voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post July]

Entry tags:

A New Platform [Intro Post July]

PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 19
(SYMPHONY)

BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Symphony. 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 cool with light rain. 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 a small platform, a dusty strip of concrete next to the tracks. The barrier is at the far end, housed in a brick shelter. The sky is dark with clouds and the air is damp. A fine drizzle falls, not heavy at all but they will find their clothes quickly become damp.

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 are alone: facing the tracks.

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. 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. Altair Kallig, Aya Brea, Darth Nox, Eli Vanto, Elizabeth, Shen Qingqiu, Soma Cruz, Thrawn. 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 broccoli, 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 curious about the reward for Purple Team they will find it here

SOME MISCHIEF

Those exploring the train will find that some passengers have been busy in the kitchens. Three bowls of hard candies are out for display, each labelled with a placard. All are free for the taking.

Energise! Provides an extra boost of energy.

Refresh! Like dipping tired feet into a cool spring.

Calm! Allowing you to start relaxing, like a prelude to meditation.

Energise is a red coloured candy that tastes faintly sweet. When eaten it provides about five hours worth of extra energy. This may lead to characters bouncing off walls, being easily distracted, being extra curious, or blurting out whatever comes to mind, including their feelings for other Voidtreckers. When combined with the Calm candy, a character's focus is increased, though they may feel more inclined to try new things or take new risks or chances.

Refresh is a green coloured candy that tastes faintly salty. With rivigourating divine energy within the candy, those who take it will feel mildly euphoric and floaty, bubbling, or otherwise happier. Literal floating of under a metre off the ground is possible while traveling the void, as well as having characters turn into small eastern styled dragons for about an hour. When combined with the Energise candy, characters may find they're capable of limited flight in the void. They may also find themselves as a tiny dragon with an obsessive focus on something small or silly, lasting as long as their dragon transformation, so about an hour.

Calm is a blue coloured candy that tastes faintly floral. This candy aids with rest and slowing down an overbusy mind. There's a side effect of grogginess after it wears off that grows proportionate to how many candies are consumed. Combined with Refresh candy, characters will find themselves more inclined toward open discussions, forgiveness and letting go, or engaging with people in ways they'd usually inhibit themselves from. So yes, a bit like being gently buzzed, with no hangovers.

DEPARTURE

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

Thank you to Rakel (player of Lan Jingyi) for the enchanted candy mischief. Any questions about those should be directed to them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Her hands lingered, fingertips gently brushing along the fur and scales of his back with a curious gentleness. She had never seen a dragon so tiny, nor one without wings and a body shaped as this one was.

"Oh? I have not partaken of any. I suppose that is good." Lest they both be turned into dragons. "Presuming this was indeed done in jest...surely it cannot last long." Right?? "Precious as you are in this form, I would much prefer you as a man."

The agitated swishing of his tail slows as Lior brushes at his back. It feels nice; Rezo can’t help but lean into her fingers even as he mulls over his current predicament.

“I only tried one of them,” Rezo recalls. “The middle bowl, the one labeled ‘Refresh.’ They had a slightly salty taste.” If nothing else, the information may help Lioriley to avoid getting herself turned into a tiny dragon.

He rather hopes that Lioriley is correct about the spell not lasting long. Still… “If there isn’t a time limit on this enchantment, then perhaps I could try using a Flow Break. Or maybe a Detoxify, since it was ingested-”

-Precious?

Rezo tilts his head up towards her. “Precious?” he echoes.

She noted it, and would be sure not to eat any of the offered candies. She would probably do well to warn others of the same, once she was confident her lover wasn't going to remain a tiny dragon for the rest of his days aboard the train.

"Hm?" She hummed, fingers still gently rubbing along his back. "Yes. You look very cute like that." She realized as she said it that that probably wasn't what he wanted to hear, proud man that he was, but it was true! Lioriley chuckled. "Sorry, darling."

Rezo huffs a little, trying to hide his embarrassment. It isn’t as if he’s been actually insulted, and objectively he can understand why she would think that; he thinks small things are cute himself! It’s just… a very strange word to apply to him. He doesn’t think anyone has actually called him that once in his entire life! Admittedly, he has never been turned into a small creature before either.

“...My adorableness aside,” Rezo says, “Would you mind assisting me with something? I think my clothing should be nearby, and I do not think it would be wise to leave it lying around.”

If asked, Lioriley would admit that this was not the only time she had thought him to be cute. When they were alone, whispering endearments to one another and kissing in the quiet car, she had thought that was precious, too. Given his response to this, maybe it was best she had kept such commentary to herself.

"Ah, yes. I saw it when I arrived. that is what bid me to search for you." Then, a bit of consideration had her coming to the conclusion that he wasn't just running around naked, and that the little dragon nearby had to be him. "May I pick you up?"

Technically he is running around naked, but he can be excused on the grounds that he’s a small creature with no improper bits visible right now.

