A New Platform [Intro Post July]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

[flatteries]

Usually that would have been one of the more easy questions about the situation. But as things are, it's.. actually hard. Because it means admitting to the more unusual circumstances between him and Yuki even before Yuki disappeared - even before Nita disappeared, considering he still saw her after the party where everyone had turned awkward.

It's why he does move to hug her back, but it's a slower movement than it'd usually be. Almost as if Inigo is feeling very self-conscious about something right now. He raises his arms very slowly to cling to her back.

Thankfully it's easy to not look her directly in the eyes while he's busy hugging her. And he can lower the volume of his tone a little, just to make sure no one but Nita overhears.

"I'm.. not sure. We actually haven't really spoken since the party from before you disappeared. Things got.. awkward. And he walked away from me. He had been avoiding me ever since, until he suddenly disappeared."

He pauses. Swallows. Considers whether or not to admit to his insecure fear, but then he remembers Nita has already seen enough from him to just go for it. Inigo's voice sounds a little choked as he speaks on.

"Maybe he disappeared since he wanted to be away from me that badly."

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita sucks in a breath. Even after all that...?

No wonder Inigo had been holding that pain tight to his chest.

"Can't get much worse than that," Nita whispers back.

But...

"I haven't heard of anyone getting the train to take them away. Even with what he said, I doubt he could do that."

Which doesn't make the hurt any less, she knows.

[flatteries]

"Who knows," Inigo answers. To a certain extent he knows he's being dramatic, and that Nita is probably right. Yuki was just a normal guy.. especially since that curse he had before had been lifted already. What would a normal guy be able to get done from the train that all these special and magical people here couldn't?

But it feels.. too coincidental, almost. Yuki turns away from him and then disappears. Maybe even permanently, depending on what happens once the train will stop at the platform.

He doesn't want to linger too much on his own misery though. Not when Nita must be having enough of a hard time, having been gone for such a while only to wake up and hit her head... So he sucks in a breath and tries to shift the topic over to something else the best he can.

".. You know, someone actually brought up the possibility that the train made you disappear on purpose. Because you were looking into things. I spoke to him about it."

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita huffs softly.

"I promise you, if it was anyone's intention, it wasn't mine."

She pulls back, enough to look Inigo in the eyes.

"I have no plans on leaving here, or you, or the rest of the friends I've made here, believe you me."

She wants to be sure he knows this. Because life may be unfair, but that isn't by definition his fault.

[flatteries]

At least he didn't believe that Nita left them when she disappeared. It was easier to assume so with Yuki, considering how badly things had gone between the two of them right before he coincidentally happened to disappear. But his last interaction with Nita before she disappeared had actually been so sweet - and considering how emotionally vulnerable he had been back there, he would never think she'd ditch him on purpose after that.

When she looks him in the eyes though, they're actually pretty watery.

"No, he.. he thought it was something else that did it. Like that.. that void ministry, or whatever it is called, or whoever is in charge of the train.. I was worried they were holding you somewhere, or doing horrible things to you."

And that he was too far away to stop it. Too far away to do anything at all to help someone so important to him.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita looks back down again, eyes partly watering herself - she pulls one hand back to rub at her eyes, but with the other she squeezes Inigo's arm instead.

"I can see why he would... but even if I was under their power, I don't remember it."

Which was a worry in and of itself, frankly.

"And I'm pretty sure Bobo would tell me by now if they'd altered something about me, or whatever."

This is probably not helping Inigo's worry whatsoever, but at least she's still being honest???

[flatteries]

Hey, honesty is still appreciated. Especially since Inigo is aware there isn't much they can do about certain aspects of their situation. Even if one of them was pulled away on purpose like that, they wouldn't be able to stop it. They wouldn't be able to get them back.

It's a terrifying thought, but Inigo tries to bury it as far to the back of his mind as possible. It's not something to consider when he already feels so miserable, threatening to fall into complete despair.

Instead he just latches onto Nita a bit more, like that by itself would be enough to keep her from disappearing again. From being taken anywhere. If they take her, they'll have to take him too.

"I don't want them to hurt you, Nita." There's hurt in his voice, but some determination does seep in. It's weak, but it's there. "I won't let them."

Even if it's impossible. He'll find a way. He's already losing too much if Yuki will walk away on the platform. He can't lose yet another important person.

That is such a good icon.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita, for her part, moves to hug him back again, just as tight.

"And I don't want them to hurt you," she says. Hurt, and determination. They can share them together and-

Maybe

Make something better. Stronger than the two of them separate.

"I don't know right now what it will take, but we can find a way to change things."

She has to believe that they can, so Inigo can believe it too. And that might be enough to make it real.

inigo is a great hugger ;;

[flatteries]

"I don't know either," he softly admits. He's way out of his depth here. If people much smarter than him can't uncover much more information about the train than they have so far, what kind of chance does an idiot like him stand?

But that doesn't mean he's about to give up. Back home he faced impossible odds too, and he never gave up in the face of those. The problems in this place may be different, but he's still prepared to give it his all. Even if Yuki leaves. Maybe he just has to try his darnest to focus on the people who are still here and matter so much.

So he squeezes Nita.

"Let me know if you find out anything at all.. Anything I can help with. I'd do anything for you." He lets that more personal bit slip in, but then also adds-- "For us. For everyone here. We deserve better."

Maybe he isn't so sure about himself in that equation. Maybe he deserves this heartbreak. But no one else on the train should have to go through it.

plot twist: extra tag edition!

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Yes," Nita breathes. Pulls away, sits on the makeshift bed.

"And I will. If there's..."

She trails off, changes track.

"Come back here after the platform, okay? Whatever happens."

Whether it's to chat or hug or... or grieve together, they can do that.

i was caught off guard!!

[flatteries]

It should be the kind of thing that's easy to answer. Of course he wants to see Nita again later. He always wants to see her.

But that last part makes his stomach twist. Whatever happens. If he does see Yuki walking off the platform, there's no way he could even begin to pretend to smile in front of her. He'd be a wreck. Even though Nita has seen him that way often before, it still feels.. wrong.

But who would he be to deny her something she's asking for, especially since it's the first time he's seen her in a while?

"Okay." So he agrees, though with a hint of wryness. ".. I should go now then. You know.. to prepare." To get his heart crushed, most likely.