voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post March]

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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!

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Madoka is out on the platform. She's serving hot chocolate and slices of chocolate or strawberry cake and there's nothing but a cherubic smile on her face as she's handing them out. The last time the train stopped there wasn't any sort of cake, but this time there is due to her influence and two different kinds no less. With plenty of hot chocolate to go around, she's having a great time, warning people that the drink is in fact hot. But she says it with a smile on her face and concern in her voice.

Coming up next to her is Ignis who is bustling about, making sure everything is in its proper order and clean. She does all the smiling and happy chatter and he's the backup, making sure she has everything she needs in order to keep the operation running smoothly behind the scenes. Bringing in a hot water dispenser, that's fussed with while Madoka continues to hold court with the people coming over. Tea bags begin to be plentiful along with sugar and creamer.

A smile appears on the advisor's face at hearing people thank the girl for their drink. But it only comes out when he's turned away from the hustle and bustle. He does have to be out front with Tony and the other team leaders so he can't stay in this immediate vicinity but he won't be far. He never is far from her side anymore.

"Thank you and please don't burn yourself, it's hot!" Madoka almost cheerfully says this every single time with every cup she passes out.

"You know, she's so cute." Tony said, taking a sip of hot chocolate while standing next to Ignis who was busy restocking. He was just there supervising as the advisor termed it, content to stand by and watch the pink haired girl smile at people. "She gets her looks and charm from me."

That statement earned a soft snort from the advisor as he turned to look up at the leader of the train from his position of stacking cups. "But her impeccable manners are all mine."

Edited 2020-03-01 08:34 (UTC)

[Platform]

He'd never been so cold. Ice was building up on any skin that was exposed. His legs were going to give out. Whatever strength he had in him was dwindling fast. He didn't know how much further he needed to go, but he kept placing one frozen foot after the other. It had only been a matter of time, but he felt it now. He was falling, sliding into the thick snowbank. This was it. This was how he was going to die.

Instead of collapsing in the snow, Prompto suddenly found himself in a completely different place. The shock and disorienting feeling had him stumbling and falling on his butt, but this time the ground was wooden. There was no snow but it was still cold and windy. Dazed, he looked around to see a large black train and others he didn't recognize standing about him. There was a dog and some guy who looked like he was part.. he didn't know what. Some kind of four legged game animal.

Looking down at his hands, he realized he didn't have his gloves, but more importantly he was in a whole different outfit. Gaping in disbelief, he was wearing a purple hoodie and boots and.. what was going on?

[Around the train: Late afternoon/ evening]

He'd slept for a while in the medical room with Iggy and his daughter, but he was feeling a whole lot better now. It hadn't taken much convincing the advisor he was well enough to go exploring.

[ooc- Feel free to bug him anywhere on the train.]

[Sleeper 5: Cabin D (or there about)- Semi closed to Yugi]

It was so weird walking into the cabin where he was supposed to sleep. He wanted to be with Gladio and Iggy, but after being told multiple times that doesn't work, he finally had to brave his own room. Walking in, he set his bag on one of the top bunks and looked around. It was small, but cozy.

Welp. Now what?

Gladio opened his eyes to find them obscured by... fog? Why was there fog? He was sure it had been bright moments ago. He looked to his left and right and saw dark silhouettes within that fog at either side of them, slowly coming into focus as both his eyes adjusted and the fog seemed to thin. Soon the fog had faded almost completely for him to finally notice what he was wearing and that it was damned cold. Gladio looked down with a muttered "what the hell?" under his breath and pulled at the front of the hoodie. He was moments from investigating the bag on his shoulder when out of the darkness came a sound that immediately had him moving into a battle ready stance and reaching for a sword that just didn't come to him. Instead of a giant beast, though, a train came into sight.

Feeling like a huge idiot, and hoping no one else had seen him, Gladio straightened and watched as the massive train pulled up along side them. And it was then that he realised he had a ticket in his hand. Had it been there before? With a shake of his head, Gladio brought a hand up to grab the hood of his new hoodie and yanked it up over his head against the wind. Apparently he had a train to get on...

{On The Train}

He was unreasonably angry with the train right from the get go. He'd felt compelled to get on it, and when he'd tried to resist it had left him feeling very uncomfortable. That meant he had no will of his own. His choice had been taken from him and now he was on a train to gods knew where and he kind of wanted to kick up a fuss. Especially when the damn thing jerked and near threw him on his ass once it has started moving.

Gladio was in a rather bad mood. He didn't appreciate mysteries such as this. He liked to know what was going on. And the leaflet he had been given just made things worse.

He gave a low, annoyed growl and chose to make his way through the train to his cabin marked on the ticket. In the completely wrong direction.

