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

[weisexual]

He stares at the cat as it jumps on the table interrupting his reading session. He wasn't aware that there were animals on the train as well but perhaps that shouldn't be all that surprising. He wonders if this is someone's pet that they will be searching.

He makes a motion to try and wave the cat away from the books with his hand. It's not proper for the animal to be on the table.

[azurebichen]

And cat stares back with his pale-colored eyes. Why the man is waving at him, to try to shoo him away? Doesn't like cats? If only he's a rabbit...

Cat is stubborn. Tail swishing. With a quick reflex, he playfully bats at his hand with his paw for a wrestle, then placing a paw on his book, then looks closely to sniff at the pages and read what he's reading.

[weisexual]

He sighs as the cat doesn't get the hint. He isn't afraid of getting scratched and he isn't going to simply keep tolerating poor behavior. He reaches out to scoop it up, easily lifting it with one hand under it's belly so that he can deposit on the floor.

"No animals on the table."

He scolds before turning back towards his book.

[azurebichen]

The cat doesn't scratch, doesn't need to. He's only playing. He meowed lightly after being scooped up under the belly and being a deposit on the floor.

He has good manners. "No table." he spoke and repeats after him, his voice light, soft, and airy, and male.

He hops back on but sitting on the chair adjacent to him. "Chair." Right then and there, plops on the chair and lazily swish his tail.

[weisexual]

He glances at him when he speaks. So perhaps not a pet but a passenger. He has stopped being surprised by strange occurrences already. If he can deal with a big metal box carrying around people from multiple worlds to even more different worlds, he can deal with a talking cat.

At least it learns. The chair is more acceptable then the table. He turns back to his book.

[azurebichen]

It's contradictory, but it's a bit of both. But yes, the cat talks in his language and he could learn manners, but then again, his own master doesn't enforce 4,000 rules in his feline mind.

"What are you reading?" He speaks again, tail swishing as he watches, observant.

[weisexual]

"It appears to be fantasy." Or if it isn't, it is unlike any world he has ever heard of before. he can't be sure exactly considering he is now talking to a cat. Not really his normal choice of books but he has determined that he will be reading every book in the library and had chosen at random based on the titles, trying to touch each of the genres.

[azurebichen]

With a nod of his head, he uses his paw to rubs between his ears and he meowed. "My master likes reading too. You should read everything. The books in this library comes from other worlds."

Lightly, "The headband. Does everyone in your clan wear them? My master and his brother wear them too."

[weisexual]

He pauses and looks at the cat from the corner of his eye. Just because he mentions the headband does not mean that it has the same sort of meeting. Though he is aware that there is a version of himself here that is not quite human.

"They do. Lan sect of Gusu."

A far simpler explanation or greeting then he normally would do but he knows that for most people mentioning his sect would mean nothing.

[azurebichen]

It actually means something. It's the birthplace of the Gusu Lan Sect. "Then you should meet him. My master and his brother, the twin Jades of Lan. He comes from Gusu too."

He meowed, "Meet him when he's in the garden meditating or in the kitchen cooking dinner in the evening." He then does a cat stretch, an ear twitch, and a yawn and then hops off the chair to lazily wandered off.

[weisexual]

He has so many questions as he watches the cat wander off. But he will simply wait to have them answered by actual humans as he turns his attention back to the book. He has no doubts that he will encounter the other versions of himself eventually.

[azurebichen]

After a while, he managed to shapeshift back to his real form and he realized his cat is up to his tricks and got tuckered out, so he gets dressed. He realized it's evening, so it's nearing meal time and meal preparation. The cat ears on his head and tail won't go away, so it's visible with a fix of a hole in his pants.

Eventually, he did return to the library just to return some books. He doesn't have his robes and his headband on, considering they were gone and didn't come with him upon entry on the platform, so wearing a blue hoodie.

If he's there, he decides to speak, "Did my cat give you trouble?"

[weisexual]

He finishes the book he was on and sets it aside, realizing that he probably should quit for the day given that his internal clock is telling him that it is time for the evening meal. He has always been quite punctual and that will not change on the train.

He stands up and is putting the books away when the man enters. He looks over at him, not understanding the question at first and then taking note of the cat ears. Although he doesn't recognize him immediately he is smart enough to figure it out based on the clues given.

"He tried to be on the table." A big no-no.

[azurebichen]

With a sigh, he explains, "He's a youkai, a very mischievous cat spirit that I made a pact within one world that is a different spirit dimension. We share the same body, but we're two different souls, so when he takes over, he likes to play around and play tricks when he possessed me."

With proper introduction, "Before that world, I'm Lan Wangji of the Gusu Lan sect from Cloud Recess. And he's Yukihiro. After we made a pact, our lives are one and the same. Pleased to make your acquatainence."

[weisexual]

He circles his arms and gives a bow. It feels strange to be bowing to himself but he has grown up with proper manners being ingrained into everything he does. So he will not hold back on them in this place no matter how odd the circumstances.

"I am also Lan Wangji of Gusu." But he figures the other already knows that much. He wears a similar headband and although he hasn't gone to request his clothing yet, he will be making sure to do that soon.

[azurebichen]

He bows back in return, because it's only polite and he's been taught well since childhood with the rules and raised by his sect.

With a curious tone, his cat ears perked. "Really? How strange. But I guess the train does pull different versions of my selves across the universe." But he does met a version of himself from a different time, and he's a divergent.

Still, he courteous and friendly. "It's nice to meet you. I hope we can be friends. I'm not sure if there anything I can help with, but I help out with chores to make it easier for the kids."

[weisexual]

Can a person be friends with themself? He supposes that he would know himself better then most. But then again this version also has cat ears and so he has to wonder just how different they all actually are. Even if they have the same name clearly something about them has changed.

"I have heard of you from my Wei Ying." And also heard that this one was married to his version...which is mind boggling in it's own right. But he tries not to think about that too much.

[azurebichen]

There's no reason why they shouldn't be. They came from the same clan, although a variant in different looks, but otherwise roughly same family unit. Mother, father, brother, and son.

He smiles a little and there's feline fangs. He's more relaxed in his posture. "Oh, I met him. He seems different." But no less of mischief. "He comes from your world?"

[weisexual]

He gives a small nod. "Or one more similar." then the ones where they end up married. So far their memories match except for the fact that he has been here much longer.

"We cannot be sure that we are from the exact same place."

[azurebichen]

With a small nod, "I see. You should ask him and speak to him, just to be sure."

[weisexual]

"We have spoken." Things just don't completely line up. but he knows this is the Wei Ying he is familiar with. He can feel it even if he can't understand it. And even if it isn't, he will accept that Wei Ying is Wei Ying no matter what form he takes or what world he is from.

"There is still much to learn."