Let's Get Down to Business

[voidtreckermods]

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Let's Get Down to Business

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On day twenty two of the month of Llama a message comes up on the ICP's.

Voidtreckers have many questions about what happened on system #93426194992 and the entity that was encountered. Analysis shows that the entity on system #93426194992 was also present on systems #86525656412355 and #2207385.

Though it is not known what that entity is, it is clear that it possesses some level of mind influence and complex illusionary magic.

There is a void nexus on system #62138 inhabited by a religious order that, due to their close proximity to the void, employ mental techniques to help with such illusions.

We will be visiting system #62138 for three Days. The Voidtrecker express will remain with the Voidtreckers during this time and due to the nature of the void nexus it is highly advisable to sleep on board.

System #62138 is a wet world. All Voidtreckers will be safe but are advised to keep their SCAs on at all times. This should be the standard on all systems.

THE VOID NEXUS
From the windows of the Voidtrecker Express, passengers see the Void Nexus as a vast island surrounded by darkness, punctuated with rivets of colours running through the sky that casts a glow of blues and violets as they descend closer to the surface. The world faintly blurs the way one’s sight does when sinking into the depths of an ocean, the train manoeuvring around tall rocks that rise like digitates, a sea-green hue deepening over the rocky land outside.

The train doors open from each carriage, and luckily it’s not a flood that welcomes them but clammy air cool to the skin. They come out to a section of land sparse of more than tunicate-like plants under their feet, pools of silvery water otherwise sunk between small pathways that lead like bridges forward.

Which is likely their destination, a vast coral-like structure with a high opening awaiting them - and as they get closer, a being far taller than any of the Voidtrecker themselves.

ARRIVAL

They are met by a tall robed figure. First glance will show them to be a deep purple in colour with a domed head and long tentacles sprouting from their chin that sway slightly when they move. Still they nod deeply and their mouth moves into a shape that could be interpreted as a smile.

"Welcome to those of the VoidTrecker Express. Your arrival was foretold and we have awaited you. Please accept our hospitality."

They lead them onwards, explaining that outsiders are always welcome here but ask them to remain within the public parts of the temple. They further explain that their order is for the most part a silent one. There is no restriction on the voices of guests but they should not be insulted if the members of the order do not answer.

Once a small tour has been conducted the Voidtreckers are left to their own devices to train or explore as they see fit.


IT'S A TRAINING MONTAGE
Going through to the back of the temple will lead them outside once more, the gentle sound of falling water greeting them at what seems to be a distance. But yet - faint as it is to see, glistening in translucent silvers and pinks - the water is quite near and wide, spilling from the high mountain cliff that borders in an otherwise enclosed space. The pool takes up a large portion of this garden, of coral reef and circled stone pathways where every step must be considered, unless you’d like a surprise trip and dip.

Fortunately, the silver water here is light. Submerging yourself in it or sitting under its flow, you won’t find the hard rush of its weight over your heads and shoulders, and the same weightlessness follows you going under. You find that you can breathe and when you come away from the lake, your body and clothes are lightly damp at most.

Still, there is plenty of ground to walk along without going over the pool. However, the first steps of learning mental fortitude against illusionary obstacles will take you into...

[ MEDITATION. ] To combat irrationalities is to iron your own reactions to them. You are instructed to sit where you find it comfortable: those unused to mental training should keep to the shoreline, while the more intermediate may find taking the stone steps out to large limpet-shaped shells - sizeable to fit 3-4 people each - a better challenge. Those more daring should sit under the waterfall or to go into the water’s depths, where you at least don’t need to worry about breathing, or even getting that wet.

To get wet isn’t the purpose, fortunately. The purpose comes the moment you close your eyes - for as soon as you do, you feel. You sense. Some other, some thing, a presence your mind decides must be there. This sensation is lighter by the shore, but sitting above the water or submerging yourself inside it brings it stronger against you. In truth there is nothing there, no one but the other Voidtreckers, but the spell of the water - or is it the void within the water? - makes your brain think otherwise, logic not welcome company.

Being in groups can help ease the effects through the SCAs, but otherwise, true control comes down to yourself. Breaks are recommended, as there’s no point wearing down an already exhausted mind. Your mind is your defence. Strengthen it. Wield it as a weapon.

[ Combat. ]

Though not exactly what they are here for Voidtreckers will notice that this order of void worshipers train in a form of martial arts. They train outside, using the watery air as part of their movement. Training is done in large group sessions and without weapons. It has a strong focus of listening to the world around them and fighting in a way that makes them one with the world, using the environment to their advantage.

Even though that might not seem the most useful to people who won't be fighting in an environment such as this world, it is at least a good form of exercise.

Any voidtrecker who is curious is welcome to join in the training and those that show especial interest can take more specific lessons aimed at beginners.


TRAVELLING THE NEXUS
[ OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE. ] While the lake and surrounding temple will help to strengthen one’s mental defences with perseverance and training, there is more that can be done away from the temple, and the island is free to be explored. The Voidtrecker Express is stationed where it dropped everyone off, and returning to it will offer everyone a mental relief regardless of the levels of their ongoing training.

The marshland continues beyond the train, one route mostly made by the natural stone pillars that rise up from the ground like stalagmites. Higher cliffs can be climbed by those who wish to, if just for a higher view, curiosity, or privacy. From wherever you look, this island gives off the same impression as most of it already has: sea-like.

[ PLANTS. ] Underfoot, there is not earth-like grass or flowers, but seagrass, kelp, algae and more. They grow along the stone, idly waving as if submerged in water and pushed by unseen waves. Strange blue plants with purple-tipped tendrils will wiggle if touched, while at the higher levels, small bulbs of some kind cluster around the size of a fist. Types of plankton make the gnats of this nexus, too tiny most of the time to be noticed as more than dots to the eyes.

[ CREATURES. ] Also, don’t forget the fish. As tiny as a pinky finger, as big as a hand, the size of a human; they swim through the air, not particularly caring for the Voidtreckers, but also not looking to engage with them. The larger of the fish travel higher than the smaller, and those as big as whales farther up than even the taller cliffs can reach. For those that have any ideas of hunting, they will know - mysteriously, as if recalling the thought - that they should go for the larger fish, and not harm the younger, smaller ones. Those are tastier, after all.


[ STONE FOREST. ] Travel low or high, the way will take them to what appears to be a forest that spans across a large portion of the central island. But as the rest of the nexus is, this is no ordinary, woody land. Its trees are stone, coral, rising high and jagged, the water in the atmosphere denser in this jungle of rock. It turns the world a sea-green to move through, with plants and coral everywhere to be seen. The air denser, thicker, leaving small droplets of water on skin and clothes.

There are no real paths than the spaces between the ‘trees’, but there are guides to find your way to somewhere: pink jellyfish, or something of the sort floating around. They are the shiri as the monks call them, and looking upon them will tell you they will help you find where you need to go, that they will aid you if you get lost and think of them. And for those whose thoughts lean such a way, they will know that harming them will bring a greater injury to the individual who does so tenfold, and they will find no guidance at all on this nexus until they have repented.

Read: Enjoy being stuck on the train for the rest of the stay.

[ CONCH LAKE. ] For those less destructive, a short travel through the stone forest will lead them to a lake, with what can only be described as a conch shell gazebo accessible in its centre. Bubbles float up and around, balls of water made to linger by whatever strange force controls this place. They can be made to bounce away and around with a touch, and respond to being thrown as a ball might. Just, watch out: They like to burst at random, no matter the force used, scattering as tiny beads all over the air.

The water here is different from that around the temple, its colour more blue, but closer to aqua than what many are used to. Yet diving into it will have the similar properties that allows one to hold their breath for much longer than usual, and to move with an ease, like floating weightlessly. There’s no worry if they close their eyes here, a peace radiating from the pool; like a refuge from the trickery that lurks no matter where you are in this nexus.

Climbing out of the pool will have you damp, more appropriately soaked than the temple’s lake. There’s nothing like towels or a great way to dry off, but you can sit and hang around under the conch gazebo if you like.

Or perhaps messing around isn’t what brought you here, but the four iridescent slabs of stone that stand at intercardinal points at the edges of the lake, that speak of the Trials to the mind when you look upon them.


THE FOUR CAVERN TRIALS

There are four caverns, four trials, with each slab suggesting their test. Upon deciding where you will go, a shiri will come to guide your character through the forest to where the stone trees part, and a half an hour walk will lead Voidtreckers to a vesicular cavern.

You know as you approach the cave’s mouth that the shiri will guide you out if you need it, but they stay outside, leaving those searching for advanced training to journey on in themselves. Passengers descend, dots of light coming through the multiple holes above to illuminate the way as you go deeper into the cave.

And you won’t have to go far to find the crystals in any of the caverns, though there’s many pathways to go deeper in. Attacking the stones to break them won’t do much, but when you put your hand on one…

The illusions start, pulling in anyone nearby.

