voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2020-05-21 05:22 am

Under the Sea: Conclusion and aftermath

Ritual

The jellyfish is no more and as red team take stock of their injuries, or collapse from exhaustion the lights zip around them, singing their song of joy. They gather around the light that had been inside the jellyfish and now that it has been released it is obvious this light is different. Stronger. They surround it and the song gets even louder as they begin to move towards the plinth.

In the caverns where the purple and orange team are there is a stillness. For those in orange team still in the cavern they can only hope that the instructions they gave out had been followed. Luckily for them they have been, Purple team have done a remarkable job of defeating the crabs and cleaning the temple. The priests gather around the shell on the alter, arms linked together in prayer as they seek to re-sanctify their temple. As their prayer begins they will invite the voidtreckers to join them, though no one is forced into taking part in the ritual. They suggest that they use their strange wrist jewellery to open communication with their friends in Bui.

The monster on the beach is defeated and though the fight is still raging against the crabs, a beacon has been built and lit. The islanders who are not fighting gather around it, linking arms, drawing any voidtreckers who don't object to joining them into the circle.

The song begins hesitantly, almost as if everyone has forgotten the words and only half remembers the tune. The SCA translates, the prayer is simple, a blessing on the land and its people, deliverance from the darkness and hope for the future.

The light from the jellyfish reaches the plinth and is set upon it. The song heightens and the light shoots upwards, blinding in its brilliance.

Through the dark storm clouds a light streams towards the island, most of it towards the beacon on the island though there is a break away light that goes towards the train, where some of orange team have set up a second beacon. It swirls around those on the train roof, singing a song of happiness and bounces back towards the island.

The light reaches the main beacon and hits it with a strength that lights up the whole sky. The light splits more solidly into two and speeds off over the ocean. Light pours into the underground caverns, not caring about the ocean and rock in the way, the light pools into the shells, the caverns glow warmly.

Outside the storm calms, clouds roll back, the sun shines. The sea stills. The wind stops. The sun is rising, a beautiful dawn. Any monsters left scuttle away, vanishing into the ocean, away from Bui.

Those with any powers that they couldn't reach before find them returned in a rush. Those who can sense life find this world teeming with it. A song that dances between every plant and creature.

Some of red may have evacuated to the train but those who stayed to see the ritual through, the world around them seems to melt away and they find themselves back next to the rock pools. Among their number there are some confused looking islanders who intrinsically draw closer to those who helped free the lights.

Orange and Purple

Down underwater there's noise and a babble of voices as the citizens of Bui wake up. There's a shimmering around the city now, like a shield though they can pass through easily. Parents scramble to locate their children and all check on loved ones and friends.

The familiar voice of train announcements is heard through Orange team's SCAs. Orange return to the VoidTrecker Express. Once everyone is on board it flies low over the ocean, skimming the waves.

In the underwater temple the priests finish sealing the ritual and then it is time to begin the return trek. There are no monsters this time and after a few hours, as they emerge onto the first of the sandbanks they will find the VoidTrecker Express is waiting for them.

Red and Blue

The monsters gone, those of the island gather everyone from the rock pools and for a few hours everyone sleeps.

At about noon the islanders begin to stir, begin putting things to rights. Wood is moved from the strategic points to more communal campfires on the beach. Any dead monsters that haven't been gathered for food have been washed out to sea, disappeared into the depths. They begin to prepare food and won't turn away any helpers. Though those who have been fighting are encouraged to rest.

The islanders bring blankets and start to gather. Everyone is exhausted but the children, in the way of children find the energy to play in the sea and the sand.

Beach Day

Early afternoon the train lands on the beach and everyone gets a holographic message to their SCA.

Mission successful. Well done Voidtreckers. Enjoy the rest of your day. You will find suitable clothing in the dressing room. A new recipe has been added to the kitchen information points.

The dressing room is indeed open once more, this time it holds swimsuits of every style, shorts, t shirts, wraps and beach skirts. Sun hats and sunglasses can also be found. It's a bit of a mush mash but they should be able to cobble together something other than their uniform wet suits.

Time to laze around on the beach or for those who still have energy swim or play. A few hours later a ripple across the water brings some of those from Bui and they swim or lounge on rocks to talk.

Food and stories

Food is cooked and shared, the islanders will happily try the voidtreckers' offerings and share their own. As the sun begins to set they gather around the fires. Stories and songs are shared and there's even some dancing for the brave.

