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

[myblueskies]

Platform

"Elfnein?" As the first figures left the train silently, walking through the fog to the barriers a small child ran after them. "Elfnein! Elfnein! Come back!"

The young girl he was yelling at didn't stop, didn't pause, didn't even look around and soon she was through the barriers, vanished into the mist.

Romeo stopped. He knows he can't go through the barriers. He's seen many many people leave. But he hadn't thought it would be Elfnein... He thought she would wake up in a suitcase. He hadn't thought she would leave...

"Elfnein..." He whispered, eyes filling with tears. He reached down to grip his hoodie, looking frightened, worried. But then he pulled it up and looked down on his blank chest. No kanji over his heart. Just skin...

He let go, letting his hoodie fall down again and stood there, letting sleet fall into his hair as he stared at the barrier numbly.

Later: Standard Carriage

He had tried his best to keep his spirits up and welcome all the new people but it was hard. His spirits felt so low. They were down in his boots. He lay on two of the seats in the standard carriage staring up at the ceiling. In his hands he held a sparkly bookmark and every now and again he would bring it up to above his eyes to look at it.

He knew he had to keep his spirits up, to keep going. Elfnein wouldn't want him to be sad...

But he had no idea what to do now... "There's only one day like today in your entire life. When all else fails, keep living." He said quietly, as if quoting someone.

Later...

[hisblueskies]

"Romeo?"

Alfredo had been quiet; he'd almost stopped in his tracks completely when entering the carriage and seeing his friend.

But he couldn't hold back from him, not now of all times. He walked forward, enough to catch those last words, and barely holds himself back from capturing his friend in a hug.

"... It's the truth, Romeo. The only way we have is forward, like Bianca said."

Re: Later...

[myblueskies]

"Alfredo..." Romeo looked towards him, not smiling but glad to see Alfredo regardless, especially when it had been his words that had filled his head.

When I was feeling low, Bianca always used to tell me... He only has three... four memories of his time before the heavens and he knows each one well, holds onto the details in his heart.

"Alfredo. Who is Bianca?" He looked back at the sparkly bookmark. "You can't say about how I know her, or if she's my friend or anything." That would be dangerous. "But who is she? She sounds very smart..."

Re: Later...

[hisblueskies]

A few specific expressions crossed Alfredo's face - disbelief, followed swiftly by guilt at forgetting (of course, I'm one of the only ones he remembers. Stupid of me to forget-), a glance away where he tried once again not to be angry at how this had all happened to Romeo...

And then sorrow, which is the emotion that stays. Because it wasn't as if he'd expected to see Bianca again either.

"She's my sister. Younger sister. I'll always remember her words... at least we can both do that."

He looked away again, trying not to let those memories linger, like they had during that void storm, blinking rapidly.

"They gave me strength-" while we were apart, "and I hope they can help you keep doing the same."

Not that it's just words Alfredo had to offer; letting silence come, he opened his arms for a hug.

[myblueskies]

Sister? Alfredo has a sister? A sister who gave him strength and who said such big and important things such as that?

"She must be a really great person." He has so many questions but he buries them all down, he can't push his head like that. It's too dangerous.

And Alfredo looks sad, like Romeo has made him think of sad things. To bring up painful memories that he can't share. Romeo hugs him back, holding him tightly.

"She has to be, if she's your sister."

platform

[blitzcheer]

"Hey."

An arm comes around Romeo's shoulders as he stands there, Elfnein gone with the rest of the leaving passengers. Tidus had heard him, but he stood back and watched, waiting to see what Romeo would do. Give him time - but refusing to leave him by himself completely.

He rubs the arm his hand has found soothingly.

"I'm sorry, Rome..."

Re: platform

[myblueskies]

"Mister Tidus?" Romeo turned to him, shaking slightly as tears filled his eyes but did not yet fall.

"She left... She didn't even look at me..."

She was gone. I think you belong here, Romeo. In this library with me. He had met her on the very first day he had arrived in the heavens and she had named him the day after, he had lived with her ever since except those two weeks where he had come to the train before her... But even then the name had stayed. Now it was gone.

