voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post July]

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A New Platform [Intro Post July]

On the Train

Luckily for everyone the final couple of days of Fiddlesticks are quiet and mostly uneventful. Eventually though they awake to the announcement. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Grasshopper. 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. Also a loud pattering sound, which they will discover once the doors open are hailstones. They might want to grab their raincoats.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Ann Takamaki, Drizzt, Geralt, Huehuecóyotl, Ignis Scientia, Ivy Wakefield, Jiang Yanli, Lan Sizhui, Maebhrin Tillinath, May Parker, Nie Huaisang, Osomatsu Matsuno, Raven, Roxas, Shaw, The Iron Bull, Ultimo, Wei Wuxian, Yuki Sohma, Yuffie, Yukito Tsukishiro

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies and waterproofs, 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. The second thing they will notice is it is cold, hailstones rain down around them, though they don’t last long on the platform ground, melting into slush.

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 nineteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. 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.

Indeed whereas usually there is plenty time for people to be met and brought slowly onto the train, the whistles blow a lot quicker this time, as if hurrying the passengers along.

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, it seems carrots have taken over the bacon, though there are plenty of other staples.

Those from blue team who go to investigate will find a box of biscuits. There is enough for the whole team, including new passengers. Join in your team's success!

Those who are not new will quickly discover some changes made to make the train accessible to those who can’t see, including Braille translations of all the signs around the train.

There is of course the new music room to explore. A double carriage, the downstairs has instruments to learn and practice with, as well as a series of music screen points. Those who play around with the screens will soon discover their SCA’s can now store music and can choose their favourites to listen to around the train.

Upstairs is a performance area and holds a piano.

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 over the noise of the hail stones 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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"Just Nita," she says, raising a hand in return-greeting.

"But... I'm alright. Wish I could say it wasn't a first, but. Usually when I leave a place I have a say in it."

Hand dropping, she scowls for a moment.

"I know I'm far from the only one who disappeared, though."

Tidus's mouth goes askew a second, wondering with what she said.

"Do you know what happened to you? What--is it really like...leaving somewhere?"

He used the word disappear, but that whole gold-coloured name situation on the passenger list--he still didn't really understand it.

"I wish."

Nita sighs, pushing herself up so she's sitting properly upright for this conversation.

"There's just a complete disconnect between reading the message on the ICP saying I was wanted in the control coach, and then... just being in a suitcase."

At least with Nautilus, you had to deal with the potential horror of being passively in your own head, watching yourself do things you aren't in charge of anymore - but this had been, quite literally, nothing.

She hugs her knees, expression obscure in the medbay's lighting.

A suitcase? That part he completely missed about disappearing, only his face getting to express his bewilderment that inspires. But while he can't see much of her face, the drawn legs makes him consider his next words, or keep the subject light.

"Just another mystery of the train, huh? But hey, 'least we all can understand each other again, and we'll be able to get out and move around soon, right? There's a music car too, don't know if you've heard about that."

...well, he tried to look for positives, as measly as they might be right now. Adding lastly, as the thought pops up in his head.

"Got a book for your book club too. You said something 'bout that at the council, didn't you?"

Or is he misremembering. It's been forever since then.

Nita looks up, wryness and curiosity fighting in her mind as to which would express itself first.

"I'll add it to the list. But- really? Guess we were only down to two remaining options..."

She'd missed the poll, but unless something really wild had come up there wouldn't be reason to add another carriage for consideration.

"And- wait, what?"

Nita sits up again properly, letting go of her legs.

"What'd you get, then?"

"Fantasy book! About a group of heroes going to save the world?" There's a bit of a smile as he says it. "You got many of those? I can just slip it on that bookcase I guess. Got it a while back."

He's not much of a reader. ...honestly, he didn't really finish that one either, but he might as well let others who'd actually enjoy it get their hands on it.

"Got a sports magazine too, if they go there too." But now he's actually considering where they are, and was she going to be stuck in here all night? "...You want me to get you anything while you're here?"

Nita settles down, then, relaxing into a smile and giving Tidus a thumbs-up.

"Yeah, you can put it in there. Kinda glad I'm not the only one who went and ordered books last time."

Just another way in which to not be alone.

"And it's up to you if you want to share the magazines; there's bound to be someone else who's interested."

What with so many dang people on this train...

"No, no, I'm good; I've got food and everything."

She thumps the pillow behind her. "I don't think I'll be dumped back in my room tomorrow, anyway. I should be fine by then, I mean, but still."

"Ohh yeah. That'd be weird to happen to someone in here, huh?" Now that's one of those situations he's heard about: being transported back to your room after a certain time. Not that he's ever stayed up late to experience it, boredom getting to him before then.

"Well, I'll add it in. Might add a few photo books too--those sound good in there too? After all the worlds I've been hearing people talk about, it's got me wanting to see some of the worlds out there. Maybe I'll see if where I'm from's got any."

