come with me take the journey

[trailblazingspirit]

WHO: March 7th and you!
WHERE: Libra app, crossposted onto Gemini, and her labyrinth!
WHEN: early June
WHAT: March 7th gets a vacation from her vacation on Penacony.
WARNINGS: Honkai: Star Rail 2.1 spoilers, some trauma surrounding almost getting arrested

[one: penacony goethe hotel ???]

[This place is…unsettling, to say the least.

March likes to think she’s started to get used to the Dreamscape’s strangeness: the dream bubbles, the animated inanimate objects, the casual defiance of any laws of reality, the walking on walls, everything. She’s a natural at handling it—at least that’s what she’ll say to anyone who asks.

But this is—

She doesn’t know where she is in the Dreamscape, exactly. Only that wherever she is, it’s yanked the Goethe Hotel out from her memory and corrupted it in the exact same way as the collapsing sweet dream, scattered dream bubbles in its familiar corridors and twisted them around so she keeps getting turned around. Her bow in hand, she turns the corner and—]

Ah!!! [She’s startled right out of her wits, conjuring an arrow to nock onto her bow before she registers that it’s—a person! Oh thank Akivili. She lets the bowstring go slack as the arrow disappears into thin air and slumps against the wall.] Oh, you’re a real person! Can you help me get back to the Golden Hour? My friends and I got split up after [she waves a hand] all of that, and I’m trying to get back to them.

[two: libra/gemini, un: photocutie]

[Oh, look: March found the rainbow boba. She holds up her cup to show it off excitedly, on the move and no worse for the wear from her journey through her labyrinth.]

You guys, they’re selling rainbow boba! At a discount! The guy at the counter was super sweet and even let me have a rainbow cookie to go with it, isn’t it great? You’re really missing out if you’re here! If you’re not…

[She falters for a second, but quickly puts a smile back on her face.]

Anyway—if anyone from the Astral Express is here, you’ve gotta respond to the group chat, I’ve been messaging you guys for hours and I haven’t gotten anything back. Everybody else: hi! I’m March 7th. Your city’s so colorful, there are so many rainbows everywhere. What’s going on?

Comments

un: musicologyminor

[youwouldntdownloada]

[A gal with a lot of pink- and a set of little velvetty antlers- comes on screen.]

Oh, you got the Pride Boba? Yeah, I tried one earlier, it's good right? They really found a good balance of fruits...

[M. March 7th..?? ....Well it's no 'Abcde' at least.]

Oh- the rainbows are for Pride Month. [does she have to explain pride. heck]

[trailblazingspirit]

I did! It’s so tasty, I wanna get it again tomorrow. It tastes a little like the Luofu’s Immortal Delight.

[Oh, yep, because the Pride Month reference sails right over March’s head.]

What’s a Pride Month?

video | gemini | un: chaosraccoon

[actnormal]

[Give Caleb a moment, he just woke up. Yes, even if it's mid-afternoon. He's allowed. That does mean March gets a video of just Neptune the Dewott chattering at her for a few moments while Caleb gets a shirt on, though!]

Neptune, give that back--

[Yoink! Don't mind the silvery bedhead, please.]

Did you say the Astral Express?

[trailblazingspirit]

[Oh my gosh that Dewott is so adorable she’s melting—]

Awww, you cute little thing, c’mere so I can get a closer—Caelus!

[OH GOOD IT’S HER BFF.]

Yes! [Duh.] I’ve been trying to message you and Miss Himeko and Mr. Yang for hours! Where are you guys?

Video

[prunedworlds]

"Oh, hey, did you just get here?"

That talk about an 'astral express' made Ritsuka wonder if this was another person from another world, like herself, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions too quickly.

[trailblazingspirit]

Yep! Fresh from Penacony, Planet of Festivities. You—probably haven’t heard of it, if this world is really as isolated as I hear it is.

[So a bit like Belobog, but a lot less cold.]

What’s your name?

Labyrinth!

[adtendo]

[Kafka doesn't make a habit of helping people.]

[But she has a lot of unchecked rage and aggression recently. The labyrinths provide a nice outlet. When she hobs into March's, it's very clear she's in Penacony. She's never been herself, but she's done her research.]

[When March turns the bow on her, Kafka raises her hands in mock surrender.]

