A NEW PLATFORM [INTRO POST JANUARY]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

Despite whatever Voidtreckers may have learned or how they feel about those revelations - or reminders - of the precariousness of their situation, the train flies ever onward.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Poi. 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. The weather is dry but there is a chill to the air and a strong breeze." 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. Dairine, Okada Izō, Rapunzel, Satoru and Siebren; 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 thirteen new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours and 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 long with a grassy mound behind them. It is blustery and the air is cold, they will be glad of those hoodies.

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, windy platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

Thirteen figures, 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, with cans of corned beef lining the shelves.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. Those from purple who go to find their prize will find a large box containing a gingerbread train for them to share. Plenty enough to go around, even for the largest team.

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.

Snow Time: Rock Garden

Winter seems to have followed from Osiga and nested in the rock garden. There's a chill that nips in the air and a light snow (real snow) fills the air. A thin cloudy haze at the top of the carriage seems the source. Yet the kaleidoscope of the void will assure that this is no timely world stop.

People might have seen it occurring the night before. Snow falling heavy before tapering off with an odd precision, leaving a heavy blanket over the carriage 'ground'. By morning of Platform Day, a miniature winter has descended, ripe for snowforts, snowballs, angels and snowmen.

It's not just the climate that's changed. Many statues and rock features are missing or moved. Digging below the snow reveals soil now frozen but providing a barrier between the bare floor of the carriage. Keen eyes will see changes are made with safety and available space in mind. The fountain has been emptied but the pond and streams are frozen solid, allowing intrepid spirits to try slide-skating over the surfaces without the risk of breaking through. The mosaics are still around, and enchantments are in place to protect paintings and paper decorations from damp. Any plants have been sent to sleep or taken to safety.

The benches are still around. Paths and bridges are covered with fresh snow, but, as the day goes on, it's trampled down and or scattered. Najaran's woodfolk may be glimpsed near Jingyi's shrine or hiding in the shadows of rocks and statues still present, perhaps even buried in the snow and peeking out. Shy around humans, though those with pointed ears or Hylian lineage may find an easier time interacting.

There are signs on both doors of the carriage warning of the change and mentioning the dressing carriage will have winter gear, and it does: with hats, scarves, gloves and ice skates in a variety of sizes. Dispensers with warm drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate and hot water for tea are available in the Games Carriage.

Early the next day, the snow will be gone and the gardens returned to how they once were.

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

[kumoko]

Platform

[ You know those moments in a TV show where the camera pans aaaaaall the way up, away from our erstwhile heroine, and a resounding shriek of Ehhhhh?! scares away all the birds?

Well, the scream is internal, so not too many scared birds all told. But as the arachne blinks awake - morning already, huh? - she finds herself not precariously balanced in her bunk in Upper 1-D, but stood on a foggy platform.

What!

How come?!

Say it with me now, as the train pulls into the station! As this spider looks down at her fresh orange hoodie, as the figurative camera pans upwards:

Ehhhhh?! ]

On-board, platform

[ In the dressing carriage, the spider stares at the piles of cold-weather gear. The ice skates. The... total lack of webs. Is that what those wardrobes looked like? Weird! Wait, nononononono, more importantly...

Her house! It's all gone! Her home! Months of weaving, to get just the right textures for her carpets and sheets, the patterns on the walls, the silk bracket for her TV... gone, just like that.

She spends a little while moping. Eating some snacks. Maybe stress-weaving some animal hats... ]

On-board, after departure

[ ... But, well, there's no sense crying over cleared webs, as the saying goes. New webs can be spun! That's her spider way, or whatever. Except, the dressing carriage is kinda full of stuff right now. Maybe it's time to move locations. Somewhere more upscale? Whatever, for the rest of the day she'll be teleporting in and out of each carriage, measuring them for good lair sizing. The games carriage would be convenient, the gym would give her something to watch, the gardens have those tall ceilings that no one is using... ]

Wildcard

[ She'll be checking out both her old sleeper cabin and her new one, and generally being a nuisance. Hit me up if you want something in particular! ]

Platform

[yondu]

[Yondu's outside the train, tugging up the collar to his coat, watching Siebren's back as he departs. Nothing he can do, again. Even with mourning his crew, even with the memorial, watching people he cares about marched out still sears him. There's nothing he can do, and he just wishes that they didn't have to have it drilled in that they could do nothing.]

[He's about to leave a ziplock bag full of papers in a folder on the platform when he sees... well, how can he not see her once he's turned that direction. A particular spider the size of a car.]

[Spider???]

[Is this the same one? The one he saw marched out just like Siebren had today? Or somehow had another Spider been summoned up from some other timeline.] You remember me, Spiderlady?

Mina Mongoose (AU) | Open

[mystic_mongoose]

Platform

Okay, everyone had their moments to mope and groan about the revelations. Another set of people have been dragged in, it's time to help them out, right? That's what Najaran and the others did, right? Time to pay it back.

Mina stepped out onto the platform once the train stopped and the doors opened up only for her to gasp as the strong breeze hit her. The chill in the air and the heavy winds were more than enough to catch her off-guard.

"C-C-C-Cold!" she stammered, teeth chattering. Having a metal arm didn't make things any easier, either.

New arrivals, say hello to the (now-second) shortest member of the train.

Rock Garden

Mina had wandered around after finally getting back on the train and made her way to the rock garden car. To her surprise, she found the area covered in snow. "What in the world...?" she uttered, confused. When did it snow in here? How did it snow in here?

As Mina looked around, an impish smile formed on her face. Why was she looking a gift horse in the mouth? This would be a perfect time for some fun!

Thus, you'll probably find her making the oddest snow angels on the ground.

Again, robotic arm.

Train

Mina didn't have anything to purchase at the time. Mostly because she didn't know how exactly. Which is why, upon wandering around, she spotted various crew members getting items, including gingerbread trains.

"Hey! Hey-hey-hey!" Mina called out, waving them over. "How did you get that?"

Wildcard

(OoC: Wanna see Mina elsewhere? Kitchen, training gym, her room, whatever, hit me up!)