"Yup. I'm not the most... urgent case in here anyway, I've heard."

Alluding to what she knows of Xue Yang's troubles.

"And yeah, of course! How'd you manage to make that work?"

She has the feeling it'd take more than just keywords to get pictures of locales on her version of Earth.

There's a flicker of a grimace, a glance away that's briefer than that, the line of his mouth still unsettled until he speaks.

"Oh, I just typed in a bunch of names of the lands she knew and 'photobook', and it gave us a travelogue. Nothing that big, but Bryn was happy."

So at least for Tidus, he did get Bryn's world by a bunch of keywords.

"Huh. Really?"

Nita's eyebrows go up.

"I tried looking up something specific, for the whole 'tethering' thing, and it got me nothing. I guess photobooks are different, though..."

Mementos from home were a good thing, though. Mostly; she could think of cases where the resulting emotions were a mixed bag.

Tethering? Tidus's brow creases for a moment, but he can't think of what she'd be looking for.

"Well... photobook of somewhere is specific too, isn't it? What're you trying to tether? You mean like knots?"

"No," Nita replies.

"More like... I didn't get to see the post about void sickness, but I've been filled in. Tethering's how we're able to survive in the void, on this train. There might be knots, though, for all I know," she adds, helpless.

"But knowing we can see each other's worlds in some way is good, too." For more than one reason, even.

There's a quiet 'ohhh, that', because ohhh, that.

"I know that post was also like," ensue a Voice, "'You have questions, we have answers' right at the start. Like yeah, we haven't had more questions than that?"

Hello, someone might be sulking over a few things. Like the entire train itself.

"I don't know what brought on that post though... it was out of nowhere. 'Cept it seemed to be saying we decided to board the train."

Nita snorts.

"Of course. It didn't seem much like answers as it was information, though. Maybe if this train ever did a Q&A..."

Sulking was perfectly understandable.

"There were probably a bunch of people asking after what the void ministry report was saying, though. Voidsickness was one of those things."

She'd disappeared after that post had gone up - and, apparently, disappeared itself.

"Not a completely unfamiliar tactic: when faced with a mountain of questions, start with the basics."

Not just that: what you thought were the basics.

Tidus hadn't seen that post about the Void Ministry when it originally went up, so it was easy for him to forget about the details. And truthfully, it hadn't bothered him much, or what he got the gist of about it--that they were on a renegade train. So what?

But he does tilt his head a little, folding his arms.

"What, so we weren't hitting it with enough questions before? 'Cause if people got it to listen that time, I don't mind submitting a bunch with everyone else."

"Teamwork seems to be the heart of it," Nita considers.

"It's been that way with almost everything else - why else would it even give us polls?"

Or ask what made them happy, as misnomer-ish as that felt these days.

"Maybe that can be a project." Heck, now he's even considering it a little. "See what everyone wants, and get people to vote for what's popular? Or something like that. Just to see if it works."

"Make our own polls?"

Despite the smile on her face, Nita's not joking.

"Worth a try, at least. Fill up the Feedback post, too, not just the Network."

Okay, but calling it a poll does get a small scoff out of Tidus. It sounds ridiculous.

"Hasn't got to be one thing either, right? And what's the worse the train can do--close the feedback post for a while?"

He says it with humoured sarcasm, an upturn to the side of his mouth. Considering he's seen nothing he's tried asking for on the feedback post implemented, he doesn't care if he gets banned from posting on it.

"The downside of keeping us all in closed quarters means it's stuck out here with us," Nita points out.

"The worst it could do is dump us on a world for a while outside of mission-time."

... Which, in retrospect, was a lot more terrifying a prospect than it sounded, even if they could be resourceful about handling that eventuality.

"But I'd say it's almost too mild-tempered for that? Again, if it's not a third party in charge of it all," she admits.

Nita may be thinking terrifying. Tidus, however, is on the that is good response side of that by the widening of his grin. He'll absolutely go camping out in any wild just to have a night and day cycle again.

"Oh yeah, you've talked to uh...whoever the train is or in the train, haven't you?" He says, like they're not all technically in the train. "Uh, actually, lemme ask you about that another time. It's getting pretty late as it is. And you're in a medical bed."

Meaning, she should be getting rest--not chatting all night with him!

Nita can guess what Tidus is thinking... buuut maybe bursting that bubble would be a bad idea, especially if either of them are planning on sleeping tonight!

"More 'at' than with, but yeah."

She makes a wry face.

"And all right, I'll rest. But you better do the same, okay?"

Sleeping well fights off voidsickness!

"Sure sure." He brings up a hand, gives her a nod. "See you around, out of here. Soon!"

And with that, he'll leave her to get to that resting thing, heading off towards the sleeper cabins himself.

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A New Platform [Intro Post July]

Re: nighttime

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Hmm - thread wrap? ... Also, idea for a joint post, maybe?

yes, we can head that way! o7 and let me poke in your plurk about it

\o/

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