voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day One of the month of Kazoo. 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 is thick, the air is warm and humid and there are rumbles of thunder, the air heavy with the promise of rain.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alfredo Martini, Daia, Enna Alchiba, Lord El-Melloi II, Natsuno Yuuki, Nita Callahan, Saku Gyousou, Sakura, V and Wen Qing

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, and seems smaller with twenty-seven 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.

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'). Those not new to the train will note the addition of an eighth sleeper carriage. The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, it seems the month of Kazoo is defined by the tomato and there are plenty of them.

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 as thunder rumbles further and the storm threatens to break. 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

Q'uila hadn't expected to find a familiar-but-not face so quickly in this new place but here was Prompto and she can't help the fondness that creeps into the edges of her smile at his reaction.

"Well, we can be mildly confused together!" Her ears wiggle as she holds a hand out to Prompto, "My name is Q'uila and this bundle of lazy starlight is Lu'lim. I am assuming that this is the first time you have left Eos?"

He blinked a few times at the specific and strange question.

"Uh, y-yeah, I mean how would you even leave Eos? Is that what I did?"

Q'uila lets her hand drop, unbothered by it in the face of Prompto's confusion. "Nearly everyone reacts the same way the first time it happens to them, myself included. The long and short of it is that places like this are where multiple universes join together and it allows those of us from completely different worlds to meet."

Q'uila gestures to her feline features, "For example, you are from Eos where miqo'te like me do not exist even though where I come from no one would find anything strange about my appearance."

Prompto glanced up at her ears instinctively, and he was trying not to stare, but it was incredibly strange. He could see Noctis as a cat person...the thought made him blush a moment.

"I guess, yeah." Prompto answered with a bit of a nod. "I h-haven't met a...miqo'te? before?"

She chuckles and wiggles her ears more so that the feathers and bells piercings jingle, "'Tis fine to stare, I understand how unusual they appear to some and it does not bother me. You should have seen my face the first time I encountered someone who never would have existed in my home of Eorzea. How did my brother describe it..." She trails off as she tries to remember, snapping her fingers as Felih's words come back to her, "Ah that was is, he told me I looked like I had sat on a sabotender for how wide my mouth was gaping."

Q'uila laughs and shakes her head, "My point is that you might encounter many who do not look like what you may be used to from Eos and other may have the same reaction to you."

Now that that was clarified it was probably best for Q'uila to tackle the aspect of the multiverse that she had seen people struggle with the most and so she tentatively begins, "Though I should also let you know that it is likely not just many other different worlds that can meet in places such as these but also different versions of the same world."

"Oh." Prompto let out a bit of a nervous chuckle at that, not quite sure what to say, although it seemed like Q'uila had no problem talking even if he was fretting a little bit.

"This sounds like something straight out of the movies." He complained a little bit. It was cool, but confusing because those kinds of rules weren't really supposed to exist.

"Ah, I will admit that I have seen only a handful of 'movies' in my time travelling outside my world but yes this whole experience is rather fanciful"

She pushes her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and picks Lu'lim up from around her neck and offers Lu'lim to Prompto, the nebula cat doing her best Long Cat impression as moon-like eyes blink slowly at Prompto. Lu'lim meows, the sound like tinkling bells and a sleepy, feminine voice can be heard by the blond.

Hello.

"Here, you look like you could use a cat to pet and there is one more thing to inform you of that will probably be far more shocking than what I have already told you."

"There's...there's more?" Prompto asked with a bit of a squeak and he cleared his throat.

"Oh you're so cute!" He told the cat, apparently he had no trouble talking to animals and he took her in his arms ever so carefully, dragging his fingertips through the soft fur. He was worried but this poor cat needed petting obviously.

Lu'lim's fur feels cooler than expected as Prompto picks her up but still just as fluffy and soft as her Maine Coon appearance would suggest. The void cat doesn't take long to settle and snuggle into Prompto, heating up as she begins to noisily purr. A glowing eye opens to look at Q'uila before Lu'lim goes back to enjoying the attention.

He's much comfier than you are, Q'uila.

Q'uila snorts, "Is that so you little traitor?"

Any heat to her reply is completely undermined by the way her tail curls and her ears wiggle in amusement. She keeps a close eye on Prompto, her ears listening carefully to his heartbeat. Back to the matter at hand.

"Aye. As I said, 'tis not just multiple different worlds but multiple versions of the same world which means that there are multiple versions of you. A Prompto for every variation of Eos essentially."

"Uhhh." Prompto didn't know how to take that really. Did that mean there was some better Prompto out there?

"I don't uh, kn-know about that?" He was pretty sure he was him after all.

"Still sounds like a movie."

"It takes a while to get used to, and it only seems fair to give you a pre-warning as there might be others like myself who have met a different version of you."

Q'uila watches Prompto with no small measure of concern, "Have you any questions you would like to ask?"

"Not..not right now. It was kind of a lot to hear. I mean, it's pretty weird? I don't really know that many people." Prompto admitted.

"So it's strange that they'd know me and I don't know them."

"Aye, it can be a little unnerving though those with the experiencing of Travelling about the worlds will likely just want to to get to know you and befriend you. If they are rude or pushy just tell them to piss off." She nods decisively at that.

"So in that vein, would you like me to remain or would you prefer some quiet reflection time?"

"Uh, yeah." He said with a bit of a nod. "You know, uh...I appreciate it I just kind of want to process all of this?"

It wasn't just the fact that people might know him too, but he was very far from home at the moment. It was a bit overwhelming.

"I understand, just know that my proverbial door is always open and that I would very much enjoy getting to know you better once you have had time to settle in."

She smiles, "Lu'lim, I shall go and find our accommodation so come and find me once you are done."

Q'uila shoots Prompto and Lu'lim a jaunty salute and heads towards the train intent on finding her room.

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

Re: Arrival

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