A New Platform [Intro Post May]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Like clockwork, the Voidtreckers are awoken by a familiar message this morning.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Llama. Points have been updated on the system."

With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"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 air is sticky and warm, the windows almost immediately dewing over with the humidity outside.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Azula, Prisoner, Amery Vallet, Dyme Graydon, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Yoite, Piccolo, Bulla Brief, Xie Lian, Kurosaki Ichigo, Hua Cheng, Renee Corbin, and Ran Mouri; all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

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 find themselves on a platform, rich wood and pale stone forming a natural, tree-like structure overhead. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into thick fog. The air is rainforest-hot, and the sound of frogsong can be faintly heard over the drip of the artificial canopy.

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 fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, and seems smaller with twenty-eight figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. Then there is 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 pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. 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.

Behind them, the doors close, and the train is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform.

The Train

After a short time, the fog clears and 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 several crates of nori, the ingredient of the month of Llama, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. For each member of Purple Team, a small silver box with their name on it contains a glittery cupcake.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, but at least they won't be alone in their confusion - since the sleeper carriages are now double-decker, and experience isn't going to avail the passengers in finding their rooms.

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.

The new double carriage's transfer ICP is active, allowing people to move to a double room should they meet the requirements with another person, though they'll have to move their belongings themselves.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, and 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

Rui Ninomiya | OTA

[partofthecrowd]

I. Platform

This was nothing short of a disaster.

Rui found herself coming to awareness standing on a platform in clothes she definitely would never have chosen for herself. Orange was not her colour. Her chest ached terribly because she was meant to be resting in her partially healed state. Outside of the inconvenience, she definitely did not feel like this right about.

Without her makeup and clothes she looked like an ordinary young man, which was vexing enough. The only potential clue out of place were some perfectly manicured nails painted red.

She stepped back a few paces, grimacing and then pulled the bag off of her back, digging through it to find her tablet. She did not find her tablet, but did find her NOTE. Well, that was something at least. She pulled the purple NOTE out and slid it into the pockets of the hoodie. Now she just had to make it out of there. She pushed her glasses up her nose and…

Nothing happened. Rui frowned. Either she was very far from Tokyo, or she was too hurt to teleport under her own power. She pressed a hand to her chest, taking a few deep breaths. Come on now, one more try. Nothing. A little bit of sweat trickled down from her brow, another sign she was not well.

As a last resort then, she pulled out her NOTE. It had a line through the Gatchaman symbol at the moment, as it was damaged. She held it out in front of her, prepared to transform and bail.

II. Roommates – Upper 5, Cabin B

She hadn’t roomed with anyone as far back as she could remember. With her ticket in hand and the door in front of her, she admittedly, just assumed it was an assigned room.

When the door opened and there were bunk beds, she couldn’t help but stand there, a little perplexed and horrified, really.

“This place…” She murmured under her breath.

III. Exploring The Train

Rui was going to push herself and could be found walking the entire length of the train, taking the time to look in every single car as she tried to figure out what this place was.

All she knew was that she couldn’t get out of here, so she was going to have to make it work until it stopped again.

She was mentally cataloguing the placement of electronic devices, in case she needed to get somewhere in a hurry, although the size of the train, she shouldn’t need to transform to get anywhere on it.

IV. Wildcard

((OOC: Need something else from Rui? Just have another idea? Please feel free to help yourself, or if you have any questions you can hit me up at Ammeschan, Discord: Ammeschan#5385 or feel free to PM this account.))

train

[blue_ice]

After his little fit that morning, Kaiba is somewhat more capable of being human. For the most part, he's calmed down, silently making his way through the train to get to work on various projects.

He note the newcomer honing in on electronic devices and draws a hasty conclusion.

"Are you looking for something to build? Or disassemble?"

[partofthecrowd]

She was a little bit surprised when his voice interrupted her thoughts and her posture seemed a bit guarded as she turned her attention to him.

Rui shook her head. "No, I'm more of a programmer than anything. I was just looking around."

Engineering wasn't really her forte.

[blue_ice]

Kaiba tipped his head. Hm. That's odd.

"Oh...then did you need help with anything? I know not everyone comes from a world where computers are common."

Train Train Train,

[luckydragonsfoot]

The nice thing about knowing people like Masumi, and for that matter the Seto of his world, is that Katsuya can look at Rui and pretty much immediately go 'that's a gal' in his head.

The nicer thing, about Katsuya himself, is that he likes to be helpful, even if he has to do it while holding a multicoloured mini pony.

So cute...so...baby...

At any rate-

"Oi, you look'n f'r anywhere sp'cific or somethin'..?" He gets the feeling she's looking for something. Or somewhere??? Something.

[partofthecrowd]

Rui could not help but look at the mini pony. It was so...adorable! If they existed in her world, she probably would've bought several by now.

"Not really." She shook her head a little. She was speaking softly, as though she were a little shy. "I don't know this place. I just...got here. Unless you know an escape?"

[luckydragonsfoot]

The pony in turn, is looking at Rui.

Pet her. You know you want to. (At the very least, Kaseri certainly would like it!!)

Katsuya ignores the pony. Honestly, he's a bit focused on the escape bit. "Errr...I mean 'f I'm honest I meant 'lookin' in like, th' way most look f'r where th' food is, or th' showers or whatever," the stuff people try to make sure is there before they complain even more about the lack thereof as it applies, "...But. Escape's sure...a way t' put it, I guess."

A pause.

"I mean, s'ppose if I got r'cruited f'r a rescue train b'fore I got used t' world hoppin' crap I'd feel th' same, so I guess I can't blame y'..." He's been a lot more relaxed about the whole affair since doing a similar song and dance on an island in another world though, so he supposes he has an unfair advantage here.

I

[irrationally]

There's the same colourful assortment of people as ever on the platform. Not that Alice is too sure whether she really wants to speak to any of them as she stares at the crowd, wondering how soon the train will be done so she can go back and drink some tea.

It seems to be changing up a bit more than usually this time around though, so the young woman releases a sigh, deciding to find something interesting here on the platform instead. There's the idea of climbing that tree-like thing, but just when she's making up her mind about it, Alice spots something else.

A person on the platform - a girl, a boy? Alice decides the latter is probably more likely - holding something she's never seen before. Especially not considering the old times Alice comes from.

She slowly wanders over to the other, speaking up.

"What are you trying to do with that?"

Because it sure looks like Rui is trying to do something, even if Alice can't quite put her finger on what it is.

[partofthecrowd]

Her NOTE looked like a typical notebook, but it was very strange to hold one's arm out in front of them and prepare to transform and flee.

She'd been about to begin with Amnesia Effect when she was interrupted.

Rui tilted her head slightly as she looked at Alice. "I was going to try to leave." She admitted with a bit of a frown.

[irrationally]

".. how exactly?"

Look, Alice could be practical here. She could start with the fact that it's impossible to leave here. But who knows, perhaps this person has the magical ability to be able to leave after all, in which case she wouldn't want to stop them, or maybe Rui wouldn't believe Alice if she told her about it in the first place. And then she'd have to try it out to believe it regardless.

So Alice may as well ask instead about what she's foremost curious about here instead.

I

[hanabibloomingatthegates]

Are you okay, miss? [Ayumi had been hustling her way over to the train—she'd learned it was typically a good idea to listen to those nagging feelings in the back of her mind in situations like this—when she'd seen Rui having what looked like a mild panic attack, and, well, Ayumi couldn't exactly leave that alone, could she?]

Oh no, are you hurt? [Ayumi bites the bottom of her lip, noticing her pressing the hand to her chest.] I'm not too good with healing magecraft, but...

[partofthecrowd]

[ She's taking a few unsteady breaths, her eyes have closed and she's just steeling herself for further movment. At the interruption, she opened her eyes, blinking a few times. ]

I'm..alright. I was healed already. I'm just... [ She exhales very slowly. ] I've appeared here and I need to get home. I'm meant to be resting but...

[hanabibloomingatthegates]

Then let's get you to the train, miss. [Ayumi looks at her very seriously. It's like seeing a kitten make a concerned face, if that kitten was a lanky barely-teenager.] I don't think staying out here will be good for your health, and they might have a place for you to rest there.

Train

[tactlesstantei]

[By now Masumi's feeling a bit better after platform, and is actually up for helping anyone who looks new if needed. So, on seeing Rui looking around, she decides to just go ahead and talk to her.]

Hey, you just looking around the train, or are you looking for something specific?

[partofthecrowd]

I was looking around just trying to get a sense of this place. [ She hasn't decided how she feels about everything but it seems like...a lot. ]

It's kind of close quarters, isn't it? [ Is there not somewhere where she could have privacy? ]

III

[intelinside]

Phineas had had a similar idea to Rui: Go from one end of the train to the other, figure out what all was in this place, get his bearings as much as possible. He'd lingered in a few carriages, though -- first in medical, and then he'd stopped for a while with the VR headsets in the games coach.

Now he was in the cinema car. Stopping to rest, arguably, but instead of sitting he was standing at the ICP and looking through the film catalogue. He noticed Rui, though, and when the ICP seemed to catch her attention, he moved out of the way, offering, "You can use it. I was just browsing."

[partofthecrowd]

"Oh no, I don't need it." She said quickly, shaking her head. "I was just making a note of it. There...there seems to be one in every room."

Rui was finding this strange new place to be a real trial. She couldn't help but bite her thumbnail, realized she was doing it, and dropped her hand.

Exploring The Train

[armsistice]

Otto approached her tentatively outside the library car, as they had been subtly approaching everyone and trying to engage people in conversations, figure out who they were, and what they were about. Nobody so far had known anything more than Otto who had appeared on the station platform with them, but it didn't hurt to be thorough.

"You don't look very well." They observed quietly. "Are you feeling all right?"

[partofthecrowd]

"I'm just...tired perhaps." Rui murmured, which she certainly did look and feel that way.

"It's been an exceptionally long day."

Platform

[fivemilesdeep]

Ryo is making his way around the platform, keeping an eye out for anyone who looks like they might need help. It's simple luck that he turns in time to see someone press their hand to their chest and take deep breaths with sweat on their brow - it could be nothing, but it could also be a sign of trouble, and he can't ignore that.

He approaches them, steady and even. "Are you alright?"

[partofthecrowd]

She had her eyes closed, just for a moment and when she opened them a strange stood before her. The grip on the front of her sweater was a touch too tight to just be nothing.

"I'm alright. Just fine. I suppose coming here took a lot out of me."

II

[flurryofbeaus]

"Shiiiiit," breathes a voice behind her. "These assholes are just cramming people in, aren't they?"

The woman behind her quite possibly does not look like great roommate material. Her hood's up to shadow her face, and the sleeves of her hoodie have been torn away, leaving her muscular arms bare. Those arms, peppered with a few pale scars, are currently crossed, and the blunt-nailed fingers of her right hand drum an impatient rhythm on her left elbow, the metal studs on her fingerless leather gloves catching the light with the movement.

[partofthecrowd]

Rui wasn't startled so much as she was a bit surprised by this woman's brash nature. At least that's the impression she got at first glance.

"I suppose." She said, a little guarded and uncertain. "I'm a bit surprised. I don't think I've ever shared a room with anyone before."

Rui certainly didn't have to, although she didn't look it at the moment, she was terribly wealthy.

III

[labcatte]

"I guess you're new too," an anthropomorphic tiger person comments in the games carriage, where they'd been examining a stack of board games. "I can't think anyone who's been here a while still has much to investigate."

As if to punctuate that statement, a tiny purple and red lizard crawls out of the front pocket of their hoodie and up their torso. The tiger person ignores this, as if it's something that just happens every day.

[partofthecrowd]

"I am." She confirmed with a bit of a nod and watched the lizard shyly. Wisely, Rui didn't comment. She'd seen enough strange things by now to let that go.

"I'm just looking around, mainly."