No Place Like Home: The Return

[voidtreckermods]

---

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: THE RETURN

---

a silence broken...

It's been a very difficult few days. Rocking and rolling into the void and out again. Watching their friends out of the window as they wander from world to world. Meanwhile those lost on worlds continue to wander unable to return to the train at all.

"All attempts at returning those who left have failed. This voidcraft cannot do it alone. It is lucky that unlike those that have left before them, I can still sense them.

But I cannot bring them back alone. This is perhaps too advanced for Voidtreckers, but you have done the improbable before. You say you wish to help. This is how you help."

Their SCA's light up with a message. Or rather, a series of instructions:

In the unlikely event a tether gets stranded on a liminal space platform or between their own world and the platform space, you should, in the first instance, contact the Void technicians who monitor their non-travelling self. However, in the case they cannot be reached or there is a mass displacement of tether, an anchoring procedure can be carried out.

Ideally, this will involve two fully tethered individuals to retrieve the lost tether. One should be a stationary anchor. They should be outside of their void craft, if possible, and in physical contact with it. The second should be a roaming anchor reaching to draw the tethers back. In situations of mass tether displacement the stationary anchor can hold mutiple roaming anchors but it is recommended to not exceed five. In this situation, it is recommended that anchors rotate between stationary and roaming.

To start an anchoring of this kind, those anchoring should activate their anchoring program. Those staying station should reach out to the tethers of those they plan to steady. This might cause some emotional upheaval, and they will need to stay steady, especially if connecting to more than one roaming tether. Roaming anchors then must hold the person they search for in their thoughts and move towards them. It is recommended that the lost tethers activate their emergency beacon to facilitate being found and returning but this is not a necessity.

Once the roaming anchor has found the lost tethers they must keep hold of them and guide them back towards their craft, the stationary tethers must draw them back, pulling them through.

There is an additional note at the end, in different font.

It is as Anan told you. Your minds should visualise it. Be strong Voidtreckers.

... a short-lived dream

The doors open and anyone who wishes to try this can leave onto the platform. It is empty, devoid of the figures they had seen before; and, beyond the fog, devoid of anything. But searching requires their SCAs, not a path, and as people get into teams, they can activate their anchors and begin.

For those who will roam, their minds become filled, visualising light, void, voices and chaos; their bodies feel less stable, like they might unravel if not careful. But for those who will stay, when they touch the Voidtrecker Express, they will feel more stable, grounded. The fog shifts, but the world moves around them without pulling them in.

Thinking of the person they wish to keep stable, a mental and emotional link will be established, and they will feel each other as the roaming anchor sets off to find their missing crew.

---

Outside the train...
For those that had left - either by choice or by strange happenings - they have found themselves back at their anchor point during Poi 26, regardless of where they were before. For those unfortunate enough not to have a world to return to, or those who were stuck between in the first place, they will find themselves alone, in a fog filled space where no matter how far they walk, nothing greets them.

All those in fog or back in their world receive the same message from their SCAs.

Hold fast. Press your evacuation button. Your friends come.

---

RETURNERS: FLEETING HAPPINESS

But it's likely before the message arrived, that something wrong has been noticed by those outside the void. More than the bizarre ability to travel between existences, an inability to move far from where they appear. Back at their anchor points, they may notice - in time - colours sometimes flash across the sky, streaking through clouds or making trails in a night sky. At first not much, something to be easily dismissed but it builds. People talk, wonder at what is happening.

For the colours aren't the only thing. Across worlds, in cities, kingdoms, villages, underworlds and space stations, people are dreaming. Bright colours, vivid dreams. Prophets spring from nowhere, people claim to know the future or to have seen the past. Some talk of places and worlds they could not have seen.

Perhaps at first it can be explained away, there are always such people. But more people talk, from urchin children to commanders, people dream and the colours dance.

ANCHORERS: A STEADY HAND

While the stationeries will feel grounded, they aren't blind to what's happening to their roamer. It's as if they're both linked, intimately, meshing together, and they will need to work to keep their feelings separate; hearing each other's thoughts, their feelings. Images of what the other thinks and memories shared between them.

