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

"If you watched it you'd find out," she grumbled. Alas, there were two wolves inside a-Qing. One wanted him to be quiet so she could listen to the two characters discussing some kind of valuable, lost treasure - could she order it? Was this a real story? The other wolf was jumping at the chance to show off everything she'd learned to an elder.

The second wolf won in a landslide. The first wolf twitched feebly on the metaphorical floor as she turned in her seat to face him.

"It's a car. It's like brother says, a cart, but it doesn't need anyone to pull it. An archaeologist..." She bit her lip. She wasn't sure about that one. Not that she'd let it stop her. "Obviously he's a famous hero! With his reputation, wouldn't people be envious?"

If he saw any wolves less metaphorical, he'd be fleeing from the room already. As it was, when she looked toward him, he glanced toward her, and listened to what she said. (Other than if you watched it you'd find out, because that was true, but it wouldn't explain away the things he simply didn't know.)

"A car..." More words to file away. He was learning so many just today, he was bound to forget over half them all over again. Her obvious lack of knowledge with the archaeologist, however, almost made his lips twitch up into a smile, but he instead nodded once she produced an answer. "I see, a great and envied hero." He did smile then, wryly, looking back to the screen. "Making this person an envious, not as famous hero. Looks like we're going to see," and how novel that was, seeing any story play out and not having it be someone's memories or whatever else might do the same, "How the two of them compete head to head over the... what was it. Didn't they say what they were going to look for?"

He tapped a finger to his lips as if that would summon up the phrase already forgotten by him in the dialogue that's been flowing past like water down a stream.

"It's a dagger," she jumped back into the conversation a little more sullenly, given his amusement at her answers. Not too sullenly; getting to discuss a movie was something she'd cling to regardless of his attitude, and he was at least interested. She'd forgive his apparent immunity to criticism. For now. "The less famous uncle says it's from an old story about an evil king, but the hero doesn't think so."

"Oh? Where does he think his less popular rival has gone wrong?" History was great for confusing points; even recent history is fantastic for painting what was black as white, and what was white as black. He's lived through that, watched it reverse, and seen public opinion bounce around more readily than a rabbit.

In a story, however, it might be more fun, less complicated. He's watching her more than the screen, where at present the cast boards some kind of vessel, preparing to journey toward a location the rival archaeologist had yet to discover was in line of their goal. The music takes on an epic sweep as the travel montage begins.

That was a more difficult question, since it hadn't been explicitly stated yet. Still, she had the duration of the montage to figure it out, and had an answer for him by the time the group were briefly stopping in some bustling, bright market. In the corner of the shot, a small urchin was eyeing the lead's bag. Not very subtly, either; she spoke up to distract from a scene that seemed a little too familiar.

"At the start, wasn't he lecturing about how stories are changed every time they're told?" Not that this guy had been there for that, but who cared, when he was learning it now. "He definitely knows a different version, I'm sure of it."

Wei Wuxian had been more the kind of street urchin to survive off scraps than theft, but to say he didn't have the same sensibility of doing whatever was necessary to survive would have been underselling his willingness to survive. Also his sheer avoidance of all street dogs, who had a better nose than he for picking out scraps.

Thus he's watching the screen, curious, only looking back to A-Qing when she starts in on her explanation. One that has him twitch his lips up at the corners. "Mm, seems logical. Just like in life, trusting only one version of events can lead to blind spots. Oh, would you look at them go."

Them being the street urchin, who manages to lift the bag and make off with it through the market, a sputtering lead trailing after at a run. "I think they're about to realise they've found their real guide."

Trusting only one version of events-- she repeats the phrase to herself mentally, to bring it out in future arguments. It sounds better than how she'd say it, anyway. Fits better.

"Ah?" A guide? She's taken her eyes off the screen, so when she looks back in time to catch the middle of a choppily-shot chase scene, it's with doubt that she asks, "That kid?"

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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wwx playing juniors like a fiddle energy

when you just have that touch

dashixiong powers op pls nerf

beep-beep-boop, does not compute--

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