voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I don't think we have anything like that. The only puzzles are probably jigsaws in the games room. And you aren't gonna get killed if you don't solve those."

He gestures with one hand for her to follow him in, trying to both give her space but also not lose track of her.

"A game room...how charming for a magic rolling prison train." She muttered clearly more irritated by the illusion of choice then she was by the promise of jigsaws.

"I do appreciate you offering to help." she added perhaps realizing she might lose helpful information if she alienated someone offering to help her.

"Yeah, well. Despite kidnapping us, this place seems to want to keep us somewhat safe and happy. I don't really trust it either, but at least you won't get bored." Rich steps onto the train itself, and offers a hand to her to help Azula climb on board.

"And it's okay, seriously. I know how much it sucks being new to this, and coming here when you were trying to deal with shit back home is even worse." Maybe Rich is jumping to conclusions, but she seems a bit like him... perhaps in the midst of a major change before the train stole her away.

Azula considers it but opts not to accept his hand helping herself onto the train by holding a guide rail and taking one last look at the platform before making her choice.

There was no turning back after all.

"Despite these clothes I'll have you know back home I am a Princess, any "Shit" I was dealing with back home was dealt with promptly."

A lie, and not even a very good one. She used to be so much better at it. What was she missing since everything fell apart that made it so hard to lie properly anymore? Oh well it didn't matter.

"But yes, this does "Suck" I guess if that's the sort of peasant slang we use to mean things are bad."

Rich... tries valiantly not to let that bother him, shoving that offered hand in his pocket and waiting for her to make her decision to step on board. He gets that it's difficult for some to make the leap.

Unfortunately, he didn't really have a choice.

"A princess?" He valiantly clamps down on any flirty comments he could make (something about being the street rat to her Jasmine) and instead gives her a reassuring smile. "I'll try to be more eloquent then, your majesty. Though I do have to say that doesn't mean your problems are any less than that of a commoner. They can... still bother you, even if you've 'dealt' with it."

She hesitated trying to suss out the balance between competent and over compensating. Had a year locked away really damaged her ability to manipulate and lie this badly?

Or maybe it was something else.

"I suppose I...may have some issues left over. But when you are in a position of power you are expected to deal with them. You can see where it wouldn't do to act weak."

Maybe that's the case, but maybe Rich just knows someone so talented at lying that they can even lie to themselves when he sees it. He gives her a empathetic smile.

"No, I think I might relate to that more than you know. I'm not royalty or anything, but I definitely had to put on a show of being tougher than I was if I wanted to survive. That kind of thing... it makes you bottle up your feelings, which isn't exactly the best idea."

Now that was a more interesting explanation then she was expecting. People here seemed to be all too eager to tease at their own personal histories.

"Feelings can be more trouble then they are worth. If you're overly emotional you're likely to make mistakes. You can't trust in feelings to help you survive." she countered.

Rich isn't exactly the type to talk about himself unless he feels like it can help... The problem is that Azula seems to need that help more than anything, especially if she's dismissing her own emotions like this.

"Sure, maybe that's true. But making decisions without a bit of understanding as to how you feel isn't going to help either. Emotions are kind of what makes us human, so forgetting that... it's just going to make you a miserable psychopath." Not that he'd ever gone down that road, but he had done some pretty callous things when he was listening to something that couldn't consider human feelings.

"Yes, I suppose that would be a problem for us wouldn't it?"

Her tone had gotten colder suddenly and she wasn't looking at him. The words miserable psychopath Were echoing in her head and suddenly she caught sight of some movement in the reflection of a window they were near.

No...probably just those people outside who still hadn't boarded.

"Being stuck on a train heading into the unknown is hard enough. No sense in being miserable about it as well." She finally answered ready to resume her tour.

"Let's get started, I'd like to be at least something resembling comfortable before we're moving again."

"It... it would, yeah."

Geez, did a cold wind blow through here, or was it just him? He was just trying to help her out, though maybe he hadn't worded it in the most polite way. That's... unfortunately a problem with him.

"Sure thing. This basically starts right here. We're right by an ICP, which is like a communicator of some sort. It lets you send voice or video to any other train cars that have one of these. Unfortunately, you can't record messages for later, and you can't send them privately to one person."

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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