Oh, I remember you. You're one of their little friends, aren't you?

[Although it might come off as a mocking tone, she means it genuinely. She's grateful for everything that the Astral Express has done.]

Sorry to say, but you won't be going back to Penacony anytime soon. I can take you back to town, though. There's a few people who'll be glad to see you. Follow me.

[trailblazingspirit]

I know you! You’re that Stellaron Hunter from the Luofu—you’re Kafka. [She scowls at her. It’s very fearsome. Or at least it’s as fearsome as March can muster, which isn’t really that terrifying and is wasted on someone like Kafka who can’t even feel fear anyway. Ughhh.

At least she hasn’t raised her bow again.]

Whatever it is you’re planning, I’m not gonna fall for it. [She informs her of this while reluctantly straightening up to follow her out of the maze.] I’m only coming with you because it’s you or being stuck here.

—what do you mean, we’re not in Penacony anymore? This looks like the Dreamscape to me.

un: yiling

[conseqweinces]

[From the Astral Express, huh? That was mentioned in Caleb's mind palace... but if this girl is talking about it is she from that world? Hm.

Probably important to keep in mind for very, very soon but you know what's even more important? Gay Boba.]

Isn't it great? They should sell the gay boba all year around if you ask me. It feels like it's been missing from my life for so long, I don't know what I'd do without it now!

[trailblazingspirit]

I don’t get it. Why’s the boba gay?

[oh baby girl.]

Labyrinth

[anyprice]

[ ... Old habits die hard, and sneaking into gates was something he's been doing for the last 15 years or so in order to get out of dodge. Seeing the tear in reality like this and hopping into it just came naturally.

After all, it could be a new gate popping up; it could be an easy new hiding place if push came to shove.
So imagine Sampo's surprise when he sneaks into this one and is faced with... a lot of stuff he recognises.

The bubbles, the twisting corridors--it's all painfully familiar, and yet, the memories are so, so cloudy.

He's lost in thought as he wanders quietly, trying to... drag up where, exactly, this memory is from, when he hears that voice calling to him. To 'a real person'. He turns his head with a bit of a funny expression as....
He realises he recognises that voice too. (But from where?) ]

Golden Hour? [ His eyes flicker for a moment and there's an image of a giant clock statue, and flowing, giant cups of Soulglad...

He puts a hand on his forehead. ]

Ahaha. Heh.

I mean, I think I remember the way to Golden Hour, but it isn't through any of these halls. [ what is this place, Aha. Stop laughing and answer him. ]

Sssssorry. I think we're pretty far from home here, Miss March.

[trailblazingspirit]

What are you doing here, you blue-haired menace?

[March puts her hips on her hands and gives Sampo her best glare. It’s not very intimidating considering it’s March and she’s generally not a very scary person—we can’t all be Dan Heng and his death glares.

She’s aware of it, at least, because she sighs.]

You’re pretty far from home, [she corrects,] but this looks a lot like the Dreamscape to me. Look, see, there’s the dream bubbles.

1/2

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[Dan Heng is just minding his own business, scrolling through his phone. Partially in the vain hope that he'll see a familiar face or two. He's been lucky so far, but he recognizes that the odds are still extremely low to find anyone else he'd been close to from any of his past lives.

He almost drops his phone when he opens up the app and immediately sees a familiar pink-haired young lady. Dan Heng almost wonders if this is even real.

Then he starts paying attention to what she has to say. There's a twist in his stomach as he realizes that she must be from their universe directly. An outworlder, not a reincarnation. That means... she remembers them as they were.

...Dan Heng supposes that it must be a trade, in a way. In his previous life, his reincarnation meant forgetting the bonds he had between the High-Cloud Quintet. Now, in this one... it means forgetting the bonds he had with the Astral Express crew. Not in its totality, of course, but in a very similar way. It's easier with Caleb when they can just start over on the same page, but for March... he's afraid it'll hurt her to know she'd been forgotten.

He debates with himself for a long time before finally getting the courage to turn on the video and respond.]

2/2 Gemini Video | UN: lunae

[heng_like_a_dragon]

[At least Dan Heng doesn't look terribly different from his previous life. The only difference is that he's wearing clothes that's normally found here in this world.]

I haven't tried the promotional boba yet, but it looks... daunting.

