voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post November]

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A New Platform [Intro Post November]

On the Train

The morning after the Halloween party passengers are once again woken by a familiar voice.

"Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Imagination. 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. But through the fog comes sunshine, causing patches where the light shines down to warm the concrete. Looking up passengers will not be able to see the sun through the fog, or much of the sky at all.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Bryn Pendragon, Bucky Barnes, Colden Rollins, Elena, Fai D Flourite, Jiang Yanli, Juliette d'Aubigniy, Misa, Peter Parker, Samata Mahto, Satou Kuroneko, The Doctor, Tohru Mutou, Zuko, 10 Vigilant Gaze Purges The Horizon. They all walk silently and do not look back as they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are 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 the thick fog, penetrated by beams of light. As their eyes adjust they will see they are on a platform, behind them are a set of barriers and in front of them is a single track.

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 five 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.

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 and Honey is the newest ingredient, jars of honey stock the shelves and the ICP's in the kitchen have recipe ideas for the month.

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a small but function-able spa, complete with a small hot tub and even a steam room. It is a relaxing room with sun lamps and relaxing music or nature sounds available through the ICP. There are a couple of massage tables, with a course for how to give massages for those eager to learn.

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 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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A sign? Tidus imagines something goofy involving a pointing arrow, chuckles to himself at his imagination. He'll leave the trunk where he's put it. Should be fine!

"Along this wall then?" Picking himself back up on his feet, he taps the wall he's near. "I figured we'd keep it here away from the rest of the luggage." The wall as close to the main entrance, if not coming from the doors that would face the platform. "Found a socket extension too."

“Let’s see...let’s see...” Galo says as he joins him by the wall and turns to face the doorways. Then looks back, nodding again. “Yeah, that works. Good eye!” Then he turns his attention to the spot. It’s a good spot and his eyes light up as he spots the best part.

“This is pretty solid on safety rules too. Could be easily contained if something catches fire.” He steps back and studies it again and nods again. “Yeah.” He taps the wall. “I’ll try and swing by off and on to make stuff that can be nabbed up for fast breakfast or lunches. Keeps my skills sharp and people get fed, win win for everyone!”

Tidus laughs some, gets up from where he's been crouched near the wall and trunk. Puts his hands on his sides and stretches in his back, letting out a sigh.

"Well, other than my project, you got anything going? New mission soon! You think you're ready for it?"

The months always felt long, but they were finally onto a new one -- which meant an upcoming mission. And who knew what would be involved this time?

Galo shifts from foot to foot like a racer eyeing the race track. “Yeah, I’m ready! I’ve been so bored without any action. Sparring with people is fun and all, but it’s just training.” He shakes his head. “And it’s just me in my cabin so...yeah.”

He sighs, leaning back for a moment. Then he relaxes. “Other than your project it’s been planning blinds and shit for the windows. And writing out lesson plans for when we got what we need for first aid training. Not much. Oh and trying to find a spot we can just burn some stuff safely.”

He ticks off each one on his fingers.”It’s pretty important.”

...That's a lot. Or a few that Tidus wants to comment on, like, 'just me in my cabin?', but Galo brings up about a safe place for burning, and...

"In...here?" The luggage car? He looks around, checking for something, but- "You'll need to move some stuff, but I think they set up air filters in the back part. 'Cause of smokers on board. Plus other than the luggage... guess it depends how big of a fire you need?"

They could manage it with some proper planning beforehand; it was the least actively used carriage, and had some fair space. Especially if it's not a massive or out of control fire they need.

"You could just wait and hope on-planet's a good place to do some burning too."

“I’m comfortable waiting but finding a place on the train for it is important too.” He grimaces. He doesn’t like it but Lio needs that so he can’t ignore it. With a sigh he says, “Small fire. Not candle small, but like small enough the vents will take care of the smoke.”

He makes a small plate sized circle with his hands. “I’ll make sure to move things and everything for it whenever and put them back when done.” He adds as he walks over to the spot indicated.

Galo glances at the wall then back at Tidus. “If that’s what he wants.” He rubs the back of his neck and says, “Lio needs to burn things. It’s sort of like having a smoking habit except he can’t ever escape it. Ever.”

Ohhhh.

Tidus blinks before he finally gets it--well, the explanation helping. Lio the Burnish needing to burn things... It's odd, but just for a moment, as his mind reasons that there's fiends that just burn all the time -- so why not some guy? Looks at the walkable aisle of the luggage car in thought.

"Does it matter what he burns? Just anything? How often?"

He stops just barely shy of making a face again. Galo puts his hands on his hips and tips his head back, closing his eyes. He has to think. His brow furrows. “I don’t know. I never asked him specifics. I said it had to be small and he said yes, so maybe it is anything.”

He shakes his head and drops his hands from his sides. Lio had agreed to all the fire safety he wanted in place. “Not sure how often. He’s a really controlled guy so I’ll have to ask to know.”

"Well if there's anything the rest of us can help him with," Tidus offers, a one-shouldered shrug. "Maybe there's stuff other people can do to make it safer too. I talked with Nita about making cloth more fire-resistant that Webs was making. She can weave magic in all sorts, but she's weak against fire. Reflects in what she makes too."

But that was more for a guy like Galo to think about than maybe Lio.

He thinks about that and his mind casts back to the flame hovering over his palm. He'd felt the warmth of it without it even risking burning him. "...he might be able to help with that." He says, carefully. He doesn't want to volunteer Lio for anything. They're partners and it will always be Lio's decision what he agrees to.

"I'm not too worried about making it absolutely safe, he's always shown he can do that. Just having a spot that doesn't bother anyone is the goal. And like I said before, I can make food here for everyone. Kinda of like a trade. I make food, he gets to burn shit. You know?"

