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!

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"Okay." He leaves the origami paper on the counter, taking a step back to be less interjecting and more conversational. "... I -" He looks at Yurine and can't help a surprised chuckle.

"I've never had someone defending me. I appreciate it." He rests a hand on Yurine's shoulder. It's okay. The situation has calmed down. "I'm pretty sure she knows how to cook even less than I do, so try to be a little understanding on that front."

Jokes are still good, yeah?

She's still wary, but steps forward regardless. She trusts Otoha, but not this stranger. She's half concerned that the man is going to lash out again once she's closer to him, but she's not going to let him know that. She doesn't show weakness.

"I never needed to."

Like that's a big surprise. Handlers never think their assets require defending. Or anything at all but orders and maintenance. They may not even be considering she's talking about cooking, here.

Their voice is carefully neutral. "It's okay. I'll handle the cooking for you both. There's some finished sandwiches in the dining car if you're hungry, miss. Or if you wait a little, I can finish up a couple of omelets."

He squeezes her shoulder carefully. It's okay. Otoha nods in response to Soldat. "Let me know if I can help. I think you might need to eat here... and either way food tastes good." He doesn't eat a ton, but he does like eating. Tasty food is tasty food, okay?

"... If you want to go to the dining car it's okay. I can hang around here for a bit. ... We'll be fine." It's not an order, or even a request - it's just a choice.

She's hesitant about leaving those two alone together--granted she hadn't known that man for long, but just judging from the reaction she'd received he was dangerous. Otoha could take care of himself, but if he's supposedly a friend, she can't even say whether he'd actually try.

After a moment of looking back and forth between the two of them, she finally nods and steps back. He said they'll be fine so they will, right?

"I expect you to be."

Soldat holds up both hands peaceably, not looking at Yurine, then picks up their bowl of eggs to get back to whisking. Nothing dangerous about that, right? (Handler. Shut up, Asset. Quit growling, please, Asset. It's going to give me even more of a headache.)

He nods and waits for her to leave the car before looking at Soldat again.

"... Are you okay?" Let's just... establish that first. Yurine can handle herself, or he can handle things for her, but Soldat...

"Yeah, I'm okay." They look around the kitchen car, glad nobody else was in here to witness that. Or to listen in to this explanation. (No. You can't pop out like that and not let me explain, Asset. No. He's just grouchy, go ahead, pal.)

"So." They set the eggs down again and lean on the counter, both hands. "I'm not. Alone. In my head. There's three others in here. That was the Asset. It. Doesn't come out much, so it took me by surprise, there. Almost as much as it took you."

... He's heard of this. Hasn't he? Some sort of show. ... Which probably doesn't mean anything, like how what he knew had no relation to Rich's reality, so he stays quiet for a few moment, trying to process.

"... Are they okay? And my friends?"

God, how do you even describe what friendship is like for the Asset? "The Asset is. I'm not sure it understands the concept of friendship, but it wanted to protect you from your handler, so that may be the closest it can come. The Bottomless Pit just wants to eat, they don't care about people. Sarge likes you fine."

"... Two out of four ain't bad." It's two more than he'd have ever thought he'd have two weeks ago, honestly.

Soldat snorts something that sounds mostly amused, just in a sad kind of way. "Two and a half. Asset counts." They look sidelong at him, still a little uncertain. "You're taking this awful well." Even Misty had been more uncomfortable with this, the first time they told her.

"... I'm not going to claim it's not weird, but apparently I've been given the entirely wrong idea s to what trans people are so I don't even know what I don't understand anymore." He's aware it's not remotely the same thing, but it's the concept.

"And... at this point I'll take my friends where I can find them. Just... don't attack her? Stay away from her if you need to, but... I don't think it's her fault that she did... a lot of the things she did. The situation was pretty awful."

