No Place Like Home: Outside

[voidtreckermods]

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NO PLACE LIKE HOME: OUTSIDE

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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]

Indeed, these two guys had not planned to leave the train. Koumyou's got hold of Devero's hand a bit like he's afraid to let go, and smiles a weaker smile than normal at Eva.

"Cute ones? I'd say 'like Princess' but Princess is the king of the cute pokemon. Seems unfair to set up a comparison."

[subcircuits]

"Princess' royal subjects, maybe?" Devero suggests. The words are the usual playful banter that passes between these two men like air, but he sounds-- and looks-- kind of dazed.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"That too," Eva says with a grin -easy, friendly and understanding. She doesn't know what's happened, but she's seen enough dazed looks and weaker grins to know emotional upset when she sees it.

Already, she has a park in mind. One of the more quiet ones, where they can sit and chill with a yadon or two, maybe some cleffa. Plus, Princess and or Skeeta for a while.

Just sit and chill and or talk if they want.

"And there's one I think you'd both do well to have at least an hour with," She keeps talking as she heads for the 'exit gate'. "Once we get there, will you be alright for a teleport?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

After a glance at Devero for confirmation, Koumyou starts to trail after Eva without letting go of his big, traumatized fiance.

"I don't see why not, sure."

[subcircuits]

Devero just hangs on to Koumyou, following along as well, and nods. He's down. (There's also a good chance that as soon as he loses his forward momentum he's gonna go down.)

[mtsilver_conquor]

[Roro is in her hand as they go through the gate, and as soon as they step foot into her world, Eva's not only pulled up the Storage System app, but hit the withdraw button and snagged the resulting pokeball out of mid-air. Shortly after, a mistermime appears before them, complete with a prickle of another mind as it brushes against theirs. There and gone again; alien inhuman, non-sapient; a psychic type instinctively reaching out. Then it's gone, little more than mental background noise to go with the visual as the strange, humanoid-ish-like focuses on Eva.

Unlike the last few times she's teleported with people, she only says one word as she holds the location in her mind.] Teleport.

[And, then in a burst of psychic energy, they go from the street to the lush cool air of a park filled with a variety of native plants, trees, and various other features, including gardens filled with autumn blooms. The section she's teleported them to is one of the secluded areas, away from people and pokemon (those they can certainly be heard) near a small pond filled with waterlilies. If they look, they can probably spot small ornamental fish... but no pokemon or anything larger than a handspan.

Eva is more than ready to steady either or both of them as needed.]

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou does indeed stumble a little upon arrival, but his balance is actually pretty insane and he catches it almost instantly, even hand-in-hand with another person.

[subcircuits]

Devero's balance is generally pretty good too-- when he's all present and accounted for. Right now though? Not so much. He reels dizzily, his fingers clamping hard on Koumyou's as the world spins around him. He closes his eyes and swears and-- yep, there he goes, losing his balance and starting to fall.

[mtsilver_conquor]

And Eva is right there to at least ease him down onto the ground. There's a grunt, but one that says she's done this before, and given she hasn't recalled the mistermime, her strength is somewhat augmented by Banki's psychic power.

"Easy. Easy. It's ok. You're both safe here, promise." She doesn't know if it's safety they need or just a place to rest, but sometimes it helps to verbalise things, to tell people what they might already know.

Once Devero and or Koumyou are on the ground, Eva recalls Banki, and releases Skeeta and Princess, nudging them towards the boys. "Give me a moment and I'll have something better than these two, ok?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

And Koumyou's there too, of course, able to help with easing Devero down. He stays close, sinking down to sit seiza at Devero's side, his own mood understated but not particularly traumatized.

"I murdered someone on Dev's world, it's still catching up to him in spots," the priest lets Eva know, even as he wiggles his free hand at Princess.

[subcircuits]

With their assistance, Devero manages not to fall, though his boneless collapse to a seat on the ground is far from graceful or controlled. He slumps into Koumyou's shoulder, blinking blearily at Skeeta and Princess.

"Sorry," he mumbles, forcing his attention to Eva. "'S been a long-- however long it's been. I'm--"

Honestly, he's not sure how he is, and doesn't finish the thought.

