voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post July]

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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

A slow warmth spreads through his chest at Lioriley’s admission. How can she still like him so well? He cannot understand it, and yet she keeps saying such sweet things that leave him feeling lighter, leave him with a smile on his face.

Rezo lets her hand go in favor of moving it towards her ear, not quite touching it yet in case he’s on the wrong track, but…

“You said these were sensitive?”

He’s curious about exactly how sensitive her ears really are. And unless she has any complaints, he’ll proceed to slide his fingers up along the top of her ear, feeling out the long, high point of it, then sliding down to stroke the soft skin behind her ear.

Oh. Oooh. Had had meant literally returning the favor. The closer Rezo's fingers drew to her ear, the more her breath seemed to quicken; her leylines pulsing rapidly even when he ghosted over the shell.

"They- they are, and I - ahhh." It wasn't so much a complaint as it was a poor, halfhearted attempt at a warning. Too little too late however, because the moment his hand slid up the length of her ear and dipped below it, she was ready melting in his grasp. The hand on his chest gripped tight to his robes, glad that she had pressed so close if only so she would not fall when her body began to shake. "R-Rezo..." this was a dangerous game to play when anyone could walk in.

…Evidently they are very sensitive. Even with her warnings, Rezo is stunned at the way she almost immediately melts into him and the tremor in her voice when she says his name. His grip on her waist tightens as he wraps his arm fully around her.

“Is this alright, Lioriley?” he asks, his voice quiet. And at the same time he continues to explore the shape of her ear, feeling out each dip and curve, discovering the various spots where her leylines beat under the skin. And when his fingers again slip behind her ear he does, true to his promise to return the favor, tease her with some light scratching.

Strange as it was to have her lover scratching behind her ear like she was some sort of cat, Lioriley was too lost in the sensations to even be remotely upset about it (as if she would be anyway.) Instead she continued to shiver, fingers flexing in the fabric of his robe, eyelids fluttering.

"Y-Yes, I mean I - perhaps we should not...do this here." She didn't want him to stop, but she also didn't want someone walking in and seeing her knees shake while he held her against his chest so.

With her pressed up against him like this, Rezo can easily feel each quiver that goes through her body when he runs his fingers and nails around her ear. He wants to keep going, wants to draw out more responses from her. But he shouldn’t-

Almost as overwhelmed as she is, Rezo bends down to press a kiss against the top of her forehead. His hand stills against her ear, and he tilts his head to murmur in her other: “Should I stop, Lioriley?”

Yes, he should. And yet all Lioriley could offer in reply was a soft gasp and another series of shivers that would have had her collapsing into a heap were he not holding her so tightly.

"...I do not want you to." She whispered after she found the strength to do so, "But this is not very private, my love."

“I know,” he admits, and presses another kiss to her ear. He probably should have stopped the moment she started melting into him, but he keeps thinking just a little more… Surely they haven't done anything too bad yet, have they?

“You are far too enticing,” he adds; as if she was the one running her fingers along his weak spot.

He sinks back, seating himself upon his bed and pulling Lioriley along with him to sprawl out on his lap.

A little more and she truly would have melted into a puddle upon the floor, her legs still shaking, her cheeks warm, her leylines bright and pulsing quicker and quicker the longer he toyed with her ears.

"Aahhh..." She replied uselessly, sighing as she fell into his lap, still dizzy from the sensations. Instead of trying to form words in that moment, she opted instead to lean up and kiss him.

Rezo makes a soft noise of pleasure when he feels her lips go to his, and he returns the kiss eagerly. It’s different from when they’ve shared kisses in the past. Previously, he’d been relatively chaste and restrained, more than happy just to share simple tokens of affection and playful little pecks. Now, he kisses her with his lips parted, teasing at her mouth with his teeth and tongue, hungry for something deeper, something less pure. His hands press at her firmly, holding her in place against him while she receives his affections.

That might have been worse than the teasing of her ear, but Lioriley didn't dare to pull back; her hand resting on his cheek and the other wrapped around his shoulders, gripping tight to the robe she now almost — almost — wished he hadn't put back on at all. After a few seconds of lashing tongues and nips of teeth against lips, she pulled back just enough to inhale a deep breath.

"You are tempting me so, darling."

Rezo’s expression is nothing short of plaintive when Lioriley withdraws, but he lets her do so and settles both arms around her waist. His mind is spinning with thoughts about pulling down the straps that hold up her skirt, pulling her down onto the bed, moving his hands and mouth down her body lower, and lower… Rezo shivers.

“I’m sorry,” he says. It’s… relatively sincere. He doesn’t regret what they’ve been doing, but at the same time he knows they really shouldn’t be doing this. At least, not here and not now.

"Do not be." She said, shifting in his lap so she could rest her head on his shoulder, nose pressed to the column of his neck. "I adore your touch, my love. And I wish for more of it - but if someone were to return to their room..." 'someone' being his roommates, obviously. "Well. Let me simply say that I would prefer we were not interrupted."

Rezo’s nerves are all alight with his awareness of her and his need for deeper stimulation, but taking slow, even breaths helps him stay calm. Well, a little. Enough to let him lean against her and keep himself from mauling the poor woman.

Although said woman admits she wouldn’t exactly mind being mauled. Rezo can’t help but continue to be awed by that.

“You would still want me, even knowing…?” He falters, unsure of how to put it delicately.

