auroraexpress | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Everyone
When: Day 20, evening
Where: The train and surrounding terrain

[So after all the earlier excitement.... dramatic organ music starts to play through the cars. There's no obvious source. It's just... There? All around you for a while, before fading.

Of course before the music fades there's more things going on. A mist seeps up from the earth outside the train and within the train simply seems to form like it's produced by invisible fog machines. As the mist grows into a thick fog, you can hear eerie noises. Distant wolf howls, the screech of a fox that sounds like human screaming, owls hooting hauntingly, the leathery flap of bat wings, and other, less identifiable noises of the night, strange and otherworldly.

If you go out in it, breathe it in, the mist will chill you. Make you desire... Touch.

The need to hold another person is an almost growing compulsion, but it can be fought.

However things that are harder to avoid are the flowers, night blooming wisteria in white and purple seems to have grown from nowhere in the train cars, hanging down to brush the heads of passengers with sweet scented blossoms, and the floors of the train and ground around it have become endless beds of gently glowing moonflowers.

The only places the fog and flowers don't reach are team cabins.

Effects:

Mist:

Cold that cannot be dispelled without touch, a desire to touch others.

Wisteria:

Purple blossoms cause an empathetic bond with the next person you touch.

White blossoms cause arousal and a mild to powerful aphrodisiac effect.

Moonflowers:

Share memories or thoughts with the next person you touch.

By morning the mist and flowers will vanish.]

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[He settles at Crow's back and, somewhat awkward, pets his hair, looking away from him while he cries but still trying to be here all the same. He's definitely awkward and not great at these things, but he's trying his best to be a comforting presence.]

[ He'd appreciate the not looking if he were really up for noticing that much right now-- does appreciate the awkward hair petting. Jusis wouldn't have been his first choice for comfort before and he really isn't now, but it does help. He's quietly grateful for Jusis even as he's letting himself hurt.

Eventually, his shoulders stop shaking and the tears stop coming. His breathing evens out. But his eyes are red and his face is splotchy from crying. Frankly, he's a mess. He's more than a little embarrassed at crying, awkward and uncomfortable and inwardly cringing at how very uncool it was. But... it's not as though the pressure is gone, but he feels hollowed out in a way that maybe he can move forward from now.

It doesn't mean he wants to walk out of that damned door and back into the sea of people who will instantly know he was crying, though. ]

...Thanks.

[ Don't make him clarify! ]

[Jusis is stuffy and shy and easily embarrassed himself so he's... Definitely sympathetic to feeling uncool and hating being vulnerable ever. He glances down at Crow, without stopping the playing with his hair, and looks away again quickly.]

Any time.

...I'll get you something to wipe your face.

[He's getting up reluctantly, thinking a warm wet washcloth might be needed.]

[ A warm washcloth is definitely needed. Crow sits up and rubs at his eyes, nodding slightly and not looking at Jusis just yet. He's going to need to collect himself, put himself back together, but he's not quite ready for that part either. ]

[He fetches a washcloth quickly, returns to hand it to Crow while sitting next to him.]

[ Crow presses the washcloth to his face, and it takes him a moment before he's finished with it. It helps at least a little, and he takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. ]

...You're really not so bad after all, huh?

[ His voice comes out a little quiet but steady. ]

What sort of impression did you have of me?

[Oh right that conversation with 80H. Crow didn't like him. Well, whatever. He holds his hand out to take the cloth so he can put it aside.]

[ He hands the cloth back to Jusis. ]

I figured you were a stuck-up, self-important jerk.

[ Well at least it's honest? He doesn't know which memory of his Jusis saw and he's been thoroughly distracted from finding out at the moment. ]

Hmph.

[He sets the cloth aside. It's not like he doesn't know that's the impression he gives anyway.]

In either case, how do you feel?

[ Not ready to face people yet, but there's only so much vulnerability he can handle admitting to and he's already exceeded his limit for the next six months or so. ]

I won't say "better"— [ Because that'd be a damned lie, and an obvious one at that. ] —but I've got a handle on things now.

Hm. Well, you're welcome to stay as long as you need. It's better not to rush.

I can go make tea if you need space or stay here if you'd prefer company.

[Even if he's aware his company probably isn't adequate.]

Why not both? Tea's better with company.

Very well.

[He'll get up again, and this time give Crow more space for longer as he fixes a pot of tea for them, bringing it on a tray with two cups and setting it beside the bed, pouring and serving Crow's first before his own.]

[ The space helps center him find his equilibrium and he's sitting cross-legged on Jusis' bed by the time he returns with the tea. He nods in thanks and takes a sip of the tea, closing his eyes to enjoy the flavour. ]

Not bad. What kind of tea is this?

Darjeeling. It should have a mild, robust flavour.

[A comforting flavor, but he doesn't say so, sitting on the bed and drinking tea with Crow like they're commoners or something.]

[ One of us is a commoner, Jusis. Or a "waif from a fallen country." You know, whatever. ]

It's nice, I like it.

[ It is, in fact, a very comforting flavour. ]

[He's the son of a concubine we're both dirty blooded here. He sips his drink.]

Naturally. I wouldn't brew you inferior tea.

[ He lets out a chuckle at that. ]

No... I guess you wouldn't, huh?

Naturally.

[As long as Crow gets that it's fine!]

[ Crow Gets It. ]

I do have one question. Feel free to answer or not, choice is yours and it really won't bug me either way.

Well, ask.

....How long has it been?

Since you died? ....Less than a year, for me. But for Rufus and Randy, closer to two years? Not that Randy knows you I suppose.

[ He mentions the difference in time between him and Rufus and Randy and it sparks a memory of something Jusis said before. ]

Right, I remember you mentioned that there was a difference when I first showed up here. ...I met Randy briefly around then, actually. Though I doubt either of us realized we were from the same place.

Yes. Where you are missing memories I'm apparently missing "time". However that works.

Apparently Randy becomes a comrade, but... that's after where I recall things.

[So long after Crow's dead.]