voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

“That seems fair! I’ve helped with a few projects already, even if I’m really not great at cooking myself,” Gen chuckled sheepishly, “I’m just good at following directions.”

He went to get the cutting board and knife after Lea pointed them out, though he had known where they were kept. Gen gave him a bashful sort of smile.

“But it did occur to me that I don’t really know if there are a lot of people with allergies on board, if there’s stuff people can’t eat, and so on,” Gen told Lea. He grabbed some of the produce so he could help him dice them up.

"Hey, being good at following directions is an underrated skill," Lea said. "Especially with so many stubborn people around; yours truly included." Sure, that stubbornness had helped him some times, but it could also be a hindrance.

He nodded regarding the notion of allergies on board. "Right now, Taiki's is the only one I know about, though I'm not sure you can really call it an allergy when it's something his whole species shares. Besides meat, he can't have things cooked in animal fat either. He usually tries to avoid any animal products when he can, but meat and animal fat are the big no-nos."

"His species?" Gen asked, with a curious tilt of his head. "I'm not sure I've met Taiki ... what is he, if he can't eat meat?"

But it did explain the sudden interest that Tidus had in vegan cooking. Interesting. More little pieces fitting better together.

"He's a kirin," Lea said. "He looks human most of the time, but he can turn into this big, dark-gray unicorn-type creature when he wants to." It probably said something about Lea's life that nothing about that statement seemed the least bit strange to him. "Either way though, the same issues with food apply."

"A dark gray unicorn ..." Gen blinked a little, and then laughed sheepishly. "Maybe that's not even the oddest thing I've heard of since I've been kidnapped."

He nodded a little to Lea. "But I can see then why he's having some trouble, if his human persona is basically a very convincing disguise."

"It seems that way," Lea said. "Technically, the kirin is his natural form, but he spends most of his time as a human because thanks to certain circumstances, he's more used to that one. And also it's way more convenient on a crowded train."

"If you want specifics about how the transformation works, though, you'll need to ask him. It's never really come up when I've been talking to him; I just know he can do it, but thought he couldn't for awhile."

"I'd imagine!" Gen agreed. "And it probably draws less attention and unwanted questions, if he's just trying to blend in."

Gen shrugged a little. "Maybe I'll ask him! If you don't think he'll find it offensive, being pestered about what he is. Some people might feel that way."

"More likely he'd apologize to you for making to ask, or something," Lea said. "He apologizes a lot, including about stuff that he has zero control over. So no, I don't think he'd be offended."

Lea did wondder about Taiki's meekness. Was it a kirin thing or just a Taiki thing? And if it was a Taiki thing, had it always been? Or had something happened to make him that way?

Ah, so one of those types? And then apologizing for apologizing if he's called out on it, Gen imagined. Well. "I'll still be nice about it anyway."

Usually it was a sign of low-self esteem, or anxiety, or a history of being in a situation they were blamed for things they had no control over. If anyone asked and got Gen's honest thoughts on the subject, anyway. He wasn't inclined to share his insight on people psychologically, however, since it rarely went well.

"After all, just because someone apologizes - it doesn't always mean they think they've done something wrong," Gen pointed out cheerfully. "Sometimes it means they wanted to hear an apology in turn, but know they won't get one."

Lea nodded. "That's good," he said. "I mean, being nice about stuff like that is a good thing to get in the habit of anyway, but you're less likely to get stuck in an endless loop of apologies that way."

"And that's true. Somehow I don't think that's usually how Taiki means it, or if he even realizes how much he does it. It seems to be at least partly a reflex type thing."

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

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