middleofsomewhere | Event: 12 of Beetroot

Event: 12 of Beetroot

It's been a couple of weeks since they had evacuated Osiga. In that time, many of voidtreckers were busy with a project to try and solve some of the many mysteries that surround the train they travel on. By the eight day of Rabbit they've exhausted all avenues, and whilst they have learned quite a bit, there are still some clear gaps.

Just as that investigation comes to a natural end, passengers are woken up by an announcement.

"Attention voidtreckers and passengers of the voidtrecker express. We are travelling to system #2554098133741. I have sent word to the ministry who have arranged recuperation packs for you. You have had a difficult mission and you deserve a rest.

But it is not just for rest. Last time we visited the system voidtreckers shared memories. Though it is understood that many of you did not enjoy the experience it is notable that certain voidtreckers saw memories of this voidcraft. They were memories that this craft had not accessed. It led to more pathways opening up in the operation of this craft.

I have done some research on the system and I believe we can trigger the caves of memory. This voidcraft understands this might be difficult for the voidtreckers and passengers of the voidtrecker express and it is hoped that only those of you who consent to this experiment will take part.

Regardless this should be a time for relaxation also and the dressing room is open for your convenience. We will arrive in the morning.

The dressing carriage is indeed opened for those who go and look. It's filled with swimming costumes, beach ware, summery clothes and sun hats. There's even a cupboard of buckets, spades, rock pooling gear and picnic blankets.

There are also team coloured tents for those who want to go and sleep under the stars for a night or two, though the train is remaining on the island for those for who camping is their idea of hell.

12 OF BEETROOT

RABBIT 9-12 ~ MEMORY CAVES: BONDING ~ MEMORY MAZE: SEARCH FOR THE TRAIN'S MEMORIES
ASK QUESTIONS ~ LOCATION INFORMATION ~ MEMORY CAVES ~ MEMORY MASTER POST

JEMA'GRETHY ISLAND: RELAXATION

The next day the train announces their arrival and they burst out of the void. For those near a window their first view of the island will be of crystal blue sea and white sand. It really does look like a paradise. The train circles down before landing on a grassy ridge, overlooking a beautiful beach of white sand and the ocean beyond. It is warm, but not too hot, a cool ocean breeze cutting through the heat making it pleasant. Behind them is a grassy plain, changing to forest in the distance. There is the sound of birdsong in the purple sky. To the west the land is more craggy, the silhouette of a fortress in the distance.

In a word, it is idyllic. A sense of peace permeates the island.

The place has no people, but it is clearly maintained. The eastern beaches have racks of shallow boats, both canoes and one- or two-person sailing dinghies. There is also a small building in which scuba gear is stored, along with several waterproofed manuals and instructional literature.

There are no living quarters, but there are sheltered sections with basic toilet facilities marked as camping grounds in five different sections of the island - by the hot springs, within the ruined fortress, beside the harbour, on the eastern beaches, and on the northern face of the mountain.

The recuperation packs are found at the closest toilet facilities to where the train lands. They are simple things, small gift baskets with a couple of fragrant soaps, fancier hair products and skin cream infused with herbs to encourage rest and sleep.

There are some sweet fruit biscuits and a cheesy bread. The packs aren't named but there are some suitable for the younger passengers with tiny plush and colouring books. Quite a few designed for teens with a more engaging activity book and components for making a fancy mocktail with a cute stirrer. Adult packs have a small bottle of alcohol- there's a mixture between the packs and what looks like a stone. When placed next to the skin it will either warm up or cool down depending on what is needed.

Exploring, the passengers will find beautiful beaches, ragged cliffs to walk and caves to explore. Where it is more craggy the beaches are made of pebbles, perfect for rock pooling.

A little more worrying is the volcano-like structure in the north. But even a quick glance will show it is not a typical volcano. There is no smoke and the liquid slowly running down it in rivulets is pink and blue.

Ruins of ancient houses are scattered across the island, but the main settlement is built into a rocky section in the north-west that has been secured with ropes and stairways cut into the cliffs, perfect for scrambles and hikes.

To the west are the hot springs. They have both outdoor and indoor areas; the indoor areas being wooden loghouse saunas, changing rooms and storage sheds, whilst the outdoor areas are a tiered series of pools spilling down the side of the mountain and shaded by brightly flowering trees. The waters are hot, mineral-rich and soothing.

