voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-02-01 06:00 am

A New Platform [Intro Post February]

On the Train

Three days after the Voidtreckers return to the void after their adventures on the biosphere world, they are awoken by a familiar announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen 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 also 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 fog seems thicker than usual and as they step out onto the platform they will find it is cold, very cold. Icy fog sticks to their clothing, makes it hard to see very far; the atmosphere is dark and gloomy.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alexis Rhodes, Elfnein, Itsuki Myoudouin, Ken Ichijouji, MT, Neku Sakuraba, Nike Lemercier, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Rainbow Dash, Rei Saotome, Taichi Yagami, Tsubomi Hanasaki, Yuri Tsukikage and Zechs Merquise 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 sixteen 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.

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 braving the freezing fog, 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!
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-02 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
"That's my opinion on the matter." Senku responded with a little hum.

"You can get better weapons." Senku agreed. "But they're expensive. It works on a currency system we don't understand where we're allotted points and weapons are the most expesnive thing. These aren't really meant for that. Not that they can't do the job, they probably can if you want a shallow stab wound." He commented. "But they're meant more for the tools aspect."

"And I have the bones. I make as much as I can with things I scavenge so I don't spend my money on things I can make myself, in the event I need something more complex or important."
najaran: (Vagabond)

[personal profile] najaran 2021-02-02 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
She gave him a weak smile. "Little dizzy, still," she mumbled. But I had to come out and see."
makeadragonwannaretire: (casual)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-02 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
Azula makes notes of those names for later, does she need some kind of medication? Absolutely!

Does she know that there are medications to help with her exact problems? No. So she moves on.

"I'll be sure to ask them if I need anything. And who are you if I may be so bold?"
najaran: (Distant Thoughts)

Re: Najaran OTA

[personal profile] najaran 2021-02-02 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
"A little unwell," she said with a weak smile. "I'll go back to bed soon," she assured him.
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Vexen You're Full Of Shit)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-02-02 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
He looked a bit more serious. "From what I've heard," Demyx interjected, meaning he had been listening to people, "no one knows. No one knows how much of anything works. There was this train question thing not long after I got here and people asked it a bunch of questions, and I don't know how helpful the answers are. There's a lot of smart people on the train. Mostly on the orange team, from what I've heard."

Yet, his own polo shirt was orange, how about that? He didn't know what the criteria was for having your team decided. He didn't think anyone knew.

"Yeah, well I've figured that much out after a month here. Everyone seems kind of caught in whatever cycle this is. And when they say mission, it seems like it varies. The last one wasn't much of anything. It was weird, but not much of anything and I've only been on one since I got here. Apparently the one before was disastrous where multiple people got hurt."
afterburner: (a spinchter says what?)

pretending this is after she and Jack meet up.

[personal profile] afterburner 2021-02-02 12:23 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, this had better not be some other jerkbag. At the shoulder tap, Renee turned around--but her hand released from the fist she'd been holding.

"Youuuu!" the redhead snarled, pushing a finger into the middle of Prisoner's chest. "You jackass, you left me! I watched you walk off this train!"

But her face quickly changed to an expression of joy, as she threw her arms around him and gave him a big hug. After a moment, though, she pushed him back and pointed at his flaming head again.

"If you ever leave like that again, and I ever find you again? I'm gonna drop kick you, do you hear me? Shit, it's good to see you!" And she hugged him again.
makeadragonwannaretire: (Serious business face)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-02 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
Azula listened, finding herself calmed slightly by the idea there were at least some intelligent people on this train. It wasn't all strong emotions and fighters.

"That all seems far too reasonable given everything else I've seen today. I suppose I'll have to start scavenging as well unless I want to ask people to share their tools and supplies."

At least until she figured out how to make money. And what sort of tools would she even ask for? She was still so vague on what it was they were doing here.

"And whatever...wherever this train is taking us, we'll need tools and weapons yes?"
thawed_pride: (Nort-Well this is going poorly.)

[personal profile] thawed_pride 2021-02-02 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
When Demyx started his report, Vexen actually went quiet and listened. Much what he suspected, of course...though, the part about the train answering questions was promising. He would have to find out what the questions were, and what answers were given.

"Is there an alchemy lab here? I have one elixir and a few hi-ethers with me, but it sounds as though we can't easily predict if or when they might be needed."
theimpatientone: (might be judging you)

[personal profile] theimpatientone 2021-02-02 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
"For now. That time. I'm not certain you can ever said to be finished with it entirely. I dread that it only ebbs and rises like the tides."

Putting it mildly. Just because you've convinced colonisers to leave doesn't mean they'll stay away forever. She rubs her face, suddenly more tired than anything. "You seem very dispassionate about the entire situation."
death_from_above: (Spark A little too innocent)

Re: Spark - OTA

[personal profile] death_from_above 2021-02-02 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
He nodded. "See if anyone who showed up might have brought fish."
10billionpercent: (Avoiding Emotions)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-02 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
Senku was probably one of the least emotional people on the train about 99% of the time, so that wasn't a terrible assessment.

"There are tools we have for sharing purposes." Senku explained. "So there's always things you can get your hands on if you need them. As for scavenging, the last world we weren't allowed to, there were some local laws about taking things, not to mention there wasn't anything to take. Outside of that, I'm trying to organize it so it's more of a group effort. My focus is usually mainly on food. It's not that we don't have any, we do. We just don't get a wide variety of food and people like options. Not to mention, we wind up preparing lunches for the missions."

He hummed a little bit. "It depends really. I find that I pretty much always need a knife, but then again I'm focused on scavenging, hunting and doing things like starting fires." He looked up then. "You didn't come with anything like that?"

Senku kneeled up onto his knees and slid his hand into the side pocket on his cargo pants. He produced a bone knife like the one he was making but this one was done and polished and had a nice leather handle. He flipped it in his hand so the handle was facing her and held it out to her. "Here."
nutkrusher: (Contemplative)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-02-02 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
"A few people leave, a few more of 'em come on," Cassie says. "They gotta go somewhere, right?"
10billionpercent: (Neutral)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-02 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
"I suppose you have a point, then again I can't speak to the state of your world, just my own."

He blinked a moment. "Dispassionate. Yeah, I get that sometimes. I'm not great at expressing myself. I have a lot of knowledge, but outside of that." He waved his hand back and forth. "Just so-so."

"Also I've been here for three and a half months. I've done this platform thing seven times."
xue_yang: (Oh Really?)

wildcard

[personal profile] xue_yang 2021-02-02 12:38 am (UTC)(link)
Xue Yang had watched as another one of his seniors walked onto the platform. This is his first time experiencing two versions of someone being in this space. But he is sure that this isn't the Wei Wuxian on the train simply by how amazed by the train he is.

He watches him silently, knowing that depending on what this version knows, he might find himself in an unfortunate situation. It happens every time people from their world show up. He's not the most liked of people.

And so he waits until the man gets closer, distracted by the train itself. He isn't dressed in the normal train attire. He obtained clothing much like what he wore at home several weeks ago. So he is dressed all in black robes, Jiangzai concealed beneath.

"Some see it as their second chance at life."
tactlesstantei: (happiness)

[personal profile] tactlesstantei 2021-02-02 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Masumi's not hard to find, since she's currently in the Library taking the time to do a more thorough check of her phone now that she has it back. Everything seems to be the way she last had it, which is great.

Seeing Conan, she puts the phone down and turns to face him, apparently happy to see him.]


Hey, I saw your name mentioned in the delivery list. You get a package too?
runsfast_rollsfar: (blush / awwwwe)

apparently jack ruins all relationships

[personal profile] runsfast_rollsfar 2021-02-02 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
The snarl is absolutely not what Prisoner was expecting and he took a step back in surprise as she jabbed his dead chest. It's times like these Prisoner wish he had a face so that she could see the pure confusion: he hadn't meant to left and he had no recollection of doing so. When he arrived it was she who had left... But he knew she was being honest and she had the right of it.

He tried to sign that he didn't mean to leave, he didn't even remember it, but he was swallowed up in a hug - barely having time for his flame to nearly extinguish to prevent her from catching on fire. The flame ignited as again as she pushed him back and pointed, and he simply nodded at at the threat.

He loves you too, Renee.

The flame nearly extinguished again and he hugged her back this time, less surprised. It's a tight hug, the kind where your friend grips the back of your shirt and doesn't want to let go. He'd missed her, holy shit. He'd made a new friend but they weren't the same.

When they eventually did let go, he started to sign at her excitedly, the motions rapid but with a precision that made it legible. He explained that he hadn't realized he'd gone, that he was on platform and she was gone, and he hated it, and he was glad she was back, and he asked where she'd gone, and if she had a good trip, and why she was so grumpy?? She wasn't normally so grumpy! And.... he forced himself to stop so she could respond, but he's got this tension to him that illustrates he's just excited and happy for her to be back.
theimpatientone: (uh huh)

[personal profile] theimpatientone 2021-02-02 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
Merwen starts a little, and immediately regrets the reaction. She's never heard a voice like that before. She's not sure what to make of it. She also doesn't want to leap right to offending her new acquaintance.

