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

Nie Huaisang | The Untamed | Red Team

[eternalgrief]

( A. Kitchen )

Arriving on the train is a strange thing, strange clothes, strange technology, and plenty of strange people. He'd made his way at some point to the dining car, with some help he is able to get some tea and sits at the wooden table. His face is drawn tight, confused, frustrated and the grief is still so fresh. It's only made more complicated with the fact that both the source and the cause of his grief are both on the train and it leaves him feeling stretched thin and confused at how to feel.

At least the carriage doesn't seem to have a lot of people on it currently and he can be alone and try to compose himself. He hasn't been able to relax since the moment he saw Meng Yao and tension coils through all his muscles.

( B. Wildcard )

[ Feel free to HMU with anything else you fancy. He's in Sleeper 7, Cabin D ]

A

[runicfeathers]

Normally she stays out of such things as asking if others are okay, but Willow's decided to talk to more people even if it ends in failure, but she's at least tried. So when she comes to the kitchen to grab something to eat, she notices someone visibly upset, contemplating on whether or not to go over and eventually decides on approaching after getting some tea herself.

"Pardon me, but, are you alright?" Her voice is calm with concern mixed in, but she doesn't sit down unless she is given the okay.

[eternalgrief]

Huaisang should have noticed her before she spoke but he's lost in thought, lost in tea that'll go cold before he's done with it. With ease, though, his mask slides into place and he smiles at her.

"Of course, I was just thinking."

[runicfeathers]

Internally she arches a brow, but doesn't press anything or show it. A smile goes across her face as well, and upon a closer look, this is not someone she's seen around the train before yet.

"Oh, I see. Are you new here? I do not believe I have seen you around." She gestures to the seat in front. "May I?"

[eternalgrief]

"I am," Huaisang confirms and then makes a motion for her to take a seat. "I'm Nie Huaisang."

A

[enthunder]

After getting a glance at the state of the platform when they'd all been spat out as usual, Light had made the decision to give him time. He'd clearly arrived with at least one person from his homeworld, and checking the ICPs once she's back aboard tells her, yeah, same family name. No wonder. She gives him longer. Checks others, picks up her parcel, roots around the armoury.

She's back in dining to pick up a coffee, when she notices the guy himself sat nursing his own drink, alone and on edge. What happened?

"Hey." She's too tired to be awkward, as she crosses to sit on the bench across from him, "Something up?"

[eternalgrief]

There's a strangeness to the people here, not all so obvious but enough to be noticed. He manages a smile, though, the energy for a believable mask to hide on is sapped from him. However, he doesn't know this person and his answer is careful.

"There is a lot to take in."

[enthunder]

"That's an understatement," she takes the smile at face value without much of a response beyond a slight narrowing of her eyes, used to the deflection. It's his own business, of course, but...

It's hers, too, if she's serious about keeping up this leadership thing. She pushes.

"Cards on the table. Name's Light, and I'm acting leader of the team you've been put with." Zetta's song and dance on the platform aside, anyway. She indicates her scuffed, patched red hoodie. "So, if there's something bothering you, I'm all ears."

[eternalgrief]

Huaisang glances over her once again once she's introduced herself and he definitely doesn't judge a book by it's cover but he does wonder what kind of leader she is -- and also what the point of it is. The train's social system is still a bit of a mystery.

"I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to assist."

And he doesn't need to get anyone else tangled in Meng Yao's potential web.

A

[achickenformylove]

Well, he may have had strange clothes but the person walking in has more familiar ones. WangJi walked in wearing his sect robes, the only thing that might be considered odd is the little black rabbit poking his head out of the front to watch where they are going.

As he walked in spotted the other occupant of the dining car, he clasped his hands in front of him, not bowing for the rabbit in the front of his robes.

"Nie HuaiSang."

[eternalgrief]

Huaisang looks up in surprise, not just at the sight of the other but the bunny? That's a strange sight that he would have never expected and it's enough to have a genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips briefly as he stands to cup his hands in front of himself to bow to the other.

"Lan Wangji, I didn't know you were here," he might have sought him out if he had known but then again maybe not.

[achickenformylove]

WangJi carefully fished the rabbit out of his robes, the little thing squirming a bit at being airborne briefly. He settled though once WangJi placed him on the table, letting the rabbit stretch his legs for a bit and walk around. The dining room was a good place to let the rabbit walk around in his opinion because when it wasn't crowded, he could be off the floor.

"I am. Have been for quite some time. How are you settling in?"

[eternalgrief]

Huaisang watches the rabbit for a moment, almost truly smiling before he's sipping his tea. He rubs his thumb on the cup at the new information, at the question. What is quite some time, he wonders. The question is a difficult one to answer. He doesn't feel like he's been settling at all and there's a lot of turmoil in his discoveries here already.

