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

cw abuse trauma

[subcircuits]

His face is completely covered by his hands, but he peeks sidelong through his spread fingers at Koumyou. Maybe he's waiting for judgment, or distaste, or a slow spreading smile, predatory and sharp, as possessive fingers latch around his throat--

The priest looks baffled. And he's from another world, and he's not experienced like Devero the whore is and maybe-- maybe he doesn't know about kink.

Devero's hands slide down to cover just his mouth, then lower to reveal a nervous smile. "If I tell you it's a weird, embarrassing sex thing that I don't really want to talk about right now, can we let it go?"

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou blinks a few times, processing that, and then offers a shy little smile in return, "Consider it done."

The hand on Devero's back strokes up and down, an attempt at soothing. Koumyou's absolutely out of his depth, here. "So tell me more about Babysitter, how big is it?"

[subcircuits]

What a good distraction. What a good Koumyou. Devero smiles gratefully at him, relaxing palpably as he lets out a breath. Then he turns and catches Koumyou's hand, towing him over to the edge of the stage. It's raised a few feet from the floor below, so when Devero streeetches a hand out into the air above, he's marking a spot a good eleven feet above the floor. "Something like this tall, maybe a few feet taller," he says. Next he spreads his arms out to max extension and flicks his fingers. "About this wide across the shoulders. It's a Beetle class, so it's not the biggest exo I've ever jockeyed, but I've been with it longer than any other."

And Babysitter is his, in a way that his Guard-issue SC-ORP090K unit never was. Babysitter's got aftermarket upgrades, courtesy Techstead's labs, upgrades that he helped install and test himself. He's been its jockey for years, trained with it and learned with it; it's truly become a part of his hardware-self, as much as his personal Interface.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Similar size to a lot of the robots on Nion, then, but Koumyou was pretty sure they hadn't had any people inside them. The carnage would have smelled a lot differently whenever he lit one on fire from the inside with lightning.

Let alone when the sutra turned whole battlefields of them into oily metal confetti.

"I suppose it has to be at least that big, to fit you inside and still have enough room for all the... stuff."

Yes, stuff. It's a very technical term. He's very good at science!

[subcircuits]

It's okay, Koumyou, Devero can be good at science for the both of you.

"The mechanics?" Devero suggests. He grins. "It sure does. Babysitter was kind of a tight fit after a Scorpion, but I'm used to it by now. We know how to move together."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Ahh," Koumyou nods, "that explains it."

Explains what?

"You had a certain look in your eyes when you were watching-- when I let the Seiten move around. I would have been a poor Sanzo to not notice it. It was making you think of your armor, wasn't it?"

[subcircuits]

Devero never would have conceptualized it to himself that way, but once Koumyou says it, he can feel the rightness of the statement.

"I think it must have been." He cranes to peer around Koumyou, as if to catch a glimpse of the rolled up sutra he's got in his pocket. "It's a part of you as much as Babysitter or my Interface are part of me-- probably even more so. Your hardware-self and software-self, all rolled up into one magical scroll."

[its_dad_sanzo]

Koumyou sees him trying to get a peek at the scroll, and smiles, reaching back to pull it free of his pocket once more. In his hand, the artifact unwinds just enough for the tail-end of it to reach up slowly and pat Devero on the forehead, just once.

And Koumyou blows a kiss with his other hand, at the same time.

[subcircuits]

There is, perhaps, a touch of wariness in Devero as he sees the scripture rise up before his face-- right up until Koumyou blows him that kiss. How can he be afraid of it, when it's a part of this man he's already grown so, so fond of? Respect its power, yes, as he would expect someone to respect Babysitter, but fear it? No.

He reaches up, fingers caressing the curve of what feels like fine paper, then leans down past it to try and get a real kiss from its priest.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Oh!" Koumyou's surprised by the gesture, but not displeased. His free hand settles against the curve of Devero's neck while he's so close, but it'll fall away easily enough once that changes.

[subcircuits]

Devero only presses his lips briefly and chastely to Koumyou's, very aware in that moment of how slowly he's going to want to go, physically, with the priest. Perhaps it's fitting, given how much emotional intimacy they're already shared, to opt to take things easy.

He doesn't pull very far away when he breaks the kiss, though. Taking up Koumyou's hand, he puts his other back on the smaller man's waist. "Thank you for saying yes, Koumyou Sanzo," he says, as he moves to guide them back into their interrupted dance.

[its_dad_sanzo]

It's so simple, but also very... warm? Koumyou almost chases after him for another, but resists. This time, uncertainty wins out.

The sutra is stuffed back into a pocket, and back to dancing they go! Koumyou's free hand settles on Devero's shoulder, as before, thumb brushing back and forth over fabric to the beat they're following.

--Oh, two can play at that game, "Thank you for asking, however indirectly."

[subcircuits]

He beams down at him, and doesn't seem to need to say anything further, at least in this moment. He just holds this magnetic, fascinating, fun man in his arms and dances with him on the stage where they first met.