And then there is the search for their teammates, amongst the multiple of realities. Existences move past the roamer, threatening to lose them in the mess, but they must persevere, keep their thoughts on the individual, their stationary anchor to help them. Until finally, they appear - in a world they perhaps know, don't, the kaleidoscope colours of the void faint above their heads.

Speak to each other, keep each other focused, certain, and find who you came to save.

BOTH: HOLDING ON

Searching for individuals, the anchorers will find themselves at a character's anchor point; if they haven't moved far from here or another world, it will be easy to locate them. Now is the time to convince them to come back, and then the eventual work of doing so.

It can be in agreement, or force. Taking a hold of the person, the anchorer can pull them into the mass of chaos. Just like when they helped the guests return to their worlds from the false Diagad, all parties become battered by images, voices. Voices like sirens; 'Just stay,' the voices encourage. 'Just let go and drift into the chaos. It will be easier.'

But they must be strong, move towards their anchor and towards the craft. The crossing doesn't take too long, perhaps ten minutes each way, and once they get to the craft the person they are rescuing glows gold and vanishes. The anchors will know instinctively that they are safe on the train.

And indeed, the rescued will find themselves within the luggage carriage - exhausted, but safe.

TRAIN: AN INEVITABLE RETURN

Exhaustion is something all parties will experience, once everyone is returned to the train and the adrenaline wears off. Those who anchored will be hit with a total exhaustion, leaving them unable to do much more than eat and sleep for a few days. Those rescued won't be as bad, but if they decide to join in with the efforts, they'll too face the soul-tiring experience that other anchorers are.

There's likely to be efforts, to help soothe people over this time. And as people return to their life on the train, they will see the marks of the last few days for those who stayed behind. Broken ceramics, books out of order in the library; the ICPs in the standard coach, storage, sports and games carriages broken, and some damage to furniture.

But for the scars brought on by this event, surely, they will heal - eventually.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here. New second part OOC post here.

First phase of the event took place during Poi 22 to 25; the second phase takes place during Poi 26 to 28 (20-25th February).

VISITING WORLDS: While during Poi 26, it will be possible to go back to wherever they were, or other spaces. However, they will have increasing difficulty doing this, and will feel themselves getting more lost if they try world hopping too much over the next 3 (void) days. It's like something is trying to pull them back, or pull them, but into nowhere.

SCAs: The SCA's comms will not be active at this time.

Comments

[to_rise_above]

"You're so annoying!"

If only he knew how much tight and details came with that courtesy name of his.

Jin Ling is just following his voice now. Whether he really will send Fairy after Wei Wuxian at this point, no one knows. Jin Ling obviously can't win with this person either way. Why must he find ways to embarrass him without trying?!

At least, Wei Wuxian has seen and known both of his parents. A part of him is truly jealous that he got to know them and he hasn't. Though, meeting a version of his own farther and watching how he and Wei Wuxian are, Jin Ling can sort of see why they don't get along.

As for his mother, he hasn't been so fortunate to see her at all. He's hopeful, though. The voice is getting closer as he moved, feeling exhausted from the colors and many other unexplainable things he sees.

[blitzcheer]

Any other time, Tidus would get off the bed and go to the chair than hang around the end of a guy's bed. But Elidibus is offers for him to stay, and what seems weird and not weird...isn't really calculating the same as it normally would, right now. He's got one leg hanging off the bed, sat between a place where he could easily get up, but he's curious. Elidibus wanted to talk to him - what about?

"Long as you don't want to talk some big or long topic." It's a joke, but about his limits as well, though he doubts there's anything at length that Elididus wants to go into with him. But he has things he wants to say, too - ask, and he takes the moment to do so.

"How are you? How'd...going back to your world go?"

[blitzcheer]

"Eh? But your body's wherever you were last, right? So it should be the last place you were at."

Right? So how did she end up in some void place?

[jingyeets]

Sizhui, polite in most every interation, merely blinks, then smiles, looking from Jingyi to Tidus, and accepting the qin as it's handed to him from Jingyi.

"You must be Tidus," he says, waving a hand to send the qin back into his qiankun pouch and rising in a fluid, graceful movement that his tail accentuates complimentarily. Jingyi rises with less grace, but equal fluidity, practically leaping to his feet, tail lashing behind him. "Jingyi's shared stories about you and your fellow companions."

