The Endless River

[voidtreckermods]

On the morning of day twenty one of the month of Kazoo there is a message on the ICP screens around the train. Their SCA's will light up the colour of the Void and show the following information.

World #398050 is a void nexus known locally as Tshering. As a void nexus this world has strong links with the void and the connection through worlds. World #398050 is home to the Endless River. Legends speak of this river being powerful enough to send thoughts from one heart to another across any distance. All that is needed is for you to know who it is you wish to reach.

On-board

The dressing carriage is open, filled with clothing best suited to a pleasant spring day. Light, airy and in a rainbow of joyful colours and florals. One closet is entirely filled with wide-brimmed hats bedecked with ribbons, feathers and ornaments. A stack of picnic baskets and containers filled with an alarming variety of passenger-suitable foodstuffs and flasked drinks sits in one corner, next to rolls of thick, weatherproof blankets in the four team colours.

The large box marked Do Not Use Yet, filled with small, empty jute bags, is hopefully still sat in the Luggage carriage, ready for passengers to grab handfuls of its contents as directed by the announcement.

Upon landing (after an appropriate countdown), the train remains on the surface, its carriages partially curved to form a gathering site for the day. Welcome to Tshering, the eighth void nexus!



A Day for Picnics

Tshering, system #398050, is a strange place, only habitable by grace of the passengers' SCAs. The sky is shot through with colours, a cascade of sunsets, and through it, the void shimmering through it in seams like a child's painting of the milky way. Still, there's a beauty to the chaotic mash of colours that soaks through its landscape, and in the shelter of the forests of towering funghi that dot its surface, the Void can go unseen by its visitors.

The temperature seems mild, suitable for the provided clothing, and if there are weather patterns around the world they've taken the day off. The funghi are sturdy enough that what air flow there is doesn't disturb their stalks, and carved grooves and holds in some of the larger examples indicate that climbing them to sit atop their glowing crowns is eminently possible, and, in fact, encouraged.

the Endless River

The Endless River is a font of pure chaos, flowing from a multitude of small rivulets across the area to a central reservoir, from which it pours directly upwards, away from Tshering's surface and out of sight, beyond the world's atmosphere.

Anything bagged and placed within the Endless River will also flow upwards and soon be out of sight, passing, presumably, into the Void. Scattered across the surface of Tshering are small, glittering pebbles, as described in the announcement.

The stones are pleasantly cool to the touch, and all passengers need to do is feel. Messages can be in any form that the Voidtreckers wish. Perhaps words, perhaps feelings, perhaps an image from their mind into the stone. Perhaps a mixture. Once they begin their message the stone will glow slightly and continue to glow as they secure it in the bag and cast it into the river. They will feel, almost instinctively, that they need to focus as they do so, thinking of the person they wish to reach all the while.

There are plenty of bags and many more stones; passengers will not be limited in their sendings.

Comments

Trunks Brief (Future) |OTA

[light_of_willpower]

Dressing Carriage
Honestly, Trunks could've worn some of his own clothes he accumulated, but he was curious. Grabbing one of the picnic baskets and a blanket had been the easy part. He was...not the fashion savvy person in in his family. Best to keep it plain then. Eventually he settled, going for just blue jeans, a pale ivory-ish-pinkish tee-shirt, and a blue-button up shirt in case he got cold. (Unlikely, but you never know.)

Picnic
Trunks has set out a purple blanket near the others, and placed his basket down. Along with a (mostly empty) capsule storage-crate to use as a table. Before he eats, he wants to explore a bit. Say hi to people, and check out this place. From the ground and the sky.

A part of him does wish they'd have more than just a day here--this looks like a good place to train.

Endless River
Trunks has so many people he wants to talk to, that he's not sure where to start. With the revelation that they can send messages to dead people too... Well... You might find him fiddling with his bag of pebbles slightly away from the river while he thinks. Or you might find him throwing them in, one by one, with a serious and pensive look on his face.

Endless River

[ballseeker]

"Trunks!" Bulma calls out to him with a little wave, of course, thrilled as ever to see him. This place is a nice respite from the battle and constant mess of the last one, though sending messages to the dead is a bit solemn. She supposes it's fitting, considering they were just oddly involved in a war of sorts, but still. Seeing Trunks off to the side, looking deep in thought, she feels the urge to check up on him.

"This place is pretty nice, isn't it? Did you have a nice picnic?"

Danny Fenton | Danny Phantom

[schrodingersghost]

The Endless River:
Danny frowns down at the stone in his hand as he thinks aloud.

"I could say that I'm in another dimension and safe. No... they'd just think I was kidnapped by ghosts. And if I said I was in another dimension and ghosts were definitely not involved, they'd just think that that was what the ghosts wanted me to say."

[nutkrusher]

A young woman passing by manages to overhear Danny's musings.

"Would it help if I threw in a good word? Or would they just think I was one of them?"

[sos_pilot]

Exploring

[ Tall things = must climb. Della whistles, intrigued, and then begins hoisting herself up a particularly high stalk. When she feels eyes on her... ]

C'mon, let's hit the top! I bet things look amazing up there!

Endless River

[ What can she do? She has so much she wants to say, so many people she wants "talk" to... but they can't be here all day. This day is a gift, and she can't waste it. She closes her eyes, holding the pebble close to her heart... and then makes a choice.

Softly, she begins to sing. ]

Look to the stars, my darling baby boys,
Life is strange and vast,
Filled with wonders and joys,
Face each new sun with eyes clear and true,
Unafraid of the unknown,
Because I'll face it all with you...

[ She kisses the pebble, places it in the bag, and lightly tosses it into the river. ]

[myblueskies]

"I bet I can get to the top first miss Della!"

Della definitely seemed like the sort of grown up that wouldn't mind being challenged to a climbing race! She was very fun to be around and it was good to see that she was in better spirits today than the last time they had spoken on the ICPs!

pepper potts | mcu

[efficacy]

outside//

Pepper had wasted no time taking advantage of the dressing carriage in preparation, the dress she'd picked out still her customary black but brightened up with floral patterns. Despite the uneven ground, she forges on in her high heels, tottering just a little bit as she steps off the train before finding her balance again. The moment Pepper steps outside to take in these new surroundings, it becomes immediately obvious she's still a fresh-faced newbie taking in the whole concept of travelling through the void, from world to world.

Her eyes are wide and her mouth gapes open slightly as she stares at the sky, at the towering... mushrooms? as tall as trees, alien and strangely lovely, awash in their glowing colors. Glittering pebbles are strewn across the ground all over, reflecting the brighter shades of the myriad of sunsets above.

"Oh, my god. Just look at it all, have you ever seen...?" She trails off in her astonishment, exhaling a breathy little laugh of wonderment. "Beautiful, isn't it?"


the endless river//

The stream defying all laws of physics as Pepper knows them and pouring up into the skies is just as impressive as everything else on Tshering. She can't help but study it silently for several moments, simply watching. There's an odd feeling of somberness here that seems to demand a respectful approach. She's rubbing a thumb against an iridescent pebble in her hand, smooth and round like a worry token, but seems to lack one of those little bags. The only person she'd want to send a message to is already onboard the train with her, but still, she can't help but wonder...

