A new Platform [Intro post~ August]

[voidtreckermods]

For those on the Train

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Apple." The train announces as always as everyone wakes up the morning of the sixteenth. "Due to your success on Hub World #5739 your team points have been updated on the system. The on train shop has unlocked new stock."

For those going to investigate it might seem like the boredom of the last two weeks will be alleviated a little. More so after a few hours when there is a second announcement.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent."

By now they should know to hold on as the train jerks and jolts. There is only fog outside the windows but the train soon comes to a stop. The doors hiss open.

As they exit into the fog they may notice Hibiki exiting from the luggage carriage door. She hasn’t been seen since the Hub World and they might be forgiven for believing she stayed behind. But here she is, backpack on her back as she walks through the station. She heads no call, reacts to no words and cannot be stopped as she walks to the ticket barrier and disappears through it.

It is impossible to follow. But you soon may be distracted because this platform is far from empty.

For new arrivals

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

The platform is not very large, but it hold twelve figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing, even if one of them is a spider. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. There is a wall around the platform and the only entrance is a ticket barrier. It cannot be open, nor do there seem to be any staff.

What there is, 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, wearing clothes just like yours.

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.

Once on the train there is plenty to explore. A new sleeper carriage has appeared as has a medical bay. Neither were there before those already on the train had disembarked to meet their new travelling companions.

Each ICP shows the same message. The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food, though it seems that eggs are still predominately on the menu.

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. Those who boarded two weeks ago will know what is coming next.

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.

Comments

Evie Grimhilde - OTA

[blueberryprincess]

[ Arrival: Finding her room - OTA with pokes for people in cabin 1:E. ]

Evie was no stranger to really weird things happening. Especially since to her, the weird things were pretty much the day-to day. But the train was unsettling and she almost didn't get on, save for that pull that told her she needed to be on it right away.

So she followed the pull with a frown, head held high, blue hair tied back and out of her face with her usual crown braid across her forehead. She was going to find a way home, if it was the last thing she did.

After finding her room and dropping her stuff off, putting it away neatly and claiming one of the bottom bunks for herself, she digs through the bag and is surprised to find her best friends Spellbook. What was that doing here? Turning it over in her hands, she runs her fingers over it and then hugs it close, sighing and, for just a moment, feeling a tad homesick.

[Dining Car - Also OTA. ]

Later on, Evie can be found in the dining car. Mainly, the kitchen. She wants to see what she has to work with if she's going to be cooking with for the entirety of the train. It wasn't too bad. It looked a lot like the kitchen at school. A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Going over the food stores had her eyebrow raising some in uncertainty, but if that's what she had to work with, then so be it.

And then her eyes stumbled upon an allergies list, brown eyes narrowing some in confusion as she read it.

Rosemary. Mint. Citrus. What in Auradon was going on? The weirdest part was, two of the passengers shared the same allergies. Were they related, or was it just a wild coincidence?

Putting the list back, she studies it for a moment and then one shoulder shrugs.

"I can work with that." With that settled and a project in mind, Evie's charming grin appears on her face and her tone of voice is less Supremely Concerned and more...well, not settled, but ready. For what, she had no idea, but here Evie Grimhilde was, shoulder back, back straight, head held high, hands on her waist.

She was going to get through this, even without her best friends around.

Arrival

[pleple]

There was nothing really all that strange about assigned rooms, bunking with others - common in military life. Only Ple Two had never been a normal soldier. She was a special project, given extra attention by her commander. Of course, it was all just to raise her to be obedient, wasn't it?

Here, though, she was no one special. Just another one of the surprisingly young passengers stuck on this train, sleeping within a few feet of other people who were simply chosen by a roll of the dice, one of whom had already beaten her to checking out their room.

"Room 1:E, correct?" she asked cautiously. Of course it was, but she wasn't sure how to actually introduce herself to someone in a situation like this.

Re: Arrival

[blueberryprincess]

Evie's reading through the spells, wincing some at how horrid some of them were. She knew Maleficent was kind of a nightmare, but some of these spells really were awful. So she's very thankful for the voice at the door.

Turning Evie gives the girl her best grin and a nod.

"That, it is. I'm Evie."

[pleple]

What the heck is magic Ple Two is used to giant robots. She takes a moment to gauge the older girl she's rooming with. Friendly, at least, the smile draining just a little bit of tension out of her. Blue hair. Dyed? Natural?

"You can call me Ple Two, Evie." What a name... but it's hers. She nods back, expression guarded, neutral.

[blueberryprincess]

Meanwhile Evie would find the giant robots baffling, but want to investigate and learn more. It'd be something Carlos and Jay were into. And they'd want one of their very own.

"Ple Two, it's a pleasure to meet you, ridiculous as the circumstances are."

Evie grew up on an island full of her worlds worst people and their equally Goblin Refuse kids. She's used to guarded and neutral expressions. It also causes some concern, but Evie keeps that in check, refusing to let it show.

"You're a new passenger, too?"

