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

Inertia, Dining

[constantvrunning]

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.

[theimpatientone]

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?"

[constantvrunning]

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.

[theimpatientone]

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."

[constantvrunning]

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.

[theimpatientone]

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."

[constantvrunning]

"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?"

[theimpatientone]

"There is no 'shore' on Shora. There is only the sea."

She can see them relaxing, and that's a relief, and honestly it makes herself feel much better, too. Not that that surprises her too much, but it's still nice, because this has not been an easy day.

"I don't. 'Mystical' can mean many things." Some of which she believes in, some she doesn't. "What can this Bay do?"

[constantvrunning]

"Your entire homeworld is ocean, then?"

V sounds quite intrigued; knowing something is possible is quite different from meeting someone with firsthand experience, always.

"The Mystic Bay focuses largely on destroying craft that enter it, with no apparent active agent for it... but in truth, I would not have been surprised if the Bay had played a direct role in my appearance here, and consequent disappearance from home."

M-Bot gives a sad trill at that; V pats him once more and he visibly calms.

[theimpatientone]

"All of it, yes. I find the idea of living on stone to be... strange, even if I know it happens on other worlds."

But if you have to live on stone, then obviously the most sensible place to live is next to the ocean. That's just good sense. Though this place doesn't sound... pleasant. "If you take a boat into your Mystic Bay, it is destroyed? How?" She's honestly curious, at this point.

[constantvrunning]

"There must be some world where living in the air is the only option, though I couldn't easily imagine how that would work."

But that's all hypothetical, at least for now.

And V... the best word to describe their next reaction is that they shrug.

"No one knows the how; they've had people analyze the water, the sediment... even did some detection work for animating spirits. No results."

It's an intriguing problem, much as V hadn't exactly been enthusiastic about potentially finding out for theirself what the answer was.

"But ships taken in, or taken in too far, are simply gone shortly thereafter."

[theimpatientone]

"And you think that might have something to do with why you're here?"

She considers this, and finally shrugs a little. "Perhaps in your case, but not in all cases. There is nothing like that where I am from, other than the general danger of the sea itself. There is nothing particularly mystical about it, other than it being a place for life to thrive on Shora."

[constantvrunning]

"I've since been informed that there was an entirely separate actor in play," V clarifies.

"But it was the hypothesis I had when I first found myself on that platform, in any case."

M-Bot trills, nudging his person, and V looks briefly bemused at his antics before continuing.

"I'd say life is perfectly capable of being mystical enough, but that might be overdoing it."

[theimpatientone]

"Life is mystical," Merwen says. "That we are alive, that we think, that we have human souls, that we may share connection with those we share love with." She waves a webbed hand vaguely. "I share agreement with you."

She looks at them for a moment, assessing. "You seem to be feeling better," she observes.

[constantvrunning]

V nods, ignoring M-Bot in favor of focusing on Merwen. Though the remark about human souls is also mentally shrugged off.

"... Yes. And I must thank you again for that. As we are both new here, I do not yet know what I can offer help with, but if you should wish it...

"Or, would you wish to share more of your home as well? I would like to learn more about Shora. Though," they amend, glancing around the Dining carriage with tamped-down wariness.

"Perhaps in a when and where that isn't as... hectic, relatively speaking."

[theimpatientone]

"If you want to hear more of Shora, I'm glad to share speech with you." Honestly, she's glad to talk. It's been a rough couple of hours. "But if you would rather rest, I understand that, too. Please, don't concern yourself about sharing help. Right now, I need nothing you can provide."

She does take a moment to look around them. "Perhaps we could find a new place to share speech, somewhere more inviting."

Can continue these two to Stores, can fade out; up to you!

[constantvrunning]

"I was exploring the train, at least until..."

There's a deliberate pause, then; V knows they don't have to explain that</i. part. "I'd say I was about six-sevenths done; if you wanted, we could go forth into the last part of the train?" They gesture ahead, towards the engine - only a few more cars in that direction. "Though I cannot guarantee a better talking space exists there."

I'm up to continue!

[theimpatientone]

"As was I," Merwen says. "We may as well share the journey."

She offers her hand, large and webbed as it is. The webbing between her fingers is slightly translucent. "As I said, I've never seen a train before, so I must see what it is in its entirety." She gives them a warm smile.

Okay! :D

[constantvrunning]

There's a fraction of hesitance, not even a full second, before V takes that hand; M-Bot makes a happy trill, this time.

"Well, the best place on a train, to see how it works, is the engine, though I'm given to understand no one is able to get in there."

V smiles much more open, as well.

"We may as well see what the fuss is about, either way."

[theimpatientone]

At the trill, Merwen looks down at M-Bot. Honestly, she finds the... creature? Device? More than a little... unsettling. But now's not the time to start a fight about it. At least that was a nice sound.

"It's all new to me," she says, as lightly as she can. "We can share speech as we walk. If I am to learnshare with you of Shora, where should I begin?

[constantvrunning]

If M-Bot were the sort to talk - not that he was initially built with that sort of complexity anyway - he might have voiced an opinion (or just worry) about that look.

But he isn't, so he just tilts his head up at her, curious.

Instead, and knowing that the first conversation with someone is not the point at which to dig too deeply into potential interpersonal issues, V focuses openly on the matter that is most important: learning more about their conversation partner.

"What would you consider the simplest facts of life, on Shora? The things that everyone, to your knowledge, gets to experience simply by being there? Or at least everyone in the parts of it you know best?"

They start moving at this point, gesturing for Merwen to walk alongside them if she so chooses.

[theimpatientone]

Merwen considers. The most basic of facts, hm?

"Shora is all sea, as I mentioned. We call ourselves Sharers, because we share all things, and we live on the raft trees, which float upon the sea and are home to many types of life, both plant and animal." She pauses. "Until recently, males were unknown to us, though I have seen many here. Perhaps we are more of an oddity in this respect than I realised."

[constantvrunning]

V listens attentively - as does M-Bot, though he stays quiet as they move.

"Living boats... that really does sound fascinating."

As does the next fact.

"A single-gendered living arrangement? Where I am from, that is indeed rare, you would be correct. How many Sharers live together, that you recall?"

They are careful to use the present tense, and adapt to the new term readily.

[theimpatientone]

"A dozen, or fifty, or more if it's a particularly large raft. Raia-el, my home, is one of the larger ones, a well-established raft-tree. We keep our numbers around two hundred thousand, in total."

A good and ecologically sustainable number. This was decided. And it's also quite a bit less right at the moment but there's no reason to go into that.

"Though sisters frequently move around and create new homes on new rafts."

Merwen already sounds wistful. "My home is with my lovesharer, the daughter of my womb and the daughters of hers, a girl we took in when her raft sank in a storm, Spinel, who is Valan-born but is as much a Sharer as any of us now. Oh."

Abruptly, she looks incredibly homesick.

[constantvrunning]

"It's good to at least have a goal, for that sort of thing. A target range, I suppose."

There were definitely worse ways - worse reasons - to enact population control.

V's expression isn't as readable as Merwen describes her family life; there's a touch or two of wistfulness, perhaps?

They offer a hand to squeeze. "I can understand the importance of family. And what it's like to miss them when apart, especially when you were so close-"

Whether they were of blood or not did not strictly matter - but it's the look on Merwen's face that speaks volumes just now.

"... Thank you, for telling of them." Softly they add. "It is important to remember, even when it hurts."