A New Platform [Intro Post March]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

[longforgottenpromise]

Platform and Train Corridors

When Taiki hadn't seen Gyousou immediately before landing he hadn't worried too much, after all he had seen him that morning. Six months on the train and Taiki no longer felt like he had to have eyes on his king at all time, the fear that he would disappear if he even blinked had faded. Lord Gyousou had vanished a couple of times, once at the same time as Taiki, once before a mission. But even that had been some months ago.

There is always the fear, Taiki's mind span out worst case scenario's any time he let it. But he was getting better at allowing hope. Too good. As the figures disappeared through the mist, through the barriers he watched silently. He didn't move, didn't call out. He has seen it enough times, he knows nothing he does will prevent his king moving through those barriers.

The world goes dark as grief and pain strike him, his heart all but shatters. Gyousou is gone. Really gone. Walked through the barriers without a second glance, ripped away from him by the whims of the train.

He doesn't stumble, he doesn't fall, he doesn't cry. Instead his face takes on a blankness. To those who don't know him, who don't know who just left, it will look like the young man on the platform is simply bored.

He turns to head back to the train. If he comes across anyone new he nods at them and asks, "Do you need any help?" His voice is gentle, his face kind and passive.

Outside of that though his whole demeanour is someone who isn't worth paying attention too, nobody who could possibly be doing or feeling anything important or interesting as he walks back towards his cabin.

Later in the evening: Greenhouse

He's spent most the day in his cabin, Wen Qing is gone too. He has two new roommates and despite the pain he is feeling he has done his best to help them settle in.

There had been a sword on his bed. Lord Gyousou's sword. Or at least, the sword that Lord Gyousou had used on the train. A guardsmans sword, plain and simple. Why it had been left... Taiki had a theory but it is is not one he wanted to consider.

He didn't want it in the room, it might be a connection to Lord Gyousou but it was still a weapon.

The boy carrying a sword through the train might not be a worrying sight for those who don't know him, even if it's obvious he is not used to carrying a weapon. He headed towards the greenhouse, to the corner out of the way where the Kaihaku was planted.

His idea was to drive the sword into the ground next to it, a marker. He tries, but he lacks the strength. He places the sword to the side and finds a trowel, to begin digging at the ground, hands trembling with exertion and the emotions that he has pushed deep into his soul.

[Wildcard: If anyone wants to find him anywhere else that's good too! You can grab me on damua if you want to discuss anything!]

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion was still looking for Roxas when she spotted Taiki. Her chest was still hurting, had been since they came outside. She didn't know why. Didn't know why her face was wet. But when she saw Taiki there was a pull towards him. Another thing she didn't know the why of. But she followed the pull. Hopefully he wouldn't send her back to the medical car.

"Taiki?" she asked, softly. Why was she sure that something was... wrong?

[longforgottenpromise]

He almost doesn't turn at his name, doesn't feel ready to face anybody. Not anyone who knows him, who knows what this means.

But the voice, and the presence in his mind, told him that it was Xion. He can't ignore Xion.

Especially since she was probably hurting. She had been hurt so much already and now his pain was shared with her. He turned and reached out towards her.

"Xion..."

[nobodys_puppet]

She walked closer, closing the space between them. She didn't know why he was reaching out, but she was close enough to touch now, if he wanted to "What happened?" she asked.

[longforgottenpromise]

He touched her shoulder lightly, though it was gently, a light touch and didn't last long. He never knew what would make her upset, what would confuse her.

"Lord Gyousou has left." His voice was neutral, the feelings through the bond were anything but. Grief and fear. A deep sorrow and a feeling of being adrift, lost. A permeating sadness that filled the whole of him, like a light in his heart had gone out.

Greenhouse

[hotheadwarmheart]

Lea had spotted Taiki retreating to his room and opted to let him have a bit of space, hard as that tended to be to come by on the train and especially on a platform day. But when he saw Taiki heading towards the greenhouse carrying a sword, he'd followed as discreetly as the train allowed. Once there, he lingered near the doorway for a moment, watching as Taiki retreated to a certain corner and tried to stick the sword into the dirt. Then, when his first attempt failed, beginning to dig a hole to make it easier.

Without a word, Lea picked up a trowel of his own and headed over to help Taiki, crouching down next to him. Yes, Lea doubtless had the strength to jam the sword into the dirt the way Taiki had originally intended. But that wasn't the point. And wasn't what his friend needed just then.

[longforgottenpromise]

He looked up as someone approached, face carefully blank, neutral, even pleasant. He nods at Lea, but doesn't speak. He doesn't trust himself to speak.

He isn't expecting the help, he is surprised when Lea begins digging with him but he doesn't argue against it, just continues digging. He's not sure how large a hole he needs, or even how far they can dig before they hit train floor.

Those things were easier to think about than the overwhelming thought of Lord Gyousou walking through the barriers.

