voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Katsuya won't be here long, but he does at least pass by it to look over the points and menu. It's...phew. Well.] Aw geeze, a hundred..? I only have forty...

...Oh, hey Masumi, [is an added casual greeting, the blond not even turning to look at where she is. He just knew she was there, it's fine, don't worry about it.]

Huh? Hey there.

[She hadn’t expected to be greeted when Katsuya hadn’t even turned to look, but that’s the least of her worries at the moment. Right now she’s focused on finding her package, which she knows has to be pretty small, given what she ordered.]

You looking at buying something there?

Nyhhh, considerin' it. Check it out-

[He points at a new addition on the list. ~Medium Pets~.] I'm still workin' away at a list 'f folks I wanted t' give pokemon to, but they jus' added an option f'r bigger sorts. Not huge things far as I can tell from it, but it's bigger!

[He frowns.] ...'cept it's 100 of my card... ...so tha' ain't happenin' th's time I guess...

[She does lean in to take a look, and lets out a soft gasp at the cost on the new store option.]

Wow, that's expensive. A hundred points just for one?

[That would have to be a few months of saving on its own just for one animal. Masumi herself doesn't have much interest in blowing her points on that option, but she can see the appear for others.]

How is that list going, by the way?

Yeah! I mean, 's def'nitely bigger t' be fair...

Only two left so far tho'- th' one's more 'f a present-t'-a-friend kinda deal, but f'r th' most part I wanted t' give 'm t' folks who need th' protection. So a bigger option...hnn...

[Bigger might be better here...]

Well you know more than me about what to get people, so I probably won’t be much help.

[She doesn’t even know who all is getting gifted, let alone anything about Pokemon, so she has no way to help at the moment.]

Anyway, I came here since I bought my phone back, so I need to find it. Any chance you saw a small package that might be it?

Aw man, tha' ain't helpful at all...

[But hey. Looking away from the screen and shrugging, he starts to resign himself to a search.] But I guess I don' have anythin' better to do. I c-

[He pauses- eyes glazing over for a brief second- and then automatically jabs his thumb in a particular direction.] ...Down tha' way, past th' brown suitcase. I don' ev'n know why we got suitcases in there, I don' think anyone owns 'm, but it's there.

Yer phone though?

[Don't ask about the glaze moment it's fine.]

...Alright, I’ll go look there.

[She’s definitely going to ask about that glaze moment, that’s just odd to watch happen. But first Masumi goes to get her phone, giving an explanation as she goes.]

It had something important on it the last time I saw it, so I’m hoping I can get access to that by buying my phone back.

[Passing the mentioned suitcase, Masumi looks - and there it is, a small package with her name on it that looked just the right size to be a phone.]

Thanks, I found it! [A moment passes before the inevitable question:] What was that moment where you lost focus, by the way?

Like a pict're or somethin'? Most stuff still needs a connection one way or another righ'?

[He ponders it, only to blink at Masumi's question.

There's a pause- even explaining this to his soul-bound partner went poorly, and he's pretty sure the two are from the same world but...]

...Nyhhh...righ' first question b'fore I answer tha', thoughts on supernatural crap?

Yup, it’s a picture. I needed to get access to it, and the only way was to buy my phone back.

[Ah well, she’s sure the phone will come in handy again later. And no, she won’t elaborate on what the picture is. Sorry Jounochi.

She stops to think about how to answer the question about the supernatural, aware that just a few months ago she would have flat out denied its existence.]

...In my world, the supernatural doesn’t exist. But I know that’s just my world, and that other worlds follow different rules, so I can’t really keep denying it right now.

[It’s a little hard to deny it when she’s been on the train for this long.]

[Well, he's not exactly interested in it. Actually if he saw it he'd have no idea it was even important.

Also, if he's especially unlucky, he could well end up seeing a vision of it anyway, but that's beside the point. ~~He certainly hasn't thus far, in any case.~~

What's important, is Masumi's answer. Katsuya listens with casually crossed arms, eventually nodding and shrugging at the answer.] T' be honest, it ain' 'xactly all over th' place where I'm from either. Hell, seems more like jus' gettin' involved in one magic thing is why I'm suddenly swimmin' in it there. [Something something, eyes opened up, who knows.]

Anyway, I jus' saw a vision of y' grabbin it, tha's all. Ain' anythin' I control, an' it's always unchangable vague crap, so. [Shhhhhrug.]

So you get visions of stuff, huh? [She doesn't quite get how visions of the future works, so she just chalks it up to 'magic at work' and moves on. Only way she can make sense of it.]

If you can't change what happens, it's probably rough sometimes then? If you see something bad? [If that's true, then she doesn't envy him. Seeing something in the future and being unable to stop it has to suck if it happens.]

Yeah pr'tty much! An'...yeah, y' got it in one, [he adds, a hoarse swallow coming alongside that part.] I mean t' be fair normally it's all vague crap- like two seconds 'f somethin, or a sound, tha' sorta thing. If I'm dreamin' it, it's liable t' be mixed in with real weird stuff too, [Katsuya remarks.]

But...yeah. ...There's been a few times where it's been a bit more t' th' point, [he mutters, a bit pale.]

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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