MEMORY CAVES: BONDING

Shortly before arriving they will receive some information on their SCA. It will explain how those who once lived on this island went about making life bonds. Both people would bathe in the hot springs and then dress simply, barefoot and walk to one of seven rocks on the island. Their maps will pin point these, which is good because there's no real indication of what makes these rocks different to any other on the island.

Here they must offer their wish to know the other deeper and share food and drink. They can then go about their day. Sometime in the hours after they will receive their first memory, seen through their partners eyes.

However it seems that in envoking the ritual they have woken something on the island. Even those who did not take part or chose to bond to someone find themselves seeing a glimpse of another life.

On the second day they see another memory, through the eyes of their pair. When they come out of it they find themselves in a cave with their partner, chosen or not. The same happens on the third day, except for this final memory both pairs see both memories, watching from the sidelines as it plays out. They find themselves in the cave once more and this time, for many there is only one exit, to leave through together.

Please go here to play out the bonding process!

MEMORY MAZE: TRAIN'S MEMORIES

On the third day the train sends another message to their SCA.

"Activating the caves that share memories has been successful. I know this is a lot to ask of the voidtreckers, but any who wish to assist in discovering what it is that I have forgotten, the path is open now.

Those who wish to may go to the sacred rocks. Please be warned, I do not know how voidtreckers will fare. Please only go of your own free will."

Their SCA's once again show the rocks on their maps and when they get there, this time they are faintly glowing. It doesn't take much. One touch and their minds are drawn away from their bodies, into a labyrinth of caves. For anyone who comes across these people on the island, they look like they are in a deep trance, breathing, safe but far away in their mind.

The labyrinth is made of cool, dark rock. The walls have a glow coming from crystals in-bedded in them, allowing everyone to see as they move through.

At first there's no more to this labyrinth, or so it seems. But then they turn a corner, and they are no longer in cavern as it just was. They may be in their childhood bedroom, or in the middle of a battle they once fought. Perhaps they are not in their own memory, but someone else's. Scenes move rapidly and often merge, one persons into another, mixing to make strange scenes.

These visions don't attempt to ensnare them like some illusions, and those with protection from illusions and such techniques, will be able to find their way forward through the cave, and away from this triggered scenario.

Time barely has meaning. Indeed, when they finally emerge from the caves only a few minutes will have passed. But in that time they will have seen much, and eventually they may stumble across a fragment of memory that belongs not to a voidtrecker, but to the Voidtrecker Express itself.

OOC NOTES

OOC Post ~ Questions
~ You can either write memories in your tags or if they are longer/require a lot of content warnings you might want to write them in this post and link to them. Just start a top level with your character name to keep things organised!

~ For those taking part in the memory share bonding the cave post is here. Characters arrive in the cave after the second and third memory but it is obviously up to you if you play out the conversations after each or both! For those who do decide that their characters will bond- the cave after the third memory will only have one exit for them to leave together.

~ For those who signed up for train memories you will receive the snippet that your character sees- use these in tags as you will. There will be a conclusion post on the 24th which will put all of those memories together!

Art Credits: Header: Tropical Jewel by Steven Power, Thumbnail image 3.

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Taiki and Inigo, two souls who aren't unaccustomed to being dragged along by Tidus's plans. And he's gathered the two together - or maybe they were already together! - before he kneels to make appear on the floor...

Large bowls. Pots. And a very large sali storing pot. There's a grin on Tidus's face as he looks over to the pair, patting one of the steel bowls. This might look like a familiar sight...

"Know what it's time for? We need to fill everything."

That's right: it's berry pickin' time, part deux.

Indeed, the dragging part of all of this is very familiar. Almost a little too familiar.

But it all makes sense the moment Inigo realises where the plan is taking them today. They have been on this island before, after all, and they certainly have been at this specific point before. Despite that day having been spent on Inigo's end with a whole lot of fussing about avoiding Gyousou, he does remember everything that went down beyond the thoughts his own nerves overwhelmed him with.

.. and so he knows that this is meant to be extra special. Not for him, though.

It's for the other guy they're here with.

So Inigo makes sure to not be the one to speak up first here. Instead he smiles at Tidus, as if in acknowledgement that he gets what the other is trying to do here, before glancing over at Taiki to see his reaction.

