voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post December]

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Catfish." The voice woke them as usual four days after they had rejoined the train, leaving the dying world, the scientists and evacuees behind them."Team Points have been updated on the system and the shop has been updated."

. A few hours into the morning there is a second announcement. "Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent." Hopefully everyone knows to hold on, though if they do not they will be in for a bumpy arrival to the platform. At first all they can see from the windows is steam.

They step out into blazing sunshine, heat hits them. There is still steam, but light breaks through, dazzling at points, reflecting off the smooth surface of the platform. As the doors open the first four people off the train are wearing their rucksacks and dressed in purple hoodies. Yuki, Amelia, Harry and Richie. All walk steadily and unhurriedly towards the barriers at the back of the platform, show their ticket and disappear.

Those looking over the platform will recognise Ash, dressed in purple. With her are ten other people, one seems to have fire for a head, another is a book. Two are elves. All four teams are represented but Red and Blue are dominant with four new members each. Time to be welcoming.

For new arrivals.

At first all they can see if steam. Billowing around them as they come to their senses. They are standing, in clothes that are not their own, styles they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not very large, but it holds eleven figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. Patches of sunlight break down and it is very warm.

In front of them is a train. Jet black and gleaming where it stands on the rails. Voidtrecker Express is emblazoned in the engine in gold. There is a hiss as the doors slide open.

Out step a selection of people, some less human than others, wearing clothes just like those worn by those on the platform.

The Train

The doors hiss open. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there is anywhere else to go and even if there was, you feel a pull. A need to board, a feeling that staying on the platform would not be a good thing, as nice a day as it is.

Each ICP shows the same message. If they are near an ICP they may find a piece of paper stuck to it, for further reading. The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food, there is still an abundance of sweet peppers.

New passengers will find their tickets allow them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

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 and you will hopefully find a pillow for your bed if it has not been nabbed by a roommate, there are also spare blankets for if it gets cold.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view as it picks up speed.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express.” A female-coded artificial sounding voice echoes throughout the train. "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."

Hopefully someone warns you that you really want to heed that warning because a moment later there is 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever changing colours.

Welcome to voidspace.

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It was the last carriage for inspection as 47 made the rounds to familiarize himself with the train. He'd run into other people, ignored some and spoke civilly to others whenever appropriate. There had been interesting people and not-so interesting people. Not much seemed to phase him other than to make notes of everything around him.

This carriage and the man inside were much the same to 47's concerns. There was no immediate interest to 47 about Dio other than that he noted it was the man from the beginning that had screamed and ran into the train right from the start. It was an oddity but mostly none of his concern.

He ignored Dio.

Carefully, he made his way to the back of the carriage. The luggage strewn all over was mildly annoying at worst and a good hiding spot at best. He tried the door at the back where there would be another train car if it wasn't the caboose. Which it was. So naturally the door wouldn't budge. Because no one wanted to hop off the train while it was traveling through nothing of course.

So that was that. 47 had made it to the end. The only thing left was to pass back through the way he came. So he made his way carefully back through again.

47 paused and looked down at the nearest piece of luggage to him. It was a medium sized briefcase. It reminded him of the cases sometimes used to smuggle items to him out in the field. He knelt down and picked up the briefcase. The weight told him it was most likely empty. A quick glance inside confirmed this. He set the case back down on the ground. (Maybe he'd take it later if he found a use for it.) He moved to another piece of luggage and opened it up. Nothing inside.

A few more inspections and they all came up with the same conclusion. "They're all empty," he mused aloud more to himself than the other occupant in the room. Honestly, it was almost as if he'd forgotten Dio was even there. (He hadn't; his senses wouldn't let him so easily forget such a vital piece of information. Habit to know who was around and watching him in case he needed to do anything illegal.) More correctly, he just didn't seem to care.

Edited 2019-12-02 18:15 (UTC)

The first time 47 goes through, it's pretty clear that the man is simply going from point A to point B and Dio happens to be somewhere in the middle, so the vampire deigns to not notice this. He's too busy anyway, with the clearly more important task of making sure he hasn't been too badly burned.

By the time the hitman circles back around, Dio has come to the inevitable conclusion that he was in fact actually just fine in spite of how everything had felt for a while there, and has made himself a small throne of discarded suitcases, The World sent to go do some intangible poking around while he himself ... well, lurked.

The other occupant in the room is perfectly content to not interrupt. It's not a tense silence, and he's fine with that. Nor is it particularly companionable, simply they had other things going on and happened to be existing in each other's presence for the time being-- "Ahhh, not all of them."

Now, Dio would have been quite happy to keep his trap shut and let 47 do whatever it is he's up to, but it's hard to resist in this case.