[ CAVE OF PERCEIVING. ]    Bend deceiving labyrinths into your own path.

What is real? What is not? This cave holds a large underground river flowing through it. The water is not too fast flowing or deep but it is cold enough to be a shock if anyone falls in.

Fall in they might for their task is to cross the river. The river is filled with stones large enough to hold a person as they cross. However not all of those stones are real, some are just illusions and if they step on the illusionary rocks they will fall through to the river below.

It is possible to get by on trial and error but the task will not be considered complete until they force their minds to see through the illusions are perceive the one true path.

[ CAVE OF ENDURANCE. ]    Wounds bleed and skin burns only to bodies that believe it.

This cave may differ between Voidtreckers. Sometimes it is a monster they must face or an environmental challenge to battle through.Perhaps the searing heat of a fire or the low altitude and freezing temperature of a mountain top. Perhaps a lizard with claws and teeth. The important part is not defeating the threat but to neutralise the damage. It's not real and the mind can overcome it.

All the caves are probably best faced in groups but this was especially so. They are unlikely to be able to make the damage unreal to start with and so there is likely to be a fight or struggle before they succeed.

[ CAVE OF HEART. ]    To accept crafted desires is to invite everlasting grief.

Here they are in a beautiful place. A meadow, a forest, a rocky beach. The weather is beautiful, not too hot not too cold. A little further in is something they want, something their heart yearns for.

They can't see it yet but they are sure they will, if only they go deeper into the grass, the trees, the water. It is there, just out of reach.

To pass this test they must walk away. Turn around and leave despite their heart calling to them to go deeper.

[ CAVE OF MIND. ]    Craft a weapon from your own vulnerabilities.

Fear does not have to be a weakness. The cave is filled with a lake and in the centre there is a bubble of water, it contains something they fear. They can't see it but they know it is there. Perhaps a person, a place, an object.

Facing a fear is one thing but this task asks for more than that. To accept the fear as part of them, to turn it into a strength to protect others.

This trial is the most personal and perhaps the most difficult. They must step into that space, knowing that they will face what they fear whilst also knowing that it won't be real and use that knowledge and acceptance to bring down the entire illusion, bubble, lake and all.




art sources: alien / landscapes / waterfall / caverns

OOC Information

Comments

[blue_ice]

first steps

The atmosphere is eerie. Something about the moisture, the sea-like colors...it doesn't feel oppressive physically, but mentally, Kaiba can feel the beginnings of a headache. Must be all that mental pressure they talked about.

He's on his way toward the meditation area, idly rubbing his temple. As they near the sands, he turns to whoever's nearest. "So do we keep our minds blank, or fill them with something else?"

cave of endurance

After a day of meditation training, he's become determined to conquer the trials. His first foray into a cave takes him into a snowstorm, bitter cold, pelting hail, and all. The shock of it startles him into stumbling, and he hisses when he's plunged into the snow.

"Ugh, no...a blizzard in an ocean doesn't make sense." He forces himself to stand and shakes the snow from his hair, looking quite peeved and leaving behind the angriest snow angel.

cave of mind

A trial of mind, huh? After all he's been through, he can conquer that, right? He takes a step, faces the bubble, and immediately something presses on the edge of his mind. The thought twists his stomach in knots. The cavern seems impossibly wide, the water ice-cold, impassable. An undercurrent of unpleasant emotion churns through his mind, and he starts to speak to it once he reaches the edge. But if anyone followed him into the cave...well, he just seems like he's losing his cool a bit.

"...To lose is to die, you told me once. I've 'died' a thousand times over. Every time I fail I feel as though I've lost part of myself. Sometimes it's like all that's left of me is a ball of spite. One ball of spite, big odds."

He remains at the edge, chuckling bitterly. Can the simmering ball of spite reach the crystal?

cave of mind

[shegypt]

Oh-ho. Mister Priest hasn't had an easy time of it in this life, has he? Good. Serves him right. It's about time something in this shitty world resembled justice.

Or maybe Bakura just likes the idea of people who piss her off being fucked over. Either way, she won't move to intervene just yet. Instead, she hangs back, waiting to see what he'll say next.

So Kaiba is not only hallucinating, he is also being stalked. HIS LUCKY DAY.

[magicurls]

tea break on the train

As soon as she realizes what they're in for, Mami sets up her little tea station near the train doors. She's brewed some relaxing blends: honey lavender, chamomile, peppermint, red rooibos, and it's all as fresh as she can make it as the passengers return for sleep.

"Here...try this before you go. It might help the headaches."

fly high

For her training, Mami chooses to participate in a more passive system. She roams the mist, climbing high and searching low, and at one point she leaps into the lake with a big splash. Why not? Wherever you see her, she's laughing and beckoning you to follow.

"Come on! It's strange, but it's...nice."

cave of perceiving

The first cave Mami faces is simple enough. Hop across to the crystal. She squints at them, crouches, and goes for it, keeping her feet light. One, two....ah, splash. She sputters for a moment before paddling her way back.

"It's not so easy as it looks, I suppose."

cave of heart

The next trial she faces is even more difficult. Mami is at the edge of a flower field, bright and familiar voices calling to her. It's safe here, they say. Nothing will ever hurt her again, they say. She wavers a moment, but squeezes her eyes shut.

"...It's not real. Pure, unblemished happiness doesn't exist. At least not for me...right?"

But there's still a fool in her who wants to believe. She can't seem to turn away.

Fly High

[redmeguca]

Nah, I-I'm good. Don't wanna get my clothes any wetter than they already are, you know. Haha...

[Kyoko's never been a great liar, not outside her illusions.]

Trunks Brief (Future) |OTA

[light_of_willpower]

Arrival
So....they were visiting a monastery? With monks? Trunks was already making notes, and did venture to ask how they'd be certain which parts were public. He kept himself polite though, and he could do quiet. Honestly it'd be a nice change from how noisy the train could be.

"This place is beautiful." He murmurs quietly, exploring the garden they're lead to.

TRAINING MONTAGE!
Meditation
Trunks was no stranger to meditation, and he was definitely one to push himself. So he can best be found in the water's depths. He's not sitting though, he's just standing--or floating, rather. Eyes closed, breathing even. Wrestling with his own mind and senses.

Do you want to interrupt?

Combat
They trained in combat--even if it mostly seemed to be a form of deflection and evasion using their environment. Still, Trunks wanted to learn. He was NOT going to turn down this opportunity. So where does he go for those beginner lessons?

CAVERN TRIALS
Perceiving
This one, Trunks actually has little trouble with. Thanks to his practice earlier here, and his own training in being able to sense ki, it takes a little bit for him--he gets splashed and falls in a few times... But he does manage to get it, being stubborn enough to keep trying.

And he'll do his best to help anyone else who got caught with him.

Endurance
The extreme heat did not bother him--it wasn't any worse than the Room of Space and Time could be, and Trunks had endured that. No this...for him it was more this beast-thing. Logic said it should NOT have been able to fit in this cavern, but Trunks was busy dodgeing heads and tail, claws and teeth. It was just enough to have him work at it, but not desperate.

Is there a time-limit? Does he have to defeat this thing? Everytime he blasted a head off, two more grew in its place so he stopped that trick early.

Really, what did Endurance mean?

Heart
Trunks seemed to be in a village, set among cliffs with tall cylindrical buildings built on different levels of the earth and a river running through the canyon. Bridgetown--but it was whole There was the sound of laughter, and distant conversation, and Trunks knows if he goes further in he'll find people.

It was part of his world, where he'd last seen it destroyed. Almost died to 17 and 18 here in fact--but this? This was part of his world that he fought so hard to protect restored.

Mind
It was such an innocuous bubble, in the middle of the lake. So why did it make every instinct within him take notice as if it was hostile? This cave dealt with the mind, so Trunks was sure whatever he'd find at that center wouldn't be real--but why would it make him so alert and wary?

EXPLORATION!
There was so much to do! But Trunks still tried to explore at least a bit. He could sleep when this was all over, after all.
Wanna do some exploring or just get CR? Hit me up here with something.

Heart (with Brief Endurance Refence)

[nutkrusher]

They spend a lot of time together, and some apart. They want to help each other above all else, but some things need to be faced alone. They'd met in the cave to fight the Black Beast of Aaargh (and then Cassie explained to him who Monty Python was).

And now, it seems, they've been drawn to the same place. Cassie's never seen Trunks's home before. But somehow, she knows that's what she's looking at - and that there's a place for her there. A place for them there, together.

She's not too many steps behind him now.

Bucky/Soldat | OTA

[worthallthis]

I. Exploring, Llama 21 morning and afternoon

As much as they know they must get better with the illusions, Soldat also knows they won't settle into any kind of training until they've mapped out the area, know the dangers, and feel like they know what to expect at least a little. So they pack a lunch and head out to prowl the island for several hours that first day.