[hotheadwarmheart]

After a moment of digging in silence, Lea spoke up. "Does Gyousou have any kinds of flowers he especially likes?", he asked. He made certain to use present tense; after all, Gyousou may have left but he was still very much alive. "Or are there any that make you think of him? We could plant some of them around the sword, if you wanted."

[longforgottenpromise]

"I... I don't know." There's so much he doesn't know about Lord Gyousou and that is just one of many. He feels instantly guilty that he didn't know, something like that... Something he could do and he doesn't know.

train

[blitzcheer]

He doesn't know. It's fairly obvious by the way Tidus approaches Taiki once he's back on the train - once they both are - cheery-faced and with a call to him, a "Hey!" that has Tidus jogging over to catch up. He gives Taiki a friendly pat on the shoulder, nodding his head forward if Taiki wants to resume walking (that is, if he thought to stop).

"You get any shopping? Treat yourself to anything?"

It's just another ordinary day on the train. Right?

[longforgottenpromise]

He doesn't know. He might have chosen not to watch, to not see people walk away. It was a good choice, it was always painful to see, even if it wasn't anyone they were close to leaving them.

Taiki looked at him, his face carefully blank but friendly, it's a mask he perfected in Hourai, one that had come in useful so many times in Asen's court.

"No, I imagine you did though." Tidus always bought things. "Do you need help retrieving them?"

Friendly, neutral with no indication of the turmoil in his heart.

[blitzcheer]

Is there something about Taiki? If there is, the flow of the conversation stops Tidus from thinking or considering it; nothing about it giving him reason to pause. Rather, his arms start going behind his head as he starts stretching them.

"Y'sure? Just a few things - some books and games. To be honest, I'm using it as an excuse to get away for five minutes!" He lets out a grunt, bringing back down his arms, feeling his back muscles relax.

"I decided to help with the whole meet 'n' greet this stop. We got a couple people who used to be on the train before, 'pparently. And someone who got snatched up already before the train went and snatched them up. Some people can't get a break!"

[longforgottenpromise]

He walked beside him quietly, eyes to the ground. But the chatter was almost soothing, a normality in a day where everything was falling apart. He listened to Tidus explain about who had arrived this time.

"It's worrying to think this train is not the only... thing.... taking people from their worlds."

Is that what took them from here? Other phenomenon? Leading them to other worlds? Was Gyousou in another world now, far from here?

platform

[flatteries]

Inigo can feel it. It's not the first time, but somehow it feels even stronger than usually. The part of his mind where he usually receives Gyousou's feelings, so familiar and recognizable by this point, growing into a duller quiet than ever before, even during the other times Gyousou disappeared. It almost feels like it's gone entirely, with the last remainders that are no longer connected to anything else still hanging on in Inigo's mind.

He doesn't even need to check the roster. He can tell. He knows what it means - Gyousou is gone. For real, this time.

And that conclusion can only lead him to a single other thought. A worry that grips every piece of his heart, that makes his feet carry him to the single place he thought he'd never go to anymore - out on the platform.

It makes him sick to his stomach, but he ignores the feeling all the way until he can spot the familiar face in the crowd. Without saying a word, Inigo grabs onto Taiki, dragging him close and pressing him to his chest as if he's never going to let go of the other ever again.

[longforgottenpromise]

He is surprised to see Inigo. Inigo never comes to the platform, he avoids them. They are too painful, too sad. But he is here now. He must have felt...

There's still a spark. It's not as strong as it once was. He no longer feels like Gyousou but there's something, like Gyousou left a part of himself behind in Inigo's heart.

A spark is too much and not enough all at the same time. Taiki gives no resistance as he is dragged close to Inigo, his careful mask shattering as he falls against him. He doesn't move his arms, doesn't return the hug. But he leans against him, his face pressed into his chest, like Inigo's arms are the only thing holding him together.

He can't... He's lived most his life without his king. Dark clouds over his heart but this... Once again he doesn't even know where Lord Gyousou is. This might not be the first time he has lost his king, but this time he knows what he is missing, what the ache in his heart, the hole in his soul, means.

[flatteries]

Just Taiki leaning against him, leaning into him as if he's trying to get them to melt together - that's all the sign Inigo needs. That's all he knows to know exactly how Taiki must be feeling right now. He's seen the other during moments when Gyousou was missing, after all, and that was already bad enough at times.

But this? With Gyousou fully gone, off the platform? It's so much worse. It's a much more permanent separation, unless Taiki would just happen to disappear right on the next platform as well.

"It's okay," Inigo says, steeling his voice. Even though he knows that with how close Taiki is right now, the other can probably feel his heart pounding rapidly from worry over the other and from being in the one spot he never wanted to return to. But if he has to be the strong one right now, he will be. "We're going to reunite you two. No matter what has to be done."

