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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Idia may be a guy of few answers, but that doesn't bother Tidus, getting out slices of the bread, pulling over the tub of butter and then grabbing a knife to spread it with.

"Really?" He looks back at Idia at the last of what he says, a glance. "You can test your broom out better now, can't you? Hey, I can show you some magic stuff too, if you're interested. You've got so much space to work with now! Gotta make use of it 'til we're stuck in here again."

Don't throw logic at him, Tidus! Idia doesn't want to think about this logically! He wants to be a shut in and stay in the train and do stuff by himself! Not... not... not be smart about this and use the space to practice or anything! Don't you go tempted him with this, Tidus! It's not fair!

Ehhhh!!! "...why did you have to put it like that?" Idia groaned out under his breath, his shoulders slumping even more than normal as he realized that... yeah, this was a good place to do some training. Oh gods... was Sebek rubbing off on him...? To actually make him consider doing some dueling training? Oh no... Noooo!

Actually, you know what, "I don't wanna!" It coming out as a cry, as if he was in distress, though it was only caused by his own thoughts. No! He didn't want to! It was so nice to get away from Night Raven College! And then Ruggie and Sebek had to show up! What... what if others turned up too?! And they weren't Ortho?! That would be horrible! Idia's escape from all that madness... gone! He just wanted his brother here and no one else! Was that too much to ask for?!?!?

Behold, as Idia is attacked by facts and logic! All which leave the tip of Tidus's tongue casually, just chatting and making comment on the possibilities outside those double doors.

So does he expect an iota of what comes after any of what he's said? No, and it's definitely the cry that distracts Tidus from his sandwich making, blinking and looking over to Idia, then turning more away from the food to look at the guy. And stare.

"Uhh - Idia?" Idia?? "You okay?"

Slooowly asked, 'cause where did that come from? Guy??

Give him a moment to get this out, Tidus, then shove it back down as Idia slaps his palms to his face, covering it, going still... then a slow inhale... then a sigh out before his hands dropped, his tone back to normal. "Yeaaaah, I just realized you were right... and I hate that." Not the Tidus being right, but what he was right about this time.

"It is a good spot to train." Idia grumbled out, not liking to admit this. Sure, he's been running off the fact he's Orange Team and they shouldn't get in trouble, but he knows that isn't true, he's gotten into enough fights since being on the train while on missions. And while he doesn't feel like he's lost any of his abilities... he hasn't worked on improving them either.

Damnit...

"I should do some dueling practice..." Ughhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Is this dramatics? Oh.

Oh. This is dramatics. Which once Tidus actually sees it all play out and everything to come back down to a begrudging low from that rise, is kinda-- funny. Funny, and understandable. ... for someone way younger, but hey, who doesn't want to not do training sometimes?

So have a sympathetic smile, while a hand rests on Tidus's side. "You want a hand to get going? Misery loves company that's suffering too."

It's light-hearted, hopefully making whatever amount of practice Idia's imagining right now maybe - a little bearable to think about. Not that Tidus knows all of what counts as duelling practice, or what it entails.

But hey, it's the least he can do, or something like that, right?

Idia supposes he also does need a dueling buddy for this. The thing is... "I've seen you in action." He reply in a flat, emotionless tone. He knows how scary you can be, Tidus! But... "...I donno if our styles would work together... but I... I guess that's part of the point of this all." Yeah, he should learn to have to deal with those who just... hit people, who don't just use magic. The shut-in, Ignihyde side of Idia hates this idea, but... it makes sense to learn to defend against physical attacks.

It's such a jock thing to do though...

"...sure, if you have the time." Oh though, "After food." Since they had both came into the kitchen for that.

'I've seen you in action' -- w-what does that mean? And in that tone - isn't Idia impressed? The thought doesn't stick as long as when he goes on about styles not meshing, and Tidus could ask now what he means, but the mention of food -

"Right. Let's see when we get out there. We'll figure out what we can both do."

