auroraexpress | Origin Star Finale: Session 1

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.

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[ Having escaped his own feelings mess, he runs to Dusk and reach for his arm ]

Dusk! Hang on!

[He may be bruising Eliza's hands here.]

[And he has started a mantra.] Not alone. Here. Eliza, Faito, Meridian, Felix, 80H. They're here, they're here, not alone...

[He looks towards Felix, though it's clear his eyes aren't focusing well, but he's trying to push himself up.]

[Until suddenly the feeling stops and he breathes in sharply, focus coming back to his eyes.]

[ Felix just nods firmly ]

You said it. You're not alone. We're all here with you.

Sorry, I'm sorry-

I couldn't-

Don't worry about it. You did a lot in the other room. You saved Mao and Meridian. It's okay if you need to be saved once in a while too.

That's not-

I'm just-I'm usually better with emotions, I don't know why-

[BTW, gave Faito permission to touch so have at.]

[ He's mostly just going to grip that arm and lean closer. ]

Whatever's in this place, Malice or some shit, it can dig deep. Especially if there's things about ourselves we don't understand.

....

[There was something that certainly felt like screaming in his head and he's not entirely sure it was just himself.]

[It makes him think of Carolina, of everyone else falling to their kenes at a name.]

[ He releases that arm to bring his own cautiously around Dusk ]

Dusk?

[He doesn't pull away.]

[He actually leans closer because it's something else to focus on.]

It's just...I really wasn't prepared. Just need a minute. I'll be good soon.

[ Felix sucks in a breath at that, unprepared for any response after last time. Something about holding a tense figure this way feels so familiar. As if he's used to feeling such raw power in his arms. Pulled in so tightly that a tiny shift in the wrong direction could set off an explosion. What's more... it's a comforting feeling but one that brings an incredible, all-consuming ache.

He swallows so he can get out his next words. ]

It's fine. We're not going anywhere.

[He's relaxing more and more at least. In this....well, makeshift cuddlepile that has happened.]

[It'll be a surreal thing for him later.]

Okay...

[It'll actually take him a few minutes to get himself together though. That was hard on his psyche.]

[ Felix just waits, not putting any more pressure on the hold but just letting his presence speak for itself. It's enough that Dusk is allowing himself this. ]

[It's good. Tight wouldn't be terrible because this isn't a 'need to run' trauma. This is very much he needs people trauma and anything that helps with that is good.]

[It helps. Helps him gather up the pieces, get himself together again.]

I think I'm good....

You sure?

Yeah.

We need to keep moving. I'm good for now.

Right. We've still got the trap room to figure out.

[ He slowly slides back from Dusk, that familiar ache evaporating as he does ]

[Nods.] Yeah.

[Getting to his feet, a bit slow and reluctant, but pulling away for ease of movement for exploration.]

Mao was pretty excited when I told him you thought you might be able to help. I think he was frustrated that we had to leave like that.

[ Yes, he's rambling now but he's bad with silence, even worse when it comes from someone he cares about being hurt. ]