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

[azrthmtrnznthos]

On the Platform
Raven blinked owlishly for a few moments, as if she'd been asleep. This was a platform? She'd been on a train--shouldn't she be on the train then? Looking around, now with more alertness, she noticed the, at first empty track. What was going on? This wasn't how platform days usually went.

On the Train
The length and diversity of the train-cars only further confused Raven, although she wasn't showing it as much now. At least she'd known you get on the train, and now she was looking at her ticket to find her room. Not in any hurry though, as she took her time moving through the cars.

Wildcard
Got an idea? Hit me up.

On the Train

[mtsilver_conquor]

"Raven-chan?"

Eva knows, knows she shouldn't get her hopes up; the Empath might not even remember the train. But it's hard not to when it's a familiar face from early in the journey she'd seen walk out that barrier.

That said, there's a red bird on Eva's shoulder, and the woman looks tired and very much like she really shouldn't be up and running around.

Re: On the Train

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven looked over to who called her name, curious at the nickname. Then she gave a blink. "That's me." Murmured dryly, and it took a moment but she recognized Eva. "Should you be up and about? You look like you've been through hell, Eva."

[mtsilver_conquor]

"You remember?" That's more important than the whole 'been through hell' thing. Totally not avoiding that subject, nope.

Yes, she is.

"You remember- What's the last thing you remember? The last mission?"

platform

[sos_pilot]

Hey, need any help? You look a little lost.

[ So, Raven being... Raven has probably seen a lot of weird things in her life. So an anthropomorphic duck in a pilot uniform walking on crutches made out of mops cause she's missing a leg isn't going to weird her out too badly.

... Kinda. Maybe. Sorta? ]

i'm sorry she's not very talkative.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

[Della isn't a chicken (literal), so Raven is fine. Not quite the weirdest thing she's seen, but it's up there.]

Just confused.

lol no worries i know the canon

[sos_pilot]

Well, that's what I'm here for! Welcome to the train! My name's Della Duck, what's yours?

[ She shifts, trying to move a hand out to shake while not losing a crutch. ]

Platform

[consider8]

While Eight was giving a cursory look over at the new arrivals, mostly she was looking for other people around her age. Raven was one such person.

"Hello there, my name is Eight. I'm pretty sure this is all pretty overwhelming. But please let me know if you have any questions." She offered the morose stranger the friendliest of smiles.

Re: Platform

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"It was all overwhelming last time, too." Raven responded dryly. "...nice to meet you Eight. I'm Raven."

Train

[10billionpercent]

He didn't know Raven, but he thought she looked a little lost.

"Looking for something?" Senku asked. He at least, knew where everything was mostly.

Re: Train

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Just how much this train has expanded." Well she'd finally found her cabin, and still had her cloak with her, as she walked along the train now in exploration. Deep blue cloak and cowl that hid her face, over a purple train-uniform.

[melodiouspacifist]

"Hey." Demyx said, sidling up to the stranger. "Wanna trade sweaters?"

He grinned, tugging lightly at the orange hoodie, jealous of her purple one.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"No thanks. I look terrible in Orange." From her tone it wasn't clear if Raven was being sarcastic or not. Probably she was though.

[emerald_mirror]

He was pretty sure this girl had been here before, but it had been months. Hadn't it? A couple, at least.

They hadn't really talked, either, before she'd left--it wasn't that Xander was shy (not in the least!) but he'd had a lot going on...

He still sort of did, but the nephilim was still trying to make the rounds and be something of a welcoming committee. So he gave her a smile and a nod, and a "Hey, you're back!"

Sort of lame, maybe, but he was someone who embraced his lameness.

[azrthmtrnznthos]

By this time, it'd become clear to Raven that something was wrong--she couldn't remember leaving the train. She remembered being on it, but if she'd left, as the time passing seemed to indicate, she had no memories of NOT BEING on the train. Still, there were some familiar faces.

"So it would seem..." Raven blinked at him as she deadpanned. Then recognized him--they hadn't met, but he'd been here before... 'Before' was still such a weird thing for her to consider, too.

Wildcard - as the train embarked

[fun_thementalist]

Gen, of course, didn't know of Raven, and hadn't realized she was a passenger previously. He only saw a new face, and heard the announcement over the speakers around them.

"You'll want to brace yourself, my dear," Gen warned her with a bright smile. "When the train takes off, it's a bigger jolt than you'd might expect."

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"No, I imagine it'll be just as much of a jolt as I expect." It was part of why Raven had taken a seat with the announcement. Another new face, huh.

On the Train

[pleple]

Ple Two had felt a twinge in the back of her mind. Something, or someone, felt strangely familiar. She prioritized taking care of her weapon purchase, but eventually drifted in a direction that felt... correct.

At the sight of Raven, she perked up, smiling at her gently. "...Raven?"

Re: On the Train

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven blinked, and then might've had a small, very tiny, smile of her own. "Hi Ple Two. Apparently I was gone, although I don't remember leaving."

Platform

[nutkrusher]

Cassie descends from the air and lands beside the confused-looking passenger.

"Weren't expecting to end up here?"

If she's seen Raven before, she can't place her face.

Re: Platform

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"Not exactly, no." Raven doesn't seem surprised by the flying. This is another new face for her.

[only_one_wei]

Wei Wuxian whistling while walking through the train, twirling his flute when not immediately adjacent to another person. He nodded politely when he spotted her. "Hi, welcome to the train. Strange place, right?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

"You're not wrong." Raven replied in her usual tone. The train had grown a lot. Long-walk-aside, Raven approved.

on the platform

[happyends]

Usually platform days are the kind of days where you only find people familiar to you leaving.

This day, too, is like that in a sense. Madoka can see Homura leave. But at the very least she has the assurance that she will see the other girl again the moment she gets home - a rarity, considering that anyone else who leaves feels like they're lost to the void forever. Like she'll never get to see them again.

Except today there's an actual familiar face among the people standing on the platform. The moment Madoka notices that, her jaw drops in surprise, and before she knows it or can think about it, her feet are already carrying her over towards the other girl.

"R-- Raven!" She only stops running once she's right in front of the other girl. "I.. Is that really you?"

Would she even remember her? Or the train?

Re: on the platform

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven can feel the familiar presence as Madoka's running, and turns to meet her easily. With a smile, of all things. "Hi Madoka. It's me."