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

It's too late! Here the panic is, it's starting! Most people would realise Mami is teasing, but Madoka falls for these things way too easily. Sure, it's not a full on panic, but her cheeks start to colour pink the instant Mami mentions those last two words. If it wasn't for Ignis speaking up, she immediately would have squeaked something about liking both their food!

Thankfully she's quickly distracted by Ignis having to tell her something, and although she at first takes the bear with surprise, the emotion quickly turns into understanding as she nods at him before quickly returning to the other girl's side.

"Y.. Yes, I was hoping you could make something for Mami-san.." Since she's been through a lot, Madoka thinks, but spares Mami the indignity of having to hear those words out loud. Instead she just squeezes Mami's hand before holding out the blue-hoodied bear to her. "Ah, and Mami-san..! Um.."

Madoka's blush deepens a bit. She thinks the bear is a good idea on Ignis' part, but she can't help but worry whether or not Mami would like it.. Wouldn't she think it's too childish?

"If you want.. you can have this! Isn't the bear kind of cute? He's really nice to hug, too! I have one too, so we can match..!"

Huh? Mami politely turns her back, but she can't help but worry. What might this be about? Is everything okay?

She spins back around when she hears approaching footsteps, her curls whipping her face. Whoops. That's when she spots the bear and smiles...it's nostalgic.

"No, he's wonderful," she assures them, giving the bear a big snuggle. "He reminds me of someone I used to know, actually...I'll tell you later, Madoka."

With another silent prayer for Sakura-san, she nods. "I'd be honored, but of course I can help if it'll make things go faster!"

It was a good thing he had a few bears (ok two in this case) on him. But it was a good idea to be more armed with bears for the next platform and every one thereafter. "I can do that darling." Ignis quietly reassured his daughter with a smile before watching her turn back to her friend.

He was careful to keep the smile hidden at seeing the gift be so well received but he nodded. "Once we're inside, it's not far to the kitchen." And he didn't need help, but he had no desire to be rude either. Besides, Madoka might want to help too and idly he wondered what his life had become.

"If you would like, your assistance would be more than welcome."

Someone Mami used to know? Count Madoka curious! It's not like she knows a whole lot about Mami's life before the other girl ran into her and Sayaka, of course, so she'd love to hear about it at some other time.

And honestly, she's just glad to see Mami looking more or less okay right now. She's a little worried the other girl might still just be putting on a brave face, but hopefully doing something relatively normal like just cooking might settle her in some more.

So Madoka encourages the suggestion, giggling. "Uwah, I want to taste something that was made by papa and Mami-san together! I bet it'd be the most delicious thing ever."

"All right, let's go. I'll just...need you to lead the way."

She gives the bear a gentle squeeze before slipping it into her bag.

"I'll call her Sakura. A memento. Now what would everyone like to eat?"

Ignis smiled and led the way, keeping an eye on the girls as they maneuvered through the train. Fortunately it wasn't far and the train wasn't quite yet packed with everyone because the newer people were more than likely staring in disbelief at being where they were. And he could certainly sympathize as that had been his own plight months before.

Now they settled into the kitchen and Ignis got the girls something to drink before turning in surprise at Mami's question. She was cooking? Wait..wasn't he cooking too?

.. Sakura? Wait. Something about that seems kind of familiar..

Then again, it could just be that maybe Mami has a special memory of sakura trees? Maybe Madoka is overthinking it. She feels like she's probably overthinking it.. So the girl shakes her head, saving the thought for later as they instead head down the train to the kitchen. There's no real space to sit, but Madoka doesn't want to get in the way either, so instead she manages to pull herself up on a relatively unused counter so she's out of the way of the other two.

"Some cookies might be nice.." Sure, it might be simple, but it's something she knows for sure Mami would be able to make. And of course Ignis would be able to do so too. So it seems like a fairly safe thing to suggest.

(And besides, Madoka is always up for eating cookies.)

Oh, Mami was planning on making this...memorable. She let Ignis do his thing, but after a few moments, stage-whispered to Madoka.

"Good idea! I think you should make them...really cute. Sugar cookies are simple, and they can be shaped into whatever you want! And shine with a sugar topping."

She's already scrubbing her hands. Huh.

Automatically just as he would do for Buttercup, Ignis gets his daughter a glass of juice and gives her one for Mami by extension. But he noticed that other girl seemed pretty intent on..whatever she was doing. But he'd learned to share the kitchen so he was busy making lunch.

The advisor made himself another coffee and then started making the Papa bird and baby rice bowl which wasn't too much different than the Mother and child rice bowl.

Madoka makes sure to thank Ignis for the drink, although her attention is most definitely focused on these cookies now. You can't dangle the idea of sugar cookies of all things in front of Madoka and not expect her to get excited over them!

"That sounds great..! Mami-san, were you thinking of any particular shape?"

A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

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