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

[myblueskies]

He hugged his knees as he listened to her, she was sad too. Because she had lots her dads, when mister Tony and mister Ignis had walked through the barriers.

It was so sad that people left and it hurt that they would be missed. He still missed Joss a lot. He still missed his friends in the heavens.

"It does hurt a lot. You are very strong Madoka." Because right now it feels like his heart will be heavy forever and yet Madoka managed to get her spirits up again, even after such sadness.

[happyends]

She shakes her head.

"I'm not that strong." But this time it's not something she's just saying to put herself down. It's not about her, after all. No, this is just a point she's trying to make, glancing over at Romeo as she says it.

"I.. I think I'm just normal. I think it's something anyone can do."

Why couldn't others do it if she could do it?

"You can too, Romeo. But it's.. um. It's really something you don't have to think about right now. It's something that will come naturally at some point, I promise."

[myblueskies]

Something anyone could do? He has to believe she is right, that one day his heart won't feel so heavy and his spirits can lift once more.

"Thank you, Madoka." He tries to smile and half succeeds. "You're a good friend."

To help him like this, and to let him be sad a little while.

[happyends]

A good friend? Maybe. Madoka doesn't think she's doing anything special here. She knows for a fact that Romeo would do the same for her, considering he's similarly comforted her after she was the one dealing with loss.

But rather than disputing it, Madoka just smiles a little at the boy before opening up her arms.

".. Do you want a hug?"

It might not fix everything, but who knows. Maybe it could help at least a little bit.

[myblueskies]

A very good friend and special to Romeo. He nodded a little shyly. A hug would be nice, Madoka gave very good hugs.

He shuffled a little closer to her, reaching up to wipe his eyes.

[happyends]

She doesn't hesitate much at that silent agreement. Madoka reaches out, and then slowly, but gently, wraps the other up into an embrace. Her arms around his back, holding him close for as long as she needs to.

Her hands even start rubbing gentle soothing circles onto his back.

"There, it's okay.." She softly says.

[myblueskies]

It really did feel okay, with Madoka's arms around him he felt like it could be okay maybe. Even if things were bad and sad right now she was here and things would get better, even if they hurt for a while.

"Thank you, Madoka."

[happyends]

She just hums in response, like it's a nonverbal way of saying 'no problem'. Because it really is no problem. She'd try to be there for Romeo like this ten times over if it was necessary. Anything to make her good friend feel better.

Hence why she stays like this for a bit. Madoka thinks Romeo probably won't mind, since otherwise he'd just be laying there by himself listlessly.. And at least this way he knows there's someone else here with him. That he's not all alone, even after a painful loss.

"Let's do some other distracting things later today, okay..? U-Um, if you feel up for it. We could cook together, or go see a movie, or play Hungry Hungry Hippos.."

[myblueskies]

Madoka's hug is nice, warm and safe and it made his spirits begin to rise bit by bit. He doesn't mind at all that they just sit like that for a while, it's nice and it makes him feel less scared, less alone.

He nodded at her, "All of that sounds nice, Madoka." He looks down, "It feels bad to want to play games when Elfnein is gone... But she wouldn't want me not to..."

It's tricky.

[happyends]

It is tricky.

But maybe talking it through will help a little? Madoka isn't too sure if anything will help in this situation, but the least they can do is try. It's better than just sitting around silently and miserably, right..?

So she speaks up. Slowly, and quietly, and still not letting go of him.

"Why does it feel bad to want to play games when she's gone..?"

[myblueskies]

"Because it feels wrong. To want to have fun when she can't have fun with us. I wanted us all to play Hungry Hungry Hippos together and now we can't... Because she won't be with us."

He sighed, "So it feels bad, like playing would be a bad thing to do."

[happyends]

"That isn't wrong though.."

But her voice is soft, gentle. Like she wants to explain it to Romeo, rather than scold him for thinking that way. Especially since Madoka can understand it - when her own brain has gone down that road plenty of times, guilting herself for going on living when others didn't.

"I mean.." She pauses for a moment, squeezing the boy as she tries to find the best possible way to explain all of this to him. "Do you think Elfnein would want you to only be sad..? To never have fun again..?"

[myblueskies]

He shook his head straight away. "No." Of course she would't. Elfnein wouldn't want him to be sad at all.

"She would want me to be happy and she would want me to have fun and keep making friends and keep learning things..."

[happyends]

Thankfully he gives the answer she expected he'd give. Romeo is a good, honest boy, after all. Of course he'd tell the truth, and Madoka knows that no one who knows Romeo would ever want anything but the best for him.

So she pulls back a little. Just so he can see her visible smile.

"See..? Not that it means you have to force yourself to be happy right away.. But it just means she would be glad to know if you tried playing games, or doing something else fun to distract yourself. So.. um.. I guess all I'm saying is don't hold yourself back, Romeo.."

[myblueskies]

Madoka was right! Of course Madoka was right, she was very clever. But Elfnein wouldn't want him to be sad and she would be glad if he did something to distract himself, if he played a game even if she wasn't with him anymore.

He nodded, "Let's go play a game, Madoka."

we can probably wrap here, right? c:

[happyends]

"Okay."

She makes sure to continue smiling softly at him, taking Romeo's hands into her own so she can gently take him along by them.

At least Madoka doesn't expect the other to instantly be cheerful. There's no way to bounce back so quickly after such a significant loss. But hopefully it'll at least give his mind something else to focus on right alongside it - so not only sad things have to exist in the boy's mind.

"Let's go."

wrap! <3

[myblueskies]

Romeo held her hands and let Madoka lead him off to go and play games, to try and keep his spirits up even if it felt they would never rise again.

"Yes, let's go."

He was lucky to have such a friend as Madoka.