Mission Vision -- very early in the morning of Imagination Day 6 [Video]

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin falls out of his bunk, as usual when waking from a mission vision. CRASH! He hits the floor, his blankets entangled with his legs, his right shoulder striking the floor with a thud. Luckily Elves don't break bones easily, but his shoulder is going to hurt. He scrambles to the ICP. ]

Wouldn't you know it, I've just had another prophetic dream. [ He shakes his head and drags his hand through his disordered black hair. ]

Didn't like the looks of this one, either.

I was in a jungle, and it was pleasant enough. Sun shining down through the branches, forest sounds, nice. But suddenly the light intensified, and something seemed wrong with it. I ran to the next clearing and gazed up at the sky, and what I saw was ominous. The sky had turned a glaring dark red and was getting darker by the moment. And then everything grew still, as though the world had stopped. I did not have time to react to that, or wonder what it meant. Abruptly the ground shook under my feet, and the dust rose, and there was fire everywhere, and I heard screams, screams, and more screams. And then I woke up.

Damn if this doesn't seem to me like another candidate for an aborted mission! What the hell happens to the mission world? Is it self-destructing, or is it attacked by unknown forces? Or is this some simple natural disaster?

[ Still shaking his head. He grabs for his jacket and pulls it on. ]

Did anybody else have this dream? Or any variation of this dream?

Comments

[purifyings]

[She'll nod her head in agreement. Red skies will never be an okay thing unless it was natural for that world, of course. This was an exception. Smiling, she will wave her hand in greeting.]

Astronomical events....?

[What kind of astronomical event can kill a world? Unfortunately, she isn't very common about it as much as the weather.]

Extensive fires may create a red sky. Just not at the speed one would expect. There is a lot that goes for the sky to turn red due to it. It usually takes time for it to happen. But I doubt we won't have much time by what you've seen so far, right?

[Then again, aren't dreams suppose to be random....? Time-wise, at least.]

[marriedanidiot]

[ She raised Maedhros, did she not? ]

I only worry for you, Atarinke. [ She murmurs softly ] I do not wish for you to come to harm.

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita nods.]

Apart from keeping track of how much we portion out for missions?

[That was the first task to come to mind.]

Or how much we've got in general, really; keeping up with- Mami Tomoe set up a list where people could request amenities, right? Yeah, keeping up with that, and seeing who's able and willing to help fulfill those requests.

[There's definitely more, but Nita thinks that's a good place to start.]

[flatteries]

Ah, that long ago?

[ Thinking about it.. Curufin is one of the few people left at this point who's been here about as long as he has, huh? Or no, maybe even longer than him.. It's kind of hard to think about at this point for Inigo - after a while the time all just starts blurring together. ]

That sounds a little aggressive though, doesn't it? It's not as if we are attacking anyone! But I guess there's no helping it if you like it.

[so_dark_a_road]

Okay, that sounds good so far. If we don't get to work on this before the coming mission, how about if we address it afterwards?

Oh, I did see Mami Tomoe's first posting of that requests list, but has she posted lately? I should be checking it myself, since I tend to acquire a lot of points.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Of course, Nerdanel raised her son Maedhros, so she of all people should know him well enough to know his preferences, and specifically, whom he loves. ]

I know, Mother. You wish the best for me. But don't worry in this instance. Glorfindel is a highly ethical person, and an affectionate and faithful friend. If anything goes wrong, it won't be because he meant me harm. It could only be because the universe is not predictable, and neither are human relationships. I think that loving requires the courage to take a chance.

[so_dark_a_road]

Yes, a long time ago. More than fourteen Earth months.

[ Now, that is true. Curufin and Inigo have both been on the train for quite a while, and there are not many people left from those early days. The time just goes by. ]

I think I like the term Void Warriors because it suits me and my past history. It's true, we don't go to the mission planets to attack anyone, and if there is fighting it is because somebody or something attacks us. Or else it is the innocent citizens of those planets who are attacked, and we are the designated protectors.

[so_dark_a_road]

Astronomical events such as things falling out of the sky. In my world, big chunks of rock that contain heavy minerals sometimes come shooting down and hit the earth. If they strike a forest, there may be a forest fire, because they come in hot.

