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

Senku hadn't had the pleasure of encountering such a confident Taiki. They didn't usually mission together, but he caught glimpses. They've debated before. He had a strong sense of respect for the other man.

So of course, without hesitation, he nodded.

"Sure. What do you need?"

Senku was a friend, someone he didn't know as well as he knew others but someone he trusted. Furthermore he was a leader in his own world, he was practical.

"Do you think if I showed you some official documents you would be able to replicate them?"

This was more than meddling now, but he had no idea how much time they would have, how much longer they could get to their worlds, if they would be stuck on this platform for a long time or if things would be fixed. If they would return to the train or get to their worlds properly.

He planned to help as much as he could

He didn't need to ask questions at that. Could he replicate something like that? Most likely yest, considering all the mischief he got up to when he was a teenager.

"Probably." Senku responded. "I'd need to see them, but I could tell you if I can't for some reason."

It was entirely possible that not everyone would just agree to forgery at the drop of a hat.

Perhaps. But Taiki had thought Senku might agree easier than most. So that was why he had asked him. "I can show you. People can't see us so sneaking in to where we need to be will be easy enough."

He began moving towards the barrier, to lead the way when he paused. "When we are there you need to stick near me, there are dangerous creatures around. But you won't be hurt if you are with me."

He might be determined to do whatever it takes to save Tai but he isn't going to let his friends from the train come to harm.

He nodded his agreement with the plan and followed Taiki to the barrier.

"I trust you." He said, completely without irony. He trusted most people, and it rarely backfired on him.

"Even if I didn't, I'd be at your mercy." Senku chuckled lightly and offered a half shrug.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

It was a promise. Those from the train, if they helped him, if he took them to Tai they were his responsibility and he would not let anyone or anything hurt them.

He had to have some limits and their safety was where he drew the line.

"I believe you." Senku smiled and went with Taiki willingly.

"I hope your world is interesting." He offered offhand. "Then again, it's not mine so that's inherently fascinating."

"I am not sure about interesting. But..."

How to even explain it. Maybe he should try. Because taking Senku there...

But how could he find words, what could he say?

He just looked steadily at him and then led him through to the courtyard.

"Noted." Senku responded with a little nod. Taiki looked serious, and he could catch that tone and avoid chatting.

He followed him quietly, he could be naturally quiet especially when the situation called for it.

The scene that greeted them was as grim as the one Taiki had first entered into. A courtyard dirty and ill maintained. Broken stones and tattered banners gave it an air of abandonment.

The skeletons, displayed for all to see, rags of faded cloth flapping in a gentle breeze. Senku wouldn't be able to smell the blood that assaulted Taiki's senses but there are stains, a battle happened here and the price was high.

Taiki forces himself to look at the bodies, ignoring them feels wrong even if his heart breaks into more pieces every time he sees them.

Whatever Senku was expecting, it wasn't a battlefield. That was what he was deducing about the field of skeletons. His eyes widened a little bit in horror.

He'd seen a dead person before, of course, he'd learned to perform an autopsy. He'd worked with sick people in poor countries. This was much more than that. It was the kind of thing he fought and worked so hard to avoid in his own conflicts.

Like Taiki, he didn't feel like he should disrespect the sacrifice made by turning a blind eye to it. He honestly didn't know what to say, or what he could say to offer comfort. It wasn't in his wheelhouse.

Light and carefree seeming as he could be, this was one of the moments where he felt and showed the weight of the world on his shoulders. It wasn't his battle, not at all, and yet he couldn't help but feel compassion to those who were lost. It was a horrible sensation down to the pit of his stomach.

He knows that Senku dislikes killing, not quite to the extent of a kirin but more so than most humans. And so his heart hurts for him even on top of the amount of pain it was already filled with.

He just looked at the scene for a moment and then began walking. "I am unsure how well our SCA's are working, so I hope it still translates well enough for you to understand the writing of my world."

Then again he didn't necessarily need to understand to copy.

He was appropriately sombre, but he followed Taiki all the same.

"I wonder." Senku responded. "Working well enough that we understand each other, but actually if it's translating for me, my copying might not look right." He hummed.

"Might be better to remove it to be more accurate." He was looking around a little bit, as though trying to draw some sort of parallel.