Platform

[bitternessoflife]

Another familiar creature! This one even looked furry, had a tail and even ears! Yota nearly jumped for joy at the sight of Mina, In fact, he ran over and try to hug her out of sheer gratitude—feel free to dodge the cat!

kaiba's bad day | 1st prompt closed, 2nd ota w/ cw: rec. drug use

[blue_ice]

kitchen stores (established cr only please)

Seto does not greet or speak to anyone during those torturous minutes on the icy platform. He stands still as a statue, fingernails cutting into his palms, processing the reality that Siebren is gone. His father. A brave and generous person who'd overcome so much. Someone who'd taken him in and shared with him a kind of love he'd once believed he'd never feel. Would certainly never feel again.

Immediately after takeoff, Seto storms through the wintry garden without flinching, through the kitchen, straight up to the wall in stores that keeps them out of the engine room. He knows there's no conductor there, that the train's consciousness is observing from everywhere, but it still feels like the natural place for an address. Seto glares at the wall, his face flushed red and eyes burning.

"What the hell is your problem? We're out here putting ourselves on the line for you month after month, and how do you repay us? By flinging us back into the void, adrift! How many souls have you lost by now? Hundreds? More? Not only have you destroyed their lives, but the lives of everyone from their home worlds who was counting on them! Not to mention everyone here!

Spare me your excuses. Spare me your 'trying'. You have the ministry's permission to proceed, 'on the run' doesn't cut it anymore. We need you to try harder! We're not just your playthings, we're people who've lost lives, homes, families! And we can't even count on each other, knowing you'll fling us into the void at any moment!"

Seto throws himself against the wall, angrily, uselessly punching it until his knuckles bleed. Anger burns out, making it clear where the blame lies. He slumps to his knees and props himself against the wall, heels of his hands pressed firmly into his eyesockets. Everything hurts, but what hurts most of all is knowing he did this to himself. This is how bonds always end. He was warned, he ignored it, this is the result.

"...but you can't change course...so who's the idiot here?"

Through the ringing in his ears, he can almost hear a cold whisper of 'Serves you right' in his own voice.

dragon in the luggage car (ota, cw: recreational drug use)

After that last outburst, Kaiba is eventually dragged away, cleaned up, and herded to the luggage car by a caring friend. He's offered a smoke to help him find temporary respite. Do they seriously think willfully induced delirium helps? But after a certain point, any escape route is welcome. Thankfully after a few minutes, he starts to find a mellow groove again. He feels peaceful. The pain is no longer threatening to crush him, and there's room in his heart for a simple joy he's forgotten.

A good feeling is even better enjoyed with a friend, so he cheerfully reaches into the bottom of his bag for a rarely-used shadow summoning glove. A gift from another departed friend long ago. With a flash of light there's suddenly a smoky, barely-tangible silver-blue dragon's form making herself a nest between the suitcases. Kaiba sighs happily and leans on her once she's settled, and a wing flutters to curl around him.

"Draconic perfection..." Kaiba croons to the dragon, gently smoothing a hand over her head. She makes a happy little noise, lifting her head to snort at anyone passing through. Kaiba turns his head to where his dragon is looking and nods, calmly taking in the visitor.

"Mm, do you want to pay respects to her? She loves new faces," Kaiba says with a laugh. The dragon's head lifts to regard any visitors with her sharp blue eye, expression curious. She can't stay too long, but she'd like to play while she can.

kitchen stores (established cr only please)

[yondu]

Yondu didn't have that close of a relationship with Siebren by a mile. But he liked him. He'd briefly wanted him. And most of all, he had an undeniable admiration for him. It wasn't just his appearance that made Yondu want to return smiles when he flashed them, it was Siebren's whole quality of character. It was the protectiveness he exuded. Strength even through some damage that he never was privvy to, but he could guess that Kaiba was.

Siebren was a friend. He might have not been especially close to Yondu, but Yondu's high opinion of him never waned and that's why he ends up searching for his adopted son.

It's the last half of the rant that Yondu walks in on in the stores. And he quietly listens for it. Sees knuckles busted. Sees his hands buried against his eyes. Sees himself the way he was when he thought he'd lost Soldat. "Training dummies are better for that." He takes a potion from his coat, having taken to carrying them around since that day.

"None of y'all deserve this. I think she needed strong people for her missions an' that's all that mattered. She didn't think about us needin' 'im."

Yondu Udonta | OTA

[yondu]

Resuming Control - Standard Car

After the usual platform situation, this one with its own unique emotionally barbed circumstances, Yondu's sitting in the standard car with his assortment of training handcuffs, made from clear materials so he can teach with them, all from worlds he's familiar with but varying in complexity enough that they're good practice for what they might end up coming across. He's at one of the booths using a self-made lockpick he's working away at one with a magnetic connection the circuitry inside visible as the clamps loosen and fall open. It's the only way he can feel in control of his situation, with tiny little motions like picking a lock or collecting information to dump at the feet of potential allies or picking fights he knows he's outclassed for just to pick a pocket or plant an item.

New people might notice that he's one of the people who doesn't wear a train uniform, but rather personalized leather gear. He usually wears his coat even if he is in the train uniform (and it's for everyone's benefit 'cause as a Centaurian and a Blue Team member that'd just be too much blue).

He stops what he's doing, setting down the current set of cuffs he's working on and reaches for his cup of coffee. His persistent distant look is shaken into an offended startled sneer as he lifts it to his mouth and discovers it disgustingly cold, muttering a quiet, "Shit," under his breath, and shoving the still full cup off to the side. He doesn't feel like going and getting a new one. To hell with it.

General - Around the Train

It's a mood that he has for much of the day, just little random motions to keep up on his practice. He spends time in the greenhouse, plucking altered peppers from a tree and warns anyone that comes near them, "Careful around those, get 'em raw in your mouth you ain't gonna taste nothin' for a good while." That willfully weaponized thing is hyped up to the strength of a ghost pepper.

Later he's hanging around the training car, mundanely trying to throw objects up high into the air and whistle his arrow in loops around it when its in the air, doing his best to stay out of anyone's way with it. But he's distracted, and when he atomizes a stolen tennisball with his vicious murderstick he mutters a little, "Welp.... woops."