"I have never seen a 'train' before today," she says. "It isn't where I would choose to live." She's being as easily conversational as she can, taking V's distress as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Because it is. Because this is a distressing situation. "You could share with me a story of your home, if it would help."
guru_clef: (Seriously?)

Re: Library

[personal profile] guru_clef 2021-02-02 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
He looked up from his work, slightly perplexed. "I... am here nearly all day and night every day and night," he said simply. "That way people who need me know where I can be found."

That way he had access to books at all hours.
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Vexen You're Full Of Shit)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-02-02 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
"No." Demyx shook his head. "A bunch of different cars, a lot of fun stuff you wouldn't enjoy." He smirked a little bit, that was a light tease.

"I've heard people talking about wanting one, though, there's some science types around. I don't know if they're all on the orange team but some of them are. Some people seem to like the train, or at least, they're trying to be nice to it, or talk to it. Last time we stopped like this someone was trying to talk to the train. Other people complain about it. I don't really get what the train is. Also there's these computers everywhere, and I don't really know what to make of them 'cause, I don't do computers." He should've asked Ienzo to show him, apparently.
xue_yang: (Default)

Lets get drunk?

[personal profile] xue_yang 2021-02-02 12:43 am (UTC)(link)
Xue Yang is just glad that the mission is over and he has had a few days to de-stress. He definitely did not enjoy that mission and so he has spent the last could days trying to meditate and clear his head. At this moment he is in one of the random passenger cars, his feet up on the seat and his arms behind his head.

His eyes were closed but when he hears someone passing through he opens them, "Seems we both survived that last mission." And didn't die of boredom in his case.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

God yes.

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-02 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
"So we did." Senku agreed with a smile. "And it's late enough that seems like a good time to have some fun. I already got a couple of things at least. Let me just mix up the cola, and we can get to it."

He couldn't imagine who was going to complain if they decided to imbibe some spirits. It wasn't like they'd have anything to do for awhile before the mission.
nocawsforconcern: (pic#14159151)

[personal profile] nocawsforconcern 2021-02-02 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
[When you get dense enough, it wraps around to sly. Which is to say, Enna's completely unbowed, but she nods, drawing her cloak around herself and rustling it a bit.]

Cawww. [Yeah, she's making bird noises instead of something like 'hm'.] I dunno. Usually I just do my own thing. Da always said, too many cooks spoils the soup, or something like that. Which I think is a silly thing to say, 'cause it's more just that it's bad if it's too crowded to move in a kitchen you're using hot oil in.

[She nods, like this tangent is exactly what Azula wanted to know.]

It's not really coordinated... It's not like we all have assigned duties. They keep changing. Which is weird. So I just sorta do whatever I feel like. Today it's cooking!
afterburner: (all my unsures)

[personal profile] afterburner 2021-02-02 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know," she replies to most of Prisoner's questions. "Last thing I remember is walking off the train and that's hazy...and then waking up here again. So if I had a trip, I hope it was good." But for some reason, Renee doubts it.

As for why she was grumpy...she shook her head a little. "I'll tell you later." Probably. Maybe. Things were fine now, so she wasn't gonna wreck their happy reunion with junk like that. Screw that guy anyway!

"Do you remember where you went? 'Cause it was you and Spinel who left first...she hasn't been back, though. Not that I remember. Neither were you."

Not that she's really sure of all the old faces who were gone now. Some? Their absence was a relief. Others? She's sort of sad about that. Maybe more than a little, but she won't let on. She just reaches out to pat his shoulder in an attempt to encourage him. Keep talking, buddy.

"So you've been back a bit? What happened?"
tactlesstantei: (surprise)

Looking for 1-C

[personal profile] tactlesstantei 2021-02-02 12:51 am (UTC)(link)
[Wouldn't you know it, Masumi is also assigned to cabin 1-C. She doesn't yet know that this is her new roommate, and she's a bit surprised by the lack of clothes, but it does look like she's not having a great time.]

Hey, you doing okay there? You need some help?
constantvrunning: (Carefully Blank)

[personal profile] constantvrunning 2021-02-02 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
V only nods, M-Bot crouching slightly before 'leaping' up to their shoulder. They can understand there being such a wide range of experience with technology - part from personal experience, part from what they picked up on the void platform. In the meantime, they elect to respond to the invitation to talk about home.

"The last place I was," they say slowly, letting the words form carefully. Distressed people leaning on one another. It helps to talk, even if you're scared. Especially when you need something to focus.

And so they try and focus on that.

"Was a nation in the mountains, surrounded partly by forest, partly by an ocean formation known as the Bay. It's a cold place, but beautiful... and safe, or as safe as any nation in Tamaris can get."

They try to smile, impart some sense of wryness on that last part, only to sigh instead.