voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

On the Train

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Horsehoe. Points have been updated on the system and new stock is available."

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. The first thing they may notice is that this platform is inside a basic shelter, making it warmer than the last couple at least.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Adora, Alex Hashimoto, Catra, Cloud Strife, Elizabeth Midford, Feanor, Gerome, Gladiolus Amicitia, Glimmer, Ifrit, Isabella D’Oro, Maru, Nari Reno, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Scorpia, Siobahn Chereshei, SXT-2, Tamamo-no-Mae, Tony Stark, Uta, Zidane Tribal

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours 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 gloomy, even without the steam and fog. They are in a wooden building, open to the tracks on one side. It in a creaky shelter, cobwebs hang from the rafters and there is a peculiar whistle as wind finds its way through the cracks.

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 gloom 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.

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a room full of lockers, designated as the Armoury. Even for passengers without weapons it is somewhere to secure possessions. There are instructions on how to use the lockers and enough for everyone to claim one.

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!

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"Hm. Well if you don't consider it a weapon, then maybe it won't count as one. The only thing that'll happen is it won't go inside the Arms Band."

He says this easily enough, and watches as Senku succeeds in the task. Roland nods in approval. "Now, let's try to bring it back out. Think about the same safe space you've thought of inside your mind, and reach out for the axe. This part's important." He emphasizes the point as one arm wraps around him, the other leaning against it as he speaks.

"If you don't remember exactly what's in there, you won't be able to draw it out again. So sure, you and Gen can share it. Just make sure you both audit what the other puts inside. Otherwise, bye forever to your item."

If Senku succeeds in this particular task, and he doesn't expect him to fail at all anyway, the same golden sparkle will appear in his hand, the axe materializing in his grip.

He has always been more feminine in appearance; he takes after his mother, Meng Shi. So much so, in fact, that when he erects a statue of her in the future, the statue is mistaken for him.

"I wouldn't like to brag." he smiles as if the very idea of him bragging is ridiculous. And, in some ways, it is. Oh he is cunning and a quiet genius, but his Cultivation has always been weak. He was trained too little, too late, and so his Golden Core never properly formed.

"Well met." Meng Yao is pleased by the returned bow and he nods, "All of them are stronger than I am when it comes to Cultivation, but I too was educated in it."

[The names make him a little sad. Does she not have a name of her own? Must she rely on the throwaway descriptors of strangers? For someone who has often simply been called a "whore's bastard", Meng Yao empathizes with her.]

Here. [He holds a steaming cup out to her, unable to keep from smiling at how she chooses to sit.] Forgive me for reacting so strongly. There are many spirits in my world that might take on an appearance like yours.

[And they are not nice.]

Maybe you'd be able to play with passion with your own deck.

[ Point. Point. There's no soul link there, she can't possibly win like that. But Rei had said she needed to be hit twice in order for her ace to take effect. He worries about the ice.

He tries to look encouraging, but he doesn't want to openly discuss things and give the thief hints.]

[If he had been named properly, he would be Jin Ziyao. But his father never accepted him, so he remained with the name of his mother.

Jin Guangyao was a name he fashioned for himself to erase his father's identity. He hasn't been pushed far enough to feel that is necessary.

Yet.]

You needn't apologize. My father likely has many sons.

If you are sure... [He doesn't want to push unnecessarily, but he will be watching the other man from the train.]

I have experience and if something so simple needs doing, why shouldn't I help?

[He is an energetic servant of the Nie sect and unafraid of work or toil. The reason why the Nie sect took him in at all is because of his need and his work ethic. They do not tolerate laziness.]

[ They left - today? The same day Ken joined?

...No, he's not going to draw that connection. What can he do now? He can learn. This can't be easy on Nita, but she's offered to do it anyway. For him.

He's not backing down or getting distracted now. ]

I'll be all right.

It's okay, Ken-chan. If it's scary, I'll hug you tight!

[ The legs holding onto Ken's wrist tighten in indication. This is, of course, one hundred percent Wormmon being a good partner and not at all Wormmon nervous about viewing a memory with "a lot of death" in it. ]

"...." Hoooof.

