voidtreckermods: (train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] middleofsomewhere2022-02-12 07:08 am
  • Add Memory
  • Share This Entry
Entry tags:

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
COMMUNITIES
CITIES & KINGDOMS


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
jingyeets: (lol | on the same one)

[personal profile] jingyeets 2022-03-02 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Lan Wangji's fingers are rough, efficient, but gentle as they correct the line of Sizhui's ribbon, one that wears a touch differently with their horns, even when it seemed like it should not. He observes the fall of it after, inclining his head forward in acceptance of what he sees, rendered better: his eyes swiftly after lock on to Sizhui's, hands falling away to his sides, self collected as he usually appears.

"Heed limitations," he says, and the narrowing of his eyes indicates his awareness of what empathic healing might cause, for all it wasn't familiar to him.

Wei Wuxian flits back around from the side, tweaking Sizhui's sleeve with a frown and serious eyes. This isn't a moment for levity, and even if this isn't the son he helped raise, in all the political complicated world A-Yuan grew up in and continues onward in, it's still A-Yuan, Lan Sizhui. Raised by the Lans at minimum, and the regard of Lan Zhan in passing, also at minimum.

Certain things may be assumed from the name, from his adopting into the clan. Only one man would bother. Only one man would care.

"A-Yuan, how much control do you have with this? What specifically does it entail?"

Jingyi, standing to the side, coughs into his hand, only to earn a look from Hanguang-jun.

"What? I'm not the one doing anything worrying," he says, pointing out his logic. Hanguang-jun continues to stare. Jingyi's tail droops in degrees, and he cups his hands in a bow. "I'll ensure he doesn't either, Hanguang-jun."
deferences: dns (♪ fussed)

[personal profile] deferences 2022-03-07 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
They're that and so much more, different yet familiar in the way he remembers his father adjusting his headband when he was younger and hadn't quite mastered the perfect placement. He's grinning throughout this, holding as still as possible while Lan Wangji examines his handiwork, deeming it fixed now. Sizhui's expression softens partially, more relaxed contentment rather than beaming enthusiasm, though no less sincere when he meets the man's gaze.

Even further toning down happens following Hanguang-jun's remark, his eyebrows knitting together, lips momentarily pinched. If he's truthful, he hasn't used it enough to really know his limitations and should remedy that before admitting what little he does have knowledge of... but it's fine, he's learned something, at least.

The sleeve tug earns a brief, considering glance, his eyes linger there far longer than necessary, then he ultimately peeks up, greeted with that solemn look on Wei Wuxian's face. Sizhui takes a deep breath, sighs it back out, straightens his posture and admits, “I've not used the healing often, so I'm unsure what my limitations are.” It seems safe to assume, if he were to try and bring someone back from death or near there, he'd either die or suffer fatal injury, eventually leading to the former. “I do know I can heal minor injuries, such as cuts, burns, bruises and the like.” A moment's hesitation, he mns softly and, “The way it works, I take other peoples' wounds when I heal them.”

Instinctively, his attention darts toward Jingyi, features creasing harder, although not for the same reasons. (Well, he would've preferred Jingyi not even hint at any idea that he might be doing disconcerting things with his new powers—)

But he hasn't done anything reckless with them (yet?), so no worrying necessary. “Ah, ah, Jingyi has looked out for me plenty.” Not complaining or retaliation, just a sincere observation; of everyone he knows, Jingyi's been there when he's needed him, without fail. This isn't to say other people haven't, Jingyi has always simply been his faithful best friend and fellow disciple, regardless of whatever world differences were between them.

He turns back to his fathers again, arms raised in a bow too, reverent. “I promise, I haven't been careless when using my abilities.”
jingyeets: (Default)

[personal profile] jingyeets 2022-03-09 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
Jingyi is louder than either of Sizhui's alternate world parents.

"You what?! Why are you even worse than Ryo!"

Which has no explanation for Lan Wangji or Wei Wuxian, but they glance to him, then to Sizhui, and allow that there's aspects they simply won't know, and those they will. Wei Wuxian speaks, holding Sizhui's shoulder, still in that particular stillness of serious regard.

"Learn those limits. Learn what you can press beyond. Take care with the process. From what we understand, the places you're pulled to for such short times aren't the kinds that provide room for thought when learning limitations."

There was no specific training to refer to, not for what this son who is not their son but is their son must face. Nor is there any doubt Lan Jingyi will do what he does for their son of this world, who doesn't shift to show a tail and horns, but was born to them, and in different colours.

Lan Wangji frowns a touch, inclines his head forward. "Make time yours." Study, train, and do what he must always do, but tempered here by something Sizhui wouldn't recognise in his own father: that acceptance, that blending, of Lan precepts and their flexibility through bending to the demand that the Jiang clan made of their sect: do what cannot be done.
deferences: dns (♪ chided)

[personal profile] deferences 2022-03-12 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds exactly right for the mouthcannon Jingyi he knows and loves, to be honest.

Sizhui flinches faintly, drops both arms back to his sides and inclines his head, not entirely sure what his friend is getting at, but knowing it's not good, regardless. ‘Ryo’ is a familiar name, one he can't put a face to right now, but perhaps he can later when he's back on the train, not floundering in the presence of his best friend and dragon-souled dads.

Feeling all eyes on him coaxes Sizhui into upturning again, his gaze flickering from them to Jingyi then back again, just as Wei Wuxian clasps his shoulder. He blinks once, twice, considering what might come next, though maybe anticipating something worse than what's actually said.

He nods, both with understanding and agreement, since Wei Wuxian has hit the nail on the head; they don't usually have much time to think about figuring out new abilities before they're thrown right back into another mission with who knows what, but he always, always practices at least once a day. Also, he knows too that Lan Jingyi will look out for him during all things, just like he'd do for him in kind and that's quite a lot of reassurance in and of itself. (Other bonds he has aboard the train help immensely in this same sense.)

“I will do my best,” he acknowledges. “With everything.” Because his best is always wholehearted, driven by determination and bolstered with confidence, both his own and everyone around him. This pep-talk is a clear indication in the latter that even his otherworldly parents support him and his proficiency. “And I'll not do anything unduly reckless.”
Flat | Top-Level Comments Only