A New Platform [Intro Post December]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

It's only been a couple of days since the Voidtrecker Express took to the void once more, and many of the passengers are still recovering and recuperating after a very hectic end to their latest mission. Nevertheless, they are awoken by a familiar message.

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Imagination. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for 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 the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. It is warm outside with a pleasant breeze that flows down the platform, rustling the light spread of leaves that litter the floor.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Akemi Homura, Alfred the Poisoner, Donatello Versus, Chie Satonaka, Joscelin Fitzthomas, Ronan Lynch, Rose Tyler, Tangle the Lemur, Trowa Barton, Wester Mazaki and Whisper the Wolf all pass through the platform, not looking back before 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 swirling leaves at their feet, moving in flurries and rattling against each other softly. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, cement and packed earth forming a very practical, plain-looking shelter. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style 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 eight 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's 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 lead to something terrible. 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 (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with more jars of honey, the ingredient of the month of Imagination, as well as sundries.

A new carriage has been added right next to the luggage carriage. It is a second medical carriage, or triage carriage. Downstairs is more open with beds and chairs, upstairs are two surgical bays for those that need immediate attention.

For those intrigued by the claim of a parcel for every passenger they will find several large boxes filled with small blue bags. Inside each bag is ten dark blue coins imprinted on each side with a silver snowflake. Each bag has a small label with a passengers name. On the other side of the label it reads: Keep these safe for now.

Of course for any passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage as well.

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 taking advantage of the pleasant weather and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again 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

[crimson_rain]

Then, he'll make it safe as a home for him. He smiles and laughs back. "Gege, as long as you're comfortable and get some sleep later on. I know this isn't paradise manor or the straw bed back in your temple, but anywhere you are, I'll be with you. Let me make your bed, your highness."

In the meanwhile, to make room and space, he helps pack away their things. He pushes the top beds, folding them up since they won't be using it. Being clever, he pulls the blankets and pillows from the top bunks down for their use to double their blankets and pillows on their bottom bed beds.

Since they're behind closed doors, his smile wides and he gives him a quick kiss on his cheek.

"There, made your bed so it's extra warm and comfy."

[fun_thementalist]

"What sorts of benefits?" Gen asked, noticing her notice, and giving her an innocent wink. He produced the berry he swiped with a far smoother flourish, this time an effective little trick. "If I have this, will it increase my lucky status and help me find better items?"

His bright smile showed he was teasing a little, though. If there was anything to magically improve their luck, Gen wanted to feed Senku smoothies of that every day for the next month straight.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"What? You don't know how to braid? But it's so simple!"

Sorry, Devero, Koumyou has no idea why you might hesitate to follow through on that offer. He follows the other man to the lounger, even as he's rolling -- yes, rolling -- the second arm-warmer up over his bicep.

"Here, I'll show you."

And now the priest drops down to sit seiza on the floor in front of him, pulling his hair forward over a shoulder. Lesson time!

"So first, you want three sections, right? As equal as you can make them. I should really comb it out before this part... makes it easier to divide, but, it's fine for a little demonstration, right?"

[fun_thementalist]

Hmmm, I suppose that's something a hero would do, given a chance.

[ So why if he protected a country did she carry around a diamond with - you know, it didn't matter. Gen knew the magical rules of other places probably wouldn't make a lot of sense until he got a lot more context. ]

[ He considered her, a small smile playing on his lips. ]

Corvus, as in crow?

[fun_thementalist]

Leafmon, then. Erm. Glad to re-meet you, my friend.

[ Gen gave them both a bemused smile, but he was being honest when he said he's glad both of them were okay. ]

Would you say he's recharging, then?

[nocawsforconcern]

Yeah!

[She puffs up happily, rustling her cloak, and... honestly, she resembles a preening bird like that.]

It's a great place. It doesn't have a lot of food naturally but we have a lot of trade and make do with what we can get.

[consider8]

Huh...? That was a bit of a tonal shift, but certainly one that merit exploring.

"I'm just shy of being able to order a weapon. Until then, I'll just have to use my train slosher."

Bucket, she means bucket.

[subcircuits]

Oh no. Oh no. Devero did ask for this, he just hadn't expected to be taken up on it immediately. Maybe he should have known better.

But the thing about Devero is he meant it sincerely. He's always had a little bit of ah, ahem, fascination with hair, and the prospect of helping Koumyou with his is genuinely appealing. He's just. Going to need to not let the proximity get to him.

Right.

Concentrate, Dev. "Hold on just a second," he murmurs. He's got his eye back on, so he might as well take full advantage of the demo. His gaze goes distant for a moment as he looks through the screen and moves a finger through the air.

"Smile," he tells the priest with a quirk of his lips, "you're on camera. Go ahead."

[inquisitor_lavellan]

...Yeah, this shit was still too weird, for Alley. If this was the Fade, she'd stumbled into an even more bizarre section of it than she'd ever thought possible.

But then, that was how the Fade always was, wasn't it? It always out-did itself.

"...Right," Alley didn't bother to try to hide how wary she was of everything here. It seemed pointless. "I'm going to take a hard pass on the gym thing. But... months?"

Shit.

[swansongs]

Dyme nodded. He knew that feeling. "I'm just not, uh. Academically inclined." Did you have to be academical or whatever to be good at planning? He felt like everyone who was doing planning or trying to figure out ideas was way smarter than him.

