A New Platform [Intro Post November]

[voidtreckermods]

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!

Comments

[deferences]

[the slight smile on his face widens, brightening his expression further when it seems like she might actually consider getting some of the snack, but even though she changes her mind (is he crazy or was something rattling?), the gesture doesn't falter.

he waits patiently for her to get settled, gets everything set up to start playing again then clambers up into the hammock beside her, doing everything within his power to not rock too much. to be honest, sizhui should've just hovered his way up and landed more gracefully instead, though that would be a waste of energy and gods forbid, he get scolded for that. even though lan wangji isn't here at the moment, who knows where he might show up?

after tugging his hood over his head, both hands get tucked into his pockets and he slumps back, casting her a glance from his peripheral.]

It's fun! Very cute, lighthearted and simple to follow. Easy to watch a lot of.

[spikelet]

[she keeps her balance easily enough with the care he's taking in his movements, but she waits until he's settled before she fishes the bag of brightly wrapped sweets from her pocket and - with an air of great magnanimity - holds it out for him.

it's fair, given that he's sharing his seat. it's not that she enjoys the rush of having things of her own to share.

it's also not that she perks up when his opinions are positive. neither of these things are true and happening right now, nor is she leaning forward, eyes bright.

(she is.)]

The others say it's cliche, but there are lots of parts that I've never heard before, and there's so much of it!

[deferences]

[sizhui's eyebrows lift with interest, eyes somewhat widened in the same manner. it's not so much that she's offering to share (okay, it's sort of that!), but more the fact he's pretty sure he has no idea what is being held out to him. some sort of candy it looks like, so he reaches to take one for now, twists it one way then the other.]

Thank you, [he remarks gratefully.] What, ah... what is it?

[hopefully she knows or else he might be wary about putting it in his mouth; the last time he had sweets, he ate so much, he made himself sick. which he doubts will happen in this scenario, but well... seeing a-qing light up alongside her generosity sure warms his heart.

and for whatever it's worth, her secret(s) are safe with him.]

Nothing wrong with cliché, either! I like that there's so much and yes, many things we don't know. That's what keeps it interesting to me if we're being honest.

[spikelet]

It's boiled sugar. [she pops one in her mouth right after, even spending a moment to hold it on her tongue in demonstration. it's easy to suspect the plenty they have on the train, when so much of the food looks unfamiliar, but she doesn't mind sharing the fruits of her own careful investigations and occasional stomach upsets.

but then they're back talking about the cinema, and she makes a noise of smug satisfaction around her sweet.]

Cliché is fine as long as it's not some scholar making excuses for a stupid ending, saying, that's just how it is... Ah, it's starting!

[the jingle has finished, and the title screen reads: The Merry Little Voidtrain Takes A Snap. hm.]

[deferences]

Oh! [well, that answers that question. candy is candy, anyhow, so he unwraps it, gives it a long once-over after it's freed of the wrapper then wastes no time popping it into his mouth. ...which is an immediate mistake when the super-sour citrusy flavor spreads across his tongue.

oof. he winces at the assault on his tastebuds, presses his lips together and wrinkles his nose.] Agh, it— it's so... so... [so much muchness!!!] Sour, [is what he finally manages.

sizhui holds firm, sucks down the flavor, tucks the candy into his cheek after redirecting his attention back to the screen.] But it's fine, yes, within reason. [both the cliché and the candy. he goes silent afterward, gives the faintest curious head-tilt at the title. what's a ‘snap?’ guess they're going to find out.]

F

[spikelet]

Ah? [her face scrunches in confusion - and maybe a little sympathy - and she reaches over to pluck the wrapper from his hand. oh. oh! yeah, she's had one of those before.]

It tastes better after.

[what IS a snap? the first few minutes don't answer the question, mostly following the usual 'where shall we go today?' conversation. several interesting options are brought up - and discarded, to a-qing's vocal impatience - until the rabbit girl finally decides to go somewhere for a photography competition.

with her third sweet rolled under her tongue, she hums.]

Has big brother ever heard of photography?

r i p in pieces

[deferences]

[tastes better after? doubt.

but alright, fine, he's going to go ahead, trust her judgment and uncertainly roll the candy over his tongue, sucking away as much sour as he can stand without wrinkling his expression a second time.] If you say so.

[lans aren't supposed to be picky anyway, so!

his attention directs to the screen while the characters decide what they'll do for the day; he also wonders, though is focused on noting all ideas that are put on the table before they finally settle with something called photography.] No, I can't say that I have. Guess we're about to find out, though. [and he's genuinely excited, wondering what kind of shenanigans this will bring about.] Unless it's something you've already heard of while on the train?

[spikelet]

[it tastes fine if you're not a coward, her expression seems to say. but he drops it, and seems to be doing just fine, so she just shrugs and burrows further into the hammock.

she's glad that it's not something the gentry are familiar with. it means they can go into it on the same level, and she won't look stupid. relieved, she even places the bag of sweets between them, opening facing him, so he can reach for more.]

Not really. I think 'photo' is a picture, but that's all I've heard.

