voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Minako didn't have a reason to be in the luggage car really, but Minako was at least for the most part going up and down the train to see if she could find people to talk to rather than doing so on the platform.

So she currently had been on her way back, planning on heading to the gaming carriage after this when she paused, watching the other for a moment.

"What a cute friend you have?"

Tsubomi and Chypre both looked up upon hearing Minako's voice. Quickly, Tsubomi whispered something to Chypre, before replying.

"Ah, thank you!" she said aloud. "She and I have been apart for a while... I'm very glad to have her back!"

"Hello!" Chypre said happily. "I'm a plushie!"

"You're a plsuhie... Didn't know plushies could talk, to be honest." Considering with that word she would just think of cuddly teddy bears or something.

"But I am glad that you two are back together here"

Chypre laughed... suspiciously nervously.

"That's just how plushies are, where we come from!" she said.

Tsubomi wasn't so sure this was more or less believable than saying Chypre was a magical fairy, but... well, they had to run with it. "Thank you," she said with a nod.

Minako honestly wasn't sure what to think beyond how much does it matter, so instead Minako just seemed cheery.

"But either way at least it meant you have a good friend of yours here too." Minako didn't want to admit it, but she was honestly a tiny bit jealous.

Tsubomi nodded. "That's right... Chypre is a very good friend," she said.

"I can be your friend too, if you want?" the "plushie" offered.

Minako would have never thought of being friends with a plushie. OIt was a strange thing to even think about, but then again she was friends with a talking cat back home so was it all that strange?

"I think we could be friends."

"Hooray!" Chypre exclaimed. "Friends should know each other's names, then! I'm Chypre!"

Tsubomi nodded. "And I'm Tsubomi," she said.

"I'm Minako. I'm the one you see on this train if you ever have problems, usually the love kind, but I do help general problems if I can." She seemed rather proud of that fact really.

"Love...problems?" Tsubomi repeated, looking confused. Then, she laughed nervously. "Ahahahaha, I don't think I'll need help with that. But uhm, if I ever need help with anything else, I'll be sure to look you up."

"You can count friendly kind of love to, but yeah it makes sense why you might not. I mean not a lot of people seem to have the whole love thing here because of the way the train is." What with the whole possibility of people leaving of course.

"I understand the friendly part of love," Tsubomi replied. "There's a lot of people I love that way, especially my friends."

"Same here, although a lot of the friends I love the most are back at home..." that was enough to cause the young woman to frown slightly, even if it was for a moment.

"But they are at least safe, so that's a positive."

"That's good. That they're safe I mean," she said. Then, Tsubomi let out a sad sort of laugh. "I'm... I'm not sure I'd be able to do this without my friends that I have here."

"I'm sure you would have, but I am glad you did have friends here. it's much better I think to have people you know than to arrive without." It made things easier in her mind, but for Minako it was vastly different. It just made her feel alone sometimes so she just does things so she doesn't think about it.

Tsubomi smiled. She agreed with what Minako was saying... but at the same time, she figured from the other girl's words that she must have some struggles of her own.

"You can rely on those of us on the train too, you know," she said. "If you need to talk, my door is always open."

"I am aware of that. It's just.... different I guess when it comes to people you know from home, you know?" In Minako's case, it is more of a destiny thing than anything. She was destined to have her friends in her life and to work with them.

So it was odd for them to not be in her life while here.

Tsubomi nodded. "I understand," she said. "I guess... I'm just trying to help where I can?"

"And that is a good thing really." She was always glad to see those who help out on the train as best as they could. "I hope you continue to help others when you can here"

A New Platform [Intro Post November]

Luggage

Re: Luggage

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