Find them climbing the spires in the stone forest (or just leaping up to them; Soldat's serum allows for a pretty damn high jump, in this level of gravity), or tossing the bubbles of water around until they burst into tiny fragments of color that Soldat then watches quietly until they dissipate into the air, or even just sitting at the top of one of the cliffs with their combat-booted feet dangling down and lantern at their side. They always welcome company, but they might be a little quieter than usual.


II. Meditation Sucks, Llama 21 evening

Back at the temple, Soldat settles in to try and learn. It's important, given what they're up against. They need to be a good and useful asset for their team, and they can't fucking do that when they're hiding in their own head from their fears. (Nevermind that the Asset got us out just fine. And the earlier temptations were nothin' once we knew to look for them. Shut up, Sarge. No. You, too, Asset. I can't rely on you all the time.)

But the meditation is... not a thing Soldat is well-positioned for, mentally. Their mind is not a healthy thing. Their paranoia makes closing their eyes around other people difficult. And while they generally have solid self-control, they've taken several very emotional hits in the past week. They don't fidget, but their eyes refuse to stay closed. They can't get past the sense of someone there, someone threatening, and it makes them more twitchy than they even usually are. They can't clear their mind, because there's always someone talking and even when they get the others to shut up all it leaves is a terrifying, waiting blankness, the Asset at its worst. They keep surging to their feet to push away the ghosts-- or the actual person approaching them, whichever.

By the end of several hours of trying, Soldat is more wound up and upset than they were when they started, and they go back to the train for the night feeling defeated and useless.


III. Combat is Great Though, Llama 22

After only an hour at the lake, Soldat stalks away in unhappy frustration to follow the sound of bodies in motion and hands hitting and feet shuffling. This, this is what they're made for, what they're good at. They fall in easily with the training, and spend most of the rest of the day there, moving from teacher to teacher, adapting their own (intensive) combat skills to this more fluid style and the spacial awareness that comes naturally to them.

It helps a whole lot more than sitting in place next to a magical lake, that's sure sure. By the end of this day, they're not exactly hopeful, but at least they're not ready to tear their own hair out or cry. It was restful, even if it probably won't help them with illusions.


IV. Trials, Llama 23

They spend maybe twenty minutes just staring at the sources of the trials before giving the nearest shiri a gentle pat and making the attempt. Before making... multiple attempts. They make attempts all damn day.

The cave of perceiving isn't too bad. There's some internal arguing over it, but they're getting used to looking for illusions and hallucinations now. They fall in a few times before they get the hang of it, pointedly not cheating and simply jumping across the whole damn river (like they technically could). They have to pause afterwards to wring out their hoodie.

The cave of endurance isn't bad, exactly, but it takes a long time to get through anyway. Soldat is used to pain, and each time they get hurt in the combat situation-- faceless HYDRA goons, a couple spirits made out of stone and leaves, a looming black spectre that sucks up light-- they shrug it off rather than nullifying it because it's an illusion. It's frustrating, but they get the hang of it eventually through multiple repetitions.

The cave of heart is both easy and very, very hard. Anyone who steps into their illusion here will find Soldat on their knees in a night-time clearing in the woods, with a sturdy blonde woman sitting on a tree stump smiling at them. "Hey, Soldat," she says, and Soldat closes their eyes wearily. God, they miss Misty, even though they know this isn't real. They'll get up and leave again in a minute. They just want to look at her for a minute.

The cave of mind they step into once and then never again. The illusion, for anyone who happens to catch it for their singular abortive attempt at it, brings up the Chair again. They stagger back and out immediately, and spend the a good half hour sitting curled around their knees, lantern tucked under them, hyperventilating, while the Asset replays the memory of tearing it apart for them as if it's a comfort. Maybe it is. But it's not enough to make them face it again. It's a good thing they left this one for last, because they're useless for any other tests after this. Three will have to do.


V. Afterwards

They're exhausted. That was not a comfortable few days. Soldat spends a couple hours in the evening in the kitchen car, skips training entirely, and instead sits in the standard car or prowls the train restlessly before the train's enforced sleep time. They won't turn away company, but they do warn wearily, "I'm not the best company right now."

II--Meditation Sucks

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven was greatly reminded of home, in a lot of ways, here. More because it was a monastic order and their home, than because of any resemblance to Azarath. She's been able to break the illusions already for the most part, but it took some doing. So she's heading for some meditation herself, when she spots Soldat stand up, like he's suddenly alarmed.

[bakegarasu]

[Meditation]

Otoha is used to meditation. As much as most of his training was on how to do as much damage as possible in the shortest amount of time, he'd had to learn the basics. His calm isn't exactly zen-like, but it's enough that sitting still and focusing isn't an issue. If he spots someone who seems to be struggling, there's a decent chance he'll sit near them to try to lighten the mental load.


[Conch Lake]

He has to take a chance to be silly when he sees it. He sets his bag either next to a relatively trustworthy Voidtrecker (in which case he may leave his sword there) or in an out of the way place (in which case he'll keep his sword on him). Either way, his coat and shirt and shoes are set aside, revealing a number of scars. He dives into the water and spends a decent amount of time goofing around, racing whoever wants to try and otherwise and generally enjoying some time in the water. He's not a fantastic swimmer, but at least he's having fun.


[Trials]

[Perception]

Otoha is having problems. Try as he might he's fallen for some of the same rocks again and again. His instinct says they're safe to jump to, so he jumps. And falls, and jumps again. He's getting more and more angry with the trial and is very close to storming out. He needs a hand, but like hell is he going to just ask for one.

[Mind]

He knows he's there. He knows that if he goes inside of that bubble that the person he'll find is himself. It's really the only option. He knows he has to stop being afraid of the possibility... but it's hard. He keeps hesitating. He needs help, he needs a push... he's frozen in sudden indecision.


[Wildcard]

[???]

Trails - Mind

[xue_yang]

He walks up to the bubble, his expression fierce. He doesn't care about these trials or what he might get out of them. He is using them more as a distraction then anything else. And right now he is staring at a bubble that is likely to do nothing more then piss him off. If he has any fears, he doesn't know it.

He looks at the other person standing there from the corner of his eye. Whatever this guy is afraid of is obviously making him hesitate and hesitating will only make it worse as the fear builds inside.

"Do you want me to shove you into it?" Because he will.

Yondu Udonta | OTA

[yondu]

CAVE OF PERCEIVING.

The only reason he's bothering with this shit is that he's got a bunch of Blue Team kids to look out for. There's no great personal stake in it for him. No honor to be gained. Nothing like that. He just feels humiliated lately. He saw how quickly he crumbled.

This part, at least is easy. Well, it is after he botches the first rock and hollers at the chill of suddenly cold water. Has to climb back on land feeling particularly squishy, squelching his way back to land. He flaps his arms a couple of times and empties out his boots, suffering at the whims of now genuinely wet leather. Not the first time it's happened? But never a favorite.

He closes his eyes and his fin lights up. This time it's easier. He hops from one stone to the next, completely ignoring the false ones as he follows the directions of his fin.

CAVE OF MIND.

He's already furious at this point. After having seen the Cave of Mind, there's a methodical lilt to this. It reminds him of the worst of military brainwashing. Face the brutality of the elements, see through enemy subterfuge? That's normal. But to turn from what you love, only the mission matters.

It has him furious, angry, wondering already what the fuck kind of bullshit he's going to be facing in the cave of Mind. He's already convinced that this place is no good. The lessons it teaches are tainted and wrong.

The Bubble in the middle isn't what he expects, for sure. He's expecting some other puzzle or something. He's bitter and charged and angry. Every emotion is sharp and jagged and defensive. "Alright, what the hell do you want now!?"

"Mr. Yondu, why did you do that to them?" The voice is scared, tentative, and it's Madoka's.

"Angel? What are you talkin' about...?" it's that she's scared that sends him towards that bubble of his fear. But the knowledge hits him the false assuredness that she knows what Ego had him do. That all those deaths are on his head and he's not worth believing in anymore. "No, it ain't- It ain't like that. I didn't know what he was doin'.-"

He's warned by Soldat's voice (the Asset's, specifically) to stay away, they're not going to let him do it again. Of Siebren's saying he can't believe he'd let him near him, and to 'give it back'. It's the 'give it back' that throws him a little, and he mutters a surprisingly confused and saddened "What?" as he pats himself down in search of the trinkets he's taken to carrying with him off the train.

Post-perception cheaters squad

[oncedriven]

"...Need a hand with that?"

Yondu might recognize Asch as Blue, considering that he did wear the train uniform for the first few days of his arrival prior to the mission, but he's swapped entirely to clothes nicked from the city since then. He's now obtained a long black coat that displays the red core crystal on his chest and not much else in the way of skin. The crystal is glowing enough to add red shading to the underside of his face in the dark of the cave.

