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

[crowneddragon]

Not a dog.

The shock has Esteban snap back to stare at his companion, eyes wide with his surprise at the casual mention. He hadn't expected any of it and, blindsided, he feels suddenly, startlingly out of balance as words tumble along in his thoughts. But there is warmth, somewhere between his ribs and his throat, a heartbeat running too fast for him to quite know how to catch the flutter.

"Y' have dragons in yer world too?" It's not... quite what he wants to ask, but he doesn't know the words that are pressed up against his lips and throat and spine.

"They have the best stories up in mine!" The tangent brings out a smile to his lips as he straightens up, even though Esteban is aware he's biased, knows he is biased, but at least it allows him to breathe under the sudden, overwhelming conflict of what should he say?

He's never particularly cared to hide what he is per say, preferring to dance around the words without confirming or denying anything, simply because his life had been on the move for so long, and people came and went without the need to tell them. It had been a non-issue.

But Inigo is his friend; he is precious to him, and within the same heartbeat, Esteban knows that he wants to tell him, wants to share his secret the way Inigo had shared his love of dancing with him. He wants to tell him because he wants to choose to tell him, rather than circumstances taking the choice out of his hands. He wants to tell him because he trusts him.

Inevitably, people will know; it's just a matter of time. And after his chat with Tidus and Ryo, Esteban is all the more aware that he himself might be a danger to his friends. He might not be comfortable telling the entire train yet-- but he doesn't have to be.

... and he just butchered his chance to say it. Damn it.

[flatteries]

"Of course!" Indeed. Before Esteban can even say anything in his lengthy pause to think about all of that, the other is already replying. There's an ease to his words too, as if this is nothing for him to talk about. It's so easy to say. There's nothing of the hesitation and fluster he showed when they were talking about dancing. Instead Inigo smiles, as if he thinks it's the most normal thing in the world.

Besides, he's way too fond of the dragon-entangled nature of his world to not smile when he talks about this.

(And he's also just totally unaware of what Esteban might be hiding from him here.)

"After all, our world wouldn't even exists if it wasn't for dragons. We owe all good fortune we get to Naga, the divine dragon herself!" He's still smiling, but at least does slowly release his hold on the other's ears now, stepping back so they can speak a tad more normally. "But other than that, there are dragons everywhere. Wyverns, too.. and the manakete I just talked about, of course. I can't imagine what Ylisse would be like without dragons. It'd be a different place entirely!"

[crowneddragon]

It doesn't take more than Inigo's gentle smile to knock any intention out of Esteban's thought patterns. He's greedy; he likes hearing about his friends, about their worlds, and their ways-- their beliefs and culture, and stories. It's one of the reasons he's kept up his wanderings, in his own world, even after he'd had to give up the search.

Quick, quiet tugs guide his companion back to the suitcases without interrupting him, finding a spot-- further away from the confection now-- where they can both sit and chat without being in the way. With both legs crossed onto a wide, well-worn case, Esteban is free to listen as eagerly as he is, collecting these little shards of the world Inigo comes from.

It doesn't have to be now. He knows he wants to tell his friend, but it doesn't have to be now, and the half-elf is satisfied with that. So he prods instead, grinning all the while.

"So yer deity 's a dragon? That's so cool!" Well, he is biased, but at least he admits it. "But what's the diff'rence between a manakete an' a dragon per say?" He knows wyverns, no need to address them here; but Inigo's mentioned both species as if they were separate, and Esteban is confused about that. In his world, after all, all dragons are shapeshifters. Is it different for his?

fading it here like we discussed!

[flatteries]

It seems like they're in for quite a talk, huh, with Esteban guiding them over to a spot to actually sit and talk, rather than stand around next to the train..

And while there are some downsides to it, like not being able to grab some more to eat, Inigo sure doesn't mind just sitting down with Esteban somewhere to discuss all of this. Maybe it can get his mind off recent events, even though Inigo knows it'll only be for a moment - and that his worries will then return in full force.

But for now? He's more than content to just sit there and explain stuff, if Esteban is so interested.