A broad enough statement to include any number of the people Jingyi's run into on train, still there at present, or gone over the months.

(That tail, with its fluffy, luring tuft, whips up and around as if in a huff of its own, before sweeping down and back around to Jingyi's back, where it curls up again and twitches in frustration.)

"Tidus of... the Voidtrecker Express, this is Lan Sizhui of Gusu Lan. The one I grew up with." An unnecessary clarification, perhaps, given it was obvious, but still offered nonetheless. "I got the message, is this some kind of anchoring you're doing?"

[wewillwewill]

Elidibus shakes his head. Well he can be concise with his request anyway.

As for the rest? Well it would be wrong to say Elidibus didn't expect the questions once he realized they would speak again. But even now there is a moment of hesitation. At least he can answer the first part easily.

"I am exhausted. The journey to my star and events there have taken their toll, far more than I imagined." The Ascian looks as tired as he claims though even the worn expression and paler than normal features is a vast improvement over his condition when he first returned a few days ago.

"I don't know an easy way to tell you of what happened. But I imagine you would find it worse that I said nothing at all." Elidibus seems to be trying to give Tidus time to brace for... something. What that is becomes very evident soon enough.

"My absence allowed one of my Sundered brethren to act on his own desires and authority. With it, he brought an end to our god. This led to the return of the Final Days, the event of my star's destruction which led to Lord Zodiark's creation."

Elidibus allows himself to exhale slowly. News of Zodiark's destruction had been both horror and blessing. Emotions play across his features before he schools them again. There will be time for that. Later.

"Fandaniel was defeated with Lord Zodiark. But I alone could not forestall the Final Days again and even if I could, the Voidtrecker Express bound me in place. So I gave my all to the Warrior of Light and created the portal through time that he needed in order to find the clues that would aid him in finding a means to stopping the destruction of our star."

Forgive him if this has a little Tidus. The Ascian watches the youth carefully as he concludes the tail.

That journey would take him to before the beginning of this tale. Before the world had been Sundered by Hydaelyn's will. And such a long journey could only have been accomplished if I gave all that I am. Thus it was to be my final act. But know I did so willingly."

Raising his arm, Elidibus briefly displays the SCA.

"The train drew me back from my journey to join my brethren. Whether for a purpose or because it is the nature of its program only it can say."

[blitzcheer]

It's like they were expecting him, or are always this prepared for newcomers to come stumbling in, apparently from nowhere. There's no way to not frame him as an outsider, out of place, but even in these woods, Tidus feels like he found himself in the middle of somewhere he shouldn't be.

Even if those tail flicks coming from Jingyi are...impatience? So Tidus reads them as, impatience for how long this has taken for them to get him. But he's stood, along with Sizhui, and Tidus does as well, up on his feet. Some dirt clings to the bottom of his legs, but he doesn't mind the mess.

"Uh, yeah." A slow start, awkward, but he'll regain himself. "The train finally let us out. It wasn't answering or letting us do anything 'til now."

To let Jingyi know, we tried, but they've only come as quickly as they could.

"Wei Wuxian from...another world's helping me be here. He'll help us get back."

Since everyone is being introduced, and he won't leave out the uncle from this conversation, despite not present physically. And to warn Jingyi too, of another's presence in the connection to be made. He glances between the two, gaze settling on Jingyi.

"We'll go as soon as you're ready." A pause, and he looks behind his shoulder. "--I can go down there if you want privacy."

You know, just an offer. Is that what would be polite in Jingyi's culture? He's trying.

after the math is calculated, we end up with a zero sum gain

[jingyeets]

Jingyi strides in because he's grumpy, and because he has a list of checkmarks in his mind that goes: some of my friends are better at finding ways to address how they feel than others. While he'd slate Inigo in as likewise being the sort to hold things in, and Tidus must have been unnerved, and Idia probably was torn between whatever he'd realised back home and what he gained for his sheer curiosity in returning to the train, and—suffice to say, there are many people who can flit through his mind, but one who he argued with over suicide, murder, and locking himself down.

His roommate, perched now with pen and notebook, trying to find answers an immeasurable distance away from the heart of his consuming problem. A too familiar reality, for too many of those he knew on this stupid voidvessel.

