dress rehearsals for plays so my schedule can be a little erratic
but that's just how the adult life works, ig
in my world at least

[ he sighs audibly. ]

[wisterin]

Plays? Are you a stage actor?

[ She's reached her threshold for texting the person you're in the same room with, so what's next is spoken aloud. ]

Do you enjoy it?

[ Since he sighed. ]

[rateup]

Being an actor?

[ he shrugs. ]

It's fine, I guess. Gives me something to do while my phone charges. But I heard from someone that we... won't be our usual selves in the next world over, so maybe I'll be able to apply what I've learned in theater. Or something.

[wisterin]

[ What a glowing response. He seems a bit blasé about it. Well, it's not like everyone has to be passionate and in love with their jobs. Not everyone has that opportunity. ]

There's a chance of that, that you'll be notified of a different life you've lived but you haven't lived. Or you could... become that other you. It's a little... unsettling.

[ Either way, it's unsettling. ]

[rateup]

[ she's right about that, and the fact that he's normally more enthusiastic with theater than this. but why talk about the mundane when they're about to experience something wonderful and out of this world in a couple of days? ]

So not everyone has to play a part... That makes sense. It'd be too confusing if all of us suddenly became a different person overnight.

[ talk about "all the world's a stage". itaru gives her a thumbs-up and a grin. ]

Still, here's hoping that we'll get the good parts. Might as well start learning how to adlib too if you won't get it. [ haha... ha......... ]

[wisterin]

You're taking this all in stride.

[ Does he just not care much about anything, or does he think it's some kind of game? ]

It seems like you think it'll be fun.

[ Would it be too much to tell him a bombing occurred and an important political figure got kidnapped? ]

[rateup]

It sounds fun on paper, not gonna lie, but I'm not naive enough that it'll be easy cruising from there. Still, playing a game blind is the best way to do it, in my experience.

[ so... mostly the latter. that's the fun part of the isekai genre - there's always an element that sets one title apart from the others, and itaru can't wait to find out. ]

[wisterin]

[ Playing a game blind, is it? She's not cruel enough to not give some kind of warning because she genuinely wants to help and save as many people as she can, but if he wants to be that foolish...

Well, she will be around to mitigate any danger, if it occurs. Some people need a scare to learn a lesson, and it's what he wants. ]

Please be careful and cautious. There's no telling what danger lurks around the corner, and I can only hope it'll be a safe world, but... if you find yourself in need of first aid, you can come find me.

[rateup]

[ first-aid... well, if there's anything itaru has learned from playing in countless mmos, it's the fact that healers get to dictate whether you have the right to live or die. that's another reason not to piss her off while they're here. ]

Mm, I'll keep that in mind. I do need a name to holler at, though. Mine's Chigasaki Itaru, by the way. Nice to meet you.

[wisterin]

[ He's so wise with his gaming lore. ]

I'm Kocho Shinobu. [ There's the briefest pause like she's about to add something but decides better of it. ] It's nice to meet you, too. Please run away from danger when you can.

[ That's a genuine wish of good will even if nothing shifts in her mannerisms. ]