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

[blitzcheer]

The concerns - or the amount of them! - gets a small chuckle of Tidus. "You don't have to buy! Well, 'less you want something we don't got. Here, this way- it's a long way from the rooms. All the way on the other side of the train."

Which luckily, they're meeting in the games car, so it's not as far; and Tidus is turning on his heel to signal that he's about to walk, to get her to join him too.

"You get a call for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Different teams get different chores, and one's for cooking for everyone. Plus we know about the stops, so there's bound to be snacks and drinks waiting! We set them up in the dining cars."

[purifyings]

He didn't need to ask her twice! If anything, she'll follow him on cue because he had all the answers about the food arrangements! This was a very important topic! Nike was literally glued onto his every word as she begins to count on her fingers,

"We get fed three times a day, a team will cook for everyone, and there are snacks and drinks on the stops via dining cars..."

Another pause, she will begin to wonder, "What do the dining cars look like? I don't remember seeing anything like that. Whatever it is." To be fair, she may have passed by it without realizing due to all the people surrounding her and being distracted by everything else.

"And what do you mean by buying? How do we get money? Is it by doing chores?" asked Nike next remembering Itsuki's explanation about the chores and the teams.

[blitzcheer]

"Chores might get you some money - points, we call 'em -, but I don't know how many. Not a lot; there's people who do their chores regular, but they don't get many points for it."

And he's still not sure the month he went wild with chores really had anything to do with what he did get.

"But the dining car's just a car with a long table in it and benches either side. It's easy to miss if you didn't start from the other end. It goes the store room, the kitchens, then the dining cars. And then you have the quiet and public coaches. Makes sense how everything's ordered. All the cars after that've been added every new month. There's always a new car - right before you get to the bedrooms."

[purifyings]

"Are there other ways to get points other than chores though?" asked Nike curious, if certain things will contribute to the increase of points. She can't help wonder about the types of snacks she can collect with whatever she acquires.

The explanation over the placements of the cars by category was interesting to think about. A moment ago they were in the game room, Taiki had mentioned there being two beforehand, she already saw the greenhouse and music room too, so she'll wonder, "But if this contraption gets too big, won't it be hard to reach our rooms when we want to sleep or wanna go to a specific area? There isn't a way to skip cars or something like that?" As much as Nike loves to walk, even she admits the number of things added to this train was starting to feel overwhelming.

Her actual concern is, "What if the kitchen gets too far? I faint from hunger. What if I starve before arriving at my destination?" This is a concern because once she faints from hunger, only the smell of food will reawaken her, or else she'll be passed out for three days.

[blitzcheer]

"Mission's the easiest," Tidus explains. "We don't know what get you points or judged for them, but everyone get the most during mission time than any other."

And he'd like to give her more of an idea of what helped, but no one knew, and that was about all he can offer without prompt. The point system was a baffling, annoying mystery.

But as for skipping cars- "Nope, there's no way doing that. Not unless you know somethin' we can get for it. It's just...walking, from here to wherever."

Sorry, Nike. Though, that last question gives Tidus pause; a good ol' pause, because uh, what a way to ask it.

"Uhh... keep food on you? I don't think the train's gonna get that long."

[purifyings]

Missions get the most points awarded. Nike will have to keep it in mind. Itsuki did explain about the team colors and the types of missions they usually get. She supposes it was better than nothing. Maybe she should experiment a bit when concerning them.

Shaking her head a bit, Nike will admit, "I wish I did or else I'd ask about it existing." She was hoping this contraption would have some sort of gizmo to help them travel the train without having to walk so much. All she can do is pray for one, she guesses.

"Keep food on me?" repeated Nike as she ponders about the possibility. "I suppose I could use the rucksack given to us. Fill it with all kinds of snacks!" She doesn't mind carrying it around either. Just gotta tie it around her body! But, would it mean she'll have to use points to fill it? Um. "....what are the possibilities of getting more food from the kitchens without sacrificing my meals?" asked Nike next wondering if it was possible to get more food without having to pay for it or was everything portioned out already.

[blitzcheer]

This girl was really thinking about food, wasn't she? He liked food as much as the next person, but this was kinda on a different level to listen to.

"You don't need to worry. You can get food whenever- even make your own meals! And people make treats all the time. You can too, if you know how." Because enjoying food and knowing how to make it were two different things. "It's one of those pantries where you gotta make what you want. Unless you wanna grab a piece of fruit to snack on."

Or even a piece of veggie, Tidus won't judge. Though he'll add, with a chuckle. "But if you're real worried about dropping from exhaustion, one guy makes bread that keeps you going all day from just a slice. You should have a bite of that in the morning!"

[purifyings]

What she is getting from this explanation was -- she can make anything as long as she knows how. Does that mean there is a limited supply of ingredients? It shouldn't be a problem if it was the case. "I'll have to do that, then. Look at the pantries and see what we have. I'm used to living in a limited manner and inventing recipes. My country was poor, you know," explained Nike in a thoughtful tone of voice, remembering the times she had to go hungry sometimes and learned to even steal from other relatives.

With the mention of bread with a unique ability, Nike will perk up because "I never heard of bread that can do that!" She already knows bread was delicious, but with a power like that? Could it help? Tilting her head in thought, "...it'd be a waste to use it that way though. The issue is to keep my body full for as long as I can. My body burns food and energy faster than the average person." But as long as she doesn't sing to a large crowd, summon any aspects of the weather, or create her water entities, then she should be okay. "Who makes this interesting bread? I'd like to meet them once I know who they are," added Nike with a small smile growing because she was curious to know who to ask for bread whenever missions pop up.

[blitzcheer]

So she was one of those people too? What luck that he brought the bread up then, Tidus humming some under his breath before he speaks. "Glorfindel. Blond long hair, pointy ears- he's part of Purple Team, one of the leads. And that's one of the reasons he got and started making the bread. To help people who need more food than other people. We have a couple here like that. And we have over a hundred people on this train - we don't want no one on it to go hungry!"

Far from it. It was meant for missions primarily, but if those people continued to have larger appetites outside of missions - well, it's not like they could help that.

"But if you wanna checking out what we've got, have a go. We've got books around for cooking and baking, if you need any help. You just need to see we have the right ingredients for whatever you're making."

Like swapping out meats for whatever was on hand that month - if there was any. The train didn't really consider meat a staple, unlike fruits and vegetables and a variation of flours.

[purifyings]

"Glorfindel did?" asked Nike amazed by the identity of the baker behind the amazing bread. "I know who that is! He has a very calming energy about him. It helped me a lot. I felt protected from the void when I was with him," added Nike without a second thought. However, there was a word Tidus used that caught her attention, "What do you mean by leads? Is he in charge of making food...?" Yes, she is now wondering if they are a permanent fixture for cooking and preparing meals for everyone.

The detail about there being more people with appetites as large as hers' was comforting. No one will be making comments about her eating habits or body shape. If there are more people around like her, then she was finally free to be herself.

"Where can I find these books and recipes? Are they in the kitchens or somewhere else?" asked Nike next after learning about it. She was now excited to see the types of ingredients there were or the recipes left behind. Nike knew to cook. She wasn't a professional in any way, but she knew to make food for all situations. Her rice porridge was known as the best in her country!