A new platform [intro post September]

[voidtreckermods]

For those on the train

“Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Bassoon.” The train announces the morning the month changes. It seems the train counts months in days of thirty. Team Points have been updated on the system.

The day continues as most days do, chores, eating, getting ready for another day. But those who suspect that a change of month may bring something else are correct. It is only an hour or two later that there is another announcement.

“Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent.”

By now they should know to hold on as the train jerks and jolts. There is only fog outside the windows but the train soon comes to a stop. The doors hiss open.

As they exit into the fog they may notice Evie exiting from the luggage carriage door. Much like Hibiki the last time they were on a platform. She leaves the train, backpack on her back as she walks through the station. She heads no call, reacts to no words and cannot be stopped as she walks to the ticket barrier and disappears through it.

Strange. But even stranger still is that there on the platform that whole time is Evie. Dressed in purple, backpack on back, with her are others. Waiting for the train.

For new arrivals

At first all they can see if steam. Billowing around them as they come to their senses. They are standing, in clothes that are not their own, styles they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on your 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 very large, but it hold twelve figures all facing the tracks, all wearing similar clothing. The tracks stretch left and right into steam, or perhaps fog. Nothing can be seen to either side. There is a wall around the platform and the only entrance is a ticket barrier. It cannot be open, nor do there seem to be any staff.

What there is, is a train. Jet black and gleaming where it stands on the rails.Voidtrecker Express is emblazoned in the engine in gold. There is a hiss as the doors slide open.

Out step a selection of people, some less human than others, wearing clothes just like those worn by those on the platform.

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.

Once on board there is lots to explore. Passengers both old and new will hopefully be delighted to see the boredom of this train journey is somewhat alleviated by the introduction of a game carriage. Plenty of games, both familiar and new to play with your new travelling companions.
Each ICP shows the same message. If Red team go and look they will find a box in the luggage compartment that contains their prize. A dralite themed cake lolly each. There are enough for the new members of Red team too, share in your teams previous success!

The food stores have been topped up with new fresh food. Salmon has taken over as the primary ingredient of choice. Hopefully everyone likes fish!

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 to encourage any stragglers and the doors slide shut. For those who boarded two weeks ago they will know what is coming next.

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."

Hopefully someone warns you that you really want to heed that warning because a moment later there is 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 voidspace.

Comments

[sweetnessandfight]

"Good!" That he's fine--that's the most important thing, in Sarai's mind. She can see him try to steady himself, and the first hint of a smile approaches her lips. There's plenty of kindness already in her eyes--nothing feigned, either. Likely, he could tell that sort of thing. She can't help but laugh at his question, though--all amusement.

"Fae? Goodness no--where I'm from, those are summons. They're small and winged, and they aid Scholars with their healing magic. I'm an Au Ra of the Xaela tribe--though I've more horns than your usual Au Ra, and claws as well. I had an accident, once."

That was the short story, but for the moment, Sarai figured expediency beat out clarity. She couldn't hide her spiked and scaled tail twitching, though--still amused!

[dredefulchilde]

"...Right." Joss arches an eyebrow, but he leaves it alone. He's a bit better with the whole "other worlds" thing after a year and some change spent in the Far Shore, so takes it in stride. He'll simply file her away in his mind as "otherworld fae" and go from there.

"Is this the point in the conversation where I'm expected to inquire about the accident and its cause?"

[sweetnessandfight]

She laughed again at that. "You don't have to, but if you're ever actually curious? I'll tell you." Sarai didn't feel the need to keep secrets about that sort of thing, honestly.

"I really am sorry I bumped you, I'm used to being small enough that most people sail over my head, usually. Except Conan. I'll have to be more careful in the future, and I promise I will!" She whisks a hand over the small horns at the crown of her head, and shrugs.

"So, you are a new face...what's your name? I'm Sarai Thunderstorm. Is there anything you need?" This might be opening a troublesome door, but she is who she is, and therefore she's going to ask him anyway!

[dredefulchilde]

Good, at least she's not expecting him to continue that line of inquiry. Maybe later.

"Joscelin Fitzthomas," he replies with a shrug. "Though most call me Joss." He extends a small hand for a handshake. "A pleasure, I suppose."

[sweetnessandfight]

Sarai does like to pride herself a bit on her intuition. She accepts his hand with another bright smile, shaking it carefully only because Sarai is also well aware of her claws. She doesn't try to keep them razor-sharp, but, they are what they are.

"Well, if you allow me to call you Joss, please, call me Sarai or Sara, as I'll answer to both." And she offers him another wink. "A pleasure, considering the circumstances, indeed!"

Because the train is a pain, and well she knows it! "Might I show you to the kitchen? I could use a drink, and I'm sure it can only be a good thing if you know where it is." Because young folk are always hungry. Young folk and her mountain of a husband, at least!

