A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

[sonoflucis]

Noct had finally gained enough of a footing that he deciding some exploring couldn't hurt. He found himself in the greenhouse and was finally able to take an easy breath. Seeing plants was rather healing. And then he spotted his Shield. He walked over quietly, trying not to be too obvious.

"Hey."

[callmegladio]

Gladio had returned to his book, it was starting to get to a good part. The Reveal. He'd finally find out if the guy he had suspected for the better part of the book was the killer. Though, knowing his luck, it would be the guys cousin who seemingly had no motive but something would be made up at the end just to piss him off. A lot of books seemed to do that and even when he read the book again, knowing all the details, he still sometimes had trouble seeing the killer was anyone but the one he'd originally suspected.

Which was probably why he never noticed Noctis approaching him until he spoke.

He started, his head jerked up to find another person standing over him and gave his King a wry smile. "... Trying to up your sneaking game, Princess?" He asked, trying to use humour to disguise the fact Noctis had made him jump.

[sonoflucis]

Noct felt a little thrill that he had actually spooked Gladio. Still, he shook his head and moved to sit next to him. "Nah, you were just so into that book you didn't hear me coming..." He looked around before speaking up. "Didn't see you on the platform..."

[callmegladio]

"It's a good book." Gladio replied with a smile and reached for a blade of grass to slip between the pages before he closed the book. Noctis had settled himself down on the grass beside him in the meantime.

"No, you wouldn't have." Gladio answered casually, still with that same smile. "You seemed busy. I figured I'd get to talk to you once you'd had your fill of the other two." He glanced over at Noct, his smile widening a touch. "Sorry. I know it's a rough landing. But you were in good hands."

[sonoflucis]

Noct nodded absently, pressing his back against the tree. "Thanks. You always seem to know how I'll handle things." He would have gotten overwhelmed, especially with how Ignis and Prompto had reacted. "But I'm glad to see you, Big Guy."

[callmegladio]

[ooc: sadly no trees, just a wall Gladio is leaning against!]

"I'm glad to see you as well." Gladio replied with a warm, releaved smile. Because he was glad. Wished like he'll it hadn't happened, sure. But that didn't mean he couldn't be happy now Noctis was there.

"How're you settling in?" he grinned. "Think it was around this point I was punching the hell out of a punching bag. Or laying down nursing a splitting headache."

[sonoflucis]

[ooc: Oops! wall, then]

Noct offered him a soft smile. "I had a migraine...but a really nice young woman helped me with some magic...it was amazing." He sighed. "But I was really spiraling there for a moment... a lot of stuff was happening back home...but Prom said you're from a different time...?"

[callmegladio]

Gladio hid a smile. One of his roommates had been kind enough to give him a massage that had eased his headache enough for him to have caught a quick nap that first day, before he'd gone and spent the night watching over Prompto.

"There's a lot of good people here. Lot of weird things, too." Gladio nodded, but then gave Noct a keen look. "Yeah, it's the damndest thing. Last I knew we were In Lestallum heading to the Leville... I didn't even make it." He paused, not really sure if he wanted to know the answer to his next question or not. "... Where did the train pull you from, Noct?"

[sonoflucis]

Noct sobered up, biting his lip. "Did Prompto tell you what time he came from? Yeah...around the same time. I was trying to find him. I had gotten split up from you and Ignis..." He wrapped his arms around himself. "Things weren't great..."

[callmegladio]

Gladio sighed heavily, his one good hand raised to rub across his face. Damn but he'd hoped that wouldn't be the case. Wished Noct had come from a point before any of them.

"Shit... Look, Noct... For what it's worth, I'm sorry." He remembered how Prompto had been. The things he'd said. Gladio had to swallow down on the way of self-loathing that tried to wash over him. "I wasn't there. I mean, I really wasn't there. Prompto says I was an ass to you guys. You didn't need that. You'd just... You needed a friend and I wasn't that. So I'm sorry and I hope you can forgive me."

[sonoflucis]

Noct shook his head. "Hey...you don't have to be sorry. I was being an ass, too." He shifted to look at Gladio better. "You needed me to be a leader and I couldn't be that. We were both in a bad state. I'm not mad at you, Big Guy...but if it helps, then yeah, I forgive you."

[callmegladio]

"I already know you'll be a great leader, Noct. I know when the time comes you'll step up. I've never doubted that." He just didn't understand what had made him doubt that. What had made him act like that towards the people closest to him.

He shook his head then and offered Noct a weak smile." I just need to know you don't hate me, that's all. The guy you knew, the Gladio you saw last, that's not me. I've not been through the things you guys have. So yeah, it helps knowing you're not mad at me."

[sonoflucis]

Noct actually leaned his head onto Gladio's shoulder, just gently enough for the contact. "That means a lot to hear you say that, Gladio. It really does. And for what it's worth, I know you weren't yourself at that time. None of us were. So no, I'm not mad at you. If anything, I think I understand it more, now. Hoe messed up we all were. I know you care about me..."

[callmegladio]

Gladio was more than a bit surprised when Noctis leaned against him, but he didn't move. Couldn't have even if he'd wanted to. He'd sat himself down without quite knowing how to get himself back up again. But he'd work that out later.

He wished he understood. Not having been through the things the others had made him feel a little lost. But for whatever reason, Noct seemed fine with it all. He wasn't angry. That was all he could ask for.

Carefully he moved his arm to slip around Noct, moving so he was in a more comfortable position. "Good. That's all that matters then. And now you're here. So you can relax."

[sonoflucis]

Noct relaxed, closing his eyes. "I definitely feel better not being separated from all of you." Noct said. "You picked a nice spot to sit, Big Guy."

[callmegladio]

"It's not exactly outdoors, but it's as good as I can get on a train." Gladio replied with a low chuckle. He still wished for trees and wildlife. Sometimes he wondered if he could someone get artificial noises pumped through into the room but realised he was just being silly. It was relaxing enough for him.

"I come here a lot." it helped it made him feel a little less trapped than the rest of the train did.

[sonoflucis]

"I like it." Noct murmured. "If it's okay with you, do you think I could join you sometimes?" He didn't want to infringe on Gladio's quiet time if it was something he preferred to do alone, but Noct wanted to spend time with Gladio. Time that wasn't defined by their duties.

[callmegladio]

He couldn't stop him from coming into the greenhouse, it was a public space after all. But Gladio knew that wasn't really what was being asked and found himself smiling. "You wanna sit with me? You won't get bored?" he knew it wasn't the most thrilling of activities. It wasn't like home. There was no duty outside of chores they all worked towards. No running and hiding. Nowhere to go, really.

"I'd like the company though. I don't know why, people seem to think they're bothering me. I just like how open is here, and the smell of the grass." He grinned and gave the king at his side a little squeeze. "You're never a bother."

[sonoflucis]

Noct smiled, eyes brighter. "I won't get bored. Even if I nap, it would just be because I'm comfy." He laughed. Having Gladio pull him closer set his stomach a flutter. "Then let's make it a habit. I like it here with you."

[callmegladio]

"I've been known to doze here too." Gladio admitted with a grin. It was to a point that now the regulars who tended to the plants just worked around him. He did his best to keep out of everyones way, staying to the back by the wall. He was always on hand to help if needed. But generally he was left to himself. If Noct wanted to join him and catch a nap when he did, there was nothing wrong with that.

"Habit it is then." Because he liked Nocts laugh. Anything that could make him happy enough to laugh like that was something Gladio wanted to cultivate.

[sonoflucis]

Noct decided to snuggle enough to get comfortable. "You always seem happiest when you're reading. You know, sitting in the back seat with you, relaxing, was one of my favorite things while we were traveling."

[callmegladio]

Gladio lifted his arm a little and looked down at Noctis, amused by him and reminded of a puppy. But a bit confused as well. Was this a thing he'd started doing with him after Lestallum? He had no idea. There was a part of him that wanted to remind him he wasn't Ignis or Prompto, but he was pretty sure Noct already knew that...

"Now that's a lie." Gladio said with a chuckle and dropped his arm back around Nocts shoulders this time. "It was fishing." He was teasing of course, there was laughter in his tone. But he knew well and good that Noct couldn't have really believed what he was saying. Why would sitting with a guy not paying attention to the things around them be a good thing?

[sonoflucis]

It was not something he would do before, but the relief that Gladio was smiling at him.

"I said one of my favorite things. It was nice to just have quiet company while I was lost in my thoughts." He said. "I feel like I didn't tell you enough how much your friendship means to me."

[callmegladio]

"No, I suppose you didn't... But you didn't have to." Gladio frowned a bit then, it soon cleared when something clicked into place. He was a bit slow, but maybe Noct was in that same place he'd been. That place when you realise you're not on Eos anymore. Because he knew damn well Noct wouldn't have snuggled up to his Shields side. Nor would he have been this honest and open... But somehow it made him very happy. Maybe Ignis was hell bent on duty and a life they used to have. But Gladio would much rather see Noct flourish in an environment that wasn't putting a world of pressure on a young man's shoulders.

"I knew, Noct. But I'm glad... Your friendship means a great deal to me too."

[sonoflucis]

Noct smiled brightly. It was rather freeing, knowing they weren't bound by the stessors at home. Now he and Gladio could be better friends, he thought. "Thanks, Big Guy. So... What's that book about?"