"Taiki," he says, after standing there for a moment. "Will you finally allow yourself to grieve?"

[jingyeets]

Not wrong, if also not right; Jingyi has been waiting for whatever end result would arrive, once his area of movement grew more and more restricted. Tidus is a pleasant enough surprise, and an eyebrow quirk over who else is anchoring, before he nods.

"Good, and I'm ready." He looks to Sizhui, who moves his gaze from Tidus's general periphery (that hair is wild, utterly unlike anything he's seen before, given he'd not seen much variety in those who did visit Jingyi's world over the last period of time) to meet Jingyi's glance. "I'll work on doing longer periods of dragon form when I'm on mission, enough for proper groomings. Platform's never going to be long enough."

Sizhui nods in turn, then hesitates, frowning a touch.

"I know with everything you've said what I can expect here... Try not to have too many adventures without me, all right?"

Jingyi snorted, but it was a softer sound, and his smile after was some mixture of warm and apologetic.

"Wasn't intended to, but I'll write you reports on how everything goes."

Sizhui met that proclamation with lifted eyebrows, then snorted, and soon after both of them were laughing. It lamentably meant for that duration, Tidus was more audience than participant, but then Jingyi nods to Sizhui, and Sizhui turns to Tidus and bows.

"Thank you for being his friend on the Voidtrecker Express. I hear you complain almost as much as he does," and here Sizhui's tail comes around to meet Jingyi's when it attempts to thwack his leg, Sizhui's lips twitching into a grin, "Which means he's in good company, and you are too! You can't ask for anyone better fighting at your side."

"Now you're nice—"

"Unless you're trying to handle delicate talks—"

"And there it is, my best friend," he says, lamenting, and then turning and pulling Sizhui into a fierce hug. It startles a yelp out of his companion, whose tail jerks up, fur fluffing out, before it smooths down into regular levels of fluffy again, the arc of it softening as Sizhui returns the brief embrace. "Take care of yourself, don't let everyone be too idiotic on night hunts, eat chicken for me."

"You too, Jingyi. Bring back lots of whatever those paintings you talked about are."

Like that, they stepped away from each other, and Jingyi moved toward Tidus, eyes closed. He needed a moment, and if Tidus looked to Sizhui, he'd be met by a shake of Sizhui's head, in a what can you do? We all miss who we miss sort of way.

"You're not going to need to carry me, are you?" He says, eyeballing Tidus once he reopens his eyes.

[blitzcheer]

You guys don't need Tidus to turn around and pretend he isn't here? Okay, well, he can not do that. This, however, isn't really awkward to Tidus; watching the two of them, the gestures and show of friendship that are familiar across different worlds, places, even with their nuances of culture and personalities.

He feels sorry that they're going to have to part, but glad as well that Jingyi got to see friends and family, for as annoying of a return as it must have been. Chucked out and off the train as he was, probably predicting from then that this wouldn't end well.

(Not being in your body is a pretty big clue.)

So he's smiling, small as it is, to be witness to a pair, and this he can feel more comfortable to, to be allowed a peek into their lives - Jingyi's life, his comforts of a good friend.

He won't even change his look, make any conscious note or observation to Jingyi's closed eyes, as he opens them.

"I can if you want me to! What do you think?" Cheery, far more than how he arrived, the few seconds after it, and he directs the question momentarily to Sizhui. He waves a fist close to his shoulder, as if direction to some path back. "You wanna fly back? Then you can hold me."

As if this is a far better alternative than carrying.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus was never sure what Elidibus would be returning to. There's a lot there for anyone - to ask about their worlds, their lives - that's personal, that really isn't anyone's business, unless it seems worth to bring it up. And Elidibus is old enough and reserved enough where it's not been a question for Tidus.

It was always likely to be something big, though. The end of a god - a pretty big thing, if Tidus's learnt anything about gods.

He listens without interrupting. The curious and ignorant expression worn coming tighter, a frown pulling on his mouth as his brows slant, yet come close, too. Uncertainty, but there's an obvious struggle, a desperation present. An end of life.

