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

There's no one else in the room, thankfully. If there had been he would have taken the boy to the quiet car and hoped it was empty enough that they could have some privacy.

He listens to Sizhui's explanation, nodding and then frowning the whole way. This also sheds more light on the other differences between their worlds, what had happened to his family and why. He doesn't want to ask how they managed to escape. It can only hurt to know, seeing as he can't go back and change things in his own world.

"Jin Guangshan is... still alive?" If nothing else, Wen Ning might have thought Jin Guangyao would have killed him to keep him from influencing his nephew. Would he not have tried to kill Jin Zixuan despite the lack of a scapegoat in the Wens? "What about Young Master Jin Ling's parents? What about Sect Leader Jiang?" Had they had no influence at all? Even his mother?

Had she still been killed?

And then, to top it off... "What about Jin Guangyao?"

"Jin Guangshan had passed away not too long ago. Sect Leader Jin is Jin Zixuan. He truly is trying to undo the cultivation world's view about us," he smiles softly. "Hopefully make us seem less...scary."

When he mentions Jin Guangyao, Sizhui presses his lips together and looks around to make sure they truly are alone.

"Executed," he says very quietly. "Shortly after Jin Guangshan's death."

Could Jin Zixuan not have stepped in before? Jin Ling is his son, after all. Wen Ning doesn't want to think ill of the dead, especially someone he killed, but it seems to him as though the man needed a bit more of a spine. But then, given his own history, this also isn't fair of him to think. He doesn't know enough of this boy's world to be making judgments on anyone.

He does wonder what Jin Guangyao had done to give himself away to where an execution had seemed necessary. He'd gotten away with so much more in his world.

"...A-and his mother? Is Maiden Jiang... ah... Jiang Yanli. Jin Yanli? Young Madam Jin..." He sputters trying to figure out what to properly call her. "I-is she still alive?"

He brightens at that, happier to talk about her.

"Madam Jiang is alive and well. She and Sect Leader Jin are expecting. There's word that it may be twins. They're very happy and I believe even Jin-gongzi is excited to be a brother," he babbles. "She even asks Qing-shenshen for her medical advice whenever they see each other. Xian-ge and Sect Leader Jiang are both fighting to see who can come up with the better courtesy name."

Alive. They're all alive. That's fantastic. And Jin Ling would surely be thrilled to have siblings. It will be good for him, help him mature.

This world sounds so wonderful, so much more successful than his own when it comes to his family. Where did his go wrong, he wonders? Except that he can't wonder. It's too dangerous to wonder because it can't be fixed. Any number of little things could have happened to lead up to these differences. He has to avoid thinking about it and he has to avoid blaming himself.

But the black lines on his neck spread slowly over the sides of his face and his hands balled into the sheet on his bed where he sat. "Good. That... that's good. I-It's good. I'm so glad for all of them. And for you. I'm glad."

His gaze flickers to the black lines that seem to spread across the neck and face of his favorite cousin. Well, one of his favorites. Sizhui squeezes his hands within his own, hoping that, while he is not the cousin he may have left behind, Sizhui could bring him some sort of grounding presence. It tells him all he needs to know about the fate of his family in the man's world.

Sizhui carefully sits down on the bed next to him and cuddles up next to him, hugging his arm like he had when he had a nightmare as a child.

The contact causes Wen Ning to force himself to take a few calming breaths. He needs to calm down. He can't go potentially scaring other world versions of his only living family. His body shudders, then slowly relaxes. The lines that had been steadily crawling up his face begin to recede. The darkness doesn't reach his eyes.

"Sorry. I-I'm sorry." He wants to offer a comforting pat on the arm to the boy but he doesn't dare. It's good enough that he's controlling himself. "I really am very happy for you especially." Not that Lan Sizhui had a bad life - quite the opposite. But it would have been nice for him to have been able to grow up with his family.

He keeps his hold even through the shudders. There's a part of Sizhui that's relieved when he sees the dark lines start to recede. He smiles comfortingly up at his cousin.

"There is nothing to apologize for, Ning-shushu. If you ever feel yourself scared like that again, I'd like to know. We could share stories and perhaps it would help."

Ah. His gaze flicks down to how he's holding onto him and he lets go with an embarrassed smile.

"I...I'm sorry. I should have asked--"

Scared isn't the word Wen Ning would have used, but he nods all the same. Wen Sizhui's concerns are heartfelt and he would never dismiss them. "Thank you... I would like that."

Even if he doesn't need it, it's always nice to talk and share things with his cousin. They could talk about practically nothing and it wouldn't matter.

He shakes his head at the apology, reaching over carefully to give the boy a gentle pat on the head. "It's alright. I don't mind. Hugs from A-Yuan are always appreciated."

He smiles at the pat on his head, so like his own Ning-shushu.

"I would come to him when I had nightmares. He would make sure that nothing bad could ever get me."

"That... sounds like a good plan." Wen Ning's smile eases up a bit more. His posture becomes less tense. "I would definitely fight off anything that would come after my little cousin. Even hayfever."

Don't ask him how, but he'd make the attempt. He has some medical skills.

"I'll do it here too."

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

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