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

Kyoko Sakura | PMMM CRAU | Team Blue | OTA

[redmeguca]

New Passengers

What? Where's Keystone-oh. I guess we're doing this again. At least I've got you this time, right Momo?

[A dog with a tiger-like pattern jumps up into her arms and barks happily.]

Closed to Mami

[Kyoko had been exploring the train when she ran into a familiar face. She stops dead in her tracks when she sees Mami, staring like she's seen a ghost.

Mami-senpai? I-is that really you?

Exploration

[OOC: This is where you go if you want to prompt Kyoko. She'll be going pretty much everywhere she can.]

[magicurls]

[ The magical girl with yellow curls is indeed there, dressed in a purple uniform. She's still carrying a tray of leftover cookies when a voice she hasn't heard in a long time stops her.

Who else ever called her Mami-senpai...]

Sakura-san?

[ It's only years of battle training that keep her from spilling the cookies all over the floor. She just barely catches the tray, gaping at her. ]

[redmeguca]

It really is you...

[Kyoko walks over to Mami, takes the tray, and hands it to a Rosso Fantasma clone. And then Mami gets pulled into a hug.]

I'm sorry. Everything I said that day, everything I did. I'm sorry for all of it.

[magicurls]

Sakura-san...

[ That's probably the last thing Mami expected to hear...but her fragile hopes can't help but rise. She clings to her kouhai, a suspicious wavering in her voice. ]

I missed you so much. I'm so sorry I couldn't help you then. I'll help you now, all right?

[redmeguca]

Hey, come on, you don't have to apologize. I was doing my best to push you away, and I'm pretty badass even without my illusion magic. What happened was my fault, not yours, alright?

[magicurls]

Still...I promise I'll be better this time. I've learned a lot since I arrived here. And I'm so happy to have a second chance.

[ She squeezes tightly for a long moment before letting go. ]

Try the cookies, if you want. We made too many for platform this time!

[redmeguca]

You know I'll never say no to free food.

[Kyoko backs away, grabbing a cookie from the tray. The tray that's still being held by one of her Phantoms.]

So, we should probably make sure we're on the same page, huh? What was going on with you before the train picked you up?

[magicurls]

Ah, well...

[ Mami takes a shallow little breath. It's become a little easier to talk about, but not by much. ]

Kyubey brought me to two girls with magical potential. Madoka Kaname and Sayaka Miki. I brought them with me on two hunts, as they were considering making the contract, and I wanted to show them what being a magical girl was really like.

Madoka agreed to make a contract...and I was so happy, I allowed myself to get distracted, and I was killed by the witch. Another magical girl, Homura Akemi, was looking after her and saved them.

[ She looks properly ashamed over all of this. ]

I met Madoka here...she filled me in on a little of what happened after I died. And knowing what I know now, I'd never encourage them to make the contract. She told me that Miki-san came into conflict with you, and you learned the darker truth Kyubey hid from us. And that it led to yet more death, and hurt Madoka deeply.

I'm so sorry. I never meant for any of that to happen.

[redmeguca]

So, we're from the same timeline then. It's alright, I don't blame you for what happened, you couldn't have known. All that matters is that we're here now.

...Wait, Kaname's here? Heh, all we need is Akemi and Sayaka and it'll be a regular Mitakihara reunion!

[Kyoko, you forgot to last-name someone there.]

[magicurls]

[ Mami catches onto that, of course...]

Eh? Madoka made it sound like you hadn't been on good terms with Miki-san...but if what you say about how you feel differently now is true, I suppose it makes sense.

[redmeguca]

Erm. W-well, by the end, it was mostly that she wasn't on good terms with me. I found out a few things that made me reconsider my choices and... yeah. A-anyway, how's the train been treating you? Ahaha...ha.

[magicurls]

Hm. I see.

[ She'll just give her a Look. It's been such a long time since they were together like this...but it's easy to fall into her old role. ]

It's not so bad. We travel different worlds and assist everyone we can. The people are friendly, and...

{ Awkward laugh. ]

I told them what became of my soul, and they don't seem to mind.

[redmeguca]

[Ah, good, she accepted the subject change.]

Yeah, I was somewhere else before the train picked me up and the people there mostly didn't seem to care about the whole lich thing either. I'm gonna miss those guys, especially Arianna-nee. Still, I did get to take a piece of home with me.

[Kyoko lets out a whistle, and a puppy with orange and black fur comes running up to her. She picks up the dog and presents her to Mami.]

Mami-senpai, meet Momo-chan the Growlithe!

exploration

[happyends]

[ Well, there's one place Kyoko is absolutely bound to go while exploring the train, right?

