WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[The train wouldn't stop. Not until very early the next morning. The few who might have been awake would be able to exit the train, entering the cool twilight of the dawn. The star is dark, and few stars can be seen in the sky as a cold breeze begins to blow from the mountain beyond. You can see some chunks of rock floating idly nearby, far away from the station that it won't hit trains, but near enough that one can see they are larger than the train they just disembarked.

Lastly, laid out in front of them, the first port of call: Menahoven. The mountain: The Throat of the World.

But which world? Who knows. Not any of yours. Maybe it doesn't matter. Not when you are so far from home. Not when you have no way to get off this rock without the aid of the trains-and they will not let you pass.

It looks like you're stuck here until the Conductor decides to leave. In the meantime, everyone will need to get comfortable.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[telecosmetic]

[Eliza chuckles.] Maybe they like listening to human heartbeats as a lullaby.

[higanbana]

Ehehe, perhaps... it's a sweet thought, to be sure, but given how I have noticed they tend to curl up, I think the truth is a bit different.

They like to make their nests up against bent portions of the body. Up against the chest and stomach, behind the knees. As we are much larger than cats are... perhaps they find it comforting, something like being cradled?

I know that is why I curl up in my blanket the way I do, at least.

[telecosmetic]

Yeah, that does make sense. It's also why I like snuggling with Zack, but I also like being the one cradling people sometimes... [Both her little bros have endured so many giant wing-hugs from her.]

[higanbana]

Ah... you and he are close?

[That's surprising. She hadn't really considered that the screaming bandage man could get close with anyone.]

I am glad that you are at least able to indulge in that a bit, here. Myself... I am not particularly fond of physical contact.

[telecosmetic]

Yeah! He's my big brother! [She might have noticed that they look nothing alike.]

Well...everyone's different in what they like, after all. [And she's not surprised that Ris is one of the more touch-averse people here.]

[higanbana]

Truly? ...I cannot say I saw the resemblance.

[What's a found family.]

True, true. If it's with the cats, it is fine... but even then, I find myself a bit on edge. They do have teeth and claws, after all.

[telecosmetic]

Well, we don't have the same parents, but I basically love him like a brother anyways! We went through Town A together, and I'm glad to have him by my side here.

[She nods a little.] Most of them don't seem like the type to use them on people, though...although I guess there's Yarnball. [Who only likes her, it appears.]

[higanbana]

"Town A?" My apologies, I... really have no idea what you're talking about.

That is true enough, but there's always the fear. With humans, too. With everything.

[telecosmetic]

We were...stuck in another place somewhat like this together, before. That place...also seemed more normal, in the first week, before bringing up forcing us to kill each other in the second. [And Zack was willing to kill for her and die for it, and she still loves him for it.]

...I think it's normal, to be scared of others sometimes. [Eliza's instincts for that have been heavily skewed, but she still has her limits of caution to some degree.] But when you find people you can actually trust, that's something wonderful.

[higanbana]

...how dreadful. [And she means that genuinely. How could she not? (Of course, little do they know...)] You have my sympathies...

I... certainly hope this place does not become a repeat of that for you, but... if it were to, I cannot honestly say I would be surprised.

[...]

There is... probably a difference between normal and where I am. [She's a little quieter with that, and distinctly not looking at Eliza.] But... I think I would like very much to find something like that.

[She's quiet for a long moment, her mind elsewhere. Well... she supposes she's not completely devoid of those feelings. They're tiny blossoms, yet, to be sure, but with the right nurture they may well bloom...]

It is a work in progress, I suppose.

[telecosmetic]

It's alright...that's behind us, now. We were given the opportunity to forget what had happened there...but I didn't want to forget the friends I'd made, and what I'd learned.

[Ah...it's really too bad Eliza doesn't remember her philosophy buddy, who could also be considered quite far from normal. Though she still has memories of Zack, and what he was like when they first met.]

I...hope you can find that, as well. In whatever way works best for you.

[higanbana]

I suppose it's easier with memories that have positive aspects to them, as well. You're... very lucky to have such, I think.

If it were me, I should think I would very much like to just forget everything and start over.

[She's... she's just going to get to actually trying to potion-make now.]

Thank you, Ms. Eliza. I hope your luck only improves from here.

[telecosmetic]

[Well, that went better than her last attempt at comforting the other girl, in Eliza's opinion.]

Yeah...I guess it's different for everyone. And the same to you. [They can continue making potions alongside each other, then. Nurse squad!]