A New Platform [Intro Post August]

[voidtreckermods]

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PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 19
(SYMPHONY)

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BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day sixteen 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 sunny with a cool breeze. 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. The stones are cobbled beneath them and there are small stone shapes lining the edge, decorative in nature. The sun is shining but there is a cold wind, blowing through the platform at intervals, almost biting in its chill.

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 Twelve 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. Danielle Phantom, Fai. D Flourite, K'zeka Tia, Ruggie Buchi and John Connor 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.

e. Of course there are the new additions to explore. A fireplace has been added to the library, complete with a rug and plenty of soft reading pillows. For those less inclined to sit still there is a swimming pool carriage, complete with foam fish. Plenty of fun for all.

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.

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NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

Comments

[weifinder]

"We do, you're right, we do. Without the knife," he said, offering her a smile and a lift of his own mug of tea, "The wound would just go sour. We help allow them all to have that chance to heal. Isn't that important? I'd like to think so."

[nell_of_soulwood]

"I do think it's important," Nell agreed. "Without our help many more people would die. At least we can save some of them. Though it does seem like everything is falling apart."

[weifinder]

"The Voidtrecker Express is pulled to those moments, ah? We're seeing an unfair share of them." A wry smile, and a lift of his mug of tea. "Here's to all the moments of peace, joy, and happiness we're not seeing, and the success in rebuilding we don't know of, wherever it is."

[nell_of_soulwood]

She lifted her mug as well. "To peace, happiness, and rebuilding. May their lives be blessed."

[weifinder]

He drank to their well wishes, then nodded his head to the extras on the platform.

"What do you make of the addition of the persons from that last world?"

[nell_of_soulwood]

"It's nice to see some familiar faces," she said. "It gives me hope that perhaps one day Yondu will return as well."

[weifinder]

"Wouldn't that be grand? Yondu's a good person. I'd enjoy drinking with him again, catching him up on all the most recent madness. What story would you tell him first?"

He smiled, taking a sip of his tea, even if it was cooling.

[nell_of_soulwood]

"I'd take him to the new fireplace in the library and tell him all about silly little things," Nell said. "I like it when I can make him laugh."

[weifinder]

"Oh, we've a fireplace in there now? With actual kindling and wood?"

Forgive his momentary surprise, he's in and out of the library carriage without paying overmuch attention to it, not even the stone with its sitting person that'd been there for so long.

"It's a good feeling, bringing laughter. I'm fond of it myself. What silly little thing do you think he'd laugh about most?"

[nell_of_soulwood]

"It just happened," Nell said, "but I can't wait to go sit in front of it with a hot drink and a good book."

She smiled and gently stroked the sleeping kitten in her pocket. "I'd tell him about this little one and her antics."

[weifinder]

He leaned a touch over, to peer down at the sleeping kitten's head.

"Has she and my son's beast of a little cat met?"

Sizhui and his kitten of a different breed, very large in her own right as something he'd never personally heard of before. The Main Coon? Whatever that might mean.

[nell_of_soulwood]

"I don't think so," Nell said. "She mostly stays with me, but occasionally she does go exploring."

[weifinder]

He brightens, looking conspiratorial.

"We should fix that, then, let me see if Sizhui brought her out today... Sizhui!" He called out, waving one hand in the air to attract his son's attention. "Sizhui! Is your furry menace with you!"

[deferences]

The sound of his name immediately captures Sizhui's attention, prompting him to turn in the direction of Wei Wuxian's voice, a faint smile quirking his lips at the waving hand. His own lifts in kind, acknowledging the remark, although he starts moving closer before responding.

“As always,” he confirms, the same hand lowering to his hoodie collar and gesturing inside. “We're keeping each other warm.” Followed by an amused snicker then he directs toward Nell and politely bows his head. “Hello there!”

[nell_of_soulwood]

Nell smiled at him and her grey kitten poked her head out of Nell's pocket to see what was going on.

"Hello," she said with a smile.

[weifinder]

Wei Wuxian looked amused, and settled back so that the kittens... could take centre stage.

"Nellnell, Sizhui, now your little hairballs can have another friend!"

With full affection, and also zero attempts to pet anyone's pocket kittens, even if one were not asleep and the other one hiding in a hoodie. He had no idea if cats really did much with company, but he presumed if any cats did, it'd be the young ones.

[deferences]

Gosh, the more people he meets aboard the Voidtrecker Express, the happier he is to realize they're almost always friendly faces. Any friend of his father's is the same to him, really, and the sight of another kitten's head coming up from Nell's pocket instantly draws his attention and earns the softest aw! of delight.

