voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 17
(QUICKSAND)

BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day 1 of the month of Quicksand. Points have been updated on the system."
The voice of the Voidtrecker Express welcomes passengers at the same time as always, sometime after breakfast. With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later, as the colours of the void outside the windows blur more and more.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. The weather is cold and damp. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."
A lurch and a jolt, and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform.

ON THE PLATFORM

1. THE ARRIVAL

At first, all your character can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. But as their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform.
It is cold, a slush of ice and rain on the ground underneath their feet. It's not currently raining though. The platform is made of black cobbles, slippy under their feet, dark stone gates serving as barriers giving the impression of a severe and grim place.

They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they're one of eleven figures: all facing the tracks, and all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies, the latter in one of four colours. Purple, red, blue or orange.

But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.

The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. Ansem, Connor, Curufin, Elle Days, Freddy Fazbear, Margulis, Murderbot, Potato, Vexen, Will Stanton and Yota They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.

2. BOARDING THE TRAIN

After a short time, perhaps ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Everyone will feel a pull when they do, a need to board, and those from the train may encourage new arrivals to board. This feeling grows into one of apprehension and turns worse the longer they stay off-board.

For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.

For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.

3. DEPARTURE

Do a little exploring, if you will. But people will have half an hour total from the train's arrival before a second horn sounds, encouraging any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air to board. After five minutes from this, the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train begins to rumble with activity, and the platform starts to disappear into a fog as the voidcraft moves. A female-coded artificial voice echoes throughout the train.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. 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.

ON THE TRAIN

1. EXPLORING

With nowhere to go but through the train's carriages, this is a good time for newcomers to explore. For veterans, it's back to your everyday life aboard the Voidtrecker Express.

¤ New arrivals will notice a screen and console in every carriage sharing the same message, and a stack of leaflets in holders by them offering further information to the curious (see 'Publications'). There are lavatories available on each carriage on one end, with another console with a deposit box under it at the other. This is the train shop.

¤ It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is pineapple, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.

¤ Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. 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.

¤ At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. There are also medical kits for every one, each labelled with their full roster name. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink.

For those of Purple team who go looking for their reward they will find simple boxes of cupcakes to share out. There's a cupcake for all of purple team, even the new arrivals, share in your new team's success!

2. ACTIVITIES

But of course, there's also everything in-between those two directions, and the people in them.

¤ Areas of note will be the training gym, where there's always regulars training to pass the time. There's a training board offering services, but maybe you'll find someone who catches your eye in here. Or even its gear?

¤ Is your character used to the appliances to be found in the kitchen? Depending on when your character wanders in, they may find someone testing out a recipe, preparing for lunch, or even dinner time.

¤ The library offers a quiet place, with a fair selection of books from fiction to non-fiction. Is your character interested in learning more about the void? Picking up an action or adventure book? Wow, there sure are a few magazines.

¤ There's also media to consume, from the games car, the cinema, to the arts carriage. Ever played a virtual reality game? Wanted to learn how to fly? Have you seen a screen of moving pictures? There's now documentaries to be found in the cinema's catalogues, from How To programming, Void-related topics, and sports.

3. REST AND SLEEP

¤ Time is difficult to track in the void, even with the few clocks around showing a 21 hour time. But the windows allowing a view of the kalediscope void will shift to a pitch black once the time reaches 12, and keep for the rest of the day.

¤ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner time is usually announced by whoever's cooking that day, and when. Sometimes it's decided by the team chores; other times, it's decided by who wants to be cooking.

¤ But sleep eventually comes to all, even if they don't want it to. When 21 hours have finally passed on the train, all passengers, whether they need sleep or not, will see black - only to start a new day in their cabin beds, with the sound of the train's automated voice greeting them with a 'Good morning' message.

NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

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I. Morning - OTA

For the first time since the train's attempt to send people home, Elidibus is seen in the halls of the train in more than a fleeting pass-through. He can be caught joining others in the dining hall or pouring over the selection of books in the library and looking- in an outward sense at least- fully rested and restored. The fatigue that had plagued him has finally lifted thanks to plenty of rest.

Though for those that might look beyond the the physical, the Ascian is far from recovered from whatever events had transpired on his world to drain him so utterly of his power. How long will it take to restore what was lost? That will depend on a lot of things.

