middleofsomewhere | The Waking of Neran

The Waking of Neran

"Good morning Voidtreckers and passengers. Today is day twenty one of the month of Orchestra. We will be arriving in System #78961112094711 later today and the dressing carriage is open for your use."

It is indeed, with thick winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves in all sizes. There are also some bags suitable for carrying food, for anyone who wants to add to the festival food with more food!

They have the morning to prepare before another announcement.

"Shortly arriving in System #78961112094711. The weather is extremely cold, voidtreckers and passengers should wrap up warm and wear their SCA's at all times. Arriving in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."
The train shakes as they leave the void and they will see dark skies with glowing flecks of light falling down around them. It's only a glimpse before there is rock to both sides as they enter the landing area.

The Waking of Neran

... ARRIVAL TO OSIGA

THE VOIDTRECKER EXPRESS PULLS INTO AN OPEN HIGH-STACKED PARKING STATION, FILLED ALREADY BY A VARIETY OF VEHICLES. Darkness and the cold spills into where they pull in, lights and signs around to guide the Voidtreckers who exit the craft where they need to go, elevator and teleporting systems available to choose from.

For those turn their gaze to where the cold comes, they will see a view of the world: a landscape of mountains lit in burning bright blue. Like Christmas and city lights, they can be seen in the far distance, and the sky too glows with a shimmering, falling blue. It looks like a slow rain, while farther up, the twinkling of actual stars can be glimpsed.

This will be their view of the world for three Osiga days - 210 hours, give or take.

The lower floor widens into a train-like station, shuttles ready to take them into Osiga proper in short five minute rides. They just need to figure out they need to scan their SCAs at the turnstiles, which will beep with approval, and send a map to their SCA of the grotto.

With a handy dot to their hotel.

... THE IRUE GROTTO

HOTEL. THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOTEL IS STONY, A WALL OF UNEVEN ROCK WITH SLITS FOR WINDOWS CLIMBING UPWARD. It gives off a sparse, cold impression, but the interior is anything but. Inside the floors are smoother, a carpet in the middle of a lobby, and the walls are decorated with colourful paints and endless rugs and furs. There's seating, a roaring fire in one corner, and lighting set to a cosy mood.

There's stairs that can be taken, but also elevators. The bedrooms are much the same as the lobby, with paints and furs all around - the furs especially covering the beds, along with hand stitched quilts. In the centre is a fire pit, set with heatstones than wood or coal, and extras in a container by a wall with safety instructions of how to move them (with tongs and gloves).

Outside the rest of the grotto can be seen, a mish-mash of layers closer to a labyrinth. There's curtains for privacy, and also a screen to help blot out the sound.

FOOD & SIGHTS.

NOW, THE IRUE GROTTO CAN BE EXPLORED. The grotto is easy to get lost in, with stone stairs and archways doubling as bridges to lead to different levels, but always with something to see. Museums and art galleries fill most of the lower layers down, a few shops between of traditional trinkets and garments for those who come out interested in taking a piece of Osiga back with them. There are also day classes, with candle-making a big one on the first night.

Water runs through constructed streams, small but always in travel. They fall off into small waterfalls, eventually gathering into pools that always ensure drink is around. But there's also drinking spaces around, wall coves where servers mind the drinks, and people gather around on crouched seating. Privacy isn't a big deal in Osiga; visitors welcomed into conversation freely. The drinks favour the strong, spicy and sweet. Their traditional drinks are a fiery whisky and a sweet creamy milk drink flavoured by spices that taste very much like cinnamon and nutmeg. It is strongly alcoholic though there is a non alcoholic version as well. There are other drinks available of course from other planets but visitors are encouraged in a good natured way to try the good stuff.

And let's not forget the food. Most traditional Osigian dishes are spicy yet sweet, fatty, and largely meat. There are also food baskets all over, filled with wrapped snacks free for taking, or to add your own. Never let your neighbour go hungry. What will you find, dipping your hand in: a treat, or a mistake?

