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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While Yugi himself was not an otaku in his own way, he could at least understand what it was and the fact is people who were probably bullied a lot. Yugi knew he had been but for a variety of other reasons. But Yugi himself was a gamer before he became famous for it and after. Just sad that it was so different just because he was now well known.

"Because the experiences is what makes us who we are. Sure people come and go from out lives, but they still change it in someway."

Yeah, yeah, he's heard that already since being here, including the few who... actually knew why Idia thought that way. The very few. A number Idia has no intention on getting larger, especially with those from his world now here. Back home he would have to say goodbye to everything and everyone eventually, to leave it all behind, and have them forget about him... so why bother? And even if Idia assumed he was to be stuck here and unable to get home again... it was a hard habit to break.

It was difficult to undo years of being raised with that belief to just undo it in a few months. Even if he wanted to. "So people keep telling me..." His tone clearly saying Idia didn't agree with that. And if it really wasn't clear, "I don't care." Sorry Yugi, there's only one person important to Idia, and they're not here. Everyone else was just in passing.

It made Yugi wonder why someone would care so little. Just what went on in a world like where they came from. It may be something he might never understand and they might never say for the obvious reasons of very little care.

But it gave Yugi an idea regardless, even if nothing came from it at least it was an idea.

"Okay, I understand, but can I at least ask if you are okay with playing games with me now and again? As much as it is fun to play with my husband and friends, sometimes it's nice to play games with someone newer now and again."

Honestly, it was more the school Idia was from, and his up bringing. Everyone at Night Raven College was ready to step on others to get to the top and be the best at something. And Idia's upbringing... made it clear he had only one path in life and there was no changing that...

There's however a transformation as Yugi switched the topic to games, Idia let out a happy 'heehe' of a laugh from between his teeth and a bit of a grin, excitement at the idea leaking into his words as his talking speed increased. "Oh yeah, I'm still up for games. I've reworked my deck to optimize it better from our last match, I think I might have a real chance of winning next time." Because Yugi was damn good at that game, like super good. He clearly knew the game and his cards back to front, and had insane RNG on his pulls. If Idia didn't know any better he would think Yugi was cheating... but he really wasn't, Idia all too used to having to catch Azul when he tried to 'cheat' by rolling dice in a certain way or only pulling certain cards at certain times.

Yugi played like a person who seriously loved the game and knew it inside out. And Idia can respect that. Maybe he would ask if Yugi was interested in trying the game he was rebuilding once it was in it's testing phase. The idea of more getting to learn about Idia's favorite game... well it was both exciting... and really nerve wrecking too...

"Oh really. I do hope we get to play together again soon." Yugi said happily he did enjoy playing games after all and a part of him was really hoping that someday he would lose another game. After all it mean the person was learning, adapting and getting better. he still kinda hoped his husband would be able to once he saw more of the fun aspect to it.

He knew that maybe the both of them will get there at some point. He was confident about that.

Oh... Idia's going to try something. Wait... no, he can't. Really. He can't... but he really wants to, his mouth opening, then closing, then opening again, then closing again, clearly struggling with wanting to ask something but he nerves getting the best of him when he tries to say it, his hand moving to play with the edge of the sleeve of his other arm, pulling and tugging at it to help get rid of some of his nervous energy.

...oh come on, he can do this. It would be worth it, right? And if Yugi says no... then lets face it, Idia's used to disappointment. It would be nothing new to him. Ok, he can do this, "B-b-back at school, ah, my school, I-I-I was part of a board game club that met up and..." Get to the point, Idia! Stop rambling. "W-would you like to, ah, if you want, meet up for a gaming session weekly. Or... fortnightly or... something?" You know, not to force Yugi to put up with him too often, so choices on when to meet up, or if to.

"I-I'd like to get a better feel for that card game," ...would Yugi like other games too? Well, they played those video games at that resort stop, so maybe? It was worth a go. Too much of one game could get boring, even if you loved it the most. "Or other games too, if you want." Idia already expecting to get rejected, even if Yugi did seem like someone who got the appeal of gaming too.

Yugi was wondering what he was getting so nervous about. Did he do something wrong? It was at least the first thought that went to his mind about the why, but soon it became obvious that it was something else.

Something about board games. That was something that at least pinged his interest. Games in general. "You mean a weekly session of the same board game or would it be different each time?"

Please let it be different. Yugi likes the idea of being able to explore more games that he might not yet have played. "I'm all for playing any kind of game really. As much as I was associated with just the one back home, I have always been passionate about games in general to the point I'm trying to make my own."

Was Yugi the type to just dedicate himself to one game? Would saying Idia wanted a chance to do others not work? Well... if it did, it did. He wasn't going to force himself to play one game all the time just to make someone else happy. That would get so boring and irritating. "I was thinking different ones. The carriage has a lot to go through." He hasn't had a chance to play them at all! Read through the rules, of course, but he rarely had others to play with, for as much time as he spent in the gaming carriage.

"Really?" Idia perked back up with the talk of making own games. "I've tried that, well, Azul and I, ah, the other person in the Board Game Club back at Night Raven, we tried that but... our interests were too different." They had tried but... yeahhhh, they really couldn't see eye to eye on the topic of their game choice. Azul was all about doing events based on investment and income. Idia's was all on manga and anime. Yeah. Those didn't merge right. "It's easier just to make my own, oh, but, like, video games, not board games... unless they're in a digital form." Idia's done that! He made a VR board game for the club for the VDC event.

Mostly to stop Azul 'cheating' with how he rolled dice... can't beat digital RNG.

"Then ever more reason to want to do it." That pretty much answered the question. Yugi was all about trying all the games he could especially with other people. Solo games could be fun in their own way but for Yugi there was just something special about playing with friends or those close to you.

Yugi couldn't help but be happy over that possibility. But soon they were onto the subject of making ones own game and that was something Yugi could also talk about with passion.

"Really? My dream is making a game to play with friends. I've been working with Seto on one" Yugi mostly making the choices in what it's about and the like while Seto is more the code person.

"But I can see how interests can affect being able to make a game. But I would always be happy to work on anything anyone would want to make as it meant more amazing games in the world."

"Oh yeah?" Oooh, really? Idia's really curious now. "Is it another card game? A board game? Something digital?" After all, Kaiba had a skill with working on digital assets. But if there's going to be another new game on the train, Idia will have to play it.

"I-I-I'm working on one right now, Kaiba helped me with his sound library. I'm hoping it'll be ready soon, it took a bit longer than I thought with having to make an engine to create it in from scratch." Yup, Idia is really excited now. It was so nice talking to someone who both understood the joy of gaming, but also wanted to branch out and create their own, even if it was only small scale or for a few people.

"Well it's more digital because we've been working on coding for it." It was hard to really explain what it was he was trying to do, but he could at least state that much at least.

"What game are you working on." He was also happy to hear Seto helped out with it too which... he wasn't all that surprised about at all. Kaiba was a gaming giant after all.

"But wait you made your own engine?"

"I'm trying to recreate my favorite game, Star Rogue. It's an old school vertical scroller bullet hell." Honestly, Idia could ramble on for hours about how amazing the game was. It was his childhood game that he still adored to this day so very much. There was so much nostalgia in it for him. "I'm hoping to have it done and ready for testing by next month." He's been working hard on it, around other stuff as well. Side projects.

"Yeaahhh," Idia sighed out, it had been such a pain, really slowed down the whole process. "I wouldn't had to if I was back at school with my full computer set up, but my portable one doesn't have that code on it, so I had to start from scratch. After figuring out if I wanted to replicate the old version of it, or use a more up to date one of my own which would make some aspects of it easier." He had been torn between accuracy and ease of use. Ease of use won out in the end.

"Still both things are really impressive." Being able to recreate a game as well as being able to create a whole engine just for the sake of games. That was something he knew he could never do in a million years.

More so since it seems like it's nearly ready to while Yugi isn't anywhere close to finishing his own.

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Event: 12 of Beetroot

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hope you don't mind a bit of handwaved CR, let me know if not

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