Or even later he's sitting in the library, trying to read his new book on void metals and then just slowly melting down the seat in a magnificent failure of posture as his overstressed cynetically strangled brain refuses to retain information unless he reads it a minimum of nine goddamn times. He's frustrated (a commonality for a bunch of people right now) and tired and bitchy and all the things that are generally normal for him. But hell, at least he's been sleeping full nights again, so he's gotten that back. Woohoo.

He tries to remind himself that nothing is truly certain yet. That they know what should or could be happening to them, not what is happening to them, and he's proof that some of those things can't be happening to them. That there are deviations from the rules and options for all of them and he's tried to say as much in his clumsy way. There has to be fixes. And even with the worst-case scenario, people on the train have the means for a correction even if they have to go through a life-renewing crewmate to get there. The old Ravager continues to come up with every other possibility 'cause he can't keep losing people, and he's going to violently fight against that sense of helplessness that he let eat him for far too damn long.

standard

[monkeyinthewrench]

Jake's still reeling from that winter display when he finds Yondu seriously a work again. So many cuffs. So intricate, so challenging...he plops right down to check it out.

"Hey, are we doing escape drills now? You don't waste a second with the new recruits."

Molly Hayes | OTA

[bruiserprincess]

Platform

This is definitely not where she was a moment ago. For one thing, it wasn't this cold.

Molly pulls the hoodie tight around herself but it is not cutting it for a California girl in snow. It's really the least of her worries since she's apparently been dragged away and she didn't even notice any weird portals. Time travel again? Dimensions? Usually there's some sort of sign instead of just being somewhere else.

And she's alone. "Nico's going to freak..."

She starts walking the length of the platform trying to decide if anyone looks safe to talk to.

Sleeper Upper 3A

Apparently, she has a room. With roommates. That's a new one. Eventually she finds her way there. Normally she'd try to call top bunk but it looks like everyone else has been here for a while. "I guess this one is mine?"

Rock Garden

If it's going to be cold and snowy and weird and not at home, Molly is at least going to try to enjoy some of it. At least until she can figure out something to actually do about being here, which is actually really hard.

She's seen snow in movies, she knows what to do with it. "Do you wanna build a snowman?"

Later, she'll even try out skating. On very shaky feet... she probably needs help.

[bitternessoflife]

Platform

Here's an equally cold and miserable cat from a sunny, beach-side city in Southern California! But the cat was walking on two legs, wore the same hoodie and rucksack, squaring his shoulders, and keeping his head down until he saw her. He frowned slightly at the unrecognizable creature's face.
The somewhat petulant girlish voice almost, for a split second, had him thinking it was Patty or even Rolley, but no, it was no one familiar. Was she a child? Awfully tall one, or maybe her species were just giants.

"... who's Nico?"

Yota | OTA for all except the last one which is for cabin mates

[bitternessoflife]

Platform - have you seen my brother?

Yota didn't need much encouraging, the near-zero visibility on the platform made sure he wouldn't stay for long (a thick fog wasn't as frightening as total darkness, but it still made him wary) and he didn't recall going out on a journey, but he wasn't going to sit on some empty platform with a sense of dread. If he wanted to find answers, he was going to follow those who seemed to know better. The green train symbol's enough, following the crowd too, until he knows what's going on.

He wondered why Guta wasn't with him or why he was wearing this bright orange hoodie, however... did he hit his head and lose his memories?

The cat looked up at the creatures around him as he boarded. Why was everyone so tall? Why didn't most of these creatures have fur or tails? What kind of creatures were they? Was he really planning some heist on this train? Would he remember once on-board? He wouldn't want to waste his chance if he had gotten this far posing as one of them...

He didn't resist or try to stay, but he did try to ask every other person boarding with him about his brother, some variation of "Is my brother on board? He looks like me, he's just a little smaller, kind of a shorthair..." the cat asked, trying to avoid saying his name in case they were trying to hide their identities.

The train - unlettered
Once he was on-board, he frowned at the pamphlets and flyers, holding them upside down and sideways.
"... is any of this stuff actually important?" he grumbled. "If it's important, they can just say it."

The ICP itself was also mocking him, as far as Yota was concerned.

The cat's tail flicked in annoyance, then curled between his legs, betraying his insecurity, even as his gruff manner otherwise only gave off annoyance at the inconvenience. He was too proud and obstinate to ask for help, but he was clearly struggling to make any sense of the jumble of letters, devoid of meaning.

Cabin - a poorly concealed gun

Even as anxious as he was to be indefinitely without his brother for the first time in four years (there was that one fight, but it hardly lasted two days...), Yota wasn't going to set his gun he'd been lucky enough to keep in the cubby!

Unfortunately for his cabin-mates at Sleeper Lower Three, Cabin E, he wasn't exactly very creative about where to stash it... the next person to pull out the bench under their bed (Yota stashed it under a bunk he didn't even pick as his own) will find a pistol (emptied of ammunition, which Yota kept elsewhere.) Hope you didn't shake out the blanket before noticing the unusual weight or shape!

platform, boarding

[blitzcheer]

"Your brother?" One of the strange tall creatures Yota catches is someone not in a hoodie, but there is a purple one tied around his waist. Still a weird tall being, who looks at Yota with a puzzling expression. ..but also one attempting to think.

"Uh...does he stand up on two feet like--" wait, "--two paws like you? ...goes by the name Spark?"

Maybe?? This cat(?) did say smaller... what does Tidus know?

[averyusefultray]

Platform

The platform is almost becoming routine. Amazing how much a person could get used to after being dragged out of their own world. Hera keeps her cap, but otherwise switches to her actual uniform for the sake of the newbies. Definitely the hoodie today. Twi'lek body temperature is not meant for this weather, but she still does her best to greet the newcomers and is happy to answer any questions.

Happy until she spots a familiar face and stops with a muttered "Kriff" anyway...

Around the train

It's not a disaster. She doesn't like this development, but at least Thrawn doesn't have access to the usual resources. The usual targets aren't around either. IN theory it might be manageable.

She still wants to talk to a few of her train friends about the development. And she'll always have time for those she's decided are her responsibility. In among doing laundry because work is how she deals with everything.

Games Carriage

And of course, sometimes when you've just been thrown an unwelcome development, you go to your happy place. In the absence of the Ghost, the closest Hera has to her happy place is of course the flight simulator. She's more than happy to give lessons to anyone who has ever desperately wanted to fly an X-Wing. Which in her opinion should be everyone as they're great.

Around the train

[yondu]

Yondu's roaming off to do laundry as well because he switched with Soldat, as usual, to give him the means to cook. He also doesn't mind 'cause for people with armor or leather gear, he can take care of it if they don't want to do it themselves.

He takes up position beside her to dump some clothes into a machine.

"You doin' alright?" He can't tell what is going on, but that seems a little more intense a look than is required for attending to underwear. And he doesn't know how good of friends she was with anyone that left.

Jolyne Cujoh | OTA

[strings_theory]

Platform - Stone Ocean ending spoilers

Well, this isn't where she thought she'd wake up. The feeling of blistering cold against her skin, an unknown sight and unknown people around her. She'd expected, you know, something. Like maybe fire and brimstone or puffy clouds and music or some shit. Or even just her friends. Her dad. Something.

But none of this is remotely familiar and she's starting to wonder if her assumption on being dead is, well, incorrect. Even though she can still phantom feel everything that happened. Every little bit of it.

Did she fail in stopping Pucci? Did her asinine plan to tie a kid to a dolphin not work?

"Good fucking grief," she hisses between clenched teeth and painted lips, pulling the hood over her head which somehow fits her hair and burying her hands into the pockets. What a shitty day.

On the train - training gym

What does one do when they're done having a mild existential crisis and need to work out some aggression? The gym, of course. It takes her no time to strip off the hoodie and work at getting a good chunk of the buttons of the polo undone to make it a little easier to move.

Boots are discarded for socked feet and one might find one of the poor training dummies under some duress from a rather aggressive-seeming street brawling woman. Though for the more astute, they might also notice a blue arm and fist following with her own punches. Don't ask about it, it's fine.

On the train - training gym

[yondu]

Good news, new person for Blue Team on the train. Bad news, now everyone is having mental breakdowns. Welcome to this shit show, right?

Though judging from how hard she's throwing those punches (and what seems to be the reinforcement with them) she may prefer red or purple team missions. Or might not even want to go at all, considering the circumstances.

He walks in with a handful of tennis balls, sits them down on a bench, and reels his arm back to bounce one off the wall. A whistle follows, and if she looks over she might notice vivid laser-bright trails of red zigzagging around and looping the ball as it bounced between the wall and the climbing rack.

[wewillwewill]

I. Snow Day - Morning and Post Platform

In the morning, Elidibus is heard over the train's intercom.

"Good day. If you are not already aware, the garden carriage has been changed to a snowy landscape. The train has agreed to open the dressing car for winter gear and there are refreshments in the adjoining games carriage. What we learned in Osiga may have put many in a mood to not enjoy the festival at the time. Pray enjoy this additional respite and make use of the change as you will. The rock garden will be restored on the 'morrow."

a. before-platform

After breakfast, the Ascian can be found lingering in the garden car or checking on the refreshments, cementing that he is at least partly responsible for the change. What other reason would he have to loiter? Though perhaps he can be talked into something and certainly might be a tempting target for an... ahem, errant snowball or three.

Or seven. Someone passing through at the right time might have even caught a glimpse of Lan Jingyi and Elidibus having a very over-the-top acrobatic but elemental- and magic-free exchange of snowballs. Surely there was some deep purpose to this. The Ascian will probably deny it even happened and it certainly doesn't prevent him from being targetted again.

b. post-platform

He'll be back after the platform stop too and someone might see part of the reason he's here is to make sure the snow remains enjoyable. A touch of magic here or there, though the snowfall itself seems to have a mind of its own at times. But rest assured while things might get a bit slushy on the paths, there'll be enough snow for the day to go around.


II. Platform Day!

The Ascian takes it on himself to make sure there's no danger to bystanders when clashes of personality- whether old enemies meeting after one or both have been summoned or agitated new arrivals- spill out across the platform. And unlike the previous few stops it looks like there's more coming in than leaving. Though a glance and frown are cast at the departing crew, Elidibus doesn't focus long on them. Instead there's an entire platform to watch for signs of trouble.

It's not that he will necessarily stop trouble from happening. Sometimes differences are best resolved with a little scuffle. It's when it threatens to cause collateral or it's best to step in and calm someone down that he steps in.

Still someone who's looking particularly lost can find him approaching in a mundane way to address them. He wears a red polo shirt and a hoodie as well as the khakis; all standard train clothing like those who've just arrived.

"May I offer some assistance? Perhaps address your concerns?"


III. Wildcards and Other Things

[Elidibus will be in a couple of places outside of the snow garden at different times of the day. The luggage carriage to pick up his packages, near his cabin (L1B) and the dining room for meals among other places. Even meeting later with Jingyi whom he absolutely didn't have a snowball fight with for a serious discussion. Toss a Wildcard or contact me through this journal or Discord!]

[bitternessoflife]

Finally, someone who seemed like they knew what was going on!
Yota clung to Elidibus’ khakis, getting desperate.
“I lost my brother! I didn’t see him on the platform, so I thought he might have boarded already… have you seen him?”

He hadn’t exactly gotten satisfactory answers from other new arrivals and he couldn’t read anything and he was just lost.

Yota hadn’t started any trouble yet, but only because he had no idea what was going on.

Will Stanton | OTA

[signseeker]

Platform
The first thing Will notices as he opens his eyes on the platform is not the fog or the train or even the odd clothes he is wearing. It is the sudden sense of loss, of something missing. Ever since the time of his learning, he had always had a sense of where to find the nearest of the Old Ways. Even when traveling through other times and places.

But here.... there was nothing.

Closing his eyes, he casts out his senses, seeking for any powers in the area. But there was nothing that felt familiar, and this troubled him.

At last, he decides to seek answers from the others on the platform. Throwing his rucksack over his shoulder, he seeks out the nearest person.

