middleofsomewhere | Into the Unknown Part Two

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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

..::|| Journey Into The Unknown ||::..

Daia made his decision with zero hesitation: he was going! He has to help. He's been gone for six months, and he has to make up for everyone else having to do things with less and less of a crew. A lessening he contributed to, even if it wasn't willingly. He can't help but feel guilty. He's quick to make it back to the train and make sure he's settled as quick as he can.

|| A. Loose Lips ||
The colours were interesting, seeing everything that turned into colours he liked or didn't like. It definitely put some things that Daia never really thought about into perspective. But it's gone, and now Daia's having a hard struggle with the need to talk. To someone, to anyone.

And eventually, he just plops into the seat nearest to you. He gives a smile, as he mentally wonders for a second what he's even doing. Not that talking is weird, but he's never felt this compelled to want even a stranger's company before.

Well...

Hello, new friends. Or old. Either way.

"Hello. How are you liking the trip so far?"

Really? That's what he came up with to talk about? He feels like he could have said something better. Well, it's out now. Hopefully it's as good a place as any to start.

|| B. Confession - Closed to the males of the Train ||

What is going on? Daia feels more flustered than usual. He's pretty sure he almost told someone he likes them. Even if it's just a little. He ran away before he could say it, though. He hopes they didn't see him before he ran off. That would be even more awkward. And this is already really awkward. He's so flustered. How does he make it stop?

He's only confessed to two people before, and he remembers being very hesitant to do so again. So why...

Why does he want to tell people now? They're not even that close (....even if he would like to be).

Ugh! Why is everyone on this train so cute?!

But still, he can't resist. He approaches you, clearly fidgeting. His cheeks clearly red. He's avoiding eye contact. His heart is pounding. Can he do this? Why is he doing this?

"U-uhm... E-excuse me...?"

((OOC: Any boy who wants to be told that Daia thinks they're cute, feel free to come on by. If you've been nice to him, you get extra crush points. You might also win those points by being nice to Daia in this post. If you even give him a cookie, he'll like you. If you need any plotting to get crush points, feel free to hmu at

Tseil or PM this account.))

..::|| Eye of the Storm ||::..

Daia wants to hide, to scream, to do something. He latches as hard as he can onto the nearest thing and prays it keeps him steady as much as possible through this whole thing. He can't help but start to cry. Is everyone on here going to die? Is this the end of everything? Did he come back after six months just for this to be the end? A water pipe nearby bursts, and he yells, shocked by the cold on top of everything else going on. He rattles to the other side of the train, unable to keep his grip on whatever-it-was from before. And he falls into you.

He clings to you now, instead, shaking like a leaf. The wetness you feel might be the water from the pipe that drenched him before, or maybe you feel the warmth of tears. But he's certain that this is absolutely terrifying, and he just wants to be safe.

"...Daia?"

Kaiba's still disoriented from being thrown and nearly drawn into the emptiness himself, but he recognizes the head of hair in the dim light. He holds onto his friend tightly, breathing deep. Important to stay as calm as he can, as hard as that is right now.

"I think we escaped. We're not being ripped apart anymore."

Kaiba's voice is calming, and the rattling seems to have stopped.

Daia opens one eye slowly, then the other, the tears still flowing. And everything seems to be still. Even the thing he felt tearing at his mind is gone now. Daia's breathing is shaky, as he tries to steady himself from a sob.

They're safe, right?

"It... it's over?"

He leans up a little bit, but not enough to pull out of the hug; just enough to look up at Kaiba.

Kaiba's always helping him. He's grateful, but there's a small pang of guilt. But right now, he'll take the familiarity and warmth of his friend. He's just happy that he came back to the Train with Kaiba still here, too. He doesn't know what he would do without his closest friend.

"We'll be all right," Kaiba gives him a reassuring squeeze. It's okay. He reaches up to gently ruffle his friend's hair, taking a moment to ground them.

"We can fix the damage to the train. Go back and make a report. It'll be fine."

The reassuring squeeze and the hair-ruffling all help to calm Daia down a bit. The damage to the train, though... That seems to snap him out of his fear a little.

"But... the water."

He looks over at the broken pipe, as it continues to flow into the car. Isn't water damage bad? Though it is a Void train. Can it handle water damage?

But then...

"Who do I report it to?"

