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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Well, Nita'd known Gerome was out of his depth, but not by that much!

"Ah, sorry," Nita said, and hastily reverted the charm, its energy unspent.

"I'll, uh, give you a moment..."

She looked away, let Gerome have a moment (or two, or twenty) to recuperate, settling back on looking at Inigo's face.

"I can't make things out of nothing, though; even wizardry can't do that. The energy for it has to come from somewhere..."

.. Oh, sweet Naga.

For a moment Inigo is startled, worried that Gerome might really fall off his chair.. but he doesn't. And he has to try so, so, so hard to surpress a laugh. He knows it'd just piss Gerome off, but it's so tempting to laugh. That sight was hilarious. Gerome will never know just how much effort Inigo has to make right now to maintain his pokerface. It's killing him.

Thankfully Nita talks. A distraction! He sucks in a deep breath, willing himself to calm down.

"I think you might just kill poor Gerome if you give any more details than that right now, Nita. I don't think he's quite ready for wizard lessons."

"... Wizard lessons...?" Is that what was happening? Gerome wasn't finding any of this the slightest bit helpful. Hadn't that been the reason for meeting this woman in the first place? They were supposed to help him understand this world he found himself in, but all he was finding was more questions, more confusion... and he was doing it at the amusement of those around him. He was feeling like the butt of a joke he was not privy too.

"... No. Thank you." Polite. Someone who could pull weapons from thin air should be spoken to in such a way as to not aim those weapons at him. But he thought that it was now time to go. "... I should take my leave. Thank you for... your help."

"Maybe when I'm up, I can show you what the deal is with the plumbing or something. If Inigo doesn't want to do that himself," Nita added, having turned to face Gerome again - and give Inigo a sidewise glance.

"It is good meeting you, though, all the same."

"Hey, wait--!"

Inigo's jaw drops open as he suddenly sees this interaction play out in front of him. Sure, it's not entirely unexpected.. to call Gerome not very social would be a wild understatement. But he thought that he'd at least be able to get along with Nita, considering she's not quite as wild as Inigo is, not to mention she's smart and serious.. but somehow it seems to have gone wrong for the moment anyway.

"Gerome, come on, I was just joking! Don't be like this towards Nita because of what I'm saying!"

Inigo alternates between shooting the other guy a pleading look and giving Nita an apologetic one. Somehow he feels like he's the one who messed things up here.. but then again, isn't he usually the one doing that in any given situation?

".... Be like what?" Was he being like something in particular? Gerome gave Inigo a puzzled look that just seemed more like a frown seeing as how his mask covered up most of his features. In his mind the conversation was going nowhere at all, he had not learned much. And hadn't that been the intent? For him to learn more about the world he now found himself in, not to be mocked, laughed at or for strange conversations to crop up that he had no understanding of. Even the explanations made his head hurt.

Gerome wasn't sure what else was wanted of him.

He had tried. And he had failed to understand. What good was forcing the issue?

Nita lets this one be between them - since they were still standing by her bedside, though, it probably looked somewhat awkward.

It's not Inigo's fault, though, and she gave him a Look in return for saying that.

Inigo is slowly starting to notice how awkward this is. It's clear that he's on a different wavelength than Gerome right now, and doing it near Nita while the other is still weak - or at least not 100% feeling fine - is just.. not an optimal idea. So after receiving that Look (he's sorry, Nita, but he's going to shoulder all this blame!!) Inigo stands up.

He gives Nita a smile. It looks genuine, but something about it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Nita, you just rest, okay? Surely we'll talk to you some other time." The last thing he wants to do is bother her with all of this in her current state.. "Come on, Gerome, let's go."

Maybe he can explain to the other guy.. Although he's not too sure whether or not it'll get through to Gerome. But that's something to be saved for when they're in the next carriage over.

Gerome wasn't sure what was wrong, but Inigo didn't seem too please with him... and Nita was quiet. He'd done something wrong, hadn't he? This was why he generally did not involve himself in the lives of others. There were too many complications. Too many ways to upset people, to say or do the wrong thing...

He'd been watching Inigo all this time, but at the order to follow, he finally looked away to Nita.

"I apologise for the inconvenience. I hope you recover swiftly." Gerome spoke to her and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for speaking with me. I..." He hesitated for just a moment here before continuing. "... I hope, once you are well, I may speak with you again..." And then he turned and, before anything could be said in return, he left. Awkward and embarrassed, he would rather not hear anything that was said, or any assurances that further conversations would not happen. Gerome would not be surprised if that was the outcome.

Nita bowed in turn - or as best she could while sitting - managing the best smile she could under the circumstances.

"Anytime Gerome, Inigo."

She couldn't give Inigo's arm a squeeze from her, but she wanted to.

Alas, it seems that Nita's desire is lost on Inigo for now.. Though he does at least still give her a smile - with worry at its edges - as Gerome leaves.

"Take care, Nita. Please heal well. And.. well, I'm sure you understand, since you're much smarter than I am, but.. Gerome is just new and confused. He will warm up to you." He does realise he has to hurry after the other though, before Gerome goes off to sulk somewhere by himself and Inigo has to look the whole train up and down to find him.. So after giving Nita another momentary smile and a wave, he's already following the other guy out of the carriage, calling out to him as he spots him ahead.

"Hey, Gerome..!"

Gerome hadn't walked far so he was able to stop and turn, hand on the door to take him to the next carriage, and half turned to look back at Inigo.

"..."

He removed his hand and turned the rest of the way to face him. If he was unhappy with him, Gerome would face it head on. He would not run away.

"... Yes, Inigo?" What more could he have done? It was all so damn confusing. He'd learned nothing of use aside from the fact that Inigo and Nita had history together. Which made sense as they were friends. Gerome had just felt... very out of place in the room with the both of them. Like he could have easily slipped out without saying a word and not been noticed. Unfortunately he had made a scene and been noticed. And Inigo was undoubtedly disappointed.

"I.."

He starts, then stops. Gerome may be expecting Inigo to be disappointed in him, but Inigo has no idea of that.. He's much too lost in his own thoughts of how to fix this situation, or at the very least how to make it less bad. It feels like he's already screwing up, even though Gerome has only been on the train for such a short while.. And here he was so dedicated to making sure his friend wouldn't feel out of place in such odd surroundings.

".. Forgive me. I said some odd things, and it must have made you confused.."

Isn't it ironic? Gerome expects him to be disappointed, yet Inigo is the one asking for forgiveness, shame colouring his cheeks.

"Thank you for still having been so kind to Nita in the end. I really hope I didn't give you a bad impression of her."

"..."

A strange turn of events for sure. Expecting the worst, Inigo instead apologised. Which, while not the best outcome Gerome could have anticipated, was better than disappointment. He just wasn't sure why Inigo was apologising.

"I was well aware that things would be said that would confuse me..." Gerome started, not yet moving from where he stood. Confusing he was able to understand. Everything confused him. But after his initial question it had seemed that he had not been needed to further any more discussions. Unless it was to be the butt of a joke he did not understand.

"I harbour no ill-will toward Nita. Nor do I take away a bad impression." But... "Perhaps if there is a next time, it will be alone." Having Inigo there was far too much of a distraction, clearly. He did appreciate Inigo's assistance, but it was impossible to get the answers he needed if conversations about events separate from himself occurred at the same time.

It's a relief to hear that he at least hasn't totally soured Gerome's opinion towards one of his close friends on this train. And.. honestly, the follow up to it doesn't surprise him a whole lot either. Even though Gerome doesn't mean it that way, and even though Inigo is aware that Gerome means it in a way that is most likely mostly practical, his natural tendencies can't help but make him blame himself for it all the same.

He was the one who messed up, it feels like. Of course it would be better without him. Aren't most things?

"You're right," he says, but by the time he says it, Inigo has done his best to carefully tuck away all of those insecurities, and instead smile a bit brighter. "I really can recommend talking to her another time. Perhaps sometime when she is feeling better. She has a truly bright mind."

Gerome nodded, not knowing what Inigo was thinking, because if he did... he would have called him an idiot. He did notice the strange play of emotions within Inigo's eyes, though he didn't have time to actually work out what they were or why they were there. He was not an expert on other emotions, after all.

"Perhaps..." A truly bright mind she may be, but far too advanced for the likes of him. If their first conversation was anything to go by.

He looked away for a moment and sighed.

"... This world is too big... too complicated... to learn in a single day."

"Well.. That certainly is true."

And where most normal people might have a realisation at this very moment that right, maybe that's why it was all so hard for Gerome to follow, Inigo's dumb brain decides that clearly the obvious explanation is that both this is the case and he screwed up. Because obviously he can't ever let himself off easily.

"I have been here for months and there are still things I don't understand. But.." He shakes his head. "You're smart, Gerome. You will get there, even if it might take some time."

"I certainly hope so." Because he disliked this feeling intensely. Nothing knowing where he was, where he stood, what was expected of him. Not recognising the things around him. Even the door he was about to walk through before he had been stopped was unlike any he had ever seen before.

"... The only thing I recognise here is you. Nothing else makes sense." Even things that should have made sense just... didn't. But he was trying. He was keeping his concerns as internal as possible, not wanting to cause Inigo any more trouble than he already was. Inigo was trying hard for him, and he could see that, could appreciate that. "... It will take time. But I will get to your point in time."

It really is a familiar sentiment. Inigo can't help but think back to his first days here on the train - where he didn't even have the single comfort of actually recognizing someone from back home. A strange place, strange people.. It had even been a while before he had found friends here. The first while is always rough.

".. Okay." But he trusts in Gerome's words. Because he really does think things will get better. They ought to. Even if Inigo has to work his butt off to try and make things more comfortable for Gerome - he'll do it. "Then how about we go grab some food together now, hm?"

Gerome thought about that option, and then slowly nodded.

"I could eat." Food was another of the strange things here. He was still somewhat nervous of the kitchen, but with Inigo there it should be safer. Stepping to the side, Gerome gestured for Inigo to lead the way. He wasn't entirely sure where the kitchen was yet...

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A New Platform [Intro Post July]

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I need a proper '???' emote for her, I swear.

having limited icons sucks!

I'm sorry Gerome is full of suck!

Wrap for Nita! Though Inigo+Gerome can continue, ofc. ^^

thank you! <3

Yes, thank you!

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