He's also not at all wet, shockingly enough. He gives Yondu's soaked coat and boots a nod. "It won't be perfect, but it's better than running around completely soaked." Even if this water is... weird, and not entirely water-like.

[miseris_socios]

[Meditation... ?]

Ken does not sit still well. Not with this kind of thing, and it's immediately obvious. He's constantly opening his eyes to glare in the direction where he keeps thinking someone is coming from, and finally he gets up and (quietly) stomps off to find somewhere or someone to distract him from his failure.


[Trials]

[Endurance]

Ken keeps dodging blows, various Shadows attacking him with long black arms and masked faces. Not that he's doing perfectly - he's wounded but not sure if he's supposed to pull out his Evoker or not - will he fail if he does? But he's getting tired, and the hits are landing more frequently, and they hurt.

"Ugh, you stupid pieces of crap -"

[Mind] (Closed)

Ken absolutely knows what he'll se if he enters the bubble - corpses, with lightning burn marks on them. He knows it's not real. He knows he won't lose control - can't lose control. But still...

But still, the idea of seeing that again is terrifying.

He feels like he's on the edge of a cliff. He feels Nemesis' presence strongly, and he's not sure why. He looks up at Vexen, trying to figure out what he's seeing - or not yet seeing.

"... Dad?"


[Wildcard]

[???]

meditation

[ourtomorrow]

The other Ken, on the other hand, is taking to meditation like a champ. Sitting still and getting in touch with yourself internally, while also connecting yourself to the greater universe....Focusing. Honing oneself. And the idea of mental serenity being a weapon against the darkness appeals, as well.

Really though, this is a place where we practice spacing out, and Ichijouji Ken is a freaking space-out expert.

Unless a friend is in need, however! When he hears the other boy get up and move, Ken isn't able to maintain his concentration. He's too concerned.

Up he goes to follow.

"....Amada-kun?"

[shegypt]

[ go fish ]

"WHOO-HOOOOOOO!!!"

Look out below. A dying fish the size of a person is plummeting out of the sky, ridden bareback by a muscular woman in a burnt red hoodie and what looks like a sheet wrapped around her hips in a makeshift kilt.

And she is not even remotely interested in steering.

[ cave of heart ]

Pass trials and gain a treasure? That's a tomb raid. Bakura can do those in her sleep. (Probably has; she's Extra enough.) She also sees little point in doing something herself when she could just wait till somebody else manages all four trials and then rob them.....but there's that whole "unable to make a permanent getaway" element getting in the way, again. Shit.

So as she's got no need to aim for the crystals - she feels confident she's more than enough to handle illusions on her own, thanks - she's been dipping into the trial caves in an attempt to find others and observe them. Though while she's there, yeah, sure, she'll snag the prize at the end.

Perception was easy. Endurance made her laugh. Heart....



Bakura is standing waist-deep in a swaying field of reeds, the lapping of water all around, silt giving life to the bounteous, blessed land around her. Her head is bowed, and she's biting her cheek so hard there's a rivulet of blood running out of her mouth. Voices on the wind can almost be heard:

"Bakura!"

"Come see what we 'rescued' from the noble's grave!"

"I saved you a piece of pork, Bakura..."

"Bakura, come back here and help with the baby like a good big sister!"

Bakura spits a glob of blood into the water, sending ripples between the reeds. Her body trembles, but she moves neither deeper in nor further away.

Whatever's racing through her mind, it's got her pinned in place. And she, herself, is beginning to radiate atmospheric pressure.

Heart

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi looked around him slightly, he didn't know how the trials themselves were going to go the further one went, but he could only guess much like a video game it would only get harder.

But it seemed like this wasn't for him. As he looked around he soon spotted a rather familiar Thief King. But something seemed a little bit different. As he took a few steps closer he knew the other might not want to see him at this exact moment, but he felt like in his own mind he kinda had to.

"Thief King Bakura?" Yes, he figured to use the whole title just to see what happens,. She might not react, she might. Either way, it was at least something.

[hoardsrealestate]

Those that sense ki will be aware that Freeza's is not locked away today.

Finishing Chores on the Train

Since arriving, Freeza has been true to his word re: working this like it's a job. Whether it's the monthly Team Purple task of laundry or helping out where other teammates ask, if he is about and not presently busy, he does take part, though for some tasks might require a demonstration before he picks up on it. The morning of their arrival, he can be found doing just this in various places, particularly any tasks that might be needed immediately prior to disembarking.

Arrival

Though certain to be out of the way of other passengers coming along, on initially emerging, Freeza stops short once he has a moment to breathe in and take in the whole of the environment around him. It is probably not unusual for people new to world travel to be taken in my their surroundings. Freeza should notsomething, not merely the void. As they're led on the tour, he keeps up, silently floating along and seemingly always aware of the distance between himself and others around him. He surveys with his eyes, perhaps too long in some places, but closes them, too, seeming to take in the sound with equal wonder as well. There is something familiar, almost nostalgic about his expression.

Training - Meditation

Freeza may or may not already have decent training in this respect; he goes to the water's depths with no fear. moving silent through the air and then the water with a kind of fluidity that hits just slightly different from his usual gait. The place he chooses, he sits, seemingly in space (because it...feels a lot like that, in a way), and seemingly disappears into trance, but his eyes do not close. They remain open, fixed in a severe stare that locks onto nothing that is visibly there, and the slightest glow emanates from his body.

Training - Combat

While Freeza does not perfectly replicate the forms he is seeing at first, there is again a change in his movement as observed when he trains on the...well, train. He does take a keen interest in their powers of observation and how they put them to use in combat. However, still that fluid ease of movement, from the tips of his fingers, toes, and tail, like someone who has lived in water returning to it after years of absence.

Outside the Temple

Whatever has taken Freeza's interest, it continues as he explores the environment outside the abode of their hosts. He can be found taking the lot of it in, from flora to fauna, in various locations, though he does not linger anywhere particularly long, and once or twice may be seen flying to greater heights in order to take in a greater layout at once. He does eventually pick his way into the forest to find the Caverns.

Cave of Endurance

From the deep, an ominous thrum, a ringing of crystal, a feeling that conducts to one's very bones, a song that fills the head, beckons, a call to return home. The surface of the water is broken, then one with a mass of many arms, massive and powerful and lashing, any attempt to perceive its center, a face, an eye, a beak strong enough to crush mountain or bone -- unclear, momentary flashes of something concrete, but unknowable and maddening. And despite blows thrown, Freeza is completely, stubbornly still on the shore, watching, analyzing.

Combat Training

[seacub]

It might not be perfect, but it's still impressive- particularly to the boy being taught basic stretches and balance techniques at this point in time. While Weather Report- who was definitely out and hovering a few times before- isn't around, Emporio is definitely not feeling any need to change that, instead merely watching Freeza with something akin to awe.

"...Woah..." It's rather impressive after all, that fluidity. "You move like you already know everything they have to teach..." It's not spoken as if that's a bad thing, or anything. He's just...

Kind of astounded really.

[katzenpfote]

[Meditation (Of A Sort)]

Upon arrival to the planet, once they get given the tour Caleb disappears for n hour or so. When he returns, he's got a cat with him. As he settles down to do meditation, he keeps petting the cat. Frumpkin seems used to this and doesn't complain, tolerating scritches until Caleb decides to get up.


[Conch Lake]

Caleb is not the strongest swimmer in the world, but that doesn't stop him from stripping down to his underwear and wading out into the lake. He floats gently on his back and allows himself to rest a bit.

... If a friend shows up though, they might need to prepare for a splash fight.


[Trials]

[Perception]

Caleb's trouble here is less with the illusions and more with the physical issue of leaping between rocks. There's a few spaces where he needs to jump it in order to make it past a tricky area, and... he's not known for his strength. He can be found easily on the bank of the river, wringing water out of his 'acquired' jacket from last mission..

[Mind]

Caleb is aware that this is an illusion, that what he's somehow aware of being in there isn't actually there.

It's not helping.

"Ah... no. I do not want to..." It's taken him a few tries to even get this far - the first few times were too brutal. This time, however...

"I do not want to deal with you right now, Gelidon."


[Wildcard]

[???]

Perception

[weisexual]

These trials are not terribly difficult for someone who has spent his entire life meditating and training. So figuring out which rocks are the correct ones is easy. He also could cheat and fly across the river on his sword, but taking short cuts was not the Lan way. He is sure others have chosen to take short cuts through these trails but he is not about to.

He walks up to the shore with one hand behind his back. He glances over at the man who apparently was unsuccessful at least once with his attempt. "Do you need assistance?"

Even if he isn't going to take a short cut, he isn't going to let someone simply fail at he trial either. He will not help them cheat but perhaps could offer some succinctly worded advice.