[pleple]

It's a shame the Voidtrecker Express doesn't seem configured to carry mobile suits, then. A custom car could probably manage a smaller model...

Well, so far her name isn't being questioned. It feels like a model number, but this situation is strange enough, perhaps, that it doesn't stand out quite so much. "Ridiculous, baffling... impossible." None of it actually makes sense in the first place. "I'm new as well, and it looks like we'll be sharing this room."

[blueberryprincess]

"Well, welcome to the room, then. I promise, I'm not messy or nosey. Your stuff is yours, and it'll stay that way."

Evie's grinning at Ple, happy to have met someone else in this situation. Sure, there were dozens of others, but at least now Evie knows one of the people she'll be sharing a room with.

"What team did they put you on?"

Kitchen

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Kitchen crew, then?" The purple is a dead give away, but Eva is willing to guess, never mind she's in an orange polo shirt and what look like greyish pyjama pants. No shoes, either.

It's like she can't dress. Or you know she's comfy.

Also, there's a pokemon at her heels; the pink pseudo-rabbit-like pokemon's vestigial wings tucked against its side as he hops -hard to tell really- after the woman.

"I'm Eva. Nice to meet you." She bows instead of offering a hand. "I'm on the team that'll be cleaning them after your team's done. This is Princess- he's a pokemon from my world. I'm going to do an open Q&A about pokemon probably tomorrow or the day after."

Re: Kitchen

[blueberryprincess]

"Kitchen crew. I don't mind. I like being in a kitchen. What I don't care for is being kidnapped, but here we are, huh?"

Evie may hate the situation, but it's a good idea to make the very best of it. Until she can find a way off the train and back to Auradon, back to her home. To her friends and her family and Dough.

But she was here.

"Evie," Evie replies with some amusement. Their names were so similar. "Our names are going to cause some confusion. Sounds entertaining."

cabin e

[happyends]

After a while Madoka just had to give in to the fact that it really did seem like she was going to be stuck here, no matter how badly she had to go home and finish what she was about to do there. So if she was going to be stuck here, she might as well see what things were like here inside the train - including the place she'd be sleeping in.

So she made her way over to cabin E, only to discover there was already someone in there. Madoka spotted the other girl just as she was hugging the book, making her feel slightly like an intruder on a private moment. It was most likely that fact that made her hesitate on just running straight in, instead awkwardly loitering at the entrance for a few moments before taking a deep breath and taking a step into the room.

"Ah.. Sorry, I don't mean to interrupt! But it seems we might be roommates.."

Unless Evie was just invading some random cabin, but Madoka would never assume that, being the type to always think the best of other people.

Re: cabin e

[blueberryprincess]

"Oh, don't worry. You aren't interrupting anything," Evie replies with a smile, putting the book back in her rucksack and standing to tuck it away in the cubby hole.

She pushes a curl of blue hair out of her face and then heads to the girl with her hand out, introducing herself with her most friendly grin.

"Evie Grimhilde."

[happyends]

Madoka isn't as used to handshakes as much as she is to bowing for introductions, but it's not like she has never encountered the concept at all before. So after staring for a slight second at the hand, she politely grabs it and gives it a quick shake.

"My name is Madoka, Madoka Kaname. It's nice to meet you."

She even manages a smile at that, despite how weirded out she still is by this situation, and despite her worries about her home.

"Your name is really pretty.. I've never heard of anything like it before."

[blueberryprincess]

"Madoka Kaname, your name is lovely. I've never heard it before, so that makes us even." Evie was always good for meeting new people and getting to know them. It was what made her stand out as a VK and made adapting to life in Auradon so much easier when she and her friends moved from the Isle of the Lost to Auradon. Once she let go of the idea that she had to pretend to be something she wasn't.

Now, Evie was happy to be who she really was, and she was definitely enamored with Madoka's name.

"Tell me about you, Madoka. Where are you from?"

[happyends]

"I'm from Japan!" She figures it's probably the best to start with that part, since Evie's name makes her sound super foreign. "Mitakihara Town, to be more specific."

She hums for a moment, trying to think of what else to tell about where she's from. To her it's very normal, so it's kind of hard to think of what to talk about, but the conversations she's had with other people here have made it clear that they're all from very different places.

"I'd say it's a pretty normal place.. Some people I met here so far mentioned trains that go into space, or not knowing about trains at all. All I know are trains like this one. Just normal trains."

[blueberryprincess]

"I've heard of Japan, but I've only ever really been two places in my life, and those places aren't too far apart." Evie will have to look into traveling with Jay once they're done high school. Maybe all of them can go traveling, see the world in all it's shining, shimmering splendor. She's been told it's very lovely and exciting.

"This is the first train I've ever been on, too." She's learning more and more every day. She's certain they aren't supposed to be traveling through nothing.


"I'm from Auradon. Previously the Isle of the Lost. Those are the only two places I know. The Isle is where all of the worst people have been put, one of them being my mother, and Auradon is where everyone else live. Three of my friends and I were chosen to leave the Isle and attend school in Auradon. I've never been happier, even if I do miss home."

