middleofsomewhere | No Place Like Home: Outside

No Place Like Home: Outside

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: OUTSIDE

HOME SWEET HOME

You find yourself not on a wide station platform, in the clothes you last remember, holding what you were when you went through the glas door. There's no longer a train behind you, no sound of its whistle, with no other passengers around you in similar style of clothing to your own.

You're somewhere familiar, or just - the last place you remember being before your life became tethered to the Voidtrecker Express. A field, a city, a kingdom, or perhaps even a space station. You should be nowhere, yet you find yourself somewhere, despite all odds.

People - if there are people - don't at first notice you; but attract enough attention to yourself, and that will all change. Friends, family - are they near, a phonecall away? It's either everything you wanted or everything you imagined (for good or worse), and it could seem unbelievably real. But it is real - you're off the train, back somewhere you know.

Finally - the journey is over...

...If only.
You're moving away from where you arrived, for whatever reason. Who wouldn't? You may be far from home, have business elsewhere, or want to go sightseeing. It's time to return to - and live - your life, and that doesn't include sticking to one place.

But you'll find that when you reach a point, the world becomes...foggy. A fog that you hadn't seen in the distance before it appears, and when you walk through it, you'll find yourself in a place some have already found themselves in.

Because for some passengers, there was nowhere for them to return, and so the barriers lead only to fog, and then straight back onto the platform. The Voidtrecker Express may be stationed, or there may be a blanket of fog where it should be; sometimes, it can be caught trying to leave the station, only to come back a few minutes later. The doors are shut tight, and the windows are obscured, showing nothing inside.

Those who came from somewhere can go back, should they go through the turnstiles again. And if they want, they can take people along with them, too...

But sometimes, they go to a world no one knows. They go through the barriers into nothing, a black emptiness. Not space, for those that know space, and it doesn't seem to be the void either. But it is a void, devoid of anything at all. Just a darkness so complete they will not be able to see anything at all, they will only know their companion is there through touch and sound. How they are breathing, how they are living at all, is a mystery; one probably answered only by the SCA on their wrist.

Being there brings an unease deep down inside them. This place is not natural, not somewhere that they should exist in. Not a place that should exist at all. Luckily they are never there for more than a few moments before they return once more to the station, fog covering them like a safety blanket.

A DIFFERENT CORNER: LOCATIONS

In the first couple of days (whatever that means, when time doesn't match up between most places), the only way to move to another's tethered location is by them leading another there. But after that, individuals will show up in other locations when they reach close to the distance limit. Indeed as time goes on everything gets a lot less stable. They may know their five miles perfectly but still one step to another leads them back to the platform. Attempting to return to their world leads them somewhere else entirely.

And there's quite a few places to end up.

SETTLEMENTS

Buddhist Temple, China ( Koumyou Sanzo | TL )
Rebel Camp, Lothal ( Hera Syndulla | TL )
Homestead, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA ( Nell Ingram TL )
Capsule Corp ( Trunks | TL )
School Grounds, College ( Idia Shroud | TL )
City Ruins, beach ( Najaran | TL )
Hakkei Palace, Tai ( Taiki | TL )
Gusu Lan, mountain sect (China) ( Lan Jingyi | TL)
Lotus Pier, riverside, China ( Jiang Cheng | TL )
The Endless Abyss, Hell ( Shen Qingqiu | TL )
Hyrule Castle Town ( Zelda | TL )
Haven Palace ( TL )

COMMUNITIES

Spaceport ( Yondu | TL)
Mobile Station Base ( Kiyoiri )
Arkwood, Town (Ryo | TL )
Techstead, Town ( Devero | TL )
Tatsumi Port Island ( Ken Amada )
Mor Dhona / Town, Mountain, Lakes ( K'zeka Tai | TL )
Hyrule Field & Lon Lon Ranch ( Link | TL )
Ishigami Village, Japan ( Senku Ishigami | TL )
Aether Paradise/Artificial Island/Natural Preserve ( Katsuya Jonouchi )
Nautilus ( Spark/Clef TL Clef | TL Spark )
The Underworld, Hades ( Zagreus and Thanatos | TL )
Sanctuary ( TL )

