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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Sometimes, he just has a knee-jerk reaction when people say things to him. They're not necessarily against them or anything. Jin Ling just has a hard time communicating properly with people his age and while he's gotten better at it, he still has his moments.

At the very least, he's grateful that Madoka doesn't continue the conversation and steers towards something else. Fairy seems quite interested in the train itself among other things. He ends up taking a walk with her with Fairy trotting behind the two of them. He notices the greenhouse and other things as he passes with her.

He gives her a blank look before replying. ]

That's-- not what I'm implying-- and no-- not really.

[ If tea counts? Probably but he doesn't really drink it for leisure. Even Gojyo asked him a similar question. ]

Well..

[ Madoka starts on the sentence, but then lets her words trail off for a moment. Mostly since she's surprised. She knows that people from a lot of different cultures are represented here, but considering what she herself is used to, it's kind of a wild idea that someone here hasn't even really indulged in that concept of all things.

But she definitely won't judge him for it. Heck, if she wasn't judging him for being kind of abrasive, she's not going to do it over something smaller as this. Especially when she figures he might not be able to help it. So instead Madoka nods, even though the surprise is still visible in her eyes. ]

M-Maybe you'll end up liking it when you try it out here? Especially since things on the train can be kind of hectic at times, so it's nice to have something that could make you relax..

[ Being a sect leader doesn't help his situation. While he has no such responsibilities here, it's hard not to think about Lanling Jin. There's so much to do and he doesn't know how to shut it out.

He's not sure how much he will like it, but he'll try to find time to do so. At the end of the day it's not the girl's fault that he's stuck here and possessed by a youkai. ]

...I guess-- How hectic are we talking?

[ He might as well start learning about what is going on. ]

[ As hectic as someone murdering a small child--

But that's something Madoka doesn't like to talk about, or even just think about, so she doesn't go there. Instead she goes for the more usual kind of hectic events to bring up. ]

Once every month the train drops us off in some world that's in danger, and then it expects us to help save it.. A-And, well.. Since those worlds are always in trouble, I'm sure you can figure out how hectic that sort of thing is.

[ Hey, he sure doesn't seem like the type who'd like even the slightest hint of being patronized, so she won't tell him the obvious things. ]

[ He probably didn't want to hear about murders anyway. He was sure there were things he could probably guess, but not to the extent of an unfamiliar place.

Could it be worse than a ton of zombie like attackers, or body parts hanging around? Along with shattered pieces of masks of those that would never see the light of day?

Certainly, anything on this train couldn't get worse than that right? He was at least attentive when she started speaking. That somehow made sense. He kept his ground as he rubbed the mask tied to his belt. There was always somewhere that needed saving huh? It's not like he could escape that at this point. He was good at fighting for what was right, but somehow, the fighting was becoming really exhausting. ]

No wonder there are so many people on this train.

.. yeah. The train probably figures it needs pretty much anyone it can get for this..

[ Even though it doesn't really explain why someone like her was pulled in. She imagines he's probably more familiar with these things, since Jin Ling certainly doesn't seem as panicked in the face of hearing about all this as he was panicked a few moments ago about a pair of animal ears of all things.

So it makes sense why he's here. But Madoka is pretty sure she'll never fully wrap her mind around why she is here too. ]

But.. it doesn't bother you? The thought of it..?

Well-- if they're desperate, then that makes sense.

[ Hakagemachi was like that as well. He could kind of get it. She at least is taking the time to explain things to him. He's processing it as slowly as he can and making sure that the knowledge he has is enhanced. He doesn't want to end up in a bad situation on his own here.

The situation seems very similar to what he's already experienced. The only thing she does see from him as he listens is the twitching of the wolf ears and swishing of the tail. She is correct to assume that Jin Ling is familiar with the situation. ]

Why would it bother me? It's not like I can do anything complaining about it. I don't like it but what can I do? I'm here at the end of the day and I can't leave.

Edited 2021-10-24 04:38 (UTC)

[ It's.. maybe not the most hopeful or optimistic of thoughts that he's presenting here.

But on the other hand, it's not like he seems very sad either - and Madoka will take that, at least. Of course it's not fun for anyone to be stuck here, but this is something she can work with - maybe even try to improve a little. ]

Yeah.. There's not much about it we can do. [ She'll at least agree with that sentiment, the look on her face a mixture of awkwardness and perhaps a slightly sad hint. ] So.. It might be nice to look at the bright side, right..? The people here are really nice, so you could meet some new friends.. and maybe there's even people here you might recognize from back home, if you're lucky.

[ Probably not, but that's the best he has to say for this situation. It's not like he can lie about the situation he's in at this point. It may be the same for others too.

The best he can do at the moment is power through these experiences and just gain maturity and intelligence from it. It can't possibly get any worse than it is right? He glances at her briefly, ears twitching a bit as she said those words. There is something mixed in those words that he catches, but he doesn't try to pry. They're strangers. He doesn't know how to speak gently either. Best to not say anything that will hurt her feelings. ]

It's not the first time this has happened to me so it's like it bothers me or anything.

[ He huffs a response for her optimism. Sure, he can probably meet new people and make new allies. He might even expect to see familiar faces, but Jin Ling isn't too hopeful because if he is, then he'll feel disappointed. However, he is pretty determined to get through this if anything. ]

.. not the first time?

[ Those words are apparently what Madoka chooses to latch on to as she glances over at him. She'll at least let the question of whether it really bothers him or not sail for now - not wanting to pry either way, regardless of whether it's true or not.

But this other thing stands out to her so much more. ]

Have you been stuck on a train like this before? Or.. um, in some other place..?

No, it's not the first time.

[ He repeats seriously at her question. Whether, it's something for her to latch on or not, he doesn't seem to care or mind. It's the truth. He's not feeling happy that he's being shuttled around like this. ]

Not a train, a place.

[ He thinks of how Hakagemachi is and he almost flinches at the thought. Instead, he just finds himself glancing at the ground towards Fairy, and fiddling with the strange mask he has on his waist. ]

[ It's a pretty wild idea. First getting trapped in a place.. like this? Maybe he means a world that drew him in from his own world, and refused to let him leave. But then to get trapped from one place like that into another place like that..

That's so terribly unlucky. ]

I'm so sorry. [ Despite only just having met him, there seems to be some very genuine and relatively intense sympathy in Madoka's eyes. She doesn't need to know him very well to feel bad for his circumstances. ] It must be hard. Getting stuck like that from one place to another.. You deserve to be able to just go home by this point if you'd want to.

[ Extremely unlucky. It's probably the unluckiest thing that had happened to him. Of course, he was not going to voice it all that much. His expression was enough to show her how he feels.

Jin Ling waits a moment before speaking to her apology. People often say things like this just because it seems like he's having a rough time. He honestly, doesn't want any pity. It makes reality much harder get used to. He shrugs again, not trying to sound annoyed or anything. It's not her fault he's stuck here. It certainly isn't her fault that he has nothing to gain from this other than more trauma. ]

You think! Except, this place doesn't give a crap, clearly.

...

[ She pauses.

Mostly because this is the part where Madoka really wishes she could say something optimistic. Something hopeful. It's how she works, after all - wanting to see the best side to everything.

But considering how long she's been here.. ]

Um.. yeah. [ It just seems like that. Saying anything else would feel like it'd be a lie at this point. ] We've tried explaining to the train a lot of times that we really want to go home, but it's like it doesn't really seem to listen to what we want when it comes to that..

[ Madoka stares at her feet when she says it, rather than ahead of her. Thankfully it seems like she's not accidentally walking into anything though.

.. yet. ]

[ If it makes it easier for her, Jin Ling isn't expecting colorful or sweet words. He knows the situation is dire and he is aware that things don't always work in anyone's favor.

Even if he hates it all, he has not way of getting out of it. He just has to adapt and make the best of it. She at least, is letting him vent his frustration in some strange kind of way. They're not even friends or acquaintances. He barely even knows her name, much less asked her anything about her. ]

I doubt they'd just send us home because we complained a few times. I don't know how long this place has been running, but if they're making a lot of effort to shove us here, they're not going to just let us go.

[ He sounds a bit harsh on that note but it's not directed at her. He's just saying it from experience. ]

[ At least - thankfully - she doesn't seem to take it as anything aimed at her this time around. After all, with all the experience Madoka has with the train, she knows that he's just telling the truth. ]

.. A year. [ She says. A little softly at first, as if she's shy about offering this information, since being stuck for an entire year can't be fun news for anyone-- but then she tries speaking up a bit more audibly. ] I've been here for over a year now.. That's around the time when the first people of our current group started appearing on the train. But it seems like it had a different crew of passengers before us.

