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

[secretmakesawoman]

[With Sera temporarily off her feet, Vermouth seems to relax a moment, arms folded. Then again, perhaps that is nothing but a trick. After all, she had seemed rather chill before the flip as well.]

[However, she makes no move for Sera either.]

A secret makes a woman a woman. Those reasons are mine and mine alone.

Now, are we done?

[singlefaith]

After the new arrivals had come and the train had launched itself back into the Void, Ran planned to get started on her chores, weaving her way back through the cars. It was a good way to focus, to not let her mind spin as much as had been over the last weeks.

It's when she was about to head into the next car that she'd caught the voices -- one demanding, raging, punctuating through the door, the other barely audible in its answers, obviously much cooler in response.

Both were familiar.

Ran jerks open the door to find a somewhat daunting scene: Sera on the ground as though she'd been knocked off her feet, Vermouth standing with crossed arms.

A secret makes a woman a woman. Those reasons are mine and mine alone. Now, are we done?

"What's going on?" Ran isn't liking that look in Sera's eyes; instinctively she readies herself to move just in case.

As for Vermouth . . . she's not sure the coolness that emanates from the older woman is any better.

I should mention I suspect Sharon of poisoning my mom. The words ring back in Ran's mind, unbidden.

In that moment, Vermouth looks much more like the person Shinichi warns her of. Much more like a woman capable of doing just that.

[tactlesstantei]

[Masumi's just about to push herself to her feet when Ran comes in, and she gives her a brief, startled glance before standing up and returning her focus to Vermouth.]

No, we're not done here. I still want to know why you had to taze me after you made me think you were my brother. I almost thought it was Shuu-nii who did that, since no one told me what was going on!

[One of the options in her mind back then had been the idea that maybe it had been her brother who had tazed her that day, for unknown reasons. Of course it wasn't, dead men can't come back after all, but she's still hurt and still ready to attack again despite having just been knocked down.]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Vermouth glances towards the door at the sound of it slamming open, and suddenly her smile immediately drops. Angel. Of all the times for Ran to show up!]

[She needs to keep Ran out of this. But unfortunately, Sera seems incapable of telling what's a bad idea to openly share right now. Vermouth might have given her some hints a moment ago. "We couldn't let you get involved." Sadly for Masumi, now Ran is the one who cannot get involved, and that means shutting this conversation down.]

Oh, nothing much. As you can see, I'm being accused of outlandish things.

[Her tone is remarkably breezy, as if this happens frequently. And it does, in show business. (And also the Organization.) Then, much colder, to Sera:]

Whatever answers you seek, I'm not the one to give them to you.

[singlefaith]

She's still not liking the look in Sera's eyes. She knows that look -- rage, someone willing to attack.

And though the fact that Sera is a strong martial artist in her own right, Ran has been given every indication that Vermouth isn't to be underestimated either. Not to mention the fact that she'd come upon this whole scene with Sera on the ground, looking very much like she'd fallen.

With all this in mind, Ran finds herself stepping forward, reaching for one of Sera's forearms -- both to dissuade and and in the hopes that the touch will help call her friend out of it.

Her eyes flick towards Vermouth at her words, discerning . . . and not buying them. After all, just before she'd come in, she'd heard the older woman speak of secrets. Reasons. Those wouldn't be mentioned if Vermouth were truly being accused of outlandish things.

But to say so aloud would likely seem like she's diving into the fight herself, and that's not what she wants to do. Her primary goal is to get Sera calmer, not looking as though she's about to attack . . . because that can't end well for either of them.

"Sera-chan." She tries to pull Sera's attention back to the moment. "Please . . . . don't. Wait."

. . . From the sounds of it, Sera certainly has reasonable potential reasons to be furious, but this isn't going to get her the answers she wants.

[tactlesstantei]

Then who would you suggest give them to me?!

[She's about to strike again when Ran takes her arm and tells her not to. It's enough to get her to pause, and while she yanks her arm away, still upset, she's at least not about to attack right away anymore.]

...She disguised as my dead brother on the Bell Tree Express, what am I supposed to do? Let her go?

[While there's still a lot of rage in her voice, there's a hint of grief, and desperation to be able to do something about Vermouth. It's an unspoken plea to let her handle this, even as she realizes there's nothing she can do at the moment, so long as she's stuck on this train.]

1/2

[secretmakesawoman]

I would suggest you stop following this little thread entirely. It's not one you want to be tangled in.

[While her tone is still breezy, Vermouth's expression is more serious than before. It's hard to tell if Vermouth is telling this to Masumi or Ran. Her attention flickers between the two of them. Sera, so driven like the rest of her family, yet so green. And Ran... One look at her Angel's face, and it's clear that she's once again seen through her excuses.]

