Event: Healing Waters

[voidtreckermods]

"Good morning passengers, it is day twenty three of the month of Grasshopper. All passengers of the Voidtrecker Express require rest. Next stop Jema’grethy Island. All passengers prepare to disembark."

It is a very strange morning message that rings through the train on the morning of day twenty three but as the passengers of the Voidtrecker Express wake their screens glow with the colour of the void and a holographic screen pops up for them to read.

World #2554098133741: A world once inhabited by an ancient civilisation and now preserved as a historical site, nature reserve and well-being retreat. It is famous for its relaxing hot springs, calming atmosphere and beautiful beaches.

It is a popular void-traveller destination, particularly among void missionaries as a place to rest and recuperate after difficult missions.

The Voidtrecker Express will spend three days here, arriving today and leaving on day twenty six of the month of Grasshopper. The dressing carriage is open for your convenience.

It is time for a holiday it seems!

Preparation

For those who go to explore the dressing carriage they will find a variety of beachwear and wetsuits. One cupboard has a pile of tents and groundsheets in all four team colours.

One cabinet is exclusively filled with beach towels, in a kaleidoscope of colours, designs and patterns. Another is filled with different shapes and sizes of plain towel dressing gowns. There is even a cabinet with buckets, spades and small rock-pooling nets.

It seems they are in for quite an adventure.

Arrival

"Shortly arriving on World #2554098133741. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train lurches and rattles as it leaves the void they will get a glimpse of silver-purple sky and a beautiful ocean below.

However some passengers might be a little more than distracted, one staring at that table for a second too long, another seeming lost in thought for a couple of seconds, a longer than normal pause in a sentence. They see a vision, a glimpse of a life that is not their own. Not all at once, but here and there as the train descends to the island.

But then it is gone and things are back to normal. Just in time, as they come to land.

Jema’grethy Island

The train has landed on a grassy ridge, overlooking a beautiful beach of white sand and the ocean beyond. It is warm, but not too hot, a cool ocean breeze cutting through the heat making it pleasant. Behind them is a grassy plain, changing to forest in the distance. There is the sound of birdsong in the purple sky. To the west the land is more craggy, the silhouette of a fortress in the distance. In a word, it is idylic. A sense of peace permeates the island.

A little more worrying is the volcano-like structure in the north. But even a quick glance will show it is not a typical volcano. There is no smoke and the liquid slowly running down it in rivulets is pink and blue.

Exploring the passengers will find beautiful beaches, ragged cliffs to walk and caves to explore. Where it is more craggy the beaches are made of pebbles- perfect for rock pooling.

The place has no people, but it is clearly maintained. The eastern beaches have racks of shallow boats, both canoes and one- or two-person sailing dinghies. There is also a small building in which scuba gear is stored, along with several waterproofed manuals and instructional literature.

Ruins of ancient houses are scattered across the island, but the main settlement is built into a rocky section in the north-west that has been secured with ropes and stairways cut into the cliffs, perfect for scrambles and hikes.

There are no living quarters, but there are sheltered sections with basic toilet facilities marked as camping grounds in five different sections of the island - by the hot springs, within the ruined fortress, beside the harbour, on the eastern beaches, and on the northern face of the mountain.

Hot Springs

To the west are the hot springs. They have both outdoor and indoor areas; the indoor areas being wooden loghouse saunas, changing rooms and storage sheds, whilst the outdoor areas are a tiered series of pools spilling down the side of the mountain and shaded by brightly flowering trees. The waters are hot, mineral-rich and soothing.

Perfect for overly stressed, world weary Void heroes...

(OOC: More setting information is here, please feel free to go wild with the setting and have a fun and relaxing time. You can use this post as a catch all for your holiday or make your own posts on middleofsomewhere. More information about how the memory event is structured is here!)

Comments

Ai Haibara | OTA

[deage]

Prep

A vacation hotspot wasn't exactly what Haibara had expected. She'd been to many beaches, hot springs, camping trips, and more back home, but always with the other kids. On one hand, it would be nice to not have to deal with them dragging her around. On the other, without that, she was clueless as to what to do.

