fracturarpg | [mingle] the space (january).

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[now i have to to save myself from living on google's doorstep.

Also, that sounds kinda sad?? Kingdoms and cultivation sects rise and fall all of the time, but the way he addresses it could really make a man feel some melancholy, you know.]

Mm - could be far in the past, could be something else. [A little sloping shrug. Could be another world! It's the first time he's met someone from a place with cultivation, but considering the Vast Multitudes of worlds that are apparently out there, surely theirs can't be the only hub of cultivators...

Neither here nor there, though!! He just hums and nods, swaying a little where he stands. He has a hard time standing still, it seems.]

Of course, of course! And if you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer. [Another beaming smile!] —Have you been to the pillar yet? Or the store? Or taken a look at the rest of the train, even - there are a lot of things to see on here!

[ aki he's calling to you

xie lian gives wei wuxian a little smile, though it's a bit empty as he lets him chatter. it's mostly because he's thinking - far in the past is one way to describe it. what's eight hundred years to a god. granted, of course xie lian remembers xian le more than anything, but the idea of this being anything but "no, no, i'm old" is wild.

the questions get a more enthusiastic answer, a shake of his head. ] I haven't looked at much of anything! I'd like to see them, if you wouldn't mind showing me the way. [ or accompanying him... he'd like the company, but how do you ask for that. ]

[STOP I'M WEAK

ALSO JUST SAY "I'D LIKE THE COMPANY" god why is everyone this way. He sure doesn't mind, in any case - it's way too boring, going exploring on your own! And it really is still exploring, because the trains are different and wild every time he goes through...]

It'd be my pleasure! We can start here, then, since we probably have a few more minutes before we hit the first stop.

[He says this while glancing out the nearest window, as if he has any fuckin clue at all where in The Void they are just by looking at the looping train tracks and vast nothingness they whiz by. IT'S FINE. He'll gesture Xie Lian forward, heading toward the door to the left. He opens it to reveal...! Just a regular dining cart, hm.]

Haha, not a bad first door!

[Maybe he can stuff more churros into his sleeves.]

[ food. this car smells good. that's the first thing xie lian notices--his nose twitches like a small animals, and he looks from left to right. it's sort of like a market on wheels, maybe? or a kitchen on wheels? there are chairs. this is very cool. the future is very cool. ]

What's that smell? [ feed him. ]

[Honestly that's a fair reaction, he reacts to food the same way when he smells it... SO OVER HE TROTS to the flat counter behind which an employee would be selling delicious fares, if they had any employees! He'll just squirrel his way behind there, patting the surface and gesturing toward a chair across from him.]

This is the food cart! Here, here - take a seat. They have a lot of things back here to try--

[As he begins pulling out... freshly popped bags of popcorn, still-warm churros, soft pretzels, a little thing of popcorn chicken, a corndog which he pauses briefly to stare at because he hasn't seen that one yet either, a pack of sour gummies...]

[ oh. oh there's so much food. everything smells good, and xie lian's eyes look vaguely sparkly at the sight. having only recently ascended again, he of course developed a taste (a "taste', if you can call his tastebuds anywhere near that) for mortal food. mantou, tea, soup, just about anything he could get his hands on....

but this is like a paradise! as xie lian slides into a seat and settles, taking his straw hat off of his back and placing it on the seat next to him, he watches wei wuxian curiously pulling stuff out of the cart. ] Ah--I don't have any money. [ that's for sure.

what else is new. he tilts his head. ] Is there something I could do in exchange? I wouldn't want to take anything unfairly.... [ he can crush boulders on his chest? do cool dance tricks? play you a sickass snake charmer song? ]

Oh - no need to worry about payment! You take the things you want here, it's all free of charge.

[WELCOME TO THE FUTURE where everything is free and the only price you pay is missing chunks out of your soul! Great fun.]

I suppose it's a small token in exchange for the troubles we go through? [SHRUGS and pushes a few things closer.] Try a few things, see what you like! Do you prefer salt to sugar? How about spice - do you like hot foods?

[Wei Wuxian has yet to find anything spicy enough to defeat him in this void but ONE DAY... One day, he'll find a real challenge and he'll drag everyone down with him.]

Troubles...? [ hm. well! it wouldn't be dianxia if he wasn't getting into trouble, now would it?

he watches wei wuxian dig around in the void curiously, and ends up leaning over a bit to peer beyond this magical counter at all of these strange foods he's just casually pulling out. ] Anything's fine. I'm really not picky. Is there something you really like?

[ He Can Eat Anything. ]

[BEHOLD, the row of drawers and mini fridges that he's digging through... Though the supplies seem endless so it really is a void.]

Hm, hm - these things aren't bad? Very sour, though!

[Of course he's pushing the gummies over first instead of anything with more substance. Sour sugar! What an introduction to the food of futuristic train carts.

He leans his elbows on the counter after that, though, somehow miraculously avoiding squashing a few pretzels.]

But yes, yes. We do run into a share of troubles! The last world we were in had issues with a rebel organization that got a little out of hand.

["A little".]

Ah. [ that doesn't sound too unfamiliar... xie lian takes one of the candies from him with a nod of his head. it's squishy like a mantou...

he pushes it absently between his fingers, testing the texture. ] Would you mind telling me about it, Wei-gongzi?

[ and then, he pops the candy into his mouth! xie lian's eyes widen briefly right afterwards--oh, what a strange flavor--but he reaches for another one. guess he likes it. ]

[He sure doesn't mind telling Xie Lian about it, but first, he looks pleased by the fact that his offering has been accepted! HIS SOUR CANDY... Finally, someone else is here to love it, too.]

It's good, right? Strange, but good! And a fun texture, too.

[Springy modern gummy textures are always a novelty, even without the sour sugar... But right, back to being like .5% useful--]

Anyway! That place - the area we ended up in, at least - was comprised of two kingdoms and one nation that was trying to gain independence. They'd come together once a year to hold a sort of... sports competition? Good-will promotion and all of that. This time around, there were people calling themselves Equalizers who didn't think any of the kingdoms should be ruling and wanted to fight for that third country's independence. They went about it in quite a spectacularly violent way, though! Blew up a gala, kidnapped some royalty... We're lucky to have so many capable fighters in our number.

[Otherwise they'd have absolutely had at least a few casualties... HE HIMSELF WAS ALMOST ONE considering he rollerbladed straight out a window trying to save a rebel from leaping to her death. Things happen.]

Things managed to more or less sort themselves out after that, but it looks like our overall actions and choices had a severe impact on that world, real or not as it may be.

[mingle] the space (january).

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