Lioriley’s question, unsurprisingly, makes Rezo hesitate. But it would be an improvement over hiding in the pottery until the situation resolves itself. It’s not as if this would be his first time being carried around either. And if she’s holding him, she might keep petting him…

“You may,” he says at last. He shuffles a little on his feet, not sure how best to facilitate her picking him up, but willing to cooperate.

Lioriley tried not to seem too eager to pick up and cuddle her dragon-boyfriend, and carefully tucked her hands under him, lifting him up as she stood and pulling him against her chest; ending up with her cradling him like a cat in the crooks of her elbows. As he may have hoped, one hand moved to gently stroke along the top of his head, hoping that the motion would calm him if he still was a bit fidgety about his new form.

"Comfortable?" She asked, waiting for his reply before stepping toward the pile of clothes he had left behind.

Rezo has used levitation spells and such before, but those make for a very different sensation than feeling a pair of palms, as big as a pair of couch cushions, tuck their way underneath him and lift him into the air. His limbs, torso, tail, are all gently moved and arranged until he finds himself pressed up against the warm surface of her chest and cradled in her arms. Which, at his current size, feels a little like a large and cozy pillow nest.

“Yes,” he admits. He is comfortable. Alarmingly comfortable, despite the way his heart flutters at the… everything, about his current situation. He’s not going to fall asleep in her arms but he is finding himself going limp. And again, it’s a little embarrassing, but… It’s Lioriley, and it’s hard not to let her cuddle him however she wants.

(This really isn’t how he expected today to go.)

Lioriley gave him a few seconds to adjust, and when she felt the faint hint of his weight settling atop her arms, she started moving in earnest toward the pile of clothes she had spotted not too far away. She hadn't heard anyone else enter, and even if they had she doubted anyone would be stealing clothes. Probably.

"What would you like me to do with them?" She asked, spotting the familiar red cloak still in the same heap it had been in earlier. "Better yet- where would you like me to take you once your things are gathered?" Given that he would clearly be naked when - if? - he transformed back, he probably didn't want to be out in public.

It’s a little disconcerting, again, when Lioriley starts moving. He can feel the sway of her body while she carries him in her arms like this. However, Rezo adjusts quickly- it’s a little like lying in a hammock, or being on a boat.

“My ticket should be with my clothes,” Rezo says. “It will allow us access to my cabin, and we can take everything back there.”

It will be an ideal place to leave his clothes, and probably Rezo himself for that matter. Even if his roommates are still hanging out there at this time of day, they will probably be relatively understanding of the whole ‘look, I turned into a tiny dragon’ issue, especially if Rezo isn’t the only one suffering from it.

“If you’ll excuse me…”

Since Lioriley will presumably need at least one of her hands free for this, Rezo climbs up her arm as carefully as he can manage, and grips her sleeve over her shoulder.

Not for the first time, Lioriley wished they had more private chambers. It would be so easy to gather his things and whisk him off to a room where she could close the door, lock it, and snuggle with him until he transformed back and all was normal once more.

Alas. They slept apart still. So with a faint huff that Rezo probably heard, close as he was, she patiently waited for him to switch positions; crouching down only once her hands were free to rifle through his clothes pockets for the ticket.

The item found, she folded up his clothes and slipped the lanyard holding his ticket around her neck, standing slowly with her free hand reaching up to lightly pat Rezo on the back. "I have your things, if you would like to get comfortable in my arms again."

Rezo ends up balancing almost entirely on Lioriley’s shoulder and upper arm, and it’s a measure of how small he currently is that that’s possible. (Although if Lioriley moves suddenly enough, she may feel tiny pinpricks from Rezo inadvertently digging in with his claws.)

As soon as she’s done and patting his back, Rezo agreeably clambers back down to settle in her arms, lodging himself between her chest and the bundle of his clothes. He has more stability down there! …And, well, it’s a very nice spot to be, stretching out with his tail sticking out over her elbow, leaning his head against her.

“Is this position suitable?” he asks, just to confirm.

Lioriley stayed as still as she could and patiently waited for him to settle; watching with a soft, amused little smile curving the corners of her mouth. He was so cute like this.

She tilted her head down to gently rest her cheek against the top of his head, nuzzling his little dragon body to her.

"Mhm." She hummed approvingly, took a few more seconds to properly cuddle him, and then reluctantly retreated so she could start walking toward the sleeper cabins. "Let us hope you do not transform back before we get there."

Rezo can’t help but nuzzle Lioriley back- her cheek is very warm and very soft and very nuzzleable. When she withdraws he ducks back down, huddling into her arms while Lioriley transports him onwards.

“That would be troublesome,” he agrees, voice slightly muffled by his position. Beyond the potential embarrassment of being naked in a public area, he might also knock Lior over depending on how the transformation back worked. He can only speculate… Although then again, he recalls something Lioriley said earlier.

