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.
irrationally: (you can really have no notion)

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-08-02 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Honestly, Duo doesn't seem bothered by the situation at all. Sure, he's pouting, but since he's already cheerfully laughing again a moment later, it makes the pout seem a lot less genuinely upset.

But despite his reaction, Alice looks lost for words for a moment. By the time the girl actually speaks up, there's something very genuinely guilty in her gaze when she looks up from the sand to meet Duo's eyes.

"Duo, I'm.. I'm sorry."

Usually Alice wouldn't bother to apologize, but this is different. She likes Duo! And the last thing she wants is for him to think of her as someone irredeemably and unpredictably violent like most people do.
maxwellsdaemon: (The brightest)

[personal profile] maxwellsdaemon 2020-08-04 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Duo reached over, stretched out his hand and gently touched the backs of one of Alice's with his fingertips.

"Hey, it's not like you killed my castle on purpose. It was an accident. You're 100% forgive for an accident!" He smiled for her, a wide, honest smile. Was he disappointed? Sure, who wouldn't be? But if anyone knew that shit happened, it was Duo. You moved on, didn't dwell, because life was too damn short! And it was just a bucket! Nothing to get emotional over.

"C'mon, Alice. We were having fun. Don't let an accident ruin that!"
irrationally: (you can really have no notion)

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-08-05 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
To be fair, it's probably looking pretty ridiculous for her to get so upset over something so simple as a bucket breaking. Especially when said bucket doesn't even belong to them, and they will most likely never see it again in their lives after they leave this place and get back on the train.

But to Alice it just feels like a very real example of her constant failures staring her right in the face. And despite that, Duo is smiling. Sure, if she's learned anything by now it's that Duo smiles pretty much always, but it's still odd to her that anyone would forgive her so easily for her violent tendencies. Even if that person is Duo, the person who might be able to understand them better than anyone else on the train.

".. You're sure it's fine?"

It feels silly, being this insecure about it, but Alice just can't help it. The words leave her mouth before she can even really consider them.
maxwellsdaemon: (Default)

[personal profile] maxwellsdaemon 2020-08-10 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure I'm sure!" Duo insisted with a wide smile. He patted her hand before pulling his back and then he leaned back, dropping his hands behind him in the sand, and tipped his head back to look up at the sky. His braid hung in the sand, but he didn't seem to care.

"Just remember this for next time we get a beach holiday! You owe me a bucket!" He tipped his head and winked over at Alice to show he was teasing. Mostly. If there was ever a next time he would be sure to drag her off to make sandcastles again. He would just avoid using her teapot next time!
diamondsfortears: (76)

[personal profile] diamondsfortears 2020-08-11 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course!" It comes out a little more strongly than he meant to. "But Kuro always tells me I'm too young for anything!"

Daia happily takes the roll and chomps into it; it taste so good with all its different flavours. Man, he wishes he could eat people food all the time.

"A piece of fruit? How does it get bright and big, then?"

He wonders a little if this is like the mythologies of his world; lots of different cultures, even more cultures than Daia could ever hope to know, had their creation myths. But maybe Glorfindel's world is different? He certainly won't know unless he asks, and he hopes Glorfindel can tolerate a potentially endless list of curiosities.

"Hobbits sound nice. I'd like to meet one." A beat as his brain catches up. "Do you think they'd be scared of me?"

laurefindil: (Smile)

[personal profile] laurefindil 2020-08-11 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
Glorfindel laughed. "Sounds like something an older sibling or friend would say to keep someone out of trouble."

He watched happily while the other ate the roll he'd made. "If you'd like another, I have more."

"The Valar, Varda, took the fruit and turned it into light," he said, remembering that day as clear as if it were yesterday.

"They are very nice, actually. And they really aren't scared of very much, so I doubt it," Glorfindel assured him. "Especially if you feed them," he added with a laugh.
mtsilver_conquor: (Umm I didn't do it)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-17 10:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"And he's person-shaped..."

If she's a bit dubious, it's because she is and her brain is breaking, just slightly, with this. "It's just... well. It's strange to hear of a person described like a literal force of nature."
mtsilver_conquor: (Rivals can be a pain in the arse.)

want to start wrapping this up?

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-17 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"And now you sound like my dad."

It's completely deadpan with a sour look and while there's not yet, bite to her words... "Thank you for the hat, yet I don't need a lecture on sun safety."
sell_tickets: (Friends With The Black)

Sure! TY for the thread

[personal profile] sell_tickets 2020-08-18 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Well maybe you should listen to him," he said, unaware he sounded so much like Shira in that moment.
marriedanidiot: (wisdom)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-08-18 05:23 am (UTC)(link)
"When he's dealing with us, yes! Easier, you see. His Lady though, Kementari usually remembers to be people-shaped when she's talking to us, but not always. I suppose being the Earth Queen she has the care of so many types of 'people' that it's not easy for her to remember to be one particular type!"
mtsilver_conquor: (I can be mature)

It was a good one. These two are interesting CR at least!

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-19 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
The sour look only deepens and now, there's a hint of bite and resentment in her voice.

She knows he means well, yet at the same time- "I wasn't being kind with that remark."

She loves her dad yet he can be a pain.

"Thank you for the hat, but I'm sure there's other ladies in need of one, too."
mtsilver_conquor: (2)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-19 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"It makes sense though, if she can shapeshift and has more than use elves to talk to," There's a grin on her lips though, as if despite the brain break going on, it's also amusing to think of a god as forgetting to be people shaped when dealing with people.

