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

Tobari | OTA + one closed prompt

[flowersinmyparadise]

((OOC: Tobari can detect magic, so if you're a human with magic, he might be even extra curious about you. He can also tell if you're not human regarding things like demons/monsters/other yokai. Please also view his other abilities and his Permissions as needed. If you want to talk about workarounds, please feel free to ping me on this account, on discord at Tseil#2674, or on Tseil. Thank you!))

[ 1. In With The Luggage ]

At first, Tobari is snoozing, curled up in some trunk he isn't aware of. His tails curl around him, trying to find that just-comfortable spot. But trunks are compact and usual aren't all that comfortable, are they? He tosses and turns, or at least as much as movement will allow, trying to find that cosy position, but... Nothing is comfortable.

He tries to stretch as he yawns and is met with walls on all sides before he opens an eye. Then the other as he tries to absorb exactly just what he's stuck in. Still confused, he pushes in a few directions and, thankfully, it seems the top of the trunk is willing to give; not that it would be much of a problem if it were locked. But he'd like to not have to break things if he doesn't have to. Who knows what's on the outside, anyway? He doesn't want to hurt any innocent people.

He pushes it fully open and looks around at the baggage car in wide-eyed bewilderment. He's never seen anything quite like this. Just where is he? How did he get here?

"Hello?" he calls out fairly loud. Maybe someone can help him. ...If there's anyone around, that is. "Is anybody there?"


[ 2. On The Train ]

It takes Tobari a while to realise that his clothes aren't the ones from back home - he's wearing a purple hoodie. Which is fine, it seems comfortable enough. But he came to learn that, apparently, these colours designate teams for missions. He's standing to the side as he watches people walk by, happy to see so many humans and yokai getting along. This place is great! He hopes he can achieve this back home. Maybe he can get some pointers for how to make this paradise when he gets back home.

(A.) If you're a human, he'll approach you with a smile, trying his best not to be scary (even if there are other yokai on here getting along with them, he knows that humans might want to take new yokai slow).

"Hi, I'm Tobari and I'm here to help. Nice to meet you! I hope we can be friends."

Which, if people don't want to be friends, he gets it. He won't push on it. But boy does he ever want to be friends with you. He'll be so happy if you want to be friends with him.

(B.) And if you happen to be a purple, (Double points if you're purple and human) he'll happily run over to you.

"Hey, we're teammates, right?! Nice to meet you! I'm Tobari!"

You can see his two tails wagging behind him.

"I hope we'll get to work together a lot. I bet it's going to be a lot of fun."


[ 3. Platform ]

The first chance he gets to be outside, he's there. If only to explore further. What's going to be waiting for him out there?

It's not even a disappointment when it finds it's all surrounded by vine-covered walls - he's just happy to get to see even more people. And he understands that they're all newcomers, kind of like he is (though he's still confused as to why he woke up in the luggage instead of here with everybody else). While he'll still greet human newcomers with a smile, he's actually looking around for those he can sense are yokai.

The seconds he finds one, he'll go up to them.

"Hey, welcome to the... uhm..." What was the name of this place again??? "Voidhopper Distress!" He says that with way more confidence than it deserves to be.

"Both humans and yokai get along here, so make sure you play nice, okay?" he says with an award-winning smile. He just wants to make sure everybody gets along, okay? And don't make him enforce it.


[ 4. Sleeper 6:A - closed to roommates ]

After all that socialising, Tobari decides he should find this room that he's going to be staying at. It takes several cars, but he finally gets there - 6:A. He spends a few moments trying to figure out the box, but when he finally figures out just how to hold his ticket to it, he goes in with a smile.

...Only to blink. What a strange room.

"Is this how people here sleep?" he says, more with curiosity instead of judgement. It's definitely interesting for him.

After looking around at the beds, he hops onto one of the top bunks. Sleeping higher up is probably fun! He wants to try. Sorry if this is your bunk, though. He doesn't know any better yet. Just correct him. Otherwise, he's just going to sit there with a smile, wagging his tails, and greeting whoever he sees in there.

Sleeper 6:A

[emerald_mirror]

Luckily, it's Xander, and he's pretty chill, even about people sitting on his bed. Cottonball, his bat, is not so chill--she's the one who sets up the squeaky racket.

"Hey, calm down, listen!" He pets her on the head with one finger, tapping lightly when she doesn't shut up. "Besides, he's not on your perch."

Xander chuckles, then, and looks up at the new face. "Technically that one is mine, yeah, but that one should be empty, pretty sure I saw Glorfindel walk off the platform." He sighed a bit at that, but really, that was the way of things--and he was tired of being sad about that.

Though he still was, really. "Anyhow, what's your name? I'm Xander Woods. Just got on the train?"

[flowersinmyparadise]

Tobari stares with wide eyes as Cottonball squeaks off. It's not uncommon to have familiars, so he's not surprised about that. It's just shocking that it can squeak so much.

Tobari lets off a laugh as Xander calms her down.

"Sorry about that. To both of you."

He gently climbs down and moves over to the one that Xander pointed out. When he gets himself settled back into a comfortable position, he turns to properly face Xander.

"I'm Tobari, and yea, I'm new here. Nice to meet you."

[emerald_mirror]

"Ah, don't worry about her, she'll be fine. She just ate like a glutton so she's feeling fat and sassy!" Xander can't help but laugh--but it's really directed at the bat, not Tobari. "Her name is Cottonball."

He gestures to the vine curling around the bed railing and up to the ceiling. "Glorfindel had that growing there--sorta felt like home to him, I guess? If you don't like it, I can encourage it to move over here, it's no big deal. Or I can take care of it, if you like. And it's nice to meet you too!"

It really was, even though it felt a bit like a revolving door in the room over the past couple platforms. That was hardly Tobari's fault, though.

[flowersinmyparadise]

Fat and sassy. That's a mood if Tobari ever heard one. Food sounds really good all the time. He'll have to pester someone to cook for him later, since Reimei wasn't there with him to give him the best onigiri in the world.

Tobari looks toward the vine, following its path up to the ceiling.

"Oh! He did great with it!" He leans over a little bit and gently touches its stem. "I'd like to keep it here, if you don't mind. Unless you really want it."

After all, if Xander was really close to Glorfindel, he deserves to keep the memento.

[emerald_mirror]

"No, it's fine where it is! I just didn't want it to bother you if you didn't want it. Not everyone likes plant life." But he did, so Xander was content to leave it.

"I leave most of my plants in the greenhouse car. That's the place for them. For the most part, I guess, anyway." He shrugged at that, but grinned. "Need a tour of the place? Or do you want one? There's a lot of down time between missions."

Which was true, but Xander was used to amusing himself, when it came down to it.

Luggage

[chocobosnap]

In Prompto's defense, he wasn't expecting the luggage beside him to open when he let out that very conclusive yelp, nearly tripping over someone's parcel nearby.

"I-I...hi." He stammered a bit, eyes wide and bewildered.

"What, um, what were you doing in there?" That seemed like the most important question, really.

[flowersinmyparadise]

Oh, whoops. He scared one. He didn't mean to.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" That's the more important question in Tobari's opinion.

But as far as answering Prompto's, he looks down at the box he was in, then around the cart again, then back to Prompto.

"I don't know. I mean, I was sleeping. But I don't know how I got in the thing to begin with." A beat. "Where am I, anyway?"

[chocobosnap]

"Yeah, uh, totally fine!" Prompto exclaimed, stepping away from the package. "I totally meant to do that." A little white lie.

"You're on the train?" Prompto asked. "I mean, the luggage car specifically..."

[flowersinmyparadise]

Tobari's going to ignore that it was a lie, even a little one. Besides, he's met more than a few humans who try to pretend they aren't scared of yokai upon seeing them. That's what he figures this is, anyway.

"Train?" Tobari tries really get a grasp on that one. But when no recognition surfaces, he has to finally ask: "What's a train?"

Luggage is fine. And maybe car means room. But what does it mean to be on a train? Is it some sort of storage house? He's sure you can't eat it... Or maybe you can? He has no idea.

[chocobosnap]

"Oh uh, it's a thing that goes?" Prompto blinked. A moment, he would try again.

"It's like a vehicle. Like...like a car but it holds way more people. This one has sleeping rooms too."

Did that help?

2A

[theimpatientone]

Even if she's not team purple, Merwen is actually purple coloured, and she's human, even if the webbed hands and feet might make her look otherwise. And she's naked. But that's just normal for her.

She's never seen someone like him, but that's okay. She gives him a smile, really genuinely pleased at finding such a warm greeting. "Hello, Tobari. My name is Merwen the Impatient One. I hope we can be friends, as well."

[flowersinmyparadise]

Merwen is definitely on the more unique side of any human that Tobari has ever seen, but not any less amazing for sure. And the genuine smile and returned greeting, Tobari's tails wag excitedly as he beams.

Yay! She wants to be friends, too!

Ah, but...

"Miss Impatient One, are you cold? Did they not give you any clothes when you first got here? I can give you mine." He means it with all concern and respect. If she wants to remain naked, that's totally fine by him. But he also wants to make sure that she's not simply having to go without.

[theimpatientone]

"You can call me Merwen."

Not that being called by her selfname all the time is wrong, but it's more formal than anything she cares for. "I was shared 'clothes' when I arrived here, just as everyone is, but we don't cover ourselves on Shora, where I am from. I find it uncomfortable, so I go without whenever possible."