"Hullo? I don't suppose you have any idea of what has happened?

Train
Later, Will finds his way to the train, which he occupies himself in exploring. He lingers around the garden and library cars for a bit, thinking, before eventually finding his way to the hallway outside his assigned cabin. He takes a moment to frown down at his ticket. How precisely was this meant to work?

Will, having been raised in a small rural village in 1970's England, had never seen a key such as this.

Departure
After the lurch of departure Will stands by one of the windows for a bit, motionless, looking out with an air of deep contemplation. In this moment, he seemed to be something both less and more than the pleasant-faced boy he appeared to be.

After many long moments he stirs suddenly and glances around the carriage. And he speaks softly to himself.

"I think that I must be terribly far away from home. I wonder... what am I meant to do here?"

Re: Will Stanton | OTA

[nell_of_soulwood]

Nell smiled at him and spoke gently. "Hello there. I'm afraid you've been kind of taken by the train here, like the rest of us. When you get on board you'll find a cabin waiting for you. There should be some information to help you out, but I can try and answer your questions."

Esteban | Purple Team | OTA

[crowneddragon]

I - Gingerbread Train
Esteban hadn't known until this morning that there was some sort of competition between the colours; he didn't even know why it was in place. But oh-- the moment there's a call that there's a huge gingerbread train for the team gets him bolting to the carriage faster than a blink.

It's his favourite sweet! and Esteban is excited and happy to partake in, snatching pieces where the structure is the most stable. Most of the friends he's made are on the purple team, but he'll be happy to share with anyone at all!

II - Stone / Snow Garden
Oh, thank the Guardians Spirits, they have this!

The few minutes they get at each station has always rattled the half-elf, needing so much more of the free open space than he ever could get. The garden having a bit of snow won't last, he knows-- he's heard-- but just the fact that they have this soothes him a bit. Lying down in the snow, with an arm across his eyes, he can pretend to feel the wind for a bit, breathing in the sharp, cold scent of winter, despite not wearing anything more than the train-provided sweatshirt.

III - Wildcard
[OOC: Esteban spends much of his free time either in the music carriage (performance stage), or the sports carriage, feel free to poke him if you want!]

i

[blitzcheer]

"What the."

...That's a gingerbread.

Of a train.

A giant, long gingerbread train. Tidus has shown up later than Esteban, if not by much, ending up in the luggage car out of habit more than for any particular reason. He catches sight of the other guy, sure, but-

His eyes might be stuck on the gingerbread. Train.

"These sweets are getting out of hand."

(Tidus clearly has wrong opinions.)

Faux (CLU) | OTA

[ranoutofbuts]

Platform
Faux is mid-sentence to Ram when he blinks, and is more than surprised when he is in a completely different place than he had been a moment before. A place he can only describe as weird. And he’s been to quite a few systems in his runtime.

It takes another moment for him to realize the weirdness isn’t just from the locale or the individuals around him, it's the lack of connection. He can’t feel the code around him. It’s like he’s… disconnected.

As this fog dissipates, it brings even more unknown programs.

Ignoring the something strapped around his shoulder and his covered circuits, he activates his invisibility, uncaring if anyone had seen him prior.

On Train
His face scrunches in disbelief. After reading some of the free data within the entry carriage, and barring a large chunk of terms he doesn’t understand, it became quite apparent to him.

“I’ve been conscripted? By a train?”

He didn't even know that trains could do this till now.

A carriage
Faux’s made it to an area of relative seclusion. That’s great, it gives him time now to kindly freak out over all the red stuff smothering him.

He had just been repaired! He’s not- he’s not that kind of program.

The red thing clings to him, and he not too gently grabs whatever is constraining his circuits, and roughly pulls it away from his body, then throws it onto the ground.

His upper circuits now exposed, he’s immediately relieved to see that underneath he’s still the same off-white glow that he had been before he’d been unceremoniously transported to wherever here is. The returned airflow is just a bonus.

Platform

[schrodingersghost]

By accident, Danny happened to be in the perfect location to catch the moment of invisibility.

"Nice!" he calls over. "Ghost or tech?"

ota

[asheaveniswide]

Platform

One of the new arrivals towers over the rest, purple hoodied and as bewildered as the others present.

For a time he's still and silent as the fog swirls about and others make their presences known, but they seem as lost as he is, and nothing about the situation or the people are familiar - he doesn't even recognize the species of a couple. It's reflexive, to exchange ordinary vision for aethersight and be certain none of the confused bodies are currently housing a shadowless monstrosity, and while he is immediately reassured that yes everyone on the platform is in fact a person and not an Ascian, there's ... other issues.

Ones he immediately puts aside for later, brow furrowed. That will be dealt with when he has more liesure to study it, for now..

For now there's a long whistle of a train and one very clearly not of Garlemald design tears through the fog, and Zenos turns his attention to the pack he's arrived with, crouching down to sit on his heels and begin to rummage through it. Apparently the biting chill in the air doesn't bother him at all, because it's being ignored -- well, almost; a moment of digging pulls out the waterproof coat in the bag, which is considered for a long moment, gaze turning skywards, before it's shrugged on. Surprisingly it actually fits, someone seems to have his size in mind. The rest of it seems ... normal enough, if odd in design and not his preferred colors; the leather notebook is studied and put away, the washing kit sniffed and found wanting of a better scent, his tomestone immediately pocketed..

Hm. Seems he's packed for a bit of a journey, presumably on this train.

Upper 3, Cabin D

What joy awaits, for Cabin D has a new roommate!

One who doesn't enter immediately, frowning at his ticket. This is all understandable enough, tickets work as keys, but if his glimpses of the other rooms suggested anything, he was going to be sharing space with others, and already this train felt cramped and small, clearly not designed for Garlean sizes in mind.

Eventually the door is opened, and immediately his concerns are rendered valid. This is a TINY SPACE. And he is emphatically not tiny.

"....I can see I won't be getting much actual rest any time soon," the blond man mutters, sounding distinctly displeased, and it's pretty easy to guess why.

