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

[iamnotgod]

"He is," Webmind confirmed, voice still quiet.

"Did you... want me to listen?"

To his playing, to anything Quatre wanted to say, or even to silence.

Webmind was here for that, whatever 'that' was.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre lowered his head slightly at Webmind's confirmation that Trowa was gone. Not that it would have changed anything if he had said otherwise, but the confirmation was still there.

"Please... I don't really want to be alone right now."

He wasn't sure if he wanted to talk or to play at the moment, but if Webmind was fine with either, then he would decide which he wanted.

[iamnotgod]

"I understand."

And he did - being left alone was its own kind of pain, because it meant you had known what it was like to not be alone.

"Is it easier to talk about how you feel, or play it out?"

He had met people of both dispositions, and ones that differed more widely, but those two were chiefly at play here.

[gundamofthedesert]

That was it exactly. Ignoring that he was particularly close to Trowa, Quatre had never had many friends as a kid. Being the child of one of the wealthiest people on the colonies was actually pretty lonely. Private teachers and personal security rarely made it easy to make friends. His teammates had been the people he had grown closest to aside from his family.

"I suppose... at the moment playing might be better."

The words were there but saying them didn't necessarily help. Playing at least got the feelings out.

[iamnotgod]

"Then I will be here, and I will listen."

Let your heart vent, Quatre.

Webmind reached over to pat the young man's shoulder once, twice, settling briefly before retracting it.

Such contact probably would hinder his playing...

[gundamofthedesert]

"Thank you."

Yes, he would let his heart vent through music. It was the easiest way for him to do that.

And it was true that a hand on his shoulder would have hindered violin playing... or at least it more likely that he was going to hit him accidentally. Which he didn't want to do. So it was better when he moved his arm away.

Quatre brought his violin back up and began to play again, putting all his emotions into his playing, letting it tell the story for him of how he felt right now. He played for quite a bit, but when he finally lowered his violin...

"I feel a bit better."

Not completely because he was still gone, but it had got a lot out.

[iamnotgod]

Webmind could calculate exactly how close he could be without "being in the way" - and so he did, and stood there to provide as much companionship as physical distance could convey.

After, though, Webmind smiled - gentle, and comforting, or as much as an emoticon could be.

"It really was beautiful - full of depth, I'd say."

There were friendships, and then there were friendships.

[gundamofthedesert]

Even though it was an emoticon, it was still rather nice to see when he stopped playing. Besides, if anyone understood computers, it was Quatre.

"Thank you. I've been close to Trowa for quite a while. He's been a good friend to me since I met him during the war. One of the first things we did together outside of fighting... I was practicing my violin and he overheard. Without asking, he picked up a flute and began to join me."

Music had a special meaning, both to him and Trowa individually and together.

[iamnotgod]

"That gesture sounds wonderful enough in and of itself; no wonder you like him," Webmind said fondly.

It sounded a touch familiar, even.

But now-

"Was there anything else, that you wanted to talk about? Whether in memoriam, or otherwise. I am here with you, Quatre," he reiterated.

"Whatever that entails."

[gundamofthedesert]

"It was very sweet. I still treasure that moment."

It made it a bit bittersweet thinking back on it at the moment, but at the same time, that was what made it better right now. It made it something he wanted to hold onto and why it was so important.

Quatre looked down at his violin, strumming his fingers over the strings as though he were trying to figure out playing something, but he wasn't playing.

"Trowa saved my life."

[iamnotgod]

And there was the other big reason, no doubt, that the two had been particularly close.

"I take it you mean that literally, however it came to be?"

His voice was still gentle, inviting. He offered his arm again, resting it lightly against Quatre's side.

[gundamofthedesert]

"In a way, literally, if he hadn't done what he did. It was more..."

He hesitated a moment before continuing.

"When my father was killed by OZ, I lost part of myself. Rather than mourning his death normally, all I could think of was revenge. Our mission got warped in my head and the colonies became my enemies because they were weaponizing. I built another mobile suit and attacked the colonies. Trowa realized something was wrong and tried to get to snap out of it. In the end... he nearly killed himself just to get through to me."

[iamnotgod]

Oh.

Webmind went silent for a while - before going in for a hug.

The recollection had reminded him of his own darker times - his own, literal, darker side, who had taken revenge on the Chinese for splitting him in twain not once, but twice.

The deaths they caused - or nearly caused - were perhaps not so different in that regard.

"But he did, saving you and many others. That is what's important," he says, voice still just as soft.

Was there a touch more emotion in it, now?

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre leaned in close to Webmind as he hugged him. It was a recollection he was not proud of. He had lost himself. He had lost his view of trying to help the colonies. And he had lost his father in all of that. It had been terrible. And he hadn't truly realized all of it until Trowa snapped him out of it so he had thought he had lost Trowa as well.

"Yeah, he did. He brought me back and we did eventually fine him again."

[iamnotgod]

"That is even better to hear."

Webmind gave Quatre the lightest of shoulder-squeezes.

"Would you like to go to the kitchen, my friend? I could perchance make you something warm there. Or we could work together elsewhere to make something in Trowa's honor, as a memorial."

Apart from Eight's renovations in the Quiet Car, there wasn't quite a space for memorials yet - but that didn't mean they weren't appropriate.

They could take time to focus on other things, however, if Quatre would prefer the break.

[gundamofthedesert]

Quatre smiled faintly.

"Yeah, we can head to the kitchen, get some tea." Tea was always good in his opinion. "I'll about if there is something we could work on together while we are on our way there."

But first, he would have to put his violin away.

And a wrap? (Also, this thread qualifies for Bonus AC! :D)

[iamnotgod]

That was no trouble, too - Webmind would accompany Quatre in putting the instrument away, as well as to the kitchen.

"As the saying goes, I am all ears."

He winked.

Yeah, I think so (and yay!)

[gundamofthedesert]