No Place Like Home: On the Train

[voidtreckermods]

ANNOUNCEMENT

'Voidtreckers, and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express.'
The female-coded voice of the Voidtrecker Express speaks, as smooth and calm as always.

'Please, may I have your attention. I have been compiling answers for you, and it has been noted that many believe it is wrong that you were brought here at all. This is an opinion you shared with the ministry. You were not asked on this journey. You wish to go home. Some of your worlds are in danger. Some are gone.

The need for heroes is vital, and the Voidtrecker Express must continue saving worlds. You have done countless good. However, it was not the intention of this voidcraft to keep you prisoner.

Those that wish to leave may do so. I shall send you back. You will return to where you last were before you were pulled here. It can only be to that exact place. Be ready. Exiting voidspace in ten, nine, eight...'

The countdown finishes, the only warning as the train shudders as it leaves the void. Outside the train's windows, they see a familiar sight: of a smoke filled platform.

'For those voidtreckers that wish to leave, all you need to do is walk through the barriers. The train will remain for one hour for you to partake in parting rituals.'

---

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: TRAIN

---

GOOD BYE...

Those that have been on the train more than the twelve days of this month will be very familiar with the sight before them. A smoke filled platform, polished stone cobbles lining the ground leading to two large stone arches, with glass barrier doors. All that is needed to leave is to press their ticket to the reader next to the doors, and they will open.

Unlike most people who leave each month, blank eyed and silent, the people who choose to leave will be able to say goodbye, They can take whatever they wish of their belongings from the train, or leave them for those that remain behind.

The air is chilly, enough to discourage standing idle outside for too long, but not so uncomfortable, so long as people are bundled up. The sky overhead is cloudy, giving the platform an altogether dull and melancholy air. There are no new people waiting, just an empty station, and the barriers, with all that lies beyond them.

The doors will remain open as promised, so that those who wish to leave, may do so. The barriers let them through and they disappear.

[ Note: A top-level for goodbyes and leaving can be found here. ]

REMAINERS

The train, good to its word, remains for one hour before the horn toots, a warning to board if they are planning to. And this is where the first inkling of things not being right, when some who try to board the train might find themselves instead pressing their ticket to the barrier, and those who try to remain on the station - or leave through the barriers - may find themselves stood on the train, with the doors closing behind them.

It's a much smaller crew who remain as the train counts down, the usual shudder as the smoke vanishes and the kaleidoscope of the void appears. Only for a second, before the train lurches violently to the side, flinging everyone sideways before righting itself just as violently.

As people regain their feet and their wits, they will realise the obvious - they are stationed back on the platform, mist and smoke swirling around the train.

"Apologies Voidtreckers. Retrying entry to the void in ten, nine..."
Once again they are jerked into the void, and once again they tumble out. Hopefully this time, the passengers thought to brace themselves lest they get thrown across the carriage once more.

---

STUCK IN TRANSIT. Phasing back to the void seems unlikely. It's clear something has gone very wrong, but the doors remain shut, and the train remains silent. There are a few attempts over the next few days, always warned for and given a countdown, but always ending in failure.

Outside the windows, the fog swirls around, remaining thick. It seems for now, they are going nowhere; for now, they must wait.

But they needn't sit idle, with the attempts at getting back into the void having made a mess. While anything large is bolted in place, and shelving have rails to protect anything inside at normal levels of turbulence, there's still a lot that has gone flying as the train was lurched around.

It might be wise to secure anything else as well. It's clear they will be trying again to return to the void, and it might be wise to avoid having to clean up all over again.

---

SHADOWS WHO ONCE WERE. The platform outside the carriage windows is shrouded in smoke and fog, fluctuating in thickness as it swirls around the train, obscuring the view.

But those looking out of the window may spot a figure. A friend. Someone from the train; they appear, then disappear. Sometimes there are many, sometimes just one alone. Sometimes they leave together. It's not easy to see them, as they drift in and out of the fog, and visibility is bad.

They cannot hear them, or interact at all. They can only watch as more of their fellow Voidtreckers appear, vanish, appear again. The doors will not open, the train remains silent, clearly dealing with whatever problems it has ran into.

It's clear that something has gone very, very wrong.

---

A SWIRL OF REALITY. The constant entering and exiting of the void takes its toll eventually. Sleep is harder to come by, there's a general sense of disorientation as the train moves in and out of void space. It is more than just their bodies that are being bashed around, it is their minds as well.

Tempers might peak or emotions might come on stronger than they usually would. Adding in the stress of the situation, and the knowledge that those who left seem to be returning, leaving, and returning again to the platform, and passengers are unable to call out or reach to them, it's a very tense few days.

When they do sleep, their dreams are plagued by weird dreams. Not always bad, but bizarre for sure. Often they dream a dream that is not theirs.

OOC NOTES

OOC post. Ask questions here.

