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

cw: suicide

[miseris_socios]

"... I don't know." He lets out a deep breath. "The guy I was hunting down got killed, and not by my hand. I didn't... make plans for after that. I didn't think I was going to need them."

He might as well be honest, here.

[dragoonrouge]

Well, Q'uila had somewhat expected someone so young to not know where they were going in the future but the rest of the answer...Something to address overtime if he accepted her offer.

"My name is Q'uila, and it would be wildly remiss of me not to make sure that you can properly wield that lance of yours. Would you like me to train you?"

[miseris_socios]

"I..." He can do a lot, but... he can't do stuff like what he saw her doing. "... Y-yeah. I want to not be... useless... or not effective like I was during the mission. The Light magic my Persona used helped, but... I couldn't do too much against the keystones. They didn't really take being stabbed that well, and it took multiple hits with lightning to crack them."

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila can't help but reach out to ruffle Ken's hair, she can see an awful lot of herself and how she use to be.

"It can sometimes be hard to see our own worth but just because we cannot grasp it does not mean that those close to us cannot. But I admire your desire to improve and become stronger and that I certainly can help you with."

She grins, "So, by what name might I call my new student?"

[miseris_socios]

He doesn't pull away, though he does tense up. "... Ken. My name's Ken Amada. What's your name?"

He's gotten used to seeing people with nonhuman parts by now... though she's not a dog, the ears and tail are still kind of cute...

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila gives Ken a gentle, final pat on the head,an action he is probably going to find happening frequently by virtue of actually being smaller than Q'uila.

"'Tis good to meet you Ken. My name is Q'uila Sunrise but you can call me Uila." Q'uila wiggles her ears and pushes herself up, "What say to starting some training now?"

[miseris_socios]

"Got it. Uila." He stands up and nods, gripping his spear tightly. His stance is loose - he's clearly never really been formally taught. It looks like someone ready to start a street brawl than an experienced fighter.

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila circles Ken to fully take in his stance and where he places his balance and it's workable but all but screams novice.

"'Tis not a dissimilar way to begin to what I used myself when I was your age. Which is good, your balance will be slightly different to mine considering the lack of tail but I have worked with and taught enough Hyur that that should pose little issue. Alright! Let us start with a base stance, watch me and see if you can copy it."

Lance in hand Q'uila squats into a ready position with her lance is a slightly spread two-handed grip, "From this position 'tis possible to move into any number of forms and directions and if you have it right you should feel the pull and ache in your legs and knees." She watches Ken position himself as she continues with her explanation, "People often misunderstand lance work, they think the power comes from the arms and whilst that is important 'tis really momentum that is the true driver of the weapon and a lot of that comes from the legs, especially at your age and height."

[miseris_socios]

Ken watches her carefully and copies it. It's a little shaky, but it's not bad for a first try. He's used to the pull, especially having to compensate for such a long weapon with his small height. "Yeah, I know. I used to play sports when I was younger, so I had some training with being fast and kicking well." He's not exactly muscular, but he hasn't even hit puberty yet.

[dragoonrouge]

Q'uila stands up from the stance and looks at Ken. She gently nudges one of his right foot and suddenly it will become a lot easier for the boy to balance.

"Well done!" She beams and once again gives his hair a gentle ruffle, "Now comes the part that I distinctly remember loathing my teacher for for a few weeks; hold that pose for as long as possible. It will probably hurt but this stance out of all of them must become second nature to you and so we must train your muscles to."

[miseris_socios]

He bats at her hand. Okay, okay, enough. He falls back into stance and just looks at her. "I've been made to be sore from a lot worse than this." Sleeping rough didn't exactly lend itself to preventing muscle soreness.

[dragoonrouge]

Ken is going to be subject to many more head pats and ruffles if he keeps if with Q'uila's training but she will cease for the time being as she waits and watches.

"Now, an important ground rule for this training; you must tell me if you start to hurt. The normal burn of exercise is fine but 'tis paramount to take care of the body and hurting yourself will case your progress to decay, not improve."

[miseris_socios]

Nooo, whyyy.

He nods and tries to focus on how he's feeling. He's still shaking off some of the fatigue of the mission, so he knows he can't go as long as he normally could. "How old were you when you started learning this?" Would it even translate? He has no idea what she is, her species could live to a thousand for all he knows.

