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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He gestures to himself. "Eh, don't worry about it. I'm actually fine with all this-" he gestures down at himself. "It gets me around, it throws a punch, it takes a punch, and it holds food long enough for me to make a nuisance of myself. It's just an old habit I got into when people tryin' to provoke me thought it meant somethin'."

He'll always make light of it. Almost his whole crew was in as ruined a state as him. Even Quill- he might have been more handsome, but he certainly had a few holes poked in him.

But he listens to the sad story, what she had to do, and frowns. It occurs to him how to tell a different kind of story later, but he doesn't want to mention that one here. Instead he just thinks on what kind of toll that had to take. Well... here he is, dragging her through the past a little more.

"So what all happened after? With the village an' the like?" at least he could bring that up.

"Practicality," she muses quietly, it's something she can appreciate. Someone can be pretty, but if there's no substance then does it really matter? Does it matter if they're pretty if they can't take a hit?

She takes another drink, thinking over the timeframe exactly. It's... been a bit since she's really had to recall this particular part.

"Relative peace for a bit, if you can believe it. Or as much as could be done during the time of the other villages being founded and all of them wary. We had our first child. Which was quite an event in and of itself as we weren't entirely sure how the seal would hold up during that time..." Tense all around, honestly. She shrugs with another drink, oops. "It ended up holding. The best way to keep the beast from becoming free and loose being to filled with love and I had that in spades during that time. Eventually, I went with Hashirama to seal away the other eight tailed beasts, which he used to try and foster peace with the other villages."

"Yeeeeeaaah, I think I'd be kinda foggy on the whole two critters inside me thing, but luckily 'pregnant' is never a state I had to deal with in any capacity- nope, wait... on one escort mission, I looked out for a lady. But othern' that, y'all sound like you had an adventure."

And they protected everyone, brought them together, managed something with each other. Sounds like a happy ending.

"Stakar didn't exactly want that kinda united front but Ravagers were their own kinda community. I know he threw his back into makin' it all work. He an' his wife, Aletta... an' I mighta liked her husband quite a bit but she was real good with a sword an' real light on her feet so I decided to treat her with a healthy amount of respect and not even think about goin' there." Which isn't true. He'd have not been brave enough to approach Stakar even if he hadn't been married. But it's a funny enough way to put it.

"The most exhausting time of my life, I can tell you that." She has to hide a laugh behind one of the sleeves of the yukata, she really doesn't regret any of it when she looks back on it. "Something like that. The other beasts all presented their own problems, but when you've already dealt with the strongest of them, it wasn't that bad." Some of them were absolute pains in the asses, but that's beyond the point right then.

A happy ending at that particular point in time, there's worse later down the line as he's already more than aware of given previous conversations.

She's quiet as she listens to him, leaning back somewhat as she takes another drink. Stakar and Aletta, names she's filing away for later, just in case. "Generally anyone that's light on their feet and good with any sort of larger weapon is to be feared, in my experience." Unless they're the samurai, but they don't count. "A community is still a community, isn't it? Whether it's meant to be organized to that level or not. That's the thing about sentient beings, it seems, always looking for a group to belong to..."

"Yeah.... well, bein' a Ravager was good for two kinds of people that could fight. The ones that didn't have no home to go back to, or the ones that looked out at the sky an' saw everywhere as their home. I was a little bit of both, and it worked out for a whole lotta people same as it did me."

Of course he prefaced it with 'that could fight'. Stakar wouldn't have wanted to condemn people that couldn't hold their own since there would always be people after them. And probably the only part of Yondu's mind truly at peace, that's always been at peace, is that he's at home wherever he's standing. Sure he might be awkward around a person, but right now in a strange hotel room he's not been in for more than a short while he's as comfortable as someone who visits on the regular.

"Hey, fightin' the big guy first and wreckin' 'em usually makes an impression on all the lessers. So how'd you take care of 'em?"