"I...misspoke. Sorry," Kaiba apologizes, his own thoughts still scrambled. He holds onto Daia for as long as his friend needs.

"I meant that we'll report it to the ministry together when we get back. But we can clean up until then...help the train relax. It's scared too."

The train's scared, too.

The train has feelings. On top of all the information that Daia's gotten since coming back, this surprisingly doesn't seem that strange.

But how does he calm it down? If it all functions on feelings, then maybe it's like that meditation Kaiba showed him earlier.

He reaches a hand out, letting go of Kaiba no more than necessary. He's hesitant and unsure, but he reaches out to touch the train. He hopes he's doing this right.

"It's okay," he says out loud, trying his best to focus on being consoling. "We're still here. You're going to be okay."

Watching this makes Kaiba smile a little. Daia is so sweet and kind. He deserves the world. And...he's also probably right about this, so Kaiba joins in, laying his hand next to his friends.

"I'll patch you up as much as I can. We're here for you."

And he squeezes Daia with his other arm. "You're not hurt, are you?"

If Kaiba's doing it too, then Daia figures he must be doing something right.

Daia looks at Kaiba and shakes his head a little.

"No, I'm not hurt. It was more horrifying than anything else..."

Just what was that, anyway? It was so much to take in all at once. And the train rattling along with it. It felt so much like he was going to die.

Daia's face sinks a little, his hair tufts tilting back.

"Has... has something like that happened before?" A beat, then maybe Kaiba doesn't know what he's talking about. "That black hole, and the fear... I..."

Has that been happening since he was gone? Or was it something new?

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blue_ice - 2022-08-26 01:16 (UTC) - Expand

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diamondsfortears - 2022-09-01 15:38 (UTC) - Expand

Lea smiled. "Hey, Daia," he said. "You want to talk to me about something?" That seemed to be how things were going. He himself had the growing urge to talk to a few people about certain things, but he could spare a little time for his friend first.

Daia is instantly regretting this decision. But he's already started. And as much as he wants to lie and say it was nothing, the urge inside pushes him on.

He nods, balling his hands as he tries to summon every ounce of determination he has. Is it the determination to confess? Or to just make this feeling stop? He's not sure. Hopefully he'll feel better after he says this.

"I... I..." Uhm. How does he say this?

He gulps, takes a shaky breath, and tries again.

"I... I know I've been gone for six months, so..." he knows. He knows this can't mean anything, right? Lea probably already likes someone else. And even if he doesn't, it's silly for him to think they've spent enough time together for Lea to feel even remotely the same.

But this pit in his stomach. He has to confess, even if it means nothing. He feels like he'll regret it if he doesn't.

He promises himself he'll feel better after this. As long as they can stay friends. Those he confessed to before, they're still his friends, too. He tells himself Lea will be no different. He just has to get his heart to stop pounding long enough to get the words off his tongue.

Zelgadis is trying to keep moving to avoid dealing with feelings (which he's going to fail at), so he's not exactly paying attention to anyone else. Until he realizes Daia is talking to him rather than anyone else. It also might explain why Zel's brain is failing to make any sort of connection about what this is about.

"Yes?"

This feels extra embarrassing. He had yet to say a word to Zelgadis.

...Well, until just now, that is. And he feels that urge to run away and pretend this never happened. But the urge within tells him now he might look stupid if he doesn't respond.

"I... Well, I-I...." Holy cow, he can't do this. His face turns even more red and he buries it behind his hands.

"I uh, I just wanted to tell you... that... I..." A deep breath and he forces the words to jump out before he can give them yet another thought. "I think you're cute!"

Oh, man, what did he just say? He's springing this on some poor guy who probably didn't even know he existed before. He feels so dumb, but he manages to peek through his fingers to try and see Zel's reaction.

Zelgadis looks surprised more than anything else. Because he was not expecting that. The closest he's ever gotten in years was either backhanded compliments (or at least what he interpreted as them) or 'you're cool-looking' which was... well, not what he'd wanted to hear at the time. He actually glances around to make sure Daia is actually talking to him, before remembering that he actually did need to respond to that.

"Thank you? Was that the right thing to say?"

He hadn't meant to say that last part aloud.

"I don't get people calling me cute that often." And now he was going to focus on shutting up rather than continuing to babble.

Daia can't help but flail. He's done something weird and maybe Zelgadis didn't like it.

"No, no! You're definitely cute!" Why doesn't he get told he's cute? He totally is.

