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

[myblueskies]

It was a lot easier to just carry the kernels, Romeo grinned as Tidus swung one on to his back.

"I watched all the ones about Blitzball! I really hope we get to go somewhere with water again soon so we can play! And I watched the Squiggling Squirrels. It's all about learning to draw!"

[blitzcheer]

"How good was it?" he asks, and he'll begin to walk with Romeo, keeping with his pace. "You draw anything from it? Those shows show you how to make a thing, don't they... like how to draw a fish, or make a paper dog!"

Right? It's been forever since he's seen anything like that himself.

[myblueskies]

"It's really good! They show you how to draw lots of things and make lots of things! There was one on paper mashing but I think we got to get some more stuff to do that, it looks really messy!"

And incredibly fun!

[blitzcheer]

"So, sounds like more orders for art supplies, hey?" Tidus asks cheerily. "What do you need for that? You just mash paper into water or something?"

What is art.

[myblueskies]

"Yes and you gotta use glue... or wallpaper paste but I don't even know what that is." Any clue Tidus? Because he doesn't know!

"And you make it all goopy and then put paper in and then make things!"

[blitzcheer]

"Wha... wallpaper paste?" What?? Who needs wallpaper paste or even wallpaper when you have a cool futuristic city?

"Is that some special wall stuff? We might wanna ask someone else... maybe Rapunzel? Uh..." Oh! "Madoka? She's artsy too - I bet she'd know if we asked!"

[myblueskies]

"Yes I bet Rapunzel or Madoka would know!" He shook his head, "I never heard of paper for walls before..."

The temples hadn't had paper on the walls and neither did the train. Though it might be fun, to cover a wall in paper and then paint on it...

[blitzcheer]

"I bumped into Rapunz earlier, actually," he thinks to share. "She was talking about painting the walls. I know about that - and wall scrolls."

Hm. "I think she told me she'd do that back where she came from. Anyway, she'd be great to do art with, right? You see her offering to paint up rooms before for people?"

[myblueskies]

"Paint all the walls?" That was a good idea! He nodded, "I did! Rapunzel is so good at art! When she draws and paints things they even look like what she wants them to!"

Something he hasn't mastered yet!

[blitzcheer]

"I bet she'd give you some tips if you asked! She's nice." Or that's Tidus's opinion of her. "And I'd even bet she wouldn't mind if you went right up to her and asked! Long as you're nice about it," he says like a reminder.

Nice and polite, Romeo!

[myblueskies]

"Of course! It would be so mean to ask someone rudely about something! Especially miss Rapunzel! She's so nice to everyone!"

So he wants to be extra nice back! He grins, wobbling a bit as he looks up at Tidus.

[blitzcheer]

He grins back at Romeo, a chuckle behind his teeth. "I knew you would, Romes. And, speaking of manners-!"

Tidus presses the open for the next door, steps side. "My pal first!" he offers, waiting to follow him, to the space leading to the spa car. Good thing there's a corridor between it and the way to the other end of the car, though, the aisle always smells a little nice...

"Geez, you know, Cassie told me that a spa's good for after fighting in missions, but I still wish we got the pool car."

[myblueskies]

Romeo grinned, "Thank you!" He moved through the door first, getting his balance back properly as he trudged forwards.

He glanced at the wall that separated the spa from the corridor. "A pool would be so much fun!" He nodded.

"Next time we get to vote we should ask everyone to vote pool! We can make posters and tell everyone how much fun having a pool will be!"

[blitzcheer]

"Think we can?" he's smiling at the thought. Actually- "I was gonna ask S'reee if she wanted to ask the train before the vote went up! You know, the whale we have onboard? She's just stuck with a tiny bath to relax in! 'Course, we can enjoy it too," he adds cheekily. The whole plan was cheeky, but hey, it benefited everyone (who knows how to swim), right?

"We can petition for the art car next. Is that the one you want?"

[myblueskies]

"Oh yes I've seen her!" Hard to miss a whale after all! "It's bad if she just got a tiny bath! We should be able to get her a huge pool!" He flung his arms open wide to show just how big and then windmilled them as he tried to regain his balance.

"An art carriage would be so much fun! But we can just buy art things and put them in the standard carriage. We can't buy a pool!"

Sadly.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus laughs, sticking out an arm to catch and keep the little guy from toppling over. None of that this time, now!

"Well, we'll just need to turn that coach into a big art car then! I know we're gonna get a lot more ink in there - you seen Eight? Looks kinda like a octopus on the head? She can make whatever colour you want! That's where all the bottles came from. She loves art too!"

[myblueskies]

Tidus is a hero! He grinned as he nodded. "I know Eight! She's really nice! I didn't know she could make ink though! That's a really good thing to make, I bet she is never bored!"

[blitzcheer]

"She won't be bored if you're around," he gives a friendly, fun hint (a nudgenudgenudge!). "Hey, do you think you can draw Heaven? That's what she really loves - seeing people's worlds, and hearing about them! She was making a mural you know - in that quiet car that got doubled up."

Is Tidus scheming friendship here? Maybe- but scheming is such a sneaky word!

[myblueskies]

"I bet I could!"

Has Tidus ever seen Romeo's attempts at drawing? "I could draw her all the temples and the gardens and all the pretty things!"

She would have to go to the quiet car and see her mural!

[blitzcheer]

"You should! Grab one of the sketchbooks and start planning it out - and then you can show her that!" Tidus hasn't seen Romeo's drawings, but then-

"That's what she had me do. She wanted me to draw my home, the boat I lived on! But man - drawing's tough."

His drawing abilities were, to put it gently, awful.

[myblueskies]

"Drawing is really tricky!" He nodded, "I wish I could make it look like it looks in my head!"

Drawing was a mystery but so much fun!