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

[myblueskies]

"Good! It's okay if you are still learning." He smiled at her.

"You can draw whatever you like!"

[nobodys_puppet]

"How do I know what I like to draw?" she asked. She has asked Axel something similar about what she should do. "Put words in a bag and choose one randomly?"

[myblueskies]

"Yes! Or you can draw something you see here or you could draw your best food, or something from a mission or you could draw your friend!"

Many things! The possibilities were endless.

[nobodys_puppet]

"How?"

[myblueskies]

Oh. She really didn't know how to draw at all...

"Do you know how to write things?"

Because he had to figure just how much he had to teach her.

[nobodys_puppet]

She nodded. She could write. She had to, sometimes, so she learned.

[myblueskies]

"Okay!" That was a relief. "You hold the colouring pen just the same as you hold a writing pen!"

That was a start at least, he turned the art case so she could see the vast array of pens, pencils and crayons.

[nobodys_puppet]

"Okay." she looked at the turned case, then up at him, lost again. "Which one?"

[myblueskies]

"Do you got a best colour?"

He smiled, "It's okay if you don't you can take any one you like! They are all pretty!"

[nobodys_puppet]

"Best... colour?"

What... did that mean?

[myblueskies]

"Which colour do you want to draw with?"

He gestured to the case with a big grin.

[nobodys_puppet]

"How am I supposed to know?"

[myblueskies]

"It's okay if you don't! You can just pick any!"

The only way to find a best anything is to try lots of different ones. So she could pick whichever colours she wanted and try them out!

[nobodys_puppet]

"How do I pick if I don't know?"

[myblueskies]

"Just close your eyes and grab one! Then you can open your eyes and see what it looks like."

He grinned at her, encouragingly.

[nobodys_puppet]

Just like the list she was making. She could do that. Xion nodded and closed her eyes, then tried to find the box with her gloved hand. She flailed a bit, missing it completely on the first try.

[myblueskies]

He nudges the box slightly, helping her find it with her hand and then watches, to see which colour her hand would find.

[nobodys_puppet]

With that help, her fingers closed around a blue coloured pencil. She opened her eyes. "Alright, I have one."

Now what?

[myblueskies]

"Now you can draw!" He grinned, "Just put the pencil to the paper, it can be any shape you want! Like this!"

He reached for a blank piece of paper and put his own pencil to it, drawing a squiggly circle.

[nobodys_puppet]

"And that is... drawing?"

[myblueskies]

"Yes!" He nodded with a big grin. "Do you want to try?"

[nobodys_puppet]

"You want me to?" she asked, to be sure.

[myblueskies]

"Mh!" He grinned at her and nodded, going back to his own drawing, though he kept an eye on her. It seemed she was very nervous about drawing so he would make sure to cheer her on once she started!

[nobodys_puppet]

"Okay..." she sat down carefully so she wouldn't disturb anything of his, and opened up her notebook. She pulled the crayon across the page in a vague arc. She tuned the book to face him. "Like that?"

[myblueskies]

"Yes!" Romeo gave her a big grin, "Exactly like that! That's really good! Well done, Xion!"