I've seen a red sky caused by extensive fires. That happened in my world in one of our wars against Morgoth, a renegade god who tried to destroy the Elvish race. He set the plains on fire north of my territory, using his dragons, and afterwards those northern reaches were referred to as the Plains of Choking Ash. I remember so clearly how the fire front advanced towards the line of hills and mountains that I and my brothers and some of my cousins lived along, and how the fire seemed to reach up to the clouds, and how the clouds reflected that terrible red light, and it looked as though the sky was on fire.

I don't know how much time we're going to have. These dreams seem to pick a particular scenario and portray it, without showing any of the buildup to that scene. All the dreams give us is something to fear and try to prevent. They don't give us any information about how those events are going to occur, nor about how to prevent them.

[luckydragonsfoot]

Yeah. Y...yeah, same, [He somewhat repeats, nodding a bit numbly.]

...Guess uh. ...Here's t' seein' what comes our way, huh?

Think this one's approaching wrap?

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Like how Purple Team handled their Mixer?]

'As soon as logistically possible' seems like the best plan to me.

[And, after another pause, Nita shakes her head.]

Not that I recall. Though if you see anything that needs to be restocked that isn't part of what the train gets, it can probably be added there as well.

[marriedanidiot]

As long as you are aware.

[ She says gravely ]

He is a kind and generous heart. But a broken bond is a terrible thing to endure.

[flatteries]

[ Hold on, wait a moment. Inigo frowns, thinking.. ]

Earth months?

[ Look, he knows months, but.. he's not from Earth, even though he's heard people talk about it, so.. ]

Are those the months you use back home? Do you know how long those are compared to the months here?

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin nods back, smiling kindly. ]

Here's to that! [ He raises an imaginary glass. ]

Yes! I think we should wrap this one.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Sure, why not? ]

Sounds good to me! We'll get to it.

Is anybody maintaining a hard copy of Mami's list? It seems like that would be a good idea, and then whatever has been purchased can be crossed off, and the list re-posted periodically. Also, I'll keep an eye out for things that need to be restocked and for network requests for things people need but can't afford. Yes, those should be added to the list.

[so_dark_a_road]

I am very much aware.

[ He smiles at her with all the kindness in his heart. ]

I know. I've had broken bonds in the past, and I've endured that experience. I'm trying to focus on the value of love, even if it isn't permanent. And on simply on remaining hopeful. I'm proud to be his lover, to be the receiver of love from that kind and generous heart.

[so_dark_a_road]

Earth months, meaning the planet I'm from, and variations in similar universes.

But the months I'm talking about are based on about 30 solar days per month, whereas the Elvish months are around twice as long. When I refer to time, I usually use the system I and other Elves adopted after the mortal race began to migrate all over the continent of Middle-earth, and since we were connected with them in trade and war alliances, we adopted their calendar for most purposes. That's what I mean when I refer to Earth months. Each one is just a little longer than a lunar month. That's the mortal system.

The train's calendar consists of months that are about twice as long as the Earth months I'm talking about. But my time sense still works, even though I'm not in my own world, so that's how I know I've been here for a little over fourteen months, Middle-earth time or mortal time.

[flatteries]

[ Maybe that was a bad thing to ask.

Inigo isn't quite sure if it's because he's just dumb, or because all of this is way over his head, or maybe it's since he's still distracted at least partially by the visions - but he can't really make heads nor tails of what Curufin just said. It's all a little bit too much.

So he just.. nods a little.. let's just pretend he understood that somehow. ]

Ah, I see.. It must be nice to be able to tell time on the train then. [ At least he seems to have grasped that much from it? Though he doesn't know how Curufin does it. Magical elf powers, probably. ] I have no idea with how strange everything here is, really.

o7 Fade out, begin!

[unfavorableinstigation]

I don't know about copies, but the original itself is on paper so it won't take much time. Beyond that...

[Nita talks on a little more, but the mission's vision is more pressing at the moment. They've got both train work to do, and a world to protect!]

1/4 i am so sorry

[purifyings]

[Minerals falling from the sky that can cause forest fires? The description will leave Nike stunned to hear. After all--

DOESN'T THAT SOUND LIKE A FALLING STAR!?