[sos_pilot]

Arrival
[ A world to help work through illusions? It's perfect! And surely a 'wet' world can't be that bad, so long as it has nothing to do with the ocean, or fish.

... Della steps out of the train. Looks around at the ocean atmosphere. At all the fish.

And promptly turns back around. ]

NOPE, NOPE, NOPE, TOO GROSS -

[ She might need to be dragged out here. ]

Perceiving

[ Della's already fallen in a few times, it's obvious since her clothes are wet. But she's not giving up! Right now, she's on one knee, staring VERY intensely at the rocks, trying to judge what's real and what isn't before she re-takes this test. ]

... That third rock, the one on the left. Did you notice anything weird about it?

Mind

[ Della is afraid of many things, to be quite honest. But she's never let a little thing that fear stop her before! No matter how many fangs a monster has, no matter how poisonous a trap may be, no matter how fiendish the villain, she always plows through, with a winning smile!

But what's in her bubble isn't a monster, a trap, or a villain. It's one of her sons. Fists clenched , glaring at her. ]

How could you do this us?! You're always thinking of yourself! Why did you even have us if you didn't want to be around?! I hate you! I wish you never came back!

[ Of course, it's not real. They've never said that - they never will - but this is Della's greatest, strongest fear.

That she will lose the love of her children.

Della stands there, taking the abuse, tears running down her face. But she's not sobbing - she's just quiet. She's fully aware anyone watching her can't hear what's being said to her, so she probably looks nuts. She chuckles bitterly.]

... This place really doesn't pull any punches, huh.

Wildcard
[ Make your own prompt! feel free to hit me up on plurk (melcat33) or discord (melcat33#1997) ]

W-w-w-WILDCARD

[helborn]

Up there in the sky. It’s a bird? It’s a plane? No, it’s -

Well it is a bird - a raven, specifically - but there’s a much larger shape swimming through the ‘air’ towards her. There’s a long black and white tail flicking behind the creature, the whole thing nine or more feet long.

A creature that stops nearby to Della, giving her a clear look at it. Casper’s bare torso is melded into the tail at the waist, and he doesn’t seem to have anything on him. As he stops, Della might spot a tattoo-looking mark on the back of his shoulder - a circle of black raven feathers.

And speaking of ravens, Bob whirls around them, occasionally grumbling to Casper about how wet it is here.

[adropofsunlight]

Don't go chasing waterfalls
Sitting under a waterfall seemed like a good idea. She didn't understand how that is actually meant to help with anything, but it couldn't hurt to at least try it either, right?

So she made her way over, as she soon went to find a spot, setting herself down. Well this was certainly something. Really felt like a heavy shower. How was this meant to help? Making a face ever so slightly she tried to settle herself before closing her eyes.

She wasn't sure what she was doing. But she felt something. She couldn't quite put her finger on what exactly, but it was enough to cause her to open her eyes again.

"Um, what was that just now? Did you sense that?"

Fish, fish everywhere
Rapunzel coudln't help but be excited over fish. Whyw as she so excited about fish. There was actually no reason for it beyond how amazing they looked. Some big, some small, but never the less all amazing and something she had never seen before.

"Hey, how big do you think that way way over there is? I mean there are so many different sizes, I can't think of if it's big or just looks so."

Trial of Perceiving
Just going over stones. In theory that would seem easy enough to do. It would be a hop, skip and a jump. But she knew there was probably more to it. A lot more. But for her it felt like it might be a case of trial and error. She will probably get it wrong, but it just means she keeps trying until she gets ti right and is able to move forward.

The first stone she slowly steps on seems to be okay and she gives a little sigh of relief. But the next one, as soon as her feet touch it down she goes into the water. The shock along was enough to cause the young woman to start flailing for a brief moment. It wasn't that she couldn't swim she had done missions where that was required. She was justs surprised at what happened.

But help would be appreciated.

Trial of Mind
Rapunzel stood there quietly, her eyes just fully focused on the bubble that was ahead of her. She couldn't help but feel the fear that was throughout her body. She felt like she knew what was ahead of her. That tower. her home, the place where she had been trapped all those years.

Ever since leaving she had feared going back, to having to lose those she had come to care about. She knew deep down that she would need to return, but she couldn't help but be scared at what would happen when she finally did.

But she still for the moment couldn't think to even move forward. All that parted from her lips was dripped in fear. "I... don't want to go back."

Trial of Mind

[weisexual]

These trials are not difficult for him. He spent his entire life meditating and learning how to clear his mind and focus on what is real. But he knows that isn't the case for most of the train. So when he reaches this next trial, he stands back and waits for the girl in front of him to make her decisions.

But it seems that isn't going to happen terribly quickly. So he steps up next to her and stares at the bubble. "You aren't really going back."

[cureofmanyworlds]

Meditation

"AAAAAAUGH, this is ridiculous!" Nozomi found herself sitting under the waterfall, trying her best to just meditate like she was told. It just wouldn't take. It felt like she was doing something wrong and it was annoying her.

"This is so boring!" Yet, she's the one getting drenched under the waterfall.

Conch Lake

Nozomi's purple eyes gazed at the water before her, surprised at how beautiful the lake was. It was even prettier than what she saw at the training grounds! She bent down to mess with the water with her hand before giggling and looking up.

"This looks like a good place to swim, huh?"

Cave of Endurance

Nozomi thought that it would be easy enough to get through. Endurance means a fight, yes? Suited up as Cure Dream, Nozomi thought it would be a cinch. That was until a fireball struck her. In reality, she was fine, but she had thought her CureMo was damaged by the attack, thus reverting her costume to a pink energy state around her body.

As she's busy trying to put out the flames, maybe someone can help her remember that things aren't what they should be...

Cave of Mind

Nozomi stood at the edge of the lake, looking at the bubble before her. She wondered what was her true fear was. It seemed that the lake made that decision for her. It wasn't the idea of having power, but it was herself.

Or rather, trying to be the Nozomi she was based off of.

She never met the girl, only heard stories of her. And yet, here she was...

"I... I dunno..."

Meditation

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks is at a waterfall too. He's not sitting though, but standing. Well, actually he's floating a few inches above the ground and holding it. Still, with his eyes closed.

But with Nozomi's exclamation, he can't help it. A smile comes to his face, and he lets himself drop out of his own meditation. "Would having a partner help?"

[sizedoesntmatter]

Combat
What were they doing? Their movements and such were something. Yugi couldn't help but watch but didn't seem to think to really give it that much of a try. Yugi had been pondering after all taking some form of self-defense himself, so would this be a good idea?

He didn't know, but he did know he was just going to stay on the outside and look in. That was a good idea at least.

Endurence
Of all things why did it have to be a monster he had to deal with for this, even worse was the fact that it was freezing and he had to deal with it. Yugi was not a fighter, to say the least. But he at least had smarts to an extent.

So avoiding getting hurt seemed like perhaps the best idea. Skidding to the side and nearly tripping as he did he looked around to see who else was about.

Mind
Yugi took a small breath, taking a step forward. Eyes were close for the time being. He knew what was before him. He didn't expect that it would have been that but it was.

Taking another step he was closer to the bubble, but as he did thoughts were going through his mind. He was a disappointment. Atem had shown him how to be confident but one mess up and he went back to being at least in his mind the way he was before. Just a weak person who really didn't have anything going for them.

He hated it personally. He felt like he had let the other down after all they had been through. At that thought he paused midstep, eyes opening as he looked over towards the bubble. He seemed hesitant to keep going. If he did then it would be good, right?

But instead of going forward, he took a step back, eyes closing once again as he soon found himself standing on the spot, fist clenched tightly.

"Why am I like this...he wouldn't just stand here. He just keeps walking." Soon a sigh passed by his lips, feeling a bit disappointed. "Maybe I am a disappointment."

combat

[happyends]

Madoka has just as little of an idea as to what's going on here as Yugi does. After all, even if she's managed to teach herself archery on the train with the help of some people, it seems that the kind of fighting training the people are doing here is entirely different than that. It almost looks like some sort of martial arts, judging by the lack of weapons, and yet still.. different?

She can't quite put her finger on it, but at the same time, it seems like she's not the only person watching. Madoka glances over at Yugi.

".. Do you know what they're doing..?"

[averyusefultray]

Meditation

This all reminds her of stories she's heard from Kanan. The monks here aren't Jedi, exactly, but there are definite parallels.

Enough that after a time kneeling on the shore, she opens her eyes. "I should have listened in on those lessons."

She'll get it in time though. She knows this is useful and important to learn. And it can be done.

Cave of Perceiving

Crossing a stream seems like a simple enough task, but when there's all the complications of recent missions, it's not of course.

The first few attempts she tries to contemplate and consider.

Except she's not a Jedi. She's a pilot. And even Jedi have one major thing... "Trust your feelings."

She had to assess them quickly or she'll overthink it.