She gathered up some supplies she thought she might use. Towels, a swimsuit, a collection of books.

She took a while at the Dressing Car picking out her swimsuit - she might be a kid, but that didn't mean she was unfashionable. She eventually settles on a black one-piece... well, there actually wasn't much in her size, so it couldn't be helped. "Just because I'm the only one my size doesn't mean I shouldn't have more to pick from," she grumbles.

She also took a bit at the self-proclaimed library, aka the one bookshelf without a huge variety of reading materials. She grumbles about the lack of choice there as well before pulling out some books and calling it a day.

Arrival

After that, she was simply waiting in the Standard Car. She has a book open - a physics book of some sort - and is reading through it at a leisurely pace.

Which is where she experiences a... dream, like a memory of something absolutely fantastical. While it's going on, her eyes unfocus, and stop moving over the text in front of her. Soon enough she seems to come back into herself, shaking her head.

What was that?

Beach

Here, Haibara is simply lounging on a towel, a book open. She's not being dragged along on a treasure hunt, there's no dead bodies nearby (yet,) so she can just... relax.

It's weird.

"This feels too peaceful," she comments idly, a little pessimistically, "something is BOUND to happen. Maybe we should be preparing for that." She frowns.

Somebody tell her to cheer up and actually relax.

[deductiongeek]

Conan was sitting on another towel nearby with his own stack of books. He was on his second reread of the last set of books he'd acquired from the train store.

And still very out of sorts from the earlier adventure with Princess.

"Don't borrow trouble. I'm sure the disasters will get here soon enough."

[deage]

"Wanting to be prepared for the upcoming 'disasters' is just good sense." She sighs. "Although if we don't know what form it's going to take, preparing will be difficult."

[deductiongeek]

He nods at his bag.

"I brought all the equipment I could collect, just in case. But until something happens, there isn't much we can do to prepare."

[deage]

"If something dangerous does happen, I doubt Mouri-san will ever leave us alone again." Just throwing that out there.

Honestly, Haibara was impressed Ran wasn't there right now with them.

Prep

[adropofsunlight]

"I agree. I think you should have more choice. I would make something but... I don't think we have fabric that the swimsuits are made out of." or she would try otherwise. Though she has never actually made a swimsuit before.

[deage]

Hello, teenage girl. Haibara hasn't seen this person, at least beyond passing she doesn't think. She's very pretty, and her hair is kind of reminiscent of Haibara's own.... hm. Well, that was just a coincidence, obviously.

Haibara sighs dramatically, picking up the black one-piece in her size. "Don't bother, that would be a lot of work for something I'd only get to wear for one trip. Thanks for the thought, though."

Maybe it would be worth it if they were going to be doing these stops after every mission, but she somehow doubted that was the case.

[adropofsunlight]

She frowned for a brief moment. It was true they would only get to wear them for the one trip, Rapunzel still would have liked to regardless. Maybe next time she thought in her own head.

"It would have been fine really. I did enjoy making my own clothes when I was at home. but I guess you are right about the fact they will only be here for this trip. Though considering this wasn't the first time we've had swimwear it makes me wonder why it won't let us keep them."

[deage]

Hmm. So they've had swimwear before? Haibara wasn't here for that. But she supposes that a number of places they could potentially visit would have water of some sort, so it makes sense.

"Maybe if we all suggest the train to get a pool, we can have access to swimwear on a longer basis." She wouldn't mind having another activity to keep herself from being bored, even if she wasn't much of a swimmer. Still, that was hugely hypothetical.

Prep

[mtsilver_conquor]

"You can always complain in the train feedback," Eva offers helpfully with a small shrug. "Though I don't know if it'll listen, or you'll end up with too much choice next time."

[deage]

Haibara starts a bit on seeing Eva. After last time, well...

She schools her expression though, putting on a small smile. "How often does the train provide us with new outfits? I can't see it coming up too often."

[mtsilver_conquor]

Eva offers a bright grin to go with her shrug. "Missions are generally the most consistent time we get a change of clothes, even if we don't keep them. Outside that, you can spend points to either get and keep things from home or ask the train to give you something."

