A New Platform [Intro Post February]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Three days after the Voidtreckers return to the void after their adventures on the biosphere world, they are awoken by a familiar announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen of the month of Jelly. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for a while will also be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. The fog seems thicker than usual and as they step out onto the platform they will find it is cold, very cold. Icy fog sticks to their clothing, makes it hard to see very far; the atmosphere is dark and gloomy.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alexis Rhodes, Elfnein, Itsuki Myoudouin, Ken Ichijouji, MT, Neku Sakuraba, Nike Lemercier, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Rainbow Dash, Rei Saotome, Taichi Yagami, Tsubomi Hanasaki, Yuri Tsukikage and Zechs Merquise all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours, in various states of confusion.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is steam, billowing around them as they come to their senses. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large with sixteen figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, tracks disappear into the mist. Then there is a roaring sound and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out step a strange assortment of people. Some are human, some are less so. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple, though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

The Train

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there's anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would lead to something terrible. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including several crates of avocados, the ingredient of the month of Jelly, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

Room is tight but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers braving the freezing fog, and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express." A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi couldn't help but feel nervous. Not because he was nervous about what he had originally planned, no. That seemed to change the moment he had walked in on Kaiba.

And when he heard what he had to say he seemed to stay quiet, seemingly surprised as to the words that came out of the other's mouth. He honestly hadn't expected what just happened.

After what seemed like forever Yugi could finally muster up the words and say something.

"Commit to me publicly?" That might not be what the other was expecting him to say. "Where are you going with this exactly?"

shenanigans type 6 - movie edition!

[spikelet]

There hadn't been a stop where she hadn't seen some friend or other leave, so if not okay with it, a-Qing could at least be said to be resigned to the experience. This time, she'd lurked as well as she could, and then disappeared back inside the train once the familiar tug hit, not caring much about who might have arrived.

Then it was the usual scrambling about, finding something to eat, avoiding newcomers and keeping a wary eye on the angrier ones, until she could disappear into the Cinema carriage and tuck herself into a ball in one of the front seats. Her sweater was pulled over her knees like usual and a blanket was tucked around her feet. The title 'Brave Raiders: Grave of the Bandit Queen' was scrolling across the screen to a swelling soundtrack. She wasn't moving for a while.

Even when other people came in.

"Don't change it," she snapped from her pile of warmth, before whoever it was could think about investigating the computer that held lists of all the movies. "This one's just started, and I got here first!"

Re: Platform

[theimpatientone]

She fumbles with the zipper a little, but it turns out to be fairly self-explanatory, once she gets it moving.

"Thank you," she says, genuinely grateful, even in her intense distraction. "To be covered like this -- I find it stifling." And it's just one more thing on top of everything else. "I don't understand what is happening."

She's getting a bit hysterical. Merwen draws in a long, shaky breath.

Luggage.

[sizedoesntmatter]

[Yugi had gone to the luggage carried to find the couple items that he had brought when he met a familiar face. he was quite honestly happy to see them considering for the moment before he had been a tiny bit anxious.]

So you brought something to?

Music car

[melodiouspacifist]

The change in music was a nice change, and went over to see what Ken was doing.

"Hey." He greeted. "How are you doing that?"

Admittedly the loading music system had him completely stymied, and besides what he was listening to was interesting and nothing like the music he knew.

Hello! Been a while since we've shared a game.

[thawed_pride]

She is taller than any of the women he knows, though he still towers over her at 6'5". Different worlds, though, have different standards of normal, and so her height barely registers as worthy of note.

He taps a hand against his chin in thought, glancing briefly toward the train.

"That explains the lack of prior communication. Blindly grabbing out of desperation would not offer much of an opportunity to explain the situation and properly request assistance. A fugitive craft...did this 'threat' annihilate the train's point of origin?"

[blue_ice]

Kaiba took a breath and opened the box, revealing a chain bearing a black and ruby ring.

"...I thought...I wanted to give you a token. Of what you mean to me, that I'll always be with you no matter what happens."

He held up the chain, letting the Gandora-red rubies catch the light.

[marvelous_murderbot]

The heartbeat is certainly incredibly steady. It adjusts normally, but its sheer consistency alone would make it strange. The usual giveaway, of course, is that her skin is about ten degrees cooler Fahrenheit than average - though she can, as she wills, adjust that.

She notes the case, clearly for a gun, then the rest of him, and how he holds himself, before finally noticing the little plastic ghosts.

"It is? My mistake."

She unfolds herself gracefully from the bunk, executes a precise turn, and then just as smoothly seats herself on the one opposite, like it had never happened. Then she looked up.

"I don't suppose you would want to switch to this side?"

[10billionpercent]

"I get that." Senku admitted, but didn't explain further.

"You've come on this platform, likely against your will, brought here by the train." Senku gestured at it.

"It seems to think we're heroes, saving worlds for the train." He explained. She seems to be getting upset if he was going to to be observant and he suggested. "Try counting to three as you breath in and out for three. It'll help."

[thawed_pride]

He rolls his eyes at the moniker, head even tilting slightly to emphasize it. It's not the worst thing he's been called, but he's definitely tired of things like that.

"The coat may be unnerving, but it serves its purpose. On that note, I've heard multiple things about what we're needed for. Is this mysterious 'threat' the train fears connected to the assistance it asks us to provide to the worlds we visit?"

Meet and Greet

[paopuofyourlife]

Kairi didn't know why she had gone to the platform. Maybe it was simply because she had some hope that she might get to see her friends again this time. But after some look around and not seeing any of them she had soon accepted the fact that they weren't here.

That was okay it just meant she could train more, improve a lot more and show them when they finally did arrive.