Cave of Heart

She's used to putting a cause above all else. Choosing something bigger over her own desires. All she's been doing lately is putting what she wants aside for what she has to do.

She knows that what's waiting for her in that cave will be the person she's argued with about exactly that. She means to keep walking. Just keep walking.

But once she steps into the Lothal plains she realizes he's not alone. That there's... "Why does this place think that's what would tempt me?"

Cave of Endurance

The area is open. Hardly any cover. Which is a problem when they're suddenly surrounded by th green flashes of orbital bombardment lasers.

"There should be a shield..." There was a shield when this actually happened, maybe they can use that to survive this. It's not supposed to really be happening, right? They can change that.

Meditation

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Would you like some help?" It's a calm voice, not quite deadpan. Raven is still in her VT uniform, with her cloak over it and her cowl up. This place definitely reminded her of home in many ways, and she was used to a monastic lifestyle.

[deductiongeek]

Exploring:
Conan was a creature of science and logic. True, illusions had been a problem for him in the past. But the idea that meditation and crystals could do something about illusions where his own observational ability failed....

Even after everything he had seen in his time on the train, his inner skeptic found that difficult to believe.

And so he spends his time exploring to start with. He moves through the marshland, inspecting the plants and fish and mentally comparing them to the species he was most familiar with.

Meditation:
Eventually, and from a combination of much persuasion and boredom, Conan is convinced to at least give meditation a try. He takes a seat by the shoreline, closes his eyes.... and almost immediately recoils from the presence of that other. What was that?

[luckydragonsfoot]

While Conan has visibly been having an unpleasant time with the skepticism and such, Katsuya is- to put it politely- 'living his best life'.

If 'best life' could be called grinning like an idiot and looming nearby.

"Hehehehheheeee..." Terrible. He's terrible, truly. "Feelin' a bit like reality stopped catchin' up..~?"

Well that's just mean, rubbing in the fact that the rules of his world stopped wholly applying the minute he got on the platform.

[wewillwewill]

Experiments [Day One]

The aether here flows in an unusual manner thanks to the void nexus.

But it is a valuable opportunity to experiment with manipulation in just such an environment and Elidibus will not put it off simply because it poses a challenge. On the shores of Conch Lake and in the thin-water air around him 'swim' water-blobs in the shape of intricate fish. A couple of the small ones observed here, two others from his own world. These are not Creations; their form is only sustained because energy is being channeled into them; they will not react to a presence and indeed trying to obstruct their path will just cause them to part and flow around the block before reshaping again. Without the Ascian's presence, they will gradually disperse. Before he leaves the area, Elidibus will be certain they do so properly.

But they have been a good basic exercise for focus and control.

This has led to the experiment he intended. A slow, careful effort at drawing in the aether and condensing it. A task more difficult than he had initially expected and it has him focused here for some time. Though perhaps not so much he wouldn't be aware of the approach someone else makes.

A lengthy, slow process need not take up the entirety of his focus after all. The maintained water-fish may well be proof of that.



Training and Lessons [Day Two or Three]

For Elidibus, the first day of their arrival is discovery, observation, and some experimentation. He may be seen in various places, including the mental training and trial regions, though he doesn't appear to be actively participating.

Somewhere nearer the evening than early afternoon, when the majority of passengers had returned for the recommended sleeping or meals, he sends a brief intercom message.

"I am Elidibus, a new passenger on this voyage. I have made arrangements with our hosts for an area within the temple for the pursuit of martial and magic training in a larger space than the train allows. It may be used as desired, though I will be offering instruction and guidance for those who wish to hone their skills or pursue basic fighting tactics. I ask you please conduct any personal training with respect to any lessons which may occur. My offer is open to all Teams. I also intend to borrow some of the training weapons from the gym. If there is need of them elsewhere, speak with me or collect them from the designated location."

The designated location in question is a visitor's training area provided by the temple. The training weapons borrowed is a small selection, two of each present where it is possible. One-handed sword, 'shield', a pair of sticks good for knives, a long staff which could double for a spear, a two-handed sword. Or at least equivalents which can double for those roles.

Sword and shield (training pad?) seem to be the Ascian's pick of the lot for they are kept near him as he waits. Alas, the lack of a ridiculously oversized axe. Approaching him will get a short assessing look and a simple response.

"I am Elidibus. Are you here for my offer?" After all, he could be approached for other means.

experiments

[flatteries]

Honestly, the water-fish-shaped blobs floating around in the air aren't the strangest thing ever to Inigo. They seem like they belong here, after all. Between the waterblobs already floating around and the fish all around, they blend right in. It just seems like some sort of natural occurence in this sort of place.

.. or, well, it seems that way until Inigo spots Elidibus there, staring a little too intensely at the water fish.

Surely a guy like him wouldn't be that interested in them for no reason, right?

Inigo tilts his head a little, considering the situation before he speaks up.

"Um.. Is everything alright over here?" Anything special going on?

Guri | OTA (CW: Skinny Dipping, minor body horror?)

[marvelous_murderbot]

Creatures

The moment she encounters the fish, she's headed back onto the train - only to return a few minutes later with a large bowl in her arms. The bowl is filled with diced up lettuce, cucumbers, and peas.

She seats herself amongst the densest amounts of the little fish, holding the bowl out to draw them in. They may well ignore her, and that's fine - but she'll feed the little ones happily, eyes cast skyward to watch the large creatures make their way across the sky.

It is...sublime.

Stone Forest

Her jumpsuit is soaked to the skin and she doesn't seem to care at all. In fact, she makes her way through the forest all the more happily, enjoying the sensation of rain on her face. It's been a long time since she's felt rain; longer still since she has felt water so pure - her life had been mostly spent on Coruscant, which scarcely provided much in the way of clean, natural water. She'd always felt that it, too, felt of rust.

She'll sit, watching the world around her, listening to the unique sound of wind on stone and coral trees.

Conch Lake

It takes her a while to find her quarry - a remote corner of the lake. It isn't out of compunction or self-consciousness; far from it, as she strips off her jumpsuit and underclothes, folding them neatly on a rock. It is more a desire to experience this moment on her own, without distracting others.

She dives into the water, plunging deep. It's special properties combined with her own strengths and dexterity means she can move through it almost as easily as a dolphin, gentle kicks propelling her deeply and through various maneuvers. It feels like flying, and she loves every moment of it. To feel the water rushing over her face, the strange sensations as she turns and flips within it; it is a luxury to be explored to its fullest.

Strangers or acquaintances may receive only a basic acknowledgment when, siren-like, she comes to the surface to draw breath. She doesn't need to, but it keeps her...well, closer to human. But to her friends, of course, there will be a very different reaction.

"You should join me, the water is perfect."

Cave of Endurance

The cave gives her precisely what she is hoping for - a literal mountain to climb. She works her way upwards, hand over hand, seeking out handholds with care and precision. The damage, of course, will be if she falls - but even as the wind begins to pick up - she moves with certainty and calculation.

This is a challenge, and she will overcome it safely.

Cave of Mind

She knows what she will find. It's really the only thing she truly fears, deep down.

Inside the bubble is another, very different Guri. One half of her - its - face is normal, but the other has the flesh ripped away, revealing the metal structure underneath. That damage travels down the entire body, a mish-mash of synthetic musculature and mechanical body beneath. The arm on that side ends with a built-in cannon and stabbing vibroblade.

This is Guri as she could have been, fears she will be if all she does is enact violence. The thing cackles at her, remnants of jaw muscles moving on one side, an angelic smile on the other.

"You knew it would be me, you know it always will be me," the thing says, at her approach.

"You are not inevitable," Guri replies, her voice level. But there is a suggestion in her eyes of how deeply this vision concerns her - and the hint of welling tears.

conch lake

[irrationally]

Usually Alice wouldn't say no to an offer like this. Especially not in a setting this beautiful, one that seems just perfect for enjoying the water.

But there are some other factors at play.

Namely Guri's state of undress. Sure, the other is not exactly a flesh and blood human, but Guri looks just enough like it for Alice to feel flustered all the same when she sees nothing but bare shoulders sticking up from the water. She tries to cover up half of her face with one hand, but the damage is already done - Alice's cheeks are most certainly turning pink.

"I-- Are you naked?"

Please, how can she go on without addressing that part first!

Tidus | OTA

[blitzcheer]

1: meditation

( a; the start ) Meditation. Does it have to be meditation?

At the very least, Tidus does know how to meditate. Really! Honest! Not very well, though he's gotten better at it since being on the train. ...since, well, that's when he began trying it. But he's kept it up even since the one who taught him left (miss ya, big green), if not with the same schedule. And sitting by the water's edge, he can sense that odd, unnerving presence trying to creep into the back of his mind, can move it from settling in.