SORS PARKS, OPEN SKIES. THE FARTHER FROM THE HOTELS AND STATION VISITORS GO, THE MORE THE SKY BECOMES VISIBLE, AND WITH IT THE FALLING SNOW. Except this isn't snow, and those who venture out will figure this soon enough. There are sors parks up ahead, hard to miss for how they glow a brilliant blue, tall erratic sculptures shaped like an abstract mess. They're cold, even colder than the rest of the grotto, and near every entrance are wooden racks with coats and scarfs hanging from pegs, a bucket of heatstones to stick in pockets.

Keeping company is better than not. Anyone who goes in alone will find the chill uncomfortable to those who have someone else nearby, SCAs working stronger together. Paths somehow stay free from being covered in the icy mess, and every few yards are grit bins with small bags to put the contents in, instructions as to what to do.

And that's to throw them at the sculptures, into the air, and watch as the hardened ice disperses into a fizzle of lights. The sight is considered beautiful, and especially fun for kids and couples.

... ANAN & THE MINISTRY

It's maybe an hour or so after their arrival when a message comes through the comms on their SCA's.

boop beep boop beep / boop boop boop/ boop boop/ beep//
beep beep / boop beep//
beep beep beep boop/ boop boop boop/ beep beep/ boop beep beep / boop / beep boop beep/ beep/ boop beep boop beep/ boop beep boop/ beep/ beep boop beep/ beep beep beep//

"It didn't close the hack. I think your Voidtrecker Express likes me." Anan sounds almost triumphant. "Glad you all came. I'm at the drinking space next to the Irue Museam of Osigan Art."

For those that wish to go and meet her, they can.

... THE WAKING OF NERAN

NIGHT ONE: REMEMBERING. It's hard to tell when 'night' begins when the world is in darkness and there are more hours in the day then they are perhaps used to. But things begin to wind down a little, the art houses and museums close and the day activities are wrapped up.

People begin making their way to the main streets where the parade will go. Some people may have made candles throughout the day but there are also long candles for sale and 'fire' bearers carrying large torches to light the candles. The main lights are all turned off, plunging the streets into darkness lit only by the candles and the faint distant glow of sors.

The parade itself has large lit floats, literally floating above the ground, the lights are in intricate shapes. There are light dancers- people dressed completely in black to blend in to the night, with ribbons of light doing feats of acrobatics to music- instruments and volcaless voices weaving melodies.

After the parade passes by people move to the streams, where their floating candles that can be lit and sent on their way. There are designated areas for the tall candles to be placed- almost shrine like with areas to pray or think or sing- the helpful guides will assist anyone and are very open to the different ways people from various worlds and cultures may wish to remember their dead.

Afterwards people are encouraged to drink, eat, spend time with the living and swap stories of the dead. Dance and sing. It is upbeat, joyous and the tears are meant to be cathartic.

NIGHT TWO: PERSEVERING. After another day of activities- or resting and recovering from the excess of the night before the grotto again is ready in anticipation. The side of the grotto open to the sky is packed with people, ledges and railings packed with people. Even the buildings on this side of the grotto have opened their doors to allow people up on their roofs to watch the firework display.

Sparklers are sold, as are snacks and drinks and a voice comes through speakers throughout the space.

"NERAN! On this night you fight!" The crowd cheers. "Hear our dedication, return to us! For tonight is a night of COURAGE!"

The crowd cheers again and the fireworks begin. Loud and colourful, beautiful shapes, almost like dances in the sky. It's loud and it's busy but the atmosphere is great, throughout the night within the crowd there are marriage proposals, declarations of new jobs, decisions to travel the void. Bravery and courage abound- helped probably by the strong whisky that is flowing freely.

NIGHT THREE: UNITY. The festival continues, though it's a slightly later start on day three for many who are nursing hangovers, having a well earned sleep in preparation for the final night or just frantically trying to remember what declarations they had made the night before.

But the activities are still happening throughout the grotto- though the guides might advise any obvious voidtravellers that they may wish to nap before 'night' time, especially if they are not used to day/night cycles this long. The final night doesn't stop til sunrise after all and no one wants to miss the sun rising!

