A New Platform [Intro Post October]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel curls her hands around the cup automatically and summons enough strength to manage a smile.

"Like... my soul is ripped in half..." She breathes, which ... is basically what has happened, actually.

"But I... will be alright."

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita smiles in return; small and tight, yes, but a smile on the same.

"Yes, you will."

She reaches over to rest a hand on Nerdanel's arm, a reassurance, however small.

"We're here, he won't be forgotten, and you won't be alone."

[marriedanidiot]

She musters enough energy to nod.

"I know. Thank you. I..."

It's so hard, to fight past the gaping hole inside her. It's almost worse, knowing how hard it is to get past this.

"Will you... stay."

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Yes."

This time she cuts the proverbial knot, using a wizardry to solidify some air; improvised stools in the kitchen are commonplace, but maybe not quite like this.

"We can both sit here, together."

She's no empath, but she is empathetic right now. If Nerdanel can pick up on that, take strength from it...

[marriedanidiot]

She can, and she leans on that sense, using it to ground herself, as she begins (once again) the slow laborious process of patching a torn marriage bond (not broken, no, although she would have cut it herself on this train if he had not made the effort on his part. But torn all the same, and the worse for the newness of the renewal, perhaps)

"Thank you, Nita." She murmurs, and pats her hand. "You have a kind heart.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita hums, rather than letting herself react more overtly to the compliment. She's here for Nerdanel, not her own sake.

"... I'd sing for you, if I could. But- I'm not very good at it."

Nita laughs, wry and awkward, at herself.

[marriedanidiot]

Nerdanel's smile firms.

"I'm sure you're better than you think." She murmurs.

[unfavorableinstigation]

... Well, there was one time she'd sung, but-

"I had to be a whale to do it," she admits further - though a wry grin comes to her face as well, and a pang of nostalgia.

"The vocals get kinda distorted when we're out of water... but I'll try."

[marriedanidiot]

"A whale?" She rouses more, at that, curiousity anchoring her in the here and now.

/preps her Deep Wizardry TL;DR...

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita blinks twice, then chuckles.

"I guess I haven't told you that story yet, huh? Well, the first summer I spent as a wizard, I met a whale - maybe you've talked to her already? Her name's S'reee, and it's thanks to her that Kit and I ended up part of the Song of the Twelve."

She pauses, both so Nerdanel can gather her questions and so she can take a sip of her own cocoa.

/chinhands

[marriedanidiot]

"S'ree.... that name is on the lists!"

Nerdanel blinks, attention fully engaged. "But... I don't remember seeing a whale. She has a human shape? Or is she not a whale at all?"

The maiar of the waters were rather notorious for preferring forms more suitable for the water, after all. Even when they looked humanoid they didn't always bother to remove fins or scales, or even to look dry.

Re: /chinhands

[unfavorableinstigation]

"She doesn't always go around as a whale, though that's what she normally is. But- well, when we met, she'd been injured in a harpoon blast,"

The same one that had killed her mentor, she doesn't add. Even with Nerdanel distracted, describing more death is not what the elf deserves to hear.

"And I did one of the bigger healing wizardries I could to heal her. We shared blood - not all of it," she hastily adds, "But it means taking on the shape of each others' species is easier for the both of us."

[marriedanidiot]

"So you are almost blood-kin then." She says in wonder. "I had heard that such healings were possible, but never heard of it before, especially not between two such vastly different peoples, and certainly not with the after effects you describe!

So then, you can also turn into a whale as she can a human?"

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Exactly."

Nita nods, looking rather bashful. "It's- well, I've done it here before, though I'm not sure if you'd seen. Once while we were helping the underwater people of Bui, and then more recently, on Jema'grethy.

"And one of the big differences between whales and humans is- all of the skin of a whale is like a huge ear, so they - we, even - can tell apart the sources of vibrations with our echolocation. There's so much depth to everything! So... singing felt more natural, in that form."

Even if she still doubts she can hold a tune as a human!

[marriedanidiot]

"I fear I wasn't paying attention." She says apologetically.

"But that must have been a sight to see!"

She hums. "I can see how that would work, yes. And I assume water carries sound differently also, yes? But even so, I am sure that you can sing perfectly well!"

[unfavorableinstigation]

"We might get another chance; you never know."

At Nerdanel's next encouragement, Nita falls silent. What she next voices, however, is a quiet, gentle hum.

Passable but, to Nita's ears, not alive the way the Song had been, or even as good as her sister's choir recitals. But, over time, a theme emerged; the rhythm of waves.

In a human's voice, Nita finds herself attempting to recreate the loss/gain/sorrow motif from the Song of the Twelve. It seems at once both a terrible idea to continue and, yet, utterly fitting.

[marriedanidiot]

"I will watch for that chance." She nods and closes her eyes to listen.

"You have a very sweet voice." Says Maglor's mother. "You're right, you are unpracticed, but you keep tune well, and a wider range is something that one can work one."

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita's eyes blink back open in a hurry.

"Wait, you're saying-?"

If Dairine ever hears of this, Nita will never hear the end of it.

At least Nerdanel likes it??? Nita refocuses herself on that and that alone.

"I guess that's true - still, you liked it? You're- okay with it?"

Because, for Nerdanel, she'll do it again.

[marriedanidiot]

"Of course."

She pats Nita's hand. "My dear, so many of my family are musical. Trust me to know what a decent voice sounds like."

We can probably fade on them at this point. xD

[unfavorableinstigation]

With a chagrined smile, Nita nods.

"... You want me to try again, then?"

XD yeah

[marriedanidiot]

"If you want." Nerdanel smiles at her.

"Try to have a little confidence, my dear. You can hold a tune perfectly well - tis your nerves making you struggle."