A New Platform [Intro Post October]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

both please~

[to_rise_above]

The teen couldn't help but find himself wandering the platform in curiosity with his spiritual companion at his side. His eyes were still slightly red from earlier but nothing that was too noticeable unless someone really looked.

Jin Ling was sad that he couldn't return to Hakagemachi, but at the same time, quite content that Fairy was a gift sent from the heavens to him in this unknown place. The smell of food attracted the spiritual dog more than it had attracted Jin Ling, but the boy remembered that he hadn't eaten since got here and something smelled quite wonderful.

With is uncomfortable clothes and dog, he made way over to the direction of the smell, and hearing something about tea. A cup of tea sounded kind of nice right now.

[foxyou]

Shen Qingqiu - currently teen-sized, sporting fox ears and tail, and wearing white cultivator robes instead of those uncomfortable color-coded uniforms - was lazily fiddling with the skewers when a dog showed up. He could sense it wasn't an average dog, but a dog is still a dog, after all...he shot the little beast a narrow-eyed warning look, daring it to come any closer, before turning his gaze (still narrow-eyed, slightly less threatening) to the boy following behind it.

"Let me guess. You want some too?"

He's not very good at this whole charity thing.

[weifinder]

Wei Wuxian is giving Jin Ling a curious look, and a partial furrow of his brow. Only because he's so focussed on what looks... like his shijie's son, does he miss Fairy. He was about to offer over one of the skewer plates when Fairy does register, and he goes from sitting there calmly and affably enough to a strangled inhaling yelp and pushing up to literally leap backward, away from where they were. It was all that saves the thermos and mugs and the skewers.

His tongue freezes in his mouth, throat paralysed, where otherwise he would be calling for all three Lan Zhan's at once.

i take that back what --- a poor soul lol XD

[to_rise_above]

Well, that was certainly something he wasn't expecting to see when he approached the teen. He saw that the other had fox ears and a tail as well. It reminded him of Wei Wuxian. The youkai didn't stir anything at all but rather remained quiet-- which meant that the other probably wasn't possessed by youkai the way he was. Not that he found it strange to see people with additional appendages. He took a breath before nodding his head slightly, pushing at his spiritual dog so that it didn't attempt to steal the food.

He could see Shen Qingqiu's glare towards Fairy and adjusting to him.

"I don't have money-- is that fine?"

The teen replied in a low tone. He was hungry and there weren't many things he could have taken with him from Hakagemachi. Most of which, looked like it disappeared. Though, he then shifted his gaze over to the older man that was there too. Something about him looked awfully familiar. He remined him of-- well Wei Wuxian. He fixed his golden hues towards the man who was staring him down.

Without warning, the expression on the other changed when they saw Fairy and the yelping sound that he heard made his sensitive hearing hurt. He flinched and sighed-- never mind. This man who looked like Wei Wuxian-- was most likely Wei Wuxian. At this point, seeing the Wei Wuxian he was used to, and Jingyi, who was a damn dragon, this wasn't so surprising anymore. He didn't even make an annoyed expression and looked down at fairy before gesturing his head a bit.

"Come back later-- go survey the area. I'll get you something to eat soon."

His tone was soft. Fairy whimpered briefly, before its ears flattened and it scurried off, saving Wei Wuxian anymore heart attacks. Jin Ling just heaved a long sigh.

"Fairy...doesn't bite people."

[foxyou]

He may not have been possessed by a youkai, but he was certainly part yao, if that made any difference. More importantly, his ears flattened back for a second at Wei Wuxian's little yelp, head turning only slightly to see what was wrong with the man before turning his attention back to the cause of his terror.

"Even if it was fine before, I'm afraid you may owe us something for frightening...my companion." He was joking, though it was hard to tell by the deadpan look on his face. Holding out one of the skewers, he decided to see how far he could take things before Wei Wuxian recovered (if he recovered at all): "We accept other methods of payment, of course. Services, goods, something else--do you have anything to offer?"

[weifinder]

He twitches where he stands, though he visibly relaxes when Fairy trots away; he's been growing some familiarity with trusting the dog, that particular dog, but he still doesn't handle it being close well at all.