Eyes follow to the SCA lifted, Tidus's own hands rested in his lap, his SCA exposed - as always - on his right wrist. He wants to say sorry, but it's difficult, despite the sympathy showing clear on his face. Elidibus made his choice, and it's not something he would have wanted apologies for, were it him. But his fingers lace, and if there's anything he can say...

"If there's a will, there's a way." Tidus looks up at Elidibus, the pulled frown heavy on his mouth tugging at the edges upwards, just some. "They'll give it their all, too. I'm sure of it."

Blind faith, belief, but why not when it meant so much?

"...sucks being dead though, huh." It's awkard, morbid, but even Tidus's face is sheepish, his thumbs twiddling a little as he tries to make it lighthearted, not sure if he'll hit his mark. "Dying, and then showing up here? Cramped halls, no sky... somewhere with a sea would be nicer. Or a big library, with a bunch of books?"

Because Elidibus would like a really big library with a bunch of books, right.

[schrodingersghost]

Danny blinks and shakes his head. That had come through loud and clear.

"Tidus?"

He reaches for it, but it was gone now. But the sense of panic remained. He still...

Danny, having lived with a portal to a void dimension in his basement, had never developed a healthy fear of the Void. But if there was one way to get through to him, it was to convince him that his friends were worrying.

"Yeah," he says to Lioriley. "But this is Amity Park. That isn't actually that unusual here." He grimaces and his expression shifts into guilt. "But if I'm the reason this is happening. I guess I have to go and hope they can handle the rest."

He sounds more than a little skeptical. With the way his world had fallen apart, it was hard to see how they'd do any better now.

"...He would, wouldn't he."

[schrodingersghost]

She'll find him coming out of his room. He was clearly worn out and desperately in need of more rest, but at least he wasn't a step away from falling asleep where he stood.

"Razzy? You okay?" And it only took him a few seconds to switch from half asleep to worried.

[blitzcheer]

She tells him not to make such promises, but there's a bubble of emotion - something defiant, a disagreement, but nothing as heightened as before. Tidus knows this isn't the time, but he's not dissuaded; only, he'll keep it locked up, focus on what's important now.

Like getting Danny back, safely. Letting Lioriley speak, and some emotion does spring up to the remark - the equivalent of a You bet! that only grows to Danny's input.

He is so ready to get them both back to the train, safe and sound. (Did Lioriley need such an emotionally expressive person in her head? Unfortunately, such is her fate.)

[wewillwewill]

There really is no hesitation when Elidibus responds with his feelings on the Warrior of Light's worth.

"We were enemies because our paths opposed one another and his convictions matched our own. The Final Days had come once more. Who better to steer the course of our star? The truth of the matter lay in the past I could no longer remember and only I was able to cast the spell to connect the past and present. So I choose to place our hopes in him."

For more reasons as well; ones half remembered and some learned during his voyage on the Voidtrecker Express. But those need not be said.

Talk of death. Morbid as it is, there is something relatable in those words. Moreso than before. Drawn from death or the brink of it and rightful rest to ride the train once again for who knows how long.

"I would have settled with meeting my dear friends again," he says quietly, a poignant note coloring his tone. "Or perhaps the memories which return to us as our souls are washed clean by the aetherical sea. To dream..." Until the life he had lived was washed away so the soul can be reborn anew to another life. Elidibus finishes with a wistful sound before shaking his head. The Ascian's voice grows firm again. Calm.

"But not yet. Such is our lot for now, is it not? If I must wait a little longer, so be it."

[dnaofahalfa]

Oh.

There he is.

And....she suddenly feels like...well, her actual age, honestly.

So she moves to him, not a rush, but direct and hugs him tight. "No. Need to feel solid again," she muttered into his chest.

cw: death talk

[blitzcheer]

What did Tidus want when he died? A multiple of outcomes, the biggest that it wouldn't happen. That he'd live despite what he did, but if he couldn't have that, that it was quick, pain - that he didn't even notice, or have to confront the others about it. Going over and over and over every little possibility, but never letting them form; and then always deciding that whatever it was, would come. That was it, he'd have to face it no matter what - because not would be the death of people he loved. The death of Yuna. And Zanarkand wasn't a life he could ever go back to with, if Sin still existed.

(Or without it.)

He hums, a non-committal sound, a noise as his thoughts drift. Death isn't what he talks about often; not his own death. Now isn't really the time for it either, but he lets out a breath, a sigh before he speaks.

