No Place Like Home: Outside

[voidtreckermods]

---

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.

Comments

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Dev?" Koumyou calls out tentatively, climbing the staircase just behind him. "Did I set off a landmine? I'm sorry."

[subcircuits]

"No," he calls back, voice strained. "I just need to check something--!" The stairs end at a wide landing with several doors leading off of it; Devero's almost running as he charges through the middle one and into his bedroom.

The furniture in here is just as basic as everywhere else in the apartment, but there are more obvious personal touches. The linens on the neatly made bed are plush and boldly patterned; a desk in the corner has a scattering of knick-knacks on the surface. The big screen on the opposite wall from the bed has a sculptured frame of wrought iron around it.

He ignores it all, heading for the spacious closet. Inside he drops to his knees in front of an in-built chest of drawers and presses his thumb to the bottom-most one. It unlocks with a click and he slides it open.

Inside the drawer is an elegant cushion, taking up the whole space. Sitting in the middle of that cushion?

A heavy leather collar with chrome fittings.

He's not sure how he feels about finding it here. He exhales hard at the sight of it, though.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou gazes down at it, too, over Devero's broad shoulder. He's seen it before, on the world where illusions had been meant to trap them in poisonous smog until they suffocated. The illusion had tried the carrot first; Babysitter, little Kouryuu. When that hadn't worked, it had tried the stick instead.

Valdana, who he had dismembered. Ukoku, who had turned her into a wet stain before starting in on some of his own tricks.

Koumyou wants to destroy that fucking collar, so he turns away to keep the impulse at bay, folding his arms into his opposite sleeves.

He can remember what Devero had said in that illusion, too.

Koumyou, don't. Just like downstairs earlier. And then, You don't have to go that far, I'm not worth it!

"You're worth more," Koumyou tells him softly, repeating the words he remembers saying in that dark illusion, "You're worth everything. For you, and for my son, I would rip the world apart."

And he adds, just as quietly, his back still to Devero, "She's a cancerous tumor, and I'm the surgeon who can permanently remove it. She can't manipulate and bribe her way out of it with me, not if she comes to us and doesn't back off.

"Even if it pisses you off, even if you don't like me as much afterwards... if she pushes, I will kill her. And I'm only restraining myself to those parameters for your comfort, or I would go find her right now and turn her into a grease stain before she could even lay eyes on you again. I'm damn near shaking with how badly I would like to do that."

[subcircuits]

Devero stands slowly, eyes riveted down on his collar as he does. With a convulsive movement, he kicks the drawer closed, the bang! making him flinch. He turns and steps up to Koumyou, wrapping his arms around his Sanzo.

"Thank you for restraining yourself," he says roughly, lowering his face to Koumyou's hair.

"You can't just kill people here, no matter what they've done. There's a judicial process. She needs to be tried, not-- not murdered. I should--"

Should what, Devero? Stroll over to garrison and report her while simultaneously lying comatose in hospital? When he doesn't know how long this situation is even going to last?

He grunts and lets his arms fall, turning away to rub wearily at his eyes once more.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou leans back slightly when Dev has his arms around him, but straightens up that little bit when he moves off.

"The system that wasn't supposed to give someone like her power? The system probably riddled with her 'friends'?" Koumyou asks, softly.

"I want to make this world safe for you in case you ever do end up stuck back here for real. Prosecute her reputation after she vanishes into thin air and can't wriggle off the hook. But a tumor is a tumor and it needs to be removed."

[subcircuits]

A system absolutely riddled with her friends. Koumyou's point hits home, visible in the way Devero's shoulders go up around his ears.

And he can't help but find himself thinking-- if he lets Koumyou remove her... what happens to Techstead? What happens to the work they're doing here without her maneuvering for resources and administrative support?

Koumyou's thinking small. That's understandable. What investment does he have in Techstead, in the rest of this world? But Devero has to think bigger, has been primed by his upbringing (and his Madame) to put the work and the community first.

He has to keep Koumyou away from Valdana. But how?

Shaking his head, he brushes past Koumyou and out into the bedroom. He throws himself onto the bed facedown and groans into the covers. "I don't know what to do," he says, and hopes Koumyou just takes it to mean about getting his drone back.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou follows him back into the room, and to the bed, turning halfway to perch on the edge of it while still able to see Devero. "Talk to me?"

[subcircuits]

"About Beepers," he mumbles into the comforter. "I don't want there to be any more trouble."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou reaches out to rub his back with one hand.

"If that's what you're worried about, we should go ahead and go get it. Before anything happens to it."

It's funny how he's the one who keeps pushing for the rescue, here, when he doesn't even get along with the little bot. But it's Devero's pet, it needs help, so of course a Sanzo priest will walk right through potential danger if he sees fit to achieve the goal he's set his mind to.

