Echoes in a Void

[voidtreckermods]

"Good morning passengers, today is day twenty of the month of Horseshoe." The day begins normally at least. Passengers wake in their bed, perhaps get up, begin to start their morning.

It is perhaps less than an hour after waking that the first problems occur, turbulence making the train shake and roll. It's not quite bad enough to throw most sure footed passengers off their feet, but it is not very pleasant. Anyone near the window will notice the void looks different. The colours are bolder and shift more violently than usual.

"Passengers of the Voidtrecker Express, please brace yourselves for a Voidstorm." The announcement is not that useful, but a moment later the ICPs all show a message.

The void continues to shift and swirl, violent and mesmerising.

Outside

It might be that the strange effects of the void draw them to the windows, or it might be that they hear a voice. A friend, a lover, a mother. Calling them. Soft and sweet, high and playful.

Join us. It's tempting, faces show in the void outside, pleading and cajoling. Passengers might even see places, a home, a land long lost. Just outside, not out of reach at all. All they have to do is join them, enter the chaos of the void. Or at least stay close, watch through the windows, stare into the void...

Inside

The shapes outside the train are not the worrying thing, as the storm progresses people will start noticing that the train seems fuller than usual. An empty carriage becomes full in a moment, people eating and playing or reading. A friend passengers thought long gone walking down the corridor towards them. Or perhaps it is not a voidtrecker that they know, but a stranger in uniform going about their business, seemingly normal until they pass through them, leaving them chilled and weak.

They gravitate towards those who are alone, following them, gathering around them, sapping them of energy.

Safety in Numbers

Sticking together is the safest course of action. Being together, physical contact or just shared activities will make the echoes leave them alone. Start a game, encourage a beanbag reading circle. Anything to keep people distracted and together.

Stay strong, Voidtreckers, the storm shall soon pass.

(OOC: Here is the ooc information for this event. This post can be used as a catch all, or you can start your own posts set during this time.)

Comments

[najaran]

Together
Najaran had been shuffled around a bit, to keep her from the windows. Now that she knew Duo wasn't really there, and that the phantoms outside were just illusions, she didn't know what the harm was in looking. But she obediently helped in the kitchen anyway, then took food with her to another car to keep whoever needed it company. She found herself sitting near someone tall who was holding... cards? She got excited and inched closer, then saw they were playing cards. Her shoulders slumped a bit.

But she tried to be social. "Sorry, I don't know many games. There are playing cards where I am from but... I use different cards, and they're not for games... I mean... I guess I could play hide and go seek with some of them... maybe..."

Her cane sighed. "Please excuse Lady Najaran, whatever is affecting most people here seems to be affecting her as well."

[blue_ice]

"I've got the picture," he responded to the cane, because why not? And then addressed her.

"It's fine. You don't have to play, but I have the rules written for a number of games if you want to learn. These aren't complicated. As long as you can compare numbers and shapes, you can play."

[najaran]

She hesitated, then shrugged. "I suppose I could try. Somebody showed me how to make something called pizza, and I have some, if you want...?" She loved food, and sharing it was almost as yummy as eating it.

[blue_ice]

"...depends. What kind of pizza?"

He stretched his arms above his head idly. What a long day it had been.

[najaran]

"I made a few different kinds.. um..." she dug around all the hidden places she could stash the containers she borrows from the kitchen for food. One day she'll spend points on lunchboxes of her own. But when they can be borrowed, why bother? "I have... um..." she opened one. "This one has fruit." She opened another "Meat." And a third. "Veggies, meat, and fruit." She licked her lips. That one she couldn't wait to try.

[blue_ice]

"Meat's fine."

Kaiba's really not in a sweet tooth mood, but he's gently appreciative anyway. Unusual fo him, but he's just Tired.

"And you didn't have spirits bothering you in the kitchen?"

[najaran]

She handed over one of them with a smile. But that smile wobbled at his question. "J...just one. And I wouldn't call him a bother," she said quietly.

[blue_ice]

"...someone you were close to, then."

Kaiba's neutral expression wavers a little.

"Former passenger?"

[najaran]

She nodded. "He kept vanishing, I've seen him a few times today. But it's not really him. I miss him," she admitted softly. "He was there my first mission in this place. And he could get so angry at me," she said, wistful and fond despite those last words. Tears might be threatening, but not yet falling.