[the Voidtrain is already pulling into a world that's... very bright. festive, almost. the rabbit is rummaging through her bags, until she triumphantly produces a box-shaped device made of metal and glass. A-Qing is absorbed.]

[deferences]

[he's absolutely doing just fine and lan sizhui is most certainly not a coward! at least when it seems to come to food, anyway, and sour isn't as bad as spicy in his opinion.

from the corner of his eye, he considers the bag, humming thoughtfully before deciding he'll at least go for another piece and pray it isn't also a sour one. thank goodness, this second piece is a different color than the one he's currently eating, so that's a little bit promising.]

A picture? [like something someone's drawn or is this a different definition?

regardless, sizhui's attention is also focused, head faintly tilted while the bunny on-screen produces some sort of device. it's right when he's considering questioning further that she moves the item – a ‘camera’ is what she'd said, he's almost certain – then click takes a picture of a nearby line of trees. his eyes somehow widen, mouth agape, entranced by the bright pop of light and the little square rolling out of the bottom of the camera.]

[spikelet]

Mm, like a painting, but-- ah, see! [she watches avidly, glad they're distanced enough from everyone that she doesn't have to act. The glossy little square goes from ink-black to colourful in moments, the treeline appearing on it in perfect detail.

she squints, gears in her head almost visibly turning.

the bunny, apparently having successfully proven to herself that the 'camera' still works, goes into a talk about colour and composition that goes totally over a-Qing's head.]

[deferences]

[he does see, although he wonders how she does, yet still doesn't question her outright. sizhui's attention momentarily diverts to her, regarding her expression before directing back to the screen just in time to see the ‘photograph’ developing.

while he's curious as to what the bunny is talking about, he is far more inquisitive about how they can get themselves a camera of their own.]

A-Qing, [sizhui starts, crunching into the candy he'd been sucking on earlier that's definitely shrunk in size, chewing and swallowing and opening his second piece before continuing,] Do you think the train has a camera?

[spikelet]

Ah? [oblivious to the conflict her staring at the screen has caused within him, a-qing reaches for a gummy worm, and starts absently coiling it around her finger while she finishes her current sweet enough to answer him.]

A camera? [she's explored enough to give it a solid think.] Not for everyone to use, or I'd have noticed. Someone could've bought one... People buy so much, who can keep track?

[....... hmm, she has points.]

[deferences]

[wow, look at that candy! after he finishes this one, maybe he'll take one of those, but he will have to make that his last one so he doesn't end up eating all her sweets (because there is a likely chance he might do it on accident).]

Do you think we could buy one, then? [he has points, too. if they can actually buy one, they can pool some together and split it if need be? he wouldn't mind shared custody as long as he's able to get snaps whenever he likes.]

I'd like to try taking a photo one day...

[spikelet]

[the sweets are definitely an investment, generosity now will reap rewards later. or at least she'll be able to fleece him for a pack in the future, probably.

anyway, she's preoccupied. taking photos, huh? impatiently, she crunches her current piece of candy between her back teeth so she can answer.] I don't see why not, we can buy anything.

[not that she could use one with her act, but... she's been phasing it out, right? blind voidtreckers are being healed, like that Noctis guy, so there'll be a time that she could try it herself. hmm.] It doesn't look very big. Maybe twenty-five points?

[deferences]

[definitely. the next time he has any sweets and they're together, he won't hesitate to offer her some in exchange for her kindness today.

really, though? they can buy anything with points? that's something sizhui will file away for later but right now, he's also enthralled by the idea they could get one of these ‘cameras’ and be taking photographs of their own.

twenty-five isn't too terribly bad either, and he has points himself, so they could split it as evenly as possible between them.] We should buy one. I'll even chip in with my own points. [meaning whether he believes her blindness or not, this is something they both could enjoy.

(and if it is true, he can help her with aiming the lens instead!)]

[spikelet]

Ah? [that's pretty noble of him... she squints, which is a feat given she's still mostly watching the show.] One that we'd both own?

[she's not acting particularly blind around Lan Sizhui - after all, it's his father responsible for teaching her to read, and she's not that good that she can feign blindness while also learning her characters. but she's sure he'd agree to be the... what's the phrase? photographer?

at first, at least. she still wants a try. she takes a large bite of gummy worm, and chews it thoughtfully, as though she's not already itching to scramble back out of the hammock towards the vending terminal.] Let's look at the shop after this episode.

[deferences]

[sizhui casts her a sideways look, expression briefly creasing into something almost akin to scrutiny, but it softens just mere moments afterward. he grins, bobs his head affirmingly then averts his attention to the screen real quick-like in hopes he hasn't missed anything important.] That's what I was considering, yes!

[but once he makes certain the little rabbit is still happily taking photographs of whatever catches her eye, his attention drifts back toward a-qing. guess if he finds out hanguang-jun's the one teaching her to read, it should seal the deal that she has no trouble seeing.

however many times a-qing likes, she's more than welcome to take as many photos as her heart desires and lan sizhui will stand idly by while she does, very likely smiling the whole time. after the episode? hmmm...] Sounds like a plan. [so it's alright if he turns away again, not quite hyperfocused on the cartoon, although his attention certainly doesn't waver any.]