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

[That's a sentiment Daia can relate to. Even if it's misinterpreted. He gives a sympathetic sigh.]

Yea, me too. I've never had a boyfriend.

[Though he supposes running away from a hunter all the time would contribute to that. But even being on the train as long as he had before disappearing for six months didn't produce any results. And he confessed. Twice.

Oh, well.]

Maybe it's just bad luck?

Maybe. [Then again, Ryou almost had the opposite problem back home.]

For me, the problem is that I've never felt like I had a crush or anything. I know that there were girls in my school who thought I was cute, and they were nice enough, but the attention was just awkward for me.

[Ryou. This isn't being bad with girls. This is being flat out aromantic.]

Oh.

[...Yea, that's entirely different than what Daia thought at first. And he has to process that for a second. Did he miss something earlier? Maybe he did. But he'll just do his best to offer something.]

Maybe... you just don't like girls? I mean. Like, like-like. I don't like girls like that, either.

[Maybe Ryou likes boys? But if Ryou's never felt a crush, maybe not. Daia has no idea what that's like because he crushes on every boy who's nice to him for three seconds. But it still begs the question.]

You've never liked anyone before?

No, I'm not into guys, if that's what you're asking. [He's reasonably certain of that.

Then Daia asks if he's really never had a crush and Ryou blinks, not sure where this is going.]

Yes, I've never had a crush before. It's weird. [Unfortunately, he came to the conclusion that he's just really bad with girls to explain this.]

[So, Ryou doesn't like boys, and hasn't had a crush before. Ever. It's something bizarre to Daia, honestly. He's not sure he's ever heard of such a thing.

But even still, he quietly puts the pieces together for a second. He's sure it's not because Ryou is broken or anything. After all, Daia's not broken for liking only boys. So, that probably means...]

Maybe... you don't have to like anybody?

[He tries to get his thoughts properly set up, but he has no idea how to navigate a world without crushes.]

Like... I like lots of people. But I don't think I'm bad with girls just because I don't like them. So maybe you don't have to like girls, either. Or boys. Or whoever. Liking someone... it happens by itself, not because you want it to.

[Which... he knows all too well. He's liked way too many people, and gotten burned way too many times. He'd like to be better with his heart, but he's terrible at it.]

If someone told me I had to like girls, I think I'd be mad. So, I think it's okay if you don't like anyone. Even if it's never at all.

[He's not sure if he said that right. But he hopes he got his point acrost.]

[His first thought, on being told that he doesn't have to like anybody:]

...What?

[Which is followed up by Ryou trying to process this and mentally stumbling over the idea of just not liking anyone.]

I - I thought it would have to happen at some point and I'd just figure it out...

[You know, like so many of his classmates had.]

Well... if it happens, you can figure it out then, right?

[With Ryou's reaction, he's wondering if he said something maybe too strange. Maybe all people do fall in love at some point. He's no expert. But either way...]

But I don't think you have to wait for it. Or force it.

Into the Unknown Part Two

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