"... Admittedly, I'm a little envious. While I got to travel, it was always for some sort of business or some sort of purpose. I was never really "free", as it were. Always had an eye on me either from my own clan or from the village." Which she supposed made sense, being an Uzumaki was painting a target on your back when you're easy to identify from looks alone. But she can understand not wanting to condemn people who can't hold their own. While shinobi were meant to fight, there were those who did... other things. Or the types like the medics.

While she may be a chameleon of some sort, blending into her surroundings to at least look like she belongs, in reality she doesn't. She knows it, she has always known it, but it's better to look and pretend to be confident even if you aren't.

"We had no choice in starting with the biggest, but I suppose the point stands." She sets her drink off to the side to flop back onto the bed properly, folding her hands on her stomach while looking at the ceiling. "How we took care of the others? It depended on the beast, each of them has a different powerset. The kyuubi was usually blunt force, but also seemed to have a fire affinity at times. Then there were others like the nanabi who had the ability to fly and use blinding powders. Each had a different appearance, as well. The kyuubi, a fox. Nanabi, who I just spoke of, a rhinoceros beetle." She huffs out a soft breath, she doesn't really miss that one in particular. "Usually the idea was to get them caught in some sort of trap, to try and wear them down or catch them unaware in order to seal them. Their seals take time with the vast amount of chakra they all have."

It's a different word, but the pronunciation of 'kyuubi' is enough to give him pause, a familiarity striking him. Even if he knows that it has to be a different thing.

Now there's two places in his mind where those are valid issues. But considers for now.

"One of my girls... Her father is a real powerful demon. We're talkin' king of the underworld powerful. She's real worried that if she ever goes home, he could use her to screw over the world. Makes me wonder if there's somethin' strong enough to help her. But somethin' that big? Might be too much."

He does feel bad for her, though, and he wants to be able to help her.

"I heard of somethin' called a Kyubey but it was a different kind of asshole."

She pauses as she mills that over in her mind. A powerful demon as a father? And worried he could use her... Hm.

"Actually. The point of seals is to seal away a power, it's not just taking one thing and sealing it into another. There are ways to seal away someone's own power, or to cut off their chakra if need be. Depending on how much different her properties are from what I am used to, it's possible I could figure something out..." She trails off for a moment, running over a few seal possibilities in her mind. It would have to be something powerful like she used for the kyuubi, but also altered to be for someone's own power instead of to be a cage for something else...

A conundrum, but it'd give her something to work on.

"Kyubey," she starts slowly, the word tasting weird in her mouth as she says it. "There's many kinds of demons and creatures out there, hearing there's more elsewhere hardly surprises me."

"This one is an alien that preys off the emotions of teenage girls. Uses their hormonal years as an energy source. Actually one of my girls has that problem. She got cheated by a Kyubey, now her existence is dependent on keepin' her either happy, or cleanin' a special gem of dark magic. And it's goddamn hard to stay happy on that train. Then there's the other, the girl whose father is a demon. She still uses power she inherited from him, but she's also in a state where she cain't get real emotional."

Yondu dips his head a little, sadly.

"Before this I just raised my boy. These two girls... I want nothin' but the best for 'em but I don't know how to do that. Especially when they ain't even allowed to feel freely without feelin' like they're committin' some kinda crime against people. It ain't fair... Even I can be a grumpy piece of shit at my leisure."

Though he stops himself from unloading more, he half hopes for some advice. She's been a teenage girl once, after all, even if it was apparently in an era passed. And she's another parent, which he appreciates.

"Hormonal years as an energy source..." And a dark magic gem? Those are out of her normal area of expertise since chakra certainly isn't magic, but she can understand not showing emotions or getting overly emotional. There has to be something that can be done, isn't there?

She hums softly to herself as she mulls everything over, rolling onto her side to offer a reassuring hand if he wants to take it. "Luckily, I am quite well versed in being taught and drilled into my head to remain as guarded with my emotions as possible. One can't have someone running off their mouth as a delegate, can they?" Which is the truth and she knows that while the times are different, the core is the same. "And, also. While my child was a boy, I did also mostly raise my grandchildren, one of them quite a fireball of a girl herself." Really, the fact that Tsunade is as willful as she is makes her proud and a little envious that she can do such things.

