[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

[givethemhell]

I could help you take a look around too, if you'd like! We haven't run into anything dangerous in this place, but it's best to err on the side of caution.

[And honestly, wandering around a void with a demonic cultivator probably isn't a terrible choice. He's used to handling all sorts of tomfoolery! He can help in a pinch!!

The train can be heard clatterin' on down the tracks from up ahead, after a few seconds more. HERE IT COMES... A ye olde fashioned steam train, this time.]

[reloves]

[ A stream train... Minako truly has been thrust into the idol-less hell of the past in this weird void space, huh...

Something about what he says pulls her attention though. ]

Are you saying you could help out if we would run into something dangerous? [ Not that Minako can't protect herself, but she's totally okay with covering up her sailor soldier powers a little longer... ]

[givethemhell]

[She really has... Wait until she sees the even older models.

The question gets a nod, though! He doesn't find much point in hiding his abilities normally, and now is certainly no exception.]

Most likely! I'm used to handling tricky situations. Nothing too out-of-the-ordinary for where I come from, you know?

[reloves]

[ .. hmm. Well, that's good to know. It's not as if Minako would put anyone else in terrible danger to protect her identity, but if there's just some minor threat he can easily handle, she doesn't mind playing the damsel in distress and hiding behind him a little bit.

She still isn't 100% how much she can trust this situation, after all. ]

Oh, really? That's pretty amazing! [ She says it so innocently too, like people who can handle danger is a totally new concept to her. ] Then I'll be counting on you! I'm sure a firm kick won't do much against something that could pop up in a strange place like this, after all.

[givethemhell]

[Sometimes you're just used to hopping into danger and brawling with ghosts because the average citizen can't deal with them! To be fair, he's capable of handling things even normal cultivators can't, so it doesn't feel like a stretch to offer to at least keep an eye out here.]

Hah! You'd be surprised about that. I mean, outside of the pillar, most of the issues we've run into have all been quite tangible! A good kick might actually do just the trick.

[Tangible as opposed to GHOSTLY.]

[reloves]

Quite tangible?

[ She's definitely assuming that means "not ghostly", but.. you know. Still. A teenage girl kick may not do much to a zombie before it'd just chow down on said leg, so she can't help but sound a little apprehensive all the same. ]

What kind of issues were those? Should I be prepared for anything in particular? [ Feed her the useful information!! ]

[givethemhell]

[DON'T KICK HIS ZOMBIES MINAKO.]

Well! It seems part of the whole "being tasked to retrieve missing bits of our soul" deal is going to other worlds to, ah... How did that pillar put it? Just live life, something like that? We just got back from a world where three kingdoms were in conflict! The most dangerous thing we had to deal with there were rebel factions, but they did have explosives and elemental magic.

[Just another day in the life, as you do.]

[reloves]

.. you know, it makes me feel really bad if you say 'explosives and elemental magic' so casually. [ Although it's nothing she isn't used to either.. But she's supposed to play the role of the innocent maiden who has never seen a day of battle other than the constant war that is high school here, after all. ]

It sounds like I'm way in over my head here. I didn't even ask for any of this..!

[givethemhell]

No point in lying if you're going to see it yourself soon enough, right?

[He sounds maybe like .5% apologetic for potentially making a poor innocent kid feel bad, though. Maybe. aNYWAY--]

It's fine, it's fine! Even if I'm not around, there are plenty of fighters in our number. Most of them seem quite nice and friendly too, so I doubt it'd be a stretch to ask any of them for help if you need it.

[reloves]

I guess that's good, but the potential danger still isn't too reassuring..

[ She sighs. Oh, the woes of a girl who's never ever been in a dangerous situation in her life! Cl.. early..! ]

Did everyone even come out of that other world okay?

[givethemhell]

Very fortunately, yes! Precisely because there are plenty of fighters in our number. Haha, we had more people swooping in to the rescue than we had people to rescue!

[Fortunately there were plenty of NPCs to save...]

So it's good to go in prepared, but I wouldn't be too worried about it.