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

Raven | Purple | OTA

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Platform
Even with as crowded as the platform could get, it still had more space than the train. That, and it was as close to 'outside', other than their missions, that she could get. Raven probably looked a bit odd, in her blue-cloak and cowl over the purple train uniform. Not that one could see much of the purple, given how enveloping her cloak could be. She's not really much of a people person, but she remembers how confusing this was. Both times. So she's looking out for anyone who seems confused or lost or upset.

Luggage
Well, Raven was pleased--and glad that she'd checked the lockers in the armory car earlier. They'd do, for now. She should probably see about getting a capsule or an ARMS band or something. Checking the large trunk-like suitcase with her name on it, she was sad to find only 5 books in it--but at least they were books on topics she wanted. They were her books, from home, too. Hopefully they'd be useful.

Then she's looking around for the other bag with her name on it, and checking inventory once she finds it. Full of 20 small bottles filled with dried herbs. The bag would be awkward with the glass though, so time to find an empty box to put them in for carrying.

Medical
With Wen Qing gone, they were down another healer and doctor. Between that and some of the chaos from the recent odd-happening, Raven was taking stock in Medical. What did they have, what did they need? Where was everything? She might be taking a marker and labeling certain cabinets with what's in them, for easy reference, too.

Wild Card

Luggage

[miseris_socios]

There's someone else in luggage, his orange hoodie flopping around him as he digs through the stack of mail. His bag sits nearby, some kind of reference book wrapped in paper sticking out of it, but there's something else he's looking for.

He looks up and - "Oh. Uh. Hey. Do you see a bag or a box with my name on it? I don't know which they put it in... they're not super fragile, it's just -" Hm. "... I thought I might... get some stuff for the mission... it's coming up, right? So... stuff to restore my magic is going to be helpful."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"We have ethers and things already, Ken, although I suppose we could always use more." Raven responded, taking a look with him. Maybe she'd find a good box this way.

[miseris_socios]

"... Yeah but I want my own stock, not what the medical car has already." It's fine. It's just that he wants to keep his stuff separate.

He doesn't want to have to owe someone a favor or take away from stuff for other people.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

That's fair, Raven supposes. "Alright, how big a bag am I looking for?"

[miseris_socios]

"About this big?" He holds his hands out to the size of a small sack maybe six inches in diameter. "The medicine bottles aren't big, and neither are the dis-poison. And snuff souls are like the size of chewing gum."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Snuff souls?" Because that didn't sound good. Still, Raven looked at the mess that was the luggage car. "Alright, stand back a moment Ken--there's got to be an easier way to do this."

[miseris_socios]

"It's not what it sounds like. Pretty sure, at least. We find them in Tartarus sometimes... I think the Shadows just find stuff and put it in chests, we've found really weird stuff in them before."

But they're Shadows, so who knows.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Tartarus? Like one of the Underworlds Tartarus? Clearly Raven needed to hear more of Ken's background. Still, he was standing back like she'd asked.

"Alright, I'm going to levitate the boxes and bags in here, and you search while they're not all piled haphazardly." Raven put her own stuff down carefully, before raising her hands and intoning her mantra. Dark-energy surrounded the various boxes and bags enough to levitate them in the air for a better view of each one.

Medical

[azurebichen]

It reaches into his ears that a certain doctor is gone. He may have known her in his world, but never met her on the train. Either, he decides to investigate the medical car and takes a look around.

He sees Raven sorting out the cabinents. "Hello. I heard there's a shortage of healers on this train. Is that true?"

Re: Medical

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Considering the trouble that tends to come with a mission, there's always a shortage." Raven responded, in her deadpan tone as usual. "What can I help you with?" Because hopefully it wasn't an emergency.

[azurebichen]

"I see. No, I'm only curious and taking a look around. I'm new, so I'm trying to learn everything and become more settled."

He has no emergency. Everything is fine. He's only curious. "The world I came from, in the city, there's only one doctor. So I have to help her keep her supplies stocked."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Ah. We have a few different healers and doctors here." Raven said, before putting down her cataloging and labeling more neatly. If it wasn't an emergency, then she could take time to be organized. "I'm Raven, one of the healers."

[azurebichen]

With a nod, "It's nice to meet you, Raven. I'm just looking around for now." It seems the medical staff are doing fine, so he'll come around and think about it.

