middleofsomewhere | No Place Like Home: The Return

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No Place Like Home: The Return

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.

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It feels like a bigger loss than it ought to be, Esteban and Tidus starting to move away from him like this. Maybe it's since they were right there from basically the first moment he became aware of things again here in the luggage car, but it feels weird without them right there. It makes Inigo groan and stir, only barely able to sit up by himself as-is, trying to prop himself up with his back against the wall of the carriage.

"It's.. 'kay," he mumbles, a hand slowly moving up to rub at his eyes, but it doesn't make him feel any less sleepy for some reason. It's like his body is still entirely made out of something that's way too heavy for him to carry.

And really, it's not okay. He so doesn't want to be alone right now, not after waiting all by himself in his own world as well. Not after these days of internal freaking out about their situation. But on the other hand - he knows he can't be selfish and demand they stay with him. Knowing Esteban and Tidus, they'll want to help out other people.

So what else is Inigo supposed to do, other than to man up and be okay with being alone again for a while?

"You guys can go.. I.." He breathes in. "I'll get myself.. to my room."

Which, you know, sounds very convincing when it's said by a guy who looks like he's having trouble even just sitting up. Clearly.

"I can walk, mom." Talk about being a nag!! But it's playfully answered this time around, understanding where the concern is coming from, even if he thinks himself it's overblown. Who doesn't get the entire wind and soul knocked out of them when attempting to save a pal? Eezy stuff.

He sounds better at responding than Inigo anyway, whose mumbling that comes beside them in an attempt at reassurance does nothing but the opposite. It sounds sad, but who doesn't sound down in the dumps when they're exhausted? There wasn't anything fun about going through the void.

(Which, geez -- there really was something in this whole anchoring business, wasn't there? Just the journey in-between the void and points; Inigo hadn't been anything like this back on his world, and now...

This was going to be an exhausting rescue, for everyone.)

"You're not going anywhere on your own." He puts a hand on Inigo's shoulder, gives it a confident grip. "Don't worry, we'll get you there - just give it five minutes. We'll come check on you later - I promise."

He looks over to where the higgledies have found perch.

"You two'll look after for him for us, won't you?"

The pair squeak, higgle!, ready for the job!

Okay, ouch.

He deserved that, but ouch; he's really not that bad! C'mon, Tidus, can't he fuss just a bit? Still, he only playfully bristles, wings stretching wider behind his back even as his eyes brighten. But he's not witty enough to come up with banter to reply to that anyways, so it's not like his half-threat holds much weight anyways.

Yes, he's fussing. It's-- it's his version of an apology right now, or maybe some form of hope; something between the two. But ultimately, Tidus knows Inigo better, so while he's still recovering from the void travels, Esteban trusts him to handle the situation better than his clumsy attempts. Wings and tail shift behind the half-elf, and they slip back underneath his skin as Esteban finally places some distance between himself and his companions.

He still doesn't think the blond is going to be of much help carrying his own ~~not~~ ~~boy~~friend back yet, though, so they might be sticking around for a bit more then. His toes automatically start to bounce, and Esteban tucks the foot at the crook of his opposite knee to keep it hidden, as he scrambles to find... anything to say, really.

"Hey, Inigo? Didja know that Tidus has eighteen lungs?" Is he helping, or should he let his companion rest instead? He's not entirely sure, but he'll take his response as indication enough, even as he teases the blond at the same time. He's still not over that conversation; worse, he almost believed the blitzball player, until he'd added a full ten to the number.

While Inigo is over here just torn between the idea of having to quickly go back to his room so the other two can go back to helping out other people and the idea of having to wait there all by himself - even with the higglepals for company, still! - Esteban is over there, just.. suddenly speaking up with something like that of all things.

There's not quite the comical reaction one might expect though. Inigo is way too tired to be able to react with any sort of proper speed. Instead he just blinks, before slowly - much too slowly - turning his head to actually look at Esteban.

".. what..?"

With his slow confusion, it's hard to tell what part of that is even confusing to Inigo. Maybe he just thinks he didn't quite parse that sentence, since his brain is so foggy. Maybe Esteban meant to say something else? Who knows, Inigo sure can't keep up right now.

The only thing he does slowly realise is that he must have missed so much, just by being kicked off the train for a few days. It feels a little lonely, though he - luckily enough - can't really process that emotion when he's this tired. No room for emotions, only exhaustion. (And confusion, in this case.)

Wow, Esteban!

You deserve that confused response from Inigo there. Either not the best time for jokes, or this is the exact response that fact would receive from anyone. Tidus huffs, as if he's the more mature guy here (he's not).

