A New Platform [Intro Post September]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

Standard: post

[nobodys_puppet]

Xion was slowly working on her list for Axel. She was walking through the cabins, trying not to be seen, as she wrote down whatever she could understand of what there was to do in each cabin. Some confused her utterly. Some she almost understood. Maybe. This, however...

"Draw?" she asked in a whisper, not intending to be heard, but it was hard to stick to the shadows and pass unnoticed on the train.

But she thought some of what he was doing looked familiar. Not that she had seen it done, but she had seen the end result. Was he a memory witch like Naminé?

Re: Standard: post

[myblueskies]

Romeo smiled at her with a big grin. "Yes! Do you like drawing? I got lots of art things and paper from the shop so there should be plenty for everyone to draw together!"

She looked a bit nervous, but he smiled kindly at her, even if she was a bit worried then drawing should help keep her spirits up!

Re: Standard: post

[nobodys_puppet]

She shook her head slightly, stepping back. "Do you use them to alter memories?" she asked, softly, wishing she hadn't spoken up, hadn't been noticed.

Congratulations, Romeo. She might look older, but here is someone younger than you are.

Re: Standard: post

[myblueskies]

"Alter memories?" He blinked at her, "Is that something that can happen? Can you change memories with drawings?"

Maybe pictures could help you remember things... But he's never heard of changing pictures with drawings before.

Re: Standard: post

[nobodys_puppet]

"I can't..."

[myblueskies]

"Me neither." He grinned and shook his head. "It's a good way to remember things though, if you do fun things with friends you can draw them and then you will remember them!"

[nobodys_puppet]

"Drawing... makes you remember?" She was so confused.

[myblueskies]

"I think so." He smiles at her, "Not if you've already forgotten but if you draw something first you can look at it again later to remember."

[nobodys_puppet]

"Even if someone has erased your memories?"

[myblueskies]

He frowned, looking at the paper. "I don't know. I don't think I would remember if someone showed me a picture of something in my life. So I don't think it works if your memories are properly gone like that."

[nobodys_puppet]

"Something in your life?" she repeated. She looked at him more closely. "Are you a Nobody too?"

[myblueskies]

"A nobody?" He looks confused, he's somebody! He's Romeo.

"I don't think so? I'm a shinki!"

[nobodys_puppet]

"I... do not know what that is."

[myblueskies]

"It means I'm a spirit who died and got a name from a god and then I am her weapon and we fight bad ayakashi who want to make people sad and eat people."

He smiled at her, it was okay she didn't know. Not many people did! "But when I became a shinki I forgot all the things from my life before."

[nobodys_puppet]

"So you are not alive either?"

[myblueskies]

"No." He shook his head, "Are you dead too?"

He is a bit surprised, but not too much. There are lots of different people here.

[nobodys_puppet]

"I... I am unsure. Axel says I am alive now, and he knows me best, but other people have said that without a heart I am not alive, and I am still not certain if I have a heart now. Axel says I grew one, that maybe I was even created with part of one, or a small one..." but.... she was still unsure. She was trying though, she was.

[myblueskies]

"You didn't have a heart at all?" He tilted his head at her, "I don't know if I got a heart. It doesn't beat or anything but it might be there. I think I got one anyways."

He's never met anyone without one before.

[nobodys_puppet]

"You... also don't know?" This is the face - or what could be seen from under the hood - of someone shocked who does not understand what shocked actually is.

But... she wasn't as alone here as she thought?

[myblueskies]

"No..." He shook his head, "I guess I don't."

He saw how shocked she was and smiled at her, "But it's okay I think, if you got a heart or not got a heart because everyone's different right? So everyone has different things about them."

[nobodys_puppet]

"How does everything different make anything okay?" she asked, confused.

[myblueskies]

"Because if everyone was the same we wouldn't be able to be as good a team, when everyone is different we can all do different things and work together!"

He smiled at her gently, even though she was bigger than him he felt like he was talking to someone even smaller than Nanako.

[nobodys_puppet]

"Team?" she asked, not sure what he is saying.

[myblueskies]

"Yes!" He grinned at her, his voice gently. "Do you know what a team is?"

Maybe she doesn't know.

[nobodys_puppet]

"The colours?" she asked, trying to put together what she had heard on the train and what she had thought she understood from what Axel had told her their first day here.