But for now, it's easy to run into him before the train's usual platform stop for the exchange of arrivals and departures. A somewhat surprising revelation in that there is no delay.

II. Platform - OTA

Usually Elidibus is among the first wave of non-departing passengers to exit the train and lingers until the last board. Something of a self-imposed responsibility to make sure the dangers of passengers interacting or clashing doesn't spill over to those uninvolved with timely shields. Or even step in to calm a panicking individual.

This time his actions are far more subdued. He appears and lingers. And yes when he realizes there's one certain individual among the new arrivals the Ascian stills in recognition. Makes sure he's noticed. But ultimately won't remain overlong.

This doesn't mean someone can't approach him, nor would he be so callous as to ignore someone truly in trouble or distress. But the man's soon to head back into the train, once the doors are open again.

III. Departure - OTA

...It's far more likely to run into Elidibus here. Whether sitting in the standard coach prior or after departure or lingering in one of the other carriages, the Ascian is making an effort to be seen. The train isn't a place where he'll be able to hide forever and too much lack of presence will cause as much problems as the tedium of keeping himself hidden.

But rarely will he be entirely alone and other than the use of transgates, no one would catch him using his usual personal method of teleportation between the various cars.

a. New passengers who look a little nervous might find him passing by, setting down a small plate of sustenance and beverage gathered from the refreshment tables (should they have not done so already). Even veteran ones might receive the treatment of a meal quietly placed before them if they are still pensive given the recent ordeals.

b. Or it might be that Elidibus takes a moment to show the workings of the ICP. A completely harmless individual; perhaps a little reserved but willing to explain things.

c. Little things all around and perhaps some personal moments where he stops by the art room to select some painting supplies or the library to return or borrow another book.

Just... quietly helpful, without any seeming ulterior motive.

IV. Wildcard

[Hit me up with an idea if none of the above prompts fit!]

[OOC: A mannequin-less transfer of this TDM thread to an IC continuation.]

The art carriage has drawn Elidibus. When it first arrived, there had been a departure which had made him remember some conversations on the nature of mortals, of their way of making art. His own memories of a time before the Sundering were still... lacking. But he's sure sometimes, even his people would turn their hand to making something without creation magic. So a number of reasons drove him to choose to explore some form of such art further.

Which leads to a visit of the carriage again on the day of the latest platform to fetch some more colors to work with. Goauche types for now, which are sorted through and picked for whatever he had in mind. And because of this he'd passed by one of the latest passengers. Despite his diminished capacity, his birthrights remained and it hadn't taken much to recognize the miqo'te as another reality's Champion. At least, when it came to the soul.

Nor had he been surprised when she recognized him or spoken his name in such a terse and intense way. Such was the nature of things.

"You'll find the roster on the ICP terminals will list passengers by their..." a pause, "...real names." Though his is listed as Elidibus, not... something else. Certainly not Ardbert is the point he's trying to make. "It may help to prevent any confusion in the future."

Edited 2022-03-02 01:13 (UTC)

While the familiar wisp of a soul's aether belonging to Elidibus- such a fleeting presence, diminished and pale. Still whole but... weak- had not been present on the arrivals platform for long, it had been enough. To recognize. To be recognized. And perhaps to lock eyes with Emet-Selch before turning away to attend some other matter.

Only a moment's acknowledgement that there would be- should be- time later to speak. Not here, in public with so many others. There isn't much room that isn't public on the train either, granted. Yet corners could be found. Quieter times without the rush of everyone speaking. A moment, somewhere for two old comrades to speak.

That place is the music coach. The upper deck's recital hall, with its stage and seating, might seem a conceit. But the reason why Elidibus had chosen to settle and wait here is the presence of the piano. One he's seated at and quietly playing. There's been time to board and experience one's first journey into voidspace. Time to learn about cabins and roommates, ICPs and rosters. To see, at least to the train's reckoning, this really is...

The Emissary speaks quietly.

"I trust you've settled in well, given the circumstances?"

The soft music doesn't stop, nor had he looked up. Diminished he might be, but still Unsundered. Still possessing that which all of their race possessed when it came to awareness of the world around them. Though the body possesses the shape and statue of one of Elidibus's many pawns over the millennia, the voice is that of the Ascian dwelling within.

Look, it's been a long day, and Zelgadis is just grateful at the moment that, while they have a new roommate, it's not Rezo. On the other hand...

