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

[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.

[nobodys_puppet]

Her hand went to he chest as a tear rolled down her face again. Just like it had when he had felt this before, not that she knew that. "It... hurts..." she said, bewildered. But she tried to shake her head to clear it. He had said that his master could have ordered him to kill, but wouldn't have. Still, wasn't it better to know that no one could give him orders now? But he didn't seem to be acting like someone who was now free, so she was confused. Again.

[longforgottenpromise]

"I know. I'm sorry..." He kept his hand steady on her arm as he watched her, feeling guilty that he was causing her so much pain, when she had been through so much already.

"If I could stop you from feeling it I would."

He shook his head, he doesn't know how this bond worked. He felt so much from her and he imagined it worked the same the other way around but she didn't even understand half of what she felt.

[nobodys_puppet]

"Feeling?" she asked, confused. Then shook her head. "I cannot feel," she reminded him. But something odd was going on for sure. She didn't understand it. But it hurt, and she didn't know why.

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes you can." He looked down, away from her.

"That's why you slept. You were feeling too much."

He knows she feels, he feels it too.

[nobodys_puppet]

"That... was because it hurt... because something was wrong..." Because she was broken. Right...?

[longforgottenpromise]

"Hurt is a feeling." He kept his voice gentle, not wanting to overwhelm her more when he knew his own feelings were hitting her so hard.

He looked down, "I feel them too. The feelings you feel. Just like you feel mine."

[nobodys_puppet]

"But I've...I've been hurt before I had a heart..." she said, confused. "I don't know how to have feelings," she added. So clearly she couldn't possibly have them, right?

[longforgottenpromise]

"I know." He said sadly, softly, shaking his head. He's not sure how to explain. She did have feelings, but getting her to believe so, that was difficult.

"You don't have to do anything, it's just... Feelings just happen."

Like now, like the torrent of pain flooding from his heart into hers.

[nobodys_puppet]

It hurt, it did. But she still didn't understand. "But you need a heart to feel, don't you?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"I don't know."

He shook his head, sadly. "I'm sorry... I wish I did..."

He barely knows how her world works, his world, worlds are very different. All he knows for certain is, she can feel things and right now she is feeling what he is and she is hurting.

[nobodys_puppet]

She... didn't know what to say or do. Axel would. Should they find Axel? Axel would know what to do, right? Know why it hurts?

"Would a healing spell help?" she asked. Maybe that could fix things?

[longforgottenpromise]

"It's not that sort of hurt."

He shook his head, "It's not something... It can't be healed, this kind of hurt."

Not by a spell at least.

[nobodys_puppet]

"Then... how does it go away? How does the pain stop?" she asked, afraid this would be a forever thing.

[longforgottenpromise]

How does it stop? Xion was so often like a child, not understanding the most basic things and like a child, sometimes her questions cut.

He looked at her gently. "I'll try... I can't promise, but I'll try and stop it from hurting you, I don't know how... this bond between us. I don't know how it works exactly but if I control how I'm feeling, you may feel it less."

Because as much as he wanted to let the sadness swallow him, he couldn't do that to her. It wasn't something she should feel, the pain of a kirin without their king.

[nobodys_puppet]

"But it needs to stop hurting you too. How do we make it stop?" she asked, the way she might ask someone how she was supposed to fight the Heartless in front of her. Fighting she understood, usually. This... she didn't.

[longforgottenpromise]

"I don't know." His voice is quiet. "I don't think we can. No kirin can be truly happy without its king."

Being around his king was like living in a light, the warm glow of a fire. Without him he was plunged into the darkness and cold. But that's, so much to try and explain to someone who doesn't have even a grasp of basic emotions.

"Please don't worry about me."

[nobodys_puppet]

"I don't know how to worry," she pointed out. But she hesitated. If Roxas was here, she's ask Roxas and Axel if they both were okay with her giving him some ice cream. But she didn't want Roxas to think he was replaced or forgotten when he got back. So she didn't know what to do...

She put a hand in her pocket and it closed around...

"You left me sea shells?" she asked, reminded.

[longforgottenpromise]

He nodded, he's not sure that is true. That she doesn't know how to worry. Or rather it probably was. But she likely worried without even knowing what it was. Being bound to her he understood, she felt emotions, she just doesn't know that that is what they are.

"I did."

[nobodys_puppet]

She nodded, hesitated, and then asked, "Why?" She wasn't trying to change the subject, but she was wondering if she should offer him a shell, but if he had given her shells then would he know that the one she offered wasn't one of the ones he gave her? Would he think she didn't want them?

Actual people were hard. She understood what to do when Axel or Roxas were... no actually she didn't but....

Were they really sure a healing spell wouldn't work? Her magic and KEyblade were about all she had to offer...

And yes, though she didn't understand the emotions or recognize them, he would know how frustrated and useless she was feeling, wanting to help but not knowing how. Caring. Friendship. Not that she was aware of any of it.

[longforgottenpromise]

He looked at her, trying to work out what she was trying to work out. What was she really asking? Because she asked why a lot and 'why' could mean many things.

"Because I was worried about you, because I know you like shells. Because we looked at shells together the first time we met. I wanted you to see something nice, when you woke."

Something that would ease the pain he had felt flooding from her, whilst she slept.

[nobodys_puppet]

She considered all of that, quiet for a while as she thought.

She didn't really understand what worried meant. But the shells... She'd been drawn to them ever since the first time she'd seen a beach. She'd been drawn to the shells, the ocean... Her hand slid into her pocket, around one of her shells. She didn't know why she so often found herself holding them, or if there was any pattern to when.

But that didn't matter now. She could think about that later.

He wanted her to see something nice when she woke? Why? Had Axel told him about the counting? About the times she and Roxas would leave shells for each other?

Or... wait, had she told him herself? That day when people were harder to understand than usual and he and she went hunting for Roxas? Right before he left on the platform? She wasn't sure now. Her head still hurt and she was so confused about other things that she wasn't sure at all.

She felt in her pocket for a shell that wasn't like the ones he left her. He'd be able to tell the difference, right? She could. So anyone could, since that wasn't a special thing like using a Keyblade. Right?

None of the shells here were as bright as the ones she used to collect on that one beach after missions. Every world here that had a beach had different shells, and the shells at Daitu had been different too. But those had been really different from all the others. But this one...

She pulled out the shell she had found with her gloved fingers. It wasn't like the ones he had given her. From a different world. She had searched for shells every time they wound up somewhere with a beach, so she could tell. She offered the shell out to him wordlessly, because she wasn't sure what she should say, if she should say anything at all.

This shell was long rather than wide, with a flared bottom, deep groves, and a tiny V shaped chip out of one side. She liked that little chip. It made she shell easy to find. But the best part was hidden under the shell. The top was browns, mostly dark with a little light. It had been almost invisible in the sand.

But the underside was a weird sort of shiny with lots of colours that changed depending on the way she held it when she looked at it. She had picked a few shells like that, on that world. But this one had been the one she kept going back to. So maybe it would help with the hurt? Maybe? Somehow? She wasn't sure how any of this worked. But he had given her shells, so maybe he'd want one too?