"The architectural style around here suggests an Eastern style...if we're talking some kind of kanji-like structure, for the writing system, I should be just fine." The only kanji he ever needed to use anymore was his name really, but he learned how to write it in his youth.

"Kirin have the power to understand and be understand, we would not need an SCA to understand each other."

He knows that when the translation devices on the train have failed before he has been still able to understand other voidtreckers and they him.

He tilted his head, Senku had a point, it might be best not to have the transation at all.

"It's similar but not the same. We use kanji in Japan on earth. Here the writing is similar to Chinese Hanzi but a very traditional form, as if from the past on earth. I don't read it very well myself."

"That's good for you." Senku agreed with a hum. "I can only understand the few languages I know and Chinese is not one of them." He admitted with a shake of his head. Nevermind traditional Chinese.

"However, I should have enough basis in writing characters to pull this off, I hope." He would try his best, at least, that was all he could offer in the end. "Some of the characters may be familiar since kanji was derived from hanzi to begin with." Senku hummed.

"I might know the written character but not the pronounciation."

"Between us we should be able to figure it out."

Perhaps. But copying was easy enough and he trusts that Senku can write well enough for that. He doesn't have to understand what it says, only how the characters look.

"Have you written with a brush before? Or would you need to practice first?"

"It was one of the mandatory parts of my education. It's the kind of thing they teach in grade school, so I have." Senku confirmed.

"Granted, that was a long time ago, so if you're concerned I can practice a bit for your benefit."

He'd been writing on things with his brand of ink and a brush, but not as steadily that he could say he did it often.

"If you are confident in your ability then I am too." He knew that Senku was skilled in many things and so he would take his word for it.

"Over here then, even though they can't see us I still thought it best to set up out of the way."

If anything to hide the things they were using, mostly stolen from various ministers offices.

"No problem." Senku responded, and as confident as he was if he found himself in over his head, he wouldn't hesitate to say so.

He stuck close to Taiki, just in case he could lose the protection he was offering by falling too far behind and he glanced around a little more.

This was a world in an unfortunate circumstance. If only he could've done something to help people...

Well. Senku had to prioritize the seven billion waiting for him.

He would keep close to Senku as well though he knows the protection can survive a little distance. Still he's been away from the palace a long time, things have changed.

He led him to the small nook he had all but taken over, papers, brushes, inks, it's hidden away enough to be out of the way but not so hidden and secretive to rouse suspicion should it be spotted.

"I'm trying to replicate orders like this." He pushed one towards Senku. "But to order supplies and food to various provinces. I have examples of all the words we need."

It's just putting it together.

"I see." Senku agreed with a little nod at that. The characters looked familiar to him of course, and the language might be simply close enough that his interpretation would mean something else.

He settled down at the table to look over the supplies and he started setting them up in positions to his liking.

"Just show me what you want me to write in what order and shouldn't be a problem."

"Of course." He sat down crossed legged at the small table and picked up a brush, making sure not to disturb Senku's placement of equipment.

Silently he began making a rough copy of what he wanted it to say. He is unsure if it would work, but it's worth trying, to give at least the smallest relief to those in Tai who were suffering so much.

Once they got down to business, Senku's eyes were focused on the task at hand and less at keeping up chatter, as long as Taiki didn't mind.

He flexed his fingers, picked up a brush, dipped it in ink and began carefully writing out the characters as he was instructed to.

Senku could've been an artist, if he had wanted to be. He had some talent, he clearly knew what to do with a brush, and yet his heart had taken him another way. The level of focus was intense, and something that rarely came out on board the train.

He wouldn't complain or take a break, he appreciated the pressure of time.

Taiki worked hard as well and he could appreciate how good Senku was at this. He had known he would be a good choice. He was hard working and talented.

Though he hadn't seen him this focused before. It's good though, it suits how Taiki is currently working. Normally he would be a bit more aware, used to Inigo and having to remind him to take a break. But right now it feels like there is no time. Tai can't wait.

So the two of them will just work hard, until all the work is done.

Senku could hyperfocus when he wanted to and it was nice when it coincided with what he needed to do. It was the kind of thing he did when he worked in his lab for hours on end.

When he was finished the documents requested, he set the brush down and leaned back a bit, exhaling slowly.

"Are these suitable for your purposes?" If he needed to tweak something, it would be better to know so they could do that before they were pulled away.

Visiting Tai

Re: Visiting Tai

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject