A New Platform [Intro Post June]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

The days following the mission are relatively uneventful as people once more get used to the rhythm of life on the train. "Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Fiddlesticks. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train a while will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"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 is a cool day, clouds gathering threateningly though it stays dry luckily.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Leviathan, Atsushi Nakajima, Spinel, Peggy Carter, Evie Grimhilde, Cal Kestiss, Gwen Stacey, Renee Corbin, Lan Jingyi, Waver Velvet, Aoko Nakamori, Namine, Jak and Marcus Wright all reach the barriers, show their tickets and disappear through, vanishing into the fog.

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies, in various states of confusion.

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 twenty six figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. The air is cool with a slight breeze. 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. Most are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple though some are sporting different clothes in a variety of styles.

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 plenty more bacon as well as other staples.

Passengers who are not brand new will notice a new carriage. A second gym. This one is outfitted for training with mats, fighting pads, balance beams and even climbing apparatus to help get everyone ready for the missions ahead.

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

[wisdominshadows]

Platform

Settling into a relatively quiet corner of the platform, Zelda is mostly content to people-watch and enjoy the outside while she can. In her hands is her ocarina, at times brought to her lips to absently improvise a tune.

The song goes a bit softer and sadder as the former passengers depart- they’re arguably the lucky ones, she supposes, but neither farewells nor losses of choice are pleasant things to witness. Otherwise it’s a sweet, meandering tune, in no hurry to finish.

Luggage

Zelda’s package is shaking.

It’s only noticeable if you’re paying attention, just like the faint, irregular clicking noise which also emanates from the closed box in her arms. Zelda doesn’t look worried, though she does notably step away from anyone brushing too close.

Eventually, there are few enough people around that she feels comfortable opening it- and any bystander will see an angry set of teeth snap out of the box, aiming for the girl’s face. She pulls away, unsurprised- if anything, she might be a bit amused.

[eyeslikeblood]

Gyousou doesn't have a package to collect, but he's waiting for Taiki to go and collect what he expects will be too much for him to carry on his own; it's essentially the same thing. He has nothing to do but pay attention, leaning against the wall with arms folded.

So, inevitably, he catches the lunge of a fanged something, jaws tilted at an angle impossible for something in possession of a spine.

"What manner of creature is that?" He can't help but ask.

[wisdominshadows]

"I beg your pardon?"

Zelda looks up from where she's carefully resealing the package to see pale hair and a glint of red-

The familiarity brings a smile to her face... but it shifts to one of polite greeting as she realizes she's never seen the man before her.

"Ah- this is a Deku Baba, sir. A very useful plant, but a I'm afraid it's also a rather ill-tempered one."

[eyeslikeblood]

For his part, a girl with golden hair would be immediately identifiable as a holy creature; he's getting better at subduing that instinctive reaction, but there's still an element of respect from her appearance alone.

He bows, insofar as he inclines his head in a half-bow. Pending a formal introduction, that is... but he's more interested in her as an apparently purveyor of demonic plants for the time being.

"Oh?" He smiles back, eyes warm with interest towards her prize. "I've never heard of such a plant. What are its uses, if you don't mind me asking?"

[wisdominshadows]

For a moment, Zelda almost sinks into a half-curtsy, but that first instinctive recognition causes her to hesitate. Instead she matches him bow for bow, as her guardian would do when greeting the Shadow Folk's last few members. As she did in turn, when the Sheikah had become her people as well.

"The seeds produce a particular effect when properly handled," she explains. "When thrown with enough force, they produce a flash of light upon hitting their target- one which can briefly freeze a creature in place."

A pause, then she continues. "Not everyone on board is a swordsman or a sorceress, and we go into danger all too often. Deku nuts may help some of those aboard even the odds in tricky encounters."

[eyeslikeblood]

He listens to the explanation attentively, nodding when she pauses to encourage her to continue. While he hasn't heard of such seeds before, he's familiar with the concept of unique plants and the need for them.

"Quite a gift you're giving them," he approves. He himself wouldn't take them, but for someone like Taiki or Dyme... "The ability to defend yourself, or buy time for an ally to step in... That sounds invaluable. Will you be offering lessons? I know several people who would benefit."

Platform

[stillnewatthis]

"Oh! You have obtained an instrument!" Orisa, not exactly up to date on her 'don't interrupt musicians' protocols, wandered out of the steam towards the music that had drawn her attention. She clapped her hand against the mounting of her fusion driver, looking and sounding as delighted as an omnic who could only express herself with her eyes could. (Which was a surprising amount.) "But I do not recognize it."

[wisdominshadows]

"It arrived with me, technically," Zelda says, setting the instrument in her lap for the moment.

