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

"They always looked so good when I saw them at Midsommar," Thorne.tcai says longingly, as she does her best to whip as instructed. "Mama Eranda loves how they smell, you know. It's important for food to smell nice, because normally we just inhale the scent."

She's dressed in the new, pretty dress and coat she'd gotten from the train, even as she's got an apron over them for protection.

He admires her, for a moment, before nodding. "Lemon peel and vanilla will make this extremely fragrant," he promises. "Even if we're just using an extract. Even now and here vanilla is relatively expensive stuff."

He's been busy greasing a loaf pan and slicing strawberries: he looks for the next step. "Right. Beat in two eggs and then the buttermilk; I'll sugar these so they make the strawberry sauce."

Thorne.tcai nods. "Mom says a little can go a long way. I should crack the eggs in another little bowl before adding them, right? In case there's shells because I broke them wrong."

She goes to get that little bowl and then picks out two eggs from the carton.

"I don't think that can hurt," he agrees. "You're learning this from scratch and cooking... well, anything but game isn't in your domain. Mistakes are inevitable. Reminds me of something Chuck Jones once said - a legendary terrestrial animator, if you don't know the name."

He starts scooping up the sliced berries and putting them into a wide bowl.

"Mom showed us something called 'Duck Amuck' once, when we were all old and smart enough to know not to take it as an example," Thorne.tcai says. "I liked it a lot."

She's finished cracking the eggs and is adding them in to her other wet ingredients.

"That was one of his, yes. And, hmn."

He sets aside his bowl and, when there's an opportune moment, hugs Thorne from the side.

"He once said that he had a drawing instructor who told him that every illustrator had a thousand bad drawings in them and that it was best to get them out of your system as fast as possible. Rather than being daunted by this, he shrugged and figured - his words - 'I was already halfway there, so why stop now?'"

She laughs, sets her untensils down, then turns to hug him back.

"I like it," she says. "I like the story. And that's smart. You only get better if you practice a lot. That even goes for TCAI, you know. There's a reason we all have to incubate in the lab for a while--we're not just learning how to be people, we're also practicing our functions. Even if sometimes we just have to practice in sims."

"I suddenly understand Orbital Knights' emphasis on quite realistic worlds," he says. "And the... outliers that destroyed themselves dramatically. Made for some captivating battlegrounds, I'll admit."

He gives her a little squeeze before detaching.

"And we thought it was just to force the use of cool weapons on Mercury-like worlds. But I digress. Shall we finish? It won't be long."

She nods, going back to her batter. "Then we'll put the cake in the oven and you'll finish with the strawberry part when it's baking, right."

"And whip some vanilla cream as it cools," he confirms. "If we keep it too long it'll soften so... first come first serve after we take our baker's tax?"

She grins. "Sounds good to me!"

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

cake

Re: cake

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I may be paraphrasing, but this is from his autobiography Chuck Amuck

I LOVE THAT IT'S CALLED CHUCK AMUCK

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