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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Crowley's monologuing is a terrible habit, and Alice has managed to catch him in the midst of one where he's trying like hell to surmise the present emotions in the work of art before him. His head turns as he hears her voice, an almost instant fondness growing on his features before he sighs at her comment.

"There is more to me than scales and hellfire, kid." he teases, looking back at the painting almost instantly. "I once had my portrait done by the great Leonardo DaVinci." he notes, which is true; he also has his original sketch of the Mona Lisa on the wall of his Mayfair flat... among other works of art.

"And you? Do you have an eye for it?"

"So you are telling me you instead consist of scales, hellfire and odd connections to random historical figures?"

Of course she's just teasing in return too - as things usually go between the two of them, with this playful sort of bickering. But at least she's not discounting the idea that he really could have been painted by Leonardo DaVinci - after all, Crowley is a demon.

That makes pretty much anything possible.

She walks up to the spot he's standing at, if not just because she can take a look at the same artwork as well.

"But as for me.. I am not quite sure. This is the first time I have even visited a museum."

Crowley's lips sputter out an exasperated exhale, his head tilting down to give her a sideways glance. "I've walked the Earth for six thousand years, Alice... bound to have been acquainted with those history deemed important at some point."

He smiles anyway, shrugging. "History may deem you important, some day. And surely some other child will show skepticism when I mention your name."

Alice never having been inside a museum is somewhat of a shock to Crowley. But perhaps with what he knows about her it makes sense. Crowley's hand drapes on her shoulder, his other spread out before them as if beckoning her forward. "Come on then, let's explore this one together."

There's a faint pause on her end. Mostly because she finds the idea of her name being important enough to be remembered in such a way as important historical figures.. odd. Very unlikely, honestly. "If my name is going to live on in anything, it is in notoriety."

At least she's sure of that. But with those gestures coming from the demon, Alice doesn't seem to mind joining him one bit. She's already starting to walk - and the way she looks around at some of the things they pass makes it obvious that she is fairly interested in the things on display here.

"Though it is too bad that all these artifacts here are from other worlds. Now you can't claim bragging rights by talking about some of the famous painters you have met in your time as we see their work."

"We'll be in good company, then, you and I." he responds to that... because in case she's forgotten, he is supposed to be evil. Key words there being 'supposed to be'.

His hands shove back into his pockets as they walk, comfortably casual, his head bobbing about to look at each work. "I don't need to brag." he replies with a scoff, "I mean, if I were to brag, it would be about my own accomplishments, not someone else's."

Those key words are important! It's hard to think a whole lot about how demons are supposed to be bad and all when Crowley is at best a doting father and at worst the dad she sometimes bickers with, really.

.. the latter might be starting to sneak in a little here as Alice replies, though it doesn't sound like she's trying to be obstinate on purpose. If anything, she sounds kind of amused. Like Alice is just teasing him as they walk along the halls of this museum.

"So that thing about Leonardo DaVinci is just something you casually announce all the time without the intent to brag?"

Luckily for Alice, Crowley is mostly over the arguing and treats their bickering as a sport, similarly to how he bickers with Aziraphale. There's no harm in teasing for fun, as long as no boundaries are crossed.

"You said you didn't think I had an interest in art," he responds, "I felt the need to provide an example."

He turns his attention to a nearby sculpture. It could be abstract, or Crowley is just not familiar with the sort of object it might be meant to portray. Either way, it's intriguing.

"What do you think about this one?" he asks idly.

"This one?"

Alice seems to be willing to entertain this entire idea. Looking at art, seeing what it reminds her of. It feels a little like a puzzle, and Alice does like puzzles.. Even if this is one without an answer, most likely. Most of the plaques for these sculptures seem to have names so vague that they provide no context whatsoever about what the artist intended for the piece to be.

"Hmm.." She hums for a moment, tilting her head as she stares at the sculpture. Alice walks around it, like she might be able to see it from another angle, but then peeks her head out at Crowley from behind it as she says: "A rabbit?"

She wanders back over to the demon's side.

"Those things sticking out sort of resemble floppy ears."

(Granted, Alice of all people would see rabbits in a lot of shapes.)

Crowley's own brain is trying to equate the shapes with those he knows, and is struggling, but sometimes a work of art is more about emotion than a specific object... and the emotion he's feeling right now is confusion-speckled intrigue.

"A rabbit?" he asks, then bobs his head in resignation as she points out the ears. "Yes, I suppose. Some sort of alien rabbit... could be."

Alice pauses for a moment, as if she's taking in the words, but then echoes right back at the demon: "An alien rabbit?"

Thankfully the concept of 'alien' is something Alice has at least absorbed after her lengthy stay on the train, so that's one hurdle to understanding what he means out of the way. Though that might actually be what's making her seem just a tad pouty.

In that childish way, too, where she puffs out her cheeks just a bit. Like her inner child is showing, never fully having left.

"Don't call it something that uncute. I think this piece of art could have been a rather adorable rabbit, had it been fully turned into one." You know, instead of staying a fairly abstract piece of art. Apparently that's just the middle destination before it's turned into an adorable bunny in Alice's mind.

Crowley's eyebrows furrow in confusion at the word uncute. "Why does that imply is isn't adorable?" he asks, then stammers for a moment, "Nevermind. Forget it. It's an amorphous sculpture, anyway."

Sighing, he strolls along to look at other works. The more abstract ones are harder to decipher, because they very well may have some sort of reference within them, but Crowley doesn't know enough about these worlds to recognize them.

"Shall we move along?

Alice nods, in easy agreement about that last thing he's asking.

But there is apparently something on her mind, because she was just silently thinking as they passed those other artworks. Something she now slowly speaks up about.

"Do you think they have depictions of angels and demons here?" Alice knows it's something that can vary a lot from world to world, after all. There sure was a lot of that in London, but as far as Wonderland was concerned, angels and demons might as well not have existed at all. ".. Are they even universal concepts?"

It's not something she ever really thought about, despite knowing a literal angel and demon. Maybe it's seeing all this art here that's making her curious.

Crowley is surprised at the question, his expression considering for a moment before falling flat. "I used to think they were universal concepts, but that was before I learned that the universe was bigger than I originally thought."

He shrugs, "Or that there may be multiples of them. Anyway, I suppose anything is possible."

Looking around the museum, he starts scouting for any sort of signage. "Perhaps there's a section on religion. We could look..."

"I would like to," Alice pipes up.

Especially since he doesn't necessarily seem uncomfortable about the idea. If she did get that sort of sensation from Crowley, Alice would back down on the suggestion for sure. But if he's okay with it, then she's kind of curious. Not that Alice has ever been interested in the concept of angels and demons before, not in the slightest.. but a very specific angel and demon sure have awoken her interest.

"Perhaps we will find out this world has some odd, twisted versions of them. Like.. amons and dengels."

She's probably trying to joke around with that at least a little bit, judging by a certain hint of whimsy in Alice's tone.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The Waking of Neran

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject