A New Platform [Intro Post January]

[voidtreckermods]

On the Train

It’s been a month of ups and downs for the Voidtrecker Express and its passengers, but like clockwork, they are awoken by a familiar message that morning.

"Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Jelly. 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. The air is particularly crisp and clear here, the view blocked only by the fog around the platform, and while not overly cold, the temperature can best be described as brisk.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Fingon, Galo Thymos, Hikaru Aosora, Jin Ling, Lio Fotia, Minako Aino, Nerdanel, Nie Mingjue, Thorne.tcai, Webmind and Yotsuyu goe Brutus 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. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, glass and dark stone rising in sturdy arches around them. 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; then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large with fifteen figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. To both the left and right, 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 step a strange assortment 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

After a short time, the doors hiss open again. 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 fresh ingredients, including several crates of avocados, the ingredient of the month of Jelly, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. For each member of Blue Team, a small gauze bag with their name on it contains a generous handful of sweet rainbow fudge.

New passengers will find their ticket allows 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 full of spare blankets and pillows.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, 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 itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!

Comments

[bakegarasu]

Platform

Otoha opens his eyes, blinking from the steam. Looking around left and right he can spot that it's a train platform of some kind. Okay. He can work with this.

He glances down and realizes that he's not wearing his usual clothes, instead stuck in some kind of stupid outfit. The hoodie is bad enough, but the cargo shorts are just insulting. They also show off some scarring, mostly rounded areas that suggest gunshot wounds to those who know what to look for.

There's a train. He's not sure what to do, instead looking around at the people on the platform.


Roommates [Closed to Room 1:A]

Well, his ticket says he's supposed to be here, but he just stares at the room. What the hell is this supposed to be? Who the fuck are these people?

... Is that a rabbit?

For the residents of his cabin, it's not hard to see that the man is new, considering all of the staring he's doing. He's a little tall, slightly ridiculous-looking in the newbie outfit. His rucksack is slung across his back, but there's a sword poking out of it.


Wandering

Otoha finds himself wandering the train, trying to figure out what the hell kind of train this is, anyway. It's not like the train system he's used to. It looks... older. He doesn't seem to really care much about what other people are doing on the train, but he's walking from one end of the train to the other. He doesn't say anything, but he's definitely looking curiously at each carriage.

Except for Medical and Triage. Those two he moves through very quickly.

Wandering

[its_dad_sanzo]

And right as Otoha passes by the door for 1-C, it slides open and out bursts a man in white robes. If Koumyou doesn't plow right into the newcomer, it's a very narrow thing!

"Oh!"

[bakegarasu]

He jerks back and stares at the man, brow furrowed in confusion. He doesn't say anything, but he does glance towards the door he just came out of.

1:A

[rieper]

As if the new name on the door hadn't informed them of the new recruit anyway. 47's already done his homework and knows the new roommate is a fellow red team member. He probably purposefully passed him by on the platform so they could meet as roommates instead. Otherwise he would have introduced himself as a red team member. It's what he does on platform days.

That aside, welcome to the room. Yes, that's a rabbit and no it doesn't belong to the woman of the room. Although it's presence is her fault. (And no it's not the kid's either though they all agree its fur is soft and everyone pets it daily. So what of it.)

47 stares up at the new kid from one of the bunks turned into a seat, a leafy green in hand as he feeds the aforementioned rabbit. He doesn't say anything for the moment. Having fun yet?

[bakegarasu]

He looks at the rabbit again. There's just... you know what, fine. He's not going to even ask.

"... Supposed to be in this room, apparently." He had passed by his name on the door, but he'd also quickly moved past it considering his given name was on there, too. "... Who are you?"

wandering

[irrationally]

Really, nothing about this is new. The train has stopped at a platform, so obviously there are new people on the train. New people who are going to be curious about all of this, and therefore looking around all over - like a bunch of tourists suddenly being dropped off in a small town. Except it's a train, rather than a town.

But that doesn't mean that Alice doesn't feel a little too seen as she's trying to enjoy a cup of tea over here in the kitchen, with this unfamiliar guy just gawking at everything.

"Is this your first time seeing a kitchen?" Her voice is pretty dry and flat, though she's making an attempt to not sound aggressive about it, despite not being very good at this whole social thing.

[bakegarasu]

Considering all of the people here, it very well could be a small village.

He glances over at her and huffs in slight amusement. "... No." He should... probably elaborate. "New here. Trying to figure out the area."

Wandering

[sizedoesntmatter]

Yugi looked up curiously from the game he was currently playing. He didn't really feel the need to check who was coming and going at this point, though it would at least be polite, but he also knew there were others ways to be helpful to.

Like right now.

"Can I help you?"

[bakegarasu]

Oh. Whoops.

"Didn't mean to interrupt. ... Trying to figure this place out." Maybe that's the wrong thing to say. Let him rephrase.

"... Trying to figure out what's where."

Wandering... (I can't actually tell what these things look like, orz. >.<)

[hisblueskies]

Otoha will find, in his wanderings, one blond boy with an interesting-looking box, partly open, on his way from Luggage to the Armoury.

'Alfredo Martini', the box reads - if Otoha looks closely.

As for the boy himself, he does catch sight of the new arrival shortly, excusing himself to give Otoha more space.

[bakegarasu]

"... Didn't mean to almost run into you." As much as he's used to just walking through crowds, including on trains, there's no reason to run over a kid.

"New here..." As if it wasn't obvious.

[seacub]

"Oh."

Roommate. Emporio admittedly prefers to keep his bench down as a bed- it might get moved sometimes, but honestly, it just seems nicer that way. In any case, the boy blinks up at the newcomer to the room.

"....Are you going to be okay with the top bunk?" he eventually says, pointing to the one above his. That's the one that was freed up after all. "...You're supposed to be in this cabin, right?" That's how the tickets work so...

[bakegarasu]

"... Says I'm supposed to be. And that's fine." He plops the rucksack on the bunk and starts looking through it.

"Don't know why I'm here, but whatever. Wasn't anything on the platform, anyway." Other than people, and... yeah.

Wandering

[reluctantjinrou]

Natsuno was the kind of sulky person that could be found skulking about but he was usually in his most approachable state in the Cinema car.

He looked up when he heard someone come in and turned to look at them.

"Are you looking for something?" He asked.

The movie is a slasher flick, lots of suspenseful music at the moment, some poor soul was about to die.

[bakegarasu]

"Getting used to the place." He does look up at the movie that's on, snorting in amusement.

"... Looks like a sloppy killer."

[melodiouspacifist]

Demyx enjoyed taking up residence in the music car of all things and no, he wasn't seated with one of the pre-set instruments, he had a very large, custom-made sitar across his lap.

"Hey." He greeted with a smile, his fingers not stopping their movement over the strings.

[bakegarasu]

Oh. Music. Not something he’s got much interest or skill in. Still...

“What’s that thing? He’s never seen something like that before.

Platform

[storms_eye]

"Yeah- I know.. the outfit is terrible." Catching the direction of the stranger's gaze. Then realizing it wasn't the most flattering thing she could say, Silvia quickly amended. "Not that it's your fault! I mean.. I don't think any of use would have selected these willingly."

[bakegarasu]

“Where can I get different clothes?” There have to be other clothes. Maybe on board? He’s not sure...

Needs more trenchcoat.

Platform - i'm... sorry in advanced

[runsfast_rollsfar]

Prisoner had already shed his boots and his hoodie and was gathering his shit up to go and change into his real clothes, but he stopped when he noticed someone staring. Prisoner tapped his fingers against his chest and kinda threw his hands out - an gesture akin to a rather aggressive gesture normally accompanied with the the phrase "you got a problem?"

oH NO

[bakegarasu]

The stranger’s appearance has him on sudden high alert, reaching for the hilt of his sword. He doesn’t look like a yokai or mikura, but that head is weird.

“What are you?”

Medical

[10billionpercent]

Senku didn't spend as much time in medical as one would think, mainly when people were looking for help with things. He was looking over the books on hand, wondering if he could borrow one for some light reading.

Nothing said light reading like Grey's Anatomy.

He turned at the sound of someone coming in. "Hey." He greeted.

Platform - Boarding

[zechs_isonfire]

Another man in the same rather unflattering outfit, red hoodie and all, would be waiting for Yosuke to board the train at last, likely after talking to a few on the platform itself. He'd been keeping a sharp eye out for others "on his team" that would be boarding this week - it seemed like there were quite a few this time.

Zechs nodded, expression serious. "Welcome aboard. Though I doubt you wish to be here."

Wandering

[guru_clef]

There was perhaps one thing so odd and out of place in the library that it demanded attention. A large stone sat against one wall looking as though it were embedded in the floor, or had grown out of it. On the top of the stone was what looked like a little kid who was playing dress up in his parent’s cosplay closet. Everything he wore - cloak over purple pants and a loose shirt - looked too big for him. and then there was the headdress with the horn like crystal over his third eye.

He was sitting on the stone which put him at about eye level for an average human, a long staff - taller than he was - beside him, and three books floating around him, one in front and one to either side. One of the side books was empty whenever a page turned, but filled slowly with text, and the pages turned there at the same rate as the pages turned in the book in front of him.

He glanced up when Otoha came in and the text stopped scribing itself and the pages stopped turning, but the books remained floating as he tried to decide if this was someone he was going to have to talk to or not.

Wandering

[achickenformylove]

Walking from one end of the train to the other? That was certainly something WangJi did as well. It gave him something to do and a chance to survey everything and to make sure everyone was getting settled.

But since they were both walking from one side of the train to the other, they were bound to meet in the middle somewhere.

"Greetings."