As the time comes for the party to start every square and every street is packed, music blares through speakers. Traditional Osigan music mixed with styles and music from other planets in the galexy. The traditional Osigan music has many layers, deep bass instruments that seem to make the ground itself rumble.

There is dancing, led by guides and locals. They are big circle dances, loud energetic and done in unity. There are callers who keep everyone in time and remind them of the steps but it is mostly an exercise in organised chaos.

But very fun organised chaos. There's extra chairs and benches set around for people who would rather watch or need a break from the endless swirl of dancers. There's plenty of water in large barrels for people to help themselves and other drinks are available to buy.

The party goes on for hours but eventually the music stops and there is an announcement that they have an hour left until sunrise. People begin moving out to find the best spots to watch. Up high on the cliffs people spread out rugs and blankets and settle, waiting.

The atmosphere is one of anticipation, people passing around drinks and snacks. Then there is a hush, a cry as for the first time in a month the first ray of light streaks across the sky.

Neran has awoken. The sun has returned once more.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. The Ministry's testimony form is here

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"But of course!" Q'uila trills, "'Tis somewhat tricky but I feel like you will be able to pick it up even if the range is not quite the same," She snickers, "Estinien hates it, poor sod keeps trying to out-range me. Oh! Did Krile and Tataru ever tell. You how they got him to work for them during our trip to the first?"

It's surprisingly easy for Zeka to manoeuvre him and his feline neck accessory towards the adjacent ball, though tipsy Q'uila is pliant and just seems to be enjoying his presence from the relaxed can't of her ears.

"Cèilidh is like Limsa step dance! But with a partner or group!" Her steps bounce in barely restrained excitement, "We do similar dancing at Q celebrations but there's a bonfire involved!"

It's hard to emphasize how unusual it is that Koumyou is one of the few people to brush past Yondu's guards and immediately end up on his good side. It's a rare unicorn of a situation, but he had managed it. It was the friend that Yondu'd needed early on.

"I ain't had much time to talk to 'im outside of plannin' this thing but-" He slaps Devero's shoulder. "You got it, big man. I trust ya to handle 'im."

She closes her eyes.

"People do not realise it until it happens to them." It's not really a correction, as much as it's an addition to what he's saying. Because this has very much been Alice's experience. Maybe not as much in the asylum, since she wasn't entirely lucid there and her contact with other people was very limited.. but the moment she got out and wandered the streets of London, she realised as much.

People can see death all around them. They can watch children dying in the street, each and every single day.

But they often don't start caring until it is their own life on the line.

"Thanatos.. forgive me if this is a very personal question." Alice opens her eyes again. Her fondness for him is betrayed in her words, the way she addresses him so politely, so tactfully. Alice wouldn't ask just anyone to forgive her, but she likes Thanatos. He has always been so kind to her.

The last thing she wants to do is potentially make him uncomfortable.

"But when people die.. do they see you? Do you come to get them..?" In Thanatos' own world, anyway.

"What can be done with a room that can be undone.."

Alice repeats the words as if they truly are a riddle. A riddle that she is currently trying to figure out.

Perhaps not too difficult of a riddle, though - or at least, nothing she can't think of a solution for. Alice turns to look at Guri as they walk, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Are you having an unbirthday party in there?"

"I think.. that is just what family is like."

Even though Alice knows her own bond with her sister was very different. She isn't too sure if Lizzie ever truly understood her, even though the other tried. It was just too difficult when they were so different, both in age and personality.

But even if the other might not have entirely understood her, nor cared for Alice's fantasy stories and worlds.. there is still a special bond. She has never felt about anyone the way she felt about Lizzie.

"There is a special bond you will always have with them, even when they are gone. A bond that you can't have so easily with anyone else."

Daimyo?

It's a word that Alice - oddly enough - recognizes from Wonderland, even though she knows the meanings of words are always twisted in that sort of place. Still, she knows that even out there in what most people would call the 'real' world, it is a word that exists.. something she has heard before in Radcliffe's office. Probably an eastern term, then, though Alice can't place it more than that.

