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?

[kumoko]

[ What's going on? Why's she facing the wrong way? The train's-- not there? Oh, no, wait, there it is, skidding in with whistle blaring. So, no problem at all.

Like hell! Why's she out here?! Spider is experiencing some difficulties, please hold--

Oh, hey. It's Mr. Space Merc. If she skitters a little closer, just for a bit of reassurance, well. No one can prove anything. ]

Yep. Um... Should I not, or something?

On-board, platform

[bitternessoflife]

[Yota, noticing a creature he can name and someone who looked about as miserable as he felt, drew near, with a sympathetic smile.]

Crazy how they want us to just wear this stuff and go out, like nothing happened, huh?

Nice hats you're making. You're pretty good at this, aren't you?

[There weren't spiders this big back home, but at least he knew what a spider was.

[kumoko]

... Thanks. [ Months of progress in talking to people properly, ruined. Stupid train! Why'd it have to lose her tether or whatever?!

But, hey, look at this little cat. Proper beastman and everything, none of this washed-out kemonomimi stuff.

She has to crane her human neck down to look at him, but luckily the spider head is more on his level, and chirp-hisses at him while the upper body is still getting its shit together. It's still the human mouth that's talking, though. ]

Want one? [ Err. ] What kinda animal?

On-board, platform

[fivemilesdeep]

[Ryo hadn't spent any more time on the platform than was necessary - he'd gone back inside once he'd realized how cold it was - so he'd missed most of the new arrivals. It was only when he was heading back to the luggage car to pick up his purchases that his Sense picked up someone familiar. He opens the door to the dressing carriage to find-]

Miss Spider!

[The bright smile on his face dims a bit when he sees the expression on hers.]

Are you okay?

[kumoko]

[ She's most of the way through a large lopsided rabbit hat, and in the process of trying it on for size, when Ryo's greeting sinks in. Only a few seconds too late to be proper, probably. Maybe? Eh.

The oversized ears flop as she tilts her head to regard him. ]

... M'fine.

[ she's not fine. What happened here?! Maybe he'll know. ]

Um, my webs...

platform

[blitzcheer]

[ That train's going to come in and stop eventually, Spider deposited out at the wrong time, clearly. Clearly? The passengers come out, Tidus among them, really having no choice in the matter.

It's whatever though. The same old, same old, and Tidus glimpses at the leaving passengers before he does the people on the platform, their figures blending in with the rest of the people who came off the train. Guess a giant spider is hard to miss though...--

wait.

Wait??

Outside is likely where a Spider - a Webs - would not like to be, but here she is, and out of the bodies, Tidus is so making his way up to her - calling, with growing volume: ]

Webs? -- Webs!

[ And here he comes to her, with eyes wide and maybe even hopeful, before Tidus stops - not getting totally into her space, but seeming to realise or remember as he stands before her: ]

Spider? Is that you?

[ ...well a 'Do you recognise me' might make more sense but whatever. ]

[kumoko]

[ Hey, remember the first time she was stood here like this, fog wreathed around her legs, the vibration of the train whistle humming in her fine hairs? She sure does! Almost to the point for looking around for a guy in a mech suit to try and kill her with energy blasts.

But no mechs to be seen, and no energy blasts either. Just a mop of sun-bleached hair, great legs, and charisma. Blinding! Look awayyyy! Etcetera. ​

Is what her? ]

Sure is..?

[ Is there another big spider monster she could be?

... Okay, actually, she hadn't considered that this might be a new Express with new people, or that one day she might see another version of herself. That's...

Hmm.

Alrighty! That spiralling existential panic is being repressed for later, for sure! No time for it now! ]

So, uh, why'm I out here?

after departure

[foxyou]

[The gardens are one of Jiu's favorite places, being a fan of peacefully quiet nature--not that the gardens are always peaceful or quiet, but it's the thought that counts, right?