Wait...

"U-unless you don't like to be called cute! I'm sorry! I can say you're handsome instead!"

Oh, no! What has he done?! He's sorry!

"No, I'm fine with either, but no one's called me cute OR handsome in a long time," Zelgadis said. He's not sure it's ever happened since he grew out of the 'adorable small child' stage of life when 'cute' means something entirely different. "You're actually serious?"

Daia can't fathom why Zelgadis doesn't get more compliments. He's clearly attractive. Zel deserves nice things!

"I'm serious! I absolutely mean it!"

And he's going red in the face again.

"I... I'd be happy to tell you as much as you want. I think you're cute."

But maybe that's weird. Especially since they probably wouldn't be in a relationship. But he can't help but feel like Zelgadis should get more praise, more affection. Even if it's just compliments on how he looks.

This whole thing was certainly something. A lot going on and quite honestly a lot to manage. Dealing with feelings was still something Allen was normally good at managing.

SO when he saw the face of someone he had helped not to long ago, he assumed this might be the same case. Except he couldn't think of what help one might need or want right now.

"DO you need some help?"

Daia's face feels hot. And Allen's question feels like this is making his mini-mission more difficult.

"Uhm... n-no. Not really..."

He fidgets with his hands for a bit. He feels something inside pushing him to do this. And for a moment, he internally retaliates, resulting in a frustrated frown forming on his face as he tries to squash the pressure to talk to Allen. And he's failing miserably.

Eventually he takes a shaky breath to try and steady himself for this.

"I... I just wanted to tell you something..."

Allen didn't really understand what was going on, nor did he understand why the other could be so nervous for simple wanting to say something.

It just made him wonder what bit was they wanted to say. Would he understand what it meant? Not necessarily.

"Okay. What is it you need to tell me?"

Daia has to force himself to take a few deep breaths. He halfway convinces himself that if he does this, it'll be over, and they can go back about their business.

...Why is there still a lump in his throat, though?

"I... y-you're so nice to me, and... I... I kind of..." he averts his gaze. He can't make eye contact and keep talking.

He wishes he didn't feel like he still needed to do this. But even if he could back away now, wouldn't it be more awkward? Now Allen knows he wants to say something. Daia would look strange if he tried to drop it now.

Daia's voice lowers, not quite to a whisper.

"I... I think you're cute... and I kind of like you..."

There, he said it. Can he go hide now?

Allen paused, he didn't exactly understand why the other seemed so nervous. Maybe that was the way they always were for the most part. Maybe there was a reason behind it. Either way the obvious answer wasn't necessarily the conclusion he was getting at.

He was quickly to focus more on one aspect of the confession than the other and to Allen it seemed like nothing more than something a friend would say to another friend, right? You like friends after all. It was pretty decent logic.

"And I like you. As much as we don't know each other we could be great friends." And there it was. He didn't understand what Daia might have meant.

For a second, when Allen said he liked him too, Daia's face lit up just a little, only to be crushed. Did he just get friend-zoned? He's pretty sure he got friend-zoned. Not quite where he was expecting that to go, but then, what else could he have expected?

He just wished that Allen hadn't started with And I like you.

And then he remembers he's looking like someone took his dog away, and forces himself to smile. (Are those tears forming in his eyes? He tries to ignore them, and hopes Allen will, too.)

"Y-yea! Great friends!" He's right. They don't really know each other. "I'd... like that."

Allen paused, he felt like he may have said or done something wrong, but didn't know the what. The face gave it away even if it wasn't for that long really and he couldn't help but instinctively feel bad about it.

"You seem upset. Did I do something wrong?" Allen was always happy to make a new friend, but if he did do something wrong he wanted to at least know what it was so he could work on it.

Allen noticed, and Daia stiffens a bit.

"I... I just thought... when you said you liked me, too..."

What is he saying? He confessed, didn't he? Why does he feel compelled to answer Allen's question? He's not obligated to like him back. He's allowed to be just a friend.

"...I just thought it meant, that we could be more than friends. That... maybe I had a boyfriend, now... But, it's okay. You don't have to like me back. I mean, like me, like me. It's okay if... we're just friends..."

He doesn't want to make Allen feel guilty for basically rejecting him.

Into the Unknown Part Two

Daia | Orange | OTA

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Confession time

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I need more human!Zel icons

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