She was gone. "We couldn't even say goodbye..."

[blitzcheer]

Oh, no. Tidus lowers onto a knee, knowing just this feeling - remembering when he had to go through this too, though his heart was filled with a determination to do something stupid. He looks at Romeo now with a more equal height, putting a hand on his arm again.

"She would've, if she could. But you both came here from Heaven, didn't you? So she'll be waiting for you, there. In your library."

[myblueskies]

Romeo leaned towards him as Tidus knelt down to be more his size. The tears really were threatening to fall now but he listened to Tidus' words. He wants to believe them so badly, that Elfnein got to go back to the heavens, that she would go back to the library with Carol and mister Goat.

"I hope so... I hope she gets to go back and that our friends are still there."

He squeezed his eyes tight. "But... Mister Tidus... I'm not her shinki anymore..."

later

[happyends]

".. Romeo..?"

Usually Madoka can find her fellow blue team member and friend greeting new people. It's what Romeo does, after all. He's always so bright and bubbly, always so friendly towards everyone he meets.

But today Madoka can't seem to find him anywhere. And when she hears about what happened, she's running through the train even more, trying to find Romeo.

And so that's how she spots him like this. Looking so sad. Just lying there.

And all she does is speak up in that quiet voice, slowly walking over until she's right next to him - or rather, hovering over him so she's in his field of vision.

"O-Of course you have to keep living, you know.."

Re: later

[myblueskies]

"Madoka?" He turns to her sadly to look up at her from where he lay. "I know... Alfredo said that and Alfredo is really smart."

But it was hard when it felt like everything had fallen away, when Elfnein was gone. So gone that the name she had given him had disappeared. Would he ever see her again?

"I'm sorry Madoka, I think my spirits are broken today."

He looked at the bookmark again, tears filling his eyes.

[happyends]

She shakes her head practically instantly after he says those latter words.

"You don't have to apologize." Not for being sad. Of course no one can be happy all the time. Not even Romeo, who's smiling pretty much always. Constantly, whenever she sees him.

Of course losing someone would be hard, even on him. It's hard on everyone.

Quietly Madoka takes a seat next to where he's laying on the seats.

"You can be sad for a while.. That's alright. Everyone feels that way when something like this happens. It's painful when someone important to you is suddenly gone.."

[myblueskies]

He scrunches his legs up so she has more room to sit, not that either of them are so large to take up a whole seat.

"I feel like I'll be sad forever." It feels like there is a whole Elfnein shaped heart in his heart and considering that his goddess had been bigger than him that is a very large hole indeed.

But people leave all the time and those on the train left behind aren't sad forever, because they have a job to do. Romeo has that job to do too, so he just has to get his spirits up, somehow.

Later

[adregem]

Roland's aware of Elfnein passing through the great barrier beyond. He watched her go and wondered immediately how this might affect one boy in particular, knowing what he does from even before platform day rolled in. How he promised his goddess he would do a good job, the pinky swear between them to hold it to heart. And now, the golden name on her roster is all but irreversible, lest fates be kind (or unkind depending on who you ask).

And so finding Romeo was only the natural option for Roland as soon as his own tasks about the day were complete. Or that he knew there would be little to distract him as he sets about first to the kitchen car, water heated to a boil, the last remaining ground beans from his previous purchase used up for a single cup. Milk and honey are added, the way he remembers, and he sets off to his destination. It doesn't take him long, though admittedly the way Romeo lays there hides his body from Roland until he manages to walk past the actual bench. He double-takes, Romeo's face slightly obscured from the bookmark he stares up at, before Roland offers a look of soft sympathy.

Wordlessly, he sets a cup of hot coffee on the table before sliding into the opposite seat. He waits for a minute before speaking in low tones.

"No matter how heavy it gets, right?" Roland adds, a weight to his own answer befitting the mood of parting friends and farewells. "No matter what we lose, we can't give up. We owe it to them, after all. The ones that have left us."

Re: Later

[myblueskies]

Many people came and went, the buzzing of platform day swirling around him as he lay staring at his bookmark, remembering how happy he had been when Elfnein had given it to him.

But when someone puts a cup down on the table and sits down opposite him he twists his head to see who it is.

"Mister Roland..." Someone he had promised to, to do a good job on the mission and make Elfnein proud. He hoped he had succeeded but he would never know... Because Elfnein was gone now.

And he is here with wise words again, he's very clever. "We can't ever give up, Elfnein wouldn't want me to ever give up, she would want me to keep helping everyone..."

I'M SO SORRY i didn't get the notif for this tag at all!! :(

[adregem]

Kids like Romeo shouldn't have to deal with things like this all the time. It was Evan's reflection that reminded him of Will's struggles at such a young age, but here on the train, Romeo suddenly cuts a similar figure, extremely burdened by a grief almost palpable. It hurts Roland in a primal sort of way, engaged by the need to protect the young from the pains of life. He won't be able to do it forever, but when he has the chance, he goes for it without hesitation.

Romeo was a good kid, too. He was always so happy and cheery. He told Roland all about his previous life, the death, the rebirth, and he still has it in him to smile the way he does. How could Roland not meet him somewhere in the middle, to try and rescue him from this pain?

"I think..." He starts off, tentative, pushing the cup closer to Romeo in encouragement. "...Elfnein would want you to be at peace, too. I haven't known her for as long as you have, but if someone cares for you, they would want you to let go a bit. Don't hold it in. She wouldn't want you to hurt inside, not for her sake."

"So if it's too much right now, Romeo...You can just lay down and not do anything at all." Roland nods at him, leaning his elbows against the table. Unmoving, as if planting himself there for the time being if he's needed. He can be sad. He doesn't have to put up a brave front today. That's okay too. Hypocritical for the person Roland is in essence, but he'll offer it anyway.

Later

[hotheadwarmheart]

"Sounds like good advice," came the likely unexpected reply to his softly uttered words. Upon looking for the source of the voice, he would see Lea leaning against the outer edge of the seats opposite the ones he was laying on.

"You OK?", he asked gently. "And for the record, it's alright if you're not." He was guessing not, given the way he was laying there, but didn't want to assume.

Re: Later

[myblueskies]

Romeo blinked when he heard the voice, looking up at Lea. "Mister Lea?" His voice was soft, quiet, lacking his usual pep.

Lacking much energy at all. "I don't know sir..."

He didn't feel okay. Not at all.

Re: Later

[hotheadwarmheart]

"What happened?", Lea said. Then, remembering what day it was, he asked, "Did one of your friends leave the train?"

Platform

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin was waving goodbye to the departing passengers and wishing them well, when he heard Romeo's grief-stricken voice calling for Elfnein. He went quickly to the young man.

"It's really too bad that Elfnein is leaving. I know that you loved her a lot. I wish we could stop her from going."

[myblueskies]

"Mister Curufin?" He looked up at him with shining eyes.

"I wish so too..."

He wished that a lot. That Elfnein could stay, that this didn't need to be goodbye.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin looked at Romeo and his own eyes were soft.

"I liked her too, though I didn't interact with her much in the last months. She was a kind person, a good person. Maybe we can find ways to remember her, to pay tribute to her and all that she did for others."

Later

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"Oh, there you are. You're a hard kid to find!"

The Overlord, of course, in the hands of a minion. Looking extra blunt and surly, because no one was allowed to think he was here out of anything but the Most Dire Obligation and an Overlord's Responsibility. Romeo, of course, knew exactly what he was doing here.

[myblueskies]

Romeo was still lying still, lots of people had told him it was alright. That he was allowed to be sad and he could just lie here for a little while.

But Zetta had been looking for him?

Of course he had been, Romeo sat up, putting the bookmark safely on the table. "Sorry mister Zetta, I wasn't hiding..."

He knows why he is here, after all it is just them two left from the heavens.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

"This -- just isn't where I expected you! Anyway, let's make sure you can hold on till you can catch up with Elfnein again." Forget that whole comment and move on, damn it!