[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]

Yes, and it's smart to do if your target has anything of value on them. [ Life lessons with criminals. ]

As far as I can tell you just take what you need and go. Is that stranger than the fact that we're here in the first place?

[reloves]

I try to take strange facts in as they come without assuming anything. [ She straightens a little as she says it, almost as if she wants to make it seem like that's just her having ~proper manners~ or whatever.

(Minako has not had manners for a single day in her whole life.) ]

.. wait, so you only just showed up in this weird place too?

[ He looks weirdly omnious enough to have been part of this place forever. She'd believe it. ]

[bywolves]

Mm. A few hours ago. [ He'll take that as a compliment, honestly. ] Here's some advice - if you can't see anybody who is going to stop you from taking something, don't go looking for them. Just take it.

[reloves]

.. that's called stealing.

[ Please, Minako, as if you haven't done worse before. ]

Maybe there's some poor guy out there who has to feed his family with the profits this shop makes! You're letting his children starve!

[bywolves]

If this hypothetical guy with starving children was so poor, he'd be watching his store to make sure nobody was stealing from him.

[reloves]

Maybe he had to go watch his children for a moment! Don't underestimate how tough life can be in these hypothetical scenarios! [ If not just because Minako can bring pretty much any twist into it. ]

A-ny-wa-y, don't you have something more important to do than steal from a store? Like finding a way out of here? Or is this your home?

[bywolves]

I wasn't the one stealing from the store. You were.

[ c: ] I was just minding my own business.

[reloves]

[ He got her there. And she knows it. That flashes across her face for a moment before she frowns. ]

You're not answering the question though! Do you live here? Or did you just suddenly show up here too?

[bywolves]

I told you, I showed up a few hours ago. [ He folds his arms. ] Read the center pillar, had the rules explained to me, all of that.

[reloves]

Yeah, because that slab is such a huge help.. [ That's sarcasm, obviously. She's just grumbling a bit now. ]

You seem pretty calm for someone dumped into a ridiculous situation like this.

[bywolves]

It's strange, but I've been through some pretty strange things in my life. [ He says, with a shrug. ] I also don't lose my mind the second there's danger. There's no point in panicking.

[reloves]

.. you really must've gone through some strange things. [ She says after eyeing him for a moment.

Most people rationally know there's no point in panicking, after all, but that still doesn't mean people won't give in to the instinct without thinking anyway. ]

Got it then. Unmanned stores in the middle of nowhere you end up being kidnapped to are totally normal to you.

[bywolves]

Being kidnapped is not new, yes. [ He's definitely freaked out about the whole in another dimension thing, but strange stuff like this feels par for the course. ] Figuring out who brought us here is easier when you have calm people.

[reloves]

Did you figure out anything so far then?

[ Somehow she sounds a little calmer as she says it, especially compared to the dramatics before. It's more serious. It's not even meant sarcastically or anything, she seems like she genuinely wants to know. ]