Voidtreckers can choose whether to sleep in their own beds or spend one last night on the island before the train flies off into the sunrise and into the void.
flatteries: (you've been here before)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-06-15 01:58 pm (UTC)(link)
He moves a hand up to dramatically grab at his chest. Like he can feel the pain directly in his heart!

"So that's what you were out for all along.. Just my points.. I can't take this anymore!" He quickly stands up. "I can't take this anymore! I'm leaving..!"

Inigo is already halfway through dramatically taking a step away before he turns back to Tidus, the dramatics fading in less than a second. ".. Honestly, though, I really should go look to see if my boyfriend is actually out there having fun right now. I'll see you later, alright?"
blitzcheer: (based on miscommunication)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-06-15 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Your boyfriend?"

Sorry, did Inigo just admit to having a boyfriend? Tidus's expression goes from surprise to--well, two fingers coming up to his mouth and the appropriate sound being made.

And he laughs after, at the same time he takes back his hand to wave Inigo off.

"You never told me! Go see him! Don't get caught getting up to anything," he adds with a sly grin.
badassfreakingoverlord: (determined)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-15 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah. Zetta expected that sort of answer. He wasn't about to let it stand, though. "Sure. You wouldn't. Right now. What if they did need you? What if the lives of your family and people you love were on the line back home? What if you believe, very strongly, that you being here was putting all the things you held important in danger?"
pleple: (But it won't be long)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-06-15 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right... um. ...right after you started asking people about it." Ple Two blushed slightly. "...thank you?"
stealsyourheart: (heh)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-06-15 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sandcastles!" He beams. "And the waves should be fine, so I might see if Aoko wants to splash a bit."
stealsyourheart: (Default)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-06-15 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Kaito's mainly gone for towers - he likes towers, okay.

"Nicely done." He grins. "Here, you can pop a flag on the top."

A flick of his fingers produces a tiny cocktail flag, where someone (probably Kaito) has drawn a tiny train.
stealsyourheart: (hm)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-06-15 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Dunno. You could ask Iden'no-san - she's been back at least once, I think?"
stealsyourheart: (hm)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-06-15 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Pretty much." He nods.

"Other than that, everything else is like. Window dressing. If you tend to get sunburned, you wanna wear more, or if you wanna tan, you might wear less. If you're gonna be bringing a lot of extra stuff, maybe you might bring a small bag. And so on."
stealsyourheart: (heh)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-06-15 04:15 pm (UTC)(link)
He taps it back lightly once or twice until he's sure of his footing again and then grins at her.

"Kay, think I've got it. Let's take it up a bit."
happyends: (the promise we made)

[personal profile] happyends 2020-06-15 05:08 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not something Madoka seems to have to think about long. Sure, she may not know everything about Romeo, but she think she has a pretty good idea of what the boy is like.. And he does seem like he'd like it. If not just since Romeo seems to appreciate just about everything in life.

"You should! If you don't find enough, just let me know.. I'll gladly share some with Romeo as well. He's a friend of mine too."

Yes, there's a 'too' there, because she's just assuming the other must be friends with her roommates. Who isn't friends with their roomates, right! Everyone is! Clearly!
springforth: (323)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-15 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not much wind to get it moving, but we could try?"

Mobiles are like windchimes right? Persephone bends to find a few more flat shells, her hands overflowing at this point.

"But it would look nice when we get to a world like this again."
irrationally: (there's no chance of losing)

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-06-15 06:51 pm (UTC)(link)
When he adds that last part, Alice almost seems faintly amused for once.

"That depends on what you find scary." If there's anything she's learned, after all, it's that said standard can vary very, very wildly from one person to another. "What are you scared of?"

She's not even angling for any deep existential or personal answer, really. More something simple. Like ghosts. Or spiders.
achickenformylove: (mdzs 27)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-06-15 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
WangJi was quiet for a moment. "I was trying to protect Wei Ying. He became an enemy in our world in his first life. I was one of the few who knew he was not the person the cultivation world claimed him to be. My brother sent elders of my sect to retrieve me before others discovered me there with Wei Ying and I, in turn, was disgraced. I fought with my own sect trying to protect Wei Ying. For that, I was punished. I was in too much pain most of the time to be with him when he was very young."

As much as he would have preferred to be with the child when he was younger, he wouldn't change what he had done to try and protect WuXian. Also, Sizhui had picked up XiChen's diplomatic nature.