Since Tidus vaguely remembers Idia having some kind of magic, but his thoughts are more of a blur. He remembers the guy being more cranky than anything else. But Tidus is encouraging, and he'll let Idia get his own food done, Tidus's sandwiches simple and meant to keep him and some friends going later on their stay, about five made in all.

But he'll wait for Idia, or he'll ask Idia to wait for him, before they head out, offering to lead them to a clear spot - "There's a clearing if you head down this way." He knows the layout more, unless Idia wants to try out that broom, and has a different idea for finding a spot.

Regardless, if he'd been doubtful somewhere in the kitchen, he's already brighten up; already doing some crouches on the spot, shaking out his limbs, giving them a stretch.

"Alright! So, tell me what you do? What's your style? You long range? Magic? What?"

It's not asked quickly, but it is asked as Tidus continues those stretches. Like a jock.

Idia really doesn't do 'meals' for the most, more snacking as he goes on what he can find. His cooking skills are really limited to 'pour hot water into ramen cup, cover, uncover, stir, eat' and that's about that. Oh, and toast, he guesses. But maybe he's just been hanging around Thanatos too much regarding that. Whatever he finally scavenges for himself, Idia joins Tidus in heading out to whatever random spot the other picks.

And watching... that warm of up of his. Ughh, yeah, jock types. Look, Idia gets the logistics behind it, it's to stop yourself from getting hurt with exercise... but it also brings back bad memories of the torture Vargas has put Idia through in PE class in the past. He hates PE...

His style? Hmmm, "Eh, I mean... I guess... range dps." Yeah, Idia's not one for close up combat, better to take people out at a range than letting them get close. But... "...I guess that means I need to train to deal with melee fighters..." Ehhhhh. Oh, yeah, prep, hmm, ok then, Idia giving a wave of his hand and a spark of magic before the clothing he was wearing before transforms into his dorm uniform that he brought awhile back on the train. It would help offer some resistance to attacks, the material it's made out of designed for combat training and to lessen injuries against the wearers.

'Range dps'? Not sure what that last part means, but there was agreement there, so he guesses he's on the right thinking. Nevermind the surprise switch of clothing that happens, which does make Tidus blink in surprise, a small 'Eh?', before a smile brightens on his face.

"Oh, is that your battle outfit? Cool!" He's totally seen this before! He's thinking about more than style, but this does prompt him to wave his right hand, summoning to appear on his left a shield on his forearm, a round disc, nothing bulky. If he's about to get blasted with magic, then he wants some extra defence for the hits.

"Best way to deal with people coming atcha is to make sure they don't, right? How about I come for you, and you try to stop me? I won't throw any magic at you - but this shield makes sure I'm speedy! Oh yeah, and so you don't hurt as much."

He raises his arm with the shield. He's got a safety cushion here.

"I'll be target practice."

Ehhhhh, Idia doesn't want to do this... he really doesn't. He's really not... been in combat before, well, outside of that portal closing mission, and he had not liked that one bit. He guesses he's happy all those sparring practices helped... but he found they were nothing like the real thing. Real combat was... so much faster, he had little time to think, just react.

"Guess that's all the more reason for practice..." Idia mumbled to himself, not really sure how to approach this at all... Sparring at NRC was never... like this. The idea of Tidus racing him... "...come, for, me?" That was a little scary. What if he just smacks him over?! Idia's fists shooting up in front of his chest as he worried about that thought.

No, no, he can do this. He has to. He can't count on others being around if he gets in trouble... though if he does he should program his computer to go and fly to someone to keep it safe, you know, if he does... well... die. But for right now... ehhh, "Yeah, ok." Idia confirmed with a rather defeated sounding sigh. Sure, lets see how this goes, Idia really not changing his stance at all. After all, he's not a true 'wand' user, he doesn't have to hold anything to fight, a wave of his hand was enough.

He can see - and, well, hear - the doubt in Idia, meek-looking with those hands coming up. But hadn't he done some stuff himself during the portal closing? --Tidus's memory isn't that clear, and regardless, he's taking a step back, getting ready for the present.

