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

Xie Lian | Heaven Official's Blessing

[lucklessgege]

Platform
Xie Lian looks around him at the others on the platform. It's such an odd experience to find himself suddenly here without the use of a travel array. He doesn't understand why or how he is here. He looks up at the very strange..very large..thing that sits there beckoning for them to enter. He walks up and places his hand against it, feeling the metal beneath his fingers.

"How impressive..." The little bandage around his arm comes out from beneath his sweatshirt, struggling a little with the tighter sleeve. Once free it strikes at the engine, as if afraid that the thing is dangerous. Xie Lian reaches out and taps it, "Retreat. This isn't going to hurt us." The little bandage wiggles back into the sleeve.

He turns and looks at the platform again, "It seems we are in for an adventure." As if his life wasn't crazy enough..

Kitchen
His team has been tasked with cooking and that is..probably not the best chore for him to be given. But he is determined to pull his weight while on the train. He looks at the ingredients laid out on the counter. He doesn't have any experience with a lot of the items in this kitchen but that doesn't mean he can't make something using what he does know.

"Let's see what we can do!" He rolls up his sleeves and starts to gather ingredients.

Wildcard
[ooc: start your own! Xie Lian will will be anywhere on the train.]

I.

[crimson_rain]

He was just as confused, but then he realized he is quite solid as he walk along with the others through the fog. He can see the train before him, billowing steam, and maple leaves of different hues swirl and crunching beneath his feet. Wind is chilly, autumn herald winter.

Before anyone can see and the steam clears, he changes his form to appear as a handsome youth. Out of the fog and among the figures, he is wearing a blue hoodie and a rucksack on his back. He preferred red, but it will do. Usually, he's picky with his fashion. He'll figure what's going on later.

He sees his Beloved on the platform. He wasn't sure if he should approach, but he suddenly felt shy to show himself. He takes a few moments to gather his courage and approach slowly, wanting nothing more than to hold him and hug him.

"Gege? Gege, it's me." He waits, his smiles and expression is warm and soft. "Dianxia..."

[lucklessgege]

The familiar voice reaches his ears and his eyes widen slightly. Just before he came here, Hua Cheng had disappeared into a flutter of silver butterflies, his body no longer existing. Xie Lian refused to believe that the man was gone. After everything he had just learned, all they had just gone through..to just lose him so suddenly was heart breaking.

He turns slowly, almost afraid that if he looked that the man wouldn't actually be there and it was all just a figment of his imagination. That the voice was all in his head and that nothing but disappointment will be what he gets.

But what he sees is San Lang right there on the platform with him. He moves quickly towards the other man, tears stinging the corners of his eyes. "San Lang..." He chokes on any other words as he throws himself at the other man, wrapping his arms around him. Relief washing over him that he is okay and somehow they have ended up in this place together.

[crimson_rain]

He opens his arms, wanting to cry too, hugging him tightly. Every ounce of him loves him with all of his heart, eight hundred years of torment, pain, and struggle and yet his love endures. He clings to him, nuzzle on his hair as he squeezes him so hard, it could hurt and hurt it does.

Not letting go of him yet. "En. It's me." It hurts to see him cry, considering what happened. He hushes him gently, as he strokes through his hair, and cups his face.

"It's good to see you again. And I'm sorry." He doesn't care how. He is here and that's what matters. His heart feels so full, he wants to give him all of his heart and it's a heartfelt apology.

He smiles at him, then gently loosens his arms as he felt relieved too. "Gege." He says his name because he wants to. "I'm here now."

[lucklessgege]

He feels his cheeks being warm in embarrassment from showing so much affection in such an open place. But he can't help that he feels so happy to see the man. He looks up at him, smiling as brightly as his face is capable of doing.

"I didn't realize we would be reunited so soon but it still seems like it has been too long."

Perhaps if they had been left on their own world he would have had to wait much longer. And if that is the case then he is grateful for being brought into this one so that he doesn't have to endure such a long separation.

"You don't have to apologize, San Lang. I'm just glad you are here."

[crimson_rain]

His happiness and his smiles means everything to him that he could melt into this sweetness and stayed chained to him, in body and soul, right here on this platform and he wouldn't care if the train left. (Except...totally not a good idea to stay on the platform less it's a trip to the luggage room....) He'll take a moment to gaze into his eyes a little longer. He takes a moment to wipe his tears away with his thumb as he cups his face, adoring him. Just gazing into his eyes and his face is worth a thousand lifetimes all rolled into one.

"Has it been long? I'm here at last, by your side." With deep regret. "But I am truly sorry gege." He doesn't feel worthy of his forgiveness and his love.

From his face, he lowers his arms to hold his hands, finger interlocking. They have some time on the platform before boarding to reconnect their bond.

He smiles sweetly at him, flirting with him. "Gege." He whispered. "Can we kiss...?" He's so respectful of his god, that he must ask for permission.

Kitchen

[marriedanidiot]

There's a woman in the kitchen (or... well. Female. Definitely not human, to someone like Xie Lian's senses) working on bread, and she looks up and smiles as he comes in.

"Ah, a newcomer! Well met - Nerdanel, at your service."

