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

[its_dad_sanzo]

"A lot of things, huh?" Koumyou beams up and over at Devero as he carries the trunk over to the edge of the stage and sets it where Dev can go digging into it if he wishes to. Then he just boosts himself up to sit beside it, legs hanging off the edge.

"You didn't have to haul it all the way here, you know," but he had, so Koumyou's extra curious, "what did you get?"

[subcircuits]

"I know," Devero says, "but I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer." Which is a weak excuse given he had to pass right past their sleeper cabin to come here from luggage, isn't it?

He unlatches the top of the trunk and opens it. It is crammed full of parcels, which he starts to unload and lay across the stage. The top layer is comprised of a couple of paper-wrapped items that thunk as he sets them down and a low, flat box; revealed beneath those are several flat, rustly paper packets that he piles up in a careful (wobbly) stack. At the bottom of the trunk are several pairs of shoes, one of which Devero snatches out right away.

He whistles softly as he lifts them into the air. "Oh, these look even nicer than they did in the catalogue," he breathes, turning to show them to Koumyou.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou laughs gently at that excuse, "You're precious, my Devero-chan."

He watches the assortment of smaller packages come out with curiosity, leaning to the side to peer into the open trunk as things come out. When Devero snatches out a pair of shoes, Koumyou raises both eyebrows.

"They look very fancy!"

Koumyou knows nothing about clothing, but hey, he's got eyes!

[subcircuits]

Devero grins sidelong at Koumyou. "They're dance shoes," he says. He flips them over and tests the suede of the soles with the thumb of the hand not holding them. "They've got special soles, see?"

After Koumyou's had his chance to see, Devero puts them down again and starts going through the stack of flatter packages. He peeks at Koumyou as he does, suddenly looking a little shy. "I got a few things for dancing, actually," he says. "I used to dance all the time back home, but I'd... fallen out of the habit. I've been showing Trunks some ballroom stuff and I thought it might be nice to spend some more time doing it for... for myself, too."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"How wonderful! You absolutely should!" Koumyou beams over at him, beyond pleased by this development. Look at Devero, doing things because he wants to!

"What I wanted you to meet me here for involves dance, too, so this is perfect... if you want to try any of your new stuff out?"

[subcircuits]

"I'd hoped it might," Devero says, still shy despite how broadly Koumyou's praise has made him smile. That's why he'd hurried here with his trunk full of goodies, instead of dropping it in the cabin.

He glances around the performance space as if he expects a dressing room to materialize out of nowhere. Of course, there isn't one, and he doesn't feel like trekking even one or two cars away to change. After another glance around to make sure no one else has snuck in on them, he strips off his uniform polo right there.

He picks up one of the paper packets he's set aside and starts to unwrap it-- then stops. "Don't look!" he commands Koumyou, taken by a sudden fit of cheek.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou laughs brightly and reaches up with both hands to exaggeratedly cover his eyes with them both.

"Maaaah, I'm so curious! But I won't peek."

[subcircuits]

Devero watches him intently for a moment to make sure Koumyou is keeping his eyes covered, then turns his back on the priest and starts to change. He does so quickly and neatly, setting his train basics aside folded because he's like that. He takes a moment to tuck his crisp white shirt into the waistband of the wide-legged pants and make sure the double waistcoat is settled across his chest, then says, "Okay, now you can look."

He turns on one foot so that the pants flare and swirl against his legs, and holds his arms out wide. Ta-da!

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou does look, of course. And gasps accordingly, "So dashing! And also... flowy!"

Flowy is a fashion word, right?

"I bet you can move way easier than in the cargo pants, huh?"

[subcircuits]

Whether or not it's a fashion word, it's definitely a dance word. "I sure hope so," he says, even though he already knows these will be a treat to dance in compared to the practical, utilitarian pants provided by the train.

He grabs the shoes and sits in a chair in the first row of audience seats. "So, what do you have in mind, my Sanzo?" he asks as he starts to ease the new footwear on.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I want to use dance to get you a little more comfortable with my sutra," Koumyou tells him, lifting one hand to touch the paper on his shoulders. "We dance, and I let the sutra react. You pause, it pauses. You say 'stop', it goes back to how it is now... and if you're up for it, starts over again."

That's the idea, anyway. "I had to ease into dealing with it too. We didn't use dance, but since that's something you enjoy, I'm hoping it will make it less... worrisome?"