But after quietly listening and pondering that for a moment, the young woman speaks up once more.

"So it fell apart?"

Just that short question is all she asks. But since Tobirama is speaking so much right now, Alice figures he wants to talk about it. In her experience, the stoic types are never ones to speak this much without reason. Without wanting to, for some reason.

So she will gladly ask such a question to help the story along. She is rather interested in the story thus far, anyway.

"We would have prefered that to not be the case either," Inigo remarks - kind of dryly too, because yes, indeed, that's the exact problem! If the train just wasn't going around, dragging people in from all sorts of worlds willy-nilly, without thinking about the consequences for the worlds left behind or what would happen if the tether was unstable and people 'left'...

Inigo shakes his head, sensing that he's falling into a trap about negative thinking, knowing that he'll feel like crap if he considers this for much longer.

So she sucks in a breath, attempting this again. Come on, Inigo, at least see something positive in all this.

"At least we do have some contact with you now. It's better than nothing." Even if that's a very low bar. "I was almost starting to feel as if we would just be at the train's mercy forever."

Since it's not like they can just untether themselves and go home that easily. If it's even this hard for the Ministry to figure out the situation, then how could they, people with zero experience with any of this, have figured it out by themselves?

Look at this. Even Taiki is starting to learn the ways of Inigo teasing. Inigo truly has no one to count on anymore.. All of his friends are horrible teasing fiends..

Though thankfully - thankfully - Taiki just happens to mention Tidus there at the end, and it practically works as a lightning rod for Inigo's attention. He will gladly think about Tidus instead of himself, yes! Sounds great to him!

"I don't think I saw a stadium here.."

.. Inigo pauses, before frowning, like he's wondering something.

"Erm. Do you know what those are?" Hey, he figures he ought to ask, since the only reason Inigo knows about those is since he's seen them in all the blitzball stuff Tidus showed him. They don't really have sports stadiums in Ylisse.

"I wasn't really going to!"

(He was really going to.)

But Inigo recognizes a good protest when he sees one, and so Tidus will be spared the awful, awful fate of having ice just brutally crammed into his mouth by Inigo. For today, anyway. Instead he shifts his hold on the other a little, so it's easier to move around with Tidus like this, and keeps walking. Looking at all of the establishments they're passing until he sees one that does look like it's got some space to sit - a table that looks pretty comfy too, near a hearth.

.. It's kind of like that time they went to the tavern in Irivar together, huh. Different, but.. just reminiscent enough of it. It comes closer to that place than any other they've visited, at least when it comes to their interior aesthetics.

So Inigo heads in there, carefully - rather than unceremoniously - dropping Tidus onto a seat, before heading over to the staff and asking for a cold drink for his friend. And something sweet for him. Maybe they've got some mead..?

"There," he says once he returns, sitting down at the table as well. "They're going to get you something. And you're sitting! All nice and comfy! What more do you want?"

At least it's not said in a please-stop-whining tone. Instead it's just said with a smile on Inigo's face, like an excited dog. Or just one that's eager to please. Now everything is ok, right!! He fixed it, didn't he!!

Thanks to Tidus for having so much faith in Inigo's tears. And he isn't wrong, honestly. There's almost no way this won't end up - in some way - with Inigo crying.

But he is willing to do it! Perhaps with some.. unusual external motivation going on for him here, but he is doing it! He's holding Tidus's hand right back when he feels it being grabbed, and a moment later Inigo is blindly reaching out with his other hand, feeling one of the natives latching onto it without hesitation.

The next moment he is being pulled along once more. And he can't deny it - there's still a nervous feeling in his stomach. The feeling one might have while sitting in a rollercoaster, watching the car climb higher and higher very slowly. The feeling that danger can set in any moment now.

Though--

Inigo moves his feet. He moves along in the circle, letting himself be tugged along, no matter how nervous he is. His breath is a little shakey from all the sheer emotion and adrenaline that's coursing through his veins right now, but he is doing it!

"It's.. It's so fast..!" He manages to force out, almost gasping.