There is at least ONE that has something in it, because that's where Dio put everything that had been in the rucksack he'd shown up with. "If you're looking for something in particular..?"

That caught 47's attention and he looked towards the man occupying his would-be throne of suitcases. He contemplated the other for a moment. Then looked around at all the suitcases carefully.

"Not in particular." He looked at Dio once more. "Just anything useful to be found. You managed to find one with something inside?"

How long would it have taken to find something in this mess? Was there a set amount of empty ones versus filled? If only he knew--he'd probably just walk out right now to save them both the time.

Edited 2019-12-03 01:51 (UTC)

"I can't say it has anything useful. Just more of this nondescript ... ridiculous shopping mall worker attire." Which is all his, he's just not interested in carrying it around right now like some sort of pack mule.

He's not getting off his luggage throne though. "The ones I have currently as a not quite comfortable chair are entirely empty. I presume the vast majority of them are. Why not take one or two? I doubt they'll be missed."

Well it's possible they would be, but frankly Dio didn't care. If people wanted them they wouldn't be here like so much tossed-away garbage.

That sounded more like Dio (or someone else perhaps) placed their initial rucksack full of clothing and extras in one of the suitcases rather than Dio having found anything in one of them. Which was utterly not what 47 was asking about. It did, technically, mean they weren't all empty though.

As for that suggestion, "I'd considered it. I have no need for one. If the need arises, I know where to find one."

Usefulness depends on what one is looking for! Which probably in this case isn't another bottle of toothpaste. Weapons and such certainly aren't going to be found, which for someone of 47's job and skills is probably a serious disappointment.

"Indeed. I did spend a little time seeing if perhaps they have already been assigned, much like the sack of items had been for each of us, but no. It seems a waste of a carriage." Admittedly, Dio had been hoping to find some missing personal items, but no such luck. They belonged to nobody and weren't really being used much.

It is indeed a serious disappointment. He's just going to have to make due with his limited supply of bullets, the kitchenware, and his writing utensils for now. Until he realizes the medical carriage has surgical equipment and possibly enough medicine he can concoct poisons with.

"This train makes little sense enough without an empty luggage compartment," 47 mused aloud as his eyes swept over the piles of suitcases once more. It was as if this compartment and the one before it were simply apart of the train because it fit into the old passenger train motif and nothing else.

"One would think they would apply it to something a bit more useful." It sounds like Dio agrees, at least on principle. Most of it made a kind of sense.

The doorway is shot a sour look. "Especially by way of expanding sleeping quarters. They seem to be packing people like sardines in a can." How about four people per CAR, that'd be far more comfortable boarding, especially for someone Dio's size. He's unsure he's even going to fit on one of those beds. He brightens up briefly at that thought though. "Which, if you haven't noticed, is rather prison cell-like in its design and close quarters."

If he has to suffer he needs to be able to relish someone else's suffering on the same matter.

"I've lived in worse," the hitman replied without so much as a twitch. His tone was bland and if Dio had expected more then he would have to be sorely disappointed with 47's over-all reaction to the idea.

Granted, the cramped quarters weren't ideal and 47 was at least used to having his own space rather than sharing it even if that space were located in a dingy apartment...or a sewer. The only time he had to share was when--

47 barely remembered that time of his life. But the flashes were still coming to him periodically. Flashes of memory, fear and pain, emotions he didn't feel anymore. Feelings that only a child could really understand, when they were helpless and unable to defeat the adults controlling them.

Nothing, of course, that he would share with anyone.

He continued to remain completely impassive. "Is that why you're in here?" No sympathy.

"Past squalor does not make enduring present squalor more tenable," is the vampire's prompt, lofty response. He grew up in Victorian-era slums, he knows plenty about squalor. Which is why he avoids it. And anything even remotely unlike comparative comfort when he can avoid it. 47's life might lead him in other directions, but Dio... well, he got his taste of luxury early in and never lost it.

It's unfortunate neither are inclined to share their morbid childhoods. There might have been similarities.

He shakes his head slightly in negative. "No. I am merely making certain we are well on our way before venturing elsewhere." Places with things like windows, and possible sunlight. "This is one of the more defensible locations with which to do so."

Edited (Wrong icon.) 2019-12-05 03:01 (UTC)

47 could pay for the high and mighty lifestyle that Dio was accustomed to and sometimes even did. Most of the time, however, he just didn't care enough to put the money into anything but expensive suits and weaponry. It was a 'whatever works' kind of mindset along with no attachment to anything. Would Dio be disappointed if he knew?

"It's not that hard," he replied. Was it an attempt to reassure Dio, or an insult to his sensibilities? It was hard to tell though from 47's perspective it was honestly neither. Any response, or lack thereof, though gave 47 more information about the man in front of him.

