voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post May]

A New Platform [Intro Post May]

PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 18
(RABBIT)

BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Rabbit. 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 hot and dry.. 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 indeed hot and dry. The dirt packed ground of the platform was cracked and dusty. The air hazy and shimmery if they looked through the fog. The sun blazes down from above, not much shade to be found.

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 Eight 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 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. A-Qing, Joseph Kavinsky, Ken Amada, Kumoko, Mina Mongoose, Naoya, Peter Parker, Ronan Lynch, Senku Ishigami, The Iron Bull, Yosuke Otoha Zenos yae Galvus
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, about 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.

a. 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.

b. 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 mushrooms, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.

c. 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.

d. 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. 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 interested in what the reward for Purple team was, they will find boxes of cookies

DEPARTURE

Spend your time exploring, if you will. But people will have half an hour 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.

NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

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Yes! Pleased, Esteban leans back and slightly away from the table, a grin perched on his lips like a purring cat's. He's still not looking forwards to dealing with the ICP, but at the very least, he'll have something to look forwards to on the next platform! He can't help a bit of mischievous laughter that escapes him at Inigo's mention.

"As opposed to when I get an idea? Or a project? Or a new thing to learn?" He's not blind to his own enthusiasm, after all; but please, give him credit where credit is due. He is a force of nature, period. Even if sometimes, all he can do is toss himself at a problem, like a ball against a wall, to try and fix things. But he will always give it his best. He must always give it his best.

"All I wanna do is bring a bit of happiness to ev'ryone around me." It's the only thing he can do. "So apple pies an' chocolate chip cookies, an' cloud candy! Bit by bit, I'll get somewhere!" He grins. He doesn't have a goal for this-- not really. Just... just a hope. Just something to give.

Oof. Maybe he shouldn't have framed it like that though-- but the words are already out of his mouth, and he has to hide a wince. He's not... pressuring Inigo again, is he? He's careful to watch his companion from the corner of his eye, taking another bite out of the pie he'd semi-abandoned since.

Still looking half-flustered, Inigo's raises his hands, almost like in a gesture of surrender.

"Alright, mister constant force of nature."

There you go, pal. Getting credit where it's due - because Inigo sure isn't going to deny the fact that Esteban truly is always enthusiastic on a level that normal human beings can't reach. He's a little like Owain in that regard, Inigo thinks, or maybe Cynthia. Those two were always too much for him to keep up with either, dragging everyone around them in with their energy.

"Just.. know you're great either way, alright?" Inigo lowers his hands, smiling at the other. Awkwardly tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear, perhaps so his hand can momentarily hide the flustered blush that won't quite disappear just yet. It's always hard to get rid of, in Inigo's experience. "I know you just do stuff for others since it's how you are, but.. even if you weren't constantly doing stuff for others, you'd still be great."

There's a slight pause, and then he shrugs.

"Not--.." He lingers on the word, but continues: "--that I think you're worried about that. Just wanted to make sure someone told you anyway."

Because everyone should always hear compliments from other people. That's Inigo's belief. So why not give Esteban right now, while the other is force-of-naturing all over him here?

The gesture catches his attention, something about it that makes him think too much or too little and Esteban has to glance away before he says or does something stupid. (A rather impossible goal, but one that he will only admit to himself.) He's too conscious of his friend, and he has to stop looking, so he turns back to the apple pie he's slowly chipping at when what Inigo is saying even registers.

Um. What?

"Where did that come from?" He's not upset per say, it's just-- he hadn't expected, well, anything like that, and he's caught flat-footed, blue eyes wide in his confusion.

He must have skipped a step or something, because he really doesn't see what's so great about... any of this? And Inigo telling him it's not because he's willing to do things for others-- an utterly selfish act on his part, not selfless-- but that he's still be great even without it is, um. He's not catching on.

He leans backwards again, trying to piece things together, but it's like fitting a triangle out of square tiles. He gives up on this, shaking his head from side to side, but it's not that he didn't hear.

"It's just 'cause I have you guys 'round me." If he's great, if he's anything at all right now, other than lost and sinking, it's because of them. "You an' Tidus an' Romeo an' Amaya an' Allen--" Each one of them. Every single one of them. They give so much more to him than he could tell.

