voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] 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.
"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 SHADES
    They 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 LIPS
    Going 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 OK
    The 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 BELOVED
    Talking 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.
scorpionsect: (Default)

Xie'er/Scorpion King

[personal profile] scorpionsect 2022-08-28 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
Layer 1:

Xie'er found it strange that so many objects and people were changing colors. Some didn't change at all, but it was more things that he was connected with. The kitchen and the gardens seemed to be full of bright colors where most places were rather mute. He found it rather strange and also noted that day by day the colors would change depending on his own moods? It didn't make sense. The pippa however stayed a bright gold no matter what mood it was. These were all things he took notes of and stored away.

Layer 2:

Xie'er wasn't one for just randomly talking or even having a long conversation. He suddenly had an urge to want to talk....and it didn't matter what it was about. He felt fine, nothing was ailing him. Why did he want to talk so much? He even tried to meditate, but that only made the itch worse. He hid in the gardens and played the pippa, singing along with it to see if that would help.

Eye of the Storm:

He didn't understand what was going on. The turblance was unsettling and what made it worse was the mixture of feelings from being scared to feeling nothing at all. This wasn't like him. He holds onto something tight as parts of the train began to fail. He wants to check and investigate, but he's rooted where he is.

Wildcard:

Feel free to write your own prompt!



borntolove: (pondering)

Eye of The Storm

[personal profile] borntolove 2022-08-28 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
The Doctor, on the other hand, is out and about checking all over the Train for any problems caused by the turbulence to see if anyone is hurt and eventually, happens upon, Xie'er.

"Are you alright?" The Doctor asks calmly.
scorpionsect: (Default)

[personal profile] scorpionsect 2022-08-28 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
..."No," Xie'er stated in a somewhat frightened tone. He tried to keep the fright out of his own expression but it showed up in his voice. He inwardly berated himself.

"What's going on? I don't understand. I've never seen the train do anything like this."
borntolove: (Side Glance)

[personal profile] borntolove 2022-08-28 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
The Doctor squats down, near Xie'er and remarks in a calm voice, "The Train is alive and was protecting us."
gundamofthedesert: (another cup of tea)

Layer 1

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2022-08-28 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Quatre found all of this very strange that everything was changing color. At first, he tried to figure it out. Was there was a reason for why certain things were changing? As such, he was trying to make notes, but there didn't seem to be much logic to it.

But he finally made it into the garden where Xie'er happened to be with his pipa.

"Hello," he said as he came in.

Currently his clothes were green in color.
scorpionsect: (pic#15612874)

[personal profile] scorpionsect 2022-08-28 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
"Hello!" Xie'er happily greeted. He waved his friend over to sit beside him. "Is it just me or the train is being really weird? Nothing is making sense right now."

Xie'er noted that Quatre's clothing was all pink? The boy did wear pink...but not like this.
gundamofthedesert: (another cup of tea)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2022-08-28 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
Quatre nodded as he walked over, sitting down beside him. He crossed his legs, looking around. It was very bright and colorful.

"It seems like it. Everything seems to be changing colors. There doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason to it. Have you been seeing it?"
scorpionsect: (pic#15612872)

[personal profile] scorpionsect 2022-08-28 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, it's all very confusing. Some days they are the same color other days they aren't. Or it can change in a couple of hours!" Xie'er stated in an exasperated tone.

"At least here, the colors don't seem to change for me. I've been staying here as much as possible. It's more calming."

He moved to pour some tea and offer a cup to Quatre. He always kept a tea pot with him when he was in the gardens. The tea pot was a gold color as was his pippa. Both never seemed to change colors.
gundamofthedesert: (contemplative)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2022-08-28 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've been trying to figure out if there a reason for stuff to be changing like it is. Like is there a reason these things are changing colors. So far, I haven't discovered anything."

He looked down at the notebook he had been carrying. It was pretty gray at the moment.

"It definitely seems a lot more relaxing in here, even if things are oddly colored at the moment."

He smiled, reaching to take the cup. "Thank you."
scorpionsect: (Default)

[personal profile] scorpionsect 2022-08-29 12:08 am (UTC)(link)
"I think the colors that don't change seem to be how we feel? Where some stuff will change depending on your mood?" Xie'er carefully stated.

"I'm happy here and the pippa I'm always happy to play."

He smiled known that Quatre appreciates the tea.
gundamofthedesert: (smiling)

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2022-08-29 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Really? Hmm... I guess that would make sense in someway. Not that any of the strange stuff that happens here really makes sense."

He sighed.

"That's good to hear," he said, taking the cup of tea and holding it for a moment to let it cool just a little before drinking it. "I do like playing my violin as well so I understand."