That is, until a familiar giant spider suddenly teleports into the carriage. Did a startled fox just jump out of that flowerbed? Of course not, he was a human all along!

Excuse him as he surreptitiously brushes some dirt off his nice green (illusioned) outfit.]

May I ask what it is you're doing? [Skipping the hellos and heading straight to the questions!]

[kumoko]

[ The kitchens have been discarded as a bad idea - one stray thread near a hob and fwoosh, no more spider - and now in a flicker of light she's squinting up at the lofty ceilings of the garden--

Except two eyes instinctively track sudden movement amongst the flowers, as a small fluffy oh no wait it's the fox demon.

Hey! ]

Think there's enough space for webs up there, Tails? [ two more eyes swivel over-- ] Oh, Tail still.

On-board, after departure

[notalive]

[Teleportation isn't even real.

That's why as soon as Connor heard about this idiocy, he sought it out, found a transgate and is now busily test driving them: going into one, emerging, then exploring until he finds another one.

Teleportation isn't even is real.

Anyway, Connor's just walked back to the location of a transgate - and someone--something--someone? walks out.

The LED on his temple flickers from busy yellow to mildly perturbed orange. It matches his hoodie.

He tilts his head to the side.]

Hello.

[kumoko]

[ Okay so maybe the transgates are actually pretty good. She'd avoided them before, in case she got stuck or something. You know, like Winnie the Pooh. Oh bother! Her spider butt is pretty big, you know?

But, now she's tried them, they're good. And they'll save on MP, which is even better--

Some guy's talking to her. Ten eyes stare at him, two of them - the ones with eyelids - blink. The head attached to those two heads also tilts, matching him. ]

Hey there, fellow Orange.

[ Oh, and he's new, huh? She's pretty sure she remembers seeing that spinny little light accessory on the platform. A hand lifts to give him a quick V sign, in solidarity. ] First time?

Platform

[dyingpro]

[Zagreus spots the familiar silhouette on the platform and audibly gasps, before his feet are automatically running toward the doors to the nearest exit. Cerbie, the sentient plushie, knows something exciting is going on, and bounds after his owner, yipping happily in his tiny puppy voice that sounds more like a squeaky toy than an actual dog.

As soon as the doors open, Zagreus races out, his flaming feet hissing against the grass. As cold as it is, he doesn't seem to care about running out into the cold wind with half his chest exposed; he's proudly wearing the chiton Kumoko made for him, so many months ago, and he's absolutely giddy to see her.]

Kumoko! I-- Gods, it's really you! [He lets out a disbelieving laugh, and that gives Cerbie enough time to catch up and start excitedly wagging his three tails at their new many-legged friend.] It's me, it's-- it's Zagreus. Do you remember me? I mean, it's all right if you don't, but it's so great to see you again, Kumoko!

[Zagreus suddenly realizes that his feet are still on fire, and he quickly snuffs them out with his powers from Diagad, taking a step back from her.] Sorry, sorry, I know you don't like fire, I-- I didn't mean to run up to you so suddenly like that. It's just that, I didn't know when or if we'd see you again, and now you're here, you're back...!

[While Zag is trying to figure out his excitement over a friend returning, Cerbie the plush puppy rambles straight over to Kumoko and starts pawing his little plush feet on one of Kumoko's spider legs. He wants attention, too!]

[kumoko]

[ Man, she should probably prime people for if another Her were to show up, huh? The overly excited greetings are warming her cold little spider heart - and her more average human one, probably, going by the Emotions - but she's pretty sure the year of recovering from trauma has seriously lowered her reflexes...

Ah, whatever. It's the firefoot godling! He should really tone down the smile or she's gonna swoon. ]

Sure, I remember you, Zag!

[ Thankfully he said his own name, so she didn't have to scramble for it. But, what? What? The sudden cessation of aforementioned firefeet has her leaning down nervously. She's got no idea how those feet work but they're probably like those pocket monster fire lizards, right? If they go out, his heart stops, or something? ]

Are your feet broken?

