voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

On the Train

Two days after they return from their mission they are awoken as usual "Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Egret. The shop has been updated and points have been applied to passengers tickets."

Those that go to check the shop terminals will find they have indeed updated, with the option to buy larger items and also animals. The morning goes on until just after noon there is a second announcement.

"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. Though the fog is thick, thicker than usual perhaps, there are patches on sunlight shining through and it is pleasantly warm.

The doors open and the first few to disembark do so with rucksacks on, hoods pulled up, silent and almost blank faced. Cu Chulain, Dio Brando, Disreputable Dog, Heiji Hattori, Loki Maedhros, Maglor, Naruto, Thor, Tobias Fangor.

They walk to the barriers, show their tickets and disappear.

But on the platform itself there are once again new faces. 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 as people begin to shift or call out it will become apparent they are not alone.

The platform is not large and it holds eighteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. It's warm but foggy making it hard to see much, but there are clearer patches bathed in sunlight found across 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. 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, in case the passengers weren't bored of them yet.

Passengers who are not brand new will notice that the train has gotten yet longer again with a sixth sleeper cabin for new arrivals.

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

Mami looks over at him, elbow-deep in flour as she works.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I know it's late. Don't worry, I'll clean up after myself. You could stay to eat if you like, this won't take long."

"Oh--no, it's okay. My team's stuck on cleaning this time, I only came to get started a little early."

He shook his head, glancing over at Mami briefly.

"Don't worry, I'll stay out of your way."

"I promise I won't make any more work for you."

Some mixing, seasoning, and kneading later, and she's in the oven, scrubbing down her work area. "...maybe this is an odd question, but do you like it here?"

"...Honestly?"

Because that was a hell of a question with no entirely positive answer. Waver looked back at what he was doing, both to get it done faster and to avoid looking at Mami directly.

"No--not really. The people here don't seem all that bad, but I think my ending up here was some mistake or crossed wires somewhere or something. I need to get back to where I came from, at least there I already know I'm insanely underqualified for whatever I think I'm doing."

Something in that sounds so familiar to her. Mami folds her hands in thought, considering him.

"Everyone has a purpose, even if they can't see it yet. And it's never too late to learn something. I felt the same way once...and it hurt every time I failed or felt too weak. But it can still get better, I think."

"Maybe it can, I just...don't really see a whole lot of ways that's possible right now. There isn't even any way I can improve what skills I do have here."

It was hard--impossible, really--for him to practice magic without the right supplies or equipment.

"...You sound kind of like someone I know back home, though. He'd probably say something encouraging like that too." He sighed, tired more than annoyed. "I guess I'm just kind of at a loss right now."

"You don't have the tools?"

She can understand that. She doesn't exactly have a shooting range anymore.

"Just take your time. Maybe there's something you learned back then that will help you make it easier to learn something else...like how what you learn in baking applies to chemistry, for example."

"That's...exactly it, actually. It's kind of hard to explain in detail, but basically I'm missing all my supplies and materials."

Looking up again, Waver glanced from Mami to the oven.

"I've got a decent grasp of chemistry, but I've never tried baking before."

"Oh! Then that's something we can start with for your confidence. And maybe as time goes on, we can find materials."

Problem solved, right? Maybe? She dares to look hopeful.

"I...I'm kind of useless with cooking, really. And I don't know what kind of materials we'll be able to find."

Although he did seem to give the offer some thought, frowning slightly as he turned the idea over in his head.

"But I guess...it's not a bad idea. My name's Waver--sorry, I didn't get yours."

"Don't give up yet. You never know what we'll find!"

Mami still looks quite cheerful about it.

"My name is Mami Tomoe. It's nice to meet you too."

A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

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