Train Locations

Once his belongings are more or less settled and any greetings and or sudden conflicts therein handled, Zenos sets out to get the measure of the train ... and keep track of that little wisp of Ascian he keeps catching now and again. The walls of the train disrupt his Resonant sight, but he's certain there's one around. As he prowls from car to car, examining what it's for and what it contains, from one end to the other, occasionally his eyes are a perfectly ordinary human blue, other times they're reddish purple with black sclera, but that's easily enough missed if one isn't paying attention..

But Zenos is absolutely paying attention. To everyone and everything - this is a very cramped train with quite a few people onboard, and the little informational pamphlets did explain some things ... but not everything.

He's going to turn up in every car sooner or later, one by one, except for the rooms he cannot enter such as everyone else's rooms. Eventually, there's an alarmingly tall blond man scouring the location you're in with restrained curiosity, but no immediate greetings offered.

Platform [bad cat deserves the spray bottle]

[bitternessoflife]

There was a cat prowling closer, albeit one dressed like the other arrivals (his clothes came in orange), seemingly under the impression he could sneak over and peek into Zenos' bag.

Look, it was on the ground, he couldn't resist, even with its owner right there, he wasn't planning on running away with it or anything, just having a closer look at what's inside!

Nozomi Yumehara | OTA

[cureofmanyworlds]

Double Room Car

Nozomi stared at the door to her new room, nervous. What was she doing? She had been so excited at the idea of having a room with Kairi and now, having done so, she was getting cold feet. It was so much, a large leap into bigger things. Could she handle it?

She took a deep breath and opened the door. Did Kairi beat her there?

"Hello?"

Training Car

Nozomi needed some time to herself at the moment. She's always wanted to push a new identity for herself, but she never found the time for it. Just keep charging forward. But, what happened brought that need for a new identity back to the forefront.

Right now, she was busy trying to work on her heroic identity, fiddling with both the spare CureMo and the iMog Slate she had so that she could do... something.

"C'monnn... EEK!" she yelped, her CureMo shocking her. "Owowowow... no... not that."

Just what is she doing?

Training Car

[schrodingersghost]

Danny had come to the training car hoping to find someone to train a bit with. Nothing like a good distraction to push worries out of his head.

He hadn't been expecting this.

"Hey... are you okay?"

[notalive]

Platform

[Connor has experience closing his eyes in one place and opening them in another. At first he thinks he's in the AI graphic interface - that one place his handler used to debrief him and, one memorable time, steal his autonomy.

But when he spins in place, looking around wildly, a backpack swings on his...orange-clad...back, and there look to be 12 other...beings...with him, equally confused. The colours don't match, exactly, but the othewise they're all wearing the same thing, like a uniform.

But Connor's doesn't mark him as an android, it marks him as...Connor. His name's on it.

Yep, this guy's gonna stare down at his name on his hoodie, grinning lopsidedly.]

Train Arrival

[The first to leave the train that pulls up don't so much as look at the group on the platform - they merely leave, silent, and Connor's too confused to follow them. What's out there isn't any less new than what's here, after all.

But more follow them, and those people don't look as purposeful - they flood out of the train in clothes matching his own and the others.

Well, it happened. A plunge into deviancy and a revolution and...]

I think I'm having a mental breakdown.

Wildcard: Cabin

[If any residents of Upper 3 (E) enter their new cabin at some point on the first day, they'll find Connor there, standing in the middle of the room. He looks round at the newcomer and braces himself a little.]

I'm taking one of these beds.

[So defiant.]

Train arrival

[flameinthedarkness]

If only it was that easy, [The voice is very softly spoken from within an orange hoodie, it pulled up the best it could to accommodate the mass of fire blue 'hair' stuffed into it, Idia doing his best to keep it that way, even if it meant tugging down the sides of the hood now and then.

He really doesn't care or like the station stops, but he's made to come. Most likely he would just head back to his room and roll back into bed, thus he's looking even more tired than normal. He's very much a night owl, and these stops were too early in the day for him.] It would be a better outcome than this.

Nell Ingram | OTA

[nell_of_soulwood]

Platform

Nell had on the warm and colorful clothing she'd gotten from Osiga as she made her way out onto the platform. For the first time as she watched the figures leaving she recognized one and her breath caught. "Rapunzel?" It couldn't be! Would she be alone now in her room? Well, she supposed she'd spent enough time alone that she'd be just fine, but it would be odd to not have Rapunzel and all of her hair and Pascal there with her.

She looked around, trying to brush away the few tears that threatened to fall, and noticed quite a few new people waiting to board the train. Her smile might have been a little wobbly, but she was ready to try and help out anyone who might need assistance.

Picking Up her Purchase

Oh, Nell was all aquiver with excitement about this. She made her way through to the luggage carriage, finally finding the crate labeled with her name. There was a quiet, but piteous, mew as Nell touched it, which made her quick to open it and scoop out one of the tiniest kittens she'd seen - a beautiful little grey tabby. "Oh my," Nell breathed. "You're just beautiful. She cuddled the little one close, stroking it gently as it purred. "We're gonna have to get you on back to the room and I'm gonna have to find a real good name for you."

Around the Train

Nell poked her head into the Rock Garden to feel the real snow on her face and to watch some of the littler ones play in the snow. That always made her happy. She also made her way to the kitchen for a bite to eat and to make some cookies for a treat, leaving most of them out for anyone who wanted some, but saving a few to bring back to her room with her. Later she might be found in a quiet spot in the library, reading and petting her new friend.

Back at her Cabin

Nell set up what she needed for her kitten, then laughed as the little thing fell asleep in her lap, all tired out from her big day. A name. She needed a good name.

Purchase

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi hadn't purchases anything but was going through the luggage carriage to get another when he saw her and couldn't help but smile at the sight. It was rather adorable and enough to stop think possibly thinking about a few things.

"Got yourself a cute kitten? They are adorable."

Eli Vanto | OTA

[backwaterimperial]

Platform
Eli was very confused. One minute he was on the Steadfast, in his black uniform, and the next, he was on a train platform in an unfamiliar outfit. At first, he thought perhaps he'd fallen asleep at his station and was dreaming, but he tossed that idea out when he figured that the cold couldn't be a product of his subconscious.

He shifted his orange hoodie to cover his ears and began looking around, feeling utterly lost. "Well, Eli, nothing at the academies could prepare you for this."

The Train
This place wasn't like an Imperial starship or a Chiss one. It was also not quite like the civilian transports on Coruscant. As he walked through the hall, he made sure to note his surroundings, and keep his eyes open for anything strange. He came upon the cabin listed on his ticket and entered, getting himself situated.

After that, he went back out to roam the hallways, not content to sit about when he could be exploring.

Snow Time
Eli briefly wondered what Thrawn would think of the rock garden, what with the statues and rock gardens themselves being works of art. Even if Eli didn't possess Thrawn's art reading ability, he could still apply his own powers of observation to the rock garden. So far all he could see was that it was just an ordinary rock garden that was currently covered in snow. He looked up to see if there was a broken window in the carriage, but all he saw was a strange haze overhead. What an odd weather pattern.

Feeling cold, Eli got himself some warmer clothes and bundled up, before making his way to the bench to sit down for a bit and sip some coffee. "Clearly I'm dreaming after all."

Train

[averyusefultray]

The train uniform means there's nothing that sets this newcomer out from any of the others. There are usually all sorts of new humans after every platform and they tend to have fairly similar needs in the first days, though particular interests. "Were you looking for anything specific?"

Lan Wangji | OTA

[weisexual]

Luggage Car
He is grateful for the chance to get it back. He holds it gently in his hands before turning and heading towards the door. He doesn't intend to waste any time in trying it out and making sure that it sounds just as it should. And perhaps to also make sure he is not out of practice after all this time without it.

The guqin is still wrapped up since that is how the train sent it. Wrapped and with his name on it. Taken care of in away that Lan Wangji is glad for. He doesn't know how it is able to bring the things from their world but he can tell immediately that this is indeed his.

Music Car
He is already playing the guqin. Strumming along the strings, a soft expression on his face. He is glad to have it back and knows that he will be able to help on missions a lot more then he did before.

Winter
He is dressed only slightly warmer then he normally would be. He is used to colder temperatures. He settles down on one of the benches and looks around at all the snow and the way the Rock Garden has transformed into this temporary winter wonderland.

He isn't one for taking part in wintery activities but he can at least enjoy the fact that it is something a little different from normal train life.

Music Car

[mynameisallen]

Allen for once was taking the time to actually sit down and listen to some music. But what he hadn't been expecting was to hear an actual instrument instead of the music the train provides.

So slowly he makes his way over to the source before watching.

"It's a nice song."

General Amaya | The Dragon Prince | OTA

[the_aunt_general]

On the Platform [OPEN]

She watches Rapunzel go with some sadness; she'd liked her, the girl had been kind, and a wonderful artist. The wall of her bunk had been painted by Rapunzel, as it happened - it was a treasure, as far as she was concerned.

But she's there to meet newcomers, standing at half attention, arms behind her back. Newcomers' SCAs will translate her sign language, either in subtitles on the device, or dubbed - convenient for those who don't know sign!

Practice Makes Perfect [OPEN]

The platform is also large enough that she can exercise her sword drill in the cold of the open air, which adds something a bit more to the practice. Granted, Amaya isn't terribly usual in that regard - her shield is sharpened at both ends, itself an oft-surprising offensive weapon. And her technique, well. That is flawless.

Each movement is precise, unwavering. And about as fast as a normal human is ever going to get.

Practice make perfect

[mynameisallen]

"Never thought to use the platform to practice. I guess with the amount of space when people start getting on it make sense." He was also impressed with her skills to and couldn't help but watch at all.

"You must be use to using a weapon, huh?"

Bucky/Soldat | MCU | Purple team | OTA

[worthallthis]

I. Snowfall? - Rock Garden, night before the platform

Before bedtime every night, Soldat makes a patrol up and down the length of the train. Some nights it's more lazy than others, sure, but it's still done. It makes them feel safer, and also more like they're doing something to help protect the rest of the train's passengers. Even if it's not really necessary.

Tonight they're standing in the rock garden looking in bafflement at the snow falling from the train car ceiling. "Well. That's pretty weird."


II. Familiar Ingredients - Storage and Kitchen Cars

"Oh my god." Soldat has a can of the bully beef open in their hand with a stunned expression on their face.

Because at the sight of the can they knew, they knew this was something they knew. Because pulling the top open the smell sent them spiralling back to Brooklyn in the 1920s-- in a good way, for once. "This is amazing."

Then they can be found happily making soup in the kitchen car for a solid chunk of the afternoon, munching on gingerbread from the train's gift to the team and on trail mix, chopping onions and garlic to add to the simmering pot and humming 40s jazz to themselves.


III. Snow time - Rock Garden

Soldat remembers winter in Beacon more than winter in Brooklyn or the Western Front. They remember watching Misty and Sora have their snowball fight, but being too afraid to join in, lest they fall back on more violent habits. They remember trudging through the cold with warming rubies in their pocket. They remember hot chocolate and huddling under blankets by the bonfire. They remember the dumb things the spirits used to do for the new year.

They don't make anything out of the snow or pelt anyone with it unless, but they do glide around on the pond in a warm coat and scarf, swapping their combat boots for the train's provided winter shoes just this once, since combat boots don't slide very well.


IV. New Year's Traditions - Kitchen Car

The spirits in Beacon did, indeed, have a lot of strange new year's traditions. But with the snow and the last train's stop bringing in their own new year and the bully beef reminding them of home, Soldat's thinking about them.

So at the end of the day, when dinner's done and being cleaned up, they take one plate, old and already battered and not likely to be missed, and break it noisily in the kitchen sink. "Happy New Year," they say into the startled silence afterwards. Then, slightly sheepish: "I'll clean that up."

II

[paopuofyourlife]

Kairi had made her way into the kitchen with a plan to perhaps stock the fridge with some fruits later, so was mostly there to check what space there may or may not be.

As the sounds of humming hit her ears she stops and looking over, giving off a small smile. They seemed happy and that was nice.

"You seem happy."