[mtsilver_conquor]

Princess beelines to Koumyou with small chuff (is that lap free? Yes? His now), while Skeeta meanders towards Devero like the ever-shifting mass of living vines the tangela line are known as.

Eva hooks the 'balls back on her belt with a slow exhale. Gods of the Four. Just even knowing that is enough to get a small shiver. She's no stranger to death or killing people (herself, thanks, train...) - but it's still not something to be taken lightly. That it was murder... Well. She'd be a hypocrite if she said there was never a reason for murder.

"It's alright- nothing to be sorry about either." It's said to them both, but more Devero. "I don't need to know what happened, either."

As she talks, she's focused on Roro as she pulls up her work account and starts scrolling through until she finds the one she wants. Another pokeball appears out of nowhere... and then she releases a rather pudgy pink creature, that from head to the base of the tail is roughly three-foot long. It looks like it's a rather derpy hippo/manatee cross that looks like it could be rather young, still. It's psychic, but the feel of the mind is one that is extremely mellow. Relaxed. Zoned out and in its own world. Thoroughly chilled-out and unbothered by anything.

"This is a yadon -Shian-. The species are docile to the point they're often used to help people unwind after any kind of trauma."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou stays right where he is on the ground, a solid shoulder for Devero to be slumped into. At first, it's just his free hand that's on Princess-petting-duty, fingers digging into that familiar pink fur to give all the good scritches.

When the very... stoned-feeling creature pops out of a ball next, Koumyou gives Devero's hand a squeeze and then loosens his grip, offering to let him have both hands back without letting go, himself.

"That critter feels like it's gotten into the entirety of your stash, doesn't it?" The priest suggests helpfully, and offers Eva a quick little smile.

[subcircuits]

At first, Devero can only stare at the creature. As a rule, he's wary around animals, and he's still a little spooky following the psychic touch of the mistermime and resultant teleportation. But it doesn't take long for that mellow mind to chill him out a little.

"It does, doesn't it?" He takes his hand out of Koumyou's and leans forward to extend it to the Pokemon. With a sidelong glance up at Eva: "It's name is-- Shian, you said?"

[mtsilver_conquor]

"You're not the first to say that," Eva laughs as she flops down into a cross-legged sit, while Shian blinks then ambles forth to headbutt against that hand- and keeps going? The skin is best described as 'leathery but also scaly', as if biology couldn't decide and went 'both is good'. If he looks closely, he can see short, thick, white whiskers across the snout.

"Yeah. Shian. She's about 2 years old -still has some growing to do before she's fully grown. We mostly use her for chill-out times. Like, you can fall on her and the most she'll do is give you is a delayed 'yaah?'. They are probably the most docile pokemon on all of Arkea, too; They're grass feeders with a side of fish."

And then, like that, reality seems to catch up a Shian halts the slow advance to make a confused 'doooh?' noise that seems kinda sad too. Oh. Can't go any further. Hand?

Yeah, slowpoke are very much... kinda really Dumb..

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou just smiles at the poor gal's plight, and burrows both his hands into Princess' fur for some proper, thorough scritches.

[subcircuits]

Rust and ruin, that is some delayed response. Devero chuckles tiredly, patting her uncertainly. "Hi Shian," he says, addressing the creature directly. "Here, hand is here." He moves it back to headbutt position, laying it between Shian's vacant eyes and making an attempt to scratch the strangely textured skin.

[mtsilver_conquor]

Ohh! hand! Don't mind Shian, another headbutt and then she will literally rest against the hand because why not. It's nice. Hands are nice. That said, if he moves the hand, she will either follow it with sad sounds... to stay where she is because here is also comfy too.

Meanwhile, Princess purrs, an audible thrum of happiness. Also he's totally taking advantage of Shian's mental presence to 'chill out' too.

Eva shakes her head with a grin. "I think she likes you. If you guys want to know any more about the species, just ask, ok? Otherwise, we don't have to talk. We can just sit here and chill out."

She does not mind either way. She brought them to her world so they can have a chance to unwind after all.