voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

On the Train

The train continues its journey

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day sixteen 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. Asch, Ayumi Uoshida, Cleopatra Selene, Della Duck, Ghost, Hanuel Min, Jaisyn Solo, Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood, Nie Huaisang, Vermouth; 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 four new faces. Wearing hoodies, three in purple one orange, 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 relatively small, a brick wall behind them and cracked flagstones on the floor. It is cold, icy cold but the wall at least shelters them a little.

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, freezing 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 four 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 yadon tail, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

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!

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"I... erm." He coughs a little awkwardly. "Two hundred pounds of clay."

Ryo simply pauses, one hand lifted in front of the terminal, and looks at Caleb. "What?" Wait, no, wrong question. "Why?"

For a spell, yes, but given that the previous spell purchases Ryo knows of are 'beads' and 'pearls', this one requires a little explanation.

"... There's someone I am helping. His... appearance is not what he wants it to be. It is very important to him to be what he considers 'normal' again." That's... probably the best way of saying that without going into too much personal detail.

Oh.

It's enough context for the request to make sense, but not so much that it hurts the other person. It's a very healer sort of answer, where the information is necessary but the details are private; Ryo can appreciate that.

"Oh," he says simply, turning back to the terminal and typing the request in. "Well, I only have enough for one, so we'll probably need to find someone else to buy the other one. I'm guessing the person the spell is for also doesn't have enough points?" He places the order and turns back to Caleb.

"... Thank you. We'll have to find someone else, yes. He doesn't have enough points to get this, you're correct. I need as much clay as he weighs." And he's made of rock. He didn't account for that possibility when making the spell.

That's two hundred pounds of person, and his thoughts immediately turn towards the larger people on the train-

But it's not his question to pursue, is it. He redirects his thoughts towards something more productive - who does he know with extra points - and it doesn't take him long to come up with an answer. "I think I might know someone. Wait here." He pauses - the train is long. "It might be a bit."

It takes him a bit more than thirty minutes to return. Sure, the transgates make for quick travel (now that he's mostly got the hang of them), but he'd still had to find Otoha, explain what he wanted, and ask him the favor, and even then Otoha had made it clear that it was a favor for Ryo, not for Caleb. He's fine with that - he owes Otoha something nice for helping as it is, so why not lean in a bit? Still, he returns to the terminal Caleb had been at, seeking out the wizard with a smile. "You owe me a favor," he informs Caleb brightly, "because I just got you two hundred pounds of clay."

Caleb nods and takes out his notebook, writing some things down in it. He's finished by the time Ryo appears again and looks up from his spellbook.

Part of him had been expecting Ryo to come back without any results - who'd want to help him? - but instead he blinks in brief confusion as the words set in. "You just - ... well, then. I do owe you a favor. You'll have to let me know what you want in return for it."

He offers Ryo a small smile - shaky, but definitely there. "Thank you. You've been a great help."

Ryo returns that smile with a warm one of his own. "Of course. We help each other, right?" After dealing with the sali, it's a relief not to have to put a price on his help for it to be accepted.

He pauses. "Also, I'm not Senku, so I'll probably forget about that favor in a week," he says, smile turning sheepish. He has priorities, and nebulous favors other people might owe him aren't really among them.

He chuckles some, shaking his head. "No, no. I'll remember. And I'll let the... ah. Other person know, in case he wants to help repay. He's already insisting on finding a way to make it up to me somehow... even though I told him it's not needed. I just... want to help and use magic for good things where I can, rather than fighting."

"It's up to him - I won't hold either of you to it." He means it - from what he's seen aboard the train, help is given as needed, and very few people worry about specific debts.

It strikes Ryo as odd that Caleb sees 'using his magic for good' and 'fighting' as two separate things, but then, there's a lot he doesn't know about Caleb's world. "I think you're already doing that."

"... I appreciate that. I... did not always." He smiles a little weakly at Ryo. "Believe it or not I used to be highly ambitious, concerned only with power and loyalty to my nation. It did not matter what I did as long as I served those interests. I... will not ever go that route again."

Power for power's sake isn't exactly an unfamiliar concept to Ryo, but he's never seen it in person before; it tends to be only in stories, the mindset of mages who've gone dark or gone black.

...and it had been Caleb's mindset.

But he'd come back from it, if what he says is to be believed. More than that, he's tried to help: he'd tried to help break the illusion in Jinnjar and been hurt for his efforts, and now he's helping someone else with little thought for the cost, beyond points in the train shop.

Ryo already trusts him. A past that he's moved beyond is no reason to stop.

He offers Caleb a smile. "I'm glad you found your soul."

"... Me too. It took a long time and... too much pain, but I was wandering without purpose for a while even after I snapped out of it. The Nein helped me find a purpose, a way to make things better without giving up on most people."

He'd only thought of people like him as worthy. Now... he's got a broader view.

"... We had a friend in our group who was killed, but even though he was a con man he tried to leave every place better than when he'd found it. I think we all took that to heart in different ways... but I'm doing that in the best way that I can."

There's context missing here, but Ryo patches it together as best he can - the Nein are his friends, maybe?

...his friends who are missing one.

"I'm sorry about your friend," he says, voice gentle. "For whatever it's worth, I think you're succeeding."

"... Thank you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to burden you with this." He shakes his head and sighs. "... You're just very... easy to talk to? If that makes sense..."

That gets a genuine smile from Ryo. After a mission where he felt wrongfooted at every turn, it's good to hear that he's doing something right. "It's alright. Where I'm from, this is part of what healers do - we listen to people. Even if we can't solve their problems, they at least know they can talk to someone who won't say anything to anyone else without their permission. So...I'm glad you're comfortable talking to me."

"I appreciate that. You're a good man, Ryo." He's definitely old enough to be a man in Caleb's eyes. He's about the age that Caleb was when everything went wrong. "Thank you again for helping me. For helping us, really."

He can't exactly do this spell alone.

Nothing has done more for Ryo's self-esteem this week than this conversation, and his smile widens. "Of course. Let me know if you need anything else and I'll see what I can do." A beat. "And if the person you're doing it for doesn't mind you sharing, let me know how it goes." He still can't help but be curious, but he also knows better than to overstep his bounds.

"I'll ask them." He gives Ryo a small smile, hesitating before reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"And if there's anything you need, please feel free to ask. Not... not just out of a debt." He can't guarantee that he can take care of anything, but he can try. He lets go quickly.

"I should be heading off. I need to prepare a few things. It was... very good talking to you, Ryo."

He lays his hand gently atop Caleb's, letting go when Caleb does. "Of course. We take care of each other." He'd said it earlier, sure, but it's worth repeating.

"It was good talking with you too. Best of luck with the spell." He's sure it'll go well, but no harm in saying it.

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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