[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

[goldenrepair]

[There's a resounding, fuzzy, "Fuck," but Jiang Cheng's mouth doesn't even move at all. It's all in Kara's head which is probably as irritating as it is to Jiang Cheng when it happens from others.

He makes a dash for the door with sword in hand, but on the outside... there's only... the place they had left. He looks around kind of ??? like. HE WAS SO READY FOR A FIGHT.]

Where?!

[unfriendliest]

[ kara follows, also ready for a fight, but



there's nothing there. what the fuck. he hates this place. ]

...It must be some kind of trick.

[ he sighs and releases his grip on the sword. probably for the best, is what jiang cheng will hear - swords necessarily don't fare well against guns, after all, even if kara will also charge right into the fight like a moron.

they're made for each other, honestly. ]

[goldenrepair]

[This just makes him more irritated. He has a short chain, and he hates when it gets yanked around. The words don't sound like normal words, of course, and he looks over his shoulder at Kara.

But doesn't say anything.]

Stay here. I'm going to scout. [He faces forward again, letting go of the hilt of his sword. It... does not fall into the snow. Instead, it lowers into a hover near his knees.] ...The dogs could track, if I had them. [Which seems to be more to himself.

Without hesitation or warning, he steps up onto the sword like it's... a skateboard and just hm starts flying quickly away to make a sweep of the area. But he does come back when he's finished.]

[unfriendliest]

[ he's about to tell jiang cheng to leave it, that it's not probably worth chasing down someone with a gun when all they have are swords and no way to find the shooter anyway.

but then he does that, and kara is shocked into silence.

what the fuck? what the fuck!!! all he can do is watch as jiang cheng makes his rounds, but as soon as he's back - ]

Why do you use it like that?

[ the sword, obviously. it's disrespectful?? kara would hate if someone tried that with him! ]

[goldenrepair]

[After he returns and steps down, he holds the scabbard at an angle so the sword has an easier, more clean line to enter. His expression is confused verging on insulted.]

Like what? Learning to fly with your sword is one of the basics of cultivation.

[unfriendliest]

I’ve never seen anyone use a sword that way. What if you break it?

[ hey guess who’s also a little insulted. swords have feelings too, man :/ ]

[goldenrepair]

It would not break so easily. [Well... it depends on what happens to it, listen.] But I would sooner die than allow Sandu to break.

[Though he can't say much about Zidian... Which makes him glance down at his empty fingers. Dammit.]

You wouldn't allow anything to happen to yours either, I'm sure.

[unfriendliest]

[ ...oh. well. that's... okay, then? he supposes? hm.

(unsure)

his eyes flick down to his own sword for a moment before turning back to jiang cheng. okay. maybe he’s not bad, for a master who… stands on his sword. flies? however that works. anyway he nods. jc is acceptable, he’s just decided this. ]

I have no intention of breaking here, or anywhere else.

[goldenrepair]

[Swords have such bad tastes every single time.]

What...?

[At first, he almost accepted it without thinking, but--the wording. "I"? Both of his brows yank together.]

What do you mean by that? "You have no intention"? [Perhaps the man thinks what he had thought when he arrived. About being dead.] If you're familiar with fighting, you'll survive longer than most.

[unfriendliest]

[ "there are worse choices than jiang cheng" says ray, local jc stan

also he’s not going to clarify because haha fuck that was really close to telling someone he's a sword and WE CAN'T HAVE THAT, no matter how good a master they may (questionably) be so,, ]

Don’t go chasing after gunshots, and you will, too. Swords aren’t made to fight guns.

[ that’s all he’s offering. you’re welcome. ]

[goldenrepair]

[ray, you're valid]

Guns? [It's almost like he should be a sword himself. He doesn't even know what the flying fuck a gun is. Unfortunately, not knowing what half the stuff here means, including guns, just makes him feel... inadequate. His jaw tightens.] Explain.

[unfriendliest]

[ you know, normally, he wouldn’t bother? unfortunately over the past 73 years or so, kara’s learned more about this terrible thing that humans call a heart, and part of it means not wanting to see some fool running straight to his death. granted that’s mostly because jiang cheng seems to respect his sword, aside from the flying or whatever, but surely that counts…? ]

It’s a newer kind of weapon - long range, faster than arrows, and harder to deflect or dodge. Hit at the right angle, it can break a sword, but it’s more likely that it will injure or kill you instead.

[ kara raises an eyebrow. ]

Swords can’t do much against them.

[ acknowledging his own weakness sucks, but like. at least he knows about it. ]

[goldenrepair]

[Faster than arrows?! TCH. A bit of a swell comes to his chest. He has so very little left, at least let him keep his meager pride. Don't think he won't just take a bullet! Fire a gun at him!]

There's more to me than only a sword. [Here goes master material, "attempting the impossible."] Even if that's true, I could hold my own.

[But he does, like... look around again like he's wondering if this "gun" will go off like before.]

[unfriendliest]

[ jiang cheng you fucking idiot. ]

Not against a gun. [ he looks jc up and down for a moment. ] Especially not without armor.

[ but eh. who is he to tell this guy what to do. he turns as if to leave. ]

If you want to get yourself killed, that’s your problem. I won't stop you.

[ though if he feels a small, teensy tiny little fragment of sympathy for the guy’s sword, kara will never admit it. ]

[goldenrepair]

[He follows Kara's gaze to himself, brows pinching. What the fck. He's being appraised!! Quickly, he looks back up, offended.]

Underestimating me would be your first and last mistake. I'm not afraid of... guns. My cultivation is sufficient en--

[DON'T JUST LEAVE. Wow, is this how everyone feels with him?]

Who are you?

[unfriendliest]

Ookurikara.

[ he'll give you that much but he's not stopping. ]

[goldenrepair]

[There's a pause. Kara isn't stopping, but he thinks if he doesn't be--not polite--formal, he will just shame the Jiang name. Even if he wants to yell.]

Jiang Wanyin. [He can't stand it. He starts marching after Kara.] Stop! Have you been here for longer than... recently? Like some of the others? Is that how you know what a gun is?

[unfriendliest]

[ he's

still not stopping. unlike some people, kara has no problem coming off as super rude. ]

No. They were starting to be used more often when I... [ when he first came into masamune's possession, but he can't just say that, so... ] ...when I served my old master.

[ let jc believe he was a soldier or whatever. it's not like it isn't technically true, given the mission he just came from. ]

[goldenrepair]

[Listen, sometimes you're trying to be a good boy and your temper gets the best of you. A lot. But Jiang Cheng is as stubborn as he is prideful, and he doesn't stop following after Kara.]

You're a servant? [WEH WUSHYAN and all that.] Is your master here, too? I haven't seen any of the Jiang disciples here.

[unfriendliest]

No.

[ which question is he answering? you decide. ]

[goldenrepair]

[There is something soul ascending about being treated the way you sometimes treat others, but anyway. He’s trying his damnedest to be sect leader material here, and all he can think about is he wishes he had Zidian.]

Stop and speak to me like an equal! What was the last thing you remember before waking here?

[unfriendliest]

[ this is the most equal treatment he will ever get from kara lmao ]

I don't intend on getting friendly with you.

[goldenrepair]

I don't want or need friends.

[HA. Common ground. Friends just hurt you anyway.]

I want answers. Are we dead? What were you doing?

[unfriendliest]

I'm not dead.

[ though he can't speak for you, buddy. ]

I was going home from a mission. That's all.

[goldenrepair]

[This tells him almost nothing, and the sigh he lets out is more of a growl.]

It was over, and you were fine? Did anything strange happen?