voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And here I was trying to avoid making trouble." The tone of voice there says that he's mostly joking - Ghost has avoided the majority of the chaos up to this point, but he can understand how some people would react. badly. to winding up somewhere without their consent.

(Really, he's aware that he's probably too casual about it, but when your entire life is being thrown at problems face-first without context, you learn to just take control of what you can control.)

"And that's fair." The volume of Ghost's 'voice' decreases a little at the comment, because he's considerate of that. People are loud, even if you're just counting normal human loudness.

"There's a broken water pipe." He gestures in the direction wherever Lapis is doing her water thing. Thanatos doesn't know what is going on. He reached the point of getting soaked and just left. There were people handling the situation much better than a sleepy, drenched Death Incarnate could. "If you want to stay out of trouble, don't go that way. Very loud too."

Thanatos appreciates the lowered volume. It's one sense that isn't screaming for his attention as loudly.

Ghost winces. "Thanks for the heads' up. I'd definitely rather not run into that." He and water aren't really friends. "You need to go sit somewhere?"

Huh? The question confuses Thanatos because he is so used to standing (or hovering in a standing position). He needs a second to realize that it's because he's drenched and exhausted that he was asked. "No, I'm fine. Don't want to get anything wet that I'll have to clean up later."

No one but Lord Hades and Cerberus sits in the House. Who knows why that is.

"Great thing about water, it dries," Ghost quips, "but suit yourself." He leans forward, looking at the flowers. "These yours, then?"

Leaving things to dry normally also leaves slippery areas that risks a mortal slipping on. With all the chaos, caution isn't at the forefront of people's minds.

"This pot is." He motions to the pot he had just partially watered. Thanatos attempts to squeeze a little more water out of a sleeve. "They're poppies."

"They look like they're growing well." Ghost isn't an expert on flowers, but he knows what a poppy is and what an unhealthy plant looks like.

"They are. They started as seeds, and they've surpassed all expectations." And at the mission's end, Thanatos learned a little about himself. "No magic but that may change."

Being in the middle of spring and new growth, feeling such a strong longing, taught Thanatos that needn't fear being present in the greenhouse. He won't hurt anything, and he could nurture a plant to grow by himself.

"Magic on them, or them becoming magic?" Clarity is important, and he's seen enough here so far that it could be either one. If you accept that magic exists, why not plants?

"Magic on them. There are many people who seem to be able to help plants grow, among them being Persephone, the Goddess of Spring, herself."

The flowers becoming magical is something for a later time. For now, Thanatos is content to let them grow and bloom.

"I did kind of wonder about some of the names I saw."

Ghost glances around, looking at the rest of the plants. It's mostly crops, which is probably a good thing, but there's a few flowers, too.

"Hm? Oh, the roster." Thanatos should probably make a better habit of checking that. "I'm Thanatos."

Just gonna try squeezing more water out of a sleeve.

"Ghost." There's a moment where he goes to offer a handshake, before realized that oh yeah Greek gods probably don't know what that social protocol is. "Which makes this a fairly awkward introduction, actually."

"I'm not on assignment." How many times has he said that since he arrived on the train? Thanatos hopes that it does help put others at ease.

Not... that... anyone really fears him on the train.

"I... didn't think you were?" Blink, blink. Though if Death did show up for 'work' in a wet hoodie, that sounds like something a modern adaptation should take and run with.

"...Besides, I'm not likely to run into peaceful death anyway." A shrug, there, because it's just the truth. He's an alien, he probably can't get sick and Typhon don't actually seem to starve.

He's had worse days on assignment. Much worse days. Thanatos doesn't want to talk about them.

But if the awkward introduction wasn't based on Ghost's name and who Thanatos is then Ghost will just have to deal with it. Thanatos is too tired for navigating social niceties. "You and many others on this train. You'll be in good company."

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

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probably gonna wind up wrapping this soon as they just stand there socially awkward at each other

Poor guys are just being awkward lol

they really are

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