middleofsomewhere | 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

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No." It wasn't her fault. Thankfully she knows that - and can say it now. Perhaps that's the only reason she can properly say goodbye to her family, properly remember them at a moment like this, without worrying about it all being her fault.

"But it took a long time to figure that out. Especially since everyone around me was constantly telling me that it was my fault."

That she was a danger to everyone and everything around her.

"Well they did be being stupid." If she ever saw anyone from Alice's world she would kill them, because they had made Alice feel like it was her fault that her family were dead. When it was not. Not at all.

"If we do ever be going back you should be stabbing them all."

Stabbing people is definitely not the first solution to any given problem a child should have.

But it's just part of this girl now, isn't it? So ingrained that all Alice can do is ensure that she stabs the right people, rather than turning into the type of person Alice herself detests. So even though encouraging this might not be the best thing, Alice can't help but let out a breath that makes her actually feel a bit more relieved at hearing that.

"I think I would get in quite a bit of trouble for that," she just says.

Because it's true, okay. The last thing Alice wants is being thrown into jail again..

"Instead I just like to imagine that they must be living fairly miserable lives, to be so concerned with another person's business who isn't related to them at all. They must not have anything interesting going on in their own life, clearly."

That's true. She would probably get into trouble. Even if it was there fault in the first place. Such was the world. She sighed.

"Yes, they do be being stupid head boring people. You do no be needing to be thinking of them anymore."

Because Alice had a much more interesting life now. Even if that involved being on a train, sometimes with even stupider people.

"I know," Alice replies.

And.. well, she knows she hasn't. Or much less so than she used to, anyway. It was hard to avoid thinking about those people around London, considering they were basically constantly harassing her in some way or another. People talking behind her back as she passed by, or just insulting her to her face..

But it's been so long since she's had to deal with that.

"I do not like the train." That much is clear to Alice. It does things in such dumb ways! It's annoying! But.. "Though I do not dislike being there with people who treat me kindly. Like you."

Look, some people might struggle to necessarily call the girl kind, especially from a first impression. But Alice thinks that the girl is kind enough to the people she deems worthy of it. Being picky about who you want to associate with isn't a crime.

She looks very surprised to be called kind. She doesn't think anyone has ever called her kind in her whole life. She isn't someone who is kind, she's not someone who tries to be kind.

If Alice thinks she is kind then she truly has only met very cruel people in her life.

"Lots of people on this train do be being stupid, or babies." Or stupid babies, looking at you Emporio. But...

"But they do no usually be being mean or cruel. Which do be being good. It would be being worse being stuck on the train and having to be hiding all the time."

The funny part? Even though the girl isn't saying the stupid babies part out loud, Alice is definitely continuing it inside of her own, like she can hear the other think it - or like she just knows the girl enough to be fully aware that she thinks the two elements can be combined within certain people.

She does agree though. As a whole, the population of the train is better than pretty much anything else Alice has experienced in her life. But even so..

"Don't worry. Even if the entire train was like that, I would still protect you." So even if all the nice people would suddenly mysteriously disappear and they'd get an influx of entirely terrible people - a scenario Alice doesn't imagine is totally impossible - she would not make the girl spend the rest of her journey hiding.

She tilted her head and then smiled. "I would be protecting you too."

This means they are friends right? This was how friends were. It's still new but Alice is one of her favourite people on the train so she is confident in thinking they are friends.

Who protect each other from stupid and cruel people. "And if any of those people from your world did be coming here I would be stabbing them, so you would no even be getting into trouble."

".. Thank you."

Some people might be a little bit more unsure about the promise of stabbing, but.. well, if Bumby specifically showed up here? Then Alice would want the girl to stab him not just for Alice's sake, but for the sake of the girl's own safety as well, so she certainly isn't going to complain about it.

The talk makes her feel a bit lighter, she only now realises as she slowly lets out a breath.

"You know.. I think we are done here." For now. "Let us go find a place where it is not quite as crowded. Have you eaten yet?"

She nodded, she thought they were done as well and there were more people wanting to get into the shrine so leaving was best before it got far too crowded.

"Yes, but I can be eating again."

The food here was great and she plans to sample it all before she leaves.

Alice is a good influence in some ways, but not in this way. Because if the girl wants another meal, then she can have it. Alice is much more used to underfed rather than overfed kids, after all.

So she puts a hand on the girl's back, guiding the two of them out of the crowd.

"I think we can find something delicious if we look around."

"I do be being sure we will be being."

She smiled at her. That was the best cure to such sad thinking, more delicious food. So it was good that Alice agreed.

She walked with her, to find somewhere selling delicious food.

The Waking of Neran

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should we wrap it here?

Yep <3