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

[its_dad_sanzo]

The 'cat' says nothing else, but she hasn't continued to run off, either. No, she's sitting just ten or so feet down the hall, and is daintily cleaning the back of a paw.

While staring right at Devero over her work.

[subcircuits]

He flops back down with a groan, covering his eyes with his arm and taking a moment to collect himself. He climbs back to his feet with a huff and faces her with arms spread wide. "Human form," he says. "Happy?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

All that gets from Wiggles is a very innocent, normal, out-loud, "Mmrrrow."

And then she starts trotting down the hall again. If Devero speeds up, she will too.

[subcircuits]

With a roll of his eyes, Devero trots after her. Their chase resumes, albeit at much, much lower speeds.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Too low, Wiggles knows he can move faster than this on two legs!

So, she speeds up.

Get wreckt, big guy.

[subcircuits]

"Rust and ruin," he grumbles, but there might be a hint of a smile on his lips as he increases his stride to match her new pace. At least in human form he's able to weave around anyone they pass, murmuring apologies as he does so.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Once in a while, Wiggles slows down just enough to give Devero some hope of catching her, like she's getting tired, before nyooming back off again!

She goes upstairs in almost all the cars that have two floors, too, crossing over and back down before going to the next. So it's not at all weird when she bolts up the stairs of the music car!

And halfway across the stage before she seems to start slipping on the polished wood. Here's your chance?!

[subcircuits]

Here's his chance. "C'mere, you!" Devero cries, vaulting up onto the stage and baseball-sliding across the polished wood after her. He grabs for the lanky cat without actually thinking about what he's going to do if he actually manages to get his hands on her.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Devero slides! He grabs! And--! He scores!

Scores one very lanky, tired, unnaturally silky-furred cat.

[subcircuits]

He actually caught her? Holy shit, he caught her! Devero scrambles to his feet, holding Lady Wiggles out in front of him by her armpits. He resists the urge to wiggle her the way he's seen Koumyou do, but it's a near thing.

It occurs to him now that he's standing here on the performance stage holding a very dangerous animal like an inconvenient baby.

"...Now what?" he asks that very dangerous animal.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Now, you turn around," Koumyou Sanzo says from just behind him.

And, from his position down on one knee.

[subcircuits]

Still holding Wiggles out in front of him, Devero turns around--

And gasps.

He twists to the side to set Koumyou's cat down and then twists right back, his hands flying up to his mouth. "Koumyou...?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"I'm not going to ask you to marry me, since we're already engaged," Koumyou pulls a little wooden box out of a sleeve, and holds it up, "so instead I'll ask; will you wear this ring for me?"

He opens it, revealing a ring not dissimilar to the one on his own finger, but the outer bands are smooth dark metal, the inner bands are the same safety green as he's seen on Babysitter in an illusion, and there's some sort of crushed grey rock making up the middle band, safely encased in a smooth, clear material.

[subcircuits]

Devero's eyes fill with tears so fast he doesn't even get to see the ring through them. He blinks them away and cups his hands around Koumyou's on the box, only to have them well up again when he sees it. "Oh Koumyou," he breathes, "of course I will. It's beautiful."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou flashes him that still somewhat rare, brilliant smile he sometimes has, and takes the ring out of its box. He takes Devero's hand to slip it onto the same finger he's wearing his on, and only then stands up.

"The rocks in the middle are from the moon from my world."

[subcircuits]

Devero stands very, very still when Koumyou beams that brilliant smile up at him, as if he could startle it away with an injudicious movement. He hardly breathes as this incredible man slides the ring onto his finger.

He's just lifting his hand to admire it when Koumyou speaks. The breath leaves him in a rush and this time the tears overflow from his eyes. He looks up and catches Koumyou's gaze for an instant before throwing himself at his Sanzo, wrapping his arms around him with a choked sob.

"It's perfect," he says fervently, straight into Koumyou's ear.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou returns the favor with his own much wirier arms, and turns his head to smooch Devero on the cheek while he's so close to his ear.

"I'm relieved, honestly!"

[subcircuits]

"I would have loved anything you gave me," Devero assures him. He pulls back so he can lift his hand and examine the ring for real, dashing the tears out of his eyes with his free hand as he does so. "But I really, really love this. These... these are Babysitter's colors, aren't they?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Of course," Koumyou confirms, with that smile again.

"You know, I don't know anything about fashion," the blond adds, "outside of the disco era, anyway. But I'm a priest, I know symbolism!"

[subcircuits]

"It's perfect," Devero says again, turning his hand this way and that to see how the light plays off the ring's different colors. He laughs exultantly, then reaches up to catch Koumyou's hands between his palms. "I love it," he says, right before he leans down for a kiss.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou goes up onto his toes to meet him, smiling into it.

Once they break, he cocks his head a little to one side while looking over and down at Wiggles, then laughs.

"You see why we wanted you here in human form, now!"

[subcircuits]

Devero's smile is a little wry as he looks down at the cat, and his voice a little dry as he says, "Yes. I see."

He looks back at Koumyou, clasping the priest's arms and staring intently into his eyes. "Koumyou....

"Has she always been able to talk?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Of course. You don't think that's something she's learned on the train, do you?"

Koumyou is, of course, about as casual about this as it gets, even lifting a finger to boop Devero on the tip of his nose.

"Silly."

[subcircuits]

"I never thought about it!" he protests.

He looks down at Wiggles as well. "I'm sorry," he says to her with a respectful nod.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Wiggles has been in the middle of grooming herself daintily down near their feet, and pauses to eyeball Devero for a moment before she just... resumes what she's doing.

"Well, you've never met a demonic monster from my world before," Koumyou says cheerfully, "so that's not unexpected. She's also a lot different than demons are in Shangri-La, but I heard about ones like her from Ukoku, once. He's traveled all over. In the Western continents, ones like her are more normal."