CITIES & KINGDOMS

Saillune City ( Zelgadis | TL )
New Mantle, City ( Ruby Rose | TL )
Brooklyn, New York City, USA in 2017 ( Jake Peralta | TL )
Azabu-Juban District, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan ( Usagi Tsukino | TL )
Hau'oli City ( Eva Iden'no | TL )
Gauig City ( Little One/Buttercup | TL )
Kyoto, Japan ( Masumi Sera | TL )
Shinjuku, Japan ( Yosuke Otoha | TL )
Kingdom, Evermore ( Roland Crane )
Garlemad, Kingdom ( Zenos | TL )
Kingdom of Knothole ( Mina Mongoose | TL )
Domino City ( Yugi Muto | TL )
Amnity Park ( Danny Fenton | TL )
Garlemald ( TL )
Lothal ( TL )
Los Angeles ( TL )
The First - Crystarium and Lakeland ( Elidibus | TL )

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here.

LOCATION TOPLEVELS: Since it'll be easier for players to engage with settings presented by those offering them, when we see a toplevel for one of the above locations put up, we'll add it to the list! We've also included the OOC comments for settings to the side, so any questions can be left with the player, as well as extra details. Please always speak with the player first if you intend to do anything drastic to the setting!

A REMINDER: Time of log is Poi 22-25, but time within worlds can last up to a maximum of two weeks. Minimum is whatever you want it to be.

During Poi 22 and 23, characters will need to be led to a location to be able to access it. From Poi 24, people will show up in locations regardless of invitation.

The second half of the event will go up during 20th to 25th February (Poi 26-28). But as always, play around in here and do as you like!

If your character's setting isn't above, link us to it in the Questions post, along with your toplevel! We'll add it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Ryo, so you're experiencing the same thing." Thanatos is back on the platform, wearing the standard red hoodie of the train. He returned to wearing his own clothes back home, but whatever the rules for this phenomenon are, this seems to be part of it. Maybe it's a sign of being part of the train still.

"I have some time. If I leave, it gives Charon, Hermes, and the Ministry a chance to take a break. Still, I can't stay for too long."

Honestly, Ryo is delighted to see Thanatos again at all, and Thanatos agreeing to come with him for a visit only makes it better. "Okay," he agrees, because any time at all is more than he expected to get and he will take it. "Stay close, alright?"

It doesn't take long to lead Thanatos down the path to Arkwood, and the fog parts to reveal a small town near the mountains. It's winter - snow blankets rooftops and the boughs of coniferous trees, and it's cold enough to make Thanatos's hoodie practical - but it's not the eternal winter that Thanatos knows. There's smoke coming from rooftops, and people bundled up in the streets, and a snowball fight somewhere nearby, if the excited yelling of kids is anything to judge by. This is a town accustomed to winter and waiting for spring.

Ryo pauses, letting Thanatos take it in for a few moments if he wants, before speaking up. "I don't know if your world has been doing this, but here, nobody notices me until I make them - it's like I'm hiding in plain sight. I think it'll probably be the same for you too, so can you wait for me to make introductions before you say anything? Nobody here has ever met a god before, and...I don't want anyone to panic when their Sense folds."

Thanatos silent as they travel. He nearly starts to worry when he sees the snow blanketing the area, but it's... different. The winter doesn't seem as harsh or biting. Doesn't seem cruel. Is this what winter is supposed to be?

"It's a little different for me, I think. My presence is felt in my world, so it's harder to hide in the Underworld." Mort squeaks something about Thanatos being unable to be super sneaky and tries to mimic the sound of his bell toll. Thanatos merely shakes his head. It's not just that. When shades start reaching the Underworld in greater numbers again, it's obvious Thanatos has arrived.

"Where would you like me to be?"

This is exactly what winter is supposed to be: a normal season instead of an oppressive force.