[subcircuits]

"I mean getting out there," Devero says, turning his head to be able to speak more easily without dislodging Koumyou's hand. "It's way out in the forest, and I don't want to draw any attention to us so we should just walk, but that's going to be a miserable hike, and I just--"

He doesn't know how to articulate what he just, and groans again.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"It's not that bad, surely. You have a lot more stamina from running around the train all the time now, right?" Koumyou rubs his back in a long oval up and down his back. "Or there's your other idea. How quickly could you plug Babysitter's core back in, and then take it back out when we get there to take back with us again?"

[subcircuits]

"It should only take a couple of minutes," Devero mutters. He pushes himself up on an elbow, his expression now drawn. "...If it hasn't been assigned to someone else or decommissioned or-- or returned to a general Guard equipment depot for redistribution."

He hadn't even thought about that. He throws himself over from his front to his back to press his hands over his face. "Rust and ruin, it might not even be there!"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Then, let's check."

Simple solution, Devero! Koumyou tap-tap-taps his long fingers against Devero's stomach, then gets up and offers a hand down.

[subcircuits]

He hesitates for a long moment, eyes glittering suspiciously as he looks up at Koumyou. He doesn't-- he shouldn't-- he should-- His thoughts tangle together incomprehensibly in his mind, trauma and fear and exhaustion all exacerbating his indecision.

--Oh, fuck it. He has to know. He takes his fiance's hand and lets Koumyou help him up. "Okay," he says, and leads the way out of the bedroom.

[its_dad_sanzo]

If Devero allows it, Koumyou keeps hold of his hand as they go. Either way, he trails close at his heels.

[subcircuits]

Devero hangs on to his hand almost all the way out of the townhouse, only taking it back in the entryway when he stops suddenly and says, "Hold on a minute." He puts his hand on a panel of the wall that doesn't seem any different from the rest of it, except that at his touch it pops out so he can slide it aside. He rifles around inside for a moment before extracting a pull-over poncho with a big cowled neck.

He dons the garment and pulls the folds of the cowl up over his head. He peeks out at Koumyou from the shadow of hood and manages a ghost of that crooked, playful grin of his. "Ta-da," he says softly. "Do you want something? Maybe cover up the sutra and your breastplate?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Two cloaked people walking through town while one tries not to panic?" Koumyou asks with a fond smile, "I can go down to my base layer if you think that would draw less attention to us both."

[subcircuits]

...Yeah, Devero has to concede that. "Base layer it is, then," he says with a huff. "Please."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou flashes him a bright smile, and teases, "You just want to see me in black, don't you?"

But he goes ahead and strips off the sutra, the breastplate, and the robe, stowing all but the sutra in his ARMs band and the sutra in scroll-form in a back pocket of his very tight jeans.

[subcircuits]

"You do look very good in black," he says with a chuckle of his own. In black and with those very tight jeans, oh yes. "Thank you, babe." He leans in and kisses Koumyou's cheek, then leans back with a little gasp as something suggests itself to him.

He takes Koumyou's hand again, but pulls him back into the apartment. "You need one more thing before we can go out," he says over his shoulder as he tugs Koumyou back towards the stairs.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Besides fooling around in your own bed?" Koumyou asks cheerfully as he's tugged along. Of course, he doesn't intend to actually do that unless they come back after the rescue.

And, you know, if Devero isn't traumatized by whatever might happen along the way.

[subcircuits]

Devero actually stumbles a little as Koumyou makes that bright suggestion. "Vices, don't tempt me," he says with a breathy laugh. He doesn't really mean it either, but it's still a nice thought. A really nice thought.

"No," he continues as he leads Koumyou past the bedroom. Down a short hall and through another door is Devero's workroom. It's not much of a workroom, not by Techstead standards, but it's a more than he has access to on the train when it comes to an electronics workshop. He lets go of Koumyou's hand to pull a box off a shelf, tipping it over gently on a countertop.

"Go ahead and pick one," he says with a grin, gesturing to the jumble of old Interfaces.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I feel properly under-cover," Koumyou chuckles, and plucks one up at random. One like Dev's, so he doesn't have to hold it in his hand for the disguise.

[subcircuits]

"No one will suspect a thing," Devero says, his grin turning into a smile as he takes in the sight of Koumyou sans his robes and other holy regalia, wearing an Interface. "Virtues," he says softly, actually a little taken aback.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"What, does it look weird? Do I have it on right?" Koumyou asks with a laugh, still fiddling with the fitting. "I feel like I'm doing cosplay. I never got to do that, before!"

Not a lot of cons in Shangri-la. Meaning, you know, none. He's heard of them in other lands though, mostly through Ukoku like most of his information on the wider world.