middleofsomewhere | 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

And Clef was of course in there, working on his studies whenever he was unaware of others in there, fighting the urge to go out and find people. Thankfully people generally came in often enough that he was able to resist so far.

But then Shadow was the one who came in. And everything flared forward. Shadow was outlined in the same light as the pen. He still loved the boy, of course, probably always would. But he'd been doing his best to be cautious in his speech around him. Trying to get a sense of what Shadow thought of him, what was safe to say.

Which was why he was shocked and horrified at himself as he blurted out "No matter what else happens or is said or what we decide... I will always love you, Shadow." And he wished at once he could claw the words back. Nit because he didn't mean them, he did mean them. But because he was sure they were the words that Shadow very much did not want to hear.

As Shadow approached Clef, the colors around him finally changed. A mix around Clef, of green and blue and black and so much purple. He's not surprised, Clef was too many emotions at once.

Shadow grits his teeth at the words, but he also expected that as he sighed dramatically as he sat on the table nearby. "And I hope one day ya'll say those words and actually mean them to me over the idea of me."

"I do mean them to you!" he protested. He was trying so hard to shut up. He really really was.

"No, ya don't, but that doesn't mean I still don't hope," he said, and a flash of pink surrounds Clef briefly. "Have ya seen Link since this all started?"

"I do. I don't want to argue with you and I'm trying not to say things that will hurt you because I don't want to hurt you but I can't seem to stop talking." He blinked. "Ah, I suspect I have a theory that the nature of this Storm is not limited to colours..." Not how he wanted to find that out.

"Neither do I, and luckily I'm used to dealing with intrusive, negative impulses," Shadow said. "And of course its not just colors. Its feeling and compulsions, and that's why I wanted to find you before Link did precisely because ya have a serious case of foot in mouth most of the time," Shadow said.

"...though maybe if ya weren't overthinking, it'd go better..."

"I had really hoped this Storm wouldn't be that easy. And I do my best! I am always doing my best! And I have been trying to study up on how to do better, but the Train has few books of use on the topic."

Overthinking is Clef's default state, Shadow. He doesn't know how to not.

"Ya know what the definition of insanity is, Clef?" Shadow asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I have read multiple definitions across multiple world sets, which specific definition are you referring to?"

"The one about how doing the same thing and expecting different results," Shadow said, twirling a finger in the air.

"I am not doing the same thing however, I am checking different books."

"Clef, the answer ain't in books. There ain't even any books on a thing like me in Hyrule," Shadow said. "Normal shadows got a few, not freaks of nature."

"I was looking up books on interpersonal relationships, actually."

"And those are highly limited, especially when dealing with said freak of nature," Shadow said. "Vio only knew how to manipulate me because he knew his own dark impulses, but it didn't let him see what I was really about for a while."

"I'm not trying to manipulate you!"

"No, but ya can only manipulate people if ya understand people. Some people are easier to understand then others," Shadow said with a shrug. "Because they're more textbook, but then the rest ya just gotta read people well."

"I read books well, not people."

"And ya refuse to really learn how to try," Shadow said. "Or like...find good ways to fake it. 'cause sometimes people ARE just bad at it, but then ya gotta find the work arounds, but ya aren't willing to do much of that."

"I have been trying! For you!" He... had not meant to say that bit out loud.

"By continuing to just read more books and never listen to me about me," Shadow said.

"By trying both! But whenever we try to talk about you we wind up arguing! I love you, I want to understand you, but we just keep arguing!"

"Because ya never listen. Ya never want to accept that at one point, I was a monster," Shadow said. "Its like ya can't believe monsters can grow to be better."

"I am very well aware that people can change! You are who you are now!"

"And yer convinced I can't do evil anymore, under no circumstances," Shadow said. "The past is important Clef, 'cause that's how ya learn and keep being better."

"I know you won't," he snapped. "Theres a difference! Not can't, won't! The past is important for history and spells and learning, but for people you deal with the person in front of you. When someone..." he forced himself to cut off there. That the Storm allowed it meant that it wasn't actually about Shadow, not really.

Into the Unknown Part Two

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3

Re: 3