Event: Brace the Storm

[voidtreckermods]

"Attention Voidtreckers. Brace yourselves for a voidstorm. Remember to stay strong and stick together. The Voidtrecker Express apologises for any distress this might cause."

It's not all that much of a warning, but it definitely explains the bouts of turbulence. The colours of the void outside the windows whirl and deepen, the train rocking unsteadily. A song usually confined in the spaces between carriages wails within their walls. Emergency lights switch on as the main sets flicker, and anything that could be a danger is shut down, locking the lab and armoury and limiting access to the medical bays to those who truly need to be there.

This may be for the best, as when the voidtreckers move through the train, they will find things to be... peculiar. The stream of choral singing has stuck around, bringing about a general feeling of unease in passengers. Stranger than this is when they move between carriages, and don't always find themselves where they were expecting. They know that the quiet coach should lead to standard, but instead, they end up in the music car, or library.

And within the carriages themselves, all is not as it seems...

The storm rages for three days, colours lashing at the windows, a ghostly song wailing through the walls. The train itself is able to steady after an hour or two, even if the bizarre effects throughout the carriages continue.

Be it as small as colour changing in the music room, emotions getting high over a board game, or even their minds being swept away into stories of other worlds, it will be all the passengers can do to follow the scant wisdom of the train. Stay strong. Stick together.

All storms eventually pass.

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BRACE THE STORM

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OOC NOTES. Remember that the event takes place during Orchestra 7-9 (13-18 November). The ooc information for this event is here. Have fun!

Comments

[crowneddragon]

Why are all the people on this train so damn kind? It makes Esteban a bit self-conscious, if he's to be honest, rubbing at the short strands at the back of his head as he tries to gather his thoughts. They've always been too quick to collect into words; the half-elf prefers action over them, and if he talks he tends to blabber off nonsense.

"It's not- Y'surprised me, that's all." But no, he's not willing to talk. Still, he's thankful for her consideration, and he beams at her with a nod. "I'll let you know if I need..." He pauses with an awkward look, amused and half confused on how to properly say this. "A hand?"

See? He's bad at words. But he's happy enough to get amused at his own struggles, and his good humor never leaves him.

"Think I'll call you Secret Keeper~" he teases lightly, seeing as she started it. It's not a very catchy nickname, and he doesn't think it'll stick, but it's a bit of comfort to have a regular conversation after something that struck so close to home. The snicker that escapes him is very light, but he suddenly realizes--

"How would I say that?" Well, no, not say-- try again! "How would I hand-sign that?"

[the_aunt_general]

She smiles at that, at least, and then very slowly runs her hands through the motions. She taps her lips twice, her right fist closed with the thumb against her lips; then holds her right hand across from her chest, palm upwards but hand closed as if gripping, then both hands held in front of her, vertically and parallel - sliding downwards.

Then she moves again, letting the SCA translate.

That's more like 'secret-holder', but it will do, for now.

Then she slowly repeats the gestures.

[crowneddragon]

He's not the most dexterous person, and the language surprises him a bit when he goes to try and imitate her; he can't place his fingers quite the same way she does, and his clumsiness surprises him. But he dutifully follows her example, a tiny frown of concentration between his brows as he follows.

Thumb to lips, twice, then the grasping hand at chest level-- he has to remove the ice to make the last sign, pinching it between his cheek and his shoulder as he draws the parallel lines. The smile that escapes him from such a simple gesture is so childishly proud, but he is very excited, and he repeats the gesture one more time without prompting.

"Okay! How about 'hello,' then?" Start simple-- start with things he will definitely pester her with, greetings and thank-yous and please, because this feels a bit special and a bit important, honestly, truly wanting to communicate with his companion in a way she is also comfortable with.

[OOC: I think we can hand-wave here that she starts teaching him? I do believe the thread is winding down, but I'd like to keep tagging with you if you don't mind!]

[the_aunt_general]

[OOC: Works for me!]

And so, taking her time, she teaches. She hasn't done that in...well, pretty much forever. It's a nice change of pace, and a better way to end a night than she had thought she'd get.

Repeated, slow gestures, letting him slowly acquire the subtleties. And so, hands moving gracefully, and tentatively, knowledge is shared between them.