voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

On the Train

Luckily there are no more crises after the strange dreaming, except the ones passengers created for themselves and soon the month is turning. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Egret."

Those that have been on board a while know that new months usually come with new people and so the message a few hours later will not be a surprise. "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. It will come as a relief that it is not raining this time. However it does seem to be quite blustery.

The doors open and the first few to disembark do so with rucksacks on, hoods pulled up against the wind. Amery Vallet, Steve Rogers, Darth Vader, Peggy Carter, Bran Corbie and Ash. They walk blank faced to the barriers, show their tickets and disappear.

But on the platform itself there are nineteen new faces, or rather seventeen new faces and two that some people have definitely seen before. All are stood, waiting for the train.

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 but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large and it holds ninteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. The air is cold and the wind is strong, blowing their hair, if they have hair, across their face. 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. If that is not enough, there are plenty of people on the platform now, to encourage them onto the train.

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 with an abundance of onions! Any of blue team who who go to check the luggage cart will find a parcel containing rainbow macroons. One for each of the blue team, including new members, come share in the reward!

Passengers who are not brand new will notice that the train has gotten yet longer again. A transparent domed carriage, with a grass aisle and soil beds, ready for the passengers to do with as they wish. Crates contain bulbs and seeds ready to be planted and there are all the tools a budding gardener would need for this task.

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. 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Knowing--or finding out that there was now a greenhouse car? That was something that had the Au Ra excited. She'd had some training in botany back on Hydaelyn, and continuing the practice here was...a little piece of normalcy, perhaps, that was for the most part, sorely lacking. Dread could only be so much of an anchor, truth be told.

Thinking herself alone--or fairly alone, at least--Sarai hummed to herself as she plotted out another section of her portion of the garden. Not that it was truly hers--she'd only decided to work on it so that the train would have a good supply of medicinal herbs for potions, regardless of who made such things.

But hearing a new set of footsteps in the train's corridor, she turns and lifts a hand to the new fellow garbed in orange, offering up a cheerful smile.

"Hello! Come to explore the new car?" Not that she could blame him--Sarai certainly couldn't help herself...

"To be fair, they're all new to me." Meeting all these new people, having already encountered more things that made him uncomfortable than he was ever going to actually admit, it was nice to find a smiling face, even if her appearance was a little odd. Loki, however, had never practiced botany or alchemy, though he was a quick study at most things and could certainly learn.

Heavens knew he'd need something to do around here. "I find it interesting, though, our...custodians would have us all take up gardening."

"Oh, I thought I'd seen you on the platform--in between trying to balance blankets," she said with a laugh. "Are you settling in all right so far? I might not be your team leader, seeing as I'm in Purple, but I could always pass along messages to Curufin or Reigen if you need anything. If I can't help you myself!"

Despite all her frustration with last month's mutiny attempt coming from her own team, Sarai hadn't stepped down from any positions yet--so she wouldn't shirk her duties.

"I...am not, actually. Surprised, that is. One, it gives us an opportunity to grow things that might not be as easy to get on the worlds we visit. Two, I at least find gardening calming--I don't think I'd be surprised to find that I was not the only one to do so." She flicked her tail idly as she thought. "There's always the possibility if we're on a world, we don't have time to restock, depending on the world or the mission itself. Last mission was an ice world, I'm positive they needed their supplies more than we did, for example."

Sarai dusted off her hands from the soil and looked far up at the tall fellow. "So, I'm Sarai Thunderstorm, Au Ra. Formerly of Hydaelyn. Might I have the pleasure of your name, ser?" The only reason she wasn't offering a hand was because...well, even with the brush off, she still had dirty hands, not to mention claws!

"Clever!" He laughs, moving closer. "It's almost as though they expect we'll be here for some time." Crass responses notwithstanding, Loki had gotten that impression before coming to the garden car. He simply did have much inclination to care. His life had ended, after all. Anything afterward was just another adventure.

"Sarai Thunderstorm of Hydaelyn." He inclines his head, straightening the sleeves of his hideous orange hoodie. "I am Loki of Asgard, Odinson. I've never gardened, but I suppose now is as good a time as any to start. Heaven knows we have the time for it."

"Well, if you've an interest, Ser Loki, I'd be happy to show you. I've some talent with botany..." And the tending and growing of plants, too, when it came down to it. She lifted a brow and tilted her head as she noted him tugging at the sleeve of his hoodie.

Really, she wasn't precisely fond of her train clothing, either. Really, the ridiculous train uniform was more akin to the clothes she used as a botanist back on Hydaelyn. She knew her husband and Charlotte the spider had a sort of...joint venture in making clothes...

"Not fond of the outfit the train has so generously gifted us with?" she asked, a bit wry, even as she couldn't help but smile somewhat. Sarai certainly understood that.

He rolls his shoulder in a shrug. He's not particularly interested in botany, but he has learned, over the course of his life, all skills are useful to have, and that having a broad pool of knowledge to pull from his beneficial.

Also, Sarai seemed like a nice enough woman and he wouldn't mind spending time with her. "I'd be honored to join you. It isn't often I've gotten the chance to get my hands dirty."

Literally. Being a prince did have its perks.

He frowned down at his clothing when she pointed it out. "Well, they aren't exactly flattering, are they?"

"No, it is true, they are not." Sarai was willing to roll with the sartorial punches, as they were, but even this looked more like an outfit to gather in than something she'd want to wear day to day on Hydaelyn...

"I might be able to help you with that. My husband is a tailor, you see." Well, Dread was more than merely a tailor, but he'd been helping out Kumoko with her outfitting enterprise. "I believe he and his partner could make you something that appealed. Unfortunately, for missions you'd still be asked to wear orange." Sarai sighed a bit at that. "It's has something to do with team uniforms, or some such. We've never been given an explanation for that..."

Then again, Kumoko was perfectly happy to provide clothes for treats, and Sarai was good at making treats, so it was a win-win situation for everyone in the end...

"And it must be this hideous orange sweatshirt?" If that were the case, he was likely to believe his previous assessment that this was Hel and he was doomed to torment for all eternity.

Her additional information he found interesting as well, however. "Your husband? You were lucky enough to be brought here together?"

"Yes. I'm somewhat fond of purple, otherwise, I'd be inclined to agree with you. Though you do make the orange work, you know." Some people could not pull it off at all; not Loki. Sarai understood that other colors were more pleasing to him, but it could be worse.

"Yes, and I'm not certain why. Though there are other people from the same world here." Who, for the moment, she wouldn't volunteer--it was enough that she mentioned Dread. Still, Sarai knew quite well that the massive Roegadyn could take care of himself. "You can't miss him, though, he's rather large. Dark skin, white hair, mismatched eyes. He doesn't talk much." And yet, he still managed to get his point across...

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

wildcard, probably greenhouse!

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