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

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.

[happyends]

[ . . . . .

There's just a slight pause here, where Madoka seems to be trying to figure out if Kyoko is calling her an idiot or not.. She honestly ends up not sure of it, so Madoka tries to move past it for now. ]

How about your Soul Gem? After all, there haven't been any witches in the worlds we've been to.. [ Not that Madoka doesn't know a solution to the whole Soul Gem dimming thing here, but she may as well see first what Kyoko's own plan was for that. ]

[redmeguca]

Oh, I've already met Rosetta, but I've got something of my own to deal with that too. I don't want to use it in front of Mami, though. It's kinda like a controlled mini-Witch that comes out when my Soul Gem gets full.

[happyends]

A.. mini-Witch?

[ Granted, that's not a combination of words she'd like to hear from a fellow magical girl. But surely even Kyoko is responsible enough to not actually be using something dangerous, right? ]

Is it dangerous? Can you show me, even though I'm just a regular human? [ Those are what witches target, after all, so Madoka's making sure there's no risk first! She can think of some people who'd scold her for taking unnecessary risks.. ]

[redmeguca]

As long as I stay in control it should be fine. Still, probably best to try it somewhere safer. Ophelia's felt different since I left keystone, and I don't want any unpleasant surprises. C'mon, let's go to the training room.

[happyends]

Okay. [ Madoka puts back the food she was looking at, moving closer towards the other girl to start heading in that direction. ]

Is.. Ophelia her name..?

[redmeguca]

Yeah. Ophelia, the Doppel of Abandonment. I'm pretty sure I'll stay in control as long as I'm in control of the feeling she was born from. Side note, did you know Witches have names?

[happyends]

[ A.. Doppel? That certainly isn't something Madoka has ever heard of before, and she slowly blinks as she tries to take in the information. ]

Um, I'm not sure.. [ She hadn't really had time to think about that. Not when most of her witch encounters were kind of disasterous. ] I didn't know if Walpurgisnacht's name was something you or Homura-chan came up with or not..

[redmeguca]

Oh, it was called that because it's the strongest example of a composite Witch. Sometimes multiple Witches fuse into one, and we call that a Walpurgisnacht. It's just that that particular Walpurgisnacht was powerful enough to be considered the platonic ideal for them. The Walpurgisnacht rather than a Walpurgisnacht, get it?

[happyends]

.. oh.

[ It's a bit of a slow answer, making it obvious that Madoka doesn't get it as easily right away. It's a lot to wrap her head around, even after actually seeing the witch with her own eyes back home. ]

Um, I think I get it.. But in that case I didn't know at all that witches had names, no. All I know is what I learned from Kyubey or you guys back home..

[redmeguca]

And we all know how that furry white bastard loves his non-answers. Anyway, we should get moving. I want to see what exactly about my Doppel changed before I try to use it in combat.

[happyends]

[ Madoka doesn't have to be told twice. She's already moving - leading the way. Kyoko must know the carriage exists for her to be talking about it, but Madoka's pretty sure she will probably have the train layout memorized more after all these months than the other girl. ]

Don't worry, it should probably still be a while until we have to fight.. So you'll have time to figure that out. The missions usually don't start until a few days after new people show up on the platform.

[redmeguca]

Gotta say, I'm looking forward to it. It's been way too long since I've had a good fight.

[Knowing that Madoka probably knows thus place better than her, Kyoko follows along.]

[happyends]

[ KYOKO, PLEASE... ]

W-Well.. As long as you're not going to fight other people on the train.. [ She's counting on your best behaviour here, okay! Maybe it's a good thing that Sayaka isn't here..

Unfortunately it's some distance before they get to the carriage most people use to train, but Madoka figures they can just fill up the space while walking with talking. ]