Being here again is very bittersweet. It had been a wonderful holiday, even with the strange memories he had shared with Xion. It had been a place of peace, precious time with Lord Gyousou. Time spent with his friends.

So it's slightly painful when Tidus announces berry picking. But it is also... good. Nice. He smiles at them both.

"We will have to work very hard then. No slacking off."

"Aye aye, Taiki's got it!" Tidus swings up his hand in a mock salute, grin wide even as he stands back up. He's taken one of the pots back, one of the heavier sali ones disappearing into his arms band, leaving the rest there for the other two to pick from.

"Think we can just take a whole plant? We just dig up the roots and stick it in the greenhouse car?"

This question he looks over to Inigo with; not entirely serious, but also kiiinda not against it as an option. Bro? What if they took a delicious berry tree so that Taiki can have berries all the time? You're the gardening expert here, obviously.

Wow, look at that. Usually Taiki is telling him to make sure to rest, and now the guy is telling him that there's no slacking off?

It's entirely the sort of thing he might have joked around about under different circumstances, but right now Inigo doesn't want to say anything that might make the kirin feel bad - and Inigo is well aware that things very, very quickly can make their friend feel bad. So he doesn't say anything, instead just patting Taiki on the back and smiling when Tidus is the one to react first - with his usual cheer on top of it.

"You might want to go for one of the smaller ones in that case," he says. Sure, Inigo's expertise lies entirely with flowers, and even that is something he's really had to learn.. but he's pretty sure that they work the same way in the end. What are trees, if just really big flowers? "I'm not sure the roots can go deep enough in the greenhouse otherwise."

He glances between Taiki and Tidus, giving especially the latter a very knowing glance.

"But you know what they say, you can always give it a try.."

And it's not like they'd even be stealing the berry tree from anyone! There's no one on this island! So Inigo honestly doesn't see any idea to feel bad about the idea, no matter how jokingly it might have been brought up. Anything to make Taiki happy, right?

"Yes, it would be hard to grow a bush like that in a plant pot..." And the earth in the greenhouse wasn't deep at all, since it was on a train.

But they could try and he gave them both an encouraging grin. "We can try though, it would be a good project."

And having something to do would keep Tidus and Inigo's thoughts away from the sadder things that this island brings to mind.

"We'll figure it out!" Was Tidus thinking about roots and how deep they'd have to go? Not at all, but with the other two willing to give it a go, the concern doesn't stick to him - they'll get to that problem when they get to it.

But also: "If it'll need more dirt, we'll take some from here and make the plot bigger. Like a box, you know? Go up."

He makes a box-like shape with his hands, then says after a moment, "Alright, let's get going," allowing time for them to collect the rest of the pots and jars, but otherwise - they have some plants to find! Voicing a "We went this way, right?" that may bring doubt into him really knowing where they're going, but even if he's wrong, there's two others with him.

And Tidus doesn't mind getting lost for a while. They were outside, getting fresh air; they had some time to take it easy.

Wow, Tidus, they're just thinking seriously about this gardening project here!

Though it seems that the blonde chimes in with his own feedback a moment later, so fine, fine. All three of them are thinking at least semi-seriously about this gardening project. A gardening project that might have to wait a little while though as they collect their equipment (this time Inigo won't make the mistake of trying to carry it all, and will actually let Taiki carry his fair share!) and set out.

"Didn't we go to the left over there?" Inigo pipes up.

Please note that he so does not sound sure about this. All these berry bushes look absolutely the same to him.

Yes just fill the greenhouse with dirt... Taiki just smiles at Tidus. He's sure they will figure out some way if they take a plant. After all they had people who could help with magic, it would be fine.

He took some of the equipment, gathering it in his arms as he followed the other two, he looked around.

"I think so... But there are probably bushes everywhere around here..."

But that way does look familiar... He thinks.

"Everywhere does look the same," Tidus chimes in unhelpfully, but says just as easily, "--but we're not going anywhere, so let's take our time! Isn't it great just getting to walk around like this?"

Out in the open, no walls to restrict them! Tidus is enjoying the open space, even if he's doing nothing more than walking with his pals currently - which is good fun for him. He's got the mouth for keeping them entertained, his feet following the direction as supposed by Inigo (and with Taiki's backing!).

