voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He nodded, understanding that. This place was strange, even for those used to things such as trains.

"Um... Well where I grew up, it sounds a lot like your city. Big, bustling, lots of people. It was on a world called Earth, in a country named Japan. I lived there... most of my life. I'm actually from another world, it is very different there, magic is normal there and we don't have any modern technology. The country I am from is called Tai." He smiles gently.

He listened quietly, perking up when Earth was mentioned. "Hey, I know Earth." Not necessarily any of the countries that had been on it, because he kind of failed at paying attention when they'd been teaching that in school, but. "People moved from Earth to the planet I was born on a long time ago." Like, a seriously long time ago.

"So, how'd you get from another world to Japan?" He knew that different worlds were super common here on the train, but people who traveled to and from worlds still baffled him.

He smiled, "Yes... It seems earth is a place in many worlds." And their worlds were different, because no one had left his earth to go to another planet. Well... They had gone into space. But not to live, not to create cities that had musicians.

My world and earth they are... Connected sort of. Sometimes they get tangled up and things pass through in storms. I... I was sort of born in the other world. At least... I grew there, people grow in egg fruits in that world." He shrugged, he knows how weird that sounds to anyone from an earth-like place. "Mine blew off it's tree and then I was born on earth instead. I was taken back when I was ten... Someone fetched me, took me through a portal."

That was both one of the weirdest and most fascinating things he'd ever heard. He found himself imagining large, translucent eggs hanging from trees, which was both beautiful and a little terrifying. "So...nobody there has parents?" If they were born from trees, did the trees count as parents? "That must've been really weird for you, finding out you were from a different place."

"Oh. They do. Sorry." He nodded, "When two people wish for a child they tie a ribbon to the riboku, that is sacred tree. Then if the gods believe they will be good parents a child will grow on the branch."

He nodded, "It was not too weird... I never really... fit in. On earth I mean."

"Oooh." That was still weird, a little like a stork bringing babies to people, but it wasn't any weirder than people growing in tree eggs to start with. "Why didn't you fit in? And if I'm asking too many questions, just tell me and I'll shut up." He meant it; he didn't want to pry.

"It's alright..." He didn't mind. He had lots of curiosity about other worlds as well. It was hard to balance wanting to know with not wanting to make people speak of things they didn't want to.

"I guess. I'm not human. I didn't know it at the time. But I am a kirin. I guess people knew there was something strange, even when I was a child."

To Dyme, there was totally nothing strange about Taiki. He never would have known he wasn't human if he literally hadn't been told. "What's a kirin?" he asked, brow furrowing. He'd never heard of that word before.

"It's..." His hesitancy wasn't anything to with not wishing to explain or not knowing how to explain. But rather, Roland had acted very surprised and shocked when he had told him. It had taken him aback a little.

"Um... We are creatures who find the king, who the gods have chosen to rule..." He smiled, "Then we advise, I told you I was an adviser before..."

"Right. Wait, so all kirin are advisors?" Was he understanding that right? Were they literally born to advise? "I still can't imagine the kind of pressure involved with advising a king."

"Yes." He nodded and then smiled softly. "I guess... Most kirin learn from when they are born, so it comes naturally to them."

He hadn't, but then again he had never really served properly as Taiho. He would hope that if he and Lord Gyousou ever returned that serving as his minister would be very different than the last year had been.

"I'm not exactly good at it."

"Normally I'd say all you need is practice, but I'm not sure advising is something you can practice at." How did people get to be good at advising anyway? Was it just all experience and time spent actually doing their job? "But either way, don't be too hard on yourself. I'm sure advising isn't easy to start with."

He smiled softly. "Thank you." He could hope that was it, that the longer he did it the better he would get.

"I guess it isn't..."

A New Platform [Intro Post July]

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