A New Platform [Intro Post April]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen 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 after lunch. A lunch that may be a bit sparse: between the big eaters and the stress bakers, the stores have been stretched thin the last two weeks.

"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 steam is thin, with blue skies seen above. The sun shines brightly down, warm light pooling on the platform.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Cassie Lang, Glorfindel, Jessie Custer, Olivia, Paddra Nsu-Yeul, S’reee, Thea Queen, Wei Wuxian.

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, open, with a vine-covered wall stretching high either side of the barrier. 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 eighteen 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 doors close behind them.

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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including plenty more tomatoes.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a suitcase stocked with spare wash kit items, for those who are running low as well as a box labelled Do Not Use Yet that is full of small 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 who are making the most of the sunshine. 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

[mtsilver_conquor]

Yeah, Eva has to do a double, well, triple take at Yondu's outfit. It's been a long while since she's seen someone dressed like that, and in many ways, it makes her homesick. In many others, it gets her curiosity ticking.

Meaning, she really just has to ask: "I really have to ask: dragon rider or-?"

Hey, it's a valid question for the Orange-clad Arkean woman.

[yondu]

People ride dragons? Hell, he wants to be a dragon rider. That sounds like somethin' anyone would on their damn resume.

He stalls and looks down at the shoes which still have that creaky leather new-boot feel to 'em. "Ravager captain. Hope I'm not disappointin'. The firstun sounds like a pretty damn good accomplishment."

After a recent conversation on coming from lone worlds, it was nice runnin' into someone that had somethin' strange like dragons. "The name's Yondu Udonta." He thumps his right hand against his chest lightly with a slight bow in a Ravager salute.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Iden'no Eva. It's nice to meet you, Captain Udonta," she says with a bow, tucking hair back behind an ear as she rises.

"Nah, not at all. Getting to the rank of Captain is impressive in its own right, more so given from what I understand of things, it's typically merit-based. Dragon riding's.. often not."

Even if it's true, that is so vastly oversimplifying things re: dragon riders and she knows it. "Are Ravager's military or private?"

[yondu]

"Both. Big fleet of 100 or so, has a council of captains." Which... he's not going to talk about the particulars of, or how he wasn't on it anymore, and how he missed it. But that's the point of the gear, isn't it?

"There's some big ol' Empires out there an' none of us wanna be a part of 'em."

But, after that battle, he has to admit. "Wouldn't mind seein' some dragons, though. Ridin' or not. Y'know, so long as I didn't get burnt up or ett or nothin'." He chuckles at his own joke. "Not that things ain't tried to eat me before."

[mtsilver_conquor]

As curious as she is to learn all she can about the setup and what they did -but not why someone would forsake an Empire-, she doesn't push or even ask; she's learned not everyone likes to talk about home or has a future to go back to. There's a short nod of acceptance the information's filed away for a later date.

"Monster-filled world too?" Eva asks, not even blinking at the fact her companion's almost been eaten at least once. Or caring of the fact she could easily come off as blasé about the whole thing. As far as she cares, it's a basic fact of life that things may try and eat you. "There's very few species of dragons known to eat people, and that's typically because someone was supremely stupid and the gene pools probably better off without them."

A shrug as she pulls out her pokedex and calls up the first dragon that comes to mind. "We call these kairyū and the diet tends towards fish. I've had the pleasure of seeing several up close over the years. Ridden one, but... I think I'll stick to Deefa or Wingthing for my aerial transport."

Eva, you're biased.

[yondu]

"Worlds. I'm from space... well I'm a Centaurian but I been about ever'where so I don't got too much claim to the name." He's been latching back onto it by bits and bits. His rural people that he knows far too little of, and can barely remember the world. But he is trying.

So monsters being basically aliens, yup. He does move to look at the picture. And to think, "People actually ride them things? On the regular?" He sounds genuinely impressed, though.

"I ain't ever been good with animals an' the like 'cause I been with military or on ships."

[mtsilver_conquor]

"It's still your species, right? So you have as much claim to it as any other Centaurian, regardless of whatever culture or place you hailed from before you left for space." She doesn't quite shrug, but it's clear that's her solid view on the whole issue. Though, her view's also biased because she's travelled pretty much all of Arkea, so...

"Yeah, assuming you're privileged enough or lucky enough to own one. Or rich enough to afford a ride." Try as she might, she can't keep the tinge of bitterness from her voice. For all pokemon training can and does put people on an even footing, it's still largely an industry and that's discounting the fact that some types or even pokemon species are just plain hard to find, expensive to buy from a breeder, or hard to train or any other myriad of things. "Even then, they're not the only kind of dragons we've got, either., and I can show up, either pictures or holos? Ah, if you've met Seto Kaiba, you might have seen his little apple-like dragon?"

[yondu]

"Nah, I ain't met 'im actually. I seen 'im around though." So he's not encountered his little apple dragon. Apparently he's missing out.

"I used to have some money but I threw it all into keepin' my ship an' crew. So no big dragons for me." He admits it, because... well, at least he learned to opt for less money for better jobs than ever fall for shit like Ego offered. He'd been a stupid ex-slave jumping at the chance to have something that was his. Didn't look hard enough. And now he doesn't have that anymore. But that leads to the next thought, finally, of what he does have.

"An' I'm pickin' up some of it again, while I'm here. Might as well."

apologies for the slow. IRL pet-related drama ate my easter :(

[mtsilver_conquor]

"When you do, ask him to show you Snapper. She's a cutie." Eva, you are biased as heck.

