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

[efficacy]

Pepper thinks she's doing okay not spiraling completely into a blubbering, anxious mess considering the circumstances. She's being remarkably calm, in fact. Maybe she's still in denial? Or in shock. That's probably it. Her ruminations cut off when movement out of the corner of her eyes catches her attention, and she turns her head just in time to meet Peter's arrival to her side.

"Oh-- hi. Hi... Peter." It comes a little haltingly, still overwhelmed by the situation. As expected, there is absolutely no recognition whatsoever in Pepper's gaze, her eyes lingering for a beat on that bruise on Peter's face. She takes a deep breath and blows it out softly through her teeth, mustering a tremulous smile at the friendly teen and only highlighting how young she really is compared to the version of Pepper Peter is more familiar with. "It's good to meet you. I'm Pepper. Potts."

Keep it together, Potts. A wry breath of a laugh escapes her. "Sorry, this is all a little strange. You know, to understate it hugely."

[hashtagparkerluck]

Peter holds his breath a moment as he considers how to continue. He really didn't expect her to recognize him but it still stung a little. Still though, he offers a friendly smile and a slight nod. "Y-yeah. It's nice to-to uh meet you, Ms Potts."

He's never been great at small talk. He has a habit of rambling and the fact that he does know her makes it all the harder to not just launch into a story about everything that's been happening. He doesn't though. He knows from experience the train doesn't really reveal much to first time passengers. He briefly wonders what all she has been told at this point. It can't be much-they haven't been on the platform too long and there's a lot of information to know. Plus, he hasn't even had a chance to really look for Ben yet. Not that he expects to see him.

"Um, I could answer some questions? Not everything-we don't know everything yet-it's a uh... very 'learn as you go' kinda thing."

[efficacy]

"That's very kind of you. Thanks," Pepper says with a fuller, closed-lipped smile. She's mistaking his stuttering nervousness as simply him being a potentially a bit shy or slightly awkward teenager-- nothing out of the usual, there. But instead of launching into questions more pertinent to her own predicament, she fixates on Peter's bruise instead, pointing at the spot on her own face with her finger in indication.

"But what happened there? Have you gotten it checked?" It's just a bruise, she knows, but still.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Okay, maybe he should have been more specific about which questions he'd answer. It was probably too much to ask that no one mention the bruise. His cheeks flush a little and he fidgets nervously, shifting from foot to foot.

"Oh, that. I uh-I sorta-" Got thrown into the wall while taking a shower. the moment replays in his head and he's reminded of just how embarrassing the injury is. "Um, it's fine. It'll heal." He insists. In few hours no one will even know it happened. However, even though she doesn't know him yet, she's still Pepper and he knows, probably from experience that she has a look(tm) that's good at extracting information. "I just uh... kinda uh... lost my footing um... in-_intheshower" He mumbles the last.

[efficacy]

Oops. She's unknowingly hit a nerve with her innocent question, by the looks of that embarrassed flush. Peter's right, though, she does have a particular Look that's extremely useful-- it even works on Tony, 95% of the time. The kind of steady, patiently expectant stare that perfectly conveys just how disappointed (and/or upset, depending on the target) she'll be if denied answers. She doesn't quite even employ it here, at least on purpose, before Peter spills the beans.

It's... not what she'd expected. Honestly, she'd thought it was something more mortifying based on his reaction.

"Oh." She winces sympathetically. "Well, you're lucky you got away with just a bruise. You could have easily broken something slipping in the shower. Does it hurt? Maybe we could find some ice..."

She's mostly thinking out loud, now. Look, he's a kid and he's been banged up, it soothes Pepper's current anxiety by a lot to focus on someone else's well-being instead!

[hashtagparkerluck]

It is mortifying if you're a superhero that can stick to practically any surface. Not that he's told her that part.

