[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]

[ 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.

[deadened]

[That absolutely sounds like something he shouldn't pry about-- so while he definitely hears it, he's just going to pretend he didn't. It feels like the best way to handle it.]

I'm afraid I don't know of any... if it's just stained, it might fade, b-but if it's permanent... you might have to keep covering it.

[But, hm. There's another thought from him too as he lifts a hand, fingertips lightly brushing over his chest- that burning feeling earlier, was it also...?- before he just fidgets idly with the fabric of his shirt instead.]

[bywolves]

It should be easy enough to cover. [ Royce sighs, pulling his hood up. The fidgeting catches his gaze, though. ]

Do you have one?

[deadened]

I-- don't know. I haven't seen one.

[He glances down at himself, but it doesn't look like it's visible.]

I felt something strange earlier, but... that might have been different?

[bywolves]

What did you feel? Was it burning?

[deadened]

Oh-- it was. Was it the same for you?

[bywolves]

Mm. It burned until I listened to the message our captor sent us.

[deadened]

[That gets a slight frown from him, a brief pause before he answers.]

Then-- then I think I might. I didn't entirely understand that message, but...

[bywolves]

I didn't either. [ Sigh. ] But I think what I did gather from it is that we can all speak to each other with our minds while we're here.