choo choo

[antigravitysocks]

Train to the After Life
tickets please

maybe you know how, maybe you don't. perhaps the memory is fuzzy, or perhaps it's crystal clear down to the look in your comrades' eyes. maybe it was your time; you've done all you wanted to. or maybe you weren't at all ready to go, maybe you went out kicking and screaming -- but none of it matters. you know you're dead, and the train is taking you to an afterlife. perhaps an afterlife of your choice; you might've earned that heaven. or perhaps you've earned something else entirely. it'll be a bit of a journey, though, so you might as well take your time and talk to the other people in your coach. death knows no place: most of them are strangers, even from faraway worlds. but death knows no time either, so who knows, some of them may be people you know, even if last you knew, they were alive -- or long gone. oh look, here comes the snack cart.

» POST with your character
» said character is now DEAD for whatever reason -- canon, au, what have you. they are on a train with other dead people from many other times, places, and worlds.
» characters don't know for a fact where they're headed -- just a general awareness that they're going to some kind of AFTERLIFE. whatever they think it is is up to the player.
» have FUN & TAG AROUND

TRIGGER WARNING!!
this meme obviously deals with death and may deal with other unpleasant themes as a result. please be cautious.

Comments

[wisdomspring]

[ She's met some people ("people") in Hyrule like Caduceus before, but also...not quite like him. He manages to put her at ease with seemingly no effort, and the princess becomes thoroughly engrossed in their conversation very quickly. ]

Ah, I do see it. It is always the females in the wild who seem primed to work and to hunt, doesn't it? So unlike our so-called "intelligent" society. [ Well, true of her race, anyway. Not so much of the Gerudo and some of the others. ] She looks very impressive.

[ The buzzing has her ears perk up a bit in response as she looks from the beetle to the tip of his staff. ]

Can you use magic? [ Zelda asks, interested in the new subject, but still in the insect as well. As she waits for an answer, she listens to the little chorus of bugs in the car, not really put out by what Caduceus says. It's just the cycle of life and death, after all, and creatures like these beetles have a role to play. She just...isn't ready to think about her own situation quite yet. ]

[eyesofthegrave]

[ Before he became acquainted with The Mighty Nein, Caduceus really hadn't met anyone really. Just staying in The Blooming Grove waiting for his family to come back. -But he understood her point about the females of different species being the hard-working ones! It wasn't alway the case but he wouldn't make a point of challenging her, not when she seemed to be cheering up and all. ]

Oh well, the little ones work just as hard as each other. I think they feel that I'm the lazy one.

[ He let out a low rumble of a chuckle, amused by the notion he'd just brought up.

Caduceus raised his brows a little when the girl showed an interest in his staff. He was just so used to being around magic and other magic users that he forgot it might not be so normal to everyone else. ]

Hmm? Oh, sure I can. Ah, I'm sorry, where are my manners.

[ Caduceus offers a hand, a rather large hand, covered in a pastel pink fuzz of hair. ]

Caduceus Clay, ma'am. I'm a Cleric of sorts. But yea, yea I dip my fingers in the pot of magic. I've been told my cooking is magic too but it's just well-picked ingredients

[ Might be hard to see, on account of his face being a pale, pastel pink too, but there's a hit of blush from his own comments about his cooking. ]

[wisdomspring]

You hardly seem lazy. [ Sure, she doesn't know him at all, but something about his demeanor suggests someone who is at least well-meaning. Though - he could be both well-meaning and lazy. Still, he doesn't give her that impression, though it's hard to pinpoint why. ]

Oh - it's very nice to meet you. May I call you Caduceus? [ "Cleric" sounds important, and not a figure of speech she really knows. ] My name is Zelda.

[ No need for titles, is there? Not here. Nor is there a reason to mention that she herself should have some divine magic of her own, but has found it lacking.

Or, nonexistent. Whichever. ]

I am always happy to meet a talented cook. [ She laughs a little, tilting her head to the side. Funny...she hasn't felt hungry since arriving on the train, even at the thought of a delicious meal. Another transition as she moves from life to death, then, even if this current stage of being feels more like being alive than the final destination will (or so she imagines). ]

I find there are quite a lot of things to pick that can be used in very delicious recipes. Do you often forage or hunt yourself?

[eyesofthegrave]

[ At being told she doesn't think he seems lazy, Caduceus dips his head a little bashfully. As he returns back to his normal stance, he slowly brushed the flopping pink mohawk back in place, some of the curls hiding one of his long ears. ]

Well then, might I say it's a pleasure to meet, you Miss Zelda. I'm glad I got to share the journey with such a sweet little ... Elfling?

[ He's making the assumption simply on the fact of her appearance. Long golden hair, pointed ears, very pretty and elegant looking.

At the pat about a talented cook, Caduceus practically beams in delight. ]

Oh, I don't have many ingredients on me, or I'd rustle use up a little something-something. Hmm, wait... I could magic us up some food but it's honestly not as good as the real thing.

[ Shaking his head, a smile large and bright upon his face when she asked about foraging and hunting. ]

Ah see, I would never hurt an animal or anyone else as a matter of fact. I only take that which the Wildmother can replace. Sure, animals can reproduce but I don't want to take a life to sustain my own. Fruits and plants are plentiful enough. Oh, that reminds me!

[ While he can't cook her up something tasty, Caduceus did actually have a variety of tea leaves on him and a means to make water. ]

How about a nice soothing tea though? I insist.

sorry for the delay!

[wisdomspring]

Hmm? [ She tilts her head slightly: though Caduceus' equivalent in his world is certainly a spot-on comparison, the concept of "elves," funnily enough, doesn't exist in her world. ] Ah - I am Hylian, if that is what you mean.