Since Soldat has never heard the slang "trans" before, they just... let it go. It doesn't matter right now. "I." They pause. "I'll try. Can't always guess what the Asset is gonna do, might depend on how she. Treats you. But I'll try."

(I'll sit on it. What? You heard me.) Soldat gives a weak little laugh. "Sarge says he'll sit on it. Not that I got any idea what that'll do. Since I don't think there's. Bodies in my head for them to wrestle with, or anything."

"Sure. It's appreciated." He huffs in amusement. "You're a good guy, Soldat. "... Besides, unless she's in danger... there's not really a city to defend. So... hopefully it should be a little better. And hey, I can turn into a car now." Just... not inside the train. There's not enough room.

Turning into a car is cool, but not worth being controlled by a handler, and Soldat looks vaguely skeptical about the whole thing, to be honest. "Just don't let her order you around too much." They hesitate, then finally deem it maybe safe to touch, and hold out a hand-- telegraphed clearly-- to rest on Otoha's wrist again. "Or do anything to your memories. Okay?"

He was trying to lighten the mood... didn’t work, clearly. He doesn’t pull away. “... I’ve got friends to pull me back, right? ... I didn’t lose my memories again when she came back. I think we’re okay.” Hopefully.

“... I know this is hard. We’re both trying, right?” A beat. “... More than both, I guess.”

That makes them smile, albeit a little wryly. "Yeah, all of us." Maybe not Yurine, but the rest of them. They give Otoha's wrist a little squeeze, brief but warm. "Sorry about all this. I'm glad you introduced us. Not glad I freaked out about it. That makes things harder for you."

He pulls his hand back - not offended, just getting to the point of Too Much Touch. “... I don’t know if she’d understand, so I won’t tell her unless directly asked. ... We can talk more about this later if you want. It’s not... I don’t know how to explain it. But I can try.”

It's fine, it was only meant to be a brief grasp, and Soldat absolutely understands when touch is too much. Wrist-hugs were literally the only thing they could manage for a very long time. ... sometimes still are.

"Probably for the best. She might think it makes me more dangerous." Which... she might not necessarily be wrong, in her own case, but they'd still rather not give her that kind of ammunition to use against them. Handlers don't need to know those kinds of weaknesses to exploit, even if she's not their handler. "Later I'll want the whole story. How and why she did those things to you before. It might help me understand."

(Might help us figure out how to wean him away. That, too.)

"Maybe, maybe not. I can't tell with her sometimes. She expresses emotion worse than I do." He's only heard her worried once, and he was barely conscious at the time. "... I can try to explain, but I... don't know how well I can when there's a lot I don't understand, too. But I'll do my best."

That's all both of them can do, really. "... I meant it when I said no one's defended me before. ... I mean aside from verbally... he did his best." Reiji... was not good at that. "So... it means... a lot."

"I'm always going to try and keep you safe," Soldat says wearily, and pushes up from the counter to pour the eggs onto the waiting pan, at long last. "I'm tired of losing friends. If there's anything I can do to protect you. I'm gonna do it."

"I..." He's not sure what to say to that. He can feel his cheeks turning pinker, and he swallows hard. His voice is a little rough when he speaks again. "... Thanks." He's always been the protector and the attacker. He's never been the defended. He's not sure what to say as he tries to ignore the part of himself screaming that this is wrong, that he's just doing it to backstab him.

... It's not like that, and if it is... he'll deal with it.

"... Is it weird I don't really know what to say to that?"

"You said all that needs to be said," Soldat promises, shooting him a small, slightly sad smile. "And it's not weird. You said yourself nobody's said that sorta thing to you before. It's a new experience." And everybody's gotta start somewhere with learning to trust. They did. They're still working on it, but that's okay.

"Yeah." He glances towards the dining car. "I should go. Maybe come find me later? If you don't end up busy... new passengers and all." He pats Soldat firmly on the shoulder and then starts walking towards Yurine.

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worthallthis - 2021-02-12 20:57 (UTC) - Expand

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