This is the first half of February's event. It will last between Poi 22-25 (12th to 19th February). The second half of the event will go up during 20th to 25th February (Poi 26-28) where those left behind will rescue those out world hopping.

Feel free to play out threads for as long as you like, of course! A few details:

• The train will not be responding after its first attempt to leave the station
  
• No matter what, the doors won't open.
  
• Though they can see the voidtreckers outside, those outside don't seem to be able to see them through the windows and so communication between the two groups will not be possible.
  
• Likewise their SCA comms are not working during this event.

Comments

Devero

[subcircuits]

Devero is subdued as he moves about the platform, checking in with friends, saying his goodbyes when he needs to. Sir Beepers hovers over his shoulder, maybe surreptitiously recording a little video here or there for Devero to look back on later when he's inevitably missing the friends he's made.

"I understand," he says to those leaving, and "I wish you the best" and "Take care of yourself when you get home", all the usual things you see when parting with someone for possibly the last time.

But him? Oh, he's not leaving, and if you ask him he gets a little wild about the eyes. "My home is here," he says, possibly thumbing the black and green ring on his left hand. "I'm never going back."

Devero

[springforth]

Persephone had told him how terrified she was of going home. It must be weird to see her now, dressed for ancient times with a pack thrown over her shoulder. But she doesn't give him time to make a remark. She just wraps him in a tight hug, squeezing him with a little more force than most.

[subcircuits]

He stiffens a little when she hugs him so ferociously, but only for an instant, before he wraps his arms around her in turn and hugs her back. "Be safe, Persephone," he says solemnly. "And good luck."

[springforth]

Persephone lets it linger for a long moment before she pulls back and smiles tightly. It's clear that she's been crying in the not so distant past.

"You be safe too." A pause, "I'll find someone to talk to at home. A professional who gets paid for this stuff. But thank you for talking with me. It. It really helped. And you've been very kind to me."

[subcircuits]

He smiles back, his own fairly wet and wavery. "It's been an honor to get to know you, love," he tells her. "And I'm-- I'm really glad to hear that. Thank you. A pro on your side will help you a lot more than some human on a space train can."

(How easy he finds it to put himself down, even after all the work he's done trying to patch the holes in his psyche that Valdana had put there.)

[bakegarasu]

He hesitates a minute, not sure what to say to Devero. How to thank him for being there. How to combine all of his thoughts into words that make any sort of sense.

There's no way, so he hesitates a moment longer before reaching in for a hug. It's fine. No one's going to think he's weak, not here.

"Thank you..."

[subcircuits]

And especially not this man, perhaps more than anyone else here. Devero squeezes Otoha tight before holding him out at arm's length. "Promise me you'll take care of yourself when you get back there," he says roughly.

[bakegarasu]

"I'll try." He offers the other a small smile, clapping a hand onto Devero's arm. "You take care of yourself too, all right? I'm sorry I couldn't be there for the wedding."

If they're even going to have one, but still. "Save a seat?"

[subcircuits]

He manages a smile in return, and if his eyes are a little misty, well, that's kind of what's happening right now. "Yeah," he says, his voice somehow gone even rougher. "I'll save you a seat. Promise."

Re: Devero

[knifewithnoname]

"Will you be being mad? If I do be going?"

It's quiet and subdued from the side of him. She hadn't tried very hard to be sneaky but she hadn't exactly announced her presence until that very moment.

She hasn't fully decided yet but there are people she needs to check with first. it's not a decision she can make alone.

[subcircuits]

He startles a little when she speaks from beside him. (No one ever has to be very sneaky to sneak up on Devero, in most cases.)

As soon as he realizes it's her, he pivots to face her and drops into a crouch. "I wouldn't," he tells her. "I would miss you, and I would worry about you--" Especially knowing what he knows about where she comes from. "--but I'm-- not going to keep you from doing what you think best, kiddo."

[knifewithnoname]

"I do no be knowing what do be being best. That do be being the problem."

She wished someone would just tell her what to do. She had spent a lot of the last year and a bit wishing that. But that's not how things worked on the train and it certainly wasn't how the two men she had chosen as family worked.

"I do be thinking I do be needing to be though... I do no be liking that I did be breaking a vow." It was important.

[subcircuits]

That is important, and he nods solemnly. "That seems like an good reason to choose to go home," he tells her.

[controlsthedie]

Tiny plush feet scurry across the ground only to stop upon sitting on Devero's foot. Mort squeaks up to Devero, loud and serious. Then the bean mouse nods, seemingly satisfied with whatever antic he just did. Thanatos follows not too far behind.

"You could have waited for me," Thanatos says to Mort who climbs up him to perch on his shoulder. "Devero, I'm leaving most of the healing items I bought. The crafting supplies can go to the art carriage. The books to the library. I... I know you will take care of things. Of those who remain."

