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

Lightning - red - OTA

[enthunder]

Platform Goodbyes
Lightning wakes, and even though it's to be a platform stop that morning, she heads like clockwork to the ICP where it's her turn to make the morning message to the train.

We would like to suggest to you as new Voidtreckers Serah Villiers, nee Farron, and Wen Ning, courtesy name Qionglin. They are very competent and hard-working and would be excellent additions to the train.

Qing's polite message requesting their siblings is long-memorised, and she's half-asleep as she taps it out. Then it's back to shower, change, and prepare for the general hassle of new passengers - and for the loss of departing ones. You don't get to the eleventh month of service aboard a highly unstable vessel without seeing your fair share of friends leaving without warning or farewell. She hasn't counted, exactly, but Lightning is sure that she's seen more people leave as are currently aboard at all. It's...

It doesn't always hurt, exactly. But there's an ache. A frustrated hollow in the back of her head and her chest as more people pass back out of their lives. As plans are torn in two, as teams fragment a little further. It hurts sometimes.

"--Qing!"

It hurts now. Wen Qing's name is barely gold on the roster for an hour before she glides out of the train, unresponsive and calm. The only reason Lightning doesn't punch the gleaming chassis of the train beside her is the idea of injuring herself with Wen Qing right there would only cause an argument about stupid decisions.

Then the fog clears further, and she sees Wen Ning, courtesy name Qionglin, standing halfway along the platform.

She punches the train.

wildcard
[ooc: if you want another prompt, i can write one or you can tag in with a prompt and i'll follow you! Lightning will be stalking about the train handing out mission leaflets and generally answering questions by rote.]

Platform

[stardustofdawn]

It's still new to him to finally see and watch. Watching friends and companions leave is always a quiet affair and he does so in solemn silence, knowing beyond the barrier, it's the unknown. People cried and there's grief and loss involved. All the same, new arrivals come to their side from the barrier, bringing much joy and new company to join them.

He saw her punched the train. He has a feeling they won't be coming back. Seldom they do. He decides to speak up.

"Are you okay? That's...Wen Qing, the doctor, right?"

[enthunder]

"Yeah," the response is automatic, even as pain shoots up her arm. Definitely broke something, but fury is still creating far too much white noise in her brain to think about it. Talking to Xiao Xingchen isn't something she's done much, though she's been in medical during his procedure and visits after. He's familiar enough that she doesn't snap, but it's close.

Shit, does she remember where Qing kept her notes for his surgery? She'll have to make sure they're around somewhere. "And that's her brother over there. What crappy timing."

[stardustofdawn]

"Oh..." He takes in a deep breath. This is real. It doesn't feel like long ago he was in the med car, being a patient himself. So with Wen Qing gone, this troubles him.

He was struck with an idea. "I think that's the only doctor on the train? I know there isn't many healers on staff in the medic car. I don't know how I could help. Do you think she may have left behind anything? Books? Journals? Records? I think, I have some reading to catch up on."

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Hey, hey, hey, don't do that."

Edge hurried over, almost ready to put himself between Lightning and the train. He understood the feeling, but she was gonna hurt herself for no good reason at all. Guess what argument she may not be avoiding after all!

[enthunder]

"Why not," she snapped, fury still overriding sense even as her knuckles throbbed with four reasons why she shouldn't do that again. "All she wanted was to see her brother again, and she doesn't even get that? She's dead, Edge!"

[onehandsomeslickninja]

"Because when you hurt yourself you're making everyone who cares about you unhappy," Edge said, meeting her eyes as he did, indeed, put himself between her and the train. "It didn't change anything, it didn't help anything, and you don't know what happens when people leave this train, so why assume the worst!"

lightning let's fight the train

[blitzcheer]

It always keeps happening, platform stop after platform stop: the loss of people, friends and others. Tidus doesn't see all of the figures that leave to know what's happened, the strike of Lightning's fist against the body of the train an impressive sound, at the very least.

His jog towards her slows, coming to a still, and words sit in his throat that don't really exist once he's there near to her, but giving her space. Because what's there to say? Lightning's been here a lot longer than him, there's his own terrible reaction he remembers well. But he knows Lightning won't be that stupid - and punching the train doesn't count as stupid, to him.

"Light..."

It's sympathetic, frustrated. No room for promises or hope. His own hands clench and unclench at his sides.

she's in let's go

[enthunder]

The silence stretching out, coupled with his presence, slowly calms the tumult. Settles it back beneath the surface, to break and rage again when she isn't in public.

So, never, then. She breathes in, then out in a harsh exhale, and rests her forehead against the train a foot above where she'd struck. Where her fingers still rest, half-curled and aching.

"I'm so tired of this, Tidus. Every time I think we're getting somewhere."

[blitzcheer]

Getting somewhere? He should agree that they are, and yet it sits uncomfortably in his ears.

"We need something--bigger," he settles on, not knowing a better word. Bigger, better. More than they have. "Some way for someone to help us, or some way to help ourselves. If we don't get either--this is gonna keep happening. We're going to lose everyone."

It's like a time constantly on the brink of running out, every time this happens. More and more people coming and going, those that they care about.

train punching

[ballseeker]

[ Bulma... well. She's honestly kind of surprised she hasn't witnessed Vegeta punch the train by now. Or any of her family members, if she's honest. It of course doesn't seem to do a whole hell of a lot, but it does seem cathartic.

Which is why, sighing, Bulma admits : ]

If that worked I could slap a portal out of this train I think..

[enthunder]

[ The sentence is so strange that it snaps Lightning out of the blank anger that she'd almost sunk into, though she doesn't quite meet Bulma's eyes when she says, ]

One day it might.

[ballseeker]

Oh, trust me, you won't be the only one. I'm sure Vegeta wouldn't hesitate to make this thing ash one day. [ Bulma smiles about it, though, clearly not at all disagreeing with her husband's wishes on that front. She herself wouldn't mind seeing it happen if they were all going home one day - if only because she's annoyed with not having all the right tech. ]

Fine by me as long as there's a way to get back to our part of our timeline, anyway.

Wildcard

[bakegarasu]

Otoha had watched Lightning punching the train earlier, and left her alone. She needed to get it out.

So when he spots her practically stomping around the train he shifts into her path. "... Fight me."

Right, that needs elaboration. "You're angry. You need to blow it off. Fight me in the training gym."

[enthunder]

"I'm not angry at you," she mutters, but stops in her tracks even so. Fighting would help, get her focused, but if she ended up injuring someone...

She eyed him for a long moment, then clicked her tongue. "Fine. Now?"

[bakegarasu]

“I know you’re not. Yes, now.” He jerked his head toward the training hall and started walking. No armor abilities, but he could probably take whatever she threw at him.

“Better to get it out before you scare the new people.”

wildcarding it up BABY

[flatteries]

Inigo has no idea about what happened. After all, he avoids the platform like the plague, has been doing so for months already at this point. The only reason he briefly braved it today was to drag Taiki back inside, though the people who had left them this platform were already long gone by that point.

So he doesn't know that Lightning is suffering a similar pain. He doesn't know someone important to her disappeared.

All he knows, when he sees Lightning move about the train and talk to some of the new people, is that she seems to be acting a bit more mechanical than usually.

It stands out to him the more he watches her, to a point that he can't help but slide up to her after a little while.

".. Lightning," he says, relatively more quiet than the usual. Trying to gently catch her attention. "Are.. you alright?"

Usually he'd try to be more subtle about it than this with Lightning, but something feels so off today that he can't help but be a bit more direct.

hell ye

[enthunder]

Moving to pick up another handful of leaflets, it's a few steps further before she registers that he's talking to her, and another before she makes the connection that she should stop to answer him. She does so reluctantly, half-turning in a manner that doesn't invite long conversation.

"I'm fine. Business as usual."

[flatteries]

Thankfully Inigo is used to getting the cold shoulder. For better or worse. In this case perhaps for the better, since it makes him able to endure what he's seeing from Light right now. The way she obviously is trying to avoid talking.

Because if he wasn't used to it, he just would've given up. A heart too open, too easily bruised. But with this experience, he can push on instead.

Because, very obviously so-- "It's not."

It's not just business like usual. Even if Lightning is always serious, it's usually not like this.

Inigo sucks in a breath, and then adds: "You gonna just tell me everything's fine?" He's hoping to pull her attention more, but even if he doesn't, he still continues. "That's what you told me. After Yuki disappeared."

(He doesn't know what happened, but today is a platform day, isn't it. The chance is high that she's suffering the sting of loss.)

[xue_yang]

He had much the same reaction when he watched Xiao Xingchen walk off the platform the first time. He doesn't particularly like seeing this transfer himself. They might not have been considered friends but they had started to get along at least slightly. And he owed Wen Qing for saving his life. To see her walk off is frustration but not nearly as much for him as it is for Lightning and he knows it.

"I know that didn't feel good. I've had experience with that."

Meaning more the hand meeting the train then losing a loved one.

[enthunder]

"It's--" She cuts herself off from her immediate dismissive response. Instead, her fist rests against the train for a moment, the chill of the metal centring her. Right, this happens every time. People lose friends every stop. Why did she think they'd be safe?

She breathes out; glances at him.

"Gonna hurt like hell in a second, right?"

She's not sure which one she means.

[xue_yang]

"Most likely. Whether you want to admit that it does or not." Doesn't matter which one she means when the result is the same for both. Pain is pain, whether emotional or physical.

Xue Yang has six months worth of watching people leave under his belt and very rarely does he even care who steps off the platform. But every once in awhile there is a vacancy that leaves him feeling frustrated. Not that he has any desires to leave. Nothing waits for him the minute he steps off that platform. And knowing what he does about Wen Qing's future, he doubts they have much choice when the decision has been made to leave because he doubts she would have done so of her own free will. Which is unsettling to him.

all aboard the wildcard train

[knifewithnoname]

She hadn't approached on the platform. She knows better than to approach an angry priestess. Not that Lightning had ever so much as raised her voice to her in anger. But Wen Qing had walked through the barriers and Lightning was rightfully angry. Angry enough to punch the train.

It was a little while later, after speaking to Peter that she approached, cautiously.

"Do you be wanting to be watching a movie? It do no be being a stupid one."

choo choo

[enthunder]

Her expression when she glanced up from sorting part of the armoury was hard, but Lightning did stop what she was doing to listen. The kid had chosen her time wisely; her anger had calmed into an uneasy, sullen quiet, another scab forming over her helplessness.

"I've heard that before." She rolled her shoulders, and considered. No point punishing the kid for her own temper. She'd done enough of that already. "What's the movie?"

[knifewithnoname]

It was a hard look and she wondered if maybe she had misjudged it. After all what angry priestess would want a brat around?

But Lightning had always supported her, so she was going to do the same.

"One do be being about dead people who do still somehow be walking around and they do be trying to be eating people. Or there do be being one about a person who do be being stuck in a cave. The first do be having more blood but the second do be being more tense."

Had it occurred to her that Lightning might not want a horror film? No. Not at all.