"But if your staff needs help, let me know. I would like to help and I can think of something later."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Who should I be asking after, as we can always use help on missions." Raven asked. "Have you been given the basics about the train, and what it's like generally?"

[azurebichen]

"I did. A lot of people filled me in. Oh, and I'm Wangji. There are two of us. One of him, he's the Blue team leader. One of the worlds turns me like this." He points to his head, which is a pair of cat ears. "I'm half youkai when I'm in that world, so I'm far away from home."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"I thought you looked familiar." Raven said, with no judgement or criticism. "It's nice to meet you Wangji. I think we're all pretty far from home on this train. Have you been able to settle in alright?"

Medical

[makeadragonwannaretire]

Azula was already not in the best frame of mind when the train reached the station today and after some of her conversations and the last few weeks she was resigned to one simple fact.

Everything was terrible and she needed to sleep.

But when sleep was plagued with nightmares of people betraying her, or visions of being returned to the cell or worse it was hard to get the needed time to relax and let her body and mind heal itself from the exhaustion of each stressful day.

And she found herself in the medical bay, trying to put on a professional face only to have her expression fall into dismay when she saw who was "On duty."

"You work in here?" She greeted Raven unenthusiastically but stepping in and closing the door behind her all the same.

Re: Medical

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Sometimes." Raven replied, turning to see Azula. "I'm one of the train's healers." Raven paused in her cataloging and labeling, making sure to note where she stopped. Turning to give Azula her full attention. "What's wrong?"

Not that she didn't have some idea--she couldn't get a clear read on the other girl with her Empathy. But what she was leaking spoke of frustration, and of anxiety.

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"Nothing physical." She answered sharply, defensive before reminding herself that she had come here for help, not to start a fight with the gloomy girl who made her feel strangely homesick for a home she didn't have anymore.

"I just...thought perhaps I could find something in here to help me sleep more soundly. I am already prone to insomnia and having all these strangers around isn't helping that."

She had more been hoping to run into Ai since they had got on well enough but maybe Raven knew where everything was kept.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You're in luck. I just made some things with that specifically in mind, since there's a distinct lack of it normally." Raven proceeded to move to a cabinet. "I can give you a sachet to put under your pillow that will help keep bad dreams away, a bath-tea-bag the help promote good sleep and calm you, and a salve that will also help prevent nightmares and night-terrors. You can have any or all of them."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

"Wow, lucky indeed." Azula agreed looking surprised at the selection. She considered the options.

"While I wouldn't normally believe in something as whimsical as putting something under my pillow and hoping for results I am on a magical train so...I suppose I should keep an open mind. I'll take all of it thank you."

Politeness and open mindedness. She'd only been here a month and she was desperate enough for both rather then making demands.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You're not the first on the train to have trouble with sleeping. I got some of my spellbooks recently, and figured I'd try some things to help improve our quality of life here." Raven spoke as she gathered things. A small jar of salve was passed to Azula first. "I recommend rubbing this on your wrist pulse points, and along your neck and under your nose. It'll help promote good sleep and defend against bad dreams." Next were the two small cloth bags--one slightly larger than the other. Holding that one up, Raven explained. "Take a bath with this in the water, it'll help relax you and make you sleepy." And then the smaller cloth. "This one goes in your pillow case, and should help with anti-nightmare and anti-night-terrors."

[makeadragonwannaretire]

She listens carefully and studies each item as she's given it. Used sparingly she's sure she can make the jar last a few weeks. She's less sure about the bath bag.

"Is the bath item a one time use sort of thing?" She had learned some supplies were more limited then others on this train after all.

She was still apprehensive about the idea of lowering her guard so much. What if one of her room mates decided to take advantage of her sleepy state and go through her items? Or incapacitate her? Or worse?

But they had no reason for that yet. She had been a model room mate, quiet, considerate, except for the occasional nightmare waking her up and then the others she couldn't think of any reason they'd have to resent her yet.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You could probably get up to 3 uses out of it, but it'll be less potent." Raven said. "I do have more of them, and I can make more once I get more supplies."

Raven paused, before adding. "If it's because of the presence of other people making you antsy, you can do what I do and sleep in a quiet car. They lock from the inside."