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middleofsomewhere2022-08-20 08:40 pm
voidtreckermods) wrote in middleofsomewhere2022-08-20 08:40 pm
Into the Unknown Part Two
On day twenty-five of the month of Symphony, everyone is gathered together, at least everyone who follows the request for a meeting to be held.
One of the head scientists - named Till - stands before the group, a look of excitement on their face.
The scientists stick around to reassure people and help them make their decisions. Those going to investigate are told to report to their craft in the morning.
One of the head scientists - named Till - stands before the group, a look of excitement on their face.
"We have found something, an anomaly in the void. We are not sure what it is exactly, but there is a lot of activity coming from its coordinates. More penitently, initial investigations have picked up readings that are constant with a void storm.
I believe from your own reports you have experienced void storms before, and you know they can be dangerous, but always fleeting, never lasting more than a few days. However, this storm seems to be static. It has not moved or changed since we first detected it.
We understand there may be people who do not want to venture into this storm, and we understand. The loops we have added to your tethers will allow you to stay on the base long enough for those investigating to return. You may experience some discomfort and disorientation during the time your craft is away, but it should only be mild and temporary.
For those investigating, we know little of what you will face. Every storm is different, and this one is already stranger than anything we have come across before."
The scientists stick around to reassure people and help them make their decisions. Those going to investigate are told to report to their craft in the morning.
INTO THE UNKNOWN: PART 2
SYMPHONY 26-29 ~ OOC POST ~ QUESTIONS ~ FIRST PART
JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN
Those willing to go will leave on the Voidtrecker Express first thing the next day, with only warnings and well-wishes to be careful to go with them. There is an estimate for how long it'll take them to reach the anomaly, about half a day's travel by the train's clock, give or take. But there's no telling the true time it'll take, nor the effects of the void that will be waiting for them. Keeping away from the windows or putting up blinds is advised as a precaution, just in case, and to monitor each other's health.
"Warning: Approaching Voidstorm, please take precautions." The train warns as they arrive on the edges, all the usual train precautions have been taken, the lab cart has been shut down, the ovens in the kitchen are disconnected. The train begins to shake as it enters the first layer.
LAYER ONE: CHANGING SHADESThey first experience changes by sight - literally. Around them, objects start emitting an aura that's unique to each passenger, colouring it to match their mood towards that particular thing. Coffee machines? Amazing, paint that gold. A boring book? Ugh, the entire thing is turning grey.
It's a small effect at the start, yet objects aren't the only things being affected - so are the people on board. Their own moods are changing their hair colour, eyes, and skin, shifting more rapidly than the furniture's paint job. And as time goes on, passengers will be able to affect one another's colouration and aura, giving away how they may feel about that person at that moment, if their feelings are strong enough. Never noticed how fondly one feels about you? Now you do.
LAYER TWO: LOOSE LIPSGoing into the next layer, there's an itch that starts to gnaw at everyone - an itch to talk. To friends, to strangers, to anyone; you have a need to chatter, and it has to get out. Attempting to isolate yourself only makes the need worse, and you won't be able to sleep it away. It doesn't matter if you don't know what to talk about - you'll find something.
A good chat will subdue the need for a while, but it will eventually return. So while listening to others talk might help keep it at bay, it won't forever.
LAYER THREE: CONFESSION - I THINK YOU'RE OKThe changes become stronger, and with them the urges. Passengers will feel compelled to tell those they know their feelings for them, whether it's as simple as finding them okay, to having stronger inclinations of friendship, dislike, or even love.
These urges can be held back on for a time, but it's easy for it to slip out; and many may still be suffering from the previous layer, where they get the sudden need to talk.
LAYER FOUR: A CAKE FOR MY BELOVEDTalking is simply not good enough in this layer: actions speak louder than words. You want to create ways of expressing your desires, regardless of how creative you actually are. Building a shrine to your loved ones, challenging rivals to duels. You can't stay idle, and your hands and brain need to be at work! What can you manage on this train?
EYE OF THE STORM
Finally, all of it stops. The colours, the emotions, the compulsion of dramatics; their minds go from being caught in the storm to completely calm (or, as calm as they ever are). It is much like waking from a dream, or going from one very noisy overwhelming place to complete silence.
A second passes, and then another, and then... there's a feeling. Fear, terror - even those who normally have no ability to feel the emotions of others can feel it, emanating from the train itself.
With it comes an invitation. Hard to describe, but a tugging at their mind. They can push it away no problem, but if they accept...
They are looking out. The familiar colours of the Void are all around them, but they can't turn to look. Ahead is a hole where space should be, nothingness curving and spiralling out from a point deep within that wound in reality, tearing and tugging at the unfortunate observer. The chaotic nimbus at the edge of their vision spins inwards to meet it, and vanishes at the edge of the hole. A void within the Void. And within that terrifying chaotic darkness there are shapes.
The train rocks as energy rushes past it, tossing the craft from side to side. It spins, lurching out of control, the connection snapping as everyone is thrown back into their own awareness as the train starts vibrating to at full speed.
But the tell-tale signs of movement isn't there, and a creaking of metal can be heard. The train shakes more as the view outside the windows shows them inching forward towards where the hole had been, and parts of the roof start to bend inward, water pipes burst and the electricity fails in multiple carriages.
