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

[springforth]

"I was homesick and frustrated and getting a bit if cabin fever. Just needed to be alone and everywhere you go, no matter the hour, people."

Persephone wishes there were nibbles in here as well, but forethought only goes so far it seems.

"Zetta fussed over me a bit, but he kept watch, made sure no one bothered me until I could get some sleep and not have to deal with people."

[fivemilesdeep]

It makes sense - the train is long, but it still seems like you can't go ten feet without tripping over someone else. Wanting to be alone when half the quiet car is unavailable sounds difficult to say the least.

It takes him a few moments to process what she says after that - or rather, who exactly it is she's talking about. "Wait - the book?" The incredibly powerful demon that still makes him nervous? That Zetta?

[springforth]

"He's not actually a book, just stuck in one for the moment." Persephone feels compelled to point this out, if only because somewhere Zetta would be sputtering about it if she didn't. Not that she cares? Okay she cares. Blowing a lock of hair out of her face, she shrugs.

"He'd be all in a fuss if he knew I told you, so very particular about his reputation." There's a slight bitterness to that, just after their fight, that wouldn't normally be there.

"Not that I'm not, I suppose. But either way--he's not exactly...He can be kind and thoughtful, but you have to catch him at it and he'll vehemently deny it if asked. But he cares. About me, Romeo, others. I wouldn't be putting up with his nonsense if he didn't. Not that I'm currently putting up with it. We did just have a loud and public fight on the platform. Ugh--I didn't mean to mention that."

[fivemilesdeep]

"Well, he still makes me nervous, if it's any consolation." It's half-muttered but entirely true - Ryo still avoids Zetta whenever he can.

He offers her the water bottle, thinking. Sure, he'd had one hell of a first impression of Zetta, and there is a terrifyingly powerful demon in there, but...if he takes care of Persephone, and of other people on the train, he can't be all bad, can he?

Though it sounds like he and Persephone are currently fighting, which is definitely points against him.

"I'm guessing you don't want anyone else to know about that either?"

[springforth]

"He's not--he's not that bad. He's really not. Don't let him intimidate you--though I'm not really sure how he could, he's such an idiot sometimes?"

Persephone takes a sip, setting it down between them. Then--a sigh, loud and a little frustrated. With Zetta, with herself.

"No--I mean, I don't care. As if half the train didn't notice, my new roommate noticed. People in relationships fight sometimes, it happens. At least I'm telling myself that."

[fivemilesdeep]

"He is incredibly powerful," Ryo points out. "And...there was a lot of yelling the first time I met him." Persephone had met Ryo that first day as well. Incredibly powerful and yelling were two things he had not been prepared to handle, let alone simultaneously.

There's a lot more to think about - honestly, he should be trying to process and help her through this - but he's definitely stuck on one particular point. "You're in a relationship with him?"

[springforth]

"Yelling is just how he communicates." Persephone brushes it off. He's loud and blustery, it's what he does.

"Ah--I hadn't told you, right. I told Than... And Zag by accident, that went well." She frowned, then flushes, "So we--yes. You've never seen him as--not a book."

[fivemilesdeep]

Persephone is in a relationship with the demon book.

...huh.

There's a few moments of silence as he processes that, and then he shrugs. "Okay," he says mildly - no judgment, no sideeye, just okay - as he picks up the water bottle and takes a drink.

Today has been something, that's for sure.

[springforth]

"...He's really not bad. He talks a big talk but he's not actually that great at being an evil demon overlord when it comes down to it. That's part of what we fought about. He's always trying to get me to see myself for 'who I am'." She does air quotes, of course, then shrugs, "And he's worse than me, he doesn't see himself for who he is at all. It's always a lot of pretending he isn't kind or thoughtful, making up excuses for being sweet"

Persephone twists the edge of her shirt and then winces at herself, going on. She very firmly changes the subject.

"Sorry. Um. Was he rude to you when you first met? He can be a lot if you don't know him. Sometimes if you do."

[fivemilesdeep]

He sets the water bottle down and listens. He doesn't exactly have any wisdom pertaining to relationships, but he's also not sure Persephone actually wants someone else's opinion right now. "It's alright. If you ever want to talk about it, I can listen." It's all he has to offer, but sometimes it's enough.

"I..." He trails off. He honestly doesn't remember most of what was said when he met Zetta - just that it was all very loud, and that he'd been completely overwhelmed. "I wasn't expecting anyone to hit my Sense like that, so when he did, and he started yelling, I..." He shrugs. "I panicked. That first day was...a lot."

[springforth]

Persephone smiles, tight, nodding in that way that puts something to rest without actually addressing it. People only like to hear about relationship drama to a point. Better save it for if she actually needs it, because Zagreus is right out and Thanatos was nice about it, but she wasn't sure he actually got it.

"It's always a lot. And he's often yelling, often about ridiculous things, especially if you met him in the garden." She pauses, eyes up and mind working, then uncertainly, "Which sense? Hearing?" No one ever phrases it like that.

[fivemilesdeep]

"No, my-" He's about that far into the sentence before he remembers that Persephone's world is completely different than his, and her world's humans might not have magic. He stops. "Right."

Time for an explanation, then. "Where I'm from, all mages have what's called a Sense. It's something of a sixth sense, and it lets us feel life energy. It picks up on humans, demons, almost anything that can think for itself, but it doesn't pick up on animals or dead things." There have been some utterly boggling exceptions to those rules aboard the train, but that's for Ryo to deal with, not Persephone. "The more powerful someone is, the easier it is to Sense them, and after a point it gets overwhelming. Sensing Zetta is a bit like getting hit by a bear." Or a truck, had Ryo had a concept of what a truck was. "And you and Thanatos make it fold completely."

[springforth]

"Oh. Huh." Part of her is slightly smug that her presence is more ...powerful? More intense. She is still kind of annoyed with him. But then her brain works through it and what comes out is a frown.

"Does it bother you? Can I dampen is somehow, if it's too much? Or do you sort of get used to it?"

[fivemilesdeep]

"It doesn't anymore." It's a candid answer. "I did when I first arrived, but...well, Thanatos is in the room next to me." He shrugs. "I got used to it pretty quickly. You don't need to worry about it."

[springforth]

"Oh good--I'm not actually sure I could do anything about it. Given I wasn't aware of it in the first place."

Persephone stands, stretching out the cramped muscles in what space the room allows. Then she offers a hand up.

"Let's go get you something warm to drink and maybe splash some water on your face. Always makes me feel better."