The phrasing was a bit awkward for anyone who didn't know what Dio was talking about to follow. Therefore 47 was a little confused by the former statement. The latter made a little sense to him but probably not in the way Dio was referring. He glanced around at the room. "No windows, only one entrance--that we're aware--and plenty of cover. Not the worst place to run to in defense."

Possibly it would be disappointing. On the other hand, 47 seemed to be a very stoic individual, and asceticism seemed to come to many of similar temperament he had met in the past. "Difficulty and enjoyment of it are very different things! While I must endure a bed like unto a bare plank, I will not find pleasure in it."

Actually by his bearing he's going to sulk about it rather extensively, though perhaps in private in the future. It could damage his image.

While 47 is unaware of Dio's loathing for sunshine, his assessment is completely accurate! Only one door to watch, no windows to be afraid of, and all these empty suitcases! "It'll do for now. I would suggest you remain a while, but it seems from your coming and going earlier that you are much less loathe to be out and about while this ... voyage gets underway."

"I see." The pouting nature of the large man was not lost on 47. Had he any emotion might have even found it somewhat amusing. But being who he was it was simply a note to jot down in his mental notebook of Intel and leave it there until it became useful information.

"I'd rather get to know my surroundings sooner than later," he confirmed Dio's assessment. It was the only reason he was back here. He'd seen what there was to see and now the carriage held no interest. Save for the other man and whatever information 47 could gleam from him, if anything. From the sound of it he had just been dismissed though and there was always another time to learn more.

He stood still for a bit longer, just to be sure the other was done with him.

There's a brief gesture with one long-nailed hand from Dio, though whether it's a dismissal or simply a gesture really isn't certain. He didn't mind if 47 did linger, but the hitman didn't strike him as the sort of being who felt the need to.. well, hide out for a while.

"A reasonable thing." Though he himself is NOT exploring right now kthx, there might still be sun out there. "I've heard there's a well equipped hospital of some sort attached to this convoy, if anywhere is good to know then certainly that one is."

Presuming of course, 47 hasn't ALREADY located it.

It was on the list from which to pilfer. There were a plethora of things 47 could make to use as weapons that could be taken from the medical carriage. And he certainly planed to do so.

"It has potential," he said, and whether Dio found the phrasing odd or not was up to him of course. But it might have hinted at what his future plans were for the medical supplies. "It could be basic but something is better than nothing. We'll see."

Potential for medical care, clearly! And a little pilfering if someone wished to have bandaids or something for inconvenient scratches and nicks. It's definitely true that Dio's not thinking along the lines of say ... poison, or weapons to stab people with.

"Hm. I would not relieve them of too much too quickly." Which of course, 47 already knows. "They may be watching the newest arrivals rather more closely than the others." So wait a couple weeks, then rob them blind?

No. That too would jeopardize his chances of getting back where he's supposed to be, getting tossed off into ???? without warning for thievery wasn't something he's interested in doing. This in no way means he won't watch if someone ELSE is going to, just to see what happens. "What might you be preparing for? Minor wounds, burns..?"

He'll be discreet about it when he gets to it. 47 did like to keep his anonymity for as long as possible when it was possible. He also wouldn't want to deprive anyone of anything they actually did need for medical purposes. He might need them for legitimate reasons himself one day and what a shame if they weren't available then.

"Something like that," the hitman responded. Don't mind his vagueness too much.

He minds the vagueness.

"For lack of much else to do til some time from now, I don't suppose you'd be interested in elaborating?" Dio gestures with one clawed hand in invitation, smile brief and wry. "Of course, unless you're in a hurry to be elsewhere."

"No," he replied simply.

Typically no one asked 47 to elaborate when he gave vague answers, especially one after another after another. They tended to get the hint. The few that were talkative and curious who did ask got the easiest, most blunt fallback to exist. No. He was not interested in elaborating.

He wasn't in a hurry to get anywhere else particularly either. But he didn't have to elaborate on that either.

"Suit yourself." And that seems to settle it for the vampire; he's not going anywhere any time soon, and whether or not 47 stays is of course up to him, but Dio's not really that interested in making an effort that gets him nowhere at all.

So for all appearances, the towering blond man is settling in for a nap on his stack of suitcases, managing to pull off looking rather comfortable in the doing. Given the sun's position, it's going to be some hours yet til dark..

So that was that. He had no more questions for this particular individual at the moment--maybe later he would be more curious about the man--but for now he was satisfied with his perusal of the train carriage and that was what he had come here for in the first place. As the blond man settled in 47 turned to leave finally.

He walked straight out, no goodbye or further fuss.

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A New Platform [Intro Post December]

post-departure.

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so work is kicking my ass. I haven't forgotten this!!!

sorry to hear that! hope it gets better

it's money so i shouldn't complain AND YET

I know that feel.