A New Platform [Intro Post July]

[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 Merriment. 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. Without the fog, it would be difficult to tell they'd made the transition out of the Void - the platform is dark, save for soft blue lights high up in the ceiling.

The doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Luke fon Fabre, Lan Wangji, Xiao Xingchen, Ann Takamaki, Meng Yao, Cleopatra Selene II, Jaisyn Solo, Rogue, Adam Parrish, Yuume Souryuu, Pepper Potts, Ray, Futaba Sakura, Beetlejuice, Tony Stark, Kotoha Kakimoto and 47; all pass across the platform, not looking back. And then they're gone, disappeared 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. The grey tiles underfoot and the concrete arches overhead are hard to discern for those with ordinary eyesight; the area is almost pitch black. At the first motion among the newcomers, however, faint blue light suffuses the area from above - striplights have been activated. Behind them is a set of barriers, half-sunk into a wall of fog, and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same thick fog. The air is cool and still, almost stagnant, save for the slight breeze coming along the tracks.

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 dark haze; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, and seems smaller with twelve 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, perhaps ten minutes or so, 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 coconuts, bottles of coconut oil and tins of coconut milk, the ingredient of the month of Merriment, 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 golden cardboard box with their name on it contains a slice of cake.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. 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 taking advantage of the arguably 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

wei wuxian | the untamed | blue team

[weifinder]

Some people were just in the normal flow of being kicked off train during resupplying. Wei Wuxian had a blanket draped over his arm, in cargo pants and the blue hoodie he'd gotten to replace the one he'd ruined last mission, which replaced further the one he'd given away to kid Xue Yang before that. Striding out the doors, he headed toward an available section of platform by the fog barrier, tossed the blanket out neatly, then sprawled down on it, arms folded behind his head.

Staring up at the hazy darkness, he sighed. "Train," he said, as if the train which was about a body length away could hear and was listening, "Couldn't you have at least found someplace with starlight?"

He was going to enjoy his time off train, brief as it was, and very aggressively do nothing.

[happyends]

.. is this man talking to the train?

It seems that way, and it makes Madoka curiously stare at him for a moment. It's staring from a distance, so (hopefully, because she'd hate to be impolite!) not too noticable, but it's staring all the same.

It's only a few moments later that Madoka slowly approaches Wei Wuxian, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Um.. Is something wrong..?"

[weifinder]

Utterly relaxed as he is, he only shifts his head to better look her way, lifting a hand and curling his lips up into a wry smile.

"No, no, nothing wrong! On a... night? The dark murk overhead makes me think of night at least. Either way, on a night like this I'm enjoying the lack of ceilings without the Void lurking beyond! Still missing starlight, but what can you do?"

[happyends]

"Does the Void bother you that much, sir?"

Madoka is just a bit too polite to actually join him on the blanket, hence why the girl is standing there awkwardly at the side of it, looking down at him while he's sprawled out on top of said blanket.

She doesn't sound judgemental in the slightest either. No, instead she just sounds curious - that, and maybe just the tiniest bit fussy. Even if this is a Responsible Adult, Madoka still can't help but fuss about his wellbeing.

[weifinder]

"Confined spaces aren't my favourites," he says, which is an answer, but not strictly to what she's asking. It has the benefit of being a large part of why he's sprawled out on a blanket on platform.

"How do you feel about it?" A pause, and furrowing of his brow. "How long have you been traveling on the train?"

Introductions, Wei Wuxian. He shifts his arms to let his head just rest on the blanket, offering a sort of cupped hand salute in what would be terrible etiquette if he was trying for formality. "Wei Wuxian, two and a half months on train."

[happyends]

The contrast here is kind of ridiculous.

Here he is, sprawled out on the blanket, giving the most casual introduction known to man. And yet somehow that manages to make the girl's eyes grow wide, as if she just realised she is doing the rudest thing possible - and as she hastily introduces herself, she even makes sure to bow deeply before uprighting herself again.

"O-Oh, um..! I'm Madoka, Madoka Kaname, sir..!"

Once she is standing upright again, her hands move up to nervously fuss with her bangs as she continues.