However she soon paused, looking over at the other close by. She did recognize that coat, but the person wearing the coat she couldn't recognise. But because of that, she just had to know. So making her way over she figured to speak.

"Interesting coat you have there."

[thawed_pride]

He frowned at that, and tugged lightly at the hood of his own coat, though he left it down.

"Do your current clothes at least protect against the darkness? This seems like a poor situation to be caught without such defense."

There was a definite tone of concern to his voice, though he turned his head so that he was looking at Demyx out of the corner of his eye rather than directly.

[theimpatientone]

"Inside... that?"

She gestures at the train, her nose wrinkled in an expression of dismay bordering on disgust. "I am meant to go inside that?" That just seems to scream "bad idea" to her. "I have spent more than enough of my life inside coldstone, and I don't particularly wish to step into a," she pauses, searching for a word she knows that can possibly describe a train, "boat like this."

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi couldn't help but smile slightly before letting out a very slight laugh.

"I guess we actually had the same idea then."

Yugi had gone into his pocket and pulled out his own box, opening it to reveal a black titanium ring that was on a chain. "Though I guess the one I got doesn't have gems but...I was hoping if there was someone who can engrave it that can be done."

Platform

[runicfeathers]

Willow's making her rounds of greeting new passengers, giving them all welcoming smiles until she finds miss spider looking less than enthusiastic, as well as sounding less than that as well.

"Oh, miss spider, I did not think I would see you out of your carriage. Did someone you know depart?"

[yondu]

He sort of takes in what she's saying. So he's got access to his cabin, got it. Which probably means other people he don't know about. Man he just got done dealing with a mutiny. He doesn't want to get to know crewmates just yet.

"...Wait, you don't die for good?"

[blue_ice]

The sight of the box brought a smile to Seto's face. He worried for a moment, but...they really were a pair on the same wavelength. His smile widened when he saw the ring.

"Only if you can find blue," Seto joked. "But I'm serious, Yugi..."

He has to work past a swelling of emotion to continue.

"I'm yours. You're mine. Let's do it."

He gestures for Yugi to turn around so he can slot the chain under his collar.

[thawed_pride]

Kairi might not have recognized him, but he remembered her. She was taller than he remembered, but given it had been a year since the last time he'd had anything directly to do with the Keyblade heroes, that only made sense. Her heart, at least, was still as radiant as he remembered.

When he noticed her approaching, he frowned slightly, but...she didn't seem confrontational, like Xion had. Of course she commented on the coat, and he brushed his shoulder in response, as if smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles.

"Quite useful, as well. Worry not, child, I am no ally of Xehanort's."

Azula Alone

[firewalled]

Rich always tries to be available when he sees newcomers that are more distressed than the others. He remembers how he was just a few months ago, nearly incapacitated by burns, and how many people showed him kindness in that moment. It only makes sense for him to try to pay it forward in some way, and help out in a way that he's actually half decent at.

So although Azula is shrinking away from the crowds of people, one breaks away and moves a little closer to her, though with his hands up in front of him to show he won't attack her.

"Hey... I haven't seen your face before. Are you new?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Not as long as you're wearing your SCA, apparently." Raven confirmed for him, still in her calm and deadpan tone.

[marvelous_murderbot]

She, a newcomer, enters looking for a change of clothes. Or, more specifically, to see if any of her usual garb has ended up on board, rather than the inadequate hoodie. And she works through the features of the car methodically.

And her enhanced, built-in sensors will pick up that there is another in there, but she displays no signs of being concerned. Not by another person, and not by the webs. She comes from a rather varied galaxy after all, and she makes no assumptions. Anything unfamiliar just isn't in her memory banks yet.

What the arachne will get from Guri is more unknown - if she can sense heat, she may notice someone running ten degrees Fahrenheit below human normal. Or perhaps the unusually steady heartbeat. She may even smell properly human, but something about her may strike as odd.

[theimpatientone]

Train. Okay. That's an entirely new word, but it's at least a label for the thing sitting over there on the tracks.

"If this 'train' wishes for me to save worlds for her, then she has no idea what is involved in the saving of a world," Merwen says, her tone flat. Still, Senku's advice is well-meant, and valuable, and her other option is passing right into a meditative whitetrance right here in this strange and possibly dangerous place, so she takes several practiced breaths.

"My name is Merwen," she says after a moment, her eyes closed. "Merwen the Impatient One."

[yondu]

'Cow' translates into something he can understand, just not with the right image in his head 'cause he's not all that familiar with Terran wildlife. He oughta be after looking around cornfield country for Quill, but he never thought to stop and ask the animals for their names.

"Alright. Guess I'll figure it out." Sugar first 'cause that's the one he knows.

"This train looks like it's in good shape. This outfit pretty new? 'Cause all this is way more high grade than any other mess I got dragged into."

Lay of land!

[marvelous_murderbot]

She may encounter Guri in a number of places, but the ones that would strike most would be either in the Library or the Gym.

In the former, she will be found in an unobtrusive corner, flicking through pages with a speed and dedication that are just a little bit abnormal. If in the gym, well, the picture will be stronger still. She tests each unfamiliar piece of equipment, displaying no signs of actual effort, and moving at a pace beyond that of an average human.

And she she tries at the punching bag, her first blow swings it up past parallel with the roof of the cabin.

[10billionpercent]

"The actual way to save worlds is varied based on where we get dropped. There's usually an objective." He responded easily enough.

"I'm Senku Ishigami. Senku's fine." He said easily. Senku wasn't sure what to make of the title but he didn't comment on it.

"A lot of people are overwhelmed to find themselves here." He told her, just in case she was concerned about that, but he could maybe deal with that. He was hoping she didn't cry like someone he met on the last platform.