[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

[dianxias]

[ something something trade globalization something south america cacao i teach history whatever this is fantasy

anyway, red bull. ]

Oh! [ oh. oh, that is an absolutely ridiculous amount of drink. xie lian watches him roll it out of the door, then readjusts the packages in his arms when another one clatters down. he gets his toe underneath the can, gently pops it up into the air, and catches it on top of his giant pile of muffins with a bit of wiggling.

tadaaaaa! ] There. I don't think I've had the 'chocolate milk' either! [ i guarantee you this can of red bull is going to explode directly in xie lian's face the minute it's opened. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ What the hell is this monstrous strength. ]

Well, we can't have that, so we might as well get both! I don't wanna add something more to your pile, though, 'cause that'll just squash the muffins...

[ They're already squashed, RIP muffins. But Kano gets hauls a gallon of chocolate milk out of the fridge, thinks to himself for a moment, then sort of pries Xie Lian's right pinky slightly out of the grip so Kano can hook it through the chocolate milk gallon handle. ]

Is this okay? Just sorta hanging there.

[ An entire gallon's weight on one pinky. ]

[dianxias]

[ he doesn't even flinch.

nope. he supports it with no problem at all. one pinky finger, an entire gallon of milk. ] En! I've got it.

[ martial gods are designed for costco shopping. ]

[suddenlybees]

[ It's unbelievably tempting to grab nine more gallons and hang one on each finger while leaving just his palms to carry the weight of the muffins and energy drink, but Kano spares him in favor of giving him a thumbs up and rolling his own drink down the aisle so they can set up a picnic spot somewhere outside.

He'd pick somewhere with a nice view, but everything is white with train tracks, and so the spot ends up being just right beside the tracks, so if something does happen, a train will be by in 2-20 hours to pick them up and shuttle them over to a hospital that doesn't exist. ]

Whew! Alright, we made it~ Thisty work carrying all that, isn't it? Why don'tcha take a swig of energy drink while I figure out how to tear the plastic off the muffins?

[dianxias]

[ he'd be able to handle it. xie lian is freakishly strong which is what happens when dana doesn't make me nerf his strength too much.

xie lian follows quite dutifully, trying to get a better look at his packages. he's feeling pleased: he helped with a job, and this was a perfect reward. with a job well done, xie lian follows with a spring in his step, and then sets down his giant load of snacks and drinks, carefully setting them down on the ground. as he settles, spreading out his robes, xie lian glances at the can. that's the energy drink, right...? he examines it briefly in his hand; it's a bit cold, and it has a little tab at the top. ]

Let's see... [ he turns it to the side... ] How do you...? [ fiddle, fiddle. what's this? he gets his nail underneath the tab, opens it, and --

PSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH it immediately explodes in his face. ]

[suddenlybees]

pft—

[ Kano ducks his head, letting his can drop to clutch his stomach in barely suppressed laughter. ]

Oh man, what bad luck! I can't believe that happened! Wow!

[ He reaches out to pat Xie Lian consolingly on the shoulder, but his entire being is sticky with energy drink and so Kano decides against it and goes back to hugging himself. ]

Ahh, too bad, too bad~ Hey, why don'tcha take this can instead? Maybe this one is better?

[ The one he'd been rolling all the way over here for the past while; Kano never had any intentions of drinking it himself. ]

[dianxias]

[ it was more startling that it came hurtling out of the can like that than anything else. xie lian's left sitting there, still holding the can, hand on the tab like he had just opened it. and...

yeah, actually, this is pretty par for the course. he blinks his eyes open slowly and makes a "pff" exhale noise, like he's trying to some of the now sticky liquid off of his face. after a moment, he reaches up to wipe his face with his sleeve. ] Eheh... it's fine, it's fine. How did it even bubble like that...?

[ is it cursed? who knows.

after a minute of trying to clean himself off with his robe, xie lian gingerly sets down the can he has, which is now more or less empty considering he's wearing its contents, and reaches for the other can. wisely, he opens it very far away from himself, but this time, it opens which a much more sensible 'pshh' and fizzes gently in his hands.

nose wrinkling a little like a bunny, he brings the can back towards his face and sniffs.

whatever bottoms up!! time to drink it, since he's wearing it!! xie lian takes a little sip, and then another, pausing only to smack his lips together briefly and eye the can afterwards like it might explode again.

but! ] ...it's sweet! It's good.

[suddenlybees]

[ It's probably cursed. At least there's a much lower chance of dying now that most of the energy drink is soaked into his clothes and he probably isn't going to try and suck it out of the fabric. Kano finds a dry spot on the ground to crouch and set the opened package of muffins on, handing on to Xie Lian. ]

Isn't it~? If you think that's sweet, wait 'til you try this! Here, here~ A bite-sized muffin!

[ It's coffee cake, to make up for the caffeine spilled all over the ground. They're like... four or five inches across? GINORMOUS. But Xie Lian should be able to finish it in a couple of bites, or stuff the whole thing into his mouth at one time as in intended. ]