Quietly, she asks whomever happens to be close just then, "Do you think that really works?"

[ ooc: brackets/actionspam welcome, too! also open to plotting out wildcard scenarios. ]

River

[worthallthis]

"Even if it doesn't," Soldat answers amiably but without looking up, "at least we tried. If there's even a chance, I think it's probably worth it to take that chance." They've already sent their two stone-messages along, and are currently simply folding little origami boats out of paper.

Pepper may recognize the face of a former WW2 hero in there somewhere, but the hair, the modern clothes, and the several years of age might throw it off, too.

[foxyou]

dressing

[If anyone expects Jiu to actually wear any of these light airy rainbow clothes, they've got another think coming; he can just illusion his uniform into a nice set of robes, anyway. The teen fox sifts through the closet out of curiosity more than anything else, before focusing on the picnic baskets instead. These are cool to take, right? Just gonna take a whole basket for himself, yes...and a flask and a blanket...nobody will mind if he takes a blue blanket instead of a purple one, right? Yes.]

picnic

[Having stashed his lunch atop a particularly tall mushroom, Jiu's next move is to climb back down and....frolic.

No really, he's changed into his tiny fox form and is currently running around like a cat with combined zoomies and cabin fever. Maybe he'll even try digging up the dirt at the base of one of these shrooms, for some reason that feels like a satisfying way to pass the time.

Once he's got that worked out of his system though, he does eventually park himself back atop that first picnic shroom, lying back contentedly on his blanket as he chews lazily on a sandwich. If anyone wants to intrude at this point, he's not in any mood complain (much).

river

[So these somehow work as messages home, huh...Jiu picks up a pebble, staring thoughtfully at it for a moment before he decides it doesn't hurt to try.]

Be good while I'm away.

[The words are surprisingly gentle considering how he's been his entire time here; he tucks the pebble into a bag and sets it afloat, watching it get swept away in the current, before picking up another rock, glaring at it like it's a particularly difficult problem on a final math test, and finally saying:] If you die I'm going to kill you.

[He then reaches for a bag, and....y'know what, no. He gets up and tosses the little stone out into the river, then starts sifting through the nearby rocks to find a larger, bumpier one and weigh it in his hand. There's a moment of angry concentration before he stuffs it unceremoniously into the abandoned pouch and. He tosses this too, actually.

With any luck maybe it'll land on the recipient's head.]

river

[happyends]

[ .. Madoka is kind of curious as to what he's doing.

Because she can see a lot of people over there, down by the river. Some people emotional, others contemplative. But there aren't a lot of people like Jiu, who are scrambling to look through the rocks only to pull out.. such a large one?!

At first she wants to stay back, to give him some privacy, but she can't help it. She's just too curious!! So after a few moments, she slowly and carefully approaches him. ]

Um.. why did you need a rock that big, if I may ask..? Did you have a big message..?

Merwen | OTA

[theimpatientone]

lighthearted: a picnic

Merwen has never seen a river. She actually wasn't quite sure what the announcement had meant, other than that it involved water that she wasn't advised to touch or drink, and that had her thinking uncertain things about what might be wrong with the water. The reality is far more pleasant. A river is a current without an ocean, she sees that now, and she likes the fungal forest and the brilliant sky, so even if she can't dip her toes in, she'll enjoy it.

She didn't come down wearing much, just a long, loose, flowery boho skirt and a button-up shirt worn unbuttoned, but she's comfortable enough to have taken the shirt off entirely. Merwen sits with her legs stretched out in front of her, her big webbed feet propped up on the picnic blanket as she goes through the basket. Sandwiches are not a familiar food to her, but they're pretty great.

She's quick to wave someone nearer. "Come, share with me."

somber: messages

Stones. The irony of sending messages in stones when all the people she wants to send messages to are on a world without it, well. These clearly aren't normal stones. With one clenched in her fist, she murmurs a letter.

"Usha, know that I'm still your lovesharer, even if I'm far from Shora, and you must think I'm at the bottom of the sea. I am on a strange journey, but you and our daughters are always first in my heart." Her voice catches a little. "Perhaps some day a current will carry me back to you."

picnic

[knifewithnoname]

She sees her roommate and waves happily at her, moving towards her. She likes Merwen, even if the woman is a little strange and she is never the type to turn away food.

"I do be thanking you." She grinned, looking around and up at the mushroom. "Did you ever be seeing anything like this?"

Probably not, but Merwen was purple and her world sounded weird so she had no idea.

Koumyou Sanzo | OTA | content warning for SAD DAD FEELINGS

[its_dad_sanzo]

xxxxx🌙 The Endless River

The priest has gathered as many stones that he has little bags for, and settles down into seiza at the bank of the river, far apart from anyone else doing the same.

And he just sits there for a while, thinking about his options.

The first several stones are easy. Variations of I'm sorry that you died. I'm sorry I did nothing but watch. I hope you reincarnated into something good, you deserved better.

There are tears streaming silently down Koumyou's face as he throws those little bags into the river. One for each of the first squad, and Tenkai Sanzo, and Goudai Sanzo.

Jikaku-sama, please look after my son as much as you can. He'll need the guidance that I'm not there to give him.

That one goes to his former mentor, still alive at the time of Koumyou's own death. The old man won't even find it weird to get a message like that from beyond the grave.

That leaves several pebbles and bags beside him on the river bank, and Koumyou gazes out across the not-water, remembering a very different, very real river. The one he'd waded into thirteen years ago, the one where he'd found a newborn infant, drowning.

The one where he'd found his son.

Koumyou picks up a pebble and shuts his eyes, streaming with enough tears that he can't see out of them properly anyway. He holds the pebble to his own forehead, head bowed so that his long bangs hide his face from any onlookers.

The whisper that comes out of him is tortured, shaking.

"I'm sorry, Kouryuu. Genjo. I'm sorry I didn't prepare you properly, I'm sorry I didn't teach you anything useful. I'm sorry I wasn't a better father to you, a better mentor. I'm sorry you had to see me die like that. I'm sorry that I failed you."

That stone is quickly full, so he blindly ties it into a bag, and reaches for another stone to hold it the same way.

"I miss you so much, and I would give anything to be able to help you now. I'm so proud of you, Genjo. You're everything I couldn't be, and I know you're strong enough to handle what's ahead of you. I know you are. But I still wish I could help."

That one fills up fast, too.

He seals it into a little bag, and reaches for another.

"I haven't reincarnated yet, but I want you to know that I'm in a good place. I've met someone who sees me just as clearly as you did, and... he even makes sure I eat, so you don't need to worry. I'm okay, other than missing you."

"It must be so strange... this time you're hearing my voice like this, instead of the other way around. You can shoot me if you can somehow find your way to me, Genjo."

Young Kouryuu had always told him that's what he'd do to someone if he started hearing them in his head! Though Koumyou knew he was bluffing.

"I want you to seek out high priest Jikaku. He was my mentor, both before I became a Sanzo and directly after. He can help you, like I should have."

"More than anything, I want you to be okay, and find happiness. Find it and hold onto it with all you have, and never let it go! I love you, Kouryuu. I always will. And no matter what you do with your life, know that I'm proud of you, and I always will be."

