So Familiar a Gleam: Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

Time to leave!

There is not much of the city left, but the park is holding together as those anchoring help those who are not voidtreckers through back to where they belong. Monsters continue to attack and a little further out there is a battle of hearts and minds being fought with the mass of colours and chaos.

Eventually, after the bulk of citizens had been evacuated everyone with SCA's on would hear Jin-Roh's voice after a few frantic beeps, as Chiff aligned everyone's SCA's. "We are almost done here, if you are with anyone not tethered to a voidcraft get them to the evacuation point, as quickly as possible."

Anan pulls out of the anchoring point to call out to any defenders in the park. "Come on! Anyone who isn't a voidtrecker! It's time to go."

Luckily those off fighting the entity headed the message and made their way to the park as Jin Roh spoke again.

"Everyone else get ready. When we call it you need to leave. If you don't have your SCA on then get to someone who does."

As the last people rushed to the park Anan calls out again, through her SCA and outloud to the park. "You need to unanchor, before you can evacuate. Everyone be ready."

She goes in again though, because there are some last people, those from the large battle, getting through as another message was called.

"Almost there. Be ready. On my command..."

Anan unanchored again. "Quick everyone unanchor."

"NOW" Jin Roh's voice came through strong on their SCA's. Hopefully those with SCA's would grab those without.

There is some outside help as well, the train pulls anyone who is unconscious or still under the entity's control, forcibly evacuating them. This includes Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and Zagreus.

Luggage Carriage

There has been a mass evacuation before and that was crazy enough but since then the population of the train has almost doubled and now it is an extremely tight squeeze as everyone crashes into the luggage carriage at the same time.

The train jerks and rolls as they enter into the void at breakneck speed and again as they seem to slow, rather than speeding off though the void.

There's a crackling from their SCA's. "Voidtreckers? Voidtreckers come in!" Anan's voice. "Please tell me you made it..."

There's only a few moments of signal and soon they are flying though the void again, away from the strange non-world, the entity sealed for now. To new adventures, but first hopefully some time to recover from all that has happened.

Comments

Re: low key

[consider8]

((you have no idea how much I want to call her a squid it is so much nicer to say and rhyme...))

The octopus lets out a muffled squeak at being scooped up, but its Tidus so its fine. If anything she seems to pool in his hands as the tired extends further and further. "No ink baths... too tired..." There were no ink baths on the train, Tidus. The only way she's been able to clean herself is through an ink sponge bath and that would be too much work. "'m just going to go to bed... maybe for... eight hours..."

The octopus yawns loudly.

[blitzcheer]

Sometimes you associate your sea-species friend with a bucket of ink and remember them being happy, okay. It doesn't have to make sense when everyone is tired and exhausted. Which, speaking of-

Tidus hums in approval of the plan, and he's walking them; no need for them then to stop at the triage for check-ins. He keeps his arms - and in extension, her - close to his body, letting her rest against his chest.

"Tell me when we get there; I don't know where anyone is anymore." Not that he can grumble about their carriages doubling up, but you know.

"But you sleep as long as you want when we get there. You've earned it."

[consider8]

Hmm... she coos in his arms and curls up closer. "I was an anchor for Eight people..." It was the proudest thing she did, and now she was paying for it.

"Tidus..." She whispers, mostly asleep. "Do you think if we had grown up together, we would have been friends like that? I think... that would have been nice..."

[blitzcheer]

"Eight!" Tidus repeats with amazement, pride in that too; followed by a light chuckle that vibrates in his throat when she continues.

"That'd be nice. But, you know, I'm pretty happy getting to know you now. Someone around to make my days on the train less dull... or even getting to visit your city would be cool. Have a nice dream about that," he adds in a softer tone, not wanting to disturb her sleepy state.

"Me as an honorary octoling; and getting my chance to play that ink game with you!"

[consider8]

The octopus giggles. "You'd be terrible at Turf War. The opposing team would just ink you all the time and get confused why you weren't getting splatted."

Hmn... "Tidus..." She said softly, barely a whisper. "When I saved you from drowning... was that a kiss?"

[blitzcheer]

"If they can't splat me, that sounds like I win," he boasts, knowing absolutely nothing of the rules. But then, did the rules have anything about people that can't be splatted? But it's a silly, fun thought in the first place, nothing to take serious - something as Tidus walks them to her room, which he is thankfully keeping an eye for.

Because oh hey, look - Eight's room. Lucky for them it was on the lower floor, 'cause Tidus was not checking upstairs. He happens to stop by it as she asks that mumbled question, and there's a pinch of embarrassment.

"Is this where you admit you've got a crush on me?" But more than that, there's something fun, teasing as he looks at her octopus-form in his arms. Asking quieter, but just as playful: "Want a proper one, as a good night kiss?"

Heheh.

[consider8]

As in response the octopus's tentacles coil up tightly. "You're not really my type." Of course, her type was 4'9" and sported lime green tentacle hair. As for the other offer. "...maybe next time." The red octopus made it apparent that she hoped there wouldn't be a next time.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus makes a low 'ohhhhh' sound, as if pained at the rejection, but it's all in good fun. Chuckling at the kiss dismissed for now, but his grin staying with him.

"Well, we're at your room. You want me to put you down, or I can carry you in the way in? Might have to un-octoling so I can get your ticket and tuck you into bed."

He ends that with a sly, teasing tone. But if she chooses to be placed down, Tidus will do just that.

Unless she really wants to be octo-human in his arms!

[consider8]

The reaction was enough to get a chuckle out of her, and a free pass to the next pervy thing he suggested, which was good because he used that ticket almost immediately if that tone was any indication.

"You're incorrigible." She huffs indignantly. "Put me down please. The ticket is in me right now." One of the weird traits of being an octopus: the ability to draw in and inkify anything that was on her person.

Once she's placed down she becomes her octoling for and... stumbles. She's so exhausted that even doing that much is a challenge for her. She stands and stares at the card recognition device before swiping at it a few more times before the door finally opens. "...stupid door."

[blitzcheer]

What a strong reprimand! But he does as he's told, puts his hands out to catch her when she seems to stumble, setting a hand on an arm to make sure she doesn't fall any more. But when she seems alright, Tidus takes a step back to give her room. His voice fonder when he tells her-

"Night. I'll see you when you're finally too hungry to keep sleeping." Heh. He gives her one last pat on a shoulder. "You did good."

[consider8]

Rather than say anything, she leans forward into him so quickly one might assume that she stumbled once more. As she falls her arms wrap around his waist and she buries her head into his chest.

"Thank you, Tidus, for looking for me. For being a friend." If there was one good thing she could take from the whole experience? Its how to appreciate giving hugs more freely to people you like.

[blitzcheer]

Oh. That pauses him a bit, a gesture he wasn't expecting. But at the same time, he's gotten used to this too; so he brings an arm around her shoulders, returns the affection with a squeeze.

"Right back at you. You've got my back, I've got yours."

And he'll take his arm back, give her a nod if she looks up. But whether it's just exhaustion making her like this, or just everything the last week has been on the mission, his words are true regardless.

"Find me if you need a pal."

[consider8]

"Mmm." She nods, a soft smile spreading on her face as she closes the door behind her.

Fortunate, too, because she face plants onto the bed as soon as she faces it.