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

[ Thanatos makes no attempt to move close until he can figure out if doing so will startle the child more. He knows he scares people. He's Death. ]

"Your?"

[ He looks where Mono is pointing but doesn't understand what he's asking about. The luggage cases strewn everywhere? ]

None of those are mine. I think they're empty for the most part.

[Fortunately for Death, he is hardly the scariest person Mono has encountered; certainly not compared to the beings of his world. At worst his presence is familiar, nothing to shun any more than accept. Perhaps that's why, after meeting this many people, Mono feels ready to try a different approach.

He extends a hand tentatively. If Thanatos wants to help him up, he'll allow it.

Either way, he suddenly seems more interested in the man's attire than how scary Thanatos' face might be. Are they wearing something similar?]

[ Thanatos is wearing his red hoodie and the cargo pants. (The shoes are debatable.) He'll gently float forward and take Mono's small hand to help him up. ]

Did that hurt? I can take you to someone who could heal you.

[It's all too easy to help Mono upright, even if the kid wasn't a miniature person, it's clear he is an incredibly light, scrawny little thing. That's all the contact Thanatos gets for now, however, as Mono shakes his head and makes to take back his hand. Heal?? If that's anything like a doctor, than no, very much, no thank you. Still. Something about Thanatos has him curious.]

"Match?"

[He gestures. No one else that he has seen on this train are walking around are in the same red clothing, why is that?]

[ Match? Thanatos looks between them, and the question suddenly makes sense. ]

We're both on the same team, Red Team. It's small compared to the other three.

[ Why are all these kids on the Red Team? Thanatos glad that he decided to start using a manadrive. Red Team needs more help keeping the little ones alive. ]

[A team... Della had said a lot of people might want to meet him. That he could eventually make friends here. Was this what she was talking about? Mono stares, digesting the information. He didn't have a choice, did he?]

"For?"[His voice cracks a little. It's no use, he's going to have to start using speech, even if it's hard.]

"What." [He winces, hating how frail and hushed his whisper of a voice sounds.]

"What do Red do?"

[ Not that Mono would know, but Thanatos doesn't think much of the quiet voice. His brother speaks in groans, no words, and he's powerful, a force to be reckoned with. ]

We get the missions involving a lot of fighting. Are you used to danger?

[ Again, why is such a small child on the Red Team? ]

[Perhaps then, Thanatos can read the confusion on the quiet passenger because that answer has definitely has perplexed him. What a nonsensical question, was there really more than one response?

Still Mono nods. He doesn’t know much about fighting, but situations of life and death were frequently by the minute, if not several each second.]

“Always moving.” [Safety didn’t exist, you just.. kept ahead of threats when you could. Are you telling him you don’t come from a hellscape full of monsters?]

[ Needing to always move can have different meanings, but if this child is on the same team as him, then likely the need to move relates to danger. ]

Well... good. If something is too much, move away from it.

[ Don't be like some other small Reds and run towards danger. ]

I am Thanatos. What is your name?

[It's sound enough advice, even if it doesn't make a lot of sense. Wouldn't anyone head for safety unless they absolutely had to do otherwise? Then again, it had been Mono's decision to go after stopping the transmission tower by himself, hadn't it?... Fair enough.]

"Thaan-tos." [He'll get it. Just, give him some practice. The tiny passenger reaches into his lanyard and displays his ticket for Thanatos to see.]

"Mono." [He doesn't know much about being on a team like this, but if everyone else is like Thanatos, maybe it won't be so bad.]

[ At least he got the second "T" in there. (Certain passengers on the train would be concerned if they heard "Thaanos.") ]

Mono.

[ He repeats. ]

Have you found where you'll be staying on the train?

[Mono shakes head, pointing at the doors and pantomimes a jump; there isn't a very accessible way for him to open them and continue forward in a straight path. He indicates the ICP; it was much easier to just see what ICP spit him out where, the ones he could reach anyway, not all of them were easy to get to either. He is certainly curious to see it though.]

[ Door? Jumping? Oh. ]

Tsch. The train didn't consider that.

[ Thanatos mutters. He finds himself relating, a little. While his problem isn't one of height, all the lively sensations, the light, the noise, overwhelm Thanatos at times.

Luckily, they are on the end of the train closest to the sleeper cars, so Mono won't have long to walk. Thanatos goes to open the first door. ]

You should have a ticket with you. It will say which car and cabin you are in.

[Paperbags are good for that sort of thing, Thanatos. There is less sensory overload with the safety of feeling there is a barrier between you and the world. Mono follows along curiously. Potato had intended to guide him to his room earlier but he hadn't expected to tumble into the ICP on the way. Luckily his ticket is still right here.]

"8..B."

[Or is it BB? Or 88? The letter and number look so similar! Does that mean anything to you, Thanatos?]

[ Teach him the ways of the paperbag. Or maybe don't because other people will be upset to not see his face.

Each time they come to a door, Thanatos holds it open and closes it once Mono's through. He floats slowly to not overtake Mono's small stride. ]

I am from 4A. The number is the sleeper carriage, and the letter is the cabin on the car.

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

Guh-dong!

* insert vaguely lavender-town-esque theme

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