"I see. It must have been difficult then if you had been close to your cousin."

[ooc: it's all good]
achickenformylove: (mdzs 1)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2020-06-15 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"What sculptures have you been working on? Fine detail is always the hardest, but it is that attention to detail that makes them very beautiful and unique to their artist."
tinkerheart: (are you sure)

[personal profile] tinkerheart 2020-06-15 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"The whole process was a little experimental and I uncovered it as a side-effect of a completely different area of study. My main goal was to tune two crystals so they can be paired and respond to each other.

I have noticed that when I removed one of them from the tuning apparatus but not the other the zinc rod that was part of it got thinner the longer I kept the single crystal in place and the steel one developed a thin but uniform layer of zinc on it. I already knew that zinc is resistant to damaging effect of sea water so the rest was just extrapolation."

It was a toy project that he got bored with very quickly so there was not much development after those initial attempts. Especially, that the crystal used in the process had to be retuned after each one.
irrationally: (you can really have no notion)

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-06-15 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Alice stares at Nerdanel. Do not bite the hand that feeds you, she thinks, having heard that often enough.

She still frowns, conflicted.

"I'm not so sure I of all people deserve it."
flatteries: (if there's a hole in your heart)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-06-15 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Thankfully for all of the things Inigo is easily ashamed of or embarrassed about, his boyfriend is so not on that list. He's proud of his boyfriend. Yeah, he got a great catch! No teasing can do anything to shake him up about that!

"I'll tell you some other time!" He dismissively waves a hand, a grin on his face despite Tidus' whistling. And teasing. "See you!"

And with that, he runs off.
flatteries: (i just started to deserve it)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-06-15 09:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Usually Inigo is really, really good at keeping everything close to his chest. But it's something about this particular topic that loosens up the gate he usually keeps all information about himself locked up behind. It's a good thing they're out a bit into the water and it's hard to pay attention to anyone when there's so much beach chaos fun going on..

"The lives of my family and the people I love are on the line back home! For all I know, they could be dying back there right now while I'm stuck here, playing on the beach!" A fact he very sincerely believes, considering he even looks like he's getting worked up at the very thought. "And I still wouldn't do it."
sensitiveapple: (happy)

[personal profile] sensitiveapple 2020-06-15 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
She wrinkles her nose. "I can't sing at all." She admits. "I can play, but that's about it."
sensitiveapple: (painted)

[personal profile] sensitiveapple 2020-06-15 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Misa frowns. "I hope we can do more than one. I'd hate to be able to escape and have to leave others behind." She explains. Misa is a kind person, always thinking more about others than about herself.
thebiggestguy: (pic#13249167)

[personal profile] thebiggestguy 2020-06-16 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
"It takes practice. Some people are born with it but everyone needs to learn how to use their voice, just like any other instrument." Even he'd managed a little, believe it or not!
badassfreakingoverlord: (disgruntled)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-16 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Great. You've got your moral high ground." Such as it was. Zetta didn't let that declaration move him so much as a hair's width. "Now can you really be sure everyone else feels that way?"
usestwohands: (pic#7159206)

[personal profile] usestwohands 2020-06-16 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
His expression darkens at the question. He could tell his new friend of his time as a slave, of the monster his father had become being used against him, of his time against the mindflayers and their Overmind, of the nearly 10 years he lost on the Underdark...but it all seemed so dour in the light.

"Sought a place where I could belong, more than anything."
dredefulchilde: (confused)

[personal profile] dredefulchilde 2020-06-16 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
Isekai?

Joscelin blinks. It's...

"You mean the anime genre?"

Why would a spider know about that?
dredefulchilde: (Default)

[personal profile] dredefulchilde 2020-06-16 03:07 am (UTC)(link)
"I..."

He's wearing sunscreen. And a shirt. And a hat. He should be protected, right?

"Misa, I-I need you to do something for me."

He reaches under his shirt and pulls out a large gold ring, set with a faintly glowing red stone. It hangs on a long chain around his neck. With slightly shaking hands, the boy unclasps the chain and hands it all to Misa.

"If I start to..." Burn up. "Seem injured, please get this ring around my finger as quickly as you can." He folds her fingers around the ring and, taking a deep, shaky breath, steps into the sunlight.

Nothing happens.

Joscelin feels his knees go weak with shock and relief. "I'm. I'm okay."