That said, she probably shouldn't ask this, but people... humanoid at least. "How many... How many types of people are there in your world?"
marriedanidiot: (Default)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-08-19 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, of the Eruhini, there are Elves, Men, Dwarves and Hobbits - we are called the Children of the One, for only the One had a hand in our creation. Some also call us the Free Peoples. Then, there are the ainur - the Holy Ones, the powers of the world. Of them, the Valar are the Great amongst them - there are seven lords, and seven ladies, and one who is Fallen - and the Maiar are those of lesser power who are allied to them. After them are those special folk - the Tree herders, and the spirits of the earth and trees and waters, and... last of all, are those creations of the Enemy, those beings he has warped and twisted to his own use, slaved to his will. The orcs and trolls, the dragons, the balrogs, the werewolves and vampires... some were us, before. Others.... fallen maiar, perhaps. No one truly knows."
sell_tickets: (Mischief?)

I will miss them.

[personal profile] sell_tickets 2020-08-20 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
"How you chose to say it and how I chose to take it are not necessarily the same thing. And I am sure there are," he said settling in beside her more. "Ask me how many of them are friends, however."
mtsilver_conquor: (Laughter)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-20 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
"That's a lot of races to share a world with," Eva says with a nod. It sounds strange and alien, but at the same time, they are people and there is so much she could ask about in reguards to what Dwarves and Hobbits are. What the One is-

Yet... "Tree herders?"

She needs to know about that, first, because of course she does. Everything else can wait.
mtsilver_conquor: (Travel time)

Wrap?

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-20 12:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yet," Eva says with an incredibly sour and displeased glare at him, and while she doesn't like being Blunt... "Being a friend does not mean inviting yourself to be someone's company without asking. Had you done so I might have said yes."

She would have. Because she does like him as a friend. Yet there's certain liberties she feels he's taking and while it's nothing she can pinpoint, and probably everything to do with culture... The end result is this.

And it's better to remove herself from the situation before it escalates than lose her tempter at someone who doesn't know.

"That said, enjoy the beach. Legends only know when we'll get this again."

And with that said, she stands and gathers her things up and heads off, both to find another spot for her belongings and to go cool off before she does something she'll regret.
marriedanidiot: (wisdom)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-08-20 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
She smiles. "I suppose that is true! But I have never been to Middle-earth, where most of them dwell. Valinor is fairly confined to Elves and the Ainur, for the most part. It is, after all the home of the Ainur!"

Nerdanel shrugs. "Well, I've never met them! But they are in young Master Bilbo and Master Frodo's book - apparently they call themselves Ents, and they are the Lady Yavanna's creations, the Guardians and Protectors of the Woods. The Shepherds of the Trees, the Sindar call them."
sell_tickets: (That Rare Non-Smile)

Sure! TY for the thread

[personal profile] sell_tickets 2020-08-20 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
He frowned, watching her leave, wondering what the **** he had done wrong...
mtsilver_conquor: (Leaves of fire)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-08-21 09:16 am (UTC)(link)
"They sound like people I'd love to meet," Eva says, eyes wide with wonder and awe and an imagination that's firing on all cylinders.

"Meet and talk to. They likely have so many tales to tell about the forests and jungles and the creatures that live within, to say nothing of the plants contained within-"

Dear train: please stop off at Arda so she can meet the Ents and have a very long, very animated discussion with them. Thank you.
marriedanidiot: (wisdom)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-08-21 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Nerdanel laughs.

"Well, by all accounts, you might find yourself talking for ... far longer than you expected. Entish is a ... very ponderous language."
diamondsfortears: (nope)

[personal profile] diamondsfortears 2020-08-25 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
As if to pout more, Daia folds his arms and puffs his cheeks.

"He is not my brother. Or my friend."

He's his Hunter; he'll never forget that.

Daia politely declines another with a smile. "But thank you. It was delicious~"

"How did they turn it into light?" still listening intently to the story.

Daia laughs too at the feeding of hobbits.

"I'll have to remember that if I should get the chance to meet one. I want to be friends with one."
laurefindil: (Green)

[personal profile] laurefindil 2020-08-25 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
Glorfindel nodded slowly. "There is so much we just don't know. But every month seems to bring more information, at least?" He laughed. "Who knows what the future will bring, right?"

"It's almost like we are being slowly fed the information...maybe so we don't freak out?"
laurefindil: (Green)

[personal profile] laurefindil 2020-08-25 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
"You don't think hard work is it's own reward?" Glorfindel asked with a smile.
laurefindil: (Green)

[personal profile] laurefindil 2020-08-25 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Glorfindel nodded. "That makes sense then." He laughed a little. "It does make a huge difference if only one side has magic."
Edited 2020-08-25 03:22 (UTC)
laurefindil: (Green)

[personal profile] laurefindil 2020-08-25 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
Glorfindel considered this for a moment. Then another. "How exactly did you come to compare them to animals, if your world doesn't have any?" he asked.

"If they are the non-sapient creatures of your world, what you use for beasts of burden, food, travel, working the farms, etc, then, aren't they animals?"

"On my world, some animals are more tied to the Song, and do tend to be more intelligent. Some that could be considered animals by some, are actually sapient, like the Giant Eagles, in fact."

"I would love to hear more, however," he said with a smile.