"I feel kind of bad that I can't really help, but." He shrugged. "We all have our..." he paused. "We all have stuff we're good at, that we can still do to help out."

[light_of_willpower]

I'm good for now, but thank you Leafmon. It's kind of you to offer.

[swansongs]

Oh...

[Give him a moment to let that sink in. He was used to the concept of different worlds by now, at least, so that was one less hurdle.]

How do you travel between worlds?

[subcircuits]

"That would definitely be worse," Devero agrees pensively. "At least the kidnapping train isn't also an amnesia train."

He looks down at her, sensing that between the two of them the mood has cooled. He's not sure what else to say-- how do you tell someone you barely know that you're happy they're not an amnesiac and sound sincere about it?

"I'm glad only had to go through that once."

...That'll do.

He sits back upright and rolls his shoulders to loosen them up. "Think you've got it from here?" he asks, indicating the leg. "Or is there something else I can help you with?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

Blink, blink. "...Oh! Right, you can do that video thing!" And Koumyou does indeed beam for the camera. Complete with a wave. "Hello, future Devero!"

It might be precious if there wasn't that underpinning problem of Devero's. And here's Koumyou on his knees on the floor, in the base layer of his uniform.

You know, as you do.

"Right, so, three parts...! Normally it'd be like, one on either side and one down the middle," Koumyou demonstrates as he talks, trying to peel his hair apart from itself. "But it's hard to get it started on yourself, you know? Even if you're really flexible."

Unspoken but perhaps understood; a martial artist of Koumyou's caliber was very flexible.

[nutkrusher]

"That's what I always told my dad."

[inquisitor_lavellan]

"By 'fascinating' you must mean 'confusing as shit'," Alley grunted, rubbing her forehead carefully with her singular hand. Carefully, because she was used to wearing razor-edged gauntlets, so she used only the pads of her fingers out of reflex.

"So... how 'not well overall' did that mission end?" What is she in for, here?

[inquisitor_lavellan]

"I mean, of course I will," Alley's rough voice just sounded resigned, under all the gravely damage. "Can't have something weird and ominous show up out of nowhere, and let me get to opt out of it."

[subcircuits]

That is. so charming. Devero has to bite his lip to keep from doing more than smiling in return. He tries to keep his eyes on just Koumyou's hands, but the priest's hands are in his luscious hair, and his luscious hair is draped over his sculpted chest, and--

Fortitude, Devero! Virtues, not vices! Discipline!

He has to lick his suddenly-dry lips. "I-- I'm following you," he says, trying to sound normal. (Koumyou casually bringing up flexibility is not helping.)

[achickenformylove]

At the bow, WangJi clasped his hands and bowed back to him. "It is quite surprising at first. There is a lot to get used to on the train, but there are many who will be willing to assist you if you are familiar."

[inquisitor_lavellan]

"Yeah, Rifts. Tears in the... in the fucking Veil."

No one here knows what she's talking about, she knows. She's on it. Cursing colorfully in ancient Elvhenan, she adds, "Rips in the... in the sky. I've seen them happen indoors, sometimes. Shit gets torn, and spirits come over to our side."

[subcircuits]

Gasp! No, really-- he gasps, apparently thrilled by the trick. "That was brilliant! Do you have a whole deck with you?"

That... actually doesn't seem to phase Devero. In fact, he chuckles, and gives his head a rueful shake. "Sounds like Gov setting req levels," he says. Apparently this is a long-standing joke of intrinsic meaning to him-- but probably not, he realizes to Gen. "--Er. The algorithms the World Government uses to determine a citizen or organization's requisition level are notoriously impenetrable, and occasionally misfire spectacularly." He shrugs. "So that doesn't sound too unusual to me."

[zechs_isonfire]

"What -"

No, that question was largely useless. Alley had decided she wanted to start climbing the train. Which was ... hm. Not the worst idea, aside from perhaps being a bit less convenient when it was time to board the train again. Perhaps she'd be able to see something interesting about the craft from that vantage point.

...

... Was he seriously considering climbing up on the train himself?

...

He was.

Zechs considered if the benefits would outweigh the risks as she climbed further up the craft.

[its_dad_sanzo]

And once again, the air is so humid, the material of that black top and arm-warmers has that extra... shimmer to it.

Koumyou glances up at him for a moment, and... okay, maybe on a later viewing, Devero might notice his eyes going right to the lip-licking. And a fraction of a second of interest in those pretty brown eyes of his.

But in real time, the priest is rather sneaky about it.

"Okay so, this is going to be harder to show because it's flipped around, but," Koumyou drops his attention to his own hands for a second, gathering up the three sections in his hooked fingers. "It's like this, right? And then you pass this section over to your other hand like... this. See how it went under? And then the part that hand already had goes like... this."

[inquisitor_lavellan]

Alley knows what cards are, at least. Thank the Maker, not everything on this train is completely batshit.

But having one appear out of nowhere is veering right back into batshit territory.

"...Sure, why not."

Break her brain, she's not using it anyway.

[subcircuits]

To his credit, Devero is able to force his attention to the actual task at hand, instead of just the hands alone. And the pattern is pretty simple, once he sees it repeated a few times.

"I think I've got it," he says shortly. He holds out his hands, palms up. (He also catches the corner of a lip between his teeth again, as if using the bright spot of pain to remind his libido to behave itself.) "May I?"