(Mind you, he did not say too fast! He is not giving up!)

Their programs? In that case Ten-Nank really must be some sort of robot, Madoka thinks.. Although a much more futuristic one than anything she has ever encountered back home. A little like Orisa, then, since she could also interact with people as if it was nothing..

And while the idea of having someone who can speak to her on a slightly more even level with her does seem appealing to Madoka, she seems to hesitate a little at their choice of words.

"Would it.. be a bother for you to adjust yourself? You don't have to if you don't want to.."

Sorry, Ten-Nank. Madoka is too polite to not mention that. But at least she does continue with something more helpful, adding: "Though.. it might be a little bit easier to talk that way, yes.."

"Ah..!" Madoka quickly shakes her head, staring at Naoya. "No, it's not since I'm giving up hope..!"

Though she knows that the situation in her world must have turned complicated as all heck because she disappeared at a very, very vital moment.. But that wasn't even the thing she was referring to, considering she'd rather not think very much about that at all.

No, this is more about the plan she had even before that. What was supposed to happen, before she disappeared.

"It's exactly because I want to give everyone hope. I know this probably sounds really weird.." If not just because she's so young and all. And because Madoka hates making herself sound so important. It's not like her at all. But what's factually true, is: "But I'm the only person who can save my world."

".. He must have been a very kind person."

Even though she can understand why Ken was so mad at him. After all, even if it was an accident.. it must still be hard to accept the fact that someone had an actual hand in said accident. Especially when you're still as young as the two of them are.

But despite Ken's anger.. that person still wanted to protect him. To prevent the same thing from happening to him as happened to his mother.

"You know.. I'll remember him too." Since they are at a remembrance right now.. "So that way.. he'll have even more people thinking about him. Wishing him the best, wherever he may be now."

If he's truly such a kind person.. then he easily deserves it.

So it seems like they agree on that impression. Madoka is a little relieved to hear that, especially since it seems that some people on the train still don't want to trust the Ministry at all.. But Madoka - as kind as she always is - finds it hard to turn down help when it's being offered to them like this.

Especially when staying in touch with the Ministry can maybe help her ensure that at least Ple Two gets the ending she wants to have.

"Do you think they'll be able to figure out some sort of solution for us soon? Or.. um, probably not soon, since it must be a really difficult thing for them too.." Madoka does figure there probably aren't a whole lot of dimensionally kidnapping trains out there. Probably.

"It's all the same to me," they said with a sigh, per usual. "No, I think I know a useful one. Please wait."

There is nothing, a sort of emptiness that fills in easy around them every time they go silent; with the few motions, movements they make. Still as a statue, a piece of furniture, with only the soft glow coming from the slits shaped as eyes.

--And then, they glow stronger. A flash, and then Ten-Nank turns their head to Madoka again.

"There." Gentle. In one word, the tiredness that slept in each word has been lifted off; with that one word, Ten-Nank considers the room more than they have, searching, and their eyes find one of the seating pillows, the chairs.

They gesture out a slim arm and hand to them, a certain grace present that wasn't before.

"Would you like to sit? The room's temperature may not be good for you - I apologise. I've had my programming off to tell what's suitable for my guests, but we can sit near what remains of the fire. We can talk. You've been unable to - to anyone from the void, until now. I'd like to offer you what I can before our time ends. Some comfort. It may be small," they admit, "with the worries you have to carry. But I can listen. Let me."

"Oh yeah, I can do that. Definitely." Especially now that he's got all the fruit separated in his head and realizes better how to grow and change plants. Means he can do all that shit on purpose instead of accidentally.

He just needs to work on growing in bursts.

Luckily Yondu doesn't know all that much about myths, so he doesn't ask about any embarrassing implications. "But still with the big juicy seeds on the inside with the rind still its own thing? Or just seed flavored all the way through?"

He accepts the water gratefully, though he doesn't down it quite as quickly as the milk. He's definitely starting to feel better. "Does it also stave off their tongues?" She's helped him assuage the spice, but the salt sure isn't going anywhere.

