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

[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.

[subcircuits]

"You're cosplaying as a hitek," Devero says, delighted. He reaches out, clasping Koumyou's shoulders lightly and just admiring the view. "Don't worry, you look fine."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Oh, do only hiteks wear the eye thingy?" Koumyou asks, "If I get any tattoos, it's gonna be of one of my water dragons."

[subcircuits]

"For the most part," he explains. "You really need to have the full phalangeal implants to get the most out of an Interface eye or visor." He lifts his hands, palms out, and wiggles his fingers so there's no question what he means by 'phalangeal implants'.

He eyes Koumyou again more obviously, bottom to top, imagining him sporting one of his dragons in ink. "That would be hot," he informs him with a touch of growl in his voice.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, maybe I'll get that done at a stop sometime," Koumyou smiles up at him, "You can help design it, you know more about big tattoos than I would."

He reaches for Devero's hand, trying to back toward the staircase with him. "Your pet can feel feelings. It might be sad or scared. Let's go rescue it."

[subcircuits]

"Maybe I'll get one too," Devero says with a shy little bob of his head. "I do have this whole empty leg here...."

But the reminder sobers him, especially that Sir Beepers absolutely has emotions. How could it have held a grudge against Koumyou for this long otherwise? "Affirmative," he says, and lets Koumyou tow him along.

Out of the apartment, he takes over, leading the way out of residential and back to Techstead's sidewalks. He's... yeah, he's jumpy as they go, twitching and pulling at his hood constantly to make sure his face is covered. (Koumyou called that.)

They pass through the central plaza from the civil side of town to the professional side. The change is distinct: there's less landscaping, and what's there is functional-- trees strategically planted as windbreaks or sunbreaks, that sort of thing. The buildings are much more utilitarian and grouped in little clusters of interrelated labs.

If anything, Devero's even jumpier on this side of town. He keeps his head down and walks fast, his fingers tight on Koumyou's where he's taken his hand again.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou actually moves a little faster once Devero starts tensing up and squeezing his hand, just enough to come up alongside his fiance and hook their arms together. Just two weirdos on a stroll, nothing to see here.

"I think you getting a matching tattoo is perfect, really," Koumyou tells him at an easy conversational volume, not too quiet or too loud, right in the sweet spot that wouldn't strike anyone as suspicious.

"You have the circuitry because of what you are here, the new one could be just as symbolic of what I've been teaching you."

[subcircuits]

The fold of Devero's poncho that drapes over their joined arms hides how tightly he's holding on to Koumyou. He matches his stride and the volume of his voice to Koumyou's when he says, "And of us. Our bond." His lips quirk. "You know, I've heard some newlyweds get tattoos together on their honeymoons."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Is that so?" Koumyou asks with a smile up and over at Devero. Dev's the one who knows where they're going, but just like dancing without knowing the moves yet, Koumyou has no problem moving along with him.

[subcircuits]

"Mm-hm." Up ahead, someone has turned onto the path from another direction and Devero's distracted watching them approach. Even if it was someone he recognized, their eyes are distant, looking into their visor as they pass.

With a shake, Devero brings his attention back to Koumyou. "We'll have to ask the train to land us somewhere with a tattoo parlor for the wedding," he murmurs.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou laughs a little at that, "I think asking for somewhere pretty and also, would the train like to attend, might be the best we can hope for."

He considers for a moment, then suggests, "We could always put them on each other. The old-fashioned way. Jyoan showed me how when he had me touch up one of his a few years into training. But if you want more precise and perfect, we can wait."

[subcircuits]

"Oh, sure, be reasonable about it," Devero grouses.

He considers what Koumyou's just suggested (and takes a moment to check their surroundings and his Interface), then admits, "I don't actually know what you mean by 'the old-fashioned way'."