"I told him about blitzball." Hopefully, that'll be enough to lead to how that apparent fact (or belief) gets made, but it also might be too little - or too much - right now for Inigo. But Tidus is taking Inigo as being on the too exhausted, too tired right now side of things, and he gives his friend a pat on the shoulder. Alright, he's sliding onto his knees himself; a bit woozy after that void river adventure, but he knows about pushing through while not being a 100%. "Let's get you to bed. You'll go to sleep, and before you know it, I'll be back. I'll even bring you Taiki to sleep with."

Not as scandalous as it sounds, Esteban, but take that as you will. Tidus will look over to Esteban, nodding and asking, "Help me?"

He doesn't need to do this alone - and Inigo can do with the help more than him. Tidus doubts by how woozy Inigo's being, he's going to be able to stay straight.

Yeah, okay, it wasn't his best attempt.

He really doesn't know when to shut up, does he? But he'd tried at the very least, he'd given it his best shot, the shiniest moment he'd collected in the last few days, seeing as there had been so little to brighten them until now. But it was probably for the best if he waited a bit more before trying to cheer his friends up. He'd try again later.

"Surething!" He's the least wobbly of them all, so he can get to his feet without much of a problem. "D' we need to get Taiki back?" That one he's less sure; He sort of know Taiki from a distance, but he hadn't paid attention on whether he'd stayed on the train or not. He hopes, he hopes Tidus means someone already on the train itself.

But that might just be his selfishness speaking, greedy as he is. Inigo is back; and Esteban should lend his help to whoever wants it, rather than focus on the people that he misses, impatient in his need to see them safe, in the need to make sure they are alright. Dragons are the most selfish creatures, after all.

Help the others. Amaya would be fine.

He helps shift Inigo closer so that they can hold him from each side, distributing his weight best between the three of them. He still has half a mind to carry him piggyback style, but that brings its own set of complications Esteban doesn't know how to handle at this point, so this is for the best.

At least Inigo does seem to have enough energy left to at least ensure that he's actually standing on his own legs. Moving them by himself and actually walking is another story entirely, but as long as he's helped by these pillars on either side of him, it's definitely possible for them to finally start moving out of the luggage carriage and in the direction of the sleeper cabins.

(There's something nice too, being supported like this by charming guys on both sides, ~~being manhandled like this~~.. If only Inigo was a little less sleepy at this point, then he would have been able to properly appreciate this moment.

It just means he'll have to look back on this later and realise.)

"Sleeping with Taiki's.. nice.."

That's an assessment he can make on a half-asleep mind. Go figure.

And yes, yes, he's still moving his feet along with the other two, he's not making them do all the work here.

"Sleeping with you guys would be nice too.." Even if he he knows he can't have that right now, he can still dream of the cuddle pile, alright. So much so that the words slip out of his mouth before he's really considered what they might sound like.

Edited 2022-03-16 07:03 (UTC)

"Mm, Taiki's one of the ones who went back." It's an easy answer, slipped in before Inigo's own mumblings, which sound more dream-like the more he talks. This is a guy who definitely needs to get to bed, and Tidus is glad that he has support in Esteban on the other side. Even if there's a chance Inigo can handle himself, Tidus wouldn't want to risk it.

"Your head's gonna hit that pillow and you'll have all the guys you want sleeping with you." Cheeky, the implication what it is, but said so cheerily that there's no room for it to become really sexual. "Even the ones with ten, twenty - fifty lungs!"

Because Tidus found it funny, even if Inigo's too gone to process much. He's walking, guiding as much as being guided back, with the pair, leading them over to the transgate and pushing in the setting to open the gate next to the double sleepers.

Time to go on in, fellas!

Alright, gotta go get Taiki then.

"Anytime, sleepyhead. Just ask." He'll offer this much, because Esteban would definitely be down for naps and cuddles. It's nice to actually feel warmth for once, and he's a bit disappointed that it was so short, but they have bigger priorities to worry about.

"Or gills," he adds to Tidus' joke, because he is still not over the fact that the blond can and will just hold his breath for hours, excuse him, that's not normal. (Esteban wants to try. Pretty badly. They're gonna have to get that pool soon.)

Still, the constant mention of people napping together has Esteban blink in confusion, stepping through the gate first as the circle is definitely not large enough to accommodate them all. He's still holding out through the portal until he is fully through, and helps his companions step along until they've all crossed it.

"I thought people couldn't nap without the train kickin' them back to their room?" Esteban definitely gets that a lot-- he's never seen it, but he's fairly certain it's not some poor unfortunate soul that drags him back to bed whenever he falls asleep in the ~~weather~~ stone garden carriage. It would wake him up, and he's not exactly a lightweight to carry around. It's a pity, because he would be all down for that cuddle pile otherwise.