[dredefulchilde]

Food sounds good. Especially because, thankfully, whatever this woman is smells exceptionally unappealing, so Joss doesn't see her as being on the menu. He's curious to see what passes for a kitchen on this stupid train, and to test his own limits. He feels very much himself again--he's no longer a shinki. That much he's certain of, as much as it pains him to realize it. Blood is definitely necessary, but what about other foods? He's always had an extreme sweet tooth, but being forced to drink blood again means human food is back to being an occasional indulgence rather than a necessity.

"I'd like that," he says, and follows her.

[sweetnessandfight]

Luckily, the kitchen wasn't terribly far--the train isn't terribly large. At least, not at the moment, though clearly, it has expressed an interesting ability to grow. Not to mention Sarai is very familiar with the place, having been on meal duty for the past month.

"I'm not certain what the new month brings in regards to foods--I'm relegated to cleaning the common areas and such this month, but I'd hope there was something palatable to you. This device is called a 'fridge' and it keeps things cold...so much more effective than aether-aspected ice chests like we have back home..."

There are more stores, too--and Tony seems to have left some bags of candy out--marshmallows, it looks like. Sarai has some culinary talent, too, but there are a number of them on the train, and that is one place she prefers not to step on toes.

[dredefulchilde]

“I know what a refrigerator is,” Joss says, rolling his eyes, “I’m not an infant.” The hunger is making him irritable. Or, rather, more irritable than usual. He finds a chocolate bar on the counter and attacks it with gusto. Chocolate has always helped take an edge off the gnawing emptiness. He would consume his admittedly meager weight in chocolate if he could.

“What’s aether? Sounds vaguely made up.”

[sweetnessandfight]

"Perish the thought. It's new to me--we never had anything like it on Hydaelyn." She wasn't trying to offend, but it was difficult to tell who had knowledge of certain levels of technology. Despite being one of Tony's friends, Sarai wasn't privy to all the secrets that the Iron Man kept.

"It's...energy. Magic. Life energy, basically, but it can be aspected to the six elements. We use it for a number of things, where I'm from...it's the Empire of Garlemald that uses technology, as they can't manipulate aether."

[dredefulchilde]

"Ah. Other worlds nonsense." So something that sounds very made up, but isn't.

"Are you a witch?"

[sweetnessandfight]

"I am not a witch. I'm a bard." At least in her current job configuration. Sarai didn't have any other trappings of any others with her, save for the cane she was making so she had access to conjury. Healing was like to be important, especially with potential missions coming up.

"But yes, other world things. I take it you've never experienced such things, and so you think it's all a farce? Or you're being put on?" If it hadn't actively been part of her world's mythos that there were other worlds--ones that might be traveled to, with enough magical power--Sarai might feel the same as Joss did, and so she wasn't trying to give him a hard time. Skeptics were just as important as believers, in her view.

[dredefulchilde]

"Ah, I see. Very Dungeons and Dragons of you." He rolls his eyes.

But then she makes an assumption and he gives her a nasty sort of grin. "You'd be wrong. I am quite familiar with the idea of other worlds, having been spirited away to another one before I found myself here. It doesn't mean I have to like it."

[sweetnessandfight]

That makes her give him a truly quizzical expression. Both for the unfamiliar--Dungeons and Dragons? Well, yes, she's been in a number of dungeons and she's spoken to Hraesvalgr and Vidofnir and some of the other dragons in Dravania, but what does that have to do with anything? But that, she wonders silently.

"So is mockery of such just...something you do? Because it's simpler?" Simpler than to just accept that other worlds could be different than his, or to make certain others were off kilter. It wasn't as if Estinien Wyrmblood hadn't done such things. "I doubt anyone likes being whisked off their world. I know I had other things to do than this, personally, but I've always attempted to make the best of a bad situation. For myself, and others."

[dredefulchilde]

Joss nods, seriously. "I use bullying and taunts to make myself feel better about the crushing emptiness inside of me." He then snorts. The sounds is harsh, derisive. "Or maybe I just have no patience for idiotic niceties. My focus is on getting home, not on pussyfooting around anyone's feelings."

[sweetnessandfight]

"That is the biggest load of chocobo turds I've heard in an age, and I know Thancred Waters." Sarai's tone is dry, and she narrows her eyes at the young man.

"Do not mistake my kindness for softness. I may prefer to catch more flies with honey, as the proverb goes, but should anyone become a threat--on this train, or off of it--I will have their guts for garters before you can speak. I am not threatening you, because I trust you're as frustrated as we all are, but I assure you; none of us are here by choice."

Yes, Sarai prefers to be nice, and she prefers diplomacy. But she's still a warrior of the Azim Steppes, and even she can be pushed over a line. Congratulations, Joss! You found it!!