voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She smiles wryly.

"Well. I assume we want to keep this conversation light, no? Perhaps you could tell me about something that game you play on your world? Blitzball, wasn't it?"

"That's right! Did I tell you you play it underwater? Apparently I didn't tell the one guy I've known forever on this train, and he thought I was drowning when I stayed underwater!"

Which hopefully still counts as light, since he was definitely not drowning.

"How long can you stay underwater?" She asks, curiously.

"I know the pearl divers of Alqualonde can do so for several minutes at a time."

"Hour, half an hour? Around that. But I'm getting out of practice, so it's probably less than that now," he admits. "But I trained for it most my life, so I worked hard to get that high up!"

That makes him wonder though. "Is seven minutes a lot for you?"

"A full hour!" She blinks at him in startlement. "Without aid?"

She nods. "There are ways to extend the time, of course, but to do so only by holding one's breath... I think the longest record is ten minutes."

"I was aiming for it," he admits with some sheepishness. "And it kinda depends on where you're swimming. The water in a sphere and pool's different than when you're in the sea. It's heavier? But that makes it better learning to handle attacks, since you have people knocking you around and trying to get the ball from you in blitzball."

Blitzball wasn't a contactless game, for sure. "A full game's two five minute rounds, but that's a lot when anything can happen. You need to be able to hold onto your breath through all that action too!"

"My!" She's fully engaged with the conversation now.

"I suppose as you say, you're deliberately training for it, and it would be necessary for you - where the divers don't really have to stay down that long."

"And they're not training to catch a ball whizzing their way, right?" he grins.

"It's fun though, once you get used to everything. The training's tough 'cause of everything you have to learn, but having it all come together and finally pulling off easy movement underwater, it's a great feeling. It had to be the same with you and sculpting, right? That had to take a lot of training."

"Exactly." She smiles back.

"I imagine that would be rather more difficult to do all of that at once! How is it scored?"

She considers and nods. "That's true. I know my skill is above many, but much of that is time and effort."

"You have a goal either side, and a point's when you get the ball into your opponent's goal. Then vice versa." Including a finger swing, indicating the goals.

"So blitzball's as much about navigating the other team and keeping up your defences as it is scoring. You can't go in too hard, but you can't play too defensively either, you know? You have five people each team, another protecting your goal. It matters where you are on the field and your strategy breaking through to their goal!"

She nods.

"Because you'll run out of air too soon? I see - and I assume you are allowed contact, then, in order to stop your opponent getting to the other side!"

"Mostly, everyone who's going for contact are the people looking to grab the person with the ball. But yeah, you can grab them, kick. A lot happens in five minutes! But it's less of a brawl than people showing off what they can do in water and passing! You really have to be thinking all around you at all times. It's great!"

He loves it, the quick-thinking and team work, your plans aligning by each understanding the field and how they work together.

"I can always show you. There's a cartoon where they play it in the cinema! It's not that bad for an introduction."

"I imagine it teaches good situational awareness." She agrees.

"It does sound interesting. Is it an accurate representation then?"

"Wellll," wellll, said as someone who can give a lot of critique, "It's okay, but there's some differences, probably because of different world, different rules? And they play up a lot of moments for dramatic effect. You know- the way people make moves and then you're going into their heads, and you spend so much time listening to them think, you're like, 'Just play the game!'"

He waves out a hand with that. It's basically every sports anime!

"Spoken as one whose life is given to the game." She smiles.

"But if you think it's close enough for a stranger to the game, I will have to give it a try."

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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/makes up shit

roleplayer lyfe

so while digging I found this real human who can actually manage 22+min HOW?

they were a final fantasy in their previous life

that or a dolphin XD

a dolphin in a human suit

the truth is revealed!

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