[He hesitates.]

There's... a reason we haven't responded. Have you managed to get into contact with anyone else?

[Mostly, Dan Heng's trying to gauge if he's going to have to be the one to break the news to March or if she's already been prepped to hear it.]

Labyrinth

[rupturingheaven]

[Bailey doesn't make a habit of ducking into labyrinths like this, but they've gotten the basics down by now with regards to what these places are about. And if there's someone there who needs help, far be it from Bailey to just leave them there. Might as well help!

And when Bailey notices a bow and arrow pointed at her, she summons a shadowy sword on reflex, startled. But once the arrow disappears, so too does Bailey's sword dissipate, as she nods in greeting.]

Golden Hour... I'm afraid I'm not sure where that is. I can get you out of here-- [She waves a hand around at their surroundings.] It's for the best we don't stick around, anyway.

[trailblazingspirit]

Your sword’s pretty cool.

[Now that it’s not pointed at her, anyway. March holds her bow at the ready, and falls in step behind Bailey, taking up the rear.]

Yeah, I don’t like this either. I’m pretty sure there’s monsters around. [Well, Memory Zone Memes, anyway. But these memes don’t look like any she’s familiar with.] Lead the way, Miss, I’ll be right with you.

gemini; video; un: blade

[unreachableside]

[... Wait. He recognizes this girl. Vaguely.

He has his long dark hair swept up with fancy cherry blossom chopsticks, and he appears to be wearing black otherwise. He has a few new piercings around the edges of his ears and one dangling red and gold bow earring; between the blue/purple hair and red eyes, this couldn't be anyone else.

And yet.]

... It's you.

[... he's trying really hard, give him a second.]

Dan Heng's other friend from the train.

The... spicy one.

[trailblazingspirit]

And you’re one of the Stellaron Hunters! [Immediately on edge. Ugh. First Kafka, now this guy. Could this day get any worse?] I remember your wanted poster. You’re—

[Give her a second she is racking her single brain cell.]

—Blade, right?

[Her single brain cell is doing so much work today.]

And I’m not spicy, I’m the cute one. That’s Miss Himeko you’re thinking about.

Video | un: olive

[whiteshroud]

[Well Jun will answer. Sure, he's in the middle of preparing his own drag outfit, but oh well]

Welcome! The rainbows are because we're celebrating being gay.

Is the rainbow boba good? I haven't tried it yet.

[trailblazingspirit]

That’s a really nice outfit!

[She means it. It’s cute! March approves of cute things always.]

Why are rainbows gay? [Oh babygirl.] And yeah, it’s so good and tasty! You should try it.

gemini; video; un: ginkgo

[lapislazily]

[He was just going to ignore everything in this post because boba is a crime against tea, but—]

Astral Express? [?!] ... Could you be an acquaintance of Dan Heng, perhaps?

[Hello, have you met Dry Dan Heng yet?]

1/2

[trailblazingspirit]

[Squint squint squint.

Then she gasps.] I know you!

2/2

[trailblazingspirit]

You're the guy from the statue! Dan Heng's brother!

video: un:trienemybest

[droptheious]

Yeah, that's a thing they do in June a lot. It's Pride month. Lots of rainbows for it.

[ Nope. No. He can't not ask. ]

...Okay so is no one gonna ask why your name is a date? Is- is that just a thing?

[trailblazingspirit]

[cheerful:] I came up with it myself!

[She should probably explain this.]

I don’t remember much of anything at all, before my friends on the Express found me. I woke up on March 7th, so that’s the name I took. So I won’t forget my birthday again.

un: jingnyan, gemini video.

[pranas]

[ now, it seems, the general's chance to make an appearance. the feed flicks on to jing yuan lounging comfortably on something large, fuzzy, and distinctly white. he had scanned the post before replying, watching as caleb and dan heng reunited with her. he thought to simply leave it at that and allow them to have their moment together, until blade makes mention of him─ well, now that she knows that he is here he may has well say hello. ]

I see Caleb and Dan Heng have already found you. I trust they have explained everything to you already.

[trailblazingspirit]

[Assuming she’s found out about The Situation here:]

They have!

[A beat.]

Congratulations, by the way~ I’m gonna get you and Blade rainbow boba teas as soon as I can scrounge up more money.