Lagos snickers a bit from his place in Ryo's satchel, wiggling his wingtips because he can. Despite being too squeaky to be accurate, Mort does a really good guh-dong.

Ryo considers the question for a few moments. "You can probably come with me, I think. If people start reacting, you can always come back here." Hopefully it won't come to that, but it's an out if Thanatos needs one. "For now, let's get going - I know you don't have much time."

Thankfully, the further they travel into the city, the less it looks like Thanatos will need that out. Like usual, nobody notices Ryo if he doesn't draw attention to himself, and that effect seems to extend to Thanatos as well. Nobody winces or startles as they pass by; nobody notices at all, and Ryo breathes a sigh of relief as they make it home, a house closer to the forest that borders one side of the town. He looks at Thanatos, nods towards the front door, and opens it, waiting for Thanatos to follow him inside before he closes it.

They pass through the kitchen into the living area, where two dark-skinned young men are relaxing. The first, a fiery redhead, is sprawled comfortably across the couch; the second is in a chair, long dark purple hair draped over the back, writing busily in a hand-bound book. Ryo pauses in the door, looking fondly at them for a moment, before speaking up. "Orion? Endon?"

There's a pause, the few moments Ryo has come to expect when he calls attention to himself and everyone around him becomes abruptly aware of him as a result, and then Orion sits up and offers him a bright if slightly sheepish smile. "Okay, I'm gonna get used to that at some point."

Endon, for his part, blows on his page to dry the ink and marks it with a ribbon before looking up, a calmer but no less genuine smile on his face. "Welcome back."

"Thank you." There's a beat in which Ryo tries to figure out how best to approach the subject, and another in which he decides to just go for it. "So...remember how I told you about my friends on the train?"

"Yeah?" The smile hasn't left Orion's face. "Another older brother, a dragon, a few gods - which I still haven't wrapped my head around."

"Right." Ryo nods. "And...remember what the stories say about a mage meeting a god?"

"A lot of things," Endon says, carefully closing his book, "but the big takeaway is that the Sense folds to protect the mage."

The smile drops and his eyes narrow just a bit as Orion follows that thread. "Where are you going with this?"

"Well..." That's an opportunity if he's ever heard one. "I brought a friend home with me." Ryo gestures to where Thanatos is standing as if to present him - which, essentially, he is, as this is what's going to bring the god to their attention. "This is Thanatos."

They travel in silence as Thanatos takes in the familiar and yet unfamiliar season. He didn't need more proof that his world is broken, but he has it regardless. A bit of spring, too much of summer, and now a strange winter. There's just autumn left, isn't there?

And thankfully, Thanatos doesn't have to make a hasty escape as they enter the city. He's not here to cause mass chaos. No one notices he's around as if he hides under his mother's blessing.

Introducing himself to Endon and Orion are a different matter. Suddenly, Thanatos doesn't know what he should say to bring attention to himself. He knows very little about Endon and Orion, mostly that they took Ryo away from his bad situation and that they are also a reckless pair. It's almost like he doesn't know how to introduce himself without having some kind of purpose behind it. (He doesn't realize that just by gesturing at him, Ryo will have done the job for him.)

"... Death approaches?" It worked for Tidus, didn't it? (No, it didn't.)

There's that moment of silence again, as Endon and Orion become very abruptly aware of another person in the room. And then Thanatos's presence hits their Senses-

Orion winces hard, a full-body flinch that presses him back into the couch. Endon's book slips from his hand and he doubles over abruptly, head in his hands, hair falling forward to cover his expression.

For a moment, Ryo holds his breath. He'd told them he'd made friends with gods, and that feeling his Sense fold made him panic the first time; he'd given them warning; now it's all up to how they handle it, and he doesn't know how this'll go-

And then Thanatos says that-

And Orion snorts, and braces his elbows on his knees, and laughs, breathlessly and a little helplessly. It's a tension release more than it is anything else, and for a few seconds there's only the sound of helpless laughter as Orion tries to catch his breath and find his stability. "I dunno, it feels like you're already here," he finally says, looking back up at Thanatos with a grin. He shakes his head, runs a hand through his hair, and finally makes it to his feet. "I'm Orion, and this is my brother Endon." He nods to Endon, and his expression abruptly drops as he sees his twin still doubled over. "You okay?" he asks, voice gentle, laying a hand on Endon's shoulder.

