voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post September]

On the Train

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Nebula. 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 doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. A-Qing, Atem, Beauregard Lionett, Casper LeBlanc Jr, Donatello Versus, Frankie Bacon, Ichiban Kasuga, Kumoko, Lena Sabrewing, Mami Tomoe, Mono, Peter Parker, Reno, Shi Qingxuan, Tobari, Wen Ning; 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 platform is open to a bright blue sky, speckled with a couple of clouds. It's very warm, enough that they will not want to stay in those hoodies for long. Behind them through the fogs is a set of barriers, set in a brick wall and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same 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 on the foggy, blistering hot platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, but it is enough to hold the 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'). They will also find a bunch of posters around the train and might notice the new clock in the standard coach.

The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, the ingredient this month is a strange meat, yaddon tail.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a box labelled for purple team containing a stick of rock for each member of purple team, including those who are new. Join in your teams success!

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 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He stills and his voice quiets a bit. "... I just want to be taken seriously. And... and being seen doing kid things makes people think I'm a kid and not... as important as an adult. So even if I wanted to, I can't..."

Madoka pauses for a moment at that statement, and she starts looking.. well, most confused.

"How.. is doing art a kid thing, though?"

Is it because she's one of the people organizing it, and Romeo? She guesses that neither of them are all that old - Romeo is probably just about the same age as Ken, and Madoka is only a little older, but still..

"Anyone can make art. It has nothing at all to do with age.. Back when we organized an art day, tons of adults made art too."

And that's even aside from the question of why Ken thinks doing kid things makes you less important, but Madoka figures this is the main point to tackle first here.

"I... I don't know. People just associate art projects with kids..." He looks down and keeps sifting through bags. "It's just frustrating. I don't want people to think that I'm... that I don't know things..."

".. Who associates art projects with kids though?"

It's such a weird thought to her. No one has ever told her anything of the sort on the train - nor have they ever insinuated that her interest in art was purely because of her age. She doesn't remember anything like it happening back home either.

"There's a lot of adults who make art, right? There's museums full of art made by adults! So I don't think anyone sees it as a kid thing..?"

"... It's like what you think of when yo think of little kids... or at least I think of them. Doing little art projects in school and stuff like that. ... I know you're right, it's just..."

It's hard to relax. It's hard to let go. He takes a deep breath and tries again.

"... I don't really understand normal kids at all. I don't get how they can just have fun without worrying about stuff. I haven't - since Mom died I haven't been able to... to do stuff like that."

Honestly, if Madoka was any less nice, she might have - even softly - tried to express that maybe Ken is overthinking this just a little bit. Just as he's admitting himself, it's what he thinks of. Madoka doubts anyone else on the train really thinks of what they're doing as some childish activities..

"Then.. why not try?"

Sure, he's given some reasons. The death of his mother must weigh on his mind, Madoka gets that. And his odd complex about not wanting to seem childish must also be.. difficult, but still..

"If you'll never try, then you'll never know how to have fun either, you know..? Why would anyone on the train think badly of you for doing art when everyone here is so nice? You can always just try it out, and if you don't like it, then you can just never do it again."

"I... I guess you're right." He's not even sure what he'd do at an art day, but surely just showing up for a bit won't hurt anything. And he can always leave if he has to.

"I'll... I'll go." It's hard to say, his brain continuing to tell him that it's childish, but... she's been nothing but nice to him, despite his attempts to get her to go away. The least he can do is humor her a bit.

At least she starts smiling a little more when he says that - so it seems like him doing her a favour is having a positive effect. Madoka does seem rather glad about it.

Though she isn't feeling glad for her own sake. She's just glad that Ken is willing to try to do something just for fun's sake at all.

"It's going to be all month, so there will be all sorts of activities! Like.. um, I'm going to set up the pottery wheels I bought to teach people some pottery making, so you could stop by.. But I know Rapunzel is going to teach different stuff, like candle making!"

"Pottery sounds kind of neat. And making a plate can't be that hard. ... I wonder if I could make a coffee mug for Dad, though?" Hmm... possibilities - oh!

"I think this big one is one of yours. ... How are you going to move all of the bigger stuff?"

"Oh, let me see.."

She moves over to where he's standing, looking at the thing. It's a suitcase, and she opens it a little to see what's in it - noticing that it's absolutely filled with a huge slab of clay. Yes, that sure is hers.

".. I guess I can just pull it out of he--"

She doesn't even finish the sentence. Because Madoka started pulling midway through that sentence, and it causes her voice to instead change into a strained whine.

Yeah, she definitely isn't strong enough for this.

"Hang on." Ken goes over and grabs a bigger suitcase with wheels and opens it up next to Madoka's. "If we can lift it into here, either in the suitcase or not, we can wheel it to where you want it to go. It'll be easier than dragging it."

".. oh.."

For a moment Madoka doesn't seem to be able to do much more than let out that slight sound, staring at Ken as her eyes grow a little wider in surprise.

"That's.. really smart of you! I hadn't even thought of that myself.. I can probably lift it into that other suitcase if you can help me." Because it's certainly too heavy for her to carry by herself, even such a short distance.

He nods and goes to grab one side of the suitcase. It's heavy - really heavy - but he can tell it won't be impossible.

"On three. One... two... three!" He lifts his side with possible a bit more ease than one might think. He's nowhere near ripped, but with how much he's fought he's in pretty good shape. He helps Madoka move the suitcase over and drop it into the larger one without too much trouble.

Thankfully they manage with the two of them. Madoka certainly isn't strong, but she's at least gotten somewhat used to having to carry things, considering all the work she's doing - both here on the train and during missions.

So she doesn't whine about having to move the suitcase filled with clay. Instead she just keeps quiet, trying to do her best until they've moved the content of the suitcase from one suitcase to the other.. at which point she lets out a relieved sigh.

"We did it!" Somehow. "Thank you so much for helping me out, Ken-kun.. I should probably quickly move this over to the art room first, but I'll be right back! I'll just use the transgates!"

And then she can return to helping him look for those dvds - and her other items, too.

"You're - you're welcome." He offers her a tiny smile. "Let me know if you need help moving some other stuff? I'll be here a while, probably. If I see any more of your packages I'll set them aside."

It'd be stupid for her to have to go looking if he stumbles across them, after all. It's not like he's being nice or anything.

A New Platform [Intro Post September]

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