"Are you singing?"

Of course, he can't have a normal roommate.

Link watched his roommate leave, but was distracted by Spark's cry. The teenager turned to look at the cat, not entirely buying the ill-timed attempt at humor.

Not at all to be precise.

"I'm sorry. I know you were friends," Link said.

"It's okay, sir. No need to apologize," Link smiled, dusting off his hoodie. "Are you new onboard?"

Zelgadis did avoid Rezo for the platform and boarding. He managed to get to some form of equilibrium once the train returned to the void. Which means that he could stop and rationally think about things.

So, he knows that this isn't Rezo's true body (or the one he got from Pocota) any more than Zelgadis's void-traveling body is his. On the other hand, Rezo seemingly hadn't expected the piece of Shabranigdu sealed within him to get caught in the soul jar with him, so that wasn't any reassurance. And he knew from talking to other people on the train that there was no guarantee that someone was taken from the same time as you were. And he'd yet to see Rezo open his eyes, which was not a good sign.

Rezo probably could hear someone come in. Who even knew if Rezo could recognize Zelgadis's footsteps (let alone that Zelgadis is lighter on his feet than he used to be), so as soon as he was close -- not quite within arm's reach but enough that he could speak quietly.

"What was the last thing you remember before showing up on the platform earlier?"

Of course, he's not going to start with greetings; he wants this conversation to be as short as possible. And Rezo should recognize his voice, even if he hadn't noticed the roster.

"Where I come from, if you wake up in some freaky dream crap and some weird blue guy walks up and asks if you want help, you're also about to have a bad time. The red guys are worse, and the guy with the black eyes is the worst, but the blue ones," A simple gesture with his hands, along with a slight shrug of the shoulders- dismissive, in a way. His face didn't show it much- Chiss emotions tended to trend subtle compared to those of other species- but his tone at least had a smidge of humor to it, "Mm. Well. You know?"

The needle was pocketed for now, and as he didn't particularly felt like dodging any blows that looked like they'd hurt judging by the size of the other man, he remained at a distance. Aden had certainly fought bigger, but he had no intentions of making any enemies if he could help it. He'd already gone weeks without really antagonizing anyone.

Not since he'd been a teenager had he been so successful at not making enemies. It was a personal record. Had the circumstances been different he would have celebrated.

"In all seriousness, unless you also speak Basic which is what I'm speaking, then you can thank our host-" Another vague gesture, this time at their surroundings to indicate that he meant the train itself, "For the ease of communication."

Aden wondered what they'd all do, if the train didn't assist in having everyone understand each other. So many worlds, so many dimensions out there. More languages than even Aden could imagine, and he could imagine a lot.

"Either that or your vibes were just so on point that they came across as universal, in which case I'll have to ask you to help me so I can do that too."

The touch, in spite of the lightness, makes him twitch. It’s not painful or inappropriate but right now, his nerves feel peculiarly raw.

“Rezo.” The introduction is terser than would be ideal. He turns away and begins to carefully pick his way towards the train door- he can get a good sense of where the train is and where the openings are from the air currents and the way the ambient sounds bounce (or don’t) off of surfaces, but surreptitious poking with the end of his staff helps him find gaps between the platform and the door.

More cheerfully, he speaks. “Is the apology because the danger doesn’t merit the ominousness, or because they do? Forgive me, but I haven’t the faintest idea what is going on.”

"Hey, I take baths; no fleas or seman-ticks on me. And I am a Deegan, so it is impossible to not make these jokes. I mean, Dominic's spent his whole life fighting against it and he's half as bad as the rest of us, especially when he hasn't had enough rest." Kitty smirk as his tail twitched.

He missed home. And The people there. And Chat Noir. And... now Curufin.

Why was he constantly pulled away from his best pun buddies?

He had to play the role.

Time to see how good an actor he actually was.

"Curufin bought me fish every platform, a whole crate! I'm gonna starve!"

The first part was true. Well, most platforms. The second part they both knew was unlikely. The implication that he was only upset because of the fish... that was the act.

Thankfully he could put a lot of emotion into whining about fish.

I don't know how much tagging out I'll be able to do this platform given RL work stress, but Thanatos will introduce himself as one of two point people for Red (with the other being Otoha) and answer questions. He'll also explain what kind of missions the Red Team gets and assure them that if they disagree with participating that they are free to choose to be with a different team or not participate at all. There is no consequence.