[longforgottenpromise]

He can hear his heart, rapid in his chest as Taiki leans on him. He is almost overwhelmed with what it took Inigo to come here, to the platform, for him. He doesn't deserve friends such as Inigo, his kindness is greater than Taiki can even comprehend at times.

"Let's go inside." He murmured. He's not sure what to say at the claim, he wants to believe they will be reunited. After all they had been once, it's possible. But that was before, when Gyousou was lost in Tai. One country and it had taken months after Taiki returned to Tai to find his king. They had been separated by two connected worlds for six years.

How long would it take now there was a multitude of worlds? He doesn't want to think about it.

Greenhouse

[subcircuits]

There's nothing unusual about people working in the greenhouse. What is unusual is someone on their knees with a sword at their side and their hands shaking while they dig. That's odd enough indeed that Devero slows and drifts closer for a better look.

"...Taiki?" He doesn't know the boy that well, but he doesn't have to, to see how he struggles with what he's doing. He drops into a crouch nearby, and offers uncertainly, "Can I help you with that?"

[longforgottenpromise]

It's harder than he had thought, his mind isn't clear, his heart heavy from the loss of his king. Digging is hard work, even without trembling arms.

He looks up at his name, to see Devero... He last saw him on that strange day when he had been younger, when his body and mind had been much younger. It was almost embarrassing to think on but Devero had been one of those who had shown him much kindness on that day.

Remembering that, the simple happiness he had once been capable of, is almost painful.

He looked down at the hole, not very deep at all despite the effort put in. "I don't know how deep it needs to be..."

[subcircuits]

"What are you trying to do?" he asks, quiet and straightforward. "I don't know much about gardening, but maybe we can figure it out together."

[longforgottenpromise]

"The sword." He spoke quietly, "I tried to... It belongs to Lord Gyousou."

He's not making much sense he knows, he looked up with sad eyes. "As a marker."

Platform / Train

[adregem]

He sees it, of course.

Part of his duties, personal and obliged both, involve hanging around platform every time the train stops. It's routine, almost. Get his newly bought goods, store them or gift them as intended, then off he goes to the inevitable. Who would it be this time? Who would they say goodbye to; who are the newcomers to greet and orient? So Roland sees it - the head of white hair walking away into the great nothingness, and the kirin left behind in the void that can do nothing but watch them go. What is a king without their kingmaker and vice versa, Roland asks himself. What would Evan be without Lofty's help, without the fairy's power? But worse than that, he imagines his own departure from the Second World that had been intercepted by the call of the train. When his own body began to glow in magical light, fading away, ready to return to a fate uncertain.

More than a king and his kirin, what would a king be without his closest friend?

It's why he runs after Taiki when he walks back to the train. Roland kept watch over him from a distance, afraid of what it might do to confront him of his loss so soon. But the stoicism, the pain his eyes, it's too familiar to Roland to be mistaken for anything but grief. The same mask on somebody else. So when he catches up to Taiki before he enters another car, his hand is already reaching for Taiki's shoulder to stop him. There are no words apart from calling out his name in a low voice. Meeting his eyes, confirming the truth for himself.

He doesn't know what else to offer him apart from this.

"I'm sorry."

Re: Platform / Train

[longforgottenpromise]

He doesn't quite flinch from the hand on his shoulder but he startles slightly, turns at his name, relaxes ever so slightly when he sees it is Roland. Dull eyes meet Roland's, though the pain is clear in them for anyone who knows him well enough to look.

"It was inevitable." His voice was steady, low. "Any of us can vanish at any time."

He hadn't thought... They had arrived together, so he had always thought that if they walked from those barriers it would be together.

After all he is useless to the train, to the worlds they wished to help. A kirin belonged at their king's side.

Yet here he was, Lord Gyousou vanished through the mist. Taiki left behind.

[adregem]

"I know." Roland answers under his breath, hand still resting on his shoulder. He takes a tentative half-step forward, the grip of his fingers tightened in comfort; reassurance. "That doesn't mean it hurts any less."

There's not much else for him to say, to express in this moment of sadness. From experience, there are no words that can properly encompass that breadth of grief anyway. But he moves to the next best thing; sympathy through action, where he gently nudges Taiki to look his way for a second, if he can, before offering an arm open to hug him if he wishes.

It'll be the first time for Roland to hug a kingmaker - certainly it was never Lofty's style so that was out of the question - but not the first to hug a friend in need.

[longforgottenpromise]

It doesn't take much more than a nudge for him to look up and no more than an arm offered for him to fall into a hug. He can be strong, he has a lot of practice with hiding what he is feeling, hiding his pain. But as he hugs Roland he trembles.

Because it does hurt, his king is lost again. Once again he is alone, Lord Gyousou gone somewhere he can't follow. Taiki alone in a world that is not his own.

After everything, after everything they had done, everything that had happened. They weren't in any better position than when Taiki was lost on earth.

Except this time he remembered his duty, what was needed.