voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post September]

On the Train

The days after the holiday on Jema’Grethy tick away until they are awoken one morning. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Horsehoe. 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. When the doors open it is to snow, crunchy beneath their feat and falling from the sky in a light flurry.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Alice Liddell, Arataka Reigen, Dread Thunderstorm, Duo Maxwell, Fandaniel, Guy Cecil, Kaito Kuroba, Khardeen, Rainbow Dash, Sarai Thunderstorm, Victor Creed, Xiao Xingchen, Yuna, Yuuri Wakasa. They crunch through the snow, not stopping for anyone.

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, as snow flurries around them, coating the ground around them in white.

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 twenty five 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, with… teddy bear shaped luncheon meat being the main ingredient to be found. There are plenty of other staples including a lot of fish caught from their island holiday.

Those from blue team who go to investigate will find a box of lollipops. There is enough for the whole team, including new passengers. Join in your team's success!

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a library. A double carriage it has a less formal, comfy downstairs fiction area and a more serious study library upstairs. It is devoid of books, though hopefully those who have bought books before will slowly begin to fill it.

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 braving the snow 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

Since they were neighbours, it was entirely possible that a cabin he could be attempting to break into was the one next door. Senku gave him an unimpressed look.

"You need a ticket to get in." He observed dryly. "And you're not my roommate."

Senku could, of course, open the door if he really wanted a look but it looked like the other cabins.

"I got a ticket," Grimmjow replied dryly, fishing the crumpled thing from a pocket, giving it a little wiggle. "S'not like I asked t'be here," as he gave the door a kick for good measure. He doesn't realize that his room number is on the ticket -- he wouldn't even know what a ticket was, if he hadn't eavesdropped on a few conversations about them. Maybe spied on someone else getting shown how to use them.

He didn't care so much about him kicking the door, but he didn't think it would open like that. Granted, Senku hadn't actually tried destroying the door, and while that did sound amusing, he had other pressing science experiments.

"And your ticket has your room on it, not mine, I'm willing to bet." Senku responded a little sarcastically.

"If you want to see inside so bad, I don't care, but it won't help you find your bed."

He narrows his eyes for a moment, as if trying to decide if there's condescension in that tone or not. "Whatever," he stuffs the ticket back into his pocket and moves down to the next door -- the one that should be his, and gives that a kick, too. He is, apparently, doing this to every door. "One of these'll open eventually, or I'll just break one down."

"Or you could just read your ticket. You're going about this in an incredibly illogical way." He said, not entirely sure what he was watching, it didn't make a lick of sense to Senku, at all.

"Unless you can't, in which case, give it here." He wasn't condescending or judging in his tone, he's more even than that.

Grimmjow rolled his eyes, but still offered the ticket. "Just 'cause you don't understand it doesn't mean it's illogical. In case you haven't noticed, I ain't from around here," and no, he could not read, but he wasn't admitting that aloud.

Here, at least, reading seemed... important. His inability to do it was already feeling like a weakness and he did not like it, not one bit.

"That wasn't the illogical part. The illogical part was trying to break into every room, hoping to find the right one." Senku observed dryly, but he didn't comment on the fact he couldn't read it.

He knew a lot of people who couldn't read, after all.

"Your room is the one next to mine." Senku explained patiently and he went over and pointed out the number. "This is all you need to remember."

Then he swiped the ticket for him and held it out to him.

"I knew what you meant," Grimmjow huffed, following him to the correct room and narrowing his eyes at the symbols. The number he at least recognized, the letter not so much, but he snagged the ticket back and held it up to compare.

He grunted softly, peering into the room for a brief moment before he stepped inside, keeping his back to the stranger. "Don't expect me t'thank you for somethin' I would've figured out on my own." He glanced over his shoulder, sizing Senku up.

He let out a little 'hmph' sound and raised his hand, getting the sense he's being dismissed, so it's more of a goodbye gesture. "Yeah, wasn't expecting it."

It was alright, Grimmjow, he never thanks people either.

A New Platform [Intro Post September]

Cabins

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