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

[irrationally]

She nods. "That seems like a good attitude to have."

Dyme usually seems to have a pretty good head on his shoulders, so she's not too surprised by him saying something decently smart, really.

There's a moment of hesitation, but then Alice realises she has to.. at least try and admit something here. Otherwise she's practically just lying by ommission.

"I'm not so sure though if I'm the right person to tell about your no-violence wish. I.." She pauses, unsure of how to put this. Alice doesn't want him to think she's crazy, even though she knows it's the truth. It's hard. "I have been known to be volatile at the best of times." That sure is the understatement of the year.

[swansongs]

"Yeah? I used to be, too. When I was a little younger." And by 'a little younger' he meant like 'last year'. "That doesn't make you a bad person or anything, though," he added. "Unless you're like, going around hurting people." Besides that, she seemed to be on a pretty even keel to him.

[irrationally]

Alice is definitely assuming he means 'when I was a little kid' rather than last year.

She opens her mouth, but then he adds the part about going around hurting people and she closes it again. Honestly, Alice isn't so sure what she could claim here and have it be truthful at the same time.

"I.. try not to." She sounds slightly doubtful of her own words as she says it, and her hands join together to fret a bit. "But it gets tough. Sometimes."

[swansongs]

"Trying's the important part, right?" Of course, he could have always been wrong, and sure, she was a little weird, but weird didn't always mean bad. He might have been a little bias, considering her a friend and all, and automatically thinking the best of friends until proven wrong. "We've all had times when we've wanted to smack somebody or something."

[irrationally]

She thinks her impulses are a little (understatement of the year) worse than just wanting to smack someone, but.. honestly, part of her appreciates that he's trying to relate to her, despite how weird she is. Alice could probably never feel fully normal, but things like these get her a little bit closer towards it, at least.

"Have you wanted to smack someone before?"

[swansongs]

He laughed, looking down for a moment. "Definitely. And I have. I'm not...proud of it, but I've gotten into some fights before." Not like the fights here, where they were up against monsters, but times when he'd fought with someone who hadn't deserved it--though some of them had. Some people were jerks. But Salem...and some of the others, they hadn't deserved it, for sure.

[irrationally]

"Why aren't you proud of it?"

Alice sounds genuinely confused. Sure, sure, she has at least some grasp on social norms by now, considering even back home she has already been wandering the streets of London for a while by now. She knows stabbing people isn't exactly socially acceptable. But getting into fights...

"It just means you were standing up for yourself. That's a good thing. You seem to be a good person, so you shouldn't let anyone else put you down."

[swansongs]

He hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Because I hurt people for no good reason," he said quietly. "I wasn't always just standing up for myself. I fought with my bodyguard once, when he was just trying to protect me. He's a good guy, and he didn't deserve it."

Even if Salem had hurt him, a little, Dyme had been the one who'd started it. He'd just been so angry, so emotional.

"I let my emotions control me." Instead of the other way around.

[irrationally]

.. oh no. That hits a little bit too close to home, now doesn't it. It's why she goes quiet for a moment, lightly biting her lower lip in thought, before looking back at Dyme and speaking up.

"Well, even that is just something that happens to most people."

Okay, maybe not most. But it's not uncommon. And she's pretty sure Dyme can't be at her level of letting emotions control violent urges.

Would he feel better about it if he knew that? She isn't sure. And revealing this much feels a little vulnerable, but Dyme is.. nice. She thinks. Maybe it can't hurt to reveal it to him.

"I've.. had a difficult time holding myself back from wanting to hurt certain people here on the train too. Not just randomly, I suppose, but-- because they did bad things."

[swansongs]

"Does it?" He wasn't sure it was something that happened to most people. He knew it wasn't uncommon, but also that it didn't happen to just everyone.

Listening quietly, he nodded slowly. On the one hand, it was a little startling, but after she explained...

"I haven't wanted to hurt anyone here, but I can understand wanting to. The people who've done bad things, at least." He didn't want to say he thought they deserved it, because that was a whole different can of worms, but. He got it.

[irrationally]

There's a hint of surprise in her eyes when he answers with that. Understanding wanting to do so is already more than Alice would expect most people to say, after all, but.. she seems to look a little glad after that. Maybe even a bit relieved.

"It just doesn't feel right that they get to walk around as if nothing happened. I understand there's little to be done about them even once they've done wrong, considering our situation.." After all, she's heard that people return even if they die. So that wouldn't get rid of them either. "But even knowing that, it still feels awful."

[swansongs]

"Yeah, we don't have a jail or law enforcement or...anything like that." And they couldn't go around killing people, because that wouldn't help, either. "We can't really do a whole lot, and it sucks. Like, it doesn't do a lot for feeling safe here, either. Where people can just get away with things."

[irrationally]

"You're right. I hadn't really considered the last part yet myself."

.. Which probably sounds weird, huh, not being too worried about a now literal murderer being on the loose on this train.. But when you're a murderer yourself and are already paranoid as hell, that one extra little fact won't bother you as much. As evidenced here with Alice.

She looks away to think for a moment, but then her gaze returns directly to him.

"Are you scared?"

[swansongs]

He thought about that for a moment, taking a breath. "Maybe, just a little," he admitted. "It's weird, like...I thought the train was supposed to be safe, and now it might not be, and... I just don't want to see people get hurt." He'd had enough of that in his life already.

"I guess it's less about worrying I'm going to be hurt, and more worrying about everyone else." He paused for a beat. "Okay, I'm a little worried about getting hurt, but." He wasn't scared out of his mind or anything, just concerned.

[irrationally]

"It's kind of you to be more worried about others than yourself in this sort of situation." She's known more than enough people in her life who surely would only have been fearing for their own hide at the thought of someone that dangerous wandering around. Who would gladly have thrown anyone else in the killer's path if it might have saved themselves for a few more moments.

"Still.. It's not too necessary to be worried. If you're ever in trouble, try to use the ICP to call for help. Surely enough people like you to come help." Dyme is nice, after all. People would like him, Alice assumes. She's quiet for the slightest moment before she adds-- ".. I would help you, anyway."

[swansongs]

He smiled a little. Maybe his brother had instilled that in him, being a little selfless, putting others first. Dyme had sure as hell put his brother first, even if it'd caused him to end up in the hospital.

"Mmmm. I hadn't even thought of that, but it's a good idea." He hoped people would come to help him if he needed it. He didn't think he was super popular here or anything, but they were all in this together, right? "And...thank you." He might be a little useless, but he'd help her too, if she needed it.

[irrationally]

Alice tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, seeming perhaps just the slightest tad awkward or embarrassed. Though she's quick to cover it up.

"I should get going." But rather than leaving it at just that, she does at least add-- "Thank you for the music."

[swansongs]

"Alright." He nodded, smiling softly. "And you're quite welcome." He'd enjoyed having the chance to play, and for the chance to talk about music--and everything else--even if they had wildly different experiences with music.