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

Lapis Lazuli (CRAU) - FIGHT??? Train damage, stealing your water.

[oceantier]

Her muscles won't move.

Her body is no longer her own.

Lesedi smiles into her face, pressing her a little too hard against the wall; she can feel her gem grind against the metal. With all the force of a battering ram, water lashes against the thick metal of the walls outside, hurling, pounding, trying to get to her.

Failing.

It will never make it in time.

Lesedi's fingers close around her throat, practiced and focused. Mentally Lapis wrests, grapples for control with ever-increasing urgency, her eyes wide and dark on the other woman's face. She knows what's coming, and she can't prevent it.

She can't move, and the water is too far away to reach.

All she can do is feel the fingers tighten . . . and watch like a mouse unable to look away from the hawk about to tear it apart.

And then . . . like fingers suddenly breaking their grip, she's free.

. . .

The shriek that's been held in her lungs snaps loose; she stumbles back, expecting a wall that isn't there. There's nothing. Open space.

Somehow that's all the more alarming. Her eyes scatter in all directions, fingers grasping at her throat, seeing everything, absorbing nothing. Faces. Looking. Nothing she recognizes. No one she recognizes. A ghoulish cast, looming, waiting, piercing with their eyes.

Waiting to finish the job.

Metal beneath the train, groans, screams -- and suddenly snaps. Water gushes from a gaping hole in the underlying pipes towards Lapis; she lashes out with it with whoever's nearby, the wave strong enough to sweep anyone off their feet.

Watery wings bloom from the gem at her back, and with a hiccupped gasp, she launches upward.

***
Catch her:
1. In the air if you have the ability to fly, battering against the barrier.
2. On the ground again, her eyes unfocused and wild, trying to break through the barriers at the edge of the platform.

Both may result in her lashing out at you if you get too close, but you're welcome to try to fight her (she is doing damage to the train!), prevent her from doing more damage/hurting anyone, or work on getting her to calm down.

helloooo

[salutosinedelectat]

It's just another stop at the station. He stands by one of the entrances, arms folded behind his back, watching the usual proceedings - confused newcomers, waking up in strange clothes and in a stranger place, no idea what they're about to embark on; and the ones that leave, silent and steady, most likely never to be seen again.

He's in the middle of planning what to make himself for lunch, and whether or not to bake treats for the newcomers a second time, when the horrid sound of twisting and breaking metal snaps him out of it.

A lot happens before he realizes that one of the new passengers is, quite clearly, reacting a lot more violently than most do. It's a minute before he actually reacts, watching her go about her whole...thing.

Eventually, he approaches cautiously. He clears his throat and speaks up towards her.

"Excuse me!"

Hallooo! /pulls her back to the ground for this one

[oceantier]

The overhead barriers haven't given way. She's tried multiple times at this point; pushing at them, yanking more water from the gushing wound in the train to slash them like a knife.

Out. Out. She needs out.

She's been stupid, so stupid.

Without success above, she tries again below, flashing back down to the ground to try to sail over the wall.

Again, the feeling of flying . . . but never actually making it anywhere.

Trapped.

At the sound of the voice, her head snaps up, eyes whisking in that direction.

Trapped, and they're going to finish her off.

The water surges, gathers, coalesces, grows . . . into a massive fist that comes slamming downward towards the other's head.

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale watches the whole scene with all the look of someone who is weirded out enough, but is not too unfamiliar with things of this nature.

Still, water - he hasn't exactly seen that, and therefore doesn't expect it to form into a giant fist hovering above him, and even less as it, logically, comes smashing down.

In an impressive strain of his out-of-shape corporation, he manages to jump out of the way, very nearly taking an equally impressive tumble right onto the ground.

"Oh--!!"

[oceantier]

"Stay back!"

In spite of the warning inherent in the words, the tone verges too high, too tight, too thin -- warding rather than warning.

A bare, blue foot slips back one pace, then another --

Then re-coalesces the water into a hand, aiming to sweep Aziraphale -- and anyone else -- out of the way. Twisting, she takes a couple of running steps, wings blooming at her back, sailing towards the wall.

In the Air (Hello)

[light_of_willpower]

The shriek gets his attention first, and Trunks started to make his way there. Then there's the wrenching and snap of metal, and his eyes widen a bit. To his knowledge, no passenger had reacted like this yet.

Jumping as the wave came close, Trunks is floating in the air. As soon as the new passenger does the same with their watery-wings though, he's following. "Hey!" He yells.

In the air tonight~ (Hello!)

[oceantier]

Dark eyes whisk towards the sound of the voice, wide and unfocused, seeing, but not seeing. The water she released earlier rebounds from the ground, slinging towards him from below in a gush that will slam into him, sending him sailing upwards unless he manages to get out of its path.

[light_of_willpower]

"Woah!" Trunks manages to get out, before dodging out of the water gush. This is not something he's had to deal with before. "Hey! Stop!" He tries yelling again.

[oceantier]

She hasn't even looked to see if it landed, and she definitely doesn't stop at his cry. She surges upward as fast as her wings can manage; if she can get up high enough, she can escape them all.

But. Something is wrong.

She reaches a point where she can't seem to go any higher. She's flying, but . . . glancing downward, that mechanical thing, all the people aren't receding.

No.

Something's wrong.

Breath tight in her chest, she shifts course, tries another spot. Throws herself upward as hard as she can manage, like a moth battering against glass.

Not stealing his water!

[melodiouspacifist]

Here Demyx was, minding his own business, wandering the train because he had things to get before he sequestered himself in the music room and someone threw a wave at him.

That wasn't very nice, was it?

He held out his hands and activated his magic to stop that water in its tracks.

"Hey now, no need to be so rude!" He protested, looking at the presumed culprit. He guessed based on the water wings coming out of her back.

Here to steal all your water!

[oceantier]

Dark eyes whisk in his direction, widen; her weapon is in his grip, like someone managing to have caught a blade she'd swung at them with their bare hands.

It doesn't entirely help her state of mind. The water is her defense. A moment ago it had been locked away, out of reach, battering at a metal wall it could never break through as cold fingers pressed into her neck.

They're controlling the water too.

Die. They mean her to die here.

And Steven--

Steven.

Metal groans. Crumples. Shrieks. A second pipe snaps like a bone as water explodes outward, gathering into a fist with the aim to slam into Demyx from behind.

You can't have that!

[melodiouspacifist]

She didn't answer him. That was kind of unexpected, most people at least gave the courtesy of trash talk when they were trying to attack.

"I'm pretty sure breaking things is gonna-" Demyx's protest was cut off when he was forced stumbling forward by a fist of water from behind.

Okay. She didn't want to negotiate, did she?

He needed, well...he needed about fifteen seconds. He wasn't hurt by the water, of course, but she'd actually managed to get him wet.

Fair play. That was interesting. He smirked just a little bit. Nevermind that water, there was only so much he could do. When did he become the responsible one?

He drops the wave he'd been holding and tries to put a bit of distance between them. With his right hand, held out at his side he was summoning water. With the other he pulled, aiming for those wings. He needed to buy time to summon Arpeggio.

[oceantier]

She feels the pull on her wings, even as she thrusts open her arms, separating the water fist into two halves. She'd been about to slam both walls together, smash him between them, but that pull catches her breath.

Her wings to her are her freedom. Without them, she's incomplete.

And trapped.

The fact that he goes for them cements it: He's part of Lesedi. And Lesedi is playing with her before she goes in for the kill.

Yanking back, she leaps into the air, she propelling herself upward, aiming to pull herself out of reach. The flight wavers a little, her wings still tugged towards him--

So she brings the poised water walls hurling inward towards their target.

Hey don't steal the water! They Need That!

[hashtagparkerluck]

Any previous concerns Peter might have had are instantly wiped away as he sees someone trying to escape outside the platform-worse she's busted one of the pipes the supplies water. And he just ran out out webfluid, too!

Either way, this can't go on. Someone's gonna get hurt and no water for a whole two weeks is gonna suck something major.

"Um, hey Ma'am?" Peter approaches, part of him really wishing he'd worn his suit as then maybe he'd feel a little less awkward here.

Look, you don't *really* need a shower.

[oceantier]

She'd landed again briefly, eyes scattering over the platform, trying to find options, some weakness, some exit she's overlocked.

At the voice, she rounds on him. Yanks back, almost stumbles, eyes wide.

They're everywhere.

"Stay back!" Her voice is a rasp, wild as her eyes, and water surges behind her, crests . . . and floods downward at him like a tidal wave.

He actually just lost a fight to the shower, thanks

[hashtagparkerluck]

"It's-" He throws his hands up in a attempt to show he means no harm but her panic is rather intense and before Peter can really say anything to try and negotiate she's using her powers and Peter has not a lot of time to react.

"I already took a shower, thanks!" He quips before jumping up to try and stick to the nearest wall. He's safe up here, right?

[schrodingersghost]

...Well, that wasn't good.

As quick as the thought came, Danny had transformed in a flash of light and was in the air, speeding towards the mass of flailing water.

"Hey!" He pauses in midair long enough to generate a translucent green shield to block a wave of water. "Could you maybe calm down a moment? Maybe fill me in on Water you up to?"

[oceantier]

Lapis isn't good with puns at the best of times, and she certainly isn't in any frame of mind for them now. The ghost boy won't have but a moment of pause; she's already in motion even as he speaks. Water from below has coalesced into an enormous and dripping fist that barrels up at him from underneath with all the speed of a riptide.

[schrodingersghost]

He takes one look at the mass of water, and instantly shifts into intangibility, allowing the mass of water to phase through him.

"Hey, can we talk about this?"

Re: Lapis Lazuli (CRAU) - FIGHT??? Train damage, stealing your water.

[najaran]

Najaran had been considering her new Cards on her way off the platform when...

"WHOA!"

She shoved a hand behind her and a Card flew from the pouch behind her belt to her grasp.

"Lady Najaran," her cane said, warningly.

"I know!" she said. She threw the Card into the air and it split apart in a burst of light to reveal what looked like an anorexic cross between a dinosaur and a dragon. She leapt onto its back. "We're going to have to stop the attack!" she said as they flew closer. "THUNDERBEAK! THU"

The cane cut her off. "LADY NAJARAN!"

"OW. What?" she asked as her mount circled.

"Electric attacks are made more dangerous by water. You know this!"

"I know, Thunderbeak wouldn't attack with enough power to kill her, just to stop her." There was a silent I hope implied there.

"And what about everyone else who is now sopping wet?"

"Oh. Um..."

She reached behind her and tossed another card. It turned into a Sword in her hands. She directed Thunderbeak towards the attacker.

[oceantier]

Something else out to attack her . . . and this one has wings.

Lapis twists in the air, eyes narrowed. Water shimmers, sparkling in the sunlight as it twists back towards her. For mere moments it's almost beautiful.

And then it shoots outward in a gush like a wave suddenly crashing against rocks, aiming to knock the rider off the beast's back.

If the creature manages to evade, it will find other similar blasts quickly following.

[najaran]

"WHOA!" Thunderbeak veered sharply. And then again. And again. Najaran wound up having to dismiss the sword just to hold on....

Re: Lapis Lazuli (CRAU) - FIGHT??? Train damage, stealing your water.

[death_from_above]

On the ground, because he is a jerk like that, a small orange cat found a dryish spot and looked up at her. "IF YOU'RE CREATING WATER, CAN YOU AT LEAST FILL IT WITH FISH?" He yelled towards her.

[oceantier]

SPLOOSH.

Water rains down in response.

He might get wet, but alas, no fish.

Next time give her an ocean to work with.

[death_from_above]

"Sure just rain on my parade, drown my dreams," he lamented after spitting out enough water to be able to breath. Well, being able to pun. That was, of course, the priority. "Water you gonna do about my fur being soaked? Fur real, you owe me fish now!"