There's also the parties, but when then, they don't get to keep the clothes.

[deage]

Mmm, true, she can get clothes with 'points.' She did read up on that, and browse the 'shop' options.

"I'm not sure a swimsuit or anything mission-related would spending points on. Not enough usage out of them."

Also, she's spending points for a lab coat first.

Beach

[laurefindil]

"Cheer up, relax," Glorfindel said. He was wearing a lovely Yukata, with bare feet, and was enjoying the feel of the wind off the water.

"If something happens, we'll deal with it. Until then, we take it at face value," he advised, grinning down at her.

[deage]

Relax? Please define that word, and use it in a sentence... that does not involve Haibara, because she does not do it.

"That sounds like a fantastic way to be caught off guard," she replies with a deadpan tone.

[laurefindil]

Without looking, Glorfindel reached up and behind him and caught a leaf floating in the wind towards them. "But, I am never off guard," he said with a gentle smile. Five thousand years of dealing with constant threat of orcs will do that to you.

beach

[happyends]

On the one hand, it's so weird to see such a small child being so pessimistic about this beautiful vacation spot.

On the other hand, Madoka does remember the conversation she had with this girl a while ago.. And in that light it feels a lot less surprising to hear it. Madoka does remember her seeming way too mature for her age, maybe this is just part of that.

".. You don't think it could just really be peaceful?" She asks her.

[deage]

Hmm. How to phrase this.

"I don't know. People had some weird dreams right before we stopped here. That sounds like it could be trouble to me."

She knows she and Kudo had that, at least. She was extrapolating a bit here, testing the waters to see if somebody else may have experienced something similar.

Well, even if not, it was still true at least, even if it was only Haibara and Kudo-kun.

[happyends]

"Weird dreams..?"

For a moment Madoka seems confused, since she hadn't really thought of the strange scene she had suddenly seen as a dream. But as she slowly thinks about it, she realises what the other girl is refering to.

"Oh.. right. I saw something odd too.." Except Madoka has a slightly better idea of what it could have been, since-- "I actually saw some people who are on the train as well in it."

prep

[pleple]

"Mm. I've got a few options, at least..." She can mostly fit Madoka-sized clothes, for example. Still, she's not sure what looks good, or what's appropriate - she's just packed up what little non-beach clothing she has, which doesn't mean much.

"What is... stylish for your standards anyways?"

[deage]

Well, she certainly had more options than Haibara did, at any rate. Not that that was saying much.

Still, if she's being asked for style advice, well. Haibara liked to consider herself fashionable.

"The most basic advice is to find something that works for your body type. Know what you can call attention to and what you can't." Haibara is that good advice for a kid? No, but she continues regardless. "Beyond that, most people look for something with a unique cut or shape to it. Something to stand out from the rest."

[pleple]

That is very detailed advice coming from a child Haibara's age - which Ple Two is both aware of, and not all that concerned about given what she could instruct people on. She nodded thoughtfully, following along.

Her body type. ...well she was thin and fit but not necessarily a rod either. "Is it simply a matter of experimenting... to determine what best fits my body then?"

beach;

[sunbloom]

If anyone tells her to stop worrying, it won't be this girl, purple hoodie over her swimsuit, hair dripping. "Maybe, but if you force yourself to be on high alert all the time, you'll burn out and miss things. I've been there before. Let the rest of us help, at least a little." She pauses, before she lets out a breath and frowns just a little. "Ah, but on that subject - I wanted to apologize. I think I was a little too hard on you before, and regardless of whatever else she said, Ran-san reminded me you are just a girl, no matter my other concerns. Sorry."

[deage]

Ah.... right. Hm.

"Yes, well, in the end I ended up going on the last mission anyway." Despite everything Haibara had said. "So you ended up being right about me, in a way. Even if only because I had wanted to see the lab."

[sunbloom]

She takes that fact in and... hmm. "I'm not exactly happy about being right, though. You were right then - we shouldn't have to. I want to, but that's not the same thing." A brief hesitation. "You didn't get hurt, did you?" Itsuki's set of injuries was very minor, and aside from a couple small scars, she's no worse for wear after it.