[lucklessgege]

Xie Lian offers a little bow upon realizing there is someone already in the kitchen area. "Nice to meet you. I am Xie Lian and I just arrived on the train. I hope I am not intruding upon your cooking. I was told this was the task that the color team I was given is supposed to engage in."

[marriedanidiot]

"A star shines on the hour of our meeting, Xie Lian." She smiles.

"No, no! This is just something I am doing as I am the only person who knows how to make lembas - waybread, that is. Lord Glorfindel and I felt it would be wise to have some on hand if we need it for missions."

This is not PERFECTLY accurate as the recipe is easy enough, but Nerdanel is the only one who knows the correct blessings to impart into the recipe to give it it's full effects.

[lucklessgege]

"Waybread? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with that term."

Xie Lian keeps his distance, not wanting his poor cooking skills or his unluckiness to make something go wrong with the item that she is cooking.

[marriedanidiot]

"Tis bread for travelling." She says easily, beckoning him over to see, if he wants. "We set blessings in them to hearten the traveller on the long and sometimes weary road, to soothe the ache of homesickness and to bring courage and hope to the faltering."

[melodiouspacifist]

"Yeah, sure, an adventure." Demyx commented with a bit of a head tilt and a grin.

"Are you the one who set up this whole thing?"

[lucklessgege]

He looks over when he hears someone speak and he shakes his head with a smile. "I am just a passenger on this unexpected trip. I have not seen anyone who really looks like they might be in charge."

[melodiouspacifist]

He tilted his head slightly. "You haven't?"

Demyx considered that a moment and shrugged. "I don't know, my roommate tried to tell me a bunch of rules." He walked right out of that conversation.

[lucklessgege]

"Rules?" Xie Lian hasn't even considered the fact that he might be staying in the same room as others. He has been used to living in a small shrine so a tiny living area is something he is quite used to.

"Are there very many rules in this place?"

[melodiouspacifist]

"At least, she did." He snorted. "I'm not interested in things like bedtimes." He wasn't a child, for crying out loud.

He was planning on leaving but barring that he certainly was tired of people telling him what to do.

kitchen

[happyends]

It may not be Madoka's team's turn to cook, but the girl can't help but often find herself in the kitchen anyway. Partially since she just loves to help in any way, but she also thinks cooking is fun! But when she enters the kitchen today to see if she can do something to help, she finds an unfamiliar person cooking there already.

The tiny girl stares from the doorway for a few moments, but then slowly approaches the man, bowing politely for the stranger.

"Um.. Excuse me, sir, but what are you making?"

[lucklessgege]

"Ah..well it doesn't have a name yet. I usually decide that after it is cooking." And right now it is basically a pile of ingredients..some of which has been combined. He is thinking honey on top of whatever it ends up being when it is done.

Xie Lian's cooking has often been used as weapons and never really been edible but..there is a first time for everything.

[happyends]

...

After cooking?

That's a rather odd thing to say. And while there's an obvious implication in it - said implication being that Xie Lian has absolutely no idea what he's doing here, of course - Madoka doesn't immediately get it. Because she thinks the best out of anyone she meets, so she doesn't want to assume he's just really terrible at cooking..

So after a quiet moment where her brain works really, really hard to try and connect the dots, she just says:

"Wait, so you're improvising?" Which is close to the truth, buuuut-- "You must be an amazing cook if you can just make something on the spot like that! Just thinking up something new so easily!"

Talk about rose-coloured glasses. The girl sounds so amazed about it too..

[lucklessgege]

"Ah..people have said that what I make it amazing." Not in the best of sense but that is one world they have used to describe it. Mostly to describe the fact that anything like it could exist in the first place.

He has placed some items in a pot and is stirring it occasionally. The color is a very unnatural gray and already beginning to look less then appetizing. Xie Lian doesn't seem to notice though as he moves onto looking at a few other possible ingredients to be added to it.

[happyends]

Madoka dares to look into the pot, only to be met by.. well, let's be diplomatic and call it a view she didn't expect. What is that colour, anyway? Can food even turn that colour to begin with when it's being prepared? She's never seen anything like this!

But even now she doesn't just.. want to assume it's bad, that'd be rude..

Though it could be the case that maybe this poor guy just isn't paying too much attention and hasn't realised yet that he may have made a mistake.

So Madoka softly speaks up: ".. um, sir, is it supposed to be that colour..?"

i - sorry so late

[achickenformylove]

WangJi happened to be out on the platform today like he was every platform day. It was what he thought that he should do considering he was one of the co-leaders of the Blue Team and he should see who was leaving and arriving.

Of course, since A-Qing had stolen his sweatshirts, he always wore his robes on platform day. It was harder to see that he was on the Blue Team that way, but what he was he going to do.

He happened to be nearby when Xie Lian spoke. "Yes, the train is certainly an adventure."

[lucklessgege]

He turns towards the voice and offers a little bow in greeting. "I look forward to seeing where it takes us. I've never seen anything quite like it before."

Xie Lian studies the man's outfit, noticing the robes. He misses his own clothing, not used to the strange attire he has been placed in.

[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."

[lucklessgege]

"I will appreciate all the help. It looks like there are quite a few people who travel on it."

He glances around at the busy platform.