[dragoonrouge]

"Hmmm, how old was I?" Q'uila has to actually think about that, it feels like she has been using a lance for forever, "I think it was slightly less than twenty years ago now that I started to learn the stances, although I received my first training lance on my ninth birthday. I worked with knives for the most part when I was younger as they were most common and before that, well," She fully extends her claws, "Miqo'te are never truly unarmed."

[miseris_socios]

"So we started stabbing things at about the same time." Not that his spears had been any good, but they had a pointy end and a long handle to not be next to the thing he'd been sticking the pointy end into. "That seems useful. I guess... I'm not either, but I can't summon her from just nothing."

[dragoonrouge]

"Mayhaps we could also look at some basic knife skills in the future if your other skill has constraints but that would only ever be an emergency back up."

Q'uila goes back to observing Ken's stance for any encroaching weakness. "How are you feeling now?"

[miseris_socios]

"Right. I'm also pretty decent at kicking." It's always a good backup, and shin kicks hurt.

His stance seems all right - no real sign of strain. "I'm okay. I can feel it stretching, but it doesn't hurt."

[dragoonrouge]

She grins, "Brilliant, and when you have done more lance work you will be even better at kicking!" And honestly it was viciously delightful when foes thought you unarmed only to cave in their chest with a well-placed kick.

"Alright, memorise the way that feels and come out of stance. I shall say go and we shall see how easily you can get back into the correct position." She waits just long enough for the silence to become awkward before she shouts, "Ready stance!"

[miseris_socios]

Ken relaxes his stance, spear tucked up against his side. He closes his eyes so he can focus... thd silence doesn't bother him too much. It's something he's used to. It's comfortable.

Then she shouts and his eyes fly open, falling back into a decent stance. It's not perfect, but for someone who's just started learning it's pretty good.

[dragoonrouge]

Well that deserves a round of applause!

"Well done, well done indeed! I am impressed, it has been a while since I have taught someone so quick on the uptake. Let us leave that for now and work on our cool down stretching."

Q'uila begins to lead Ken through the motions, "When you wish for further quidance I imagine that I will be spending a fair bit of my free time here but if not I can be found in seven-D so check there if you need to find me for anything!"

[miseris_socios]

"All right. I'm... I'm in two-C. There's another Ken here though, so don't get mixed up. He's a good guy but not... a fighter." He's trying to teach him a bit, but...

"I wander in and out of here a lot too... it gets kind of boring here sometimes."

[dragoonrouge]

"Worry not! Though you may have the same names you do not feel the same, I should have little issue. 'Tis kind of you to teach this other boy to protect himself, if you ever need any help with that please do let me know."

The urge to ruffle Ken's hair one last time is strong but Q'uila holds back, she didn't want to put him off contact altogether, not when he he signalled so strongly to needing positive contact.

"Hopefully our sessions shall give you a bit more to do and I have no issue with you practicing this on your own as long as you do it sensibly, saavy?"

[miseris_socios]

"What do you mean by 'feel the same'?" Something like how Chidori could find them, maybe? "... I know how to take breaks and not overexert myself during practice. On missions are a different thing, but... you don't do missions every day." At least here you don't, and even at home they'd take a few days in between if they'd had a major battle.

[dragoonrouge]

"Ah, 'tis difficult to describe. So, every living thing contains energy, aether is what we call it in Eorzea, and just like every life is unique so is their aether. Colour, smell, sound, feel...This is what I can pick up on at great distance and use the information to identify who someone is." She taps her chin in thought, "For example, my brother Felih is swirly teal, Amber and gold, the swashing of waves and jingling of bells and the salt of brine. His aether is familiar enough to me that we could be continents apart and I would be able to feel and find him."

Over exertion on missions certainly could happen under certain situations, "Luckily we generally seem to have enough man power here to avoid over-taxing anyone but 'tis good you are aware of the pitfalls." She certainly hadn't been as saavy at that age.

[miseris_socios]

"... Huh." He scratches his head a little. "That kind of ability to find people is pretty rare where I'm from. I only know one person who can do it - two, actually. I think SEES has one too." Not like he's had discussions with SEES.

"I... don't mind over-exerting myself a little. Especially in a big fight like we had at the end. With some food and rest I'm pretty able to be back on my feet fast." At least to fight with his Persona. Other types of fighting need a little more recovery time, but having access to Nemesis is more important.