Well. Unknowingly protected by the whims of an over protective cloud, he'll slowly do that. "...Okay." Cleaning...isn't really fun exactly, but it's at least kinda calming he thinks. Definitely helping to take an edge off the nerves of being in here at least.

"I guess these are...board games from wherever this train is," he observes conversationally, unable to keep himself silent for very long when there's others in the room. "...I wonder if they're as fun as the boxes ever make them look. ...When I saw others with them..." Mmm. "...Mostly they shouted about missing pieces, I guess."

He pauses- and, perhaps hoping some more open honesty will at least help adds- "...I've never played any, so I guess I don't really know. I just sort of...watched."

If the train is a living being, I guess it isn't so difficult to imagine a void being sentient too.

[Though all of it is weird and frankly it makes him uneasy. He is a small man who exists based on his wits. How does one outwit a train or a void?]

There are ways around proper lessons for Cultivators too. But there is always a down side to skirting the rules.

Even so, the only way we can move is forward.

[ He doesn't like missing pieces, either, and it sounds like while the passengers have assembled plenty, there's no definitive conclusions. It's frustrating.

And yet. The Voidtrecker Express needed him. For a reason. Summoned him. The very presence of this much structure implies an active intelligence with a purpose at work.

It's suspicious, but that's what further investigation is for. ]

Towards the things only we can do.

Rough? Sometimes. [A lot of the time for someone like him. Then again he doesn't know any better - besides when he sees others living charmed lives around him. Then he feels a bit bitter.]

Are you comfortable with all of the machines?

[More heart-ache, more disappointment, more loneliness. Meng Yao finds that a bitter pill to swallow and he purposefully closes his eyes tight, letting Xue Yang's touch lull the fury inside of him. If anyone understands how he feels, it's Xue Yang.]

Chengmei, I need you to stay close to me.

I shouldn't have done so without your permission. [He bows his head, looking regretful.] I too am not fond of being touched unexpectedly.

She'd almost advice him to take off that blindfold, since it'd be a lot easier to enjoy the movie that way, but she's hoping that there's an actual reason as to why he's wearing it, that there's something wrong with his eyes. And that it isn't some dumb fashion choice.

(You never know for sure, considering the way some idiots here think..)

"Well, for one, people aren't always what they seem." But she's sure he knows that too. He seems like a grown adult, after all. "But there are those among us who wouldn't hesitate to hurt another person. Who find pleasure in it."

"Exactly."

Although there is one problem with that in this case, huh. Alice glances from the girl back to the train, letting out a slight sigh.

"Unfortunately it's harder to find targets for that on the train without doing something that everyone will end up whining at you over." Welcome to Alice's life, her constant dilemma. It's so hard to take out your rage when you know you're just going to have endure an even greater pain in the ass over it later on.

"Should I show you an easier way to do it here? We'll have to go to the kitchen for it though."

Inigo's face is starting to grow so pale. It's not like he hasn't seen mangled bodies before - he's seen it much more often than he'd like. But usually those bodies were pretty much dead, not sitting up and talking as if nothing is going on. As if that leg isn't at the worst angle possible.

Oh Naga. What did he do. What did he do.

"I'm-- That's--"

He stammers a few words, but can't seem to form a full on sentence. All he can do is stare at that leg, and he scrambles to stand up in a hurry.

"H-Here, let me help you! I'll get you to the medical carriage!"

If the whole 'suddenly being given tea' situation was already baffling, then Senku's answer only makes everything more complicated.

It makes Inigo just stare at him. Quietly. Almost blankly, like his mind is having a lot to process here all of a sudden. Sure, there's the matter that Senku thinks that you need to bribe people into being a friend again, which is very, very wild, but that's not even the first thing that should be addressed here and Inigo knows it.

His cheeks grow a little red - mostly in shame, but he forces himself to speak up rather than stand there and stare like an idiot.

"That's.. I'm sorry, I think I made you misunderstand. I wasn't angry with you at all, nor was I offended." Quite the opposite, though saying 'I was just miserable' feels a little too pathetic to admit to. "I was just.. having a rough day that day. And our interaction just reminded me of something else, which made me feel too nervous to stick around. That's not on you at all, it's entirely my fault."