"I've been on the train for.. um.. oh, it's been a long time now.." So long that it's hard to even count the months from memory. "I think maybe almost a year now..?"

Yeah. A long time.

[partofthecrowd]

She wasn't expecting someone to bring a blanket and stretch out.

"Are you, um, comfortable down there?" Rui couldn't help but ask before she really thought about it and reconsidered talking to a stranger.

If he didn't hear her, that was fine too.

[weifinder]

"Absolutely," he said, shifting his head to smile up at the unfamiliar voice addressing him. "Next time I'm thinking of even bringing a basket of food along—like a quick meal?"

Or more realistically, purchase alcohol from the train shop at some point and have a nice companionable drink out on the platform, but details.

"Maybe that platform will be sunnier, like the one before this!"

[partofthecrowd]

"Oh, I see. Like a picnic." She responded with a shy little smile.

"This one is awfully dark." Rui agreed with a little nod, looking up at the sky. She hadn't personally thought about it.

"As long as you haven't..fallen or something."

[weifinder]

He laughed at the idea, shaking his head. "I'm not old enough to worry about not being able to get back up, and any extenuating circumstances, ah... those things, this one doesn't worry about anymore."

There was only one time in his life where it was, and never again.

"Definitely should make it a picnic next time, though! Would you want to snack too?"

[partofthecrowd]

"Well...I do enjoy snacks." Rui admitted with a small smile. "I usually snack on things like jelly beans." She explained.

She ate way too many of those.

[weisexual]

He follows the man off the train. He knows how much Wei Ying prefers to be outside but even he is caught off guard by the lack of sunlight. He looks up at the darkness, unsure what to make of this new platform and knowing that the other man is going to be disappointed by it.

Once the blanket is spread he waits for the other to settle before joining him quietly. "If we are traveling a certain path, perhaps this is just the next stop." Which means the train or whomever runs the train had no choice but to pick this exact platform. But that is just guessing as to what could possibly happen. And he doesn't expect that to appease his companions mood.

He also would have preferred actual light or stars but just being outside of the train is enough for him for now. He knows that shortly they will also arrive at a world and that place might not be as peaceful as the last one they were at.

[weifinder]

"Is travel even in a line when it comes to the Void?"

On this demonic cultivation train, not as much as he wishes he knew, and more to learn all the time. He lifted a knee, shifting how he was sprawled a touch.

"Not like the next place we're heading will be anything but mission time. You know how it is from arrival." Touching down and already on task, which isn't really getting time to see a world so much as react to it and move through it with singular purpose. He supposes if he were more inclined to slacking off, he could head out and enjoy himself in other ways, but in two missions so far, all he's had be reinforced is the need of the citizens of the worlds they've been brought to.

[weisexual]

"Just because it isn't a line, doesn't mean it isn't a path." A path can be winding with no clear destination in sight, but plenty of stops along the way. If anyone should know anything about irregular paths it would be them.

But there is a nod, aware that the next place they land will likely put them towards their goal of aiding others. Even if this is only his second full mission, he still understands the tasks they have been given. "This platform might be an indicator of the next world."

Perhaps the darkness means something, or the style of the platform to give them and idea of what they will be flying into next.

[weifinder]

"Never said there were no paths," he says, agreeing easily. "Not sure about the platform indicating anything... neither of the last two seemed connected to me. Did they to you?"

Genuinely curious, so he turns his head to look over at Lan Zhan as they continues to artfully sprawl on the platform.

[weisexual]

"I did not pay enough attention last time." Even if his expression doesn't show much more then a slight frown, there might be a hint of disappointment to those that are able to tell the change. He never realized that this could all be connected or that these platforms were different. He should have paid more attention in the brief period they were on it. He will not make that mistake again.

[zombiemessiah]

Murphy overhears him while he's milling around, waiting for the train to let him back on. He's just strolling, pacing, hands in the pockets of his black suit with red shirt. He's sporting his leather jacket again. Never been one to show much skin thanks to the extent of his scars.

"There used to be a lot of light pollution in my world before the apocalypse. Now the sky is all stars."

Every night you can practically see the spattered extensions of the milky way, even some distant worlds. He wonders if there are any scientists holed up in those old observatories holing up, enjoying the show.

[weifinder]

"Light pollution?" He tips his head to look toward Murphy, odd as the angle might end up being. "You could always see the stars back home, slightly less clearly in the larger towns, but even then, easier as the lanterns were turned off and down."

Another pause. "What do you mean when you say your world went through the apocalypse?"

[zombiemessiah]

"Armies of the dead sweeping the landscape. That kind of thing."

He does non-commital jazz hands and pulls a face. "I don't know. I was just along for the ride. They gave me a vaccine for the disease that brought everyone back and what they ended up with was an undead guy that the other undead loved."

Which was both deeply convenient and inconvenient for him. He liked being normal but, also, the powers are kind of handy.

"Light pollution is what happens when there are too many city lights to clearly see the stars."

[weifinder]

"Ahh, I see, I see, so that's what it means." He thought of the largest cities he was in, imagining their lights being so bright only the moon was visible. What an odd thought, but pretty, in a different way.

The apocalypse part was... not intuitive, and had him make an odd face before he breathed out in a soft hah. "Bodied dead again, right? Not that a resentful energy army doesn't do significant damage, but the kind of half-living you'd find after would be struggling to regain consciousness in a sea of possessing spiritual resentment. Not good for sweeping landscapes."

Or it was, with the right puppeteer, but as the only truly successful one who had still failed to have absolute control, and no illusions of grandeur, he couldn't recommend it. He blinks, craning his neck a little more.

"They treated you before you got sick and this is what happened?"

[zombiemessiah]

"Technically everyone was sick." Murphy says with a shrug. "We just didn't show symptoms until we were dead. We were just carriers. So they treated me for the illness and it was suppsed to keep me from rising. Instead people I bite don't rise. They don't get sick, either. Worked in a very sideways way."

He shrugs and sits cross-legged near him, on the very edge of the blanket.

"Pretty much bodied dead, wandering the landscape, hunting the last of humanity."

[knifewithnoname]

"It did no never be being dark on a platform before." She hopped off the train, looking around with suspicious eyes at the platform and the people around them.

She had woken up just in time it seemed, just in time to see people leave. The man with a number for a name... Just gone like that. Tony again and Pepper. She would have to check how Peter was. Jaisyn too, who she hadn't known well but had hoped to speak to again.

She has no idea how long she had been in a suitcase. "What month do it be being?"

[weifinder]

Wei Wuxian smiles, look toward the young voice addressing him. Children are a weak point of his that he hasn't had a lot of time around since the destruction of the Jiang Sect, given most the new recruits had been older for his time after, and he wasn't training them in the same ways. Yiling there'd been A-Yuan... and after that, a long stretch of silence, and months dealing with young adults rather than anything else.

All of which goes to say he pitches his voice as warmer when he answers her question. "Merriment, just turned. Llama ended a day ago." News to him it hadn't been dark on a platform previously, but he files it away as something to verify by asking others, too. He's always curious about these things.

[knifewithnoname]

"Merriment." She wrinkled her nose, that was a stupid name. Not that any of the months weren't stupid. But that meant she had missed two weeks. Again.

She's not sure if she knows him. She knows who he is. Wei Wuxian. But for some reason there are more than one, now and before. So she doesn't think she's met this particular one before.

"I do be thanking you." She made sure to be polite, best foot forward.

[weifinder]

The train, per Wei Wuxian's tongue in cheek estimate, was simply having particular fun procuring attractive specimens from related worlds. Thus, far too many Wei Wuxian's in one place, based on an argument that even one was far too much. Two was criminal, three was catastrophic.

Wei Wuxian would absolutely say as much if asked, albeit even further tongue in cheek. Pending none of them were in Yiling Laozu mindsets, they were perfectly amiable people.

"You're welcome, Young Miss. I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you formally yet? This one is Wei Wuxian, formerly of a whole number of places that have no particular meaning here, but I'm happy to recite the list if it'd entertain you." He winks, perhaps a touch too lackadaisical, but he's in the mood to be such. They're in the great still contained but taller outdoors, dark or otherwise, and he's happy about that much.