[ See, Jin Ling! You're not only getting to vent, but you're also getting free information! It truly is a two for one. ]

[ Sometimes, he can't help but be a bit blunt with his words. Jin Ling isn't the kind of person that knows how to be gentle about his words. Especially, when he hasn't spent a lot of time around anyone of the opposite gender, outside of his aunt. Of course, she's much older than him so there's also a difference there.

Jin Ling doesn't have any companions he knows at the moment that are the opposite gender. Still, it probably will be the same outcome whether anyone he meets is a girl or a boy. He knits his brows together when she said those words. 'A Year. That's really discomforting to hear. ]

A...Year? They had a different crew of passengers before us?

[ What does that even mean! He probably won't bring this up ever, but at least, he's not getting yelled at for being rude. ]

[ She nods. ]

Uh-huh. When the first people of our current group showed up, the train was empty.. But from logs the train has given us, it seems that there was an entirely different group of people on the train before. [ A group none of them ever met.

At least she seems concerned about this entire idea as well, judging by her own expression. ]

But no one knows what happened to them.. It seems even the train itself doesn't know.

[ That's very comforting to hear, isn't it.

People randomly disappearing and no one knowing why. Like a ghost story. ]

[ Jin Ling furrows his brows at her words. There were people here before that no one has met and that these people have never been seen by those who are on the train.

It sounds really concerning above all else. ]

How does the train not know this when there were probably so many people? I get that things can get complicated but are you serious?!

Y-Yeah, I am!

[ .. it's probably not how he meant that 'are you serious' part, huh. But Madoka is such a simple and honest girl that she can't help but answer that way all the same, frantically nodding. ]

Though I also have no idea how the train doesn't know.. It's so weird, right? [ At least they seem to be able to agree on that. ] I really hope that whatever happened to them won't suddenly happen to us too..

[ Not the answer he wants, but the answer is expected. He just sighs when that is reaffirmed. ]

It's bizarre! If it has tabs on all of us, why can't it on the people before? Maybe they did something that they didn't want to bring up.

[ Like finding a way out, or escaping the grasps of the train. It's not that he doesn't want to help. It's just complicated. ]

I sure hope not. None of this makes sense...

[ What's new really? ]

[ At least she's more than willing to agree on that.

Though she'd hate to leave it at that. Welcoming Jin Ling on the train, only to give the other all these mysteries and worrisome things to ponder.. It's better to give him something concrete too, right? Something to hold on to. Something that - maybe - might help him feel like he can do something about it too. ]

If you're confused or worried about it.. m-maybe it's a good idea to send messages to the train about it? We don't always get an answer about it, but sometimes it does give in when it gets a lot of messages about one specific subject..

[ Lucky for her, Jin Ling isn't bothered by the fact that she's contributing to his uneasiness. In fact, he feels it is much better to know what is going on than not knowing anything at all. He's appreciative of that in his own way. ]

It can't be worse than what I'm already used to. There's people here I heard, that I could ask.

[ Asking a ton of stranger isn't his kind of thing but he knows that he's run into a few people from his world, so he can work with that much better than anything. ]

Hmm.. [ It's a bit of an affirmative noise, and Madoka nods her head.

It's true - there's a lot of people here on the train who are super helpful. She has never not gotten help after asking for it. ]

A-And if there's ever no one else around, you can always ask me for help with whatever too..!

[ Sure, she might not know the guy very well yet, but it feels natural for her to offer. Partially because he's new, and partially because Madoka just Is Like This. ]

A.. Anyway..! Here's the kitchen, so I'll quickly make you something nice to drink..!

[ He doesn't really explain what he means truly. It's easier to not go into details. She's a stranger, so he has no idea how to gauge her. Instead, he remains quiet as he follows after her with Fairy trotting along. ]

I'll keep that mind... thanks.

[ He quietly thanks her for the offer. It's better to get some help rather than no help at all. ]

It's-- pretty big.

[ He replies, acknowledging her statement. Fairy runs around while Jin Ling looks around, waiting for her to do what she is offering to do. ]

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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cw: mentions of zombies, death and gore

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sorry, for some reason I never got the notif for this tag D:

it's totally okay! dw has been so cruddy with notifs lately!

yeah the notifs are borking on me. thx

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latest reply ever! sorry

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