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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"Well, so far.."

.. for a moment her voice trails off, and Alice glances off at the side. Across the water, seemingly so calm. It's been so long since they've seen a world that wasn't being disturbed by one thing or another, hasn't it?

"So far.. it does seem rather calming. I am just glad to be away from the train for a little while, honestly." Especially while she can actually enjoy it, rather than having to have her mind on some sort of crisis. Just enjoying some time away from those cramped walls that always seem to make her feel worse with her claustrophobic tendencies. "And spending these moments in your case," considering its sheer extent and warmth, "feels like a privilege."

"I think that's my line," she responded with a bright smile, pausing for a moment to look towards shore to keep her bearings, lifting an arm to shade her eyes against the sun. It's a very human gesture, and one she's done a thousand times, even though she doesn't actually need to do it.

In a canoe in a swimsuit in a tropical paradise, it's quite the pose, really, but it might be her smile that's most noticeable.

"There's a planet where I'm from," she says, "called Spyra. I would show it to you, if I could. The entire thing is a resort, really - no continents, no large predators; just...islands and archipelagos, covering the whole surface. Temperature is like this, year-round. The only place you even need to see anyone else is the spaceport when you arrive."

"Once you're ferried out to an island, if you want...no people, no technology. Like you're alone in the universe. I hope it's the same for you. It is a remarkable feeling, to be there. Even if I was only ever there on...well, business."

She alters course a bit, after that.

"We're almost there," she added.

Considering how vivid Alice's imagination tends to be, she can view this place inside of her head. She's never been there before, and she can't be sure whether or not her own mental image is 100% accurate, but it does at least line up with everything Guri is telling her here. An entire place with nothing but islands..

It does sound nice. A world that entirely consists of places such as the one they're at now.

"I was not aware that there are entire planets out there with nothing but this," she remarks, even as Guri says they're getting close.

It's just that this thought happens to linger in her mind.

"There is so much variety on the one I come from, yet I can't help but think the one you are describing is far better." (Any planet without London automatically is, really.)

"Perhaps I'll get to show it to you one day," she replied. "I'd like to spend some time there. Just me, nothing else. Really experiencing what it is to be a human at play."

She altered course, finally, heading towards the shore - the well-built shelter she'd made becoming visible.

"We've arrived," she said, with a smile.

The talk about other planets will have to wait, apparently. Because the moment that shelter becomes visible, Alice is entirely too intrigued by it to really consider faraway places over what she can see right here.

Especially since a few things are rapidly becoming clear to her in this moment.

".. did you make that?"

She figures it's got to be that. This island was completely uninhabited the last time they came here, after all, so it's not like there are people here who could have done that.

Both that - and it's not like it'd be the first time Guri did something like this for her. After all, Alice still remembers the room at the inn with the pillows everywhere.

She pushes them gently ashore, letting Alice disembark, leaning in to retrieve the cooler she'd stashed on the boat. Waste not, want not.

"Mmhmm," she replies, with a nod. "It should be sturdy enough if it rains. There is a basket inside with basic toiletries, a selection of bathing costumes should you wish to avail yourself of them, as well as things to sleep on."

She smiled, pointing. "There is room for both of us, but if you would like solitude, I completely understand. Much as I enjoy sharing your time, I'm hoping...well I'm hoping being here can...help."

"No.. Of course you should stay."

It's not even a question to Alice. Not even something she has to think about. How could she ever let Guri make all of this for her, set all of this up, and then just send the other away? She'd have to be as cold and callous as one of the queens back in Wonderland to do that sort of thing.

She can't even think of it.

"You help me too. Just by being there." That has proven itself to be true plenty of times before already, after all. "It is true that I do not wish to spend time among too many people.."

.. hence why she is kind of glad to be so far away from them right now. None of the other passengers should find them here. Not easily, anyway.

".. but you are a different story. So please do not worry and instead stay."

She smiles, brightly, dipping her head and even blushing a little.

"I find I like being an exception, this once," she replied, before nodding.

"We can finally get that swim in together," she adds,gesturing to the water beyond. "If we want, sleep out under the stars, or in here, in the warmth, by the firelight."

She folds her hands, fidgeting a little.

"It meets with your satisfaction?"

That, too, is an easy question to answer. Alice just nods. It's not like she's picky in the first place. After all, living in the poorer areas of London wasn't exactly a luxury, and while the train is a step up from that, it's all claustrophobic and full of way too many people.

Literally anything else out there would be satisfying to her, as long as she doesn't have to deal with either of those things.

Hence why she faintly smiles at the other.

"All I need to be satisfied is just some peace and quiet."

And open space, really. That one helps.

Alice grabs the other's hand, gently tugging Guri along as she heads closer towards everything the other set up. "Spending time here calmly with you.. I am fairly sure that is something I could do forever."

"You'll get all of that you could want," she promised.

She is very happy with the reaction, gently squeezing Alice's hand with a smile and following after her, giggling a little.

"That is very tempting," she responded.

There's a lot of things they could do here, but Alice ends up heading over to sit down in the shade first. Not that she didn't enjoy the boat ride, but it was full out in the sun, and there's only so much her umbrella can do to keep her skin from just straight up burning under that sun.

Which means she needs a little shade time. But with the way she's dragging Guri along, she knows the other will be right next to her - even now she's moving to sit down in the shelter Guri set up.

"Don't think about it too hard," Alice says. "The train will inevitably drag us away with it once it is time to leave."

Isn't that how it always works? It'd be kind of nice to spend more time here, but there's only so much time the train will give them.

It is still their captor in the end, after all.

"The least it could do is somehow get a beach this wide inside of one of its carriages." (Hey, Alice is used to Wonderland standards.

That idea doesn't sound so impossible to her.) "So we could enjoy it whenever we would want to."

Guri put on a haughty look at the former, suppressing a smile. "I'll daydream about it if I so please," she replied, settling in next to her.

"But that would be considerate of the train," she replied. "One we could monopolize exclusively, yes."

Alice lets out a faint groan.

"Honestly, at this point I am desperate enough that I would be satisfied with it even if we did have to share with the rest of the train."

She'd give absolutely anything to have a carriage that actually feels open. The garden comes the closest nowadays, considering the weather option she was able to put into it with her points, but even there she is sometimes still so very much aware of the walls all around them.

It's hard to ever fully forget.

After a moment, Alice slowly leans sideways, allowing herself to lean against Guri's side as they sit there.

"I just want some space around me. Just like this."

Oh.

She's a bit surprised at the motion, but more than happy to enjoy the moment. Another that she's never gotten to have before.

"We have it now," she replied, gently. "And I know it will feature prominently in my memories from here on."

"Just memories aren't enough," Alice says.

It doesn't sound.. fully serious? Granted, Alice does mean it kind of seriously, but she says it with the sort of tone that would usually only be used by a kid. By someone who knows that they want something that's totally impossible to have, but can't long for it anyway.

"I wish we could stay here, just like this." Even though she knows the train inevitably will pull them back. It's just how these things work.

Her heart still can't help but long.

"I do not care for that train, or what it constantly does to us. But I do care for you. And this place is nice."

Which instantly makes it better than the train, especially with Guri's company.

"Then we keep making new moments," she replied. "Every chance we get. I'll happily work to make sure you get more like this.

The latter wording, though, the closeness - it all reminds her of another dream, another time. When she hadn't even realized she was anything other than human. The closeness is nice, gentle; relaxing and yet...exhilarating, in its way, in its novelty. In that dream, there had been some of it, true, but this is real.

"I care for you, too," she said, with a smile.

And, she realized, she really did.

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Event: 12 of Beetroot

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