"Not all dragons are big. Some are small." Eva says with a shrug. She could offer to get him one, but she doesn't know him well enough and he's admitted to not being good with animals. It's a thought though, and one that's tucked away for later.

Besides, there's more important things. "Like the leathers? Which, if I ever get Wingthing, would come in hand for a ride if you want."

It's off hand but an honest offer. Even if it could be a while, as aerodactyls are huge.

That is absolutely the worst.

[yondu]

"You know what? ...I'd probably take ya up on that. Even if I'd moren' likely manage to die somehow. Train brings ya back."

Look, he's very very rarely ridden any kind of animal, he knows his limitations. But he's hearing about dragons being ridden here and he has just enough love for himself that he'd risk mind and body to ride a damn dragon. It's just good sense.

And his own joke is making him smile his jagged shark smile. It's well-meant even if he doesn't really have a face made for looking happy.

It is! But things seem stable now so!!

[mtsilver_conquor]

Give them a few months of CR and pokemon-handling, and it's thoroughly possible Eva's float the idea of getting him his own dragon. For now, all the smile does is remind her of home and some of the more weirder human-like pokemon.

She grins a bit. "Train or not, I wouldn't let you die; that's like, bad sense as trainer. Pits, I wouldn't even let her out if I thought she'd spook or react badly."

And Eva means it. "If you like, I can show you a holo via the 'dex?"

[yondu]

That could likely be the best or the worst. Either way, he's down for lookin' for now.

"Yeah! Show me whatcha got." He moves closer to see, because hell, they're neat to look at.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Sure, one second."

It doesn't take her long to pull up the entry, and soon enough, dragon-like creature's projected from the blue gem-like thing on the top left. It's not a still image either, as it goes through both an ungainly walk, and a much more elegant flight cycle. "She's a p'tera and I used to be able to hold her in my arms, back when she was more wing than body and a little smaller than Princess is now."

[yondu]

"Goddamn, how big did it end up? How long did it take to get that big?"

See, big animals in space aren't that strange. But keeping them as pets has always been more a rich person's business than it has been common. The idea of average people owning giant monsters just blows his mind. Or calling them into battle or what the hell ever else.

Look at that thing! And someone just rides it like it's nothin'? That's wild.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Oh, aboutish my height at her shoulder," Eva says with a shrug before turning serious as she does some mental calculations.

Yes, she counts on her fingers a bit. She's trained so many pokemon of the years that sometimes it's hard to recall off the top of her head.

"Well, if I factor in the training, about seven years, though one year of that was probation due to the regs around owning the species -and trust me, there's a lot. P'tera are predators through and through- then I had to register her. And that's not counting the eight hundred page book that came with her when I picked her up from the Revival Labs on Guren."

Looking after her kabutops is easier. Just feed it fish. "I had to read all of it. The book that is."

[yondu]

"Predator, huh? Hell, I come from a species of hunters. Now, I weren't so much raised by 'em, but I know enough that I know they'd love such a thing."

Did Centauri have anything that big? Nobody ever mentioned it to him, and he was too little to remember much more than trees and song before he was taken off-world.

[mtsilver_conquor]

And how Eva's got an image of Centaurians as a bunch of dragon clans.

"I hope I can get her one day, then. Though... Pretty sure the train wouldn't let me, even if I keep her in her 'ball on-train."

It'd bother her, yes, but she's also a responsible pokemon trainer.

[yondu]

"Yeah, too cooped up for a place like this. But still, pretty cool to look at. Them's real neat."

He stops invading her personal space to look at her pokedex now. "How many you got here right now?"

Sorry for the delay. Feel free to drop this if it's too old.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Yeah, though I can dream. And, thanks."

There's a blink at the question - and then Eva shrugs, her grin a touch wry. "Officially -the ones we know the most about- close to a thousand. Unofficially... around two thousand or so."

[yondu]

"Nah, I mean you personally. Here, on the train."

He points down, as if he's indicating the train itself. "How many did it let ya bring?"

Also he wonders if he's seen them around and just thought, 'Oh that's a weird animal from somewhere I'll just ignore it.' The answer is yes, yes he has.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"My bad. Just Princess to start with, and Let me tell you. I think the only reason we can now get some animals is because I asked the train so much for the rest of my team that it took it as everyone wanting animals."

Sometimes in less than polite terms, but details. "Which I did. Sort of. Dancer's more useful than Lele more times than not." Eva says at the same time as she pulls up a picture of a familiar pink fluffball, then beside that, a red bird, and a very neon green metallic-ish rubber duck thing. She also taps each hologram, as she says the pokemon's name.

"Lele... doesn't look as pristine as the picture though." There's an unhappy frown at the end. Probably because her porygon2 is still somewhat dented up from a past mission.

[yondu]

"That's actually pretty helpful to know. They keep sayin' that Blue team has had to deal with animals a bunch of times. Could ya be someone I could send people to if they ain't sure what to do?"

Because he's still figuring it out himself. He's been putting forth the effort. It helps that his roommate has rabbits, and he's getting used to them.

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Sure. At the very least I can get them used to animals by setting them to looking after Princess for a seven-day or the full jun. Er - ten days." She smirks a bit, though there's something sad about it. "I set my brother to it when he was here- I was gonna get him his own pokemon. A kleffi or metamon."

Eva has no idea how terrifying Kaito Kuroba could have been with a ditto, never mind a klefki. "I did it as pippi are one of the easiest pokemon to look after as they each anything a human can. So, if you can look after Princess, you can look after any animal."

Probably.