A New Platform [Intro Post February]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Domino."

It has been three days since they had arrived back from their last mission. "Points have been updated on the system and the shop has new merchandise." The morning proceeds normally. But those who have been on the train a while will be expecting the notice that comes around midday.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and they are soon surrounded by the fog that means they are at a platform. Rain can be heard, the windows soon obscured with water droplets.

The doors open and seven passengers disembark, waterproof coats on, hoods pulled up, rucksacks on their backs. Lan Wangji, Link and Clara in blue, Deadpool and Atem in red, Eva and Mako in orange. All walk silently, blank faced, to the barriers where they show their tickets and walk through, disappearing from sight.

On the platform as ever, figures in waterproof coats over their hoodies. Eighteen of them this time. Ten are in orange, four in purple and then two each of red and blue.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is 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, rain falling down around them but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large and it holds eighteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers, hoodies and waterproofs. The rain is heavy, bouncing off the platform. Both left and right the tracks disappear into the mist. Then there is a roaring sound and out of the fog arrives a train. Jet black with gold writing on the side. The Voidtrecker Express. There is a hiss as the doors slide open and out into the cold step a selection of people. Some are human, some are less so. They are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple.

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 also it’s very cold out on the platform. The train is warmer.

Each ICP shows the same message and next to the screens there are stacks of leaflets written by those on the train, with further information. The store rooms have been restocked and it seems that water chestnuts are the month of Domino’s ingredient of choice!

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. Entering Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left, enough to throw someone off their feet if they are not ready. 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!

Comments

Arrival

[stealsyourheart]

"Whoa!" He flinches and turns to look.

"Nice birdy." He blinks. "Um. Do you... belong to someone? Why am I even talking to a bird..."

[bluetailedhawk]

<I belong to myself,> he replies, a grumpy young-teen voice says directly into Kaito's head. <And you're talking to me because you've finally cracked, gone insane. Coo-coo for coco puffs.> He shakes his wings, spraying water droplets everywhere.

[stealsyourheart]

"...................."

Kaito blinks. Rubs his eyes, and then says flatly.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand you're talking. In my head."

[bluetailedhawk]

<I have no idea what you're talking about,> he lies, and takes a few bird-sized steps towards Kaito, flaring out his wings and flicking water off them dramatically, like he's challenging Kaito to a duel or something.

[stealsyourheart]

Kaito stands his ground and points dramatically.

"You're doing that on purpose now. Are you like. A magic-changed person, or a sentient hawk."

[bluetailedhawk]

<That is an entirely normal hawk you're pointing at. If you're not careful he'll snip your finger off.> Indeed, the hawk makes a playful lunge at the pointing finger, wings flapping wildly.

[stealsyourheart]

"Are not." He yanks his finger back closer. "You're snarking at me! That's a human trait!"

[bluetailedhawk]

<I’m not human,> he replies, like it was some sort of profound insult. <Is you must call me something other than hawk, you can call me an Andalite.>

[stealsyourheart]

"Hah! I knew you were sentient!" He crows and tips his head curiously. "What's an Andalite? Are you normally a hawk person?"

[bluetailedhawk]

<Gold star,> Tobias replies dryly. <I'm stuck in a hawk body, yes.> He's casually ignoring the question about what an Andalite is.

[stealsyourheart]

"Stuck-stuck then?" He says. "Is it because you're an Andalite?" Nice try but he's nosy.

[bluetailedhawk]

<No, only a little stuck. And no, it's not because I'm an Andalite. If you want more answers you're going to have to do something for me. Bring me a mouse or something.> If this kid was really that curious, Tobias wasn't above using it to his advantage. Besides, this was a normal part of making friends... right?

It's maybe been a while since he's had friends.

[stealsyourheart]

"Fair." He considers. "Hm. Dunno if we can get mice on here. And like. Void Mice might not be safe. Do you accept bribes in cookies, as Sarai-san cooked a whole batch the other day."

And he totally kept some.

[bluetailedhawk]

<I would be willing to accept raw hamburger,> he replies. <But cookies would be wasted on me. I can't taste them, and they're not good for birds, anyway. Didn't anyone tell you throwing rice and weddings makes pigeons explode?>

[stealsyourheart]

"I thought that was aspirin that did that." He hums. "I can bring you to the kitchen. Should be plenty of stuff in there, and you can pick what you want."

[bluetailedhawk]

Tobias is just going to file that tidbit away for later. Just in case some other annoying birds show up. <Kitchen sounds like a great idea. Hopefully it has something not awful.> Especially since this is the body he has to eat in.

[stealsyourheart]

"Eh, I'm sure we have SOMETHING." He says cheerfully. "Want a ride? It's a bit cramped in there for your wingspan, otherwise."

[bluetailedhawk]

<Please,> he replies, bobbing his head in a nod. <I wouldn't mind help with the bag, either. It must be important if it showed up here with me.> Much as he was tempted to abandon it, he knew better. These kind of things didn't happen without a reason.

[stealsyourheart]

"Can do." He nods, picking up the bag.

"Don't claw me too hard, yeah? These jumpsuits are not exactly the most sturdy of things."

[bluetailedhawk]

<Surprisingly, I have a lot of experience in not maiming people while they carry me,> he replies, and flutered his wings just enough to get him into the air high enough to land on Kaito's shoulder, so long as he doesn't flinch out of the way. As promised, his talons are incredibly gentle, considering that they're made for killing. He applies only as much pressure as he has to, to keep from falling off.

[stealsyourheart]

Kaito is rock solid and steady under him, rocking only a little to compensate for Tobias' weight, being mostly used to the essentially nothing of his doves.

"Oof, alright, you steady enough there?"

[bluetailedhawk]

<I'm good to go,> Tobias confirms. He's quite a bit heavier and sharper than a dove, that's for sure, but he's also aware of how his weight impacts the person he's riding, so he makes it as un-awkward as he can.

[stealsyourheart]

"Cool." Kaito keeps his shoulder steady so as not to rock Tobias' perch, and heads into the train, careful of any potentially low light fittings or doors.

"There's a garden car, so you'll have a bit of space to stretch your wings, but otherwise, you're gonna have to catch rides on people, I think. Not a lot of space in these corridors!"

[bluetailedhawk]

<I get the feeling even that isn't going to be much good. I'm used to flying a lot higher than a double decker,> he replies, but at least there's somewhere for him to stretch his wings a little. He keeps his perch easily enough without giving Kaito more than a scratch or two. <I really hope whatever this stupid train wants from me isn't going to take a long time.>

[stealsyourheart]

"Hopefully! And on the plus side, we stop somewhere at least once a month, and that will give you a good chance to fly."