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!

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Taiki reaches up to stroke Inigo's hair slowly, gently. Trying to give him comfort.

He doesn't speak either, he doesn't know what to say. Really there is nothing he can say. He can only give comfort, lie still beside Inigo and stroke his hair in the hope Inigo can find some rest.

At first Inigo hopes that he can fall asleep. Usually he can, as long as he's cuddling with someone. He's done it plenty of times here on the train, with various people - mostly with Gerome recently, in fact, to make this all even more ironic.

But right now it suddenly doesn't feel as easy. Maybe it's since he's feeling much worse than when he usually does this. Sleep doesn't come easy, even though the feeling of Taiki against him is so comfortable.

So when minutes pass and he still can't seem to fall asleep, Inigo finally does speak up again, his voice a little raw from mostly having gone unused after all that crying.

"You and Gerome.. talked while he was still here. Right..?"

Taiki understands how sleep can sometimes be far away. It is not always easy, when thoughts won't quieten and even being held is not enough.

He doesn't stop stroking Inigo's hair even as Inigo speaks.

"Yes." He says quietly. "Not all that much. But we spoke a couple of times."

It was a shame he had not been able to know him better.

"He's great, isn't he..?"

Well, that may be a difficult assessment to make about someone as closed off as Gerome. Especially if you've only spoken to him a few times. But maybe Inigo, as wrapped up in all this emotion as he is at the moment, isn't really taking that into consideration right now.

"He always tries to act so much like he doesn't care.. But he can be so thoughtful when it matters."

"Yes." He agrees. It's the truth. The couple of conversations he had had with him had shown him to be a good person, quiet and thoughtful but someone who cared. Especially about Inigo.

"I never thought he didn't care. Our first conversation was about how much he cared for you." His voice is careful, he doesn't want to hurt Inigo.

It's so like Taiki, Inigo thinks. That he saw through to Gerome's core immediately, saw the better sides of him, hidden underneath that mask. It's since Taiki is so sweet, so quick to see the good in people.

Though the latter part of what he's saying is a bit more surprising.. but compared to Inigo's usual over the top dramatic surprise, this is much more muted. More quiet.

"You talked about me..?"

"Yes..." He nodded, "He didn't tell me anything I hadn't heard from you..." Maybe Ingio would find it worrying that they had spoken of him, though Taiki doubted Gerome would have told him any secrets of Inigo's.

"When he first arrived though, he was glad to find a friend of yours."

".. geez, Gerome.."

It's said very softly. And while Inigo doesn't necessarily sound hurt - not as hurt as he did back on the platform, anyway - there's definitely some emotion in it.

Mostly because he wishes that he would have or could have said so many more things to the other before he left the train like that.

"He's always been like that. Pretending that he doesn't need anyone else, or care about anyone else, but actually caring a lot."

Taiki nodded, he didn't know why he would pretend not to care. For protection perhaps? To avoid being hurt.

That was why most people did anything. To try and stay alive and stop their heart from hurting too much. It was the most natural.

"It was really clear, he wanted to help you."

That makes Inigo go quiet again for a bit. Gerome had been wanting to help him. Probably since his reaction to the other showing up had been so extreme since it was right after Yuki had left, huh.

And Gerome really tried to help. Inigo knows it. He let Inigo push past so many of their usual limits without more than mild complaining at best. Just so it'd make him happier in the end.

Now Gerome is gone too.

Unsure of what else to say, Inigo just slowly speaks up again to say, ".. thank you for talking to him."

"I liked talking to him." He said, still stroking Inigo's hair. "I am glad I got to meet him."

Someone from Inigo's world, even if he hadn't stayed very long.

Where people went, why they left, these were all worrying questions. But Taiki focused on Inigo. To try and give him comfort.

"I wish you could've talked to him more."

Instead of the train ripping him away again so quickly. Just long enough for the people Inigo knows to vaguely get to know him, but nothing beyond.

"He could've used a friend like you.." Someone soft and sweet like Taiki, but in a very quiet, calm way, compared to Inigo's loud obnoxious ways. And besides-- with Taiki being the way he is, he could use more friends too, right? And Inigo knows Gerome wouldn't ever have judged him, wouldn't have wanted to hurt him.

"I am glad I knew him." He smiled, his hand never stopping from stroking Inigo's hair.

He hoped he had managed to be a friend, for the little he had known him. If not a close one than at least someone who was friendly.

He had no idea where Gerome had gone now, hopefully somewhere safe, but outside of their reach. So now the important thing was comforting Inigo.

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

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