"Let's get together and eat outside later too! Didn't the train give us some camping tents? We can spend a night out together, see how the sun looks in the morning."

If Inigo had any idea of what the modern idea of pet ownership really is like, he'd be comparing Tidus here to a dog who's just been let out on a walk.

He has no idea though, which means his poor friend gets spared that joke. And since Tidus is already rambling on, it spares Taiki from getting - gently! - teased about the fact that he doesn't know where they went last time around, even though they are definitely here among the berry bushes for him.

So much teasing mercy going on here. No one has the faintest clue.

"If we're going to be out in the sun the entire time, we will need--" Inigo pauses. Now his fatal flaw surfaces - a total lack of modern conveniences. "Ah, Q'uila told me about it, but I forgot its name.."

...

"It looks like milk?"

Because of course Inigo is going to remember anything by the food it resembles. Even when it isn't food he's talking about.

Edited 2022-05-31 21:22 (UTC)

"Camping would be fun, I'd like that." Sleeping under the stars, because they wanted to and not because they were in the middle of a mission. He walked quietly, listening to Tidus ramble with a happy smile on his face.

It was just the greatest thing, being able to walk with his friends and listen to them tease and bicker, a sound that was very familiar by now.

It takes him a moment but Taiki rises to the occasion of being the boy who lived on a modern earth.

"Suncream?" He tilted his head. "A white liquid you put on your skin to stop it burning?"

"Milk?" Tidus repeats Inigo, but at least Taiki has the better idea about what their friend is talking about - their safety! Which makes Tidus further confused, trying to think.

"--Is there anything like that on the train? Uh - maybe the train gave us some?"

For the trip? Do they have to turn around and check the luggage carriage? Tidus bets they would've been next to the buckets...!! Who has time for sandcastles!

(Inigo and Taiki, probably.)

Inigo nods the moment Taiki points out the description. He doesn't recognize the name, but with someone having explained the concept itself to him, it sounds right on the money. Thanks, Taiki, for being a regular modern teenager.

But then it's Tidus's question that instead makes Inigo have to think for a moment.

"Q'uila had some."

That's why he learned about it in the first place. Because he got traumatized by a woman asking him to touch her skin. The worst.

"So it's got to be somewhere, right?" Inigo especially gives his blonde friend an Intense Look at he says that.

Bro, you get it? This is their mission.

No matter what, they can't let poor Taiki get burned by the cruel sun!

Clearly he hasn't made enough good sandcastles. "Q'uila? Maybe she bought it?"

He hadn't even thought about suncream but perhaps they should... The sun was pretty strong here after all.

"We can have a look, does your skin feel sore?" Was Inigo getting burned? He sounds slightly worried.

What determination over a cream...! The concept of it does sound familiar to Tidus though, even if the name isn't exactly what he's used to.

"Didn't we just start?" Not to sound whiny, but when it sounds like they're planning to turn back to look for this cream, Tidus can't help it! They have berry bushes to find! Taiki nutrients!

"Where was Q'uila? Can't we ask her?" Agh - "Please tell me the train put on the comms."

Please someone check and say yes.

Sweet Naga, look at this total lack of communication coming from his bro. Instead there's just whining.

And the last thing Inigo wants to do is to either cause more of that or to start fighting in front of Taiki, since he always gets so fussy about that, so he just internally sighs and gives in. Especially since he can notice that the comms aren't up when he looks at his SCA.

Even if it's by grabbing Taiki by the shoulders and pulling him a little bit more into a faintly shadowy part of the current path through the bushes. Tidus is a tan guy, he'll probably be fine.

If he does burn, it'll only have been his own dumb fault anyway.

"I'm fine, it's fine." And since he's well aware saying that might just make Taiki more worried about him - seriously, why is Inigo the one who has to do all this emotional juggling for everyone, not like he's an overthinker o-or anything!! - he quickly adds: "I was just worried about you. But we can stick to the less sunny parts. There's enough berries around anyway."

"Yes it's okay. We haven't got sunburned yet." On any of the myrid worlds they've been to. "So I'm sure we will be fine."

And Tidus is right, they've just started and going back to find suncream would take a while.

"If you feel your skin getting too hot make sure to find some shade."

Tidus just wants to have fuuuuuuuun. He doesn't have time to think responsibly!!

