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

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So it was cake icing! But maybe not as tasty! He could imagine that. But then Idia slumped and looked all sad all over again. Romeo tilted his head.

He had to forget about the snow icing?

"What's wrong sir?"

"Ah, nothing," Idia sighs out, his tone back to that tired monotone he often speaks in. "Just missing something from my world." Idia never imagined not having access to internet in some sort of form. This is all been a tough transition for Idia, he still finds himself trying to access sites out of habit, for games or music or information. It's like having a huge chunk of him cut out and left behind.

"Oh." He moved a little closer, looking up at him. "Do you miss it a lot?"

He missed the heavens too sometimes, he missed his friends but he was used to people vanishing and not being around anymore. It had happened ever since he could remember and he had made many friends on the train too.

But Idia was much bigger than Romeo and probably remembered his whole life, so he had memories of much more than a year. That meant he had more things to miss.

"Yeah. A lot."

Idia then realizes Romeo may think he's talking about a physical thing, though how does he even start to explain it? "It's, ah, it's a thing called the internet. Though it's not an item." Though he supposes he could argue it is in a manner, with servers and all that, but lets not get that far into it.

"It's like the messaging system the train has, but it's not just talking to other people or reading limited information on it. It's connected to almost everything in the world, every book, movie, game. All sorts of information across all types of knowledge, like sciences and art and just weird thoughts and fact. You can talk to anyone else anywhere in the world, and share any information you want to on it." Another sigh. "If I had it here I could show you what icing looked like on different places, like pictures of trees covered in it, or videos of how it affects plane wings. It's... everything, almost." Then a breath of a 'heh' of laughter. "Or just pictures of cakes with icing on them." Since Romeo had clung onto that point during this.

Sorry Romeo, he's rambling now.

"Oh I think we had the Internet in the heavens. Sort of like that. Except we could just talk to other people in the heavens on the BBS boards but we could look up information."

He's grinning now glad they had something in common. "We had it on our phones. We could look up pictures of things like capybara on them."

...Heaven has internet? "That's awesome." Idia whispers in amazement.

He also can't help but smile widely at the very child-like choice of things to look up, as if it was obvious that would be the first thing to have pictures of. "That's a good choice of pictures to look up." Oh, innocent youth.

Though that's coming from a rather jaded 18 year old...

He grinned. "Do you like Capybara's! In Japan which was um... It was the bit of the human world that connected to the heavens. It had the most shrines so we could go there easily! There was a bit theme park that was all about Capybara's!"

He grinned. "It was the first place I ever went and there were spinning cups and churros!"

"Yes, I like them. I like cats the most though." They're just so cuddle, and fluffy, and wonderful in every way. "Oh, and dogs." Dogs were also good. Though...

"I've never heard of a place called Japan before." It doesn't sound like somewhere from Idia's world, but he supposes that would make sense. So many different worlds and all that. But the sound of an animal themed park... "Is there cat parks too?" Because he would love to see one of those.

Cats and dogs were also nice and fluffy! He liked cats, he had had lots of friends who were cats!

"I never heard of a cat theme park but I didn't go to many places in the human world. But I did go to a cat festival once! That was fun we all got to dress up as cats too! I got paint put on my face to make me look like a cat!"

He bet somewhere in the world there was a cat theme park.

"Oh, oh... I don't think I could do that." Idia knows what he's about, he's not sure he can handle the costume and face paint and stuff in public. Although, "Unless it was Halloween... and maybe based on... a scary cat monster... thing?" Was there a horror movie cat monster he could use? Maybe.

"Oh Halloween is fun too!" He grins, another festival that he knows. Maybe his and Idia's worlds aren't that different after all!

"It was fun! I got to help sell mochi and look like a cat all at the same time!"

"Oh, mochi is good, especially when it's filled with other stuff." Like red bean, or chocolate, or ice cream! Oh, the ice cream ones are so good! The best of both a chewy and a cold sweet.

"My school holds a Halloween festival each year that allows non-students to come. Each dorm gets a room of the school to decorate and for us to hand out candy." Halloween was the best. You got to dress up and hide behind a mask and pretend to be someone else for a day. But it had to be scary, not cute, well not totally cute, the point of it was to scare people. You can't have a treat without a risk of a trick.

"You went to a school sir? Was it fun?" Halloween at school sounded very fun! Scary things were good as long as they were just pretend!

"Miss Della did scary halloween things on the train! Were you here then? It was so much fun and we got to eat yummy food!"

It was very fun, though remembering it made him miss not only Della but also Alfredo who he had spent the day with.

Ugh... "It was..." It was something... not that Idia tried to interact with it more than he had to. "Uh... fine?" He guesses? Would any other school be any better? He doubted it.

"For this Halloween? I was, but it didn't look like anyone did anything." Which makes Idia sad to think he had missed out on a Halloween, but he guesses the train really isn't 'normal' by many standards, let alone keeping to holidays that only certain locations would have. He had been tempted to bring it up himself... but got scared at the idea of all that focus put on him trying to make it happen. It would be too much pressure. "Good, good food is important for Halloween, especially candy."

"Oh, hm." Idia raised a hand to point off to the distance for Romeo. "Looks like it's time."

"It was a long time ago." He shook his hand. "I don't know if you were here..."

He can't remember. So many people come and go. But then his eyes widened as Idia pointed out that it was time.

"The sun is coming!" He sat up, not wanting to miss a moment.

"Maybe next year..." Though... the idea of being stuck here another year... Idia's not sure how he feels about that.

However that wasn't important right now, and he's not sure if he could, or should, drag Romeo's attention away from the sun rising. In fact... just in case... Idia waved a finger to bring his computer around to face the sunrise, starting it recording a video of it. Maybe one day he will be able to share this all with Ortho...

Romeo watched in wide mouthed amazement as the sun peaked over the horizan, the first streaks of light in the sky.

As he had thought, this world was even more beautiful with colour and there were no clouds today, the sky lighting up to a most beautiful blue colour.

"Wow! This is amazing!"

"Yeah. It is." He could replicate it in VR. Get the lighting right, the correct colors, the way it reflected on the snow. Idia could make it all perfect.

...but it wouldn't be the same. He had always used that excuse to not go out, saying he could remake a place digitally, that way he could stay comfortable in his room. But in a way... being stuck out in the cold that bit against his exposed skin, sitting on the hard ground, the sounds of others around them and also enjoying this. It... it was nice.

...it would be better in a climate controlled room though... but it was nice.

As much as he was enjoying it eventually Idia started fidgeting with his gloved fingers as time progressed, waiting for it to hurry up and be done, checking now and then if others were leaving and Romeo was still enraptured with this all. Idia did manage to stick it out, but by the time the sun was beyond the point of 'sunrise' he was more than ready to leave. Standing up he gave a groan as he straightened out, arching his back to stretch his legs and back out, before returning to that normal stoop of his, looking to check on Romeo. The kid had been up all night and waited through the early morning for this, he must be tired, right?

Still, better to ask instead of assume. "You ready to go back?"

Romeo truly was caught in the moment, watching how the colours came back to the world, remembering the story and knowing that Neran had defeated the night time and the darkness, that she had come back to the world because everyone had wanted her to and cheered her on.

But soon it seemed that Idia was ready to go and really Romeo was so tired he felt like he could curl up and sleep for a whole day!

"Yes," He yawned, "I think we should go back and sleep before we got to go on the train again."

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The Waking of Neran

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