"You've helped me out a lot." He smiles this time, relaxed and happy, and he is just a tad upset that Inigo isn't within immediate range so that he could lean on him again, and share the comfort that he's being given. He'd missed having others to care for.

Inigo laughs, shaking his head. "I was just saying!"

He can't help but add as much in the face of what he's staring at right now. Esteban looking completely baffled by what he was just saying, like Inigo suddenly started speaking a different language altogether. What Esteban says though shows that the other definitely did hear what Inigo just said - it's just that he's surprised by it.

Which he shouldn't have to be, Inigo thinks. Esteban's kindness is as clear as day to anyone. It shows even in what the other says after the confusion fades a little. Acting like this is all natural, even though there are plenty of people with friends who still opt to be cruel to others.

His smile turns into something faintly more teasing. Maybe he's just glad to have turned these tables around a little for once, since usually Inigo is the one getting teased and flustered..

"Or are you saying I'm not allowed to give you compliments?" The teasing tone is even audible in his voice.

Oh no.

Oh no, Inigo don't do this to him.

He's trying to behave; trying to stop looking and paying too much attention and-- and--

The laughter is enough to shatter all of his good intentions away, always pleased to hear the sound, just because for a moment-- a tiny shard of time-- his friend is happy. Or happier at least. Esteban's managed to share something bright, he's managed to give a tiny gift, no matter how small, and he can't just not pay attention when Inigo smiles.

But he was not prepared.

There's something about the way his eyes are slanted just ever so, and the corners of his lips are so delicately lifted, that absolutely wrecks any chance he's had at trying to form a thought. He's silent for a beat, feels the rush of blood splay colours high against his neck, the tip of his ears and-- 'Dians, it might even be noticeable across his cheeks this time around.

"Oh!" His hand comes to ruffle his hair at the back of his head, trying his hardest to dissipate the warmth that is plaguing across his skin, but Esteban smiles, wide as he can, before leaning his elbow onto the table, casual as can be. His chin is gently dropped into his palm, eyes narrowed and the curve to his lips confident and crooked.

"I never refuse compliments from handsome guys~" There's an easy wink with his flirt, something he didn't even give a single thought to just as long as he managed something.

...

No! Anything but that! Oh, Dead Guardians in a Ditch, that's it, he's ready to get flung out the train, thanks. Those windows that don't open are really inconvenient, aren't they?

Edited 2022-06-01 02:32 (UTC)

It is - apparently - Esteban's lucky day. Because Inigo was just joking and teasing only a moment ago, which means that absolutely any edge of something else that there might be to the other's tone is flying about fifteen miles right over Inigo's head. Instead the other just seems amused more than anything by the back and forth.

As illustrated by the fact that he laughs again, shaking his head before returning to taking another bite of the apple pie into his mouth. He didn't fully forget about the food! It's important!

"Alright, I think there's been enough joking around when we go all the way to the handsome department."

At least his tone doesn't seem self-deprecating, though his words might be. Instead Inigo still seems pretty happy and amused.

"Just didn't expect you to have an entire reaction like that to me saying something nice! You say nice stuff to me all the time."

No that's not-- yes, he likes flirting with Inigo, but this was-- he hadn't thought about it, and it had not been sincere!

Not that he doesn't find Inigo handsome (quite the opposite), but his companion had been so honest with him, and just, simply, stating things the way he saw them that Esteban's flirt feels misplaced and awkward. He said something out of line again, and though his friend is only laughing about it, it doesn't mean that he's satisfied with himself for butchering it so bad.

'Dians, Inigo, give him time to wrap his thoughts about this, just a bit, please.

"Uh--" Nice stuff? Excuse him, he doesn't recall. An occasional flirt, yes. A blundered conversation where he tries to be uplifting and somehow manages to be an absolute moron, also. But nice?

Eventually, he'll find his footing again, but it is absolutely not now, and Esteban has to lift an eyebrow as he cautiously responds.

"You're welcome?" He's not trying to be nice; he just tries his best at being as honest as he can. Sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes he says things that hurt rather than heal. Sometimes he says things simply as he sees them...

