Budgie + i3 on the same system?

[nrvale0]

I have a machine with SpiralLinux's Budgie variant installed. For most users Budgie is fine. I would like to use i3. However, when I select i3 from the display manager and login I get i3 for a second -- long enough for i3 to ask if I want dump the default config into ~ -- but then I end up out of i3 and back into what appears to be half a Budgie environment. Meaning I have a black screen, no real ability to do any app launching via menu nor from keyboard, and a grayed-out "Language support" icon in the upper left-hand corner of the desktop.

Anything special I need to do to have a functioning i3? Adjustments to the display manager config, perhaps?