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

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita pauses, giving the idea more thought once Roland shines a light on it.

"... Maybe. Something sweet?" she asks, fighting down a smile in turn.

Distracting from negative emotions was one thing, but she still worried what would happen if she didn't give in to venting them somehow...

But, potential for chocolate. Who could pass THAT up?

[adregem]

"Something sweet, eh? All right. Let's see what's in Store for us. Heh."

Sorry, Nita. Can't help these instincts when they hit you fast and hard. Roland chuckles, opening the door and allowing Nita to enter first before he scans shelves upon shelves of stocked goods and unopened jars. Chocolate and fudge would have been good to offer her, but those were more Tidus's specialty in the snack department than it was Mister Stickler Roland's. He hums lightly, peering even harder at what's offered.

"Drat. I think the leftover honey from before is all gone. Find anything on your end?" He calls out to her, glancing from over his shoulder.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"'Fraid not!" Nita calls.

She'd half-hoped the stuff from Jema'grethy had somehow survived, but in truth it had fared no better than the honey.

"Unless you have something in your Arms Band, might have to go poke around the Kitchens themselves..."

Leftover pastries tended to make themselves at home in there.

[adregem]

"I don't think so. I keep a pretty tight stock of things in there. Can't recall stuffing in sweets." Though he does chuckle somewhat, as he takes the lead of moving up to the kitchen with Nita following close by. "Maybe it's time I start stuffing my Arms Band with sweets though, perfect for emergencies like this."

It's a good way to comfort somebody, after all. When the Kitchen car is in view, he allows Nita to enter first, again, before going straight for the leftovers covered by the team in charge of cooking for the month. Just bits and pieces from dinner, avocadoes he cares not for, and -

"Aha. Jackpot."

The prophesized leftover pastries are covered in paper towels, nice and neat, preserving some of their flaky crunch. There's some bread too, from breakfast, which only seemed to need a light toasting on the pan. Roland shows this to Nita with a gentle flourish of his open hand, smiling. "Take your pick, ma'am."

Since I can't think of a good tag in the Alfredo thread (sob), have some cute.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"It would be a way to calm people down, if we ever have to evacuate another place on a mission."

It's a light thought, tinged with the darkness of their past experiences - but it also sounds pretty much true.

Once they've found their quarry, Nita goes for the pastries. She offers Roland one first, with a grin.

"Only if you accept this as tribute!" she says, teasing.

that's okay! cute is always welcome

[adregem]

Said tribute is indeed, accepted with little resistance, a slight nod to Nita before he digs in. "Cheers." And it's a darn good pastry she chose for him, without filling, but buttery and savory just as Roland prefers.

Scoping out the rest though, he pushes one that does look like it's been sprinkled with sugar bits towards Nita, hoping she'll join him on the midnight snack crusade. "I think this might satisfy your craving for something sweet. If not well...Who's gonna miss all this leftover bread? The elves here bake like crazy anyway."

Scandalous, Mister President.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita accepts hers with a similar attitude, though she doesn't start eating it just yet.

"Exactly! I don't know why some people starve themselves here..."

Dieting was one thing and her feelings about that are best left unvoiced, mixed as her thoughts are, but starving was very much another to her.

"Still, I don't think they'll take too much offense; they've had a lot more people to look out for, before coming here."

apologies, work really kicked my arse ;;

[adregem]

"What do you mean starve themselves?"

He pauses on his munching, wiping the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. It occurs to him too, that they might need something to drink, so he speaks while busying himself with grabbing two cups and...ah. Tea would be nice at this time of the void, right?

"Are you speaking of somebody on the train, in particular?"

/pats, purrs

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita takes a small bite as Roland gathers those cups, trying to recall if there was anything apart from the one big instance she's remembering here.

"I know Peter's mentioned doing something like that, over on the Network. Granted, most people called him out on it, but with how many superpowered or superhuman people we have on the train... wouldn't surprise me if he wasn't the only one thinking it, even if there's no real need to do so."

Self-sacrifice seemed to be a pre-tty common theme for those on this train... A sour thought, even in the midst of this sweet-treat time.

"You want a hand with what you've got there, Roland?" she asks, forcing herself to quit her train of thought.

thank you ;; weekend's almost here, hopefully i can tag faster

[adregem]

"Well, I hope those same people remind him that the Stores do replenish earlier than we reach platform. There's no need for that at all when we have an abundance of the ingredient of the month..." Gah. Maybe next month they'd get something more palatable to him. Like bagels. Or ham and cheese sandwiches without slices of bitter green fruit.

He's in the process of setting down tea bags in each cup when Nita asks. The water is still crawling up to a proper boil.

"Want to grab yourself some milk and sugar for your tea? How do you take it?" He crosses his arms, leaned against the edge of the counter in waiting. "For now, just help me with that, and later on when we carry this to the engine room." Roland nods, a small smile in offering.

Nevermind that the tea he picked seemed to be standard chamomile in its subtle, nutty fragrance. Something to help soothe what seems to be an ailing friend, or one that he feels might need a good night's sleep.

[unfavorableinstigation]

"I've acquired some taste for it black, but milk's still nice," she admits.

"What about you?"

Apart from that, and a nod to Roland's own earlier response, she is quiet as she goes about the kitchen, polishing off the pastry before coming back for another.

What can she say, they're addictive!

[adregem]

She can have as many as she wants, as far as Roland is concerned. There's always room for your favorite dessert...or midnight snack.

And he's about to deny her too, ready to shake his head pointedly, but he decides it might be a better idea to share even in something as simple as one drink for a friend who seems to need the company.

"Why not? Milk's supposed to help you relax at night anyway, right?" Well, the logic behind warm milk and milk in tea isn't quite the same, but he's not opposed to changing up his routine. "Hit me. Water's done. I think we're ready to head along."

/attempts to piece together a timeline from all these threads |D

[unfavorableinstigation]

"On it!"

And less than a minute later, they're all set; Nita has the rest of the pastries gathered in a napkin-blanket (no baskets having proven in evidence), and it's back onward to Stores for both of them.

Nita has her tea in her other hand, walking somewhat slow to keep the 'basket' from swinging too much, but she'll stick as close to Roland as the hallways allow.

That said, she seems to be sinking deep back in thought again, frown creeping upon her face.

a worthwhile endeavor! good luck!

[adregem]

The silence they share as they take the trip to their little makeshift spot is not uncomfortable, and Roland has always appreciated quiet lulls in anything. Conversations, long days, whatever passes his time. But tonight there is something charged, and he feels it's worth pursuing. What else did he offer his company for if not to help a friend?

So as soon as they settle down, Roland plopping himself against the nearest wall with a knee bent and his other leg straightened across, he sips into his dark tea for a minute before opening conversation. Tentatively, in case Nita was more inclined to remain in that silence. That's fine too.

"So. What's tonight's book of choice?"

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Just a magazine, tonight. A new one."

New as in new series, not just as in 'acquired today'. Once she'd set down the 'basket', she fetched out the magazine in question and nudged it over to Roland to check out.

"Something from a different world. Not sure if these'll be void active places or anything... but it helps to get to know places just in case, you know?"

She'd always been an avid researcher, and even having her mood go some unfortunate places couldn't quash that completely.

[adregem]

He takes a glance at her reading and nods in some slight interest. Roland leans slightly against her arm to nudge her back, careful not to spill either of their cups.

"Hm. A mining town, eh? With biographies, too. A treat." Roland peers at the back of the magazine with a careful tilt of his head, reading what he can and what isn't obscured. He straightens up and sips from his blackened tea. "You're getting an inside look into a whole other community. That's always the best kind of research, I say."

And it's admirable in a way, to remain dedicated to it even through all the missions they have to go through time and time again. He doesn't discourage it at all, and leaves the air between them free for Nita to poke him with findings as she reads. His company is easygoing as it can be, between offering an ear to listen or conversation to be had if that's what she so chose.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita settles - into the moment, into the magazine and, in what is more immediately notable, into the contact.

It's not something she does deliberately, but she relaxes. Again, tea is not spilled, but the food is almost secondary to the whole situation.

There are a few points into her reading where she points out some paragraph or other, or a picture someone probably had taken by hand of their workplace, their family. Places people liked to hide away, or of particularly 'historic' mines.

"Thanks," she says some time later, seemingly without prompting.

"You... didn't have to come hang out with me, Roland. But I'm glad you did."

[adregem]

The family pictures are what make Roland smile fondly at the magazine, and the historical mines pique his attention in a way he doesn't try to hide. They're things he appreciates about reading new material himself, and he's glad that even with the circumstances of their being here on this train, there's still a sense of wonder to be had across the universe.

He's mid-sip when Nita speaks quietly, almost apprehensively. The tea doesn't make it, his hand carefully dropping it down to the matching plate as he studies her closely. A height difference that grants him a view of the top of her head, which he takes a moment for before a heavy yet warm hand pats her once by the hair.

"You would do the same for me. We're friends, right? Don't worry about it."

Besides, nobody comes out of a memorial space just because they felt like it. There's always something, and Roland is attuned to that more than people give him credit for.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita smiles tightly - before dropping the 'tightly' part, sighing.

"Friends... can't have enough of those."

And that was more a comment on the day than anything else she'd said so far.