[subcircuits]

"...Oh." Devero wasn't sure what he'd expected of Koumyou's request to meet him here, but it probably wasn't sutra habituation lessons. His face-- so open and expressive-- betrays a kneejerk moment of alarm as he stares uncertainly up at the priest.

But the moment passes almost immediately, because as soon as he thinks about it, he realizes what a good idea it is.

"That's brilliant," he says firmly, finishing the knot of the laces with a decisive motion and standing. He strides the few steps to where Koumyou's sitting on the stage and holds up his hands, palms up, in wordless request.

[its_dad_sanzo]

They have to start somewhere, right? It's not like the sutra is an optional part of being around a Sanzo. Koumyou offers him a smile, and sets his partially-covered hands in Devero's.

[subcircuits]

Devero grips those hands and uses them to pull Koumyou down to him. He kisses the priest on the corner of the mouth. "You're brilliant.

"Let me get this stuff all packed back up and we can start, all right?" he continues, releasing Koumyou's hands as he does.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou laughs, "Flatterer!"

But while he's here, all up close and personal... once his hands are released, he reaches up to touch Devero's waistcoats. There's nothing to straighten, since the bigger man just handled that, but he smooths the fabric anyway.

Just to do it.

"So dashing," the priest repeats with a soft little smile. "If we don't count when we were shape-shifters on the mission, you know... this is the first time I've seen you in something you chose for yourself."

[subcircuits]

Devero knows he's a handsome man. Koumyou knows that Devero knows that he's a handsome man. But his looks have been reserved for her for so long that it's still flusteringly novel to have them complimented sincerely, and by someone he wants to look good for.

So he doesn't pull away immediately to repack the trunk after all, instead ducking his head and returning Koumyou's smile with a silly one of his own. "It-- it is, isn't it? I'm glad you like what you see."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Yes, but now Koumyou's also complimenting Devero's own choices on how to dress himself! Though the priest would surely find Devero handsome in literally anything, and be especially enthused about it if the man chose it for himself.

So it's Koumyou's turn to reach to cup Devero's face, and lean in for a nice, slow, lingering smooch. Nothing risque, but definitely not in any kind of hurry, either.

[subcircuits]

Oh... He's only too happy to oblige, tilting his face up-- how novel!-- to enable Koumyou's smooch. And oh, he's happy, too, to linger, just soaking up the affection like the starved hound that he is.

He looks a little dazed when they separate, touching his fingers to his lips and smiling. "You m-must really like what you see..."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou beams at him, and then pushes himself back from the edge of the stage in preparation to stand back up. "I really like that you got to pick something for yourself!"

And that he did so!

Gotta encourage that!

Devero could make literally anything look good, it's more about the choice made here. The priest climbs back up to his feet once he's not immediately in Devero's face, and wanders a bit further onto the stage again.

[subcircuits]

Koumyou's nefarious plan to encourage Devero's agency and self esteem is working. Damn him! Devero's still wearing that silly grin as he says, "Remind me to show you the rest of the things I picked out later, then. I ordered a whole bunch."

But for now, he packs everything back up, not quite as neatly as when he'd taken it out. He latches the trunk and sets it at the foot of the stage before climbing up himself and joining Koumyou.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Ooh, a fashion show?" Koumyou asks brightly, "Are you going to model it all?"

Why not, right? It's not like they don't have time to be silly.

For now, though, Koumyou intends to use their time for something else. He smiles up at Devero as the man joins him, "You remember how to make it pause, right? And how to make it go back to how it is now?"

[subcircuits]

"Maybe if you ask nicely," Devero says with a crooked grin.

He lifts his hand and touches the paper of the sutra, just a light brush of his fingertips. Taking a deep breath, he says, "If I pause, it pauses. If I say stop, it goes back to this."

[its_dad_sanzo]

As usual, the holy artifact just feels like regular paper. If one had never seen it act differently, it might easily fool a person even to the touch.

"Exactly," Koumyou beams up at him, "This way, you can set the pace."

[subcircuits]

Another deep breath, and then Devero nods. "Got it," he says. And then, ma-hay-haaaybe stalling just a little bit, "We should put on some music. What are you feeling?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Hmm," something slow would probably be best, all things considered. "Do you want to teach me one of your waltzes?"

Slower, and something Koumyou knows for sure Devero enjoys especially.