"I don't think I have begun to but I am sure everything will fall into place."

B; garden

[soldier_blade]

Coming back from the mission, Sonya was still having a difficult time getting to sleep. The heat and fire of the place, as she suspected, did bring back memories of what happened before her arrival. She knew it, she expected it.

Didn't make it any easier.

Yoga had been one of her ways to meditate and clear her head (as well as keep on flexibility), when she heard someone enter the garden. She knew well enough this was a public carriage, but she couldn't help wish for perhaps a few moments longer by herself.

Still, it was one person, she could handle one person. A quick glance saw the red clothing he wore; she felt a little more relieved seeing another passenger to add to their team.

She took a few deep breaths, before getting out of her pose, loosening her shoulders in the process.

[eternalgrief]

Huaisang wouldn't have intentionally interrupted her and he's not particularly sure he had as he didn't notice her right away, not until she's already out of the pose and he glances at her. He cups his hands in front of himself to bow, even though he's finding that doesn't seem to be a normal custom of most on the train.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," he says after surmising the situation a moment or two longer.

[soldier_blade]

"It's a public carriage," She conceded, getting to her feet. "You didn't really interrupt anything."

Though she made a mental note to atleast try a short yoga session in the quiet car. Privacy, she found quickly, was rarer here than it was on any military base in the past; and even then she did have her office back home.

His bow, she noted, reminded her of Liu Kang (when he was human-when he was her friend). She returned the bow, mirroring his out of respect. Diplomacy didn't always come naturally with her, but her position and rank made it a necessity, and so it became habit for her to learn and match various ways of greeting.

"I'm going to hazard a guess that you just arrived on the Train." He was on her team after all, but Sonya had been on enough missions, and their team was small enough that she would've recognized him otherwise-and she hadn't.

[eternalgrief]

"Whether public or not you seemed to be in the middle of something," Huaisang counters but he smiles, feeling a bit guilty but well, it wouldn't linger all that long. He smiles when she returns the bow -- he's finding that isn't exactly common but he's already surmised that he shouldn't take offense to it.

"Yes, very recently. I was just trying to explore a little more..." he's been reticent in venturing, really, spending most of his time trying to avoid Meng Yao when he can.

Dining Car

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel comes in with supplies from the Stores car to restock the Coffee/Tea stand. The downstairs one got hit pretty hard whenever there were new passengers, but then he did agree that sometimes a good cup of tea could help when the world did not make sense.

He spotted the new person immediately, of course. "Hello there. Would you care for a pastry to go with your tea?" he asked kindly, producing one from his Arms Band with a slight gold sparkle that might have been hard to see, considering he glowed.

[eternalgrief]

The other catches his eye easily and he studies carefully, a sip of his tea before the cup is set down and he shakes his head slowly. He couldn't possibly eat just now.

"I'm fine," he says, bowing his head some. "Thank you," he adds and it's hard to look away from him and he doesn't realize he's staring despite already giving him an answer.

[laurefindil]

Glorfindel smiled at him. "I understand, this Train is a lot to take in, isn't it? Do you perhaps have others from your world here as well?"

He starts stocking the Tea station with the familiarity of someone who has done this many times before.

[eternalgrief]

"I do, there are quite a few actually," Huaisang says, smiling some. That is at least a boon for the most part. There's a few that he would prefer were still dead. He watches the other work from his spot as he continues to sip at his tea.

"Most of them I am pleased to see."

Dining room

[only_one_wei]

Well, well, well.

[Wei Wuxian walks up to him, then takes a seat, turning so he could look him in the face.] These benches take a little getting used to.

So which one are you? The younger one, still afraid to disappoint his brother, or the older one, who arranged for my return? [He doesn't sound angry, more just curious at this stage.]

[eternalgrief]

[ That voice is one that Huaisang never could forget and it draws a hint of an almost smile to his lips if his heart wasn't so heavy it would have come easy. It's strange, though, the questions, to find another person he had cared for that is well and alive when he knows they died.

He meets Wuxian's eyes and there's no trickery in his face, the question seems honest and he decides he won't doubt the strangeness of the latter part of it. ]

I think I must be in between.

[ A funeral just finished, his heart raw with the realizations still, with grief but also the knowledge he would do anything for revenge. ]

[only_one_wei]

Ah. So, I am dead in your time, then?

Have you met any of the others here? Has anyone told you about what happens after your time?

Because...as you might guess from my appearance, I'm not quite the same person I was. Uhm, that is, I am Wei Wuxian, not Mo Xangyu.

[eternalgrief]

Yes...

[ Huaisang frowns, he had remained sad about that loss and his plan isn't fully hatched yet to know what he ends up doing. ]

What all did I miss?