He makes himself smile, strained or otherwise, and steps forward, swallowing and laughing a little too high, a little too breathy.

"We take smiles, Jin Ling. The skewers on the right are less spicy than my congee..."

He's not sure if this version of his shijie's son has had that encounter as well, but he's. Slowly returning to sit by Shen Qingqiu again.

[to_rise_above]

It definitely made a difference to Jin Ling but, he learned to not question it. The person probably have their own story and their own world rules. Just like how he was speaking with Gojyo about his world a while back. He waits a moment before speaking to the fox-- person? He's not really sure how to address the other but at the very least he answers Jin Ling. He seems a little confused with the payment choices.

"Tch' it's not like Fairy will do anything. It was just hungry."

He mutters before adding, "I can hunt very well. If you need anything specific I can-- hah?"

He just gives Wei Wuxian a deadpan look as he reaches for the skewer before continuing.

"What kind of payment is that? Why would I smi---"

He stops mid sentence when Wei Wuxian is back to normal and makes a disturbed face at the mention of his congee. Jin Ling will never forget the taste of the overly spicy congee. He remembered choking on it and it still haunted his dreams.

"If you made it, I don't want it."

He'd rather starve than have his face and tongue set ablaze by the spice.

[foxyou]

"Hungry or not, I'm afraid we don't serve beasts here." Perfectly professional! Never mind the fact that this isn't a store. Or even a stall....

Shen Qingqiu's eyes brighten with interest at the offer to hunt for him--an interest which is quickly replaced by an irritated glare in Wei Wuxian's direction when the man recovers enough to suggest smiles. So what if this is a charity setup, let him earn something!! (Hearing that he's apparently made terrifically spicy congee admittedly catches a different sort of interest from the fox, though.)

Ah, but the kid (who looks a little older than Jiu, physically) is still here! Ahem. "If you don't want it, you're certainly free to leave." As if he hadn't made any of them himself...also making lazy shooing motions with one hand. Shoo, shoo.

[weifinder]

"We both did!" He says, undefeated in his cheeriness, up to and including the smile he'd sent back Shen Jiu's way when he'd glared. Come now, we're the adults here, Shen Qingqiu! This is verified and known! Even if Jin Ling certainly does look older than Shen Jiu at present.

"Besides, no one here's been poisoned, I hardly make food for others that hot—even if it'd be nice if more of you could handle that level of spicy. We also have chili oil for once, right?"

Now he looks to Shen Qingqiu, as if this needs verification from an outside source. He's happy over this, okay.

sorry for the late reply!

[to_rise_above]

Jin Ling watches his spiritual dog disappear in the distance and just sighs. It's not his choice, so if someone is offering him something, he should be take it and be grateful. He's at least learned the importance of having barely enough to get by.

The teen means every word of that. If Shen Qingqiu wants him to go hunt anything, he'd definitely give it a hard try. He's confident that his skills paired with the demon's will be more than enough.

"I-I'll take it!"

He protests, before taking the skewers. He doesn't want the person to take it back and the shoo-shooing motion seems to at least usher him to agree sooner than later. He then gives a look at the other. Not poisoned. He's not sure how much he trusts that, (Given all those memories of spicy congee from hell.), but he can complain about it later.

"Do you realize your level of spice tolerance is ridiculous?! How do you expect anyone to taste anything?" He takes another step back because the sound of chili oil only makes him feel even more uneasy. It's as if he can taste that god awful congee. At the very least, he manages to mutter in an almost dignified way to the two men that offered him food.

"T-Thanks."

i'm always late

[foxyou]

"Does chili oil really hold any importance to this particular conversation? Unless you plan to use it for your next...culinary adventure." He wants to try it. He does. He is also choosing to frown at Jin Ling rather than looking at Wei Wuxian.

"...You're welcome." Why is he frowning if he's accepting thanks...don't ask. Mostly he's wondering whether this kid's spice tolerance is abysmally low or Wei Wuxian's is abominably high. Or both? Hm.