"Yeah!" Tidus tacks onto the end of Taiki's care and consideration, adding: "If you start drying up, ask, and I'll dump some water on you! That's why you two should learn some magic - just imagining conjuring a breeze when you want! Oh yeah, we have those little fans in the room."

His and Inigo's room. But Tidus is perkier with the knowledge that they're not going to go wandering back to train now, back to his chattering ways, and none of it immediately useful. Fortunately, there's plenty of foliage gathering on the way they're taking, some trees for the shade if they want to move off the patted down trail and go more on the wild side. But Tidus remembers them finding the fruits from before being along one of these paths; with them running off down them to escape from Gyousou and Roland, and ended up with talks of bread-making and friendship.

As a bunch of guys end up inevitably doing.

But let's keep our eyes open for now. What food-like things will they see...! Hopefully, nothing that will make their SCAs go beep-beep-beep!

Inigo leans a little closer to Taiki, mock-whispering.

"See, this is exactly why I'm concerned! It's not even the sunburn, it's.. him!"

Look at the way he says it. He's like a Disney character talking about the terrifying villain of the movie, except said villain is just a blonde guy with little impulse control and way too much fun with water magic.

.. and except that Inigo really isn't in any danger here at all.

"Taiki, you better point out something interesting to him, before he deserves to take all that water out on us!"

T-Taiki, it's up to you! Pick something seeming edible that looks interesting around here, let's convince Tidus to try it!

Of course Tidus would come up with such a plan, dumping water over someone in an attempt to stave off sunburn. Taiki opened his mouth to begin to explain that the heat wasn't the actual problem but then closed it as Inigo got closer.

He was right, a distraction was better, before water based disaster happened.

And so he looked around, for anything that could distract his friends.

"Oh." He pointed, with a smile. "There's a berry bush."

Finally! Just in time!

--Oh? Oh, berry bush?

"Where?" Tidus looks back at Taiki, then follows where he points with a "--Oh yeah!", and off he goes excitedly, to see its fruits up close. Just as he remembers them: a kind of translucence to the skin where the sun hits them just right, over the spots where the hanging branches overhead don't shade. Dark like a sugar plum, and the size only slightly larger than a shelled walnut.

Tidus feels at a few, trying to guess which are just right; but an even easier way is to pop them in his mouth. Wincing at the explosion of flavours, overly sweet, but Tidus loves his fruit sweet more than his cakes.

Bros, what bros, now's the time to make a jar appear from his arms band and to start plucking this treasure to drop inside?? But, alright, he will acknowledge them once they come over, as soon as he's dropped what's in his hand into their new home.

"We get plenty this time, and I'll make us smoothies," he promises with a grin.

Inigo seems fine with letting Tidus run ahead of them for a moment. They'll catch up anyway, he realises, when he spots Tidus just standing there by the berry bush and starting to already sample its wares. So Inigo just keeps walking at Taiki's side instead until they're there as well, smiling when Tidus brings up the smoothies.

(Tidus sure loves those, he thinks, though it's not like Inigo dislikes any of the ones Tidus has made for him before either.)

"How much do you want to take along?"

It's not a question that's aimed at anyone in particular. After all, it's Taiki who loves the berries, so he ought to have a say in it - but Tidus might have an idea of how many berries he needs for any given smoothie as well.

Inigo is fine with listening to either of them, and plucking as much as they want here.

Hopefully all the berries here are edible here. He thought they were, from what he could remember of last time. He smiled at Inigo, holding his hand lightly as they moved towards Tidus.

"Smoothies sound nice... Um... We probably need a few jars full."

There were plenty on the bushes, so there was no danger of running out.

Surely SCA-kun will save Tidus from a self-inflicted gut ache, wouldn't it? Wouldn't it??

"We're getting as many we can find, right?" 'A few jars'? All the jars. But it's playful, a smirk to it, clarifying too- "Berries this size... we might need two or three of the smaller jars to make a good smoothie. But I'll need to find something else to mix with it- we'll be okay," he decides to end it on, an easygoing dismissal. Nothing to worry about!

"Inigo should be thinking about what bread he'll make us to go with this. You're a bread expert now, ain'tcha?"

He flashes a grin at Inigo. Hey buddy, you kept up with the bread making, didn't you?

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Event: 12 of Beetroot

( for taiki and inigo )

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