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

[subcircuits]

Devero leans down as prompted and has a look at the ring (and the locket too, actually). "It's lovely," he says with a smile. "I can't believe I didn't know you had a partner here. Congratulations to you both!"

[blue_ice]

"I tend to be more private with my emotions," he says with a soft shake of his head.

That's not a jab at Devero and Koumyou at all, despite what it might sound like. He thinks they're fun. But he opens the locket to show him.

It contains two pictures. The first, a little older, is of a small boy with wild black hair at a chessboard. The second is of Seto and Yugi in the gym car, both wearing brightly colored onesies.

"That's my brother, Mokuba. And I'm sure you've seen Yugi around, he's my partner. We were fierce rivals back home, but since I met him here...he's made me a better person in every way."

[subcircuits]

"Nothing wrong with that," Devero says easily. "I would have said the same thing before I met Koumyou Sanzo." He would have been somewhat wrong, but he would have said it.

He does recognize the short boy in the photo with Kaiba. Hair like that is pretty unmistakable; he's definitely seen him around the train, even if they've never been introduced. And his face takes on a noticeable softness as he looks at the little picture of Kaiba's brother. He probably won't ever be able to shake his wistful envy of people with families.

"What changed?" he asks, looking back up at Kaiba. "--If you don't mind me asking, of course."

cw: implied child emotional abuse

[blue_ice]

Seto smirks a little at the mention of Koumyou. Of course. But then he takes the ring between his fingers, thoughtful.

"It's a long story, and it actually ties into my brother too---but I'll try to keep it short."

Deep breaths. "Mokuba and I were orphaned shortly after he was born. To keep us together, I had to get us adopted by a cruel man---we got out from under his thumb eventually, but I became a monster because I thought I needed to to survive. When I first met Yugi, I didn't give a damn about anyone."

He sighed. "I terrorized his grandfather, so Yugi and his friend put me what you might call a magic coma...the intent was a rebirth, of sorts. And it worked. I still didn't trust anyone, or want to make friends. I kept crossing paths with Yugi, and his friends hated me for good reason, but he kept reaching out to me."

A small, fond smile. "I've finally started dealing with my problems. Being here with a common goal forced me to realize that I'm just another person. Yugi proved to me that kindness isn't a weakness, he let me start over with him...and I'll always be grateful for that."

[subcircuits]

Another thing Devero's probably never going to be able to shake is his visceral horror when he hears about children who've been betrayed by their caregivers. He tries to keep his expression neutral, but-- it's hard. It's hard not to be horrified and a little angry on the behalf of a younger Kaiba and his brother that Devero has never, and probably will never, meet.

But as Kaiba continues talking, he gets it under control. There's nothing his simmering, impotent disgust can do from worlds-- and years-- away from Kaiba's childhood.

He puts a hand on Kaiba's shoulder and squeezes. "Seems to me the train's pretty good at--" He pauses, for an instant balanced on the edge of a familiar cliff. Behind him lies the safe, comfortable path of silence and denial; ahead, an unknown gulf of vulnerability and accountability. However, there's a narrow, trembling bridge that's been strung out over that gulf since he arrived on the train, and Devero makes himself step onto it.

"--At making stubborn fucks face their-- their problems," he finishes after that hesitation. (Okay, it was a small step onto the bridge.) He smiles, crooked and a little wan. "He sounds like a great guy. I'm glad you have this with him now."

[blue_ice]

That phrasing draws a laugh from Seto. He feels a little lighter now---every time he tells someone about the darkness he came from and they don't run, it's another small victory. He's fine the way he is, he belongs.

"You have some experience in this realm to draw from?"

[subcircuits]

He's already on the bridge. Just take another step, Devero; share with Kaiba as he's shared with you.

"...I was-- I'm in-- I was in a relationship back home that was--" He's obviously having trouble saying this, dancing back and forth over the words. He can barely articulate it to himself, much less to someone else.

But he's not running from Valdana's abuse anymore. He'd made that pledge weeks ago, to someone else, and he's had trouble keeping it, but he's still trying.

He takes a deep breath. "Bad," he finishes finally. "Violent, dangerous. I lied to myself for a long time about it, but I'm not doing that to myself anymore. I made a promise."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba listens, his face carefully neutral---but the empathy is clear in his eyes. For the first time, he's the one to reach out, gently laying a hand on Devero's arm.

"Every second you live and live well is another second of your revenge. Whoever tried to break you, they didn't win, and they can seethe---or roll in their grave, whichever's applicable."

[subcircuits]

The touch seems to surprise him. He's still so, so used to being the one who reaches out, and no one reaching back to him. He looks from the hand on his arm up to Kaiba's face-- and when he sees the empathy there, a startled, grateful smile breaks across his lips.

He covers Kaiba's hand with his own. "I-- I hadn't thought of it like that," he admits. The smile falters a little as he says, "If only she could see me now. She'd be furious."