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.
shadowcourage: (This is gonna be a Clef icon)

Re: 1

[personal profile] shadowcourage 2022-08-28 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, so ya do talk," he said, but he doesn't move the hand away. "A friendly hand, help ya uncurl, that sort of thing. Meant to be reassuring."
nobodys_puppet: (Hooded Sorrows And Requests)

Re: 1

[personal profile] nobodys_puppet 2022-08-28 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
She didn't know what reassuring meant, she shook her head. "But I'm not your friend..." she was confused and scared and just wanted to run away. How did Axel and Roxas like this sort of thing? How did Roxas see her as brave? She was terrified.
shadowcourage: (That's hilarious)

Re: 1

[personal profile] shadowcourage 2022-08-28 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Of course I ain't, we just met," Shadow said with a shrug. "Some people might make friends instantly, but that ain't me, but ya don't gotta be friends to be friendly. Or nice, if that makes it clearer," he explained.
Edited 2022-08-28 20:36 (UTC)
nobodys_puppet: (Hooded Follow)

Re: 1

[personal profile] nobodys_puppet 2022-08-28 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... don't understand..." she said, stepping back again.
shadowcourage: (This is gonna be a Clef icon)

Re: 1

[personal profile] shadowcourage 2022-08-28 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Friends is an emotional bond that must be forged and some hearts are easier to forge then others," Shadow said. "Mine isn't so easy to forge. However, sometimes people can just be nice. Ya don't necessarily have to have a bond or owe someone anything."
nobodys_puppet: (Hooded With Roxas)

Re: 1

[personal profile] nobodys_puppet 2022-08-28 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Why... would you want to be nice... to me?" she asked, a hand over her own chest almost protectively, or defensively. She was still so new to having a heart, she still didn't understand it. She didn't know what would happen if she lost it.

Wait... wait. Hearts could be... "Forged...?"

What did that mean? Forged. Like Axel's classes back in Diatu?
shadowcourage: (=T)

Re: 1

[personal profile] shadowcourage 2022-08-29 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
"My brother is an extremely good influence on me and he'll make friends with anyone who will have him and is a decent person," Shadow said with a shrug.

"Yeah. Built up. Allowed to grow. Spend time with people and get to know them."
nobodys_puppet: (New kid in the Hood)

Re: 1

[personal profile] nobodys_puppet 2022-08-29 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
"But... I'm not..." she said, quietly, relieved at least that she knew what to say to make this Somebody leave her alone, for once. Even if she still didn't understand all of what he was saying. "I'm not a person." So she couldn't be a decent one, whatever that was. So he could go and find someone who was, and talk to them, and she could find a place to hide for a while...
shadowcourage: (shadows gather)

Re: 1

[personal profile] shadowcourage 2022-08-29 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
"...."

Shadow shifts and his entire form goes dark save the white eyes. "You're too scared to not be a person."
nobodys_puppet: (Hooded Self)

Re: 1

[personal profile] nobodys_puppet 2022-08-29 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
Heartless?! She almost summoned her Keyblade except...

Except he had talked. Heartless didn't.

Right?

She really really wished Axel and Roxas were there.

"I've always been scared," she said in a whisper. Though oddly she looked less scared now than she had before he shifted. Because if he was a Heartless... or some other kind of monster... that was easier than conversation. Fighting was one of the few things she was good at. "Even when I was first created." Still whisper quiet, but less tremble in her voice now as her hand dropped to her side, ready to summon her Keyblade in an instant if she needed it, the other hand falling back so she could use magic instead if that seemed the better answer. Though she wasn't sure what her best spells might do to the Train... The Keyblade was probably smarter.

The Train had told her she was an actual person a while back... but she's since come to question most of what the Train had said. So she had fallen back into being sure she wasn't. Even if she was mostly convinced she had a heart now. Having it meant little though, when she had no clue how to use it...