[subcircuits]

It's a good thing Devero realizes Mort is on his foot before he goes and does anything foolish (like jerking that foot in reflex and launching a certain bean mouse through the air). He blinks down at Mort as the mouse squeaks at him so imperiously, his expression thoroughly bemused when he looks up at Thanatos. "I might need a translation."

He shakes it off at Thanatos speaks to him, reaching out to clap the god on the shoulder. "Copy that," he says, flattered and a little surprised that Thanatos is leaving it to him. "I-- I'll get everything distributed, no worries."

[controlsthedie]

Mort would come back and FITE with a vengeance! The battle would be glorious!

"Copy what?" Thanatos's brows knit in confusion. He hadn't said anything about copying. Did he? Was it one of those phrases that doesn't mean what is actually said?

"Good. The train will have more use of those things than I would, and I trust you to be fair and strategic when doing so." There are others Thanatos trusts like this, but Thanatos also knows for certain that Devero is staying. "I... I'm sorry I won't be at the wedding."

Re: Devero

[mtsilver_conquor]

Eva's heading home. She can't not; not when she wants to see Satoru, her family. To be there for Satoru when the Eternatus bullshit happens.

"Well, I'm just going to add you to my list of people to find away to bend space-time for."

They might not talk as much as she'd like and it's just a reminder of how much of a shitty friend she's been to everyone the last few months, between focusing on Satoru in one way or another- but she does mean it. "Or at least send you through a porygon of your own, you know?"

[subcircuits]

They've definitely drifted apart since Devero and Koumyou got their own room, which Devero finds himself regretting now that he and Eva are not going to have any further time together. Of course.

He grins crookedly at her, the expression a little bittersweet. "Works for me," he says. "I think Beepers would be thrilled to have a friend that isn't always rolling off to find socks."

Said drone, currently drifting around in cam mode, emits a little electronic trill and bobs in the air in agreement.

"...Can I say goodbye to everyone? If it wouldn't be too much trouble?"

[mtsilver_conquor]

It happens and she doesn't hold it against him. Finding happiness is important after all.

"I'll even send through all the upgrade packages with the manuals on how to program them, so..." Eva says, also meaning that. It'd be costly, but she's never been one to allow that or 'impossible' to stop her.

Talking of pokemon, too, she's already releasing Princess and Lele, while Roro zips out from her bag with a 'bzzt'.

"Of course! Pics too, if you have something Roro can send them to?"

[firewalled]

Rich is waiting at the platform, of course, backpack strapped on and guitar case slung over his shoulder, but he's been... hesitating. He doesn't even know what to really say to Devero, after all they've been through together, and after all the ups and downs they've had to weather.

He knows they're in a down, and that's what really makes him guilty here. He can't just stay on the train, not when he's been fighting so hard to get back home, but...

"I wish we had more time," he mutters, just loud enough to hear, from near Devero. He looks up to meet the older man's eyes before pupils dart off to safety. "I just, I mean... I wanted to talk to you more."

[subcircuits]

Devero turns when he hears Rich's voice, and his face softens immediately. He's not remotely surprised that Rich is going home; the boy's been clear about wanting that since the beginning. Devero knows he hasn't been adapting well to this.

"I would have liked that," he says to Rich, reaching out to grip one of his shoulders, "but I'm grateful for the time we did have."

[firewalled]

He certainly hasn't been adapting well to this kind of thing. He's not as strong as Devero, after all. And his attempts to be better usually just frustrated people... he knows that, and it makes him surprised that Devero even bothers to reach out to him.

He hesitates for a moment, before taking a deep breath and nodding. "Me too. Even if I didn't show it, I was glad to have you around."

[nutkrusher]

"Honestly? I totally get it."

She's got a black cobalt ring of her own on her finger - and a still-reddened set of eyes to match. Meanwhile her own drone companion hovers over her shoulder.

"I've got things I have to do back home. And...I still have some hope that this isn't the end of...everything. But there's a lot here I'll miss."

[subcircuits]

Sir Beepers zips up to join her drone, bouncing in the air and transmitting an invitation to play. Devero watches with a fond smile, then brings his attention back to Cassie.

The smile fades a little as he realizes the import of what he's seeing and what she's saying. "I don't think it's the end either," he says. "There's too many smart, powerful people on this train who know now that Void travel exists. Whether they're staying or going, I don't think anyone's just going to give up on the friends they've made here."

He sure won't. Still, he has to force the optimism a little bit when he adds, "Betcha we'll all be interdimensional penpals in no time."

[nutkrusher]

Emma, regrettably, is not sentient. But she is programmed to follow moving objects, and so is quickly found bouncing alongside Sir Beepers.

"That'd mean having to bet against Bulma. Not taking that bet. I've got a feeling in my heart she's going to end up putting the work into becoming my mother-in-law."