Endon doesn't look up. "I need a minute."

"Okay." Orion looks back up at Thanatos. "His Sense has always been...well, sensitive." A bit of a sheepish smile, and he moves on. "Ryo has told us a lot about you. All good things." It's an easy sidestep, drawing attention away from his brother and back on him, keeping the conversation going and giving Endon time to recover.

Ryo breathes, finally. It's not relief yet - not until he sees how Thanatos takes it - but it's not bad.

Thanatos flinches as the others do. His eyes are wide as he glances between the twins and Ryo. He had never seen Ryo react like this around his presence, and he floats backwards as if distance will help. His instinct to shift away as if that would help. Is that what Ryo feels every time Thanatos is around?

Then Orion starts to laugh, and some of the tension begins to leave Thanatos; he no longer is about to shift out of the house. "Good things, huh?"

What should Thanatos do or say next? He doesn't know how to be social when he doesn't have a reason to. (Meeting Ryo's friends because Ryo wants him to isn't a real reason.) Sensing his unease, Mort makes his way onto Thanatos's shoulder and starts to squeak his greetings.

"This is Mort. He says hello."

"Well, yeah." Orion keeps hold of the thread of the conversation, the sheepishness dropping from an otherwise genuine smile. "He said you're one of the people who help him feel at home on the train. So, thank you for that." It's every bit as genuine and easy as his smile - a little bit of gratitude is the best way to put someone at ease, right?

(He has no idea. Ryo hadn't told them everything. At the moment, Ryo's just standing by to see how this goes, trying to reassure Thanatos with a gesture when he flinches and waiting to step in if necessary.)

Behind him, Endon straightens up and pushes his hair out of his face, then retrieves his book from the floor and places it on the arm of the sofa instead. Orion's got the conversation well in hand - he doesn't need to say anything just yet - but the sudden appearance of Mort certainly grabs his attention, and he rises to stand next to his brother.

Orion turns his smile to the squeaking stuffed mouse. He can recognize a diversion when he sees one - Mort is either protective or attention-seeking, and either way it's better to roll with it. "Well hello, Mort. We've heard a lot about you too - also all good things." It's a smoothly and cheerfully delivered lie - they've heard good things, sure, but they've also heard about Mort and Lagos fighting like cats and dogs until they bonded over knives. Some things are just not first conversation material.

Endon's attention shifts from Mort to Thanatos. "You made Lagos, right? Did you make Mort too?"

(How can they fight like cats and dogs when they are mouse and bird? Also, Mort would win.)

The tension may be gone from Thanatos, but he is far from relaxed. He lets Mort handle the conversation. Or at least he did before it got turned back on him. Blood and darkness....

"I did not. My mother made Mort." And... Thanatos doesn't elaborate on that. He glances at Ryo. What does he want from this? They all know Ryo. They are all twins, but what does this accomplish? He can't get to know Endon and Orion in this short period of time, and they are unlikely to meet again in the future.

Is there some knowledge he is supposed to impart to them? Thanatos certainly can't give them any favor.

The conversation is a little halting - not for lack of trying on anyone's part, but that awkwardness sure is something. Ryo ends it on good terms and takes Thanatos to meet Keita, his mentor. Keita sends Ryo out of the room and asks Thanatos to confirm what Jingyi had told him earlier - that Ryo is working himself too hard aboard the train and not resting like he should. Upon confirmation, he thanks Thanatos and gives him words that he hopes will help: if Ryo overworks himself in the future, Thanatos can tell him to remember what Keita told him. Keita will have that talk about taking care of oneself with Ryo soon enough.

There's really no other motive for this visit - Ryo just wanted Thanatos to see where he comes from and meet his family.

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No Place Like Home: Outside

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Summary Time!