[so_dark_a_road]

Departures:

Curufin goes out onto the platform as usual and waves goodbye to the departing passengers who walk towards the turnstyle and vanish into the fog. He calls a farewell to Dairine and Rapunzel, though he knows they won't respond.

"Goodbye and good luck!" There's a cheerfulness in his voice, though there is sadness in his eyes.


Greeting new passengers (OTA, but especially new Orange Team members):

Curufin says to whomever is new and near him, "Can I help you? Do you have any questions you need answered?" It would be surprising if they didn't!


In the wintery Stone Garden (OTA):

Curufin will engage in a snowball fight with anybody who would enjoy it. He grabs a handful of snow, packs it, and flings it at his friendly opponent. "GOTCHA!"


Later in the kitchen (for Spark):

Curufin pulls a container of frozen fish out of the freezer. This was left over from the last time he bought fish from the train store, for Spark. He oils a pan and tosses the fish fillets into it and heats the fish. A delicious smell arises from the pan. He grins at his good friend the cat and when the fish is ready, he shovels some onto a plate with a spatuala and places it on the counter where Spark can easily get it.

"Tasty, eh?"

New Pasengers

[truesmiles]

One might think Fai would ask perhaps the usual questions for one who is new to arriving in strange and odd places. But Fai had completely different questions in mind.

"I may have a few. For starters is this type of thing the norm? Taking those from other worlds and putting them together? Then I must ask about the places one might usually go to I assume they are always vastly different?"

Yes, it was obvious one was use to world travelling. Just not in this usual method.

Najaran | OTA

[najaran]

Platform
Najaran everyone leaving with a sigh, then headed out onto the platform. So many new people this time! So many potential new friends to meet! But first she had to take care of her oldest friends. She was carrying a few bags with whatever she could find from the kitchen that wasn't last month's leftovers and didn't need to be cooked. Enough for a few people at least. She waited to a back corner of the platform was clear enough then set down the bags. She set Goligan onto her belt, and thrust a hand behind her back and several cards flew out of the pouch at her back. She threw them into to air. They split open in a flash of light and resolved into... a very odd collection of beings.

The largest was a massive stone wall with a face, then just slightly shorter than that was Gargoyle. Then a suit of armor, Knight. Najaran was sitting on Knight's shoulder when they all appeared. The last of the large ones was what looked like a rideable flying dinosaur/dragon hybrid. Then the rest were smaller, with living weapon being the height of a short human, Cait Sith being shorter, and then Eidolon and Gremlin being their usual small selves.

Gremlin passed out the food, and the group hung out in the cold, eating. Though after a bit, Najaran did move to curl up with Thunderbeak and Eidolon, because they were warmer. She and her friends would be welcome to chat with anyone who wanted to come on over! They were an odd looking but friendly bunch.


Woodfolk
(Adult Woodfolk image and baby woodfolk image)

For those int he Garden car, investigating the Woodfolk, they are here to investigate you as well. And once the train has started moving again, Najaran will be in there not far from them.

Platform! - ALSO OMG IT'S RARE TO SEE THIS CANON! 8D

[to_rise_above]

Jin Ling happened to be passing by with his spiritual dog, observing things as usual. It's been an odd few months and he couldn't say that he's fully adjusted. He's still questioning a lot of things and of course, this sort of scenario would raise even more questions for him!

He's not so surprised with what he saw, rather curious since, there were so many things happening when the cards flew out of this stranger's pouch.

Of course, before he could make any move to walk away or comment, his mighty spiritual dog, Fairy dashed towards the girl and her collection of interesting friends!

Xion | OTA

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion was a small figure in a black coat, black pants, black boots, and black gloves. She was shrunk in on herself, looking out from under her hood. She was only out on the platform to see if Roxas had shown up. She really didn't like being out here, being around people. She wished there were shadows she could hide in, but the platform rarely leant itself to that. So she's trying to avoid notice mostly by making herself smaller, while trying to look up at everyone from under her hood.

Re: Xion | OTA

[paopuofyourlife]

"Hey Xion." Kairi said ad she stood next to her, leaning over slightly. It had perhaps been too long since they last spoke and Kairi was honestly thinking of trying her best to talk to the other more.

"Look at the new arrivals?"

Spark | OTA

[death_from_above]

Platform

"Help me put up this sign?" the orange cat asked. He had dragged out a huge crudly made sign that read "VOTE FOR FEEEESHING CAR" in what looked like the cat paw version of finger paint. There was even some red paint clinging to the fur around his claws. there were small tooth marks in the sign, showing how he had carried it out...


Standard Car
Someone apparently helped Spark move is sign inside? He had it hung up in the Standard car and was sitting under it. "WILL TELL PUNS FOR VOTES!" he called to everyone passing buy. "One vote per pun. Ten votes to get me to shut up! Jest ten votes for a whole minute of quiet! Puns for votes!"

Standard

[paopuofyourlife]

Kairi couldn't help but chuckle slightly at seeing the sign. Honestly she would use the votes for it for nothing because she knew that she had moved recently and so in part it was her way of being nice. That and she was still planning on cooking any and all fish still regardless.

"No puns needed for my votes, but if you want to do them anyway I will be happy to listen."

Clef | OTA

[guru_clef]

Library
Someone may have failed to notice that today was a platform day. Someone might want to tell him, because he has some books to pick up, hopefully. Otherwise the small mage can be found in his usual spot in the library, thinking over everything that has changed, and everything that has not, with his family. He was studying on the top of his rock in the library. Floating before him was the book that he was reading. To one side floated a blank book that was being filled in as he read, and notebook floating to his other side, where he made his notes. A pen floated beside the notebook that looked hand carved.

He was studying, but he would happily stop to talk to anyone who managed to get his attention. And don't worry, his staff was not going to fall off the stone, no matter how precariously balanced it seemed.

[blitzcheer]

Sometimes, regularly, you see a guy in the same place doing (apparently) the exact same thing, and you mind your own business.

This has been Tidus usually, when it came to Clef on his rock in the library. But today is different. Today he stops, watching the small guy, a thoughtful pull to his brow...

"...Hey? Hey! What'cha doing today?"

Today, we're going to find what is up with the library guy-man.