“It's so cute...!” Without hesitation, he brings himself closer, slipping right between them with Wei Wuxian on one side and Nell on the other, one hand shifting his shirt hem while the opposite moves into place beneath it and carefully removes his cat that's grown significantly from her tiny kitten stage; still young but bordering closer to four months rather than six or so weeks. She makes an almost plaintive-sounding mrrreow initially, although the moment Hui realizes there are new humans, she's bright-eyed and raring to go, settling against Sizhui's chest with her tail swaying lazily and attention oscillating between Nell and Wei Wuxian.

“How long have you had your kitten, Nellnell?” Yes, he will be referring to her the same way, unless someone corrects him.

[nell_of_soulwood]

"Only a couple of months," she said. "Her name is Selena and she's very sweet."

Selena had come a little further out of the pocket to see the new cat. They actually looked fairly similar. Selena meowed and nuzzled into Nell as the other cat watched them.

"It's nice to meet you, Sizhui."

ANd she didn't mind Nellnell at all.

[weifinder]

He scooted to the side, giving his son more room next to his adopted daughter, watching the two young people and the two kittens as well. Cats? At what point do they cross over into being a cat versus a kitten?

He has no idea. Like children, he suspects they grow too fast.

"Why Selena? Why Hui?"

He's here to Dad Prompt conversations, and he's not even pretending he isn't happy to be here.

[nell_of_soulwood]

"Selene was the Greek goddess of the moon," Nell said. "I was going to name her that because she's this beautiful grey like fog under the moon, but Selena just sounded better to me."

[deferences]

“Oh! No wonder she's tiny, still so young,” he remarks, watching the smaller kitten come out of Nell's pocket more. “She does seem very sweet... Hi, Selena.” Age needs to be taken into account when determining the kitten-to-cat stage, but time board the Voidtrecker Express has always been different compared to what most of them are used to. Regardless, them ‘growing up too fast’ is true anyway.

He upturns as Nell answers, eyes crinkling with mirth at the unexpected similarities in their name choices.

“Funny, I named mine because of coloring too.” He lifts a hand, traces his index and middle fingers around the gray covering Hui's face then grins again. “It means ‘ash’, which made sense to me at the time, you know?” Not that it doesn't now, he just wonders if he shouldn't have been a little more... creative? (He did help with his father's rabbits though, and they were named after vegetables of all things, so surely there's nothing wrong with naming his kitten after her colors, right? Right—)

But coming back around to the current animals, Sizhui glances sideways at Wei Wuxian, downcasts again then asks, “May I pet her?” While Hui wiggles until she can look at Selena too, eyes wide and ears curiously perked because maybe friend? but she's not getting too overzealous (yet).

[weifinder]

He casually bumped his shoulder against Sizhui's, smiling as he watched them both. He'd always been fond of juniors; when both were his children by proclamation, he was even more so.

Sometimes it was the small things to celebrate that helped make the big hardships easier to swallow.

"Better than the names I'd come up with. That'd be Little Mouser or Little Grey or Little Tail," he said, ticking off the names one at a time on his fingers.

[nell_of_soulwood]

Nell smiled at them both. "Of course you can pet her," she said. "Selena is very friendly. And I think Ash is a wonderful description of your cat. Is she friendly? I'd love to pet her as well>"

[deferences]

Sizhui's giggling, nudging his father back first, then he outstretches his unoccupied arm, the first few fingertips gently petting Selena's ears. “I think all of those names are wonderful too, A-Die.” Particularly ‘Little Gray’ in Selena's case, given how perfectly colored she is for that.

“Thank you, I thought it was fitting. I like yours as well.” And Hui had no complaints either, of course. (Not that she could, considering, but she did seem quite receptive to the name once it'd been presented.)

“Absolutely,” he assures, adjusting again so his own cat can balance both back paws and one front on his forearm while the other reaches toward Nell, gently batting at the space between them. Did someone say affection? She better get some before she expires from the lack thereof and, after Nell's offered pets, you can bet she'll eventually turn her attention to Wei Wuxian too.

[weifinder]

When Hui flops back over for love, Wei Wuxian is there to aggressively ruffle her fur, only to get caught with a gentle bite and restrictive paw wrapping around his wrist.

"Hey, hey! Gentle there, ferocious beastie," he says, snorting and setting his emptied cup down to his far side. "How do the two of you keep intact hands? Those claws are needle sharp!"

Clearly Nellnell and Sizhui have a mastery of playing with cats that he lacks.