"Um, yeah, I guess. I mean it's a small stall so there wasn't really a whole lot of room to fall." And yet, he'd somehow managed it. He'll Chalk it up to Parkerluck though as it sounds about par for the course. He can tell by her tone though that worrying about him is at least offering a distraction from her own anxiety. If she's this worked up over a black eye he should definitely not tell her about his worse injuries.

"Um, that's okay. I'll get ice later or something. It doesn't hurt at all." He pauses. "...well, as long as no one touches it." He might have given in just to ease her mind a little but he still hasn't had much of a chance to really see who all the new arrivals are.

[efficacy]

His mortification would indeed make a lot more sense if she knew that, but alas. Also, if and when she does discover his powers, expect her to be slightly baffled about it. She's only just getting used to the fact that her boss flies around in a suit of armor he made fighting bad guys; actual spider-powers are a step up she's probably not quite yet prepared to wrap her head around. Of course, the fact that she's suddenly traveling aboard a voidtrain will force her to adjust pretty quick to abnormal things...

"Alright. If you're sure." She's probably making too big of a deal out of a simple bruise, she knows. Shaking her head a little, Pepper musters a small, apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'm making a fuss. I should..."

She trails off and glances at the train a bit uncertainly, blowing out a quiet breath through her teeth. Even if there was somewhere else to go, she feels this odd pull toward the train. "So, this is it? We'll board the train and... go?"

[hashtagparkerluck]

"No, no. It's fine." Peter assures her, wisely deciding not to mention that he's had a lot worse than a black eye. If she's making a fuss over a bruise now, he's really not looking forward to the next time he lands himself in Medbay.

"Oh, yeah. Um-it'll leave in about an hour-I think. Um. This is the Voidtrecker Express-and uh-um... how much do you know about the multiverse?" He decides to ask.

[efficacy]

"...Multiverse?" Pepper parrots a little wearily, looking just a bit pained. Is that answer enough, Peter? Nevertheless, she goes on after a second.

"You mean the theory? I know the basic premise of it, I guess." You can't really work for Tony Stark for years and not pick up certain things here and there.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Yeah, this is gonna be a rough adjustment for her and he already feels bad. At least she has a basic idea about it though-that's helpful.

"S-so uh... you know there's an infinite amount of universes-or that's the theory. The Void Train kinda confirms that." He's not gonna mention different time points yet, that's gonna be a whole thing on its own. "Anyways, the train collects people from all over and then it travels through the void-which is like the space between universes and we occasionally stop off on different worlds to help them with some kinda crisis." Which is a lot to take in, he knows but how else can he explain it.

[efficacy]

"Right," she says at length after the explanation, sounding a little overwhelmed. "Okay. That's... that tracks." Ha. Train jokes.

"And it can just-- pull whomever from where they are, their homes, onto the platform like this? That's how it works?"

[hashtagparkerluck]

Well when you put it like that it just sounds creepy. He can see the concern though and holds his breath for a fraction of a second.

"Um, seems to be, yeah. I'm not really sure what determines who and why but every two weeks more people turn up on the platform and join the VT to... where ever...." He trails off a moment though, a tiny little prickle at the base of his neck and he glances around to see what might cause it.

Oh. He notices the problem. How many times is the water supply gonna get threatened today?

"Uh... will you excuse me? I have to go take care of something." He gestures with his thumb before backing up and then rushing off to intervene with Lapis and her panic attack.

[efficacy]

Pepper nods her head slowly as Peter explains, even if the explanation is... maybe a little less than reassuring, factually. But before she can really say anything about it one way or another, Peter looks-- distracted.

"Oh?" A little taken aback by the sudden change of topic, Pepper blinks rapidly a couple of times. "Um, yeah. Sure." But he's backing off and dashing away before she's fully finished agreeing, leaving her to stare after him in confusion. Weird, she thinks, but shrugs it off. They'd probably run into each other sooner or later. They were stuck on the train, after all. Focusing on said train again, Pepper takes a breath and boards.