Usually Inigo would be first in line to answer any and all questions about cuddle piles. Those are his speciality. His desire. It's why he's talking about it even now, despite most of Inigo's brain functions having shut down already.

But exactly that last fact makes it hard to process that anything is being asked here at all. Sorry, guys, you'll have to sort out these questions among yourselves. Inigo is way too busy trying to not fall asleep already while he's being carried by the two of them, because then he'd turn into true dead weight.

Come for him whenever you want to learn how to hold your breath forever, Esteban.

But for now is leading, especially considering how much more quiet Inigo got. It doesn't worry Tidus (though, he does spare a few glances his way), waiting until each of them have gotten through, but not completely letting Inigo go once they're across.

And with him still propped up, Tidus speaks again, walking with them to the next set of doors to let to the double sleepers.

"Just at night. You can still hang over to sleep any other time, but when the time gets late, everyone gets sent to bed. You experienced it? You don't realise it unless you're really trying to stay up. I think I had it happen to me...once? I don't try staying up."

He's not that kind of guy. There's no sky!! Night time is boring on a train!!

The half-elf briefly, briefly goes to rub the back of his head, but this causes a shift in Inigo's balance, and he's quick to halt the gesture before he can complete it, readjusting his hold. He winces lightly in apology, but they're still stable enough at least.

"I know 'cause I don't... usually like fallin' asleep in the cabin." Too many people. It makes Esteban's skin crawl, and the room is so small that he can't bear it for long. Stepping in and out of it is fine, but trying to fall asleep within it just gets him shifty and upset, so he's stopped trying, since.

"B'sides. Fire spinnin's best done at night. Daylight spinnin's fine, but 't loses the wow factor." He's more of a night owl than a morning bird, by extension.

"'lmost there, Sleepyhead. Y'gonna be fine?" If sleepyhead sticks because Esteban can't help but tease Inigo when he's half-fainted, he is going to hate that nickname so much. "Inigo?" he repeats, just to reassure himself that no, this is not going to be Inigo's permanent nickname, thanks.

(Inigo is very, very lucky that Sleeping Beauty does not exist in Esteban's world.)

The talk about the nighttime activites is mostly lost on Inigo, but he's at least still somewhat aware. Not aware enough to actually knows how far away or close by they might be relative to the doors of their double room, but at least aware enough to know that his name is being called out here.

And that means he should.. reply. Right? Maybe? Or try to..

.. wait, what were the other two talking about..?

"I'm fine," he mumbles. It's mostly just his default response, and he happens to be lucky that it's exactly what Esteban was asking him. "Just.. wanna sleep. I think."

And he's right about that. Inigo is physically fine, just terribly sleepy and exhausted.

"I'll be.. right up.. to help.." .. for a moment it seems like he might not continue that sentence, like he's fully fallen asleep, but he manages to continue. "To help you guys.. pull others.. back.."

Fire spinning's better at night? Sounds like an excuse, but when it comes after, I don't like my cabin, Tidus is going to argue or point out how bad of an excuse a night on the train is, compared to a real night.

But they can fuss over Inigo instead. They're now in the right sleeper, Tidus nodding to the stairs leading up with an, "Up there," and he's willing to let go of Inigo so Esteban can help on his way. It's too small for them to walk all three, so he'll be at their backs, there in case either of them have a bad stumble.

"Sleep first, then you can!"

Of course it's upstairs. The half-elf is really, really glad they took shortcuts, and managed it so far together, because he doesn't think Inigo can make it up with his own strength, really, and that's a hassle and a half of a staircase. Alright. Deep breath.

"C'mon. I'll carry you th' rest of the way," he promises Inigo as he shifts under his arm, pulling him slowly to hitch his friend onto his back in a piggyback ride. He's very careful to settle the weight properly, so that he can brace against the stairs as he climbs in case it gets to be too much for him. He should be able to make it, but--

"Get the door?" he asks Tidus instead, nodding towards the steps. That's gonna be a stretch. Deep breath again, and Esteban is ready, bracing Inigo's arm around a shoulder and holding him up as best he can.

It's saying a lot that there's no reaction from Inigo, even as he's suddenly hoisted up on someone's back like that. Usually he would have been pleased, or - let's be real - flustered and surprised at something like this suddenly happening to him. ~~Finally getting the manhandling he's been wanting for so logn!!~~

But as-is, Inigo just allows it to happen without much of a reaction coming from him. Even though it can't be easy for Esteban. Inigo is too tired to pay any real attention to clinging onto the other beyond a very faint attempt, which means the half-elf will definitely carry most of the weight.