"We'll start easy. I'll take the long way coming in - let's just give this first go a try!"

Confidence!! And there seems to be no more reason for talking and figuring things out any more than that, with some actual action and seeing with their eyes better for seeing how well they match. Tidus dashes back with long strides, giving them enough distance that when he stops and waves his hand, Idia might just be able to hear Tidus call out:

"If you don't shoot me, I'll shoot!"

--And now he's running, going at a curve just as he promised, and in a run that looks like a sprint. Does Tidus gotta make good on his shooting promise, Idia??

He'll shoot? Tidus will shoot? WTF?!

Focus! Focus, Idia, focus! Though even as Tidus races towards him... Idia hesitates for a second. He... doesn't really want to hurt Tidus. It's not like sparring at school where, honestly, Idia doesn't care, if someone couldn't go against him they should try harder, but they also were prepared for injuries from sparring. Plus everyone at Night Raven College was at each other's throats anyway. Sparring was just an excuse to put some hurt on someone you didn't like.

Then there's a slight wave of his hand, a circling of blue water energy around his computer... before a jet of high speed water shooting out to hit Tidus' shield. And to push against it. First things first, Idia's got to keep Tidus away from him, though really, the water is just a step to his main goal; a slight shift in his hand movement and the crunch and crackle as that water stream turned to ice. He's trying to literally freeze Tidus in his place, to stick his feet to the ground. Idia hadn't gone for ice right away, too stabbing and dangerous as Idia has to work out where Tidus' ability stands just as much as Tidus to see how well Idia could handle all of this.

If anything from this though, Idia's seemed to calm during this, his posture straightening a little more and seeming very focused on what is happening.

There's something that Idia will get to learn about Tidus: he's agile. Idia's magic may be speedy too, but Tidus isn't looking to be an easy target; and witnessing the spurt of coming for him, he doesn't stop to think about what it might be, but reacts. Running at the curved angle he is, not coming at Idia direct on, he's already at an angle where he can boost himself out of the way with a small jump, landing on a foot a few feet from where he was, ready to do another small jump if he needs the attack coming for him still.

Because how does Idia's magic work? Is it continuous, or will he start a new stream, fire at him again? It's stopping Tidus in the moment from continuing his run, so he can see how Idia operates. But if that ice had come in that first stream, Tidus would look to the length of it as it exists, a raised - and impressed - pair of eyebrows at the sight of it. He's trying to ice him? Nice.

But if it won't come without a shot making contact first, Idia may be able to get that contact. Depending on how quickly he can react to Tidus testing his speed, who's using those small hops to move him over ten feet. There's a chance he'll use his shield if Idia can figure to shoot where he would go, if he can use that magic to quickly block his path forward and threaten him with another stream.

Can you, Idia? Or can you use that combination of water and ice in even a fancier method to keep Tidus from moving than a direct shot?

Oh... yes... targets move in the real world, don't they? Not just standing there and taking the hit due to shielding magic. Had it been a mistake to try and CC first? To be more on the defense? Should he be more aggressive?

While that jet of water and ice had been a constant stream coming from Idia's direction, it didn't mean he can't change the angle of it. The thing is, the gamer in him is trying to look for patterns, which he isn't really getting right now. He knows this isn't a game! But still, Tidus was so fast, he had to slow him first to be able to get a serious hit in. Think... Ah, it was more crowd control, but it's a start. Let's see if he can get Tidus going in the direction Idia wants him to.

A slight change in finger movement and that water and ice drops away, only to replace with a blast of fire, it snaking outwards and skywards as a wall of flames to try and cut Tidus' path off as he races towards him. Most would try and avoid fire, but Idia also has no clue if that shield of Tidus' would allow him to... just go through it. Whatever, something to deal with if it happened.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Event: 12 of Beetroot

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a jump forward to a space outside for dueling?

sure!!

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still need more magic icons for him :/