"Well, you've lived a long time." He's noticed that roster age, guy. "However long we're stuck here can't be a lot for you."

It'll be over quicker, is what he means, but maybe Elidibus's personality will make it easier to deal with than it has been for Tidus.

[monkeyinthewrench]

Jake pauses to take a breath. No, he's not happy about that news, but with the beeping on his SCA and the growing disturbances in the sky he'd accepted it.

"...it's fine. I'll go. Someone has to keep this world safe, and it might as well be me."

He shifts his bag on his shoulder. "So...we're going now, then?"

[crowneddragon]

Esteban is sorry that there's no easy goodbyes to this, that Jake has to steel himself for what comes next. He doesn't quite know how to convey his empathy other than squeezing the other's shoulder, trying to give him a bit of a grin, even as apologetic as he is.

"Then your world's in good hands, yeah?" It feels like it's falling too short, even as he tries. He never finds the right words to say, and the days behind him have made him that much more inept at it-- too stressed and worried and tired to manage much more than a weak pat and a smile. So Esteban gives up words, and goes for a hug instead, a quick squeeze to offer the best comfort he can.

"You'll get back here. We're all gonna get back t' our worlds at some point." If he's caught onto anything lately, it's that there is progress; the train had tried to send them home after all, and though it ended up in failure, wasn't it proof enough that it wanted their wellbeing? That it wanted, if it could, to send them home?

They'd just have to hold on, just a bit longer.

[sizedoesntmatter]

"I never would ever think of doing that." he tried his best to at least chuckle at his own words because in all honest he felt like he just had to say it and it helped in a way to block out the feeling he had if just for a moment.

Being asked if he found what he was looking for juts brought it back right afterward.

"Uh... yeah. I did."

II The Return - more or less

[fun_thementalist]

It would've been nice to get answers.

Was the world Gen returned to even real? Was it all a cruel trick? Was it an actual glimpse in how his reality was right that moment - but now they were doomed without anyone 'awake' there? No answer he could think of would be a good one. He didn't even know what the least awful scenario would be.

But at least on the train - selfishly - there's a bright upside.

Gen's not completely surprised to find Senku banging down the engine room door. He can't imagine his reality had been any better off with him abducted onto the train, than it had been in Gen's where Senku was likely dead.

"If you get one, I'd like to hear it too," Gen said wryly, leaning on the doorway behind Senku for a moment, just - drinking the sight of him alive in.

[invigorates]

Lioriley didn't have to go far — like she had already been prepared for this — to find a glass that hadn't been shattered with the rattling of the train's attempts to leave, and fill it with water...seemingly from nowhere. A quick flick of her wrist and it was full, the glass slightly cool to the touch as she handed it to him.

[10billionpercent]

Senku banged on the door once more, these signs of annoyance were very rare really, and it indicated he was downright furious. He exhaled and glanced over his shoulder.

"Mm." Senku made a little noise of greeting, before running his fingers though his hair.

"Nothing." He said, after a moment. "Train's not paying attention to me, and hasn't been for days."

[fun_thementalist]

"Since when has the train really paid attention to us?" Gen asked, a bit more bitterly than he usually every would when the train's in earshot, but. Look. Considering what he'd been through - what it implied for his reality -

Gen didn't hold back any longer, and came up to hug Senku, lean against him - "I just - for a moment -"

[invigorates]

More quick ticks upon the pages — those she could reach without dislodging the journal from Tidus's hands anyway — while the rest were noted mentally to be checked off later.

"So I heard." She had spoken to Otoha about his friend leaving, about his duties, and had even seen him off when he was on the platform. Doubtful anyone could have stopped him from trying to return home, even if they had known this would be the outcome.

A beat. "Malekith is here." His name was already noted. One of the first, too.

Another nod. She had met Mordin early on. "You truly do know quite a good many people. I suspect you have been here a while, then?"

[10billionpercent]

Senku didn't protest as Gen wrapped his arms around him and leaned against him. He raised a hand and gently rested it on Gen's head, quiet permission and encouragement.

"Alright." He murmured at the question.

"Yeah, well I need to know what happened, what I walked back into."