Inigo doesn't even say anything more. Not to what Tidus says, nor to Esteban's action.

He just hums sleepily.

Carrying Inigo? Probably the best idea now, and when he has the room to slip forward (a bit of a squeeze, given the tight halls), Tidus will go to the door first with a hum. Ticket pulled out from his arms band, materialising in his hand, and he presses it to the door to make it slide open.

It's a crowded room; the same kind of tight space of any double room, if Esteban's ever seen them. Tidus walks in first along the narrow floor space they have, the bed tucked into the corner, covered in nicer sheets than the basic team colours available. There's an upper bed pulled down above, a giant wyvern plush's head poking out, as well as an otter above in. The cubbyholes behind Tidus's back are filled with trinkets: a few magazines, pots of flowers, a picture frame - none of which Esteban is likely to pay any immediate attention to, but there.

(There's also an animal cage, with a jerboa inside it, set on a table by the window, curtains pulled to.)

"Can you get him off?" Tidus asks, willing to help to guide Inigo down if Esteban needs the help. They can flop him onto the bed - he'll be alright. It's comfy.

The room is... crowded.

With all three of them-- well, two and a half-- standing, this is really not in Esteban's cup of tea, and it itches something fierce between his shoulders. (Anywhere he can't stretch his wings get him shifty-- something he'd never considered before he'd been on a train like this, the rooms so small, the space so little. He always, always misses the wide saltgrass plains, misses the sea of them shifting in the wind.)

He has to shake his head lightly to brush his thoughts aside, then huff as his first reaction is to want to stare to distract himself. He's nosy, but not that kind of nosy, and Tidus' and Inigo's privacy is their own. Esteban is just passing by.

That said-- Tidus asked him a question aaaaaand... Yeah, no, he didn't think this through, did he? He shuffles, unsure, before nodding-- they'll need to get Inigo standing for at least a few seconds, and he can't adjust him like that.

"Gimme a hand? I think he's 'sleep." Or at least, he has been out of it enough that the difference is too minimal to really notice. Maneuvering Inigo back to the bed is at least going to take Tidus' help, and Esteban is careful to face away from it, and make it at least easy to let him flop back onto the mattress. Then, as gently as he can, he lets Inigo shift down, mindful not to move too fast.

Thankfully slowly moving Inigo off the other's back isn't too hard when Inigo wasn't holding on to Esteban really tightly in the first place - so there's no grip to untangle at all. It's just about angling Esteban's back towards the bed, and if Tidus guides him along, then Inigo will definitely end up flopping down on there.

.. apparently he truly is asleep this time, since he doesn't make a sound. He doesn't even seem to startle in any way. Inigo's eyes are firmly shut, and the only movement he makes after being dropped onto the bed is to curl up.

He's definitly out like a light.

It's easier with where Tidus is; he grabs at Inigo from behind as Esteban starts to let him go, and the drop isn't too far, not the bed so hard as to really disturb Inigo. Even without the advantage they have on their side: that Inigo is completely out of it.

So he lays, curls, and Tidus watches him for a moment; sets a hand on Inigo's shoulder before he straightens himself enough to look at Esteban.

"Let's go. He's fast out."

There wasn't any reason to stay - not when they had plenty more people to find, and bring back aboard.

Esteban merely nods, relief soothing the tightness of his ribs. Inigo was just one of them; there's Taiki and Amaya and many more that they need to get to, but Inigo is back, and that's one small victory, a tiny piece of sunshine in the fog of the last few days. He considers telling Tidus to rest a bit more, but, well. He doesn't think the sportsman would listen to him anyways.

They'll get Taiki. And then Esteban is going to kick them into a cuddle pile so they all rest up if he has to.

"Watch over him for us, kay?" he asks both little sprites as he lowers them down from his shoulders, amazed that they hadn't fallen through the entire ordeal. He brings them down to the bed, before straightening, a grin lifting the edges of his lips.

"C'mon Sunshine! Let's go get Taiki!" Next goal established, Esteban steps out and away from the too small room, ready to face the next challenge.

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No Place Like Home: The Return

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snickers

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crawls back to life we'll finish this at some point ^__^;;

CLINGS FIERCELY TO YOUR ANKLE... we're not letting you go!! ever!!

we can wrap up soon!! new threeeads...

\o/~ New threaaaads~

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We made it!~

No Place Like Home: The Return

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*snickers*

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*crawls back to life* we'll finish this at some point ^__^;;

CLINGS FIERCELY TO YOUR ANKLE... we're not letting you go!! ever!!

we can wrap up soon!! new threeeads...

\o/~ New threaaaads~

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

We made it!~

snickers

crawls back to life we'll finish this at some point ^__^;;