middleofsomewhere | 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

Without his dopey smile even changing at all, Koumyou asks, "...Why, are you having trouble going to the potty, Kouryuu-chan?"

Walked right into that one, kiddo.

"You would know what that's like, wouldn't you old man?"

Same back to you pops. Responded with a similarly unchanging expression.

Most certainly if someone saw this they would undoubtedly catch the worst sort of familial similarity between them right now.

Edited 2022-08-08 20:55 (UTC)

"Of course I would know what that's like," Koumyou is, of course, doing this on purpose. Just gonna breeze right past that age crack and right back to-- "Who do you think cleaned you up all the time?"

And with that, he splashes his kid and then dives under the water!

Oh you are going to get what is yours you wily old coot.

But Genjo is patient, his expression blank as water dripped from the drenched hair that now covered his face. Instead waiting it out, knowing that Koumyou could only hold his breath for so long, and knowing full well his dear master was probably swimming off to distance himself. But he can feel out your qi old man and, if not that, your newly budded emotional connection. Taking slow casual steps to follow wherever Koumyou Sanzo is expecting to surface.

He's going to take you down.

Koumyou spent an awful lot of time in the water in his life before his son. Mostly under protest; a lot of it had been in the literally ice-cold rivers at Taisouji...

But at Taisouji, demerit-monk Houmei had been nothing if not a little shit.

So he has no issue holding his breath for a good long while, and even swimming real close to his grown son to give his legs a tickle with both hands. He knows full-well that any kicking is going to be slowed down! From experience! At being kicked at while under water!

By giant Goudai, no less. Bring it, you scrawny little shit!

Frankly, even without this new connection, Genjo would probably have been able to sense the sheer level of mischief coming off his father before wiggling fingers even got close.

That will be enough of your tom-foolery, you crazy old man!

Eyebrows twitching, he sighed heavily with resigned acknowledgment of the mischief his father was trying to incur.

Of course, Koumyou Sanzo wasn't the only one accustomed to the water. And although it had been quite a few years since his time growing up near the shores of the Yangzi River, he remembered more than well enough what it was like to wade through the water.

And so, with the agility of a villager diving for fish, Genjo lifted his hands. Slowly, stealthfully, he kept his eyes transfixed for any notion of his father's presence.

Only to quickly strike down and attempt to grab his father's arms before they could get too close to his legs.

He was going to get you, geezer!

Oh no! He's been caught! Bony arms snatched by his son, Koumyou regains his feet all at once in another son-drenching burst of water, laughing with delight.

"Your arms have gotten so long!"

"Shitty old man! Of course, they're longer!" Genjo could not help but bark back in response. But there was something to the scowl he carried this time around. The malice in his voice was nowhere near as deep or visceral as it usually had been in its delivery. His expression was far more animated as he spoke. He was wincing back slightly at the splash of water that came up to hit him as Koumyou stood, but quickly recovering.

Instead, Genjo took a step forward without letting go of his master, pushing his weight into the other monk with the full intention of trying to knock Koumyou off balance and back down into the water. "I'm not twelve anymore!"

Hmph.

"Hey, no fair!" Koumyou laugh-protests, as his footing on the soft sand under water shifts and his kid comes in for the kill. He's doomed!

Aaaand he's down with another splash!

A slight smirk of triumph formed upon Genjo's lips. Crossing his arms as he stood straight over the fallen and waterlogged Koumyou Sanzo in victory.

"This is what you get for picking fights that you're not prepared for," Was that a hint of amusement in his voice? Never. "Although, I must say. I'm surprised you went so easy on me. I know that you could have made this a much tougher battle than it was."

Treating him like he's still twelve, are you, master?

Koumyou doesn't bother to get up entirely, sort of half-floating, half-sitting in the water as though it's deep enough to make him tread to stay afloat. He beams up at his son, warm and pleased. "It's not always about straightforwardly winning, Kouryuu-chan."

With a poke at Genjo's side under the water from one bony fingertip, he adds, "I've got you out here having fun with me, haven't I?"

"Nngg," Genjo's face scrunched up somewhat with the playful poke. He was backing away slightly more as if any show of enjoyment over the situation would be a declared loss on his end. Instead, he turned his head away and crossed his arms as he feigned petulance to the entire ordeal.

It was a bit overdramatic, even by his standards.

"Fun? I feel more like I'm babysitting. Don't tell me I'm going to have to be changing your diapers soon as well," A petty jab, his favorite way to show affection. But the smirk formed again, even if he did his best to conceal it. "I swear, for someone who worries so much, your form of having fun is surprisingly childish."

"Uh huh," Koumyou grins just above the surface of the water, "that's some real big talk coming from the guy in cute little choo choo train shorts borrowed from his papa."

And he's just going to start 'float'-bobbing around in the water in a big circle around his grumpy-acting son, playing with the buoyancy of the shallow water.

"All this water all in one place is really cool, don't you think?"

Genjo is not even going to acknowledge that one. Why did Koumyou have train-themed bathing shorts in his size to begin with? Was he planning for this?

"It's strange," Instead, he decides to lift his head a glance out towards the ocean. He had seen plenty of different scenery in his life. From vast deserts, mysterious forests, grand maintains, and even the indescribable expanse of the void itself. But there was something different about seeing the ocean. He knew of it but never thought he would see it firsthand, nonetheless, with someone like his father. "I've seen rivers wide enough that feel like they go out forever, but I never thought I would come across an ocean before today. I never planned to be close to one during my travels."

Event: 12 of Beetroot

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