The stores, of course. To be precise, the lower level of the carriage, where all the train's food is stored. Madoka just happens to be there too at the moment, taking stock of the new ingredients that showed up this month, but then she hears the sound of the doorway opening and closing, and she glances over in the direction of the doorway..

.. only to spot a familiar face. ]

Ah..!

[ For a moment, that sound of surprise is all Madoka manages to squeeze out. Other than that she just stares - completely stunned by the sudden appearance of someone she actually knows. ]

Kyoko-chan..? Did you-- Did you show up on the train..?

[redmeguca]

[Kyoko pauses, mouth still full of some snack. She looks down at herself, looks back up at Madoka, and swallows.]

Well what do you know, I am here. Never woulda known that without ya, Kaname.

[She grins, obviously teasing.]

I'm guessing Mami-senpai hasn't had a chance to tell you yet then.

[happyends]

[ The teasing works so easily on Madoka. And so well, too. Because even though anyone could tell the redhead is just teasing her, the girl's cheeks grow very pink all the same, clearly flustered. ]

A-Ah, well, I.. I didn't mean..!

[ She can't even finish the sentence. Instead she's stopped by her own mind as she realises something midway through saying it. Her expression goes from fluster to surprise. ]

Wait, you already talked to Mami-san..? [ Apparently Kyoko must have ran into her first. Which may be.. for the better? Considering what Mami recently told her about her and Kyoko having been friends before, Madoka wouldn't want to have to be the middleman for their reunion. She wouldn't want to make it awkward. ]

[redmeguca]

Yeah, it was nice seeing her again. Even with all the regrets I have, leaving her like that is probably one of my biggest ones. But hey, I apologized, she accepted, we even hugged it out and all that sappy crap.

[happyends]

[ At least that statement, of all things, makes the surprise move aside a little to make way for other feelings.

Like relief, for one. Because even though even Madoka thinks the train can be pretty crappy at this point, at least it did something good in reuniting two people who - otherwise - may never have seen each other again. ]

.. I'm glad. That you got to talk it out, I mean.

[ Maybe it'll be good for Mami too. Having another magical girl here on the train, especially one she used to be so close too. ]

Um, since we're stuck here anyway.. You should make sure to spend a lot of time with her. To make up for lost time.

[redmeguca]

That's what I plan on doing. There's just so much I have to tell her, so much we've both missed.

...Wait. How much have you told her? Does she know about, you know...

[happyends]

Ah.. No.

[ At least, if they're talking about the same you know thing here. But even though it doesn't seem like Mami is anywhere nearby, Madoka feels a little too nervous to mention it out loud all the same.

She's pretty sure they're thinking about the same thing, anyway. They were kind of at the same frontline of finding out about it back home, after all, considering everything that happened with Sayaka.. ]

I.. I thought it might be better if she didn't know. It would be so painful for her to learn about it..

[redmeguca]

Yeah. She was practically Kyubey's poster girl, if she learned what happens to the ones that don't outright die... Well, you probably know how she tends to blame herself.

[happyends]

[ Madoka immediately nods. It's exactly the same consideration she's had - and the way Mami reacted to hearing their souls weren't in their bodies only confirmed that belief. ]

Right, I don't want Mami-san to blame herself. She hasn't done anything wrong. I've never blamed her for anything. [ If anything, Madoka only blamed herself for Mami's death. And Sayaka's, and Kyoko's-- ]

Even if this place isn't ideal at all.. I really just want her to be happy. And I want you to be happy too, Kyoko-chan. Both of you deserve it. You've worked so hard.

[redmeguca]

Now see, half a year ago I probably would have said something totally depressing right now, like "Mami-senpai may deserve it but I don't." But you know what? Screw that, and screw past me. A landfill's worth of bad decisions doesn't mean I don't deserve happiness.

[happyends]

[ That sure is something to say out of nowhere.

Or, at least, it manages to catch Madoka by surprise. The other girl stops for a moment, instead just blankly staring at Kyoko, like that's the last thing she expected to hear right now.

But then again.. thinking about it, isn't it so much like Kyoko to say something like that? Madoka may not have known the other girl for long at all, but it is in line with the impression she got of the fiery redhead. So when the surprise fades after a few seconds, Madoka instead reaches up with her hands, covering her mouth a little as she can't help but laugh. ]

Well.. We all make bad decisions sometimes, you know? [ It's not like Madoka is going to blame anyone for that. ] But you made a lot of good decisions too. And I'm sure you could be a big help during the missions too!

[ So that's even more chances for her to make good decisions here. ]

[redmeguca]

No, it was almost exclusively fucking awful decisions. I made a couple good ones, sure, but I'm not some idiot who refuses to regret anything.

Anyway, you can bet your ass I'll be a big help. You remember how badass I am.