Origin Star Finale: Session 1

[fairwind]

Who: explorers
When: Day 54, morning
Where: The Final Island

[As promised, two hours after the initial announcement, the train shudders slightly as if in preparation for a Trial. On your Chain is a short message:

If you want to deal with this problem, come on out.

Step out of the lounge car and you'll find a cozy but sturdy-looking airship hovering a few inches above the ground. Its only occupant is Thyme himself -- a small young man with many white, feathery wings sprouting from his back and head. He's familiar to some and new to others, but regardless he looks like he's feeling a bit awkward to be here, and rather concerned about the situation in general.]

Before we start, get the idea of slaying the demon out of your head. This is Malice. You're going in to purify. That said, we're detecting three sources of corruption on the small island, so we'll be doing this in three steps. They're likely totems deliberately set by someone, so you'll need to find and deactivate one each trip.

You're probably going to be up against a lot of creatures, but you need to fight them with your feelings more than your weapons. When you find the totem, throw your positivity at it.

Got it? Let's go.

[Board the airship and it'll take off with lightning speed, though somehow the ride is quite smooth. The ship darts over the ocean and around the back of the island, where you get a breathtaking view of the ancient ruin that takes up a large part of it. The airship stops at a small outcrop, dominated by one large stone door, slightly ajar.]

Here you go. Try not to get killed.

Comments

Re: ROOM 4

[hot_mess_express]

[It's terrible, isn't it? Knowing that it won't be okay. That you're struggling for no reason, all by yourself. If you sleep now, you won't have to try anymore, right?]

Re: ROOM 4

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Why is he bothering, why does he have to do this, why is he alone why is he alone why is he alone]

[Why does this hurt so much, why does it feel like it's piercing him to his very core?]

[Why does it feel like there's so many voices screaming in his head?]

[He wants to sleep. He can't sleep. Sleep is nightmares, always nightmares, there is never peace in sleep no matter how tired he is-]

Re: ROOM 4

[hot_mess_express]

[It's fine, it's fine. You just have to sleep more deeply.

The glowing walls radiate warmth, sad and lonely but somehow comforting. As if, if you just give up, they'll wrap you up nice and safe in a silent darkness. It's welcoming, in a way.]

Re: ROOM 4

[schrodingerscockroach]

[No, he never can alone, that's the problem, he can never make them go away alone, he's tried, he's tried so many times-]

[But Eliza is there. Eliza is touching him and that's real, it's real, it's real, it's real and there, he can't touch what isn't there, so if he's touching, she's real and there]

Not alone, not alone, Eliza's here, she's here- [And he's going to start a mantra of that, over and over.]

Re: ROOM 4

[hot_mess_express]

[You resist the urge to fall into the void, for now.

Fortunately, the necklace is returned shortly, and the horrible feeling lifts. You've succeeded!]

Re: ROOM 4

[schrodingerscockroach]

[OH THANK GOD]

[voreaciously]

Dusk-han!

[heading over NOT OUT OF CONCERN!! NEVER THAT!!!]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He's breathing pretty heavily, a few tears falling with the release of the oppressive feeling. He's still shaking, blinking a lot trying to focus.]

[Looking at 80H.]

Sorry, I'm sorry-

[He doesn't even know what he's apologizing for.]

[voreaciously]

[she gets to his level and wipes his tears with her thumbs very gently, her voice very much the same]

You do not have to apologise. It is alright, it is not your fault.

[schrodingerscockroach]

I...I couldn't-

I don't know why it-

[He takes a shaking breath and he's actually leaning into the touch because he. Needs something to focus on because his head is a jumbled mess.]

[voreaciously]

Everything will be alright, Dusk-han. It's alright.

[just going to give him a hug]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[YOU ARE DOING THIS BE A HORRIBLE PERSON THING TERRIBLY AMANE.]

[He is also absolutely going to lean into that hug because he needs to focus on other things as he puts his head together again.]

[voreaciously]

[LISTEN SHUT THE FUCK UP SHE'S SHIT

THIS IS JUST THE RATIONAL COURSE OF ACTION!!!!

but he seems like he needs something to focus on so she keeps like talking? she's bad at talking, often. she's only okay at it under narrow circumstances]

...We are almost done on this star. I wonder what the next one will be like. Perhaps a wintry one? I will miss the beach here quite a bit, but perhaps there will be cold waterfalls and branches frozen like gems with pristine s of white as far as the eye can see.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT.]

[But yes, talking helps. Brings him out of a mental spiral, let's him calm down. He says he needs a minute, but it'll take a few.]

That sounds nice. Don't remember a lot of snow. Mostly desserts and jungles. Be nice to see something new.

[voreaciously]

Deserts are awful, I hope it will not be one of those.

[even if she can withstand heat better, pass.]

You can learn to ski or snowboard.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Deserts are, sand gets everywhere.

[He's calming down now. Breathing evening out, heart rate lessening, having an easier time focusing.]

[Going more limp as the tension melts away.]

That'd be fun. Used to skateboard. You know how to do that stuff?

[voreaciously]

Sand is rude and inconvenient like that, yes. I know how to skate, ski, snowboard. It always seemed to me that a water mage should know to do these things.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Seems smart.

We should do it sometime.

[voreaciously]

[hey hey hey she chose her wording carefully to leave herself OUT of this equation sir.

sir!!]

I did not realise you were Bound to Water.

[schrodingerscockroach]

I'm not.

I don't think.

I had a magic necklace so who knows.

[voreaciously]

If anything you would be Bound to Earth.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Why's that?

[voreaciously]

Because of certain qualities you possess.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Like?

[voreaciously]

You know yourself well, you do not need me to tell you things.