[ One spider leg absently scoops up the puppy to get a better look. Hey, Mort got a lil' bro? ]

On-board, after departure

[controlsthedie]

[ Both Thanatos and Mort (who is atop Thanatos's head for the moment) stop and look at the spider teleporting into whichever carriage they happen to be in right now. Mort's nose twitches as he squeaks at her. Thanatos takes a moment to process his surprise. ]

... You're back? It's you, right?

[ He's never seen someone come back before. ]

[kumoko]

The one and only. [ She's fielded the question enough that she's got a snappy reply aaaall saved up, zero fortitude required. But it's Mr. Death God and Mort, so she pops the victory sign as well. ]

Er, how've you been?

On board, after departure

[marvelous_murderbot]

Kumoko had been kind to her. And so, naturally, Guri wants to welcome her back. She's taken up cooking and baking since Kumoko has last seen her, something constructive to do with her precision and time. And so Guri comes to find her, a small box full of cookies in her hands.

When she finally spots her, she smiles.

"Welcome back. I hope you remember me."

[kumoko]

Everyone sure is concerned about memory, huh? Miss Guri, even if this lowly spider didn't remember you, she'd absolutely fake as hard as she could just to get her hands on whatever smells so good..!

Luckily, she does remember, because as many people as there are around here, there's only like, two badass cyborgs at most. Probably. That she's noticed. And this one's her buddy. Like the insanely attractive film star big sis that this spider never knew she wanted but secretly craved!

"Sure do!"

... Cookies, though. Please. It's apparently been like whole months since she ate.

On-Board, Platform

[sizedoesntmatter]

You do not look at all happy.

[That much was at least obvious as he looked at her. He had known she had gone for a time and if he remember this was where she stayed, right? Maybe that was why.]

I guess this was where you would sleep, right?

[kumoko]

Eh, kinda. [ One row of ice-skates is nudged aside, a flash of white in the corner of one wardrobe catching her attention--!

Aw, never mind. It's just some wool from a bobble hat.

Sigh. ]

Did someone clean it all up? [ She wants Names. ]

onboard, platform

[happyends]

[ After all this time, it really isn't as much of a surprise anymore to Madoka when people who left before shows up - though she thinks that it has been a while since the spider lady disappeared, so it's a tiny bit surprising that she's suddenly back all the same, sitting there in the dressing carriage as if nothing changed..

.. or, well, the carriage sure changed, compared to when the spider was last on the train.

Still, even if Madoka might not have known the spider very well, it feels rude to not say anything upon seeing her. So she slowly bows at this spider, which oddly looks like it's moping. ]

Ah.. You're back, miss spider. I hope you're okay..

on board

[fennu]

[ Jiang Cheng recognises her, and it doesn't take him long to settle down against a doorway, arms crossed and eyebrows raised to watch her. It's been a little while since she had disappeared and while he refused to admit that it had stung a little - something about being used to losing people - he's glad to see her back.

He's also wearing his fancy robes. ]

You're noisy.

Platform

[storms_eye]

[It was hard to make out all the features of the new additions covered in their hooded attire, but something about one of them inparticular carried a familiar air that Silvia couldn't explain.

They had met before once- hadn't they? The memories of that period were a little muddled since Silvia hadn't quite been herself then...

.. and why would she have spent time hanging out with a spider exactly?]

..............................................


Sorry! I didn't mean to stare....

After departure

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Aziraphale is enjoying some time in the garden car, sitting and looking at the plants, as Ferdinand snuffles around the plot that used to house its home and Crowley's plant.

Some sort of sound pulls Aziraphale away from his thoughts, and he blinks, looking around the car. He doesn't pay it much mind until he hears it again, and he looks, getting up onto his feet. Perhaps it's about time to head back to his room, anyway--

Oh, there's someone else in here, and--Oh! Is that- ]

Hello?