(And a good thing too; it had been in her hand at the moment she must have been snatched from Hyrule, and potentially losing the Ocarina of Time to the void would have been one more thing to worry about when she arrived.)

"And you're not the first person here to say as much." She takes a moment to look down at the instrument in her hands. "I wouldn't have guessed that there were places where ocarinas were uncommon. They're very popular instruments in Hyrule."

[stillnewatthis]

"It looks very much like a shell." Orisa's actual experiences with shells were limited to just recently, but that was her opinion nonetheless. "And plays like a flute? That is very interesting! And it uses no electricity either."

[wisdominshadows]

"Most I've seen are made of wood or clay-"

Not the Ocarina of Time, though. Stone, Impa had told her as a child, an ancient and powerful stone otherwise gone from the world.

"-but I suppose you could make one of the right shell, if you were careful. The trouble would be sealing up the seam."

An eyebrow quirks up. She knows what electricity is (or at least, she knows it's effectively controlled lightning, which is an explanation which works for the moment)but outside of powering some people's collections, she's not entirely sure what it has to do with music.

"It uses pressure," she explains, and holds out the ocarina to demonstrate. "The sound comes from air bouncing around the body of the ocarina, and I use the fingerings to determine how much pressure is let out."

[stillnewatthis]

"It functions like other woodwinds then," Orisa said, cataloging the statements and demonstration for later reference. "The difference is that the body resonates the pressure, rather than relying entirely on airflow across an opening. Database update complete! Thank you for your input. Also your playing was very nice."

Platform

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel is drawn to the beautiful music and comes and sits near her to listen until she is done.

[wisdominshadows]

Eventually, the notes of the ocarina trail off.

"Master Glorfindel," she acknowledges. "You flatter me with your attention to my poor music."

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel smiles and shakes his head. He's not been called Master before. His skills do not lie in a field where that is common, but it does sound nice.

"I assure you, my lady, that your music is far from poor. I was enjoying it immensely. I am not familiar with the instrument, however."

[wisdominshadows]

"You as well?"

She lets out a soft laugh as her fingers curl around the ocarina.

"I'm beginning to wonder whether Hyrule is the only place where ocarinas are common."

platform

[draconite]

[ Despite the impression that everything else about her as a person gives off, Bryn waits politely and relatively quietly for Zelda to be done playing before she launches into some pretty enthusiastic applause. ]

That was amazing! So pretty! What song was that?

[wisdominshadows]

Thank you,

[Zelda replies, a little embarrassed by the praise]

Mostly, I've been improvising. Though the last few minutes were a variant of a lullaby I knew as a child... I've always found it an easy melody to improvise on.

[draconite]

Eheh, I'm so jealous! I can play piano, but there isn't one here, so I haven't been able to do anything... what a pretty sound, though!

[ Don't mind her if she comes over, to give the ocarina a look. ]

What is this? It's not a flute, is it?

[wisdominshadows]

No,

[She says, and tentatively holds out the instrument.]

It's called an ocarina. Related to the flute, I suppose, but the ocarina's body is enclosed. It's popular in Hyrule- my homeland. And in neighboring lands, I suppose.

[draconite]

What an unusual shape for an instrument... but it looks just as pretty as it sounds!

[ Maybe she'll see if she can't pester the train into giving her one of those. She could totally learn how to play it! Probably! ]

What else can you play on it?

Platform

[death_from_above]

The music sounded almost familiar... why? He dragged his bag closer, the strap in his mouth. But the strap dropped forgotten as he saw a familiar face. Alright, he didn't know her well, but it was proof he was actually still in Nautilus! Thrilled he raced towards her, reared back and launched himself. "DEATH FROM ABOVE!" Given he was leaping off the ground, there wasn't all that much above, really. He'd land in her lap unless she moved, starting from too low to get her shoulder from that distance.

[wisdominshadows]

Considering who actually had that ocarina in Nautilus, was he expecting Link to be there?

Lost in her music, Zelda doesn't notice the oncoming cat until it is too late; she has to throw out a hand to stop her from falling backwards as he lands in her lap.

[death_from_above]

More or less, though he didn't know Link that well either. But he knew him better than he knew Zelda.

He braced his hind legs on her lap and his pas on her shoulder. "You're here! I was starting to believe everyone that this wasn't a Storm!"

[wisdominshadows]

"Forgive me- Storm? As in lightning?"

What on earth would a storm have to do with-no, that was a pointless road to go down.

She shook her head. "I'm sorry, I think you may be looking for someone else."

[death_from_above]

"You're not the one always hanging around that Link kid in that weird crystal thing?"

Great, she was under the effects of the Storm...