Until there's a rush, a shaking and twisting, and the void flashes violently in the windows. The ever distant choral singing becomes a roar as a kaleidoscope of colours fills the interior of the train itself.
Then there is stillness. It calms, and there is no storm, no terrifying darkness. Just the void, as it ever is, ever changing.
OOC NOTES
NOTES: They will be in the storm for three days, each layer takes about half a day.
no subject
"Of course she would! She's not like ordinary dogs and she saved me from almost getting--in trouble!"
Ulp! He covers his mouth again. No! He's not going to tell people personal things. He was able to swing that to something not too personal. Though, trouble was an understatement for that situation then. He swallows that thought, even if it hurts him. Fairy of course, doesn't seem to mind too much as she continues to prod Romeo for pets.
no subject
"She did? I bet she was really brave! Did she save you? Did she bark really loud to get people to help?"
He tilted his head. "I once helped my old god out with a prayer because lots of pets had gone missing, but it turned out there was a big monster and they wee all trying to protect their humans!"
no subject
"She ran all the way to my jiujiu and got him coming! She even bit that villain!"
Oh for the love of all that is good. Someone stop him from talking. That itch was still there but it was starting to go away. He didn't want to be shouting these things, even if they made little or no sense.
"You helped your--- god? What do you mean god?!"
He stopped surprised when he heard that.
no subject
He nodded at the question. "I'm a shinki, so that means I lived in the heavens and am a weapon for a god. My old god was called Elfnein and she was small like me and she was the nicest, sweetest person I ever met. She liked science and we lived in a library and she drank so much coffee!"
Sometimes it feels like that time was a dream, the beginning of all the things he remembers, so long ago and very removed from the train. "I miss her a lot, but mister Zetta is my god now and he's a good god too."
no subject
'Shinki,' weapons for gods. Jin Ling knew there were various types of people here, but he never actually thought about asking Romeo where he came from and what he was doing prior to being here. All of that felt too personal, thus he had kept his mouth shut about asking. Nothing good came from being nosy, after all. Except, Romeo was earnestly telling him everything.
"Are you saying you-- aren't technically a human being too?"
Given he's possessed by a youkai. He couldn't say very much.
"I kind of get it... because..." he frowns, clearly not wanting to say anymore than that, but that urgency to talk and talk really is driving him mad!
no subject
"Why do you get it? You said too. Are you not human either mister Jin Ling?"
no subject
Jin Ling replied giving him a confused look. Even though he also understood memory loss to some degree. His isn't as terrible. At least, the youkai tells him the basics. However, there are other times where he chooses to not say anything to Jin Ling and he's stuck trying to figure it out.
You'll regret it later if you tell him now.
The youkai replied, trying to reign his mouth in. Unfortunately, the effects of the train is too strong for even a youkai like himself. Jin Ling is going to make his bed and he certainly will lie in it.
"I am human! I just--- there's a wolf youkai in my body and-- sometimes I can't remember things either. I hate it."
Curse his loose lips!
no subject
But Jin Ling had a wold inside him? And he sometimes couldn't remember him either. "Do you turn into a wolf? I used to turn into a weasel when I was Elfnein's but now I turn into a motorbike, that's not as cool as a wolf though, what's a youkai? Why can't you remember?"
He is always inquisitive but now he can't help the questions flooding out.
no subject
Jin Ling looked a bit perplexed. The topic hits pretty close to home in a different way. At the very least, he still had his own past memories. He still remembered things. There were just blocks in them from time to time.
"I don't-- it's not as simple as that. I just-- it shares my body."
Ugh, he hasn't openly talked about this to anyone but his close allies and friends. It's really hard to gauge it, "It's attached to me-- to this mask probably. There hasn't been a way to extract it or get it out of my body. Sometimes, there are times--- I don't remember what happened or how I got from point A to point B."
Turning into a wolf is one of the many things I can do. Nosy, lass aren't you?
Romeo can probably hear a disembodied voice, not really connected to anywhere but speaks with him all the same.
"Demons...wolf demon."
no subject
So it is best not to. But Jin Ling was a bit different, he had something that shared his body, connected to his mask and sometimes he didn't remember what happened.
He blinked at the voice and looked around, but wasn't too surprised at not seeing anything.
"Oh. Hello mister demon wolf! It's nice to meet you?" Politeness is key, even though he is hoping this is a nice demon wolf and not someone who will hurt Jin Ling.
"So are you two a team?"
Sry tag is so late
Because Jin Ling will stop at nothing to figure out his own roots. How can something like memories be taken away that easily? He doesn't understand it. How can Romeo be so carefree about it?
"You could learn a thing or two from him, cub.
The demon wolf chuckles before continuing "Nice to meet you kid. Maybe my partner here could learn to be as polite as you."
Jin Ling's face only dropped more, "I don't need to!"
no worries <3
So he doesn't need to learn much about being polite! Though maybe a bit about coping with bad things that happened.
Because sad things happened all the time and coping with it all was important.
"I'm real good at keeping my spirits up! I can help show you if you want!"
no subject
Child, you would be the only fool to say so.
Even Jin Ling seems a little surprised at how Romeo responded.
"I don't need it! I'm fine the way I am! You just-- do what you're doing!"
Jin Ling's face is a little red now.
no subject
He wasn't sure though of Jin Ling's words. He did seem like someone who needed some help keeping his spirits up...
"Everyone needs help sometimes."