...but it's not exactly necessary, and he finally catches his breath. "Sorry. That was rude." Anan is from here, isn't she? He doesn't need to go insulting her home just because he ran afoul of the wrong food. "And I wouldn't mind trying something else."

"Still bothers me that all I got left to my name is bein' a Ravager. But, y'know... I still believe in what it represented so maybe I can carry that bit on. An' I guess..." He rolls his eyes. In this sense it's a lot harder than those one on one admissions, like what he just made. Putting it into trite and twee words seems disingenuous compared to what it truly is. "I guess I've made new friends an' have a new team to fight by an' got a new family."

Edited 2021-12-28 23:50 (UTC)

"Just because they're a physical being doesn't mean that they can die. Even immortality has its limits, though, I suppose." He's well aware of that fact, but he'll drop it there for now.

Portals? He can think of one other person who could do that... but this isn't that person. Nor is that person worth wasting much of a thought on anymore. "I'm sure you would have broken your neck and been an even bigger pain in my ass." There's almost a tease to his tone, even if he truly does mean that he's sure he would have killed himself somehow doing that. "Good thing I did find you before you made the revelation of flight."

"We come back here. I think." He squints a little bit over at Kabuto, frowning. "Though 'm sure I wouldn't say no to mouth to mouth from a cute guy like you."

Shame? What's shame? Definitely not here.

"Oh, I know that we do. But it still sounds rather inconvenient." He might not have witnessed how that death thing works, but he can imagine that there's something that's a trade-off that they don't know or he isn't aware of it.

He doesn't even pause in his walking at the mouth to mouth comment, merely rolling his eyes and shaking his head. "If that was an attempt to flirt with me, that's by far the worst one I've heard yet. But at least not the most ineffective, at least I acknowledged that one." It could be worse, it could be so much worse.

He tries not to cling, but he is absolutely clinging. He knows hugs aren't something Thanatos generally enjoys, which makes him that much more grateful for this one - for the fact that Thanatos is willing to help him in the way he needs.

"Okay." He knows he's being led away - Thanatos thinks he should rest, and...well, Thanatos is right. Stress is exhausting, and relief is exhausting, and he's gone from one to the other in very quick succession. He's going to need time to settle and get his wits back about him before he can do much else.

(Not bringing up the possibility of him helping other souls yet is, as it turns out, the right move.)

He doesn't really let go until they get closer to the hotel, and he stops and looks up at Thanatos. "Thank you. For...all of this." For the butterflies. For sticking by him. For helping him figure himself out. For the hug. For caring.

K'zeka wouldn't really expect Elidibus to care for many, if any, who had lived or was currently living on the First or one of its shards. Emet-Selch was plain enough about not liking the present inhabitants, so it wasn't a stretch to assume that there wasn't really anyone Elidibus had gotten attached to.

"Unukalhai?" The sudden question is a little startling, as he'd expected Elidibus to be done talking altogether. "I...don't believe I did. Were they one of your lot?" Ascians, he means.

With the sun coming up, Thanatos lowers his head to let more of his bangs block the light. He may have to turn around once it gets too bright as he doesn't have a hood with this outfit.

"I didn't before, but the train has shown attempts to understand and grow. It is not malicious, I think."

"I wonder about that world the train originates from. In the many discussions we passengers have had, there was a suggestion that the train's world was devoured by those world-eating shadow beings. I don't know where the information came from, or even if it's true. But if it is, the train is an orphan and must find its own goals and engineer its own survival. And as for the desire not to be controlled. . . as I said, I can understand it. I was thinking that in its rush to make its own destiny, it may have forgotten that those who help it have desires as well."

He shook his head dubiously. "The non-traveling self is left where the train picks us up? I doubt this. I was picked up while traveling in spirit form in the Void, and I seriously doubt that I am still there. And even if I had been picked up from my own world or one of the worlds I lived in later on, I wouldn't have a caretaker. I'd probably be dead by now."

"And as for the train being malicious, I don't believe that at all. I think its method of acquiring Void Warriors is pragmatic, not hostile."

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The Waking of Neran

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