Evie talks a lot. She's not sorry. "What's your favorite part of Auradon?"

Dining Car

[runs_on_batteries]

Tony strolled into the dining car like he owned the place, heading straight for the coffee maker. He pauses when he sees a blue haired teenager. He rolls his eyes. Peter and Gwen were going to be amused seeing that. He could see Gwen wanting hair dye after this- well, and Sarai.

"There's brownies over there if you'd like some." Not quite a real greeting, but he nods to a spot on the counter that was occupied by a large plate with a glass cloche.

He gets a mug and pours coffee into it. Turning around so he can lean back against the counter, he gives her an assessing look (not like a leering look though). "What's your name?"

Re: Dining Car

[blueberryprincess]

"Evie Grimhilde," Evie replies, turning to face the man with her most charming and most friendly grin. She turns to look at the brownies, giving them a small smile before turning to look at the man again.

"I saw. Whoever made them needs to teach me. I'm useless at baking." With that, she strides over. She may be young, but this young lady carries herself with dignity, grace and just a touch of royalty.

And danger, but she's leaving that out of her walk over. It's mostly just confidence, grace and dignity that comes from years of being some manner of Higher Up. Like a princess.

"And you are?" She has obviously never seen Tony Stark before. He's not someone from her world.

[runs_on_batteries]

Blue hair and sweet, yep. The kids were going to love her.

"I'd be happy to." He'd given up on trying to deny he was the one who made them. Why let someone else take credit for something he'd done anyway?

As she walks toward him, he notes her confidence is pretty much oozing out her pores. He can respect that. "I'm Tony Stark." He pauses a few seconds to see if that name rings a bell. It doesn't, so moving on. "I'm kind of the one in charge around here in case you need anything. I'll help however I can." As arrogant a statement as that was, he couples it well with a warm smile.

[blueberryprincess]

"You're kind of in charge?" Evie repeats, now eyeing him with some suspicion. She thought the conductor or whoever was in charge, so she's a bit unsure of how to handle this.

"How is someone kind of in charge?" You're talking to an actual-facts princess, Mr Stark, and while she is smart as hell, she's also a tiny bit confused.

[runs_on_batteries]

"I'm the closest thing this band of abductees have to a leader while still being an abductee myself. That's the 'kind of' part. I'm one of the few adults to all the teenager types running around this train," he explains easily. "We've had absolutely no contact with the person running the train besides those messages on the ICP and we've simply been told when there will be a stop and when to get on the train. So far, we've had no say in that."

He takes a sip of his coffee, totally unruffled by this conversation. "Have any questions I might be able to help with?"

Dining Car (like you didn't see this one coming^^)

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis wasn't far from where Evie stood, but he was down on his knees, making lists. Since being so confused about where he was or why (and the advisor hated ambiguity) he decided that focusing on a task would be infinitely better than dwelling on answers he didn't have or couldn't obtain yet.

So he had decided to do something else, to work on some sort of puzzle that he could actually solve. He'd heard from the others on the train that there was no one in the dining carriage, and that didn't sit well with Ignis. Meals didn't just make themselves and allergies could be a thing along with wondering how clean the place was where the food was actually stored. Health was definitely a thing after all, especially in an enclosed space.

Hearing someone speak had him stop for a moment, realizing he was no longer alone with his lists. So he slowly stood up and took in the sight of Evie. And after a few moments, Ignis spoke.

"My apologies. I hadn't realized there was someone else in here."

what's up bestie

[blueberryprincess]

Evie startles some at the voice, a soft gasp as she steps back, big eyes wide with mild alarm. She hadn't realized there was someone in here, either. Quick to recover from her ridiculous fright, a shake of her head and a brush of her fingers to fix her (Still flawless) hair, she gives the older man a grin.

"It's fine. The train isn't too crowded, but I still should have made my presence known, just in case."

Hi there

[faithfulsupport]

"I hadn't intended to frighten you." There was another unspoken apology in Ignis' voice as he shook his head. He'd seen those big eyes and that hadn't been on his agenda at all to scare someone.

The grin was reassuring though even if he had no idea what it was doing on her face. "I was not quite in plain sight myself so it's quite alright." And this is where he sighed.

"But I will endeavour to correct that oversight in the future."

[blueberryprincess]

"How about we blame this being a new setting? I think anyone'd startle easy if they found themselves a passenger on a train they didn't remember booking a seat for," Evie states with a shrug of one shoulder. It's fine. She's okay. No one got hurt.

"I'm Evie."

[faithfulsupport]

Evie's words relieved some of the tension that Ignis had been holding onto, and he silently chuckled as his head went down. That was the first time he'd actually laughed since being on this train to the Six knew where. And she was right, no one he'd come across so far was here willingly.

His head came back up and he nodded. "A pleasure to meet you Evie, my name is Ignis Scientia."