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

Somewhere on the border between the second and third layer of the storm. That's when Tidus might realize Elidibus is thinking of him; and not intentionally, as would be his wont when he wished to summon the youth through the power gained via the false Diagad.

This at first anyway, has a certain lack of control or intent that one doesn't expect from someone like the Ascian; to likewise leave his thoughts so unguarded, knowing of Tidus's is ability. But the storm has done many things to the minds and hearts of people by now. Leaving them more unguarded, more open. Eventually the thoughts will turn toward intent, inviting Tidus's presence if he's free. But there's also an opportunity to arrive early.

Elidibus is in his assigned cabin. It's a little cozy but a suitable place to practice his own type of crafting with minimal chance of interruption. Creation magic, he's called it in the occasional missive posted offering his services. But something that still welcomes a bit of peace and quiet; and with the art carriage and kitchens starting to be filled with people obliged to make their own bits and bobs, he decided it was best to be somewhere he could focus with relatively few distractions.

Should Tidus choose to allow curiosity to get the better of him and find out why the Ascian is so distracted as to let his thoughts wander freely, he might have arrived early. Whether knocking and being let in or simply teleporting over, Elidibus wouldn't have minded. Simply offered one of his faint smiles and a nod to the youth and went back to concentrating on his work.

A pile of items is before him, both the remains of ore he had once ordered from his world and a variety of other items. Some are products and pieces from various worlds they've visited. And others may be from the train itself. Items for general use that wouldn't be missed. All of it being unwoven and turned to aether so it may be made into something new.

In the end, they will be made into two simple-looking objects which, if Tidus did delay until he was specifically called, he would only see the finished pieces when he arrives. The figures are no more than knee high. One bears an appearance similar to Elidibus's current host body, though where the Ascian's chin is clean shaven, the model has a small 'scruff'. In a similar aesthetic design to the first, the second one is of a figure in plain white robes and a styled red mask. Tidus has seen Elidibus in his natural 'form' before, though this creation lacks the embellishments of purple and gold that adorned his robes.

"Someone on this train once told me on the matter of the vessels I have used over the millennia, that I should seek to honor the lives they lived," Elidibus would begin once the young man arrives in whatever manner chosen. "At the very least, the visage I currently possess."

Elidibus reaches out to touch the 'Ardbert' representation. Aether flows again and activates it. What had seemed a statue shows itself to be a small automaton and begins wandering aimlessly about the room.

"I still have difficulty seeing the mortals of my star as worth such dedication. Their lives are so fleeting and my memories oft faded too quickly." Elidibus looks up.

"Of late, I've found myself remembering fragments I thought long lost." Indeed he'd not even realized most of them were gone at all. "And there was a certain respect I had for those who strove their utmost despite the limitations they must bear."

The white robed 'Elidibus' is then touched and activated. It begins a similar pattern of rambling.

"I doubt half remembered respect alone is what he meant." A wry smile. "But perhaps it will be all I am capable of, to acknowledge their worth."

Into the Unknown Part Two

Closed to Tidus