The same way Inigo just has, really.

His ease is returning, if a little slower, but it lifts the corners of his mouth in a delicate smile while he leans away, flirtiness forgotten. He stays quiet for a bit, pondering how to approach this but he suspects that being direct is just simply the best step to take. Just the same way that his companion had done.

The communication lines are all tangled up here, that's clearly the problem.

Because to Inigo the other's answer - that awkward, half-confused 'you're welcome?' just reads as Esteban being confused to him, but not for the right reasons. He just thinks that it's got to mean that the other is so naturally nice that he can't even see it for something as special as it is.

It's not like he'd be the first type Inigo has met like that by now though. He's used to it, and so it doesn't seem to take away from his amusement in the slightest while he's just enjoying his food here.

"I think it's easier if you just eat," he says, still smiling. "You look like you might just shut down entirely if you get more confused than you already are now."

And we don't want any steam coming out of Esteban's ears from how overworked his poor brain is. Just accept the compliment, Esteban! Don't think about it too hard!

"Like I'd let that stop me." Mischief sparks in his eyes as he holds onto this much.

He really should stop, for everyone's sanity, but he's feeling more settled now, more on top of things, so he can banter a bit back with his friend instead of taking his suggestion. Besides, he's decided now, and it's not a bit of confusion that's going to slow him down, not when what he has to say is so important.

He just needs to be able to say it.

"Thanks, Inigo." There! That's a start! "You know y're precious to me, right?" Its not the first time that he uses the term, but it's true. Oh! Is this what Inigo means by being nice? That's not being nice, that's Esteban being truthful!

His grin widens when he seems to catch on, at least a bit, what his friend is trying to tell him, and Esteban runs with it.

"Y're patient, an' carin'," please, dealing with Esteban on a daily basis deserves a medal, pure and simple. "An'--" here, he falters, uncertain if he's allowed to say much more, but he can't just let it go silent. There has to be a way that he can speak the truth without hurting his friend. "An' you're very brave."

It falls too short of what he wants to say; that to keep trying beyond the pains Esteban has only gotten a tiny glimpse of-- he can't quieten it. He can't keep it silent. "An' you're strong." He doesn't mean by the path of the blade.

"I'm proud t' be your friend." Hmm. He might be pushing it a bit; he's happy enough to claim that friendship on his side, but Esteban is aware that he's got this tendency to get attached to people, maybe too quick, maybe too fast. He's unrepentant, but hopes Inigo doesn't mind the term.

"Heh. This is exactly what I mean!"

Apparently Inigo doesn't seem bothered by the friend term at all here. Really, it would have been stranger if Esteban hadn't called him a friend.. If anything, the only thing about what the other is saying that seems to drag a different reaction out of Inigo, slightly making his cheeks light up, are all those compliments getting fired off at him in such rapid succession.

It's.. a lot! But he's dealing! Or trying to, anyway. He can kind of hide his fluster behind the food he's eating here, even though it's rapidly dwindling now..

"That's exactly what I mean when you say you're nice! Do you think a whole lot of people bother to tell me that?" Inigo shakes his head.

Certainly not back home, that's for sure.

"It's something only nice people go out of their way to say."

"Then y're a nice person too~" he adds, because Inigo literally gave him that one, and he's not above adding more to his list. "An' you should hear it more of'en~" Esteban makes a mental note of that, though he's not sure if he'll manage. He loves his friends, but it always seems to him that showering people with compliments has a time and place.

Not.. that this has stopped him before. He'll find ways; he absolutely will.

But for now, he's content to simply snatch up another bite of his pie, tracking down what he intends to do today, his grin returning. There's aimless chatter at the back of his throat again, something simple and easy to fill the silence, about the wind in the weather carriage and how it reminds him of the saltgrass seas, the sound that it made as it wailed across the flatlands.

He's a good storyteller, really, and he can hope that Inigo gains comfort from his presence, the way Esteban does when he's around his friend.

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A New Platform [Intro Post May]

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I- your icon is Perfect for this, II- I desperately wish I had a cute Esteban panic icon rn

it's okay, all esteban icons are already cute ones!!

slowly but surely commissioning more~

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