Koumyou's openly crying by the time he finishes with that stone, and closes it up in a bag. He makes a few more, now silent, clutching them to his heart one by one until they're full of his love for his son. If there are any other words imparted, he manages to do them in silence.

Only once they're all used up and bagged and tossed into the river, one by one, does Koumyou finally put his face into his hands, and weep.

xxxxx🌙 Wildcard

Koumyou can be encountered elsewhere on this stop, though his mood doesn't seem to be nearly as bubbly and silly as he usually acts.

SAD DAD CLUB

[yondu]

Yondu's always known Koumyou was a little braver than him. He is even now, breaking his own heart, throwing stones in a river, and he's sure that the Priest is getting his sentiments right. There's no way he would have done the same.

At least in a lot of ways, he got it. He'd even thought of throwing a stone to Kraglin, but he was too worried an edge of his bitterness would crawl in there. Ruin the whole thing.

Once it seems like Koumyou is done, Yondu comes over to sit beside of him 'cause he's gotta give him credit for manning up and doing what Yondu just couldn't. Though now at least he's thinking about it.

Bulma Briefs | Dragon Ball Super

[ballseeker]

DRESSING CARRAIGE

. Of course Bulma is always ready and willing for a bit of a shopping spree. After everything that had gone on with their last stop, it’s almost soothing to see something like beach or vacation clothes available for use. And, of course… these aren’t sweats so she is definitely going ham on picking out an outfit in which to lounge and picnic and genuinely.. take a moment to enjoy things.

Which means she of course picks out a busty sundress to wear along with a nice pair of large sunglasses to place over her eyes.

She doesn’t think to grab a sweater or anything, feeling a bit like they’re back on the island with her outfit and quite enjoying it. Next she begins grabbing a picnic blanket (orange, of course) and packing a basket…

Her basket may be near bursting but.. she has three saiyans to think of, okay?

BRIEFS STYLE PICNICS

.Bulma wouldn’t even think to try climbing a mushroom, but she will take to setting up a picnic underneath the shade provided by one of the caps, of course. She is a pale woman, and a sun burn wouldn’t be very good, so she’s looking to be better safe than sorry.

Passersby can find her lounged comfortably on her blanket, a few little snacks arranged for herself and a soda cracked to enjoy in the mild temperatures of Tshering.

“Hey! Enjoying the little break?”

ENDLESS RIVER

There isn’t really anyone that Bulma could choose to send a message to, the more she thinks about it. It wasn’t all that unusual for her to go long periods without seeing Goku – hell, he’d basically missed her entire pregnancy with Bulla – and her family was here with her. Not exactly the children at the ages she remembered them, but all the same, Bulla and Trunks were still Bulla and Trunks.

So Bulma can be found looking around, basically, quietly watching what others are doing, waving when she notices a familiar person. She won’t interrupt or be her usually loud self (for once) – but anyone is always free to approach of course.

Eventually Bulma decides that, maybe, she should send her versions of Trunks and Bulla something. So she will pluck two little stones down, one at a time, concentration etched on her face as she holds the little stones close to her heart with her eyes closed. There’s not really a verbal message, just… a lot of warm feelings and love from their mother before she sends them off. Maybe they won’t reach them at all but…

She feels better for having tried.

WILDCARD

.Obligatory wild card! If there’s anything I haven’t put up here that you would like to play, let’s play it!

PIcnic

[averyusefultray]

Sun's not an issue for anyone evolved to live on Ryloth. But that doesn't mean she's immune to the appeal of something like shade. "I'd almost forgotten what this sort of thing feels like."

She's been busy for the past... far too long.

Lan "Catji" Wangji | mdzs (crau) | ota

[azurebichen]

dressing carriage and picnic
Lan Wangji helps himself to dress up in colorful robes, mostly white and shades of blues. He forgoes the hat though, since no hat has holes for his cat ears, and the hat won't fit, but he wraps a ribbon around his head and ties up his hair in a ponytail. He cuts a hole in the pants for his tail, and then wears another layer of robes to cover himself up.

It's a lovely day as he collected his picnic baskets and laid it out on his spot of the forest where he will meditate to help him and youkai to settle while enjoying the cosmic scenery of the milky way and the sunsets of the planet's landscape while being surround by the quietness of the forest and fresh air.

the Endless River
Lan Wangji is busy meditating, putting his thoughts and his feelings into the stones. There are so many people he wants to send his messages to. His uncle, his brother, his husband even if he's a passenger, his son Sizhui and his friends, the rabbits, and the family of Lan disciples back home. To let them know he's all right and he sends them all his unbounding love.

A second bag is thrown to his youkai's original world, to send his thoughts and feelings to the spirits and youkais there.

Eventually, he ties his bag up and cast his stones to the river, and watches the river carrying his message down the path and into time and space.

Wildcard
For everything else! Feel free to meditate with him and his cat in the forest, eat a picnic, ask for wishes and thoughts for the stones by the Endless river, etc

river.

[fennu]

Jiang Cheng is uncomfortable with the notion of the river - he has been from the moment that he learned about what it does - but he can't deny how interested he is in it. There are knots in his stomach but he forces himself to wait until Lan Wangji is done before he approaches him, crossing his arms and trying not to glower.

"Did it work?"

[morganizedchaos]

I. An ounce of caution

- is something that at least one person on the train possesses. Powerful potential source of psychic damage that the train thought they should be warned about? Yeah, Ghost would rather avoid that. He can take good advice when it's given to him.

Accordingly, he's hovering fairly well back from the river itself. And anyone familiar (that is, people he's met before and relatively comfortable with) might get their attention grabbed with a - "Hey, can you grab me a couple of the rocks real quick? I'd prefer to avoid approaching the giant psychic hazard too close if I can."

Which is, y'know, a perfectly reasonable stance to take, all things considered.

On the other hand, anyone at all can spot him a little later on, flinging bagged rocks at the river from a safe distance, which is really farther than anyone should be able to throw. Telekinesis is damn useful for throwing small objects. Plop.

II. Is worth a pound of freedom

Once that sort of 'business' part of the trip is done, Ghost take the opportunity to get some distance from the rest of the train's passengers. To get some space, at least for the rest of the day. Accordingly, unless you actually see him leaving - yes, with a picnic basket, food's important - you might easily miss him the entire rest of the day unless you've gone exploring yourself. Ghost goes far out, by the standards of exploring, until there's not nearly so much pressure.

And there he lets go, for a little while. Lets humanity drop away, leaving an unsettling shadow in its wake. The Phantom is an only mostly humanoid inkblob if the ink was unsettlingly moving through the air. Even completely still, there's an almost nauseating sense of motion, not unlike that of the void above.

However, it's still pretty clear that this is one of the train's people, considering that one tendril-y arm is still wrapped around the handle of the picnic basket.

If Ghost senses anyone coming close, there's a slight warp of space as he returns to his human form (including plum short-sleeve-button-up and black jeans) fast as a blink, but, well. That still leaves plenty of room for questions if you saw the shadow void shape lurking on top of a mushroom distant from everyone else.

Wildcard

[[Got something else? Hit me, I'm good for whatever.]]