[At this rate, it's dangerous to stay here.]

2/2

[secretmakesawoman]

[Smiling mysteriously to herself, Vermouth turns from the girls, beginning to walk away.]

[However, she offers one cryptic hint as she goes.]

But if you're that invested, why don't you ask the true mastermind behind what occurred on the Bell Tree Express?

After all, he's clearly told you some already.

[singlefaith]

Ran's back stiffens a little at Sera's pronouncement, her fingers lingering in the air. The information is definitely making an impact; Ran just can't let it distract her from the goal of getting Sera to disengage. At least the other girl doesn't look ready to resume an attack at this point?

Quietly, "Sera-chan has the right to be angry. And hurt. But . . . fighting her isn't going to do anything. Not really. She's not going to give you all the answers you want--" --Ran knows that well enough from her own interactions-- "and it's not going to change anything."

Because she can't see Vermouth even apologizing for this. There's absolutely nothing in her tone or demeanor that indicates that she would.

Her eyes flick back to Vermouth, her words trying to at least pause the older woman, keep her from just vanishing. "Obviously you did do it. You're not trying to deny it . . . and otherwise, you wouldn't have said what you did before about secrets and having reasons. It won't make up for it completely, but couldn't you at least tell her why? We all have to live on this train together. We have to rely on each other for missions, and that means we have to have at least some kind of peace."

She'll try, anyway. Questions about what happened can be reserved for later. The comment about the mastermind is ignored -- not knowing most of what happened on the train, it means little.

[tactlesstantei]

...

[Deep down, she knows this won't help anything. She knows that picking a fight like this won't fix a thing, but she can't just let it go either.]

...So that's it. You just tell me to go talk to someone else and leave. I won't fight anymore, but can you please answer Ran's question? I still don't know why I had to be knocked out and left back in my room after I fell for the trick.

[She takes note of that comment about a mastermind for later, when she's not so worked up over all this. Even Masumi's becoming aware that she's in no state of mind to pursue this at the moment.]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Vermouth gets halfway down the hall before Ran calls out to her. And despite all odds she does pause, just briefly, in her retreat.]

[There are many things she could say, most of them she shouldn't, especially with Ran there. 'There's nothing left to say,' would be the smart way to leave it. She almost does... until Sera chimes in, and something else comes out instead.]

Your room? [That's where Yukiko's ally brought Sera? Well, she supposes it did work out for them, but she would have expected something more... well guarded. The comment is clearly more to herself, and so incredulous that it could be mistaken as snide. That is, if they hear it at all, given her distance.]

[Either way, it does put a damper on her dropping the question entirely. So she goes with the next best thing.]

The fewer people who could get involved, the better.

[Not only to ensure that no one stopped them from cornering Sherry, but in order to avoid silencing more people. Despite both their conniving plotting, it was one thing that both Bourbon and Vermouth generally aimed for.]

[singlefaith]

Is that an answer? Or warning Ran away? Ran's eyes shift to Sera, trying to gauge if the other girl takes anything from it.

[tactlesstantei]

[Masumi's paying close attention to Vermouth, so she catches what she says in regards to where she was taken after being tazed. ]

Wait, where did you leave me then? And that's barely an answer, you trick me and then decide that maybe I shouldn't be involved? [Thankfully she's not going after Vermouth anymore, but she's still clearly upset and is finding that cryptic hints aren't helping much with getting her to calm down.]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Vermouth cracks a sly smile, not answering Sera's first question.]

The other way around, Sera. The other way around. [They knew she couldn't get involved with the mission once Masumi ended up on the train, and it so happened someone couldn't get over her brothers death. Two birds with one stone.]

[With that she takes the last steps to the carriage door. Stopping, she turns back to them and winks.]

Until next time, ladies!

[singlefaith]

"Wait--" Though even though she says the word, even advancing a step forward like she means to follow, Ran suspects that Vermouth won't stop, won't give answers. It's hard to hear Sera so upset and not at least try.

Even when she knows from her own experiences that the older woman isn't prone to giving answers -- or at least only tends to provide fragments on her own terms.

[tactlesstantei]

The other way around?

[That still doesn't answer much, but by now Masumi has given up on going after Vermouth. Instead, she just glares after her, too hurt to really think about much beyond how she'd let herself be tricked that day on the Bell Tree Express.

Thinking about the hints she'd been given will come later, once she's had a chance to calm down and work through her emotions, though. She's just too worked up to deal with these cryptic hints right now.]