She frowned, the furrowing of her brows likely felt with her face pressed to the side of his neck. Even knowing what? All that he had told her before - all that he had admitted, tearfully and begging for forgiveness? What did that have to do with anything? Had she not made it abundantly clear that she did not blame him, or think him a cruel monster; but instead a man who had made many, terrible mistakes, and seemed to at least regret that he had?

"My heart," she began, lifting her head slowly, a hand on his cheek. "If I did not, do you think I would be here still?" Probably, yes, as a friend, but she wouldn't have gone this far if she didn't wish to be with him still. "Do you doubt that?"

“I…” Rezo considers her words. Really considers them. Lioriley is, to put it gently, the sort of person who would put another’s wants before her own, so it’s not necessarily a stretch that she’d put her own feelings aside to care for someone.

But she is also an honest woman, and he cannot picture her feigning attraction out of misplaced pity. Even trying to picture it makes his skin crawl; she could never be so cruel.

“No,” he admits, “If I think about it for even a moment, I cannot doubt you.”

It’s just somewhat difficult for him to reconcile this with his own understanding of himself and his desirability.

She wouldn't be able to feign attraction if she did not feel it. That would be too cruel to him, to lead him on and believe something that was not true. And the last thing she ever wanted to do was to hurt him.

Her thumb gently stroked over his cheek, her head tilting to press a kiss to his lips. "I love you, Rezo. And I promise that I want you- in anyway you will allow me to."

Rezo shivers with suppressed want again when she kisses him. In lieu of pulling her back for another feverish kiss, he tightens his arms around her and tilts his head into her shoulder.

“...I don’t understand why me,” he mutters. He knows what he has to offer as a scholar, as a healer, as a sorcerer, but not as a lover or even a friend. He’s not good, not like her.

If Lioriley did not have a well of seemingly endless patience, she might have been annoyed by the comment and the insistence that he, for whatever reason, was not good enough for her. Because she had explained this to him before, countless times, and yet he still did not seem to understand a concept that, to her, was very simple.

But she was patient, and she could understand being self conscious, especially after all he had revealed; how open and vulnerable he had been not long ago. She sighed, wrapped her arms around him, and stroked his hair softly, a kiss set to his temple. "Since the moment we met, I felt a connection to you. You are intelligent and sweet and far more charismatic than you give yourself credit for. I know you think yourself some sort of irredeemable monster, but I have seen the kindness of your soul, the gentleness of your heart, and I want be there while you learn to love yourself as much as I love you.

Sometimes we do not need a reason to care for someone deeply, but I have plenty regardless."

Rezo’s trembling settles, a little, as Lioriley’s touch turns more comforting than seductive. Taking comfort from what she says, however, doesn’t go down so easily.

It’s hard for one woman’s words, no matter how important the woman, to counteract over a century of self-pity and self-loathing. Rezo has the urge to argue, to explain that she’s mistaken because he did this thing and that thing, because he thought this and he felt this, and that she must not have really understood what he meant when he’d confessed to this…

But if he did start arguing like that, it would probably hurt her. And he doesn’t want to hurt Lioriley, he wants her to be happy.

“...Would that make you happy?” he asks. “If I loved myself?”

Lioriley leaned back and tilted her head, brows furrowed in confusion, the feeling obvious in her tone.

"Of course." She said, because she would be happy if he loved himself. However... "But you should not make my happiness your goal. You should want to love yourself for...well. Yourself. I cannot imagine how difficult it may be for you, given everything, but I know that you can. You cannot be happy wallowing in self-loathing for the rest of your days." Like she didn't do that herself. But they're not talking about her right now. "I want you to enjoy life, enjoy what you have. And I will help you in any way I can."

Unsurprisingly, Rezo is quiet, even after she’s finished speaking. Her words are clear, reasonable, and utterly perplexing to him.

It is tempting to make Lioriley’s happiness his goal, both because he loves her and because he prefers to have a cause of some sort. He’s never sought happiness for his own sake- no, more accurately, he’s never believed he should seek happiness just for his own sake. It’s just something that he hoped would come along with the fulfillment from serving other people and higher causes.

(From being needed.)

As for the concept of enjoying what he has, the suggestion is a somewhat loaded one for him. Though it does make him think about what he does have, and in particular, what he has in his arms right now.

“...Well, if you want to make me happy,” Rezo says softly, “I do have a few ideas.”

She was tempted to say more, to further insist that he deserved to be happy; that the mistakes he made in the past were just that, and that he wasn't a monster for it. He was doing better - he was a good person. She had seen it firsthand.

But instead she was silent, giving him the chance to consider what she had said already. And when he spoke again, she tilted her head curiously. There were... a lot of places he could go with a comment like that.

"Tell me." She said softly.

Rezo lifts his head and gives Lioriley a tentative smile before leaning in and pressing a brief kiss to her forehead. And when he leans back, he says “Let me play with your ears again sometime. I enjoyed your reactions.”

It seems teasing his lover, one way or another, is definitely one way to make Rezo happy.

She definitely had a feeling that — or something similar — was going to be his response, but even that knowledge didn't keep her from blushing. He could probably feel the heat radiating from her cheeks.

"O-Of course, darling. Though I will insist that we should find somewhere...private, when you do so."

“Yes,” Rezo agrees, “I want to be the only one who gets to see you like this.” Flustered, aroused, and making such sweet sounds.

He withdraws his arms from her, somewhat reluctantly, so that she can get up. “We’d better go, otherwise I fear we might get carried away again. But thank you for watching over me.”

A New Platform [Intro Post July]

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slaps a warning here for mild nsfw??? just in case???

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god, srry for the Unending Rezo Angst

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awful man. terrible.

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thread end~?

ye