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

[miseris_socios]

"It doesn't matter." His voice goes flat, watching the ice get chipped away. "He's dead. ... I found out he was dying from the stuff he was using to suppress his abilities, and then a member of my group that got kicked out showed up and was going to shoot me since I wasn't planning on living through the night anyway. And then the other guy pushed me out of the way."

... He's still not sure what to think about that. "... He had the nerve to save me after what he did." His voice shakes, and he sniffs - no. He can't cry. He has to be strong. He has to be an adult. He can't cry about this, no matter how frustrated he feels.

[thawed_pride]

His arm around Ken tightens, pulling him in close. For as thin as his arms are, they're surprisingly strong.

"Most likely, he saved you because of what he did. When damage done cannot be repaired, all one can do is push forward and hope to do an equal amount of good. That is how one keeps the guilt from destroying them-"

The coils of darkness retreat back inside the heart, leaving it looking ragged but intact.

"Even if, from the outside, it appears to have done just that. He died balancing the scales, so that he could pass on with the knowledge that he had done something worth taking pride in...and so that you could live the life you had given up on. You have a legacy to carry on, after all. I'm certain your mother would not have wished her child to follow her before even reaching adulthood."

[miseris_socios]

Ken's silent. He's not sure what to say to that. It still hurts. He hadn't managed to exact his revenge. He hadn't managed to do anything. He'd tried to redirect Sakaki's shot, but...

In the end, he'd done nothing but waste two years. He starts shaking, burrowing into the coat and feeling tears well up from behind his closed eyes. He sniffs, trying to force the tears to go away... there's so many people around. Ken reaches out to grab at Vexen's shirt, hood pulled over his face, and starts crying quietly.

[thawed_pride]

He sets the ice heart down, and both the darkness and the light within it fade. He wraps both arms around Ken in a stiff, awkward hug, and pats him on the back with one hand.

"There, now." His voice is soft, a hint of his own tiredness peeking through, and warm. "Let it out. It's important to allow yourself to vent now and then."

[miseris_socios]

The awkward hug is somehow more comforting than a regular one would be, given his new ‘family’. He muffles his crying with the coat, feeling totally helpless against his emotions. It hurts, dnd he hates it, but the anger he held for so long is curdling and falling away, leaving nothing in its wake - because what can he even do?

Nemesis stirs slightly, but he ignores that part of himself fir the moment.

It takes a minute, but the crying eventually tapers off, leaving him exhausted and messy.

[thawed_pride]

He can sense an ugly darkness releasing its hold on the boy's heart, and while the balance is still skewed distressingly dark...it's a start. He just sits patiently until Ken finishes crying, then pats him on the shoulder.

"Now then, I don't believe I got your name. Most refer to me as Vexen, these days."

[miseris_socios]

"... I... I'm Ken." He sniffs and pulls away, still wrapped up in the jacket. "... Ken Amada. I'm... it's good to meet you?"

His voice wavers, uncertain. It's the standard greeting, but it feels a little... weird. here.

[thawed_pride]

"Likewise. Now then..."

He stands up and brushes himself off. Despite having been sitting directly on the ice block, the back of his pants doesn't even look damp, and the spot where he'd been sitting shows no sign of having melted.

"I'm sure you're tired. How about we board, and find you somewhere better to rest than a block of ice?"

[miseris_socios]

He stands as well, the coat practically puddling around him from the height difference. He nods, almost reaching out before he reminds himself not to. He holds onto his bag tlightly and pulls the coat off of himself, offering it back to the man.

"... I should... um. Yeah. I guess... we should board, yeah."

[thawed_pride]

The puddling of the coat is...cute, in a way. It would be cuter if not for the associations he has with that coat, but...well, it serves its purpose. He takes the coat when offered and pulls it back on over his hoodie, then snaps his fingers and causes the ice bench to shatter into small fragments.

"It ought to be warmer inside. This is uncomfortably cool for most people, is it not?"

[miseris_socios]

"Yeah. It's starting to get towards winter where I'm from... it wasn't that warm when I left."

He starts walking towards the train, bag clutched firmly in his hands.

[thawed_pride]

He walks along with Ken, keeping his gait measured so that while the boy may have to walk quickly to keep up, he won't be left behind if he doesn't want to be.

"Then perhaps we ought to find out if there's somewhere on this train to make a cup of hot tea."

[miseris_socios]

He's used to keeping up with taller people, it's fine.

"It's pretty long... I bet there's some kind of snack bar or something."

[thawed_pride]

"Depending on the length of time between stops, there may be a kitchen of some sort. Lengthy journeys can hardly be completed on peanuts and crackers."

[miseris_socios]

"Probably not. I bet I could find a lot of stuff to s - uh. Eat." Maybe... don't mention to the person you just met that you steal sometimes, Ken.

[thawed_pride]

"With luck, there may be food already prepared. Otherwise...it's been some time since I last attempted to cook, unless you count brewing potions or performing chemistry experiments, but I remember enough that I ought to be able to put together something edible."

[miseris_socios]

"It's fine. I can cook. ... Survival food if I need to. I know how to make some things, though I'm still learning."

Also, it would help if the counter wasn't super tall.

[thawed_pride]

"And you will learn faster if you observe someone more experienced."

He turns his head to glance down at Ken.

"But if it would ease your pride, I am quite sure there are ways you can help."

[miseris_socios]

"I mean, I've been watching Chidori. She's really good at cooking."

Actually, huh. "... Maybe because Medea has fire spells? I'm not sure." It'd make sense if that was why she's always so much better at getting the right char on things.

[thawed_pride]

He tenses at the mention of fire spells, stride faltering for just a second as his breath catches in his throat. Then the reaction is gone, and he's waving a hand dismissively.

"Elemental affinity doesn't always equate to mundane skills. Though, I can certainly imagine how...experience with fire magic might help one predict the effects of high heat."

[miseris_socios]

He glances up at Vexen... well. The guy has ice magic, it'd make sense that he and fire didn't get along. "She's kind of the best at taking care of us at home. Fixing our clothes, making sure we eat... Jin takes care of the computer stuff and Minato handles the financial stuff. Koromaru and I help out where we can. Though he's kind of limited, being a dog..."

[thawed_pride]

"It sounds as though she'd get on well with a friend of mine. Aeleus is the one always getting on after us about self-care. I was...ill, recently, and he was quite adamant that I would rest, whether I wanted to or not."

He shakes his head and steps onto the train. Now, if he was designing a train, where would he put the dining car...

[miseris_socios]

"She was like that after they first found me... they wouldn't let me fight anything until I'd gained a few pounds." Much to his annoyance.

"... We're closer towards the engine, so let's head that way. It'll be fewer cars to check." He reaches up and tugs Vexen's sleeve carefully.

[thawed_pride]

"Aeleus wouldn't even let me out of bed until I showed significant signs of recovery."

He gives an annoyed huff, but it's not quite entirely genuine. There's a definite fondness under it, as much as he resents being forcibly bedridden.

He glances down at the sleeve tug, again tensing for just a second. But the sleeves of his coat are very loose, so it seems unlikely that the boy's hand will brush the still delicate scar tissue on his forearm. He opts not to say anything about it, better not to risk a kid getting curious about the evidence of severe burns, and instead just turns toward the front of the train.

[miseris_socios]

That's... weird. he looks up at Vexen curiously and lets go of the shirt sleeve as they walk. "I was using some glass shoved in a metal pipe to fight Shadows... they showed me how to use the same kinds of powers they had."