voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"No clue," he answers, even if it was just a thought spoken. A shrug of his shoulders that's small, a look away glance as he tries to remember one thing. "But I think there's something up... about how many weapons you can carry?" Hmmm. "You'll wanna ask Roland for the specifics - he knows them better than me. But we get a lot of stuff into those things, so they're pretty handy for being so small."

Nevermind the fact that they can keep foods in there so a good time, which- "We've got some bears too, from a mission-- ...three missions ago? Yeah. You ever cooked bear?"

He says it with a light lift in his voice, as if it's a joke.

"A bear." Soldat stares a little, though at the Arms Band not Tidus. "No. I've. Cooked rabbits? Squirrels? Never caught a bear." But now that they've been made aware, damned if they aren't going to try. "In this one?" They tap it with one metal finger, making a soft pinging noise.

"No, that's my personal one," he admits with the sliver of a sheepish note, but then figures to hold out his hand to take it back. But, not with any particular impatient motion to it.

"They're in one of the bands for Purple's stuff - Cassie can show you, or Roland." Either or. "And Inigo can help you with preparing if you need a hand. He knows about that better than me -- and bears. I lived by the sea," he says, more sheepish this time than before.

That really wasn't the right explanation, but hey, he'll go with it if Soldat doesn't ask.

"I lived in a city. And then a bunker. Only learned how to cook rabbits over a campfire in the war." They take a second to figure out how to get the Arms Band off, but then offer it back with no reluctance. They're not going to pry into the "sea" thing, not if Tidus doesn't seem comfortable with the subject. "Don't think I ever saw a bear except in the zoo. It'll be an adventure."

"War, huh?" He says it after Soldat does, the word - the meaning, the implication - hanging onto him. Nothing new, but always something foreign to him, but not. But he lets it go, a small huff behind his mouth that's drawn in a small smile.

"I think... there was a zoo where I'm from." It's thoughtful, and he's trying to think; whenever he thinks about Zanarkand, there's things he remembers and doesn't. More or so, it's a reminder - of a life and city he didn't think to explore, will ever get the chance. His eyes lifting to look at the ceiling before returning to Soldat.

And he realises he spoke and went nowhere with it, and pulls a smile that's goofy and apologetic, tipping his head.

"You ever wish you paid more attention to your old life before it disappeared?"

Disappeared - it's not the word he should've gone for, but he looks around them for meaning of what he means.

"I don't know if I paid attention to it or not. If I appreciated what I had." Soldat considers a moment, going over the scattered memories they have from before the war. "I think. Maybe the person I used to be. He did appreciate it. He's the one who went to war, and he had. There was training beforehand, there was time between the draft letter and shipping out, to know what was being lost. And he seemed the type to really live life."

They shake their head. That may not really be what Tidus means by "pay attention to", but they definitely couldn't say what the person they used to be paid attention to. So they finish: "And I definitely appreciate it now."

That is so not what Tidus meant, and he realises he's stepped into a complicated story, more so than most people experience when Soldat answers him. Complicated. Complicated for him to even know what he thinks, but it's not something he wants to really pry into.

"'Don't worry about the past, live in the moment'? --That feels like something someone would say." And maybe it's his way, of not putting emphasis on the thought, on his original question. Maybe he shouldn't think as much either about his old, gone life. Sprinkled in with a little humour, to keep it light.

"The person I used to be, maybe." Soldat doesn't frankly have a lot of choice in the matter, with only pieces of their past left. They don't really feel like prying into Tidus's real meaning, either. They've got a purpose, and it's time to start planning. "Well, I guess I should go talk to Roland or Cassie about one of those bands. And some bears."

"Sure! And if you need a hand with the cooking..." He shrugs, waves out a hand. "I can help. But you should ask around the other people who like cooking. Everyone wants to feel useful, you know?"

Mostly. It's been a theme anyway, of people want to do more, feel more involved. Hopefully, Soldat won't go as wild with the cooking as they did earlier that day, all on their own.

They understand, but that does kind of... require asking people for help. Soldat is not historically great at that. Maybe if they walk in on them, they can put people to work, but actually seeking out people for support? Way too much initiative for a murder machine.

"I'll remember that," is what they say. "There's usually a handful of people in the kitchen car, anyhow, whoever's on chores for the month."

"And outside of chores," Tidus chuckles lightly. Yeah, some people were just a fan of cooking around here.

"But-- that's everything! Thanks for helping out," Tidus says, with nothing really more to ask Soldat. But he appreciates the task that they're willing to take, the thanks sincere with the smile he gives.

"You all good? Don't...think I left out anything, do ya?" Aha- no last explanations or something or other?

"If I come up with something, I'm sure I can find you later," Soldat says, shaking their head a little. "I'll have to go find Cassie and get the one with the bears in it. And get the recipe for that bread. Thank you, Tidus." For giving them a job. For trusting them with feeding everyone.

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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