(ooc: omg I hope to gods I'm doing this right! Please tell me if I'm not!)

He'd been reading what was on his ticket when something blue flashed at the corner of his eye. When Gladio looked up it was to see something he couldn't readily identify to the point his brain just kind of... gave up. Luckily, close by the blue creature, was a very familiar face that did get his brain engaged.

"Prompto?" The name left Galdio's lips seconds after his feet had engaged to take him toward the blonde. At the first few steps he felt hope that maybe, just maybe, Prompto had an idea of what the hell was going on. But as he got closer that hope began to die. Prompto looked just about as confused as he felt, maybe more.

"How... You're here too?" Gladio asked once he was close enough to actually talk to the smaller man. He shoved his ticket into his pocket, out of sight and out of mind.

Prompto looked up Gladio in disbelief. The large man who seemed to really tower over him from where he'd fallen on the ground would likely notice bruises on the blonde's face and hands that shouldn't be there.

"Wh- what's going on?" He asked. "Why aren't you on the train?"

Cold. Damn cold. And he could swear that Prompto was turning as blue as that thing he'd spotted earlier. The hoodies and pants did nothing against the bite of the cold wind blowing across the platform. What the wind did do, however, was bring with it the warming scent of chocolate. Gladio had turned toward that smell to find at the other end of the platform, closer to the train, a table had been set up and someone was handing out drinks. It was just what Prompto needed to get him warmed up. And himself, if he was honest. The cold was getting into his bones.

He made his way over, dodging others on the platform, his focus on the strangely pink haired girl with the smile handing out drinks. One each, it seemed. Would he be allowed two if he pointed to the yellow and blue guy tagging along behind him? Gladio hoped so.

Stopping in front of the table he made himself smile, debated crouching down to be more on her level, dismissed it and took a deep breath. "Can I get two of those?" He asked, pointing at the hot chocolate. "To help warm this guy up." Same hand jerked toward Prompto, and his head turned to make sure that he was actually okay and hadn't keeled over yet.

"Because it's just pulled up?" Gladio replied with a small, confused frown. He crouched down beside the fallen blonde and half reached out to touch a bruise upon Prompto's cheek, but stopped himself just before actually touching him.

"No idea what the hell's going on here, but what happened to you?" As far as he was aware himself, he didn't have any extra injuries. Prompto looked like he'd been liberally beaten up and then some. "You alright?"

The young man's expression mirrored Gladio's in confusion. "What?" Did Gladio not know what happened? How didn't he know? He'd been gone well over a day by now, hadn't he? Did that mean no one had noticed? His bottom lip quivered a little and he looked away, trying to hide it. "No, not.." He was really lost.

He reached up to brush his hair out of his face, when he spotted his hands again. "My gloves are gone. What happened to my gloves?" He looked back up at Gladio, like the other man would have any idea.

Oh geez that's a big guy approaching. Or rather, Madoka is so focused on helping out someone else for a moment that she doesn't notice Gladio until he's suddenly right there. Which is a lot to take in at once. The man's size definitely makes him instantly intimidating, especially to someone as shy as Madoka, but on the other hand.. he's smiling, so maybe he's not that bad? And he's wearing blue, so that means he's a new team member! That means she should at least try to get along with him, right?

Come on, Madoka. You can do it. Just reply to him, even if it's scary!

"Ah, o.. o-o-o-of course!" .. well, at least she did manage to get a reply out, even if it's stammered. Madoka's cheeks grow as pink as her hair very quickly. She quickly gets two of the drinks ready and holds them out to him. "Y.. You should take care, sir, it seems really windy out here today.."

Confusion was going to be the natural order for things, it seemed. Just different kinds. One replaced the other and now what had confused him before was replaced by the fact that Prompto wouldn't look at him... Hell, the guy looked about ready to burst into tears, and Gladio couldn't help feeling it was something he had done. But what?

Instinctively, Gladio reached out to take Prompto's hands, rubbing them between his own to warm them. "Gloves are the least of your worries. Our clothes are gone." He pointed out and flashed Prompto a grin. "Least we've got these stylish hoodies though."

Maybe he should have crouched down after all? He was tall, he knew. Broad in the shoulder, definitely. Did the hoodie hide any of his muscle mass? Probably not. The bunched fabric probably made it look worse, he imagined. Without a mirror he could only guess. Still, he didn't actually mean to scare the kid who was kind enough to be offering strangers drinks on the Platform To Hell. Gladio tried to soften his voice, gentle the deep, gruff tones as he reached to take the drinks from the young girl. "Thank you. Just what we need to warm us against this cold."