II. Is worth a pound of freedom

[zombiemessiah]

Murphy's just happily doing his tacky 'enjoying a picnic' thing when he looks up and, oh, look at that. What an impressive what the fuck he sees. But it's... it's familiar. He's seen that. What is that- where-

"Ghost?!"

He shouts up, because that's him. He's sure of it. Then looks back to the river to make sure that he's not like, right up on the barbed feeling thing to listen.

Okay, so, how did you even get up there?

Yurine/Shinjuku | Karas | OTA

[kabano]

Picnic
After the last mission, she can certainly understand why the humans on the train would need this. She's seen horrors before and it's her entire purpose to stop them, but them...she's supposed to exist so they don't have to.

There's not much she's good for now, but she can at least wander the picnic, bell on her collar ringing softly and just accepting any attention someone wants to give her.

That's supposed to help, right?

River
She stands at the river, looking out across it and staring at nothing in particular. There's no one she can think of to send a message to, which feels like it's supposed to be sad, but she...isn't sure if she cares. Karas is her entire world, and defending the City is her entire and only purpose. She doesn't make or need friends. She doesn't have a family. How is this supposed to be a comfort?

Is comfort even something she needs?

Picnic

[zombiemessiah]

It's been forever since Murphy's seen a cat. Not a zombie cat. Those happened by the way. As did zombie dogs. Zombie cows. Zombie goats. It was terrible.

His old friend Warren used to call zombies "puppies and kittens" whenever a herd was coming. She never told him why. He assumed it was a weird Roberta Warren thing. Sometimes, when they started lovingly following him, they did feel like puppies and kittens.

All this doesn't matter right now as he's high and there's a real cat near his foot. He reaches down and picks her up. "Oh, hi there kitty kitty." Oh, she's so soft. He holds her like a baby and scritches under her ear. Soft is even better when he's still high and surrounded by giant glowing mushrooms. This is the best feeling.

Yurine is about to be assaulted by noisy kisses between the ears by a contentedly pot-imbued man.

Futaba Sakura | OTA

[promiselisting]

Swamped

[ Mysterious enigmatic message from whoever brought them here tells her not to do something? Incredibly suspect. Incredibly suspect. Plus she's a navigator, how could she not go digging for whatever information she could?

So uh, the first thing she does once out the door? Summon Necronomicon, which might be something to notice by itself for some folks. And then she has Necronomicon do what it does - a scan of the area. It's already... a lot as-is, but then there's... that's gotta be the chaos... river thing. The one they were told not to examine.

Even in just her basic scan, it's almost blinding. Enough to give her a bit of pause, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and she wasn't going to give up that easily. Still, she reaches out tentatively, just trying to get a closer look and-

Anyone outside will hear her yelp. Will see Necronomicon vanish and Futaba to fall unceremoniously to the ground. Hard, but thankfully she wasn't floating very high up yet.

She doesn't immediately react to the fall though, holding her head and groaning in pain. It'll take a few moments before she's really even aware of her surroundings again.

Okay. Maybe she should have listened to the stupid train on this one. ]

Explorations

[ It is, admittedly, nice to stretch her legs. Once the worst of the overload the chaos river gave her subsides at least. She likes the train! She likes small cramped spaces to curl up in. She's stayed cooped up in her tiny room, which was probably less than twenty square feet, for months. But she has gotten used to being able to go out and about. The way the wind feels, the sun on her skin.

The whole traveling around, turning up in new places thing... that part at least was familiar. She does her best to kind of... lose herself in that mindset. It's a lot easier said than done, but the fact that she's able to change out of that stupid jumpsuit into something a lot more comfy is a big help.

She can be found cautiously exploring around the landmass, using her feet since her Persona senses are kind of messed up still from the chaos river thing. Or maybe sprawled out under one of the mushroom tree things looking up at the sky - not climbing, no way. That's way too much physical activity for this nerd.

Or maybe if you're sitting with one of the picnic baskets, she'll approach slowly with the dry, dead voice of someone in a desert dying of thirst. ]

There wouldn't happen to be any ramen in that thing, would there?

[ She's seen there seems to be a bigger variety of food than normal... C'mon she's dying here without her staple food. And without Joker or Sojiro's cooking. ]


Her messages must go, their people need them

[ Despite her earlier experiences, she does spend some time down near the edge of the river, watching it cautiously. Squinting a little at the bright colors, and rubbing her forehead. Headache still a bit there... ugh. And yet, palming some of the pebbles in her hand, she knows automatically what she ought to do... ]

It kind of feels like a cognition thing. But this isn't the Metaverse, so...

[ It's a mumble half to herself. There's clearly some commonalities, and she wants to poke at them, figure them out. Maybe it'd help figure out a way home.

Speaking of a way home... it couldn't hurt not to try, could it? There are definitely some people she'd want to send messages to. Joker. Sojiro. They might not even know she's gone based on Ann not mentioning her ever going missing. But if they did...

Not too long after, as she's watching a bagged rock float up... Futaba is suddenly struck by how bizarre it all looks, how surreal it all feels. Even by cognitive standards. Futaba gives them a parting yell. One she'd debated putting in the rock messages themselves, but not being entirely sure. And ultimately forgoing it for more important information. ]

ALSO ISEKAIS ARE REAL!

[ Yup! Apparently!!! ]

Her messages must go, their people need them

[sciencegirl]

"Hi Futaba!"

'Hi So-and-So' must be like a warning system for some people to leave the room. Entrapta's just glad to see someone she recognizes, if barely, as she fills her event-gifted overalls pocket with stones from the river's side.

"This is great! I hope you're having fun, too. This river is very fascinating. Painful. But fascinating."

She beams, clasping her hands in front of her as her hair picks up another stone.

Patricia Tannis | Borderlands | OTA

[sirentologist]

If there is anything Tannis loves more than breathing, it is science. And this place is certainly holding all of her interest at the moment. There are several moments of her running around the area after she first disembarks the train without changing out of her standard orange-team uniform and poking around at the various mushrooms with perhaps overly-excited "ooo what's that?" coming from her every few minutes when she finds something particularly intriguing.

Eventually she makes it to the river and pokes at it a couple of times (ow) she turns to leave. There is absolutely no one she has any desire to communicate with and Lilith--

--Lilith.

She immediately turns around and grabs a fistful of the pebbles and begins the...odd...process of recording messages, one by one, several times, directed at any place she can think of where Lilith might be.

She doesn't even consider that she may not be getting an answer.

Adam Parrish | OTA

[forleaving]

Picnics

With an orange blanket tucked under one arm and a picnic basket slung over the other, Adam picked out what was, to him, the perfect spot underneath a large mushroom. Spreading out the blanket, he set the basket on top of it and opened it up. He pulled out a sandwich and a drink before looking up and catching someone's eye.

"I've got enough for two people if you'd like to join me," he said amiably.

Shrooms

He'd never climbed trees as a child, or even as a teenager, but he figured it was never too late to do some climbing. Even if these weren't trees at all and instead were giant mushrooms. He was slightly out of breath by the time he made it to the top, but the view was worth it.

Carefully sitting down, he looked at his surroundings, then up at the sky in little glances, not sure if it was safe to look at for a long period of time.

The Endless River

Adam had a small collection of stones next to him, along with a matching number of bags, and held the first stone close in his hand, eyes closed.

"I don't say it enough, but I love you. I love you more than anything. I'm sorry you're going through all...that...alone. I'll be home as soon as I can. I got you a Christmas present in case you came back, but you haven't, so I'm hoping you're alright." He hesitated a moment, then added, "I promise I'll be home eventually. Stay safe."

Then he tenderly placed the stone into a bag and moved on to the next.

"Take care of Ronan for me; he's in over his head. Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. He listens to you. He needs you. I can't explain why I'm not there, but I'll be home when I can be. Take care of yourself, too. I miss you."

Again, he bagged the stone before moving on.

"Keep an eye on Gansey and Ronan, okay? You're strong and smart; don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Whatever's thrown at you, you can handle it. Stay safe. There's a lot going on in the world."

And then the last one-

"Stay safe. Help Ronan. I love you."

Taking a deep breath, he brushed tears away from his eyes and prepared to set the last bagged stone into the river. He could only hope these all actually reached the people they were supposed to, and that they made any sense. Hope was all he had at this point.

River

[helborn]

Casper doesn't mean to listen in, his senses are just sharp. He does his best to tune out whatever it is Adam is doing before going over to him once it seems like he's finished and sitting down. He doesn't say anything yet, just sits to try to be a comforting presence.

Selenay | Heralds of Valdemar | OTA

[herarrows]

Selenay has a whole slew of messages she needs to send--to her Court, to her advisors... She's still Queen, dammit, and she has a responsibility to at least inform people that she's alive somewhere, but unable to return. Spend their effort elsewhere, Valdemar needs them right now, and she'll be fine on her own.

Talia is first, she'll be able to untangle the complex burst of emotion and memory that Selenay directs to her. The Queen's Own is an Empath, after all, and while she misses her friend, she's needed in Valdemar.

Next she goes down the list of her advisors. Each of them gets a brief message simply to let them know to forget about trying to find her--they never will, and there are more important things for them to worry about right now. She's safe enough, but unlocatable. She briefly considers sending one to Ancar, but changes her mind. She will not give that monster the pleasure of a warning.

She saves one for last, and hesitates as she holds the stone in her hand and stares at the water.

Elspeth.

What does she even begin to say? There's not nearly enough time for all of it. Eventually, she settles on just letting the girl know how proud of her she is, how much she loves her, and how sorry she is that she's been thrust into a role she was not at all finished being prepared for. Selenay is crying at the end of it and she either doesn't notice or doesn't care as she sends the message away and just watches after it, staring at where it used to be and hoping that this whole thing isn't just a lie.

[yondu]

Yondu didn't send one to Peter.

It wasn't a lack of pride; he's disgustingly proud of how that boy turned out. He's proud of his good heart and the fact he don't give up. He's proud he's got people that love him and are willin' to commit to him in a way that he lost so long ago. He's even glad Rocket isn't going to make the mistakes Yondu himself made.

But he also doesn't want to ruin that clear, concise, important parting note.

So he's got a pocket full of little bags with no place to send them. He's got a heart brimming over with shit that no one wants to hear. The only outgoing thoughts he's managed are outgoing ones of hate, for parents that he's never had a chance to berate before.

This river is breaking people, and he doesn't know Selenay, but he knows what that sob means. A whole lifetime worth of some kinda missed chances.

He walks up to her side and offers the bags in his pocket. "Make sure ya get ever'thin' said. I don't think no one will judge."

Devero (OC) || standing cw for substance use w/ him today

[subcircuits]

i. Fashion of the future
Having the dressing car open is always a treat, and Devero has been going through the clothes with evidence of enjoyment. He's got a smile on his face and he's humming sporadically to himself and if he's a little more subdued than usual, well, is it that noticeable? (To the people who know him well? Yes.)

He tries and discards all manner of slacks and shorts, loose tees and boldly patterned button-downs, nothing quite seeming to work for him. Okay, then, change of tack-- when he next steps out, he's wearing a cheerfully blue cropped tank and skater skirt under a draping, light sweater with bright, bold stripes.

"Oh yes," he says, looking at himself in a mirror. "This'll do."

Now it's time to find a hat!

ii. How high, fun guy?
Another thing about Devero that only people who know him well will have noticed? He's been kind of hard to find lately. He's not as present around the train; less likely to pop up right when you need a hand, not often seen doing chores, spending a lot of time in the luggage carriage...

He's alone today, too, having wandered away from the main press of passengers. Not too far, not actively trying to get lost, just. Away. From the bustle and the noise and too many people in too small a place.

He climbs the first mushroom he finds that looks sturdy enough to support him; seated on the spongy cap, he takes a slim wooden box out of the picnic basket he brought up with him. Opening it up, he wastes no time rolling himself a fat herb cigarette.

Find him just after that first hit, trembling a little as he exhales the smoke? Follow the savory scent, like a cigar but greener, to the base of a mushroom with fresh divots dug into the yielding flesh of the stalk? Spot him stretched out on the cap, smiling distantly as he stares up into the Void-shot sky?

iii. Yelling into the void || cw: for dev's abuse backstory || close CR only please
Eventually, he stands at the edge of the Endless River. He bounces a glimmering pebble once, twice in his hand, before closing his fist around it. He raises that fist to his lips and speaks against it-- not loudly, but not whispering either.

"I trusted you. I loved you, and I trusted you, and I did everything you asked me to do, no matter how it made me feel, just because it was you who asked. I can't even remember when you stopped asking and started to give me orders instead. I just put my head down and did what you wanted-- because you told me I had to, because you told me it was all I was good for, because you told me you'd turn me out if I didn't."

He moves his fist from his lips to his forehead, digging in with his knuckles, expression twisting.

"And you know what? I believed you. I believed every fucking thing you ever said to me about how worthless and disappointing I was. I still believe you! I don't know how not to believe you!"

His voice is getting rough, his pounding heart moving up into his throat. The pebble in his hand feels-- full, all storage space used up, but he keeps going anyway.

"There are people here who think I'm worth something, and they care enough to try and tell me, and because of you, I can't believe them! Because you-- you fucked me up! You used me and you warped me and you br-broke me and you hurt me, and I-- I don't understand why! Why me?"

There are tears standing out in his eyes as he drops the fist and the stone inside it to his heart. "I'm not coming back. I never want to see you again. And if I ever have to--"

But here's where he falters, because despite the bravado of his words, despite the growing clarity in his heart that his friends on the train have inculcated in him, he's still afraid of her.

With a convulsive motion of his arm, he flings the stone into the river. It hits the surface, skips once, and then sinks. He turns away, breathing heavy and hard, and digs into the pockets of his skirt. His hands shake as he pulls out another cigarette, freshly rolled, and attempts to light it.

Yelling into the void.

[light_of_willpower]

Maybe it was that Trunks had noticed Devero had been to hard to find. Maybe it was because he'd noticed the other had been just a bit...off. Less exuberant maybe. Either way, he'd sought the other out.

Then stayed quiet when he found him by the river, heard him speaking quietly to it. Quiet when the other threw the pebble in the river. And hoped he wasn't intruding, when Devero turns around.

One hand reaching up to the back of his neck, sheepish grin on his face. "Sorry...I...uh, don't mean to intrude, Dev."

Siebren | OTA

[namethattune]

1. Through the Desert of Truth

Siebren started taking note of the passengers who display in inclination towards science not long after he'd initially boarded the train; by this point, he has something of a mental list of passengers with scientific interests. After the announcement, he goes looking for them; whether he finds one alone or several at once, the warning is the same. "You heard the announcement. I trust the train's warnings will be heeded once we arrive."

The look on his face says he is not taking no for an answer.

2. To the River So Deep

Siebren arrives at the banks of the river with only two bags, only two pebbles in his palm. He wouldn't have initially bothered - he has little to say to his current coworkers, and it would have been difficult if not impossible to keep a newly formed undercurrent of mistrust out of the message itself - but then someone had mentioned sending messages to the past, and...well.

It should not be possible, but...if they can traverse dimensions by way of the void, then why not the fourth dimension?

He does not speak aloud, though those who can read lips may be able to see what he is saying. The first pebble goes to Annelise, vibrant and passionate as he last remembers her, telling her that he loves her still and misses her and will remember her always. The second goes to Dr. Winston - no, Harold as he so insisted - and is two minutes of fond reminiscing, and gratitude, and a promise to remember him as well. Each pebble is bagged, strings tightly tied, and gently tossed into the river - his powers would make for a gentler descent, but they knew him before such a time. This feels right.

He is quiet, unmoving, for several minutes after, simply watching the river until someone approaches. His voice is pensive when he does speak. "Do you think this will work?"

He is a scientist. Some things are difficult to take on faith alone.

3. Now I'm Tired and I Don't Want To Walk Anymore

Siebren has imparted his messages, such as they are, and he turns to other pursuits. They have been sent here to relax, after all, and after the events of the month so far, he intends to take full advantage of it.

Find him laying out a blanket and setting out a rather impressive spread on it, comprised of foods he recognizes and some he doesn't (because surely the train would not have provided anything unsafe), waving an invitation to join him on this culinary adventure; join him under or atop some of the larger fungi to simply relax and watch the sky; or let him help you in your quest to climb the fungi forests, for what are gravity powers for if not to hurl one's teammates fifteen feet into the air in a swift but controlled ascent?

He's having a good day.

4. Something So Undefined

[Wildcard! Hit me up at kiaxet to plot things!]

shroom climb...

[blue_ice]

Seto's usual bold exploration has given way to more methodical searching. He trusts Eva when she says she has his back, that so many others do as well, but it's not an easy thing.

Naturally, his quest for a spot to rest after sending his messages leads him to one of the taller fungi, where Siebren sits. Looks like someone's had quite a variety of snacks.

"Anything as good as stroopwafel?" he asks.

Thanatos | Hades

[controlsthedie]

On-Board

With the bright sunshine outside, Thanatos needs to take some precautions because he plans to be out as much as possible in order to send as many messages as he can. Luckily the dressing carriage has decided to help, and somehow Thanatos has found a large black hat that's reminiscent of his older brother and a lightweight black poncho complete with Mort pocket. (Chthonic gods and their gloom doom aesthetics...)

He leaves the dressing carriage without taking a picnic basket, but he does take a handful of the tiny bags. They won't be Hermes. However, Thanatos will not miss this chance to send a message home. He must.

Picnic: sorta

Shades on and now better protected from the sun (he hopes), Thanatos takes to floating around and just looking.... There's so much color like all the gems underneath the earth had been polished and brought out for all to see. The mushrooms are so amazingly tall. Mort peeks out from his pocket and offers soft squeaks to other passengers (Voidtreckers?) they pass. Thanatos looks for a good location to compose and send his messages, but he'll still stop and sit with people for a bit when prompted.

Endless River: sending messages home, another Thanatos, and... maybe...?

He stands at the edge of the river, holding the stone up to his lips as he tries to pour his message into it. Then it's into the bag and into the river.

The first messages he sends go to Lord Hades, Nyx, Charon, Hermes, and Ares. He's been taken against his will into Void. He's sorry that his disappearance has caused death to stop again, but he will make things right somehow. In the meantime, don't let the world fall into ruin any more than it has. Not again. Please, give someone else his domain if it must be done. Thanatos is so sorry.

The second batch of messages aren't reports. He's more emotional, unguarded. His mother receives a second message, more apologies for not being able to do something, for getting caught again, for abandoning his duty, for going against his nature, and not being as independent as a child of Nyx should be. For feeling like such a godling.

Hypnos gets a heartfelt wish to connect with him like brothers should, that Thanatos misses his twin, that he's sorry for everything and wishes him well. Megaera gets a short apology for creating her more work due to his absence. She wouldn't want much more.

Zagreus is sent a mixed message because Thanatos believes he's both at home and on the train in a later point in time. His message is also an apology for trapping him, for stopping his quest to see his mother, for leaving when they were rebuilding their friendship and for not saying goodbye first. He never wanted to hurt him. Please don't hate him. There may also be confused feelings about what Thanatos feels towards Zagreus thanks to multiple people's meddling. (He did not mean to put that in there.)

A message goes to the Thanatos from Persephone's world. Thanatos pours so many warnings about Sisyphus, the danger he poses, and what could happen. He... may have unintentionally given that Thanatos two full minutes of trauma.... Oops.

And then Thanatos is left with a single bag. He takes a seat at the edge of the water. Thanatos doesn't know if this would even work. Thanatos doesn't have a name, appearance, location... He has nothing but an absence, the knowledge of something, someone missing, a painful desire to meet them, to help them however he can because their world is so wrong.

So Thanatos first floods the stone of his memory of spring and what he felt then: awe, realization, feeling incomplete, yearning, devotion and hopes that identifies the recipient enough. "If Life and Death are one and the same, are you out there? Somewhere? Life? The counterpart to me, Death? I'm Thanatos. I want to meet you. If that's all right? Please exist."

After all the messages, Thanatos feels exhausted. He's felt way too many emotions lately, and he's drained in ways he's still getting used to. That said, there's a beat, a pull in his chest, something that tells him his messages got through. Some stronger than others. Thanatos sits, watching the waters, feeling heavy but also lighter at the same time.

Wildcard: Choose your own adventure

sorta picnic

[irrationally]

Alice definitely finds Thanatos before he arrives at the river. But it's not the man that draws her attention, oh no. It's definitely his cute little squeaky friend that he's got with him. Alice recognizes Mort from before, even just with his head peeking out, and Alice immediately stops in her tracks and instead heads in Thanatos' direction..

.. only to ignore the guy entirely and only say hi to Mort.

Look, she's got priorities.

"Hi there."

Lapis Lazuli | Steven Universe (CRAU)

[oceantier]

A. About to take a swim? - The notice that the river's water has the power to carry things to other worlds has made her heart lift, flutter in desperation. The warning is scarcely heeded. It's water; it's been freedom and sanctuary for her, and she's always been able to bend it as she needs.

It can carry her where she needs to go now. She has to find a way.