"If you do want the help, I am here. As I said, I have gone through these sorts of things throughout my life and, well, while you mean the best..." She lets that trail off, the implication of 'you are a man' is there.

Absolutely no offense is taken. He nods, because as much as he adores Bulma and thinks she's a wonderful person, she'd do exactly the opposite of help his girls learn some chill. Or rather, how to navigate feelings.

He's a grown ass old ass man and he still throws tantrums, all he can do is try to be kind and supportive to them. Kind in his own awkward, flailing, Yondu-ish way. "I'd appreciate it. They're under the roster as Raven and Kyoko. The Kyoko that's on purple team- there are two of 'em." The one on blue, as he understands it, can deal with stuff.

"What are your kids an' grandkids like?"

Bulma is great for asserting yourself, but absolutely no chill to be found there, that's absolutely correct. As amusing as she's found her.

"Raven and Kyoko, the purple one. Got it." She'll have to look into that later and see what kind of information she might be able to glean from them and how to approach the whole situation.

Her kid and grandkids? She rolls onto her back again, mm.

"Strong both in body and will, all of them. Even if only one of them managed to survive what life threw at them. My son was a righteous man, quite a lot like his father, a good man as well. He had his faults, but everyone does. My youngest grandchild was a ray of sunshine, so determined to follow in his family's steps to be Hokage one day..." She trails off for a moment, both taken far too young and for reasons she wish hadn't been reasons at all.

"My eldest grandchild, however, took probably far too much after Hashirama with picking up his gambling and drinking tendencies. But she revolutionized how medical shinobi were utilized on the battlefield, became a legendary shinobi, and became Hokage. I never thought her to be such a thing, but I suppose it was bound to happen at some point." Tsunade is her own brand of... something, a complicated woman but she wasn't about to talk ill about her only family still standing.

She sounds very proud of them, even if it did seem like she lost many of them too soon. "Sorry to hear that," and genuinely he is. "Your granddaughter sounds a lot like my boy, to be honest. Though he only made himself a little crew when he left, it worked out for him real good."

He almost was going to ask if any of them took after their uncle even a little, in temperament or whatever, but considering so many of them passed it seems inappropriate somehow.

"Sounds like she accomplished a lot. Even if some of it was a surprise. I guess there are lot worse ways a kid can throw you for a loop." Doing exceptional things despite their vices is definitely up there, and he knows exactly what that kind of fondness (and exasperation) is like.

"Hell, your whole family accomplished a lot." And while he is actually pretty secure in his appearance he's not so much with his life, often he wishes he'd managed just more in general. Too many regrets, too few met goals. And only one, maybe two, people better for having known him. To him, this family somehow managed mythical level feats in just seeing things through. Though obviously it did come at drastic costs, both from them and the people faith was misplaced in. It was no small feat of theirs, certainly, and he does look impressed.

She's extremely proud of them despite everything, even if she's always more subdued in these situations than most people should be. She should be willing to talk them up, talk about them as much as possible. But she doesn't.

It's true, though, that Tsunade really did throw them all for a loop. In the most positive way she can think of, but how much trauma did she have to go through to get there? Too much, from what she does know, she doesn't know of the extra trauma added on later in life. But that's the life of a shinobi, you don't get the luxury of getting out unscathed.

"They did. All I did was keep a fox in check and raise them." Her tone is rather neutral, despite how freely she'd been talking previously. "Sealing really isn't that interesting of a thing or really worth remembering." As if that's what she was really known for, but that's how she prefers to pretend.

"But that's enough of... my everything. Do tell me more about your boy, you've only told me bits and pieces, you know. Not even a name." Best deflection.

"Hey, don't be that way, pretty lady. I wasn't discountin' ya. You're a part of your own family. You belong in that whole compliment. Take it, might as well. In a sea full of shit opinions about the world, ain't enough people tryin' to make it decent an' gettin' credit for it."