He still isn't comfortable with fire. He shifts from foot to foot and sighs. "So that's covered. The curtain thing, I got the bamboo for that now it just has to dry out and all that."

"He doesn't mind being a human grill?" ...you know, it's said with surprised first, and Tidus tries to keep down the smile that wants to lift itself on his face when his head gets what he just imagined. But his expression might be a little light.

"Don't suppose he knows how to be a human forge too? --uh," and then he remembers rather abruptly, another conversation. "Does he mind that word? Should I call him burnish? There was another guy here who didn't like being called human, so-"

You know. Just trying to be mindful here.

Again Galo goes quiet and scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t think he’d mind grilling for people if he was shown how to. I promised to teach him how to cook so, we’ll see.” Galo studies the vents again in thought. A human forge. He grins. “We always called them Burnish for as long as I can remember. He refers to himself the same way but reminded me the second time we met all Burnish are human too.”

It’s all the awful names for Burnish that no one should repeat. He turns to Tidus and his grin fades to just a simple smile. “And we can talk to him about the forge part. It’s letting him burn things and help here, so I’m pretty sure he’ll be for it. Might be a way to trade favors with him. He helps them forge and so on. Details to work out with him. Good idea!”

"Cool! Hey, if everything works, I know forge work's one of those you can't get going easy on a train." For reasons. Will it still be possible like this? Tidus doesn't know, but he's willing to leave it to the fire guys to sort out.

Good to know too, about how Lio prefers to be referred to. Either it sounds like, but he'll keep the word 'burnish' better in mind. ...unlike last time he talked to the guy.

"But you let me know. Or the rest of the train -- whatever Lio's comfortable with. Didn't you say before he made the armour you were wearing on the last mission?"

“Nah, my staff! The Matoi!” As if that explains anything. He pumps his fist as if running it along the staff. “He only saw the homage to an original Matoi staff so it has some non-traditional elements but, he got what he saw solid!”

Galo’s eyes go bright as he hooks a finger. “Hey, that’s right I could build another staff like the one I broke weeks ago!” He tilts his head to the side. “But, need a metal hook at the end. So we’re back to the forge end of things.”

If they can get forge work set up they could do a lot. “Man, thinking on it. A lot of little things could be done with metal work. Hooks or caps for the ends of curtain rods too.”

"It's always the little things you don't think of 'til we don't have them, huh? We can make all the quiet rooms more private if we had hooks and everything." Tidus pauses, realising Galo might not know what he's talking about, waving a hand some as he explains,

"Minako, girl who calls herself the love expert here wanted to make a private room for couples. But those rooms are nice for taking a nap in sometimes, or just sitting around."

Just, who wants someone looking in, right?

Galo stares at him. He's an idiot about big picture things but this. "So," He says when he finally finds his voice. "Right now there's no curtains or anything? in those 'quiet rooms'?" He covers his mouth as a faintly worried expression crosses his face.

Quiet rooms for couples. "They got doors right?" It's not something he really thinks about. But now it's put before him he is thinking about it. "...not so sure she's a love expert if they don't have either of those?"

Holy shit.

Tidus stares at Galo back, neutral at first, not really thinking about where the other guy's mind was going. Just a normal talk about curtains and privacy, until, with that dawning look of concern-

'...not so sure she's a love expert if they don't have either of those?'

...

...

"...I think Minako wants the curtains so couples can have that privacy time," he answers slowly, as slow as the grin coming on his face. "They're soundproof and got locks, but the doors are completely glass. You know?"

Griiin. "Not as private as you'd want."

Galo turns faintly red. “That...sounds about right.” He says as if he isn’t embarrassed. “And if there’s nothing inside to cover the glass right now, then can’t even do that as temporary.”

He got onto this topic. This is the bed he’s made. “Floor to ceiling glass doors.” He adds as he rubs at his mouth and thinks about that. “This train really doesn’t think when it adds stuff. If it...is thinking I mean. I dunno.”

He coughs and looks away. “Not my thing but sucks for the people who need that time for each other.”

Tidus hums. Could remark on what's been mostly said and not on that latter part.

...

Or- "Guess you don't need to worry, having a cabin all to yourself. And any special friends."

Said as suggestively as can be said. Lucky you, Galo!

Galo jerks back around redder than he was before. “Oi, you’re right and all but don’t say it like that! What the hell is a special friend anyway?” He points a finger at him and nothing comes out on his attempt to keep talking.

He shuts his mouth and scowls a bit. It doesn’t help him. It only emphasizes how embarrassed he looks. “Just. Just saying I’ll add it to list of places that need curtains!” He folds his arms over his chest and huffs.

“But still thinking blinds would be better for the green house. You know the kind you adjust ropes with?” And subject change.

Tidus bursts into laughter at the accusation, the defensive energy, unable to resist; hand coming to his belly, his grin wider than anything at the reaction. Look, he couldn't help it, he couldn't help it!

But he won't go for the obvious of, 'Sure you want me to answer that?' in regards to special friends. Move on like a good friend.

"Mmm, yeah-" a chuckle still in his throat, but, "Sure. You uh, know Fingon? He's Purple too. He's craftsy -- Curufin too, I heard. And Nerdanel's good with stone and sculpture."

He spreads his hands. "They'd be good for asking about a plan. Right? Like aa... blueprint. Just let me know if you need help with materials!"

Tidus folds in half and Galo sighs at him. "Don't laugh!" It won't help but the subject changes so he drops it. He crosses his arms over his chest and closes his eyes. "Don't know them yet but seems pretty easy to get in touch with the rest of purple team. We're really organized."

It's nice. "But yeah, we can come up with some kind of blue print. Pending on what we got we can make some temporaries or something. So, that's covered too."

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A New Platform [Intro Post November]

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