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

[ Alice shrugs a little, apparently not as concerned with how their chores will turn out. This train has been running fine one way or another so far, so purple taking over the cooking probably won't kill everyone.

.. probably. ]

There are plenty of us, so the people who can't cook can just sit it out. Or help the smaller teams with their chores. [ The latter is preferable, actually, because Alice sure doesn't want people to sit out just because they're lazy bums. ]

Cooking requires more of a skillset than doing the laundry, after all.

[ Even though she did have to get used to the modern way of doing laundry.. but even that pales in comparison to people who'd have to learn how to cook from scratch. ]

They could I guess, but... it's also a good chance to learn from someone else. I'm always happy to do other chores and this one honestly because of how much prep has to be done for those with much larger appetites.

[Like himself and he was pretty sure there was one other he was aware of too, so it was a lot of prep where they do need a decent amount of help to prep that much.]

Oh.

[ There's something in those words that stands out to her a little, making her glance over at Allen with some slight curiosity. ]

Have you been learning from someone? [ It wouldn't be too surprising. Allen is.. well, he's very Allen-y, but he's definitely more social than her, she thinks. It wouldn't be too strange for him to cook together with someone. It'd be far stranger for her to do that, she thinks. ]

No. It's why I can only do things that are simple. More self-taught on a lot of things.

[It was very simple and basic and Allen was always okay with following instructions or recipes at least. So cooking was at least okay for him to follow.]

it was never a skill I used all that much though.

It's not that hard. [ Especially since Alice is mostly self-taught as well. No one would have bothered to teach a girl like her how to cook back home, after all - they prefered to avoid her.

She walks a bit closer towards the counter to see what exactly Allen is currently working on. ]

Especially since the ingredients here are of a much higher quality than what I'm used to. [ Which says more about what she's used to back home than about the ingredients here.. ]

I know, right. [Which is now worrying on both sides.]

This stuff is really nice. The only time it wasn't for people was that month with that...meat stuff which people didn't like, but I didn't see the problem with it. [Seriously. It tastes fine, what was people's problems with it? One needs to learn to appreciate at least getting food.]

[ She lets out a breath. There's an edge to it that Alice will forever claim is exasperation, though it's much closer to amusement. ]

Of course you would say that. [ Don't think she hasn't noticed your eating habits, Allen. Are you planning on leaving the entire train without a supply of food? ] I'm fairly sure you would eat just about anything and like it.

Actually, there is one thing I will refuse to eat and for... A very. Very good reason. [Ah, memories of what happened were enough to get the man to pause and shiver slightly.]

I refuse to eat anything with alcohol in it.

Alcohol?

[ Alice repeats the word, almost as if she's trying it out. As if she's trying to think of where this train of thought is leading. ]

Is this a serious reason or an embarrassing reason? [ Considering Allen, she figures it's probably the former. But then again, it's alcohol, so it may as well be the latter. Maybe he got really drunk one time and just did something so embarrassing he never wants to relive it. ]

The former. I once ate alcohol-filled chocolates when I was younger... I don't actually remember what happened afterward but Cross made me promise to never drink again.

[Allen couldn't help but shiver slightly.]

The way he made me promise is just terrifying and something I don't want to remember. But I associate that moment with it so yeah... Don't like it.

[ Well.

It's not an embarrassing reason, at least, but it's more than anything a very confusing one? Alice isn't too sure what to think about it, and she frowns a bit as she looks at Allen. ]

Even though all you did was eat a few chocolates with it? That can't have been bad for you. There's hardly anything in those, I'm sure.

I guess something happened because as I said after I ate them I have no clue what happened. I don't think I ate much or anything for a short while before I ate them either so maybe it affected me more than it should have because of it.

[Allen was at least aware there was a black out moment because of it though and considering how he was promised to never do that again... he was pretty confident something happened during that time.

He just had no idea just what it was.]

I just know I get sick so much as smelling alcohol.

You're such an odd person, Allen.

[ A remark that's probably not helping.

But, you know, it's just true. Can you blame her for speaking the truth? ]

I do know alcohol can cause people to black out. [ She's seen that often enough on the streets of London, people just lying there right in the street.. ] But usually it takes a bit more than just a few chocolates with alcohol in them. Your body must react to it oddly somehow.

I get that a lot.

[Added with a chuckle. He was saying it for the most part as a joke. But to be fair his oddity for alcohol just have many layers that people would think odd.]

That or the fact I was a child meant it reacted differently because I wasn't an adult at the time. I don't know why exactly. It just did and I was sworn in a horrifying manner to never drink. [Allen soon wasn't as cheer, a major frown on his fact and a clear shiver. The usual Allen has since departed and only horrible memories remind.]

A New Platform [Intro Post November]

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