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

She has her back to the door so when Tobias actually speaks, she freezes for just a moment. She'd gotten used to the feel of him talking in her head, so hearing his voice...actually legitimately hearing it?

It took her a moment to process it. She turns to look and when he mentions how much time he has working hands and all, she immediately understands and smiles.

"I'd love it. It's just dishes and wiping surfaces and sweeping."

He smiles for her, though it looks rather forced. "Well, it's a lot more help than I can be with wings," he replies, and steps into the kitchen, going for the broom first. He's a little on the short side to reach into the sink for dishes, after all. "I promise I'm not really as young as I look. This body only ages when I'm in it, so I look the same as I did when I got stuck as a bird, like five or six years ago," he knows he's told her before, but... it feels important to tell her again. So she wouldn't think he was just a little kid. "But this is the only body my dad ever saw me in, so when he showed up on the platform..." he was burying the lede, trying not to let himself get too excited.

He was too afraid of all these good things being suddenly ripped away from him again.

Evie listens to Tobias, smiling a tad. She knows. He already told her how old he was, and she already associates the voice with him, so she believes him when he reassures her.

Rinsing off a couple dishes and setting them up to dry, she turns at the news, eyes wide with surprise and delight.

"Oh, my Fairy Godmother. That's...Tobias, that's amazing!" She's pretty excited for him! He doesn't have to worry about getting too excited. She has enough for both of them.

"I understand. He has to recognize you. He did recognize you, right?"

Tobias nods, and even offers her a grin, though it's a little awkward on his face. "Yeah, he did. He must've come from right before he died, that was years ago, but the Ellimist... gods. They can do stuff like that." So whatever price they were asking, he was going to pay without complaint.

Instead of starting to sweep as soon as he has the broom, he approaches her. "I know your hands are wet, but... I'm human, and I'm happy for once... can I..." he gestures, requesting a hug without quite being able to bring himself to ask aloud. The words are so weird. Especially when he's forming them with a mouth and tongue and teeth.

"You're the last person on this train who has to ask for a hug," Evie says as she grabs a towel, quickly drying her hands off and holding her arms out.

"I mean it. I'm always good for hugs. For whatever reason. And I'm very happy that you're happy." That seems like an important thing to mention. He needs to know how much he matters to her, for starters. And she knows how rough he's had it. So if something happens that makes him happy, she's going to be happy for him.

Once her hands are dry, Tobias steps in for the hug, his grip firm around her as he closes his eyes and takes a long, deep breath. "Thank you," he says softly. "I saw him die. Years ago, but somehow this train brought him back to me, and I..." he was crying, but he was so happy he felt like his chest might actually burst. "Maybe later today I can introduce you, but he's kind of hard to miss," he laughs. "He's a big blue alien," it wasn't a great description, but it was good enough to make Elfangor unmistakable, at least.

"I saw him on the platform, but I didn't think to go and say hi." Evie had food to give out to people, and a kitchen to clean up. Her arms go around Tobias with ease, hugging him just as firmly as he's hugging her, but leaving him room to let go if he wants.

"You're welcome, Tobias. I'm glad you have this chance to spend more time with him and I hope you do so. As much as you can." It'll lessen the time they already spend together, but Evie doesn't mind terribly.

She wants him happy. She'll be there when he isn't, there's no doubt about that, but Evie's the person who delights in seeing her friends happy. This was going to be great for him.

For once, Tobias doesn't want anything more than to be human and have the unique contact that they get. "Don't think you're getting rid of me that easily," he replies warmly, grinning up at her. "You should say hi if you get the chance. Or offer him food," he grins.

"I will. I promise," Evie grins, laughing a bit at his comment about getting rid of him. "I wouldn't want to get rid of you. Ever."

She's not saying she'd punch the wall to the engine car if Tobias ever left, but she'd probably punch the wall to the engine car if Tobias ever left.

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

Re: [Dining Car]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject