voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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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!

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No one should have to. That much Alice can agree with.

But she knows it happens. All the time. Constantly. Back home she was utterly surrounded by other children who also had absolutely no one or nothing left. There's too much pain in the world, and right now it's all just reflected in Dyme's eyes.

So she just silently sits down on the piano seat, squeezing herself in next to him, her shoulder pressed to hers. Like a less contact-intensive kind of hug.

"You've done well to come this far." What else can she say here? She can't undo the death of his brother, or wish it to be better in any way. "Even though it must've hurt so much."

It might have been a simple shoulder touch, but it was the most comforting physical contact he'd had in a while. Something inside of him melted--in a good way--even as his chin quivered for a moment.

"You think so?" he said quietly. "I've been trying to do my best. I just...want to make people happy." And his father proud, but if it hadn't happened yet, he felt like it never would.

"Of course I think so. I don't say things I don't mean."

And while it's a bit harder than how others may have said such a thing, the sentiment behind it seems genuine all the same. Yes, that really is what Alice thinks.

"You're a kind, caring person. Despite all that you've been through. What more could anyone else expect of you?" Not that Alice doesn't know people's expectations can be ridiculous, but she really can't see what anyone ought to have to complain about when it comes to Dyme. "Wanting to make people happy is just about the purest desire there is."

"Right. You know, that's one of the things I really like about you." He appreciated her honesty; it meant a lot to him.

Taking a deep breath, he blinked back some tears. People had high expectations, he was well aware of that, but to know he was doing good enough to at least one person...that also meant a lot to him. "Thank you," he said quietly. He needed more friends like her, honestly. Back home he had his band, and they were always supportive, but beyond that... Alice was something special.

It's when she looks over at him that she realises that look in his eyes. The vague watery quality about them, realising that he really does look like he's about to cry.

It leaves Alice staring for a moment, but then she finally turns and reaches out to gather him up in a proper hug. Usually she's not the type to do this, but.. what else is she supposed to do in the face of that? Of him nearly crying as he thanks her for something so simple?

(Thankfully the tears are distracting her from him saying he likes that about her, because otherwise she would have slid down the freaking out about anyone saying anything positive spiral about her too.)

"Don't cry, you big oaf." But despite her words, her tone sounds gentle. Like this just simply is how Alice tries to cheer people up, unsure of what other words one could even use for it. "Are you going to cry over something so simple? Over someone merely telling you the truth?"

For a moment, he froze when she hugged him. He knew how she felt about hugging, so he hadn't been expecting it. But here they were, and suddenly, for a moment, it was all the harder not to actually cry, even as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Maybe," he said with a sniffle and a bit of a laugh. "The truth can be a pretty powerful thing." Sometimes it was hard to handle because it was so terrible. Other times it was hard because it wasn't terrible. This was a case of the latter, coupled with his wildly fluctuating self-esteem and guilt issue.

"Then let this become something less powerful. Something you just instantly believe about yourself."

She knows it's not that easy. Changing your perception of yourself is awful. It's a long, hard road, and even Alice herself isn't fully done walking down it yet.

But she wishes it for him. She so dearly wishes Dyme could think better of himself, because-- because he deserves it.

Because he is good enough of a person that he should never think he isn't.

"Don't let anyone tell you anything different."

He laughed again. "I don't know about instantly, but I'll do my best to work on it. I promise." Working on it was all he could do. He'd already come so far, but he had so much further to go. Maybe someday he'd reach the end goal.

"I try not to let 'em, but sometimes it isn't worth the fight." Gone were the days when he'd fight with anyone over anything. Now he'd just fight with people over most things.

He was so lucky to have a friend like Alice.

"Good." That he's willing to work on it, that is.

It's enough for Alice to let go of him, though she doesn't get up from the seat she's sitting on together with him. It's not like she wants to just leave Dyme right after having a talk like this, so while she's here..

"Why don't you teach me a thing or two about playing this, hm? I've never done so before. I know a few songs, but only through singing."

Clearing his throat, he also let go and straightened up a little bit, rubbing the back of his hand across his eyes. He was feeling a lot better now, but there'd still been some remnants of almost tears to do away with.

"Sure, I'd love t--wait. You sing?" Was that what he was gathering from this?

Of all things to take away from this, Alice can't help but think when Dyme pipes up with that.

Usually she may have darted away from this conversation as quickly as possible, but she supposes that won't make his emotional state much better. So even though it's with a slight sigh, she does reply.

"Yes, I sing." It feels awkward to admit to. Like it doesn't suit her. Like no one would believe it, or that people might only ridicule her for it. "But not around other people."

As a singer himself, of course, he stopped to acknowledge that. He never would have guessed, but he smiled all the same.

"That's really cool. How long have you been singing?" He'd bet she had a pretty voice, but he also wouldn't push about it. "Don't worry," he added, "I won't ask you to."

"Well.. I mean, ever since I was little.. Don't most people?"

She definitely seems more than just a little awkward about it. Though the fact that it's Dyme and the things he's saying make it at least slightly possible for her to talk about it.

"It's just a hobby though! Not even that, really, it's nothing serious. Just something to do to idly pass the time with." Since she definitely doesn't want him comparing her to him. She's not even good at it! "It's just.. fun, I suppose. Singing songs like the Lobster Quadrille."

"I guess so." He was also pretty sure he'd met people who'd never sung a day in their lives. He couldn't imagine Salem belting out a song, even in the shower.

"I have to say, it's a pretty good hobby to have." But he was probably biased, all things considered. Though after a moment, he raised an eyebrow. "Quad...rille?"

".. it's a kind of dance." Though Alice is quickly realising why it's very likely that he's never heard of it before, so she adds: "Probably too oldfashioned." For Dyme to know about it, anyway. He seemed just about as modern as some other people in this place.

"The Mock Turtle taught me about that song and the dance when I visited him." Her fingers idly glide along the keys of the piano as she talks, but without really pressing them and producing any sound. "It was rather interesting to see the sealife dance like that."

"Oh!" Well, that explained everything. "I don't know much about dancing." He could follow a beat, but he didn't know any specific dances.

"I'd love to see sealife dance, though," he said. He bet it really was interesting. "I'm just used to average old people dancing."

"Trust me. It's so much better than watching people dance."

But Alice is heavily biased here, since she just doesn't like social gatherings as a whole - which is where people usually tend to dance.

Her fingers slowly start pressing some of the keys, but it doesn't sound like a tune. More just random notes, like she's searching for something.

"I'm not sure I can find the right notes on here.." Especially since she's not used to playing the piano in the first place.

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A New Platform [Intro Post February]

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