IS THAT WHAT FALLING STARS ARE!?

It was all she can imagine it to be because what else falls from the sky made of rock other than volcanic material!?]

2/4

[purifyings]

[But there was no time to think about the falling rock issue when she learns more about Curufin's world, leaving her at a loss for the words considering the circumstances.

Someone was trying to harm the elven race? No, more importantly, the detail about the sky turning red in a single evening will leave her silent. She'll ponder on it wondering if there was a plausible explanation from the knowledge she was taught back home.

The mention of dragons will leave Nike silent because--]

The dragons in your world can breathe fire...?

[After all, she will admit.]

I have only met one dragon back in my world. Two, if you count Nessie the holy spirit of the lake.

[Not to mention the one dragon spirit she witnessed was in the form of a child desperately trying to rescue her. It was odd to think dragons in other worlds were being like that. She was beginning to grow frustrated over Curufin's situation.]

But both are related to water. They helped in trapping a spiritual disaster from destroying the world. [A pause.] Even if it meant sacrificing three countries...

[purifyings]

[Gods, huh? A renegade one, no less. Nike's expression will turn grim, solemn as she wonders.]

Was it really a god or a spiritual disaster? For a spirit to do such atrocities. How can it be considered to be holy in any way?

4/4 DONE!

[purifyings]

[It won't be long until Nike tries to snap out of it. Her gaze will look to the side, shaking her head.]

I'm sorry. You can disregard that. Spirituality is....a sensitive topic. [A beat. Shaking her head a bit.] No, more like I don't really believe in any human organizations proclaiming to be on the side of a specific divine being.

[Looking down.]

I don't know much about dreams. No one in my family has the ability to do so except for those not blood-related to the main family. I...don't really get it. Other than it can sometimes become silly, sometimes scary, and most of the time unpredictable. [Turning to look at him.] Is...that what you're more or less saying...?

LOL

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin won't disregard any of that. He's always curious about the lives and worlds of other people. The few hints Nike has just given him are intriguing. ]

Yes, the dragons in my world can breathe fire. I wish that some of them had been allies to the Elves, but they were all recruited by Morgoth, and so we only experienced destruction from them. Your dragons are water dragons? I have heard of such creatures but have never seen one, except in Eva's pokemon visions. Obviously, there's a story here! Your dragons helped your people avoid a spiritual calamity, although at great cost?

I only use the word gods to avoid confusion. We had fourteen of them, originally fifteen. They weren't actually gods, since they didn't create the Earth. They were angelic spirits who were given the responsibility of maintaining the Earth and protecting its Elvish and mortal inhabitants. They were called the Valar, which in Elvish means the Powers of Earth. Morgoth's original name was Melkor, and he was the most powerful of them all. He had some sort of grudge, and he decided to destroy what was dearest to them. Needless to say, neither the other fourteen Valar nor the Elves considered him to be holy after that! I guess what happened could be considered a spiritual disaster, though if it was such, I'd have to say that it happened to the whole universe of Arda, not just to the Elves.

I can understand, if spirituality is a sensitive topic for you. I, too, am a skeptic. I've noticed that when intelligent beings create organizations to worship divine beings, their beliefs and hopes tend to harden into dogma. And a dogma is always at odds with reality, or at least resistant to it.

As as for the dreams, I agree with what you say about dreams in general. Silly, frightening, and unpredictable, yes, that's the dream world, though it can also be wonderful and beautiful. But as to prophetic dreams, mine are more often ominous or frightening. And the ones I've had while on board the train usually warn of some danger to come.

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin wouldn't be surprised or offended if his explanation went over anybody's head! He knows he's apt to digress into complexity when it isn't necessary. Just a Curufin characteristic. ]

It is nice to have a back-home clock in my head. [ Snicker. He's laughing at himself, not at Inigo. ]

But I agree, everything is strange here. Any mental tools we have that can help us, go for it! Including visions, confusing as they can be.

[flatteries]

[ He laughs, awkwardly rubbing the back of his head. ]

Well, some of us don't have any to begin with!

[ He's not including his connection to Naga, since that just seems.. pretty much useless here.. ]

We can't all be as fancy as you, Curufin!