voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post April]

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

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!

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[From here.]

Wen Ning nods. "Yes! As far as I can tell it was."

Though they weren't able to stay around to make certain things were stabilized. It seems the train has other places in mind for them to do. He can only hope that it, or someone, is keeping tabs on things back on the world they'd left so that if they ever needed help again they could return. Surely that wouldn't be beyond its power to do.

"There was... some sort of rift. An opening in space. Portals? Demons were able to get in from them, but they've been sealed off." Whether temporarily or permanently he can't say. If that large creature on the other side had been able to get through things would have gotten particularly rough. They might have still been able to take it. He would have given it his best shot. However there could have been more than one, and that would have lowered their odds dramatically.

He won't pretend that he understands how a portal works or how a demon could travel through it but he intends to do much reading in the library so he is sure eventually he will have a better understanding of it. He still has much to figure out, having already been dealing with learning how a lot of the technology on the train works. There is so much that he has to come in contact with just in daily life.

"We travel around and help other places battle things they cannot handle themselves." It's really not that much different from night hunting or missions to other towns to help regular citizens against the spirits and other things that harass them on a day to day basis. Perhaps the enemies are different but the concept is the same and one he can easily latch onto in order to make all of this more acceptable.

"It is not surprising they have brought so many of us here."

"Do you... think we're natural choices?" When Wen Ning had been told their purpose upon arriving, he'd said he was honored to have been chosen. Maybe he was stuck on some strange space-faring vehicle now, but it had seen some worth in him. He'd been brought along with other cultivators and not dismissed as if he was a monster. It considered him an asset. That was something to be pleased about despite the circumstances.

It did seem to choose those who took their role of a cultivator seriously and didn't use their skills to seek power. (With the exception of Meng Yao, but even then he was from an earlier time when all his most horrible sins had yet to be committed.) In that, at least, the train had good taste. He would rather be with these people than ones who were more willing to stab him in his sleep.

"I suppose I hadn't thought about it like that."

"I think we are." They are fighters, protectors and stronger then most. If the train is seeking people to fight enemies then they are clearly made for this kind of thing. They have trained their entire lives for that exact purpose. So even if no one has figured out a reason for exactly who gets chosen, Lan Wangji feels like there might be some sort of similar trait they all have that gets them here.

"Even those that aren't fighters will find a usefulness somehow." It is important to have a variety of skills on any battle field. Even when there are wars on their world there are categories of people helping to win it. It's not all about the people with the swords, there are strategies and intelligence needed.

That's true. Sometimes what's most handy is a cheerful child with an ever-refilling lunch box. Though Romeo has been more helpful than that. The younger members of his team are helpful bright spots of encouragement, even if Wen Ning will be forever concerned about keeping them safe.

But there are fewer of them, and more of those like him. (Well, not specifically like him.) At least it will make adjusting easier for all of them that know each other. With a few exceptions.

"Are you aware of many of the other cultivators?"

"I was told of a few..." The ones from their world and the ones from the world similar to their own. It's a long list and some of the names on it are quite hard to accept. But he will endure having to live in a single space with them as long as they don't try to hurt anyone.

"Some of our world. Some from another."

He does not offer the list but at least he acknowledges the fact that there are many here. "Two others that bear my name." He knows vaguely of them although they haven't really met.

Two others? Until now, Wen Ning had only been aware of one other. He feels negligent every time he hears of someone he should have recognized but hasn't. The only thing to do for this will be to ask around and make a list. It's possible that some of them don't want anything to do with him, and that's understandable. He should still know if they're around.

"It's a lot, isn't it? I'm... not sure what I'll do if another me shows up. I suppose we'll be twice as awkward together." He smiles weakly at that, hoping to lighten the tone a little. Thinking on it now, maybe he wouldn't mind another of himself. There would be more of him to protect others, and the two of them could commiserate over their common woes.

But it would still be weird.

It is definitely weird and although he appears fairly calm about it, he can't help but feel a little unsettled because of the differences that are apparently there. Even if he hasn't encountered them he is aware of a few pretty large changes in their lives versus his own. But it is hardly polite to question or speculate on how those things came to be.

"It is hard to know how one will react when meeting oneself."

He doesn't even know what he should do if he encounters one of the other versions. It's not like he is a particularly talkative person. Multiple that by two and you still get a very limited conversation.

"The train would benefit from having a second." If meant in teasing it is lost on him. He only sees Wen Ning's merits and skills and how they would be useful on these missions that he hears about.

At that last comment, Wen Ning turns slightly pink. Just slightly. Blushing is still weirdly difficult for this body, but it will try its best. "Ah... you flatter me. There are plenty of helpful people here. I would confuse myself!"

He gives a weak chuckle and a slight bow of his head. Lan Wangji has deflected back to him, which means he shouldn't pry much further. No doubt there's very little else to say anyway.

"But it's not so bad, right? This place..." Aside from instances like the previous mess in the dining car. That was just people having fun, even if it's not the kind of fun the two of them approve of. As long as their food supplies are fine at the end of the day (and they don't have to clean up a mess they didn't make) there's no real damage done.

"It is not unpleasant." Which is saying a lot. He knows he will be able to survive here and although it will be a a shift in what he is used to he doesn't think his day to day will be too jarringly different.

"It is hard to be here given what needs to be done back home but there is no choice."

His expression is normally stoic but it drops very slightly at the mention of home. He knows he has to endure but that doesn't make it any easier, especially given how he left things.

"What things do you need to do back in our world?" Wen Ning blinks at the other man, unsure what he means. The main danger has passed, hasn't it? But then, Lan Wangji has a fairly important position in his sect and might have paperwork piling up every moment he's away. He doesn't envy him that. There are also disciples that need to be taught.

"Do you have a busy schedule? O-oh, I bet you have a bunch of things to discuss with the sect leaders, or - ah!" He stops, slapping the fist of one hand into the palm of the other as he comes to a realization. He lowers his voice immediately into a conspiratorial whisper.

"A-are you maybe... planning a wedding?" He can't help the smile on his face. Part of this is teasing, but he would genuinely be glad to help out with anything that needed to be done for such an occasion.

It is a good thing that he doesn't have anything in his hand at that moment otherwise it probably would be dropped. Somehow he manages to keep his outward composure even though inside he has cracked just slightly as the mention of marriage. After having heard of the other two versions of himself on this train and their marriage status he has tried his best to not wonder just what kind of things they had happen to lead them down such a path.

A small clearing of the throat, "There are no weddings being planned." He looks away slightly, trying to make sure some of the embarrassment doesn't reveal itself in his eyes.

There is a small feeling of awkwardness at even the mention of it, "There is simply much that needs to be taken care of considering what happened at the temple." New heads of sects to be appointed, new chief cultivator, training the disciples...it's a long list that is now going to have to be passed on to someone else.

"That's understandable." Wen Ning nods and doesn't press the marriage issue any further. Lan Wangji is an odd person to try and tease, particularly for someone like him who isn't the best at teasing in the first place. It had been a completely serious question, however asking any more would be leading into that territory. It would be very hit or miss with this man, with the latter being more likely.

(Though it's still a shame. A wedding would have been fun.)

"I'm sure there's someone to take care of it all, right? A-and the work we do here - that's important too." More important, really. At least depending on who you asked.

He gives a little nod, thinking about the fact that some of the other smaller clans might have to come and assist with the clean up. And the young juniors will have to take care of making sure his brother makes it back to Cloud Recesses. He probably should have done that himself but he also wanted to be sure he could see Wei Ying off...he had much to tell him still that day.

"It is important as well... I will do what is needed to make up for what I am missing."

He has heard of the missions and now better understands the dangers and importance because of what Wen Ning told him. So he will make sure that he does his part and the will succeed in helping these people of other worlds.

"They'll be glad to have you here! As they'll be glad to have any cultivators. O-or anyone, really." Cultivators are particularly strong, he thinks, compared to some others. But then he knows of some who can use powerful magic and even heal wounds with spells.

He doesn't want to compare. That isn't fair to anyone. Whatever anyone can contribute is enough. They're all working toward the same goals here. At least he hopes they are. Anyone working against the train wouldn't be helping anyone, not even themselves.

"You can come to me if you ever need help with anything!" Maybe that's a silly thing to offer. Lan Wangji wouldn't have much reason to need his help for anything, but he leaves that on the proverbial table anyway.

Since in this place Wen Ning is his senior, there is a possibility that he could need him for something. To learn more about this train or even the worlds they are on and how to prepare. The man has experienced one and therefore is beyond what Lan Wangji knows. So the chance he could use his assistance is greater then he probably realizes. Lan Wangji knows what kinds of skills Wen Ning has and he is a trusted friend to Wei Ying.

He slowly pushes himself up. Since dinner and tea is done then it would be best for him to prepare for his evening meditation. A meditation that will help clear him and settle him from such a unsettling day.

He collects his things. "Thank you for your assistance today." The man had already helped him. Getting him out of that room, showing him the quiet car and everything that he had told him.

"Of course! A-anytime." Gratitude from this man will always fill Wen Ning's insides with butterflies. Wei Wuxian offers thanks and praise often and freely and that still makes him happy every time, so to hear it from someone who does so quite a bit less frequently gives it even more meaning.

He nods with a bright smile on his face, getting to his feet the moment Lan Wangji does.

It's strange thinking of himself as anyone's senior in this place when he's not over feeling like a new arrival. He's only been on one mission, but that is more than anyone who's just arrived has been on. All the same, any advice he gives feels incomplete. Other missions have surely gone far differently than the one he was on. What if his advice ends up giving people the wrong ideas? He supposes they'd be in the same boat in that case.

Lan Wangji will show gratitude when it is due. It might not be with words and sometimes it is probably missed because it will be a silent acknowledgement or bow of the head. His brother can read those moments the best. But he has learned that sometimes one needs to voice what they think or if never becomes known. A lesson learned the hard way.

He gives a small nod of his head since his hands are full at this point and uses that as his farewell. He will take his dishes back towards the kitchen so that he can tend to them properly. With this being his new home he will have to pull his own weight with the chores and he understands that part of things as well.

He is sure that he will encounter the man many more times on the train and off.

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A New Platform [Intro Post April]

lan wangji (untamed ou) - tdm continuation

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