For a second his gaze falls down on the folded paper still in his hand, but then he looks up at Senku.

"I actually came to you now so I could apologize to you."

Inigo steps into the room when Tidus lets go of his hand and moves over to the bed, making sure to close the door behind him. Considering both of their moods right now, he's pretty sure they're going to need the privacy.

And once he turns back to look at the room instead, he can't help but notice the blanket Tidus is shoving around. Sure, he noticed it last time, but he didn't think much of it. But something about the way he's treating it now makes some things click together in Inigo's head, or at the very least makes a hunch arise. That was Yuna's, wasn't it? Or it was related to her, somehow. There's no way Tidus would be handling it like this otherwise, trying to get it out of his sight, so he doesn't have to remember.

He doesn't mention anything about it out loud though. Maybe since he's snapped out of his thoughts when Tidus suddenly speaks up again.

".. oh," he at first just says. One of Inigo's hands moves up, scratching a bit at the back of his neck. "Yes, I think so."

After all, Inigo can feel it too sometimes. It's rare, but there's sometimes a weird burst of strength in the back of his head. Like calm and confidence all suddenly being projected onto him, but not quite fitting his insecure form. Inigo knows there's only one person that could be coming from.

He moves over to sit down on the bed.

"Is it.." He hesitates slightly, not wanting to say anything that might hit Tidus the wrong way. "Um. Someone's lover?"

Because that'd explain why Tidus looks upset rather than happy. Feeling someone else be happy to be reunited with someone they care for so much, while Tidus lost what's most likely to be the love of his life only a few weeks ago. It must be hard.

"Believe me, when I say it is far less about 'skill' and far more about what anyone at that age should be handling mentally," she retorts coolly, only to frown as she looks to the side. "...But ultimately as you said, it would be the train to take that up with...if anyone even could," Yuume mutters, recalling earlier conversations about the thing.

"I know quite well that there are children who could defeat me in a fight of many kinds. Ability doesn't make it right." It's going to be a bit before she reaches 'resignation' herself, after all. And she's seen what can happen to those kids as is.

...Well. Moving on. "...hah...if there is only one free bunk though, I should ask which one specifically that is so that I can unpack now..."

I didn't mean to do something wrong....

[ Ken has completed his assessment of the State of the Worm. ]

He's just startled, I think.

[ Though....that's a lot of.... everything....spread out over the gaming carriage here. Here, Wormmon, have a hug. You can cling to his hoodie until you feel better. And Ken will solve the mystery for you. ]

What is this?

Ah!

[they're both lucky; she's small enough to not send him tumbling and sizhui's quick enough to gingerly catch her forearm in case she does stumble. once he's sure they're stable, his hand withdraws, head dipping in the slightest bow as he answers.] It's okay, I should've been watching where I was going better.

[a beat while he looks her over, assesses damage (if any!) then he tips his head with contemplation.] Are you alright?

[wow, look at this guy's hair! don't mind sizhui, practically gawking for a few moments longer than necessary before he realizes, shakes himself from his momentary stupor then sheepishly inclines his head.] Hi, [he starts, straightening back up afterward, the softest smile curving his mouth.]

My apologies, I didn't mean to stare. [he's just never seen anyone with such a unique look before!]

[singing initially draws sizhui's attention, has his head whipping in the direction of the sound, surprise overtaking his features a moment. thankfully, he doesn't drop the shirt he's holding, though he does hesitate with hanging it up to answer instead.]

Hello! Yes, I am. Are you as well?

[whoever the girl is, she seems more than friendly compared to some of the people he's passed by or vice-versa. sizhui straightens somewhat, consideringly tilts his head, brow furrowed at the explanation she gives about the so-called ‘train’ they're not too far away from. whether we like it or not? yeah, she can certainly say that again.

he gives her a brief once-over, lingers momentarily on the bright orange sweatshirt she's wearing, upturns his attention to her hair and odd-colored eyes.] Ah... why is your shirt different than my own?

Does that have something to do with the— [what'd she call it again?] —with the train, too?

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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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hello birb (':