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.
badassfreakingoverlord: (damn)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-02 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Angrish. The sand beneath him might be turning to glass. But the book finally tipped back upright, wobbling slowly as Zetta tried to get it together.

"Damn," he finally growled. "And here I was the one trying to trick you!"
springforth: (pic#14044250)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-02 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
She reaches out, perhaps not far enough to touch him, but far enough to perk up the string of daisies looped around his head. Smooshing her gift is rude.

"Serves you right, doesn't it?"
Edited 2020-06-02 14:56 (UTC)
badassfreakingoverlord: (crap I'm a book)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-02 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Well it's not like he can help the whole book thing too much!

"No it doesn't! I'm a badass freaking Overlord. I don't deserve indignities like this!"

Yeah right, Zetta.

"I'll deceive you into going on a date with me yet, you know."
springforth: (243)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-02 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe don't fall for them then."

She sits up and begins the dusting off process.

"I wish you the best of luck. May the best being win."
badassfreakingoverlord: (badass and angry about it)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-02 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Zetta may be many things, all negative, but he hadn't lost sight of what started this in the first place.

"After all that you should at least agree to come play the damn game with me!"
springforth: (pic#13529948)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-02 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh--of course. I'd love to come play a game with you."

Her hands are clapped primly in her lap, eyes wide, lips turned up in a tiny smile, only the faintest bit smug.
badassfreakingoverlord: (smug sneer)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-02 03:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good. It's a date."

NOT GONNA LET HER WIN THAT EASILY.
springforth: (pic#14014183)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-02 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh please, you can't even wait a few hours to try that strategy?" Eyebrow raise. "No patience."
badassfreakingoverlord: (my point is made!)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-02 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ha, to the contrary! I started that strategy a while back. This is just me playing it to its logical conclusion, rather than abandoning it. What Overlord would retreat in the face of one mere setback on the field?"

Give Zetta this: he bounced back astoundingly quickly, whether from becoming a book or totally getting outmaneuvered by a girl.
springforth: (047)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-02 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Really? A long term strategy just to ask me on a date? I'm flattered. You can have just ask someone on a date. I don't get the need for all this tricking me into it thing."
badassfreakingoverlord: (crap I'm a book)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-02 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"What kind of a demon would I be if I just asked?" Honestly, Persephone, he thought you understood this sort of thing.
springforth: (281)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-02 11:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"The kind who would get more dates, I imagine. But I'm neither an expert on demons or dates." She's never been on a single date herself but she can fill in the blanks, right? She's daydreamed enough.
badassfreakingoverlord: (smug sneer)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Well we can fix both those things." Zetta grinned at her. "
springforth: (pic#14043315)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-03 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know how playing games will teach me anything about demons."

She can certainly play dumb with the best of them. Mostly, she's still deciding if she'll let him get away with not asking but deciding for her.
badassfreakingoverlord: (Standard Zetta)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 01:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Don't give me that, you're already learning just by being around me. So the more you're around me, the more you learn!" Ha ha, behold Zetta actually making a logical and cogent point! This is rare, Persephone should definitely remember this as a special moment.
springforth: (pic#14043315)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-03 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Fair, fair. Well, I certainly won't learn about dates when we go play because it clearly isn't one. I am positive you have to ask people to date you. That's part of the whole process."

She stands, bruising off the last bits of sand and stretching her arms high above her head.

"But we can have fun, you know, as friends."
badassfreakingoverlord: (thoughtful frown)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Hey. Hold on." Zetta scowled her way, thoughts slowly processing in that power-addled brain of his (that didn't actually exist any more). "Is this just the same thing again? Where you're trying to bait me into asking but really it'll just be a lot of side-stabs and hints till it happens without actually being said or anything?"
springforth: (082)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-03 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh. Something about the way he says it makes her stomach twist. Like she's being as manipulative as... Well. Some people she knows. Her light smile twists into a frown.

"I mean, I could have gone that way but it feels dirty. I mean, honestly, I'm not going on a date I get tricked into and I really don't want to have to trick someone into asking me." She pauses, "So I guess that was pretty honest but I was being awful about it."
badassfreakingoverlord: (Standard Zetta)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Pff, 'tricking'. Like if you didn't WANT to go on a date, you wouldn't just say no even if it wasn't exactly a question!" Persephone didn't exactly strike him as weak-willed, after all.

Of course, Zetta had already said that asking would be undemonic, so he couldn't go back on that! But though he might be an idiot, he was a clever tactician. "Check this out," Zetta said, then cleared his throat (or whatever passed for it). "I'd be a lucky guy if you agreed to a video game date!"

There. Not a question, but totally and openly open to refusal or agreement as she saw fit.
springforth: (pic#13529939)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-03 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Not to him, perhaps. He's easy to stand up to because she's not afraid of him. He's a book hitting on her, there's no presence to loom over her or get in her space. So he feels safe. She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest.

"You are awful and if I agree, this won't work ever again, for anything. If you want to do something else, you'll have to actually ask."
badassfreakingoverlord: (crap I'm a book)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
It's true. He might be a large book, but he was still very much a book.

"Uh, what if I do it unintentionally and not with the outright intent to skirt the actual asking of something? Like..." What's a good example. "If we're in the dining car and I say, 'I could go for some nachoes', that's an implied question of whether or not we should eat some nachoes..."
springforth: (005)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-03 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay two things," She thinks for a moment, the shakes her head, "No, three things. First, You know what I mean, but fine, mundane things like that are fine. Two, can you even eat? And lastly, um, what are nachoes?"
badassfreakingoverlord: (good guy zetta)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, I can eat, and how about I see if I can show you sometime? I might have to bribe someone who can actually cook and we have to find the timing on ingredients, but... if I can, I definitely want to introduce you to them!"

Look, he asked! Was that intentional or inadvertent?
springforth: (015)

[personal profile] springforth 2020-06-03 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Well who knew? The rules of how his book form works seems to be weirdly inconsistent but she's not going to bring that up.

"I'm always up for trying new things. I can help with any vegetable ingredients, if we need to." She tilts her head, "There's no meat right?"
badassfreakingoverlord: (sweat drop)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-06-03 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, comedy is a consistent rule!

"Doesn't have to be." Man, was he really trying to hit on a vegan? This might be bad for his cred too. "It's toppings on tortilla chips, so you have your cheese and beans, but also sour cream, guacamole, jalapenos if you like spice, so on."

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