Still, she's somewhat cautious, approaching the edge, watching the rush of the river as it sweeps between its banks. It's water . . . and yet somehow, it doesn't quite feel like what she knows. She lifts a curl of it from the mass experimentally, hovering it over her palm.

How quickly it vanishes, evaporating into the air, is not encouraging.

Touching isn't any better. A graze of her fingers across the surface sends pain lancing through her arm; she yanks away with a small yelp, shaking her hand.

This is wrong.

And yet.

It might be her only way back.

She stares again along the sweep of the water, weighing, measuring . . .

And then backs up a few steps as though she intends to take a running leap before she can second guess any further.

B. Lapful of thoughts - Perched at the edge of the bank, Lapis sits with her skirt spread over her knees, her lap piled with a small multitude of colorful stones. There's one cupped in her hands, but her hands themselves are loose, cradling the stone in her palms. The small weight of it feels somehow leaden, enormous.

It's empty; she's imparted nothing to it. She stares out at the rush of the water.

Her shoulders dip.

A--about to take a swim

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks had good timing for once. "Wait!" He called, as soon as he'd spotted the blue-lady who's freaked out on the platform. At the edge of the river, and looking like she was about to jump in. "Don't do it!" Running, sprinting to her--reaching out a hand to try and grab her arm in case she does try to jump.

Zelda | OTA

[wisdominshadows]

Tshering

"Oh," Zelda gasps as she steps out, enthralled by the shift of lights even as the sun beats down on her head. That's not hard to fix; she conjures a simple violetwrap to pull over her head and her white sundress, then goes off to get the best view she can of the environment.

Probably unsurprisingly, the one she finds is atop a mushroom. Come watch her sweep up her skirts to scramble up it properly, or wave hello as you're walking by later.

The Endless River

The first few are easy: to Ruto, Darunia, Rauru, Nabooru. I have been delayed, she tells them, snatched up on a journey between worlds, with no clear way back. But by the White Goddess, I swear I will find my way back to Hyrule.... She sends more to Impa: You are the only mother I have ever known, and in this strange place I hold your memory and teachings all the dearer. No matter where this journey takes me, I will do my utmost to make you proud and to see you again.

Some more, to a few who have departed. Nita: I do not have your nose for a mystery, but I will try to do what I can. And I will look after Clef and your sister, should they let me. Nerdanel: Did you find your children? I have prayed every day since your departure that you did. After a moment's hesitation, Gerome: I hope you found your mother again, in the end.

She has, perhaps, two others to consider. Link is on the train now, though perhaps his past self would appreciate....hmmm. She will have to think on it more. But the last?

The last stone she cups in her hand, turning it over and over while she thinks of what to say. Is she angry? Ashamed? Grieving? All of the above, perhaps, one emotion bleeding into another, as they have done for years and may do for years more. So much she hasn't settled with a dead man.

A breath. Two. Well, this is her one chance.

Hello, Father. Do you remember me still?

tshering

[sos_pilot]

Della's not one to merely wave and walk on. With a grin, she begins climbing upward, intending to join her friend.

"Wow, you got the best view right away, didn't you?"

Ryo | OTA

[fivemilesdeep]

1. Endless River

After his collapse at the platform, Ryo had given up on the idea of any contact with home - he'd had to, to try to keep himself steady. So when the train had informed them that they'd be able to send messages home, even if it was a one-way connection, he'd needed a moment to steady himself against the wave of emotion that washed over him. He can't hear from them, but he can at least reach out, and that is so much more than he thought he'd have.

He spends a considerable amount of time looking at the ground, hunting for the perfect pebbles: deep blue; hunter green; a rich, earthen brown; purple shot through with gold; and a fiery orange-red that danced in the light. He then takes them to the river, standing at the shore and staring out across the waters. He's quiet for a few moments, thinking, before he starts sending messages, speaking quietly into the stones.

To his uncle: I'm...I'm alright. I'm safe. I can't say where, but...I have friends here, and they're taking care of me. I hope you're okay...please take care of yourself. Thank you for everything. I love you.

To Ryoga: I miss you. I miss you so much. Please be safe. Please, please be safe. I...if you're looking, you won't be able to find me right now. I'm okay. I made it out. I...I made friends. I'm alright. Just...stay safe, okay? I love you, and I'll see you again - I promise.

To Keita: I'm sorry I'm not there with them. I didn't choose to leave, but I'll come back as soon as I can. I'm safe here, and I'm using what you taught me. Just...take care of them, okay? Until I get back. Please. And...thank you.

To Endon, and then to Orion: I- I'm okay. I can't tell you where I am, but I promise you I'm alright. I'm safe. I...I made friends here. It's not the same - it'll never be the same - but...they know, and they're taking care of me. I'll come back when I can, but I don't know when that will be. If it takes too long...find another healer. Stay safe, and stay alive - I know where to find you when I get back, but I need you to be alive when I do. So please, please take care of yourselves. It's...I'm okay. I'll be okay, thanks to you. So just...just...be safe.

The stones are bagged and gently tossed into the river, where they drift away on the current. He watches them go, silent. He tries not to cry, but if he wipes the occasional tear from his eye...well. This may have been welcome, but it was still a lot to handle.

(It's only later, when he hears someone else talking about sending messages into the past, that he returns with another bag and another pebble, pure white and opalescent in the light. He stands in silence, holding the pebble tightly up near his chest, struggling to find words and eventually giving in to emotions, imbuing the stone with longing, and grief, and hope. It's only just before the stone fills that he finds something to say. "I'm sorry I never got to meet you, but...I'm doing okay. I love you." He slips the pebble into its bag, ties it tightly, and sets it afloat. Maybe the message will reach his mother; maybe it won't. He has no way of knowing, and he will need to make his peace with that.)

2. Picnic

Once he manages to steady himself, Ryo is determined to enjoy the day. It's a break from everything that's been going on, and gods know he's needed that. He's dressed in loose linens in light colors, borrowed from the train, and has laid out a blanket under one of the larger mushrooms. For the moment, his basket stays closed; instead, he sits in the middle of his blanket and closes his eyes, breathing steady and even. The wind picks up around him, a bit too insistent to be a natural breeze, and he weaves it easily through the fungi around him. His healing magic is always present and near-always needed, but it's much harder to work with the wind in an enclosed space, and he could use the practice.

Later, he opens his basket and spreads out a good amount of food, more than he himself could eat. It's an invitation, and he waves people over to join him for food or tea. If it's someone he knows particularly well, he'll be insistent they join - he's got something stowed out of sight in his basket to share with the people he's become close to.

3. Wildcard

[Want something different? Write your own or plot with me at Kiaxet!]

1

[myblueskies]

"Hi Elfnein! I hope you can hear me. This is a bit strange. I hope you are okay wherever you ended up. I'm okay. Mister Zetta named me and when we manage to know how to go places on our own we are going to come and find you. I promise.

I miss you lots."

The stone went in the bag and the bag in the water and he watches it float away. He's aware of the boy nearby, speaking his own message, to someone he never met...

He is quiet for a long time, because he seems very sad but then he approaches.

"That was a really important message, wasn't it sir?"

Willow Amarina | OC | OTA (will match style)

[runicfeathers]

(Will match prose as well)

Picnic fun
[Willow's got herself spread out on a large blue blanket on her stomach in a cute dress with a pale pink set of shorts under it and sandals set to the side, grinning ear to ear as she gives Nova a few chin scratches now and again. She's got plenty of food spread out as well, more than willing to share.]

Please, do sit down and share with me, I have more than enough to spare.

Endless River
[She stands by the riverbank, looking at it solemnly with many thoughts on her mind. Could this place really reach others with their messages, and if so would they really know it was her and not some phantom beast whispering terrible thoughts instead? Her hands tremble, but she steadies herself as she kneels down.]

Oh Rivaersa and the lands beyond, hear my plea and let them hear me. Let the lost ones hear my prayer that they find peace in your warm embrace, and know that I am sorry for not being there in time to save them when they needed me.

Let this reach Nita and tell her she is missed and still loved, and never forgotten. Webmind too, and all others who have left.

[She breathes deep at her next thoughts, the heartache and homesickness hitting her like an unstoppable boulder rolling down a hill. It tugs at her chest as some tears slip out. She misses her home, her family, and most of all the woman whose arms she was ripped from moments before arrival on the platform. She inhales shakily before clutching the pebble tightly.]

Lythie my dearest moon, forgive me for leaving you... I am so sorry, I did not wish to leave your side. I pray you are well with Kyren, Sage, Mother, and Father; and that you do not hate me for leaving so suddenly. [She breathes deep again, a smile appearing now as she continues.] But I wish for you all to know that I, too, have been well. The people I've met, they've been wonderful and good to me, and you would not believe the places I have seen! Wonders upon wonders, and many people, people we have helped! Please, be well and know that I miss you every day.

[Her eyes are lit up, flickering like soft flames through her tears. The words, while pained, feel much better to be let out rather than kept in this whole time.]

Picnic

[helborn]

[Casper's decided to be brave and is wearing a light blue shirt along with khaki shorts. It reveals his prosthetic leg, the ivory-colored metal broken up by the carved runes on it. He sits down next to Willow, smiling.]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[Bob flutters over and lands on Casper's other knee, staring at Nova.]

How have you been doing?

[helborn]

Dressing Up

Casper flicks through the available clothes, trying to decide what to wear. He holds up a dark blue shirt against himself... no. Too dark. Light blue? That's too blue-green. He frowns and huffs, grabbing one shirt or another and turning to the person near him to ask for advice. "Does this go with khaki shorts?"

Help.


Flying High

Outfit picked, Casper and Bob take to the sky, both boy and bird flapping around on black wings. He doesn't go too high for fear of accidentally leaving some kind of 'safe zone'. It's nice to catch the breeze and stretch out, though he does land on some of the fungi occasionally. He does try to aim for ones that aren't in use, but occasionally he misjudges his speed and has to stop short so he doesn't knock someone off of it.

... Though sometimes he does anyway, and feels very bad about it.


Snack Break

Wings away, Casper sits in the shade of a fungus and takes a little break. He's got some food in a small basket, and also some nuts for Bob to snack on. He's not all that hungry right now, though he's got a purple blanket spread out while he feeds Bob. He smiles at anyone approaching who seems like they might be open to hanging out.

"There's room for you here."

His khaki shorts reveal that half of one of his legs is prosthetic, the metal of it ivory-colored with runes carved into it.

Endless River

Casper sits by the river for a good while, sending out a bunch of messages before he pauses. Maybe he can send them to the dead? He's not sure. He wants to try.

'I'm so sorry. You got caught up in something terrible, and I know I can't be forgiven. I hope you're at peace.' Three rocks float up the river in bags, and he hopes the family he hurt so badly will get them.

He turns his attention to more alive recipients, in one way or another. He takes some deep breaths before he starts, and then speaks to the stones before letting them go.

He's not sure if it'll get there, given that it's a concept rather than a person, but he pictures the Norns anyway as best he can. 'Please let this go well. This is a strange way to get to where I need to go, and I won't follow just because someone says so... but if you could nudge things in a good direction I'd appreciate it.' He tucks some of his thread into the bag as he lets it go, feeling conflicted... but it's gone to where it's going to go.

'I'll do what's right and find my own way. I will help defeat the Titans, but I will do it with people I trust for them, not on your behalf.' He's almost afraid to send that, his mother's half-skeletal appearance burnt into his mind, but he does it anyway.

A note he's even more afraid to send he thinks about for a bit before he eventually does. 'You're a monster. You never cared for me. Just because you raised me doesn't mean you loved me. One day you'll face judgement for your sins. You can run if you want. I'm not afraid of you anymore.' That's not entirely true, but the fear of his father is no longer so paralyzing that he can't stand up to him.

There's one last note he has to send. He picks the darkest rock he can find, shot through with red. 'I'm stronger than I was. Run with Hermes' speed all you like, but no god of thieves will hide you. I'll find you eventually. I have a debt to collect.' He ties up that rock and chucks it into the river rather than gently tosses it, watching it float away.

Masumi Sera | OTA

[tactlesstantei]

1. Picnic

[Masumi is delighted to have time off the train that isn't a mission, so she's managed to find a pale yellow shirt and blue pants to wear while on the planet and has set up a blanket with basket under one of the giant mushrooms. However, you can't have a picnic alone, so if she sees someone without a basket of their own she'll wave them over to join her.]

It's always nice to have a break, huh?

2. The River

[Later, she makes her way to the river, her mood now more downcast as she considers the opportunity to send out messages to her loved ones. Eventually, she picks up a pebble and focuses on it, quietly thinking of what to tell her mother about what happened.]

...I'm alright, Mama. I'm sorry I vanished when I did, and I can't come back yet, but I'm fine.

[Masumi goes silent here, concentrating on the other part of her message to her mom, the part she can’t say out loud with everyone nearby. Even if she can’t be home, she can still help where she can.

She really hopes this works, her family deserves to know that she's alright.]

3. The River, but Sadder

[Masumi almost thinks it might not be worth it, but in the end she can’t help but send a message out to Shuuichi. It feels like the right thing to do as she picks up a pebble and cradles it in her hands, barely considering her words before they come out in a not quite perfectly thought out message.]

...I miss you, Shuu-nii. I...thank you. For everything.

[She’s holding back tears as she bags the pebble.]

Kitty Pryde | OTA

[goingthroughaphase]

Picnic

[ Kitty can't help looking around as she spreads out a blanket on the ground. ]

...I'm having a hard time deciding if this place is really ugly or really pretty.

[ As she places down the picnic basket down on the blanket, she looks up at the mushrooms. ]

...So do you think those are the kind you can bounce on?

Endless River

[ Sitting at the edge of the river bank, Kitty has two small piles on either side of her; one pile of the pebbles, and one pile of the jute bags. Picking up one of the pebbles, she makes a silent wish on it, then places it in the bag after it begins to glow.

Placing the bag into the river, she watches it float away for a moment. Then with a soft sigh, she picks up another pebble to start again. ]

endless river

[icedamericano]

Is this a solo endeavor or would you mind some company?

[ Armed with a handful of pebbles and an equal number of bags, Steve hovers a few feet away. His expression is equal parts thoughtful and respectful. If Kitty wants privacy, he can find another spot to do his own sending. ]