[ She doesn't have a guess of his own race, and won't guess it, in an effort to not be rude. ]

You can create food from magic? [ That...would solve so many problems in the world. She perks up a little at the idea, and then seems to soften, almost respectfully, when he speaks of animals. ]

I understand. I will admit that I do eat meat, but I hope that I am able to repay the earth in other ways. [ There's a curious little pause, and then: ] Who is the Wildmother? And - if you're able to create tea in a place like this, then I would be happy to share it with you.

[ "Wildmother" doesn't sound too far from "the Goddess," but...then, so many religions have a female figure at the fore of their beliefs. ]

No worries! I'm just enjoying these two far too much!

[eyesofthegrave]

Hylian.

[ Ah well then, she must be a different kind of elf then, like a drow, or the woodland kind. She smells like the rarest flower and her hair is as golden as sunlight... She must be a very precious Hylian! She'll be missed greatly and that thought feels a little sad to Caduceus.

She wouldn't offend him if she were to try and take a guess at his race. Even if she thought him to be some variant of Moblin. The Firbolg would simply be amused. ]

Ah, yes ma'am I can. Like I said, not the greatest taste but I thankfully have something to help with that too... Kind of.

[The Mighty Nein had picked up many different potions and dust in their travels, it was hard to recall which one did what and so on. Still, he could create food if he wanted. ]

Oh, I'm sure the Wildmother sees you're kind in your heart and only take what you need, Miss Zelda.

[ Forgive him, he keeps forgetting, different worlds, different deities. ]

The Wildmother? Well, let me tell you about the Wildmother.

[ Caduceus fetched a small teapot from a hanging section on the back of his belt. He had a few trinkets and bits-and-bobs attached back there, as well as a small satchel that he rummaged inside of as he spoke. ]

Her name is Melora. She's one of the Prime Deities in my world. Very pretty indeed. You'd like her.

[ With a little flare and magic, Caduceus cast the spell while looking at his teapot and sure enough, water started to fill up the container. ]

There was a great, terrible calamity that destroyed pretty much everything around it, but The Wildmother planted a seed in the most desolate place in the world... Do you know what happened? A beautiful, huge tree grew.

[ He smiled as he told the very short version of things. Reaching into a deep pocket of a pouch on his belt, and retrieving a handful of tea leaves. Slowly and with great care, he sprinkled them into the water, before holding a strange-looking glove under the pot. He'd 'borrowed' it from Fjord, who in turn had been gifted it from Caleb- He was sure they wouldn't mind. And just like that, with a little heat, the tea began to boil. ]

She looks after nature, the sea, us. She's the cycle of life and death, of all living things in the world and I think that's pretty neat. Here. Take it. Enjoy.

[ Passing Zelda a small delicate teacup after pouring some tea into it. It had a unique floral scent about it and as he passed it over, he utter thank you, to the tea. ]

[wisdomspring]

[ He's kind, she can tell. Thoughtful, soft-spoken, and giving. Zelda tilts her head and listens as he tells her about the Wildmother, about a little of the history of his world. She wants very much to learn more, to even perhaps visit it, and feels another pang of sorrow at their situation. That she might never explore this uncharted land, and he never visit her own. ]

Calamity? [ Ah. That chills her blood, and he'll be able to see without issue the way that the blood drains from her face. It had been the Calamity that had taken her life, after all, and which would surely bring an end to Hyrule and beyond. Zelda swallows, trying to regain her composure, to focus instead on...the positive things. ]

There is a precious tree in my land, too. One sacred to its children. [ The Great Deku Tree is a figure to revere, naturally. ] But your Wildmother sounds much like one of our Great Goddesses: Farore. She and her sisters brought the world into being, but it was Farore who brought life to the earth to compliment its physical form and the law which existed there.

[ She'll accept the tea with a nod of her head and a quiet expression of gratitude. After taking a small sip, the princess feels a small warmth wash over her, and she smiles again, albeit faintly. ]

It's delicious. [ Zelda remarks, perking up a bit. ] May I ask what is involved in its brewing?

[eyesofthegrave]

[ Maybe not in this lifetime and maybe not even in thise= world... But Caduceus was sure that Zelda might yet get to visit Wildmount, after all, anything was possible and death wasn't necessarily the end.

Caduceus' passive perception was unnaturally high, he could see the chills that cooled her blood, could see the distress and sorrow that the word brought to her. He could tell that it was something to do with a Calamity in her homeworld, that could be part of the reason she was here.

As she described the tree and the Great Goddesses his face lit up. It was so nice to know that they shared so much in common. ]

Ah, well see, isn't that just neat? I'm sure your Goddesses and the Wildmother would have created some beautiful nature, had they ever met. And wouldn't that just be amazing?

[ Sipping at his own teacup, a bashful like smile in his cheeks as she complimented it. ]

Thank you, I'm really glad you like it. This particular tea came from a plant from the genus Amorphophallus family. Or at least an extension of it. Beautiful fuchsia flower petals, as pretty and rich-tasting as the Dutchess that grew them.

[ Take that as you will, Zelda, but there's no getting away from the fact that you're drinking dead people tea. ]

[wisdomspring]

I am sure that they would. [ The Golden Goddesses have long since left her world, but Hylia - the Goddess - is supposedly still with them. Except...

Best not to dwell. Zelda swallows, putting on another (only semi-forced) smile. ]

You seem to know so much about plants and nature. [ She remarks, eyes widening, impressed. ] I really do wish that you could visit our kingdom; I imagine you have so much to offer. I...am a bit of a novice researcher myself, and I've cataloged quite a few of our native species. The plant life, that is.

[ So, she's naturally very interested in Caduceus' many insights. ]

"Rich-tasting as the...?" [ She trails off, looking...not quite horrified, but definitely cautious. ] Am I to assume this is...er, somehow involving...

[ A corpse?? JUST CURIOUS... ]