No Place Like Home: Outside

[voidtreckermods]

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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]

"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'."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Well, it's just needles and ink, isn't it? Tap tap tap, eventually you get a line."

He shrugs.

"We both have steady hands. Stencil a design on first and wipe off the blood as you go so you can see it, bingo. Probably super primitive to you, I imagine."

[subcircuits]

"Huh," Devero says. "I never thought about it before, but I guess that's really all there is to it." His arm tightens on Koumyou's. "I'm not sure I'd be able to manage that for you." He chuckles softly, self-conscious.

"Mine were all done with a printer."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Is my big scary soldier man squeamish?" Koumyou teases, bumping his shoulder into... well, Dev's upper arm, let's be real here.

"No, I get it. We can just wait for a place that can do it, then. If we do it."

[subcircuits]

"More squeamish than you, I suspect," he admits freely. He leans over slightly in response to Koumyou's affectionate bump even as he nods. "It'll happen if it happens."

A moment later, the path they're following ends at a broad concrete apron fronting a big hangar. Pressure of Devero's fingers halts them before they step off the path. He untangles from Koumyou so he can lift his hand to his Interface, squinting into the display for a moment. Whatever he seems to reassure him, because he lets out a breath.

Looking down at Koumyou, he indicates the person-sized door to one side of the two much bigger garage doors that take up most of the building's front facade. "Over there," he says. "Let's go quick, there's a lot of cameras on this lot here."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Most are," Koumyou agrees, and when the door is pointed out he heads right for the person sized one.

Even if Devero has to unlock it first, if the big guy doesn't stop him, Koumyou is going to go in first, checking for an ambush with a lifetime of skill.

[subcircuits]

Devero does have to unlock it first, letting out another breath when he finds his access credentials still valid. He's quick in behind Koumyou, but freezes just past the closed door as his Sanzo prowls inside.

Through the door is a workshop, not unlike the one in Devero's home but definitely scaled up, in terms of both the size of the space and the size of the projects. The lights are low, the terminals all showing screen savers or shut off, the tables roughly neatened up. The room is deserted.

Devero indicates one of several doors out of the workshop. "Hangar's through there," he says.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Let me check it out before you come in, Dev. If someone is looking for you and knows you at all... well, I would probably wait by Babysitter. Too many doors, and they probably won't expect the weird teknull to come in first when your beloved exo is in there."

He smiles, thinly.

"I could be wrong, but let's not chance it. I'll be quick."

[subcircuits]

Through the indicated door is the hangar, one big cavernous room that clearly takes up most of the building. Ranged along two of the walls are maintenance bays, each one containing a cradle with an inert exo resting in it. To the left are the closed hangar doors; another pair matches them on the far side of the building.

The lights are low and it's quiet in the hangar. There's no sign of anyone, though the big rolling panels that separate the exos in their bays mean he might want to check each one individually before he gives Devero the all clear.

If he does, he'll find each one empty.

But Koumyou's not wrong in his supposition that someone who knows Dev well might expect him to seek out his exo; he just failed to account for the, well, technology of Techstead. While he's out checking the hangar, Devero hovering anxiously in the door watching....

The door at the other end of the workshop, the one they had just entered through, opens once again.

[its_dad_sanzo]

And just as Koumyou doesn't know tech, the enemy doesnt know a thing about magic. Hearing the change in air pressure, with all his senses on high alert as it is, Koumyou reacts on instinct.

One tendril of the sutra snaps out, grabs Devero around the waist, and yanks him into the room with Koumyou. The priest moves past him as the tendril vanishes, stopping to lean in the doorway with his arms folded, one eyebrow raised, his expression otherwise flat and unamused.

[subcircuits]

Devero's just turning as the sutra grabs him, having heard the door open himself, and shouts in surprise as he finds himself jerked to Koumyou's side. By the time his brain catches up to what's just happened, Koumyou's put himself in the doorway and a handsome older woman with iron-gray hair has entered the workshop.

Administrator Valdana pauses for a moment, her own eyebrows lofted in bemusement at the near instantaneous swap of the two men. Her eyes flick to the screen of her Interface-- an eye like Devero's, but much more slim and elegant in design-- and her fingers gesture through a quick command to review the last few seconds through the forward camera; when she sees Devero jerked bodily out of the doorway, she frowns and focuses her attention on the scrawny stranger with the pale hair.

"Where is he?" she asks, her voice tightly controlled.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou's expression morphs into one of his dopey smiles, "Why, in a coma, of course. Did you strain something trying to figure out this textbook ambush, Valdana?"

He's not in the way, if big and tall Devero wants to see her and speak to her, but he is in the way of either entering the same room as each other, and he will stay that way.

You know, for now.