“Have you encountered other people who transformed after trying the candy from the kitchen?”

"Hm?" Sorry Rezo, she was thinking about how cute you were again; snuggled up against her like a scaly cat. With any luck, maybe once he transformed back he would be inclined to continue cuddling her. Once he was dressed, of course. Ahem. "Oh, no. But I had heard mention of candies that had appeared, and given the sudden talk and you turning into a dragon...well, I just assumed they might be related. Surely it was not just some strange coincidence."

Rezo would give her a suspicious look at that distracted Hm? but it probably wouldn’t be terribly effective on his adorable little dragon face.

“It’s the only other occurrence that has been out of the ordinary today,” Rezo muses. “That and the fact that nobody new appeared on the platform today.” Which he’d overheard a bit of gossip about. “But that seems less likely to be related. At any rate, hopefully we can find other afflicted individuals we can compare notes with.”

Rezo mulls for a moment or two longer, then realizes the implications of what he just said.

“Well. Maybe not hopefully. I suppose it would be better if I were the only one afflicted.” Even if it would be more inconvenient for him, personally.

"That was rather odd." At least one person arrived each time since she had been present, and so far as she knew from records: every time before that as well. Was the revelation of the train's history making things more complicated somehow? Was it the world eater? Who could say.

She gently ran her hand along his furry back, nodding absently as he spoke. "I will be on the lookout for any small dragons and discarded clothing." She said, "Though given how word spread of the candy so quickly, I doubt you are the only one in such a predicament."

“Right…” He murmurs, almost equally distracted when her hand runs down his back, and he very nearly purrs. This rather successfully derails his train of thought, and Rezo is quiet for a few moments while he arches into her touch. Her hand feels impossibly nice, and he realizes with some bemusement that his predicament has felt like somewhat less of a predicament ever since Lioriley picked him up.

He should probably be more appalled with himself, but he’s a small dragon at the moment. A small, blind dragon. Surely it’s reasonable for him to let her carry him back to his room and pet him for a little longer.

“I wonder if this is how cats feel.”

Given such a delightful response and no outward objection, Lioriley continued to run her hand along his back, and even went to far as to lightly scratch behind one of his ears and the top of his head.

His comment had her giggling again, and it took everything in her not to nuzzle the top of his head again. Like that would help him retain any sense of dignity while she was petting him.

"Perhaps. You seem to be enjoying yourself." A beat. She debated a joke, and wondered if she could even make it sound funny enough. "Doubtful you wish for me to scratch behind your ears when you change back, however."

Rezo can not only hear Lioriley giggling but, in the position he’s in, can feel the vibrations of it through her chest. It leaves him with a warm sense of satisfaction while she gently scratches his head and behind his ears.

“This is an improvement over hiding in the flower pots,” Rezo concedes. He huffs, somewhere between amused and embarrassed, at her subsequent joke.

“Or perhaps when I change back and have normal hands again, I scratch behind your ears?” he suggests.

"I should hope so." He had looked so confused and frightened nestled between the flower pots. She was glad she had found him when she did, lest he have to suffer through his transformation alone - or worse, with someone he did not trust.

It was her turn to be embarrassed, her eyes wide and her cheeks warming at the thought of his hands scratching over her very sensitive ears. "Oh - I. Um." Words hard. Suddenly. "Well, I would not be opposed, but I would not advise that in public."

That hesitation is surprising. Rezo lifts his head, not disguising his puzzlement. Lioriley doesn’t seem exactly distressed by his remark- she’d outright said she wasn’t opposed- but her phrasing makes it sound like she’s concerned about the propriety of it. Which, Rezo supposes it would be an odd thing to notice someone doing in public, but it’s not as if Lioriley is normally all that concerned about PDA- note the way she’s cuddling him right now- and…

Obviously, he’s missing something, so Rezo asks, cautiously, “Why is that?”

Is this some sort of taboo in Lunari culture he was hitherto unaware of??

Despite knowing full well he couldn't see her expression, nor the flush of violet across her cheeks, Lioriley still kept her head slightly turned from him as if to hide her embarrassment.

"Uhm." She took a quick look around as she stepped into another car, and only once assured no one was nearby, lowered her voice to a whisper. "My ears are quite...sensitive, you could say."

“...Oh?”

Enlightenment has dawned. Rezo stretches out one of his paws to gently pat at Lioriley’s arm in a reassuring manner.

“I understand. I shall be very discreet with the information you have entrusted with me,” he promises. ‘Discreet’ of course, not precluding him doing some experimentation at the first available opportunity. Just not in public, as she says.

She only seemed to fluster more at that, her mind now filled with images of Rezo tenderly holding her face in his hands and rubbing behind her ears. Her steps quickened. They weren't far from his room now - and she really hoped his cabinmates weren't in when they arrived.

"I appreciate it, darling." She murmured, tipping her head to gently nuzzle the top of his head with her cheek.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject