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

It's difficult to find anything to keep oneself busy during the long ride on the train. But at one point if she wandered around enough while she was sketching in her notepads, she'll find someone is offering her a box of colored pencils.

"Are you an artist? I like drawing and painting too." Hua Cheng has a lot of water color paints, color pencils, markers on his table as he keep himself busy drawing and painting pictures for his art.

Rapunzel paused mid sketch as she looked up slightly. She hadn't honestly been expecting anyone to speak to her. Though really deep down she expected people to since she wasn't acting like her usual self.

"Yeah... I've done at least something on the train itself."

He doesn't know her well enough, but he has been on the train for a while, so he's open up to chat with others.

With a polite nod, "I learn to pass the time by drawing and doing paintings. When I'm a little bored, so if anybody is interested, I can mentor and give tips. I mostly draw and paint pictures of animals and forests basing on my memories from home."

"I do the same thing myself. Painting based on memories and for something like the train, I think it's a good thing to paint. But it do also dabble in just whatever I feel like to."

She just will do anything though but there had been a reason for that.

With a nod, giving a suggestion, "I mostly draw animals and scenes from nature and lots of flowers. I find that it helps relieves stress. You should try it."

"I mean the only animal I ever drew was Pascal." Which speaking of, he starts to make his way up and onto her shoulder.

"He was the only animal I really saw beyond birds clearly. I mean until I came to the train and went to other worlds. So it's fun being able to draw more nature and animal wise."

"I think that's good. I like birds too. I preferred drawing rabbits and foxes chasing each other in the woods." A whimsical picture, he nods in agreement.

"What kind of animal is Pascal?"

"Rabbit and foxes are rather cute." Though she had never really seen many foxes where she had lived anyway.

"I think people would like to see that on the train too."

"You think so? I'll think about it and I will try to draw some from my memory. I tend to give my paintings away to people when I'm done." He finds that pictures tend to cheer people up.

"The train doesn't have an art car, I've been told. So it's not like we have any place or space to hang them up for a gallery."

"Yeah, but when we vote for a new carriage Art is an option/. it's just other carriages are always more popular. In the whole time I've been here it's just been that way."

Either people don't like art as much as she did and so other things just seem all that more interesting, or there is another reason.

"But people seem to be okay if you just paint of the train walls. That's what I've done sometimes."

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

It's not easy to avoid people

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