But he is proud of Peter, and he can't deny that. "His name's Peter Quill. His blood father was a giant cosmic nigh-on all-powerful asshole, but my boy-" his boy thank you "-was mostly your run of the mill average terran turd of a man. Drove me up the wall with the amount of trouble he got into. And only about two-thirds of the time could he get himself back out of it. Lucky he had me, an' later the friends he made."

He beams a bright, jagged grin. "He saved worlds. Not just one, a bunch of 'em. He was the best at flyin' a ship an' while he couldn't ninja fight he could finagle himself into all kinds of advantages. He could steal the underwear off a man and be gone before he felt a draft in his trousers. Kid's slick as a whistle. He's got a mean spirit an' a good heart and I couldn't ask for any better combination of the two."

And he misses him like crazy, and he regrets none of this was anything he said to his face. He only gave him three desperate sentences of love to say good-bye on, and he had to hope that his past actions in a new lense compensated for his failures.

"Pretty lady, hm?" That's what she's choosing to focus on, even if her tone is entirely teasing as she moves to sit up again. Gotta finish off her sake and get another, she's entirely intending to at least be buzzed before everything is said and done, thank you every much. "I'd have preferred to not be remembered, honestly. It avoids situations like where I was brought back as a pawn, a bargaining piece." Well, okay, it was only somewhat because of that.

But she's grateful for him talking about his kid, watching him carefully and taking in every word. He does sound proud and she can't blame him, this Peter sounded like a good kid despite the faults. But no one is human if they don't have faults. Or sentient. Or whatever term you want to use for it.

"It sounds like you raised him to be a fine man, if not a little bit of trouble. Though sometimes that's necessary in order to accomplish what's needed." She's well aware of how that works, acting out or against what's going on in order to do what's right. "If you... don't mind my asking, if you were to return, do you know where he is? I'd think you'd have a lot to tell from your time here."

"Yeah, pretty cheater lady at that." He goes for another drink then, because it's still there and he's not had enough.

But after the light-hearted joke, he admits, "I don't wanna go back."

So many people do, but if he wants to do anything? It's go ahead. He loves his son, and the moment Yondu died he gave him the best gift he could give him. Ego only wanted him to sap his power, to grow stronger by draining his child, one of dozens upon dozens (so many more than Yondu ever saw). But to Yondu, he was his one and only (at the time, anyway). Yondu gave his life for him instead of taking. He doesn't want to show up and make his own sacrifice worthless. He wants to believe his son is fine. That he did everything right and he can take care of himself.

The worst parents take and take. Yondu wasn't great for it either. But in that moment, he gave the very last of himself for his boy.

"He don't need me no more. I worked hard to be sure of that. He'll be fine."

"Now how am I a cheater?" She can mess with him all she wants to at this point, there's no reason not to.

Doesn't want to go back? She... supposes he has his reasons, she isn't someone that can or should be judging such a thing. She was lucky she was alive as long as she was and got to spend as much time with her family as she had. Though in hindsight, he has a point.

"Mm. I'm not entirely sure why I'm set on the idea of going back. When I do, I'd still be a ghost of my former self. My granddaughter is in her fifties, what would she need me for, she has her own life. The only reason I stuck around, despite the cruel joke of me breathing again, is to teach Naruto. And there's only so much information..." She trails off, it's not as if she needed to teach him. Did the boy have talent with sealing? She doesn't know. And does anyone really care about their history in the best of times?

She's sighing and moving to stand and get another drink herself, which she immediately downs with a small bit of a flinch before pouring another and sitting back on the bed. "I didn't expect an existential crisis tonight."

"You're like Death that way. Death like the person. Not like Death what she represents... But, speakin' of which..."

He winces into the cup after he downs it. "I think there ain't no shame for not needin' a reason to want to live? Just... likin' to live? That's somethin' I don't hear a whole lot. Imagine that. Someone who met all their goals, an' still finds the world worth it? It's somethin' special."

It's not a crisis, as far as he's concerned. It's just existence, and wouldn't it be nice to just... enjoy it? Sounds incredible.

Now he really wants to get drunk, but he knows he should stay sober 'cause he has to go apologize to Tobirama. He knows he was shitty. He needs to clear that up.

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The Waking of Neran

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