... but going on to sit on the limpet shells, the water falling slow and gracefully nearby, his concentration slackens and apprehension welcomes itself in after five minutes or so. Confusion seeping in, rattling his senses. Emotions he knows aren't really there, and yet--

"RrrgghhARGH!"

Sorry, anyone on the shell seat with him - someone's gone into Tantrum Mode at having their focus finally break, slapping his knees as his eyes fly open, looking ready for a FIGHT.

( b; ongoing ) But Tidus does persevere. Patience and focus has been a challenge for him previous, and he's determined to show he's changed. So he keeps on coming back, sitting on the limpets, starting closer to the temple before moving out. There's a look he gets - that same frustrated frown - when he's about to lose his cool, and either company in training or someone to tell him it's time for a time out won't go ignored.

2: fish bothering

By the second day, Tidus wants some of those fish.

He'll even invite some company along, if anyone passing by is taken by the jovial one of, "Hey, how good's your fishing?" said with a grin and nod at the schools high above their heads. But there's a decent climbing spot on the risen terra firma, that at least gets the tinier fish closer to their head.

So, what will they do now? They can decide that now...

...but if Tidus is alone, then he'll try the wonderful tactic of throwing balls of water made from magic at the fish!!! ...and watch as the water ends up rocking the sea creatures some, disorganising them, but doing nothing for actually knocking them out of the sky.

"Wha...?"

What do you mean water won't work??

3: cavern trials

It's also on the second day that Tidus actually goes for any of the cavern trials. Is he ready for them? He doesn't know, but he isn't against going in any with a known face or alone - though, the latter may not stay true.

Perceiving doesn't sound so bad, the first that he ends up in, the first doesn't by those cryptic messages seem to be so extreme. He does well to begin with, his head in the game, taking this serious.

But it's as if the cave senses his impatience, that when he takes the trial, the stones are rather...multiple to the eye. His eyes anyway, if not anyone else's; which might make it weirder why he takes the semi-jumping step - accompanied by a passionate 'Alright!' - straight down into the freezing water with a far too late yelp.

Or, probably not. Please enjoy his long drawn out groan regardless.

Heart is...a bittersweet thing. It hits the right marks, the illusion he ends up in: Besaid Village at night, just like that night, a roaring bonfire in it centre and the village people out with food and drink. A young woman sits in clear view with other figures that the illusion attempts to draw the eye to.

A group that Tidus watches from the entrance to the village, feeling that tug that wants to draw him in. But he sees through this illusion most of all. He's seen through this impossibility for a long time.

So, when he senses someone else is here with him, turns to look at them, it's with his arms folded and a (slightly exaggerated) sound of relief.

"Alright! Hey, you know how we have to pass this one? I'm not this easy to trick!"

Please disregard his efforts with Perceiving.

( wildcard: if you'd like to do any of the other caves with Tidus, or do a different spin on getting fish, feel free to fiddle with the prompts!! Tidus can join in on character trials. )

2: Fish...bothering?

[wewillwewill]

Ascians have long worn other peoples' bodies like a set of clothes. There's even the implication that some knowledge of the abilities and skill of said vessel are able to be utilized, even when said body happened to have been a corpse at the time of possession.

Whether Elidibus had followed Tidus because of plain curiosity or some nagging interest in pursuing the innate skill Ardbert once possessed will forever be a mystery.

Elidibus glances at Tidus, busy with the task of tying bits of bait (this one looking like a thinly sliced disc of local origin) to a long, thin bit of scavenged string. "What other elements can you use?"

Holding the other end of the string, he carefully sends the bait aloft, trying to get it to drift outward. In a direction different from Tidus's disturbance, naturally.

[schrodingersghost]

Meditation:
Danny had a slight resistance to mind tricks. As long as they were low power, at least. (In darker moments he suspected that it was because most illusions simply had no idea what to do with him. Which, fair, nobody else did either.)

But after the last mission? He was very interested in figuring out a way to boost his immunity. But...

"Did it have to be meditation?" he complains aloud. "Why not something I'm actually good at?"

Cave of Mind:
After the first day, Danny had decided to risk the trials. The first few caves... They'd been difficult. But not impossible. The Cave of Heart had been the hardest. It had taken him several tries to bring himself to turn away from the call of home.

But now he was in the Cave of Mind. And he had the feeling this was going to be the toughest one yet.

Because waiting in that bubble of water was his greatest fear. And he had an idea that he knew exactly what it was.

His future. His failure. His own potential. It was all bound up together.

Meditation

[wewillwewill]

There is a man here who does not look like he's going to join the others who are meditating. But he is observing with interest and when someone bursts out in annoyance his answer is simple.

"Because it is vital not to simply exercise your mastery, but to shore your weaknesses."

Elidibus probably knows this youngster is speaking in rhetoric. But it gives him a reason to begin a conversation.

"Were you one to struggle with the mental assaults of the last mission?"

Ryo | OTA

[fivemilesdeep]

1. It's only stealing if it belongs to someone

There's been continual concern about the food stores on the train, and right now is the perfect time to try to augment them. Ryo has taken one of the bags from the luggage car, filled it with containers from the kitchen car, and is hard at work, carefully foraging for the local plant life and harvesting it. Whether you've joined him on the spur of the moment or saw his request for help, there's work to be done and he's grateful for the help. He puts one more pod into a container already full of them and carefully closes it. "This one's full. Do you need another one?"

2. Arts and Crafts

Sometimes, accidents happen. Sometimes, pods break open and get glowing goo all down the front of your hoodie.

And sometimes, you take your hoodie off, break open another pod, and start drawing designs on it, shapes and lines and concentric rings and dots and stars, because it's fun. He probably shouldn't be doing this - it's childish - but it glows, and it's been so long since Ryo let himself have something stupid and childish and fun, and he wants it.

Catch him in the middle of his little art project, or join him, or see him afterwards wearing the altered hoodie - though once he gets back to the temple and gets a warning, he'll take it off in a hurry.

[A warning that glowy goo attracts predatory fish, so if you join him in his art project, proceed with caution.]

3. Helping Hand

Once Ryo discovers that people who fail the Trial of Endurance walk out injured, he camps out near the entrance, keeping an eye out for anyone looking less than whole. "Are you alright? Let me help."

4. Second verse same as the first

The Trial of Heart, from what he understands, should be one of the more difficult ones, and he enters the cave with some trepidation. The inside of the cave...looks like the forest just outside the entrance to Arkwood, in the middle of autumn. The scent of apples and baking bread hangs in the air. If he just keeps going, Orion and Endon will be there, and maybe he'll even find his brother-

His eyes narrow and he glares. "Really? Again?"

5. Wildcard

[Wildcard something! Let's do it let's go]

1

[katzenpfote]

Caleb is wandering along, picking out some of the local plants. He's also taking a few of the leaves and other various bits for study later - who knows wha tkinds of spells might work with them?

What might be more notable is the cat following along. Mentally, Caleb commands Frumpkin to rub up against Ryo's leg, purring heavily. The boy looks like he needs a moment to take a breath.

[soldier_blade]

Meditation

She goes straight to the water fall, because of course she would. Perhaps it was risky, perhaps she'd only end up doing damage to herself, but she was never one to take the easy route. She'd set herself down, breathing deep, and immediately gets hit with 'something', something that needed to not be there-that needed to be forced out.

The mental exercise was more exhilarating that she expected, but anything to expand her own abilities. Sometimes she does take the occasional break, but it's only when it's clear the strain is telling.

Perception

The first step in the water is accidental, and Sonya actually had to remind herself to breath when her foot goes through the first rock, when the one before was solid. She immediately planted both feet on the stone she was currently standing on, figuring quick enough what the objective was.

She knelt on the stone, studying the rest before her, trying to figure which were solid-and which would have her risk landing on her ass.

Heart

There was peace, a sense of serenity that she didn't know she missed. There's a beach: just endless shoreline, a cool breeze, gentle waves, and none of the crowds one usually associated with Venice beach. For a moment, Sonya could only stand there, wanting so much to just walk and loose herself right then and there-it would be so easy.

All her life, she was accustomed to self-denial; why was now the time she she couldn't bring herself to pull away.

Fear

She's lived with fear nearly all of her life. After all she's faced, after all the mental trails, she nearly rushes into the lake; anger and drive battling fear.

Movement catches her eye, and she seems some-perhaps a teammate, perhaps not, it doesn't matter. If they're straining, she'd reach a hand out for them. "Lets go. The more you linger, the worse it gets."

Outside the temple

Between tests, between mediation, Sonya took her time exploring the area around the temple; flora, fauna, it didn't matter, all of it was fascinating to her. Had she been able to, she would've collected all sorts of samples for later.

Alas, this was the one time she didn't have a note book with her. So all she can do is just study the various little fish that come her way, or collect small bits of plant life she could take with her.

