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

[schrodingerscockroach]

Hug is.....

Hug is fine. It's not. Different. That wasn't.

[This isn't need to run away trauma.]

[bluediligence]

[ With permission granted, she gathers him up into a tight hug ]

We've got you, Dusk.

[schrodingerscockroach]

[He's going to take that touch for all it's worth.]

[It's grounding. It's something different from cold stone and poisonous thoughts. It's something else to focus on until he puts the pieces back.]

[bluediligence]

[ SQUISHES ]

[ She doesn't say anything else just yet, just holds him and rubs his back and hums quietly under her breath. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[It's fine. He needs a minute to get himself under control. Proper breathing and slower heart rate and all that stuff that isn't a panic attack.

[bluediligence]

[ As she holds him, listening to him pull himself back together piece by painful piece, she's struck by an idea. ]

Hey, Dusk? Breathe with me, okay?

[ She consciously slows her breathing, counting it out and making it easier to follow. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[That helps. That helps a lot. It's something to focus on, a pattern to track, and he's bit by bit breathing with her.]

[It takes a few minutes, really, to pull himself together.]

I...I think I'm good.

[bluediligence]

[ He can take all the time he needs, she's not going anywhere. ]

Just so you know, I'm going to cuddle the absolute hell out of you once all of this is over.

[schrodingerscockroach]

...sounds good, honestly.

Gonna have a shit time trying to sleep otherwise.

[bluediligence]

D'you wanna come to my loft? We could build another fort.

[schrodingerscockroach]

...sure.

Might have other people.

[SOME PEOPLE ARE FUSSY so it's up in the air.]

[Or Eliza will need help.]

[bluediligence]

Anyone's welcome. Or we can go someplace else, it's up to you.

[schrodingerscockroach]

Guess we'll see after all...this.

[bluediligence]

Yeah...

[ what if ]

[ she gently ruffles his hair ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[She absolutely can and he leans into the touch and everything.]

[bluediligence]

[ in that case, he's absolutely getting his hair petted while they cuddlepile. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Yaaaaay cuddlepile.]

[He's gonna soak this up for a few minutes as he gets himself together.]

[But eventually with THINKING comes PRIORITY.]

We need to keep going.

[bluediligence]

If you're ready to go, sure.

[ She shifts, still lingering but prepared to let him go. ]

[schrodingerscockroach]

[Nods.] Yeah. I'm good for now. We got stuff to do.

[He'll get up now. He's reluctant to pull away, but he will for ease of movement.]