And then he'll ask that they will still help with Red chores because the team is small. Please help. 8(

He bounced up to land on the new person's shoulder. "There should be some, I hope," he said with a small whimper and wide kitty eyes.

OK, at least the person approaching him looked normal enough. Bruno relaxed just a tad, if only because the backpack made backing against the wall harder than expected. But he made no move to try and rejoin the crowd proper. "You sure about that?", he asked gesticulating in the general direction of people in the crowd as he mentioned them. "I mean, there's a giant spider over there, and a bunch of people who're colors I know people aren't supposed to be. And then there's the people with cat-ears, the guy with horns.... And did I mention the giant spider?" Because there was very much a giant spider.

Edited 2022-03-02 01:30 (UTC)

"He bought me fish. And liked my puns." Even in combat.

Link nodded. "I know that's important to you."

"Yep." Totally down playing the actual emotion. Hiding it. "Would you Bend me up a crate to get me through the month....?" Kitty eyes.

"Maybe. If you're sad."

Rezo had heard someone come in but of course, he hadn’t fully registered it until he noticed the footsteps coming closer. Somewhat irritated about the idea of being potentially interrupted he kept attempting to read, until the person spoke.

The footsteps were no longer familiar but the voice…

“Zelgadis.” Rezo shuts the book and puts it aside. When he stands to face Zelgadis, his expression is a small, stern frown that Zelgadis likely knows all too well.

“So you are here as well.”

He hopes that Zelgadis is discreet enough not to cut him down right away. It would be dreadful if they got blood on the books and furniture.

"Answer the question."

Fortunately for Rezo, Zelgadis has been on the train long enough to know that no one dies for good here, so he would just gain a day of peace and then a bunch of questions that he couldn't escape from given the train wasn't likely to stop for days. That and even when Zelgadis was a chimera, he couldn't beat Rezo in a straight-up fight given Rezo's magic. His greatest asset would be a surprise attack, which he'd lost by speaking up.

"What is the last thing you remember?"

So you were a healer in your own world as well.

[Rezo returns to examining the room, although he keeps his ears open for the young man’s voice. Rezo’s fingertips slowly and lightly trace the edges of furnishings, reasonably confident that this person will say something if he’s about to touch anything dangerous- though Rezo can generally tell if he’s about to touch anything sharp or hot before any real damage is done.]

Do you get many patients?

It was a relief to hear that Kitty was still around although, if she'd wanted to go home he really wouldn't blame her. He took a took a breath to calm his nerves and then nodded. And then paused. And stared.

That was a lot to process.

"Guess it's a good thing I missed that 'cause last I was in my universe I was on my way to fight a genocidal manic and I was told the fight did not go well. But that hasn't happened for me yet so maybe things will play out differently." He sure hopes so because the idea of losing Mr Stark is not something he wants to dwell on for long and if he can find someway to stop it, of course he will.

"Anyway um.. is everyone okay?"

“Why is that your first concern?”

Even as he’s being evasive, Rezo does think back to his last moments: Sending Posel back with the last of his power, then letting himself fade out piece by piece. He does not think he could bring himself to properly explain it.

Better to try and find out Zelgadis’s motivation, so that he knows how best to answer.

Peter makes a face at the sudden spillage of what looks like a bunch of lunch boxes but is this really what he should be focusing on? Probably not.

"Yeah, it's a little slippery." He points out the obvious.

And, because he can't not ask- "Do you need some help?"

"People don't always show up from the same time. I'm trying to place what I'm dealing with. And what I know that you won't."

Rezo both recognizing Zelgadis's voice and not questioning why Zelgadis was so curt and angry at Rezo meant it couldn't be longer than a handful of years. Damn the man for not visibly aging.

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Page 7 of 88

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

Elidibus | Final Fantasy XIV | OTA (with some closed prompts)

IV. Art Car Redeux - Closed to Pahja

IV. Reunion, Music Carriage - Closed to Emet-Selch

Sleeper Upper 3, Cabin C

Seeing them off

Exploring

Book Stacking

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Re: Seeing them off

Thanatos greeting Reds

Re: Role call.

Re: Arrival

Re: Seeing them off

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Re: Seeing them off

the long-awaited happy fun family reunion time

Re: the long-awaited happy fun family reunion time

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