Her mood is almost tangible, especially in light of the training sessions. There's a wide smile on her face and her eyes are wide as she takes everything in.

outside the temple

[irrationally]

While Alice does spend some time meditating and trying her hand at the trials, she can't quite keep herself from just wanting to explore. This place is beautiful - much better than the last place she'd been to that had a lot of water around it, and she can't help but marvel at every flower and creature she comes across.

No part of that is surprising. No, what's surprising to her is spotting Sonya doing the very same. After all, this seems like the least likely thing for the woman to do.

So the young lady raises her eyebrows as she spots the other, speaking up.

"Having fun?"

[chalicejoker]

[I - Meditation]
The silence part of this doesn't bother Hajime much. He's fine with staying quiet. It's the stillness of this meditation that he doesn't like. He'd rather be doing something; it's hard for him to see this as anything other than just sitting around waiting for something to happen. He'd rather not focus too hard on whatever's rattling around in his brain, thanks, because he knows his more monstrous side is still there. Quiet, but still capable of coming out to wreak havoc if he's not careful. He spends a little time in the shallows, and his brain sensing a thing there is not helping given his own concerns that the Joker Undead might surprise him in a moment of weakness. His restlessness brings him into the shells as though that might help, but he doesn't spend too long there. He can't. He stays quiet the whole time and makes no particular effort to reach out to anyone else, but the expression on his face suggests a very extreme discomfort with all of this.

[II - Combat]
The combat is much more suited to his tastes. He's never been fond of group work, but this isn't sitting around waiting for things to happen. It's better.

He'll follow along as instructed, absolutely comfortable with this sort of thing. Even though his own brand of fighting tends to be a bit more direct--and flashier, though he wouldn't describe it as such--there's still some use to this, and he feels like it's worth the effort. (Plus, it is not another round in the creepy water, thanks.)

[III - Trials]
Despite his misgivings about the meditation part of things, Hajime seeks out the trials when given the chance.

The illusions in the Cave of Percieving aren't too bad. It takes him a couple of tries, but he's able to cross without incident. Just crossing a river, that's simple enough.

Which means the illusions in the Cave of Endurance are a bit more than he'd bargained for. It's hard to curb his natural impulses to fight back when he's jumped by monsters of various types, all of them human-sized and covered in an uncomfortable amount of spikes. He gets wrapped up enough in the brawling in his first few attempts to earn more than a few cuts and scrapes, all of which are bleeding an unsettling bright green. Eventually, he and his scrapes and bruises manage to make it through.

The Cave of Heart is easier to shake off, even if it's more immediately painful. There's an excited little girl there, waving to him and calling out, "Hajime-san! Hajime-san!" Hajime remembers what he'd thought of the welcoming illusions from the previous mission. Too convenient, too easy, too likely to exist only to slow one's progress. That makes it easier--but not easy, never easy--to turn and walk away. Nope. Nope. Not real, not here, if he focuses on it not being real then it can't rip out his heartstrings.

He thinks he's done with the worst of it by the time he gets to the Cave of Mind. He's fought monsters, he's had to deal with an illusion of Amane, and he figures nothing else could rattle him too badly, especially not after the Sealing Stone had showed up during the last mission's illusions. It is with no small amount of surprise that he's slow to react to an illusion of the Joker Undead coming at him. Yeah, it's what he fears most, but it's also himself. This one's going to take a bit of doing.

i

[happyends]

Madoka has been trying out the whole meditating thing.

It's weird. It's not anything she's done back home, and so she can't help but wonder if it's normal that you feel something sneaking up on you like that. It feels weirdly omnious, while Madoka is pretty sure the whole point of meditation is calming down.. isn't it?

It makes her peek her eyes open. Enough to look around her a bit - and therefore enough to spot Hajime sitting there like that, looking so uncomfortable.

"Um.." She whispers, not wanting to disturb anyone else trying to meditate, as she leans a little in his direction. ".. Is everything okay?"

Siebren de Kuiper | OTA

[namethattune]

1. Fins to the left, fins to the right

One cannot know Senku for long without picking up at least a few of his habits or philosophies; it is that that has Siebren thinking about their food supplies and the opportunity to augment them while on this Nexus, especially since the past few worlds have not been amenable to the practice. To that end, he is standing atop one of the taller outcroppings of rock with a sliced sea apple in his hand, calmly hovering a slice far above his head, waiting for a fish to take the bait. He could simply grab hold of the fish's gravity and drag them to him, certainly, but where is the sport in that?

He offers a smile to anyone close enough to hear. "I admit I am not usually one for fishing; do you have any advice?"

He will also happily float people higher into the air if they want to get closer to the action or do a little spear fishing themselves.

2. You know that you cannot trust them

The cave of perceiving seems to be the one that can be best approached with a logical mind, and so it is the one Siebren chooses to start with. Damp clothes speak to having failed at least once; at this point, he is taking a more methodical approach, standing on a rock that he knows is real and using his powers to float one of the ball bearings Xander made him several missions ago, tapping them on rocks to see if they fall through. Solid rocks are passed over; illusionary ones give him pause as he studies them. Arriving at the correct answer is worthless without a solid methodology, and that is what he is working to develop.

"Pardon me - this second rock to the right, here-" And he dips the ball bearing through it, revealing it to be an illusion. "Can you find any marked difference between it and the one directly to its left? Aside from the fact that the one on the left is not an illusion, that is." Please help him. He's trying.

3. Wildcard

[It's a wildcard! You know the deal let's goooo]

Fins Fins Fins

[philosopherspotato]

Whether it was meant to be a mere conversation starter, or an honest question, Potato is at least taking it seriously as a search for advice. Cheeks puffed and brows furrowed in thought, she audibly hums as she taps her chin.

"Mhmmmmmmmmm... ...normally when people fish, they have to make the hook sink so that all the fish below can get to it..."

Potato looks up. "But the fish are above this time..! ...So... ...We have to make a hook that goes up instead then!"

She's a genius!

POTATO

[philosopherspotato]

[THE CAVE OF SOMETHINGS OR OTHER]

Let it not be said that Potato has not been trying. Dressed in one of her train-purchased outfits (and she will definitely do this again), she's spent much of the time in attempted meditation getting distracted by fish, the water, or both all at once. Even so, Potato is now wandering between the slabs of stone at the lake.

She has failed, very literally, at everything they can possibly fail at here, but again, she is at least trying. "Hmmmm..."

So many choices, so many choices... "Hmmm..." Potato crosses her arms, and occasionally taps her chin.

Eventually, she tilts her head way way way back, and looks at whoever is with her. "...I dunno which one to do."

Tragic really.

[HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS]

Part of why Potato hasn't been doing well, is that she wasn't especially made to cast doubt onto things. Trusting and innocent at heart, she leans toward believing what she sees more often than not. The few times it appears to not be the case are ultimately times where it's less about ignoring an illusion and more about having sheer faith that maybe, just maybe, something is hiding something better.

Which is about why she's been spending a lot of the Cave of Heart just...wandering. Relaxing. Turning this way and that way, wondering where the extra something in the woods and grasses and beach are.

But the interesting part, and ultimately the part where she just might beat the challenge, is thus.

Rather than believe the entire thing to be a mere illusion, she simply decides she doesn't need whatever it is that's in here. "Mnh, I've been here for a while..." she decides, eventually spotting someone else taking the trial. "OH!! Oh, hey!! Um, which way's out, I want to go get a snack!!"

It's time to leave- even if the illusions say no.

[BABY SHE WAS BUILT TO LAST]

On the opposite end of troubles, Potato trusting that what seems real is real, is not really helping a lot in the Cave of Endurance. Cheeks greatly puffed, and occasionally getting squashed down, briefly skewered, or even violently set aflame, nothing actually leaves lasting damage, but by the time anyone finds poor Potato she's got teary eyes and an unfortunate pout as she crosses her arms and sits.

Whoever gets close enough is getting a face full of sad Potato, in other words.

...

Help?

[BONUS! BONUS! FISH]

Well, after whatever trials have occurred, Potato spends what time she has left in this place wandering- as she is want to do. She gets herself coated in glow stuff. She gets pursued by giant car sized tusked manta rays who like glow stuff. She ends up riding the large car sized tusked manta rays, because, ultimately, other than perhaps trying to eat her, there's not a lot they can DO to her, so eventually and inevitably she ends up on its head.

Also other fish heads.

Possibly even a Shiri!

"WHEEEEEEEEHEHEHEHEHE!"

She's having a great time!

something or other

[ourtomorrow]

"Me too."

It's Wormmon! Who is, of course, accompanied by:

"But Ken-chan is figuring it out."

Indeed, Ken is staring at the entrances and thinking deeply. Four trials....It's good of the people here to offer them their facilities. But why has this order determined a world like this, with training like this, is necessary? Is the void really that full of forces that prey on the mind, and if so, what does that imply about....

"Right, Ken-chan?"

.....Right, Ken-chan?