[flowersinmyparadise]

"Merwen," Tobari confirms with another smile. "As long as you're comfortable, that's all that's important. I've never heard of Shora, what's it like? Are there other humans like you?"

An entire species of purple humans from a land he's never heard of, he's sure it's amazing. And, well, isn't getting humans to talk about themselves one of the best ways to bond?

2b

[blitzcheer]

Two tails? It's been a while since Tidus has seen two tails, and while their movement catches his attention for a moment, he focuses it back on the guy, his brow lifted in surprise easing to something comfortably cheery, if with his mouth tugged some into a smirk.

"Welll, the works a pain, that's for sure." Hah. "But it's good to have company! Welcome aboard - you been whisked up like this before?"

Is that it? Or is this guy just naturally positive?

Thank you for the info! o/

[flowersinmyparadise]

Tidus is certainly something interesting, in all sorts of ways. Though, at first, he can't quite put his finger on it. All he can tell is that there's definitely some sort of magic. But before he can piece it together further, Titus asks him a question, and Tobari's just easily-distracted enough to switch to that instead.

"Whisked up?" Tobari has to actually think on that for a moment. But all moments he can think of were completely of his own accord. "No, but I travelled a lot. There were lots of different humans and yokai to work with in all sorts of places. So I figure it's kind of like that, just unplanned."

And he's just as happy as a clam about it.

"I'll do my best to make the work easy. I'm sure it'll be no problem at all!"

After all, he's one of the Three Great Demons - his powers are sure to contribute to these missions.

[blitzcheer]

So he's heard about the missions, or so Tidus is assuming, and there's a pang of guilt for how easily he's accepted it, or seems to have. But then - what else is there to do? That's basically the point of every meet and greet, so Tidus smiles with a nod; knows he can't let it bother him.

"Thanks. And sure, there's a lot of different people around. Though, uh... 'yokai'?"

He'd begun to look around, but looks back at that, and with a pause for thought: "Are you a yokai?"

There's some interest, some curiosity, but other than a fleeting looking at the guy's ears, they don't linger. He's pretty used to different types of people, himself.

[flowersinmyparadise]

For a moment, Tobari can't help but stare when Tidus asks that question. Do the tails and ears not make it obvious? Did he make some sort of misstep? Well, the question's out there, he might as well answer it. Hopefully it doesn't make Tidus afraid of or hate him.

"Uhm, yea. I'm a yokai."

He watches Tidus carefully for his response. He'll just... casually leave the fact that he's one of the most powerful off to the side for now. He doesn't want to make Tidus uncomfortable, and well... people already have a hard time taking to yokai back home, much less running into one of the Three Greats.

[blitzcheer]

"Oh yeah? Huh, alright." There's a curiosity about his face, but beside that, it stays at ease, and even easily accepting of that info. Tidus waving a hand somewhat dismissively. "Cool. I've never heard the word before. Different places, you know?"

He's certainly never heard of people with ears and and tails being called youkai. But he's at ease continuing on, sharing, whether or not it helps: "But other people might know about youkai. We've got a lot of interesting people around these days, that's for sure. Less...human-looking people around," he clarifies, without any malice to the observation.

4

[foxyou]

Jiu walks in maybe five minutes later with a couple comic books in his arms, looks up at an unfamiliar pair of ears, and immediately...squints suspiciously, ears flattening.

"...Who're you?"

Intruder? New roommate? Terrible either way.

[flowersinmyparadise]

Although even minor hostilities are common amongst the yokai back at home, he doesn't seem at all bothered by Jiu's ears flattening. If he needs to prove his worth to Jiu, he's more than happy to.

But first, introductions!

"I'm Tobari! Nice to meet you! Do you sleep in this room, too?"

[foxyou]

So cheerful....but with circumstances as they are, there's not really any point to starting hostilities with what is apparently another inescapable roommate.

"The pleasure is all yours. And yes, I sleep here." He glances at his own bed, feeling a tiny bit of relief that it doesn't seem to have been messed with, but also conflicted over whether or not to stay.....ugh he's already here, might as well plop these books down and climb onto the bed.

[flowersinmyparadise]

"So we share then. That's great!"

And now, Tobari has a ton of questions for poor Jiu.

"What village are you from? Do you work with a lot of humans here? Did you work with humans back home?"

He wants to know if Jiu is being not only helpful, but also being a good yokai and not one that torments humans.

[foxyou]

Why....is this guy so energetic......Jiu's tail swishes in irritation, ears showing similar feelings, but he does actually (reluctantly) answer the questions.

"....My village is none of your concern. It's impossible to avoid working with humans when trapped in a vehicle overflowing with them. What I did back home is, again, none of your concern."

Those are technically answers, right?