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

[weifinder]

"Who knows, maybe in another month and a half you'll have things ready to harvest! Or faster, if you speak with anyone who knows plant magics."

[xue_yang]

"Wouldn't plant magic be cheating?" He smirks in amusement. He thought he was supposed to be learning some sort of responsibility but now he is being told that outside assistance might be allowed. He would certainly run with a short cut if there was one available.

[weifinder]

"Only if you weren't attending to them the whole time," he says, quirking his brows. "Are you even paying close attention as it is?"

[xue_yang]

"I wouldn't call it close attention but they aren't dying so that must count for something." And if they did die...well he could probably find a new use for them. It's been awhile since he has experimented with poisons. He wonders if he might be able to figure something out using decomposing plants.

[weifinder]

"... Right, reminder: pay closer attention, those are your plant children! Which is more children than you should probably have, but the point is, you're growing food crops, aren't you? Or did you end up deciding on flowers. Or weeds."

Xue Yang, meanwhile, intent on the magical journey of discovering...

... composting.

[xue_yang]

Look at the amazing gardener he is becoming, even creating his own fertilizer. "I planted whatever seeds I was given." So in other words...they are green and he isn't sure exactly what they are but eventually maybe they will grow enough to show him a more complete picture.

[weifinder]

"I see, I see." He saw that neither one of them actually knew what was growing.

"Show me after we're summoned back on train."

[xue_yang]

He finishes the food that he has been slowly eating while they were talking about his gardening adventure. Even if it was spicy it was still good and Xue Yang has very minor cooking skills to go along with his gardening ability. Even if he did do some of the housework in Yi City, it didn't make him an expert by any means.

"Are you going to check and make sure I haven't actually killed them or are you simply curious about what it is that is growing?" Because this could be a very easy scheme to check and see how much of a failure at gardening he is.

[weifinder]

"Why can't it be both?" He tipped his water cup to Xue Yang, expression wry. Everything about Xue Yang had to do with the murderous whimsy of his nature; he wasn't a well person in various ways, contesting otherwise felt pointless.

"See how much attention you continue to give them, and what in the world your random assortment of seeds has been growing."

[xue_yang]

At least he isn't actively trying to kill the plants. It is just that they aren't quite the attention grabber that they need to be for him. But perhaps he just needs to figure out a way to be more interested in the garden area. It's something for him to think on as it seems they are going to be checking on his progress.

"I guess it can be. Are you going to give some suggestions on how to do better with it?"

Xue Yang might actually listen to it. There are few people he respects but he does hold Wei Wuxian in a slightly higher category then most.