Platform
Hands in orange hoodie pockets, Eva glared at the train as if willing it to catch fire. Maybe she was, given the last thing she (vaguely) remembered was walking out the gate, presumably to home. Then nothing.

Now she's back.

She doesn't like it; she's not fate's toy or plaything, no matter what those six months when she was thirteen claim. But, if she's here, not home, then fine. So be it as another yeeting of destiny wouldn't kill her. Hopefully. "Fate's a bastard, ain't he?"

Said to everyone and no-one as she shrugs and heads towards said train.

Train (Wildcard/everywhere)
Once aboard the train, Eva was swift to let Princess out as they explored said train; she'd find her new cabin (3:C) later. Exploration's far more important than that as she's pretty sure she was on the ice maze mission, but outside a glance at the leaflets, she hasn't a clue how much time's passed for the train outside enough that Curufin's now Orange Leader.

But that's for later. Exploration first, other stuff later. She's here for a reason and if she is fate's plaything, she's damn well going to re-familiarize herself with the train first and... figure out everything else later.

Princess, for his part, is riding shotgun on her shoulder/rucksack, the pink pseudo-rabbit-like* pokemon's vestigial wings flared for balance. His pokeball is clipped to Eva's pokebelt and they're both pretty relaxed all things considered even.

((*The middle one!))

Edited 2020-03-01 09:33 (UTC)

Madoka was doing very well with the hot chocolate and Ignis needed to be out greeting his new team members. His eyes went to his list as to how many of the Blue team were incoming and something made him look up. A prickling went along his neck and the advisor blinked almost owlishly.

And then it felt like his heart stopped. He saw a familiar outline from underneath a blue hoodie. Staring for a moment, the dusty blonde head shook and his legs felt like they were wooden. It wasn't so cold that he was seeing things was he?

"Gladio!" Ignis called. And no sooner had he gone two steps when he saw the man he knew turn. This made him stop right in his tracks again. This wasn't a trick was it? "You're truly here?"

Instinctively, Prompto started to pull his hand back but then he realized what Gladio was doing. Actually, it was more like he was too stunned by what he was seeing to do anything at all. This was such a contrast to Noct telling him he was a traitor and throwing him off the train that his brain could barely process it.

The joke had been fun and he attempted to smile at it, but before he could stop it, he had tears running down his cheeks. He couldn't possibly be understanding this wrong. Gladio didn't hate him. Whatever had made Noct do what he did clearly wasn't something Gladio was harboring too. "Why's mine purple and yours is blue?"

Gladio felt the little tug away from his hands, but he held on. If Prompto really wanted to pull away he could, but his hands were freezing without his gloves to keep him warm. The hands weren't pulled away again. He even managed to get a smile from the blonde. A smile that lasted all of a few seconds before tears began to track down Prompto's cheeks and another layer of confusion was piled on top of the ever growing mountain that was starting to give Gladio a headache.

"No idea, Prom. I'd prefer black but, guess some bright spark thought it was a good idea?" Gladio honestly didn't know, all he knew was that Prompto was crying and he had no idea why. Did he hate the colour purple that much? Gladio thought it kind of suited him. "But hey, it's gunna be alright. Just need to get you warmed up first."

Tony had been watching someone else on the platform when his attention turned back to Mady. His stomach dropped seeing the tiny girl in front of a very large man. He stepped up behind the girl and put a hand on her shoulder that could either look protective or possessive. He wore a red hoodie and had an arrogant air of authority about him.

"Mady, darling, why don't you also get our guest some cake." I.e. Get behind me.

Gladio was still looking down at his ticket in confusion when he heard his name spoken out loud. His head lifted and the hood he'd pulled up against the wind slipped back enough he could now see out of it. He turned toward the voice and stopped. "Ignis?" Gladio all out grinned then as he moved toward his old friend, so it took him a second to register the rest of what Ignis had said and his steps slowed. "Truly here? You know where here is, Iggy? Because I don't have a damn clue! One minute I'm in Lestallum and the next..." He lifted his ticket with one hand and gestured toward the train with the other. It was pretty obvious. He was in one place and now another, with no understanding or memory of how or why.

He'd been about to turn and return to Prompto with the drinks when some guy appeared behind the young girl and made his suggestion. A perfectly innocent and friendly suggestion for cake. It would have been just fine if it hadn't been for the look in the guys eyes that instantly has Gladio's guard up. His smile slipped and his expression turned serious. With kids around he couldn't tell this guy to fuck off, so he turned his attention back to the kid and offered up another smile, a little more forced this time. "None for us, thanks. I'll just take these back..." Gladio wasn't about to start a fight, and he hated to back down, but Prompto was waiting for him and he had no idea what was going on. Starting a fight would have been counter-productive. Though that guy sure looked like he'd be fun to punch...

Prompto caught hold of Gladio's hands to pull himself up and threw his arms around very large shoulders. He was so relieved the big guy didn't hate him. He didn't need the rest of this to make sense if that part of his world was okay. After a long moment, he managed to pull back and wiped his face with his sleeves.

"I don't get it though. Why aren't you on the train with Noct and Iggy? I don't understand what's happening. And.. you're wearing a whole shirt! That's just weird!"

All of a sudden he had an armful of crying blonde. Immediately his arms went around Prompto, holding the guy tight in an attempt to offer what little body heat he had as well as the comfort he seemed to need. Maybe it was a little selfish as well... As confused as he was, stuck somewhere he didn't understand, Prompto was familiar. Solid and very much something he could understand.

At least he could usually understand him. But when Prompto tried to pull away and spoke, Gladio found himself frowning.

"I wear shirts... Sometimes." He replied defensively, then realise that hadn't been the important part of what Prompto had said and laughed at himself. "Like I said, not on the train yet. Last I remember I was in Lestallum kicking daemon ass at the reactor. Now I'm here. And speaking of... where the hell is Noct? Have you seen him here?" Gladio looked around, in all the confusion he'd forgotten. Guilt welled up inside of him at the thought he'd been negligent in his duties.

"Huh, dad..?"

Madoka mostly just seems surprised when Tony is right there next to her all of a sudden. She was so busy dealing with Gladio that the message implied in his words is completely lost on her - and it helps that she can't even fully see the look her dad is giving to the other guy, so there's a lot going straight over the girl's head here.

Instead she's just thinking about cake now. Even as Gladio refuses the offer. She may have no idea what his true reason for saying so is, but she's trying to figure out what it could be.. maybe he doesn't trust it yet, since he's new?

"Oh.. You don't have to be worried about it, um.. it's just.. regular cake." No poison here! Only poisonous Tony glares, apparently. "Papa and I worked really hard on it, so if you're hungry.."

Can you resist those adorable puppy eyes, Gladio. Can you.

Joy flooded through Ignis' system at seeing the king's shield standing there. While he had missed Gladio he just didn't wish for him to be trapped and stuck here along with him to share in his internment. And yet one of his most selfish wishes was standing here looking right back at him.

Wordlessly he nodded to the question. "Yes, I'm afraid I've rather been here for quite some time." The advisor sighed. "And this may take some time to explain." Nodding sympathetically to the waving ticket, green eyes looked into dark ones. "I take it Noct and Prompto aren't with you, but you're going to board the train. But the good news is that you and I are on the same team as luck would have it." From there, where did he start? He tried to start at the beginning.

"The train itself travels through space, assisting other worlds through teams. Each coloured team is assigned a different part of a mission in rescuing that particular world." A cold wind blew and Ignis huffed his way through it. "If you'd rather, we can go inside and warm up first."

Despite his best efforts, when the little girl starts in about the kind of cake it is, his expression softens as he looks back at her. What was he doing? The large ape of a fellow had just been getting cocoa.

"It's quite good. She made it with the best chef on the train," he offered. This time it was a real offer.

No, Gladio could not resist those eyes. Worse, they reminded him of Iris. He wanted to run a hand across his eyes, but with his hands full he couldn't actually do that without looking like an idiot. He closed his eyes instead, took a deep breath and when he opened his eyes again he smiled a bit easier, almost a grin. Something he could do if he ignored the unhappy shadow behind the girl. What? Did he think he was going to kidnap her or something?

"Maybe a small slice. Since it's just regular cake. Think it might cheer my friend up." At least he hoped maybe something sweet would bring a smile to Prompto's eyes. The unhappy shadow seemed to soften some about then, which made Gladio feel a little less on edge, but not enough to lower his guard just yet.

Gladio held up a hand to stall Ignis. "I'm not going anywhere." He pointed at the train and then Ignis. "That thing flies though space. And you have been on it for some time... But that's impossible. I left you in Lestallum. At least..." He frowned, gruff voice getting gruffer as he started to get annoyed. Not at Ignis but at his own confusion.

Nothing Ignis told him made a lick of sense. They were on the same team? Of course they were, they'd been that way for years. What made no so different? And the train. The train was beginning to really annoy him and he'd not even stepped foot into it yet.

"... The others aren't here either? Damn..." Gladio rubbed a hand across his face to stop with the hand covering his mouth. "None of this makes sense."

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Page 1 of 127

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

Madoka platform/joint post with Ignis & Tony

Prompto Argentum

Gladiolus Amicitia

[Platform]

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Eva

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