voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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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

Initialization (Platform OTA)

The fog is the same. Everything else at home (home. They were just starting to think of Ironwood Harbor as home-) that they could normally connect to, gone, but the fog remains.

Did we fall in the Bay?

There would have been something terrifically ironic about a mundane chore for the university leaving them subsumed by mystic waters, but-

At that point, the fog clears, and five facts make themselves clear to V at once:
1. Their armor is missing. Something else is in its place.
2. This is most certainly not Tamaris. If they're dead, then fuck everything, but if they're simply Elsewhere that means going back isn't impossible.
3. There is a familiar confused-trill coming from behind them. Hadn't M-Bot been on the other boat-
4. This is a train station (realization that Alba may not get those repairs finalized, may never properly wake up again, hits them with such force they forget they don't need to breathe).
5. They are not alone.

Electing to act on the third of these first, the befuddling rucksack gets swung around, a boxy droid frame freeing itself from there in a hurry.

V grits their teeth. Breathes. Breathes.

`Well,` they say, for M-Bot alone . `At least we're in this together. Let's do ourselves a recon.`

Inspection (Train OTA)

Conversing with their fellow 'newbies' is one way of information gathering - as is just plain asking those already on the train for details - but they most prefer getting into things for themselves.

There's a surprising amount to see on this train that is at once both powered by technology exceeding even the Radiant Era, and aesthetically draped in features better found on one built much before then. Sleepers are normal fare, but a cinema? A library?

~~Why are there so many vending machines on this train? And so few restrooms?~~

One can find V - or their droid, M-Bot - in most any car, from Luggage to Stores, holding anything from packages (which they will quickly put down, given they are labeled with names and such) to game pieces, to even some stock in the kitchen.

Or in the armoury; some things, much as they wish otherwise, never change, and they suppose it is best to be prepared.

Inertia (Train OTA; Panic Attack CW in threads for this prompt)

But there is only so much space to run on this train, long as it is. Indeed, there is only so much space at all on a train built for those perhaps on the smaller side.

There are some carriages (Dressing, Stores - even Dining) where V has a hard time moving or focusing on their surroundings at all.

M-Bot always chirps worriedly at these times; he may even chirp at you, seeking assistance.

InRoommates (5:E/Sleeper 5)

Having a space to themselves is almost a relief... almost. There's still people here, and the bed makes it once again evident that they are not precisely short.

But they look willing to introduce themselves, if they haven't already - or at least they give M-Bot the go-ahead to make himself comfortable.

He may steal blankets.

Merwen is hardly confident of anything here, herself, and M-Bot is... something akin to Valan servos, and those are merely unthinking things, but he does seem to be trying to get her attention?

And she does recognise the signs of a fellow soul in distress.

Being approached by a naked purple woman with webbed hands and feet is... possibly not the most comforting thing, but she steps near him in the Dining carriage, one hand extended in a friendly gesture. "You seem to be sharing pain and fear," she says, her voice gentle.

M-Bot is not necessarily a sophisticated intelligence, but his frame conveys the sense of relief that V is most certainly not feeling right now, once Merwen catches on. He aims a servo at his person, whilst V clenches their fists in their hoodie and attempts to ground themself.

The gentle voice is appreciated, though the synth is seemingly slow to react... but if anything IS clear, it's that V isn't registering Merwen herself as a threat.

Merwen looks at V a moment, not at all sure what to make of them, not at all sure of even what they are, but concern for a fellow soul reigns supreme. That's... important.

"I am Merwen," she says, by way of introduction. She keeps her voice soft, and she moves into a place near them, and stops there, waiting for them to make any further move closer. "I'm newly arrived here, and perhaps you are, as well. It's... overwhelming." She lets that phrase sit in the air between them for a moment. "Do you wish to share speech?"

While V looks human enough -

`I... would, thank you. I am V.`

They don't sound human. There is some artificial quality in their speech, which, when they belatedly try to mask it, sounds more awkward than the previous attempt.

"That is - thank you, Merwen. I... prefer repairing trains to living on them."

M-Bot gives a trill in concern, retreating to his person; V absently rests a hand on his chassis.

Merwen starts a little, and immediately regrets the reaction. She's never heard a voice like that before. She's not sure what to make of it. She also doesn't want to leap right to offending her new acquaintance.

"I have never seen a 'train' before today," she says. "It isn't where I would choose to live." She's being as easily conversational as she can, taking V's distress as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Because it is. Because this is a distressing situation. "You could share with me a story of your home, if it would help."

V only nods, M-Bot crouching slightly before 'leaping' up to their shoulder. They can understand there being such a wide range of experience with technology - part from personal experience, part from what they picked up on the void platform. In the meantime, they elect to respond to the invitation to talk about home.

"The last place I was," they say slowly, letting the words form carefully. Distressed people leaning on one another. It helps to talk, even if you're scared. Especially when you need something to focus.

And so they try and focus on that.

"Was a nation in the mountains, surrounded partly by forest, partly by an ocean formation known as the Bay. It's a cold place, but beautiful... and safe, or as safe as any nation in Tamaris can get."

They try to smile, impart some sense of wryness on that last part, only to sigh instead.

Not all of those words are things she knows. 'Mountains' in particular gives her trouble. It's just not a word you need, where she's from. Ocean, though, that she understands.

"Oceans are places of life and beauty," she says, "even if very cold. It sounds like a very good place to live. I'm also from an ocean, though it's a warm sea. We have that in common."

"Within, and not on the shore, I presume," V replies. They attempt, less wryly, to smile again, with a little more success.

"But I can appreciate the ocean's might, climates aside."

Their outward stress signs are waning; less pressure in the hands gripping the hoodie, less tension in the shoulder M-Bot is riding on, and so forth.

"Though the Bay itself has mystical properties; I do not suppose you'd know the sort I mean?"

V (OC) - A Smattering of OTAs

Inertia

Inertia, Dining

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roommates

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inspection

Re: inspection

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[ Inspection ]

Let's give them a tag or two before V rushes over, hm? XD

Sure!

Platform