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: (Avoiding Emotions)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-10 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's the thing. It seems like none of it was real, and the sector I was in, there was nothing there but robots that smacked you. It's...I wouldn't want to live there." He shook his head. "I can't imagine them actually bringing people to live in that very fake place. I didn't get to see any proper terraforming or anything."
blitzcheer: (be without regrets)

comes in late with voidbucks

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus has a few of his own reasons for coming into the music cars, even the second floor, where there's not a lot for one to do by themselves. It's not the music that lures him up the stairs, but to check on the curtains of the mini stage, calculations and thoughts going through his mind for someone else, a different kind of performance.

If it was someone else, he wouldn't have thought to really comment on the music being played, not wanting to be distracting. But he also seems to catch Dyme when his playing is in a lull of notes that makes Tidus okay about piping up cheerily.

"Didn't know you were a multi-musical guy. You're good!"

Not just a whizz with the guitar, huh.
blitzcheer: (water five four up)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 03:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sure, let me know what you think." And he lifts the rest of the volumes now in his hands. "You can take these too if you have the room to carry them." Ah- "How about I drop them off by your room? You got anywhere else you're going?"

They'd have to take the sleeper cabins anyway, unless Alfredo had plans to hang out in the triage cars or in dressing. And it's not like Tidus knew if Alfredo didn't secretly play video games with Webs!
blitzcheer: (whatcha gonna do about iiitt)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 03:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hah!" Hah! Don't mind as Tidus takes that as a challenge, refusing to acknowledge to plip! of the sleet that finds a home in his hair. He sits down from his kneeled position, shaking out his right hand until in a poof of temporary golden glitter, a fancy blanket appears, dropping in a crumble than anything tidy.

He picks it up, trying to find the corners, sparing just a moment to pat his lap and say to Romeo, "Get on, we'll huddle up," taking the blanket out of enough of a mess to get it over his shoulders and to bring it around Romeo, if he'll join him.

"When's my next chance of getting cold? I'm sick of the train." And he's far from a guy to enjoy the cold, but screw the cold too. He does what he wants. "If this is my fifteen minutes to be outside, I'm being out here with you."
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares slightly off-center, one eyebrow perked. (Eyebrow-raise)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-10 03:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Alfredo glances back down at his bag.

"Maybe I can carry them in here, too?"

When in doubt, simplify!

"I'm going to find Madoka, but apart from that, I don't have any specific plans."
blitzcheer: (oh it's a dweeb)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"A breach?" Now that has him curious. If there was anything close to sounding like that, that he knows about... "Was that when those ministry guys showed up?"

Or the void highway patrol, or- whatever they were. Tidus certainly hasn't heard about anything else - unless he just simply forgot.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita Callahan kneeling in the woods, drawing a glowing blue diagram on the ground while reading from a book. (Drawing a Spell Diagram)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-10 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita shakes her head.

"Nope; that was a lot further back. The breach - something out of the void hit us, and everyone on the train fell asleep. Some of us shared dreams."

The recollection gives her cause (and pause) to collect herself, as well.

"That was what happened after my first platform. It was... also the first time we had any hint of those world eaters. Destroyers. Whatever they really are."
emerald_mirror: (I was born an original sinner)

[personal profile] emerald_mirror 2021-02-10 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm sorry." But he does brighten a little at Seto's offer to hang out. "Thanks, I really do appreciate it!" Not that most people on the train are all downers all the time, but someone being really, genuinely happy? Even for a reason? It tends to be more few and far between.

And Seto's got a really good, really genuine reason to be happy.

"Congratulations on your commitment, by the way. Since I didn't actually say as much when you explained it to me. And I do appreciate the explanation!" And who else was genuinely happy for his friend's happiness? This guy!
emerald_mirror: (I was born from original sin)

[personal profile] emerald_mirror 2021-02-10 04:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Really, if Siebren said that he felt bad out loud, he might get a surprise--as in total shock. Xander is unlike Senku, that's true--even if Xander did want payment in turn? He's the trusting sort--Siebren would scratch his back eventually. Doing the same for Siebren first is not important. There's no score being kept in the nephilim's game. Though the question has his brows going up. And staying up.]

Uh. Well. You aren't happy, but that's probably clear. I think. [Most people are a lot to unpack normally, and Siebren isn't any different in that. But wait, there's more. Xander isn't really probing, either, but most people tend to compartmentalize, too, and the good doctor? More so.] Anxious. Depressed a bit, yeah, but that's to be expected. Same with grief. And loneliness. That's there too. [A pause.] A lot of that.

[But he can't condemn the latter feeling either. There's plenty of times where he's surrounded by people on the train--even people he likes--but he's still lonely. It's more for his brother or people who aren't here, like Drake or Rose or Carolyn--but it's loneliness all the same.]
emerald_mirror: (I was born an original sinner)

it's not a devil that appears...well

[personal profile] emerald_mirror 2021-02-10 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a casual whistling tune that sounds outside the cabin in the hallway, and the door slides open, allowing the whistler entrance. He's a tall young man, well over five feet but not six yet. His silver hair has been allowed to grow out a bit and get messy, though he has a pair of braids, one on each side of his head, that make an attempt to tame it. One of them has what appears to be a strange white puffy scrunchie attached to it, but what is likely the most eye-catching is the wings he bears. Even tucked into his back and folded, they're a bright emerald green and they frame his head. And make entering the room a slow process, since that door was not made for someone with wings...

"Oh hey, new face! Hi! I'm Xander!" He pokes the scrunchie, which isn't actually a scrunchie at all, but a very small bat, who blinks oildrop eyes once she's disturbed. "Say hi, Cottonball! That's my bat. She's harmless, unless you're a piece of fruit. Then she's murder." He laughs, then--clearly he's trying to make a joke. He knows he automatically makes it more crowded, so he hauls himself up to his bunk, sprawling out and smiling brightly down at Alfredo and the other fellow.
blitzcheer: (never ever try to swim)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a low, short 'ohh' as she explains, a previous discussion clicking with the mention of dreams. Inigo had talked about that, briefly - very briefly, when the discussion veered too close to a bitter reminder for their mutual pal.

"Huh." His brow dips together. "You mean...the thing that hit the train was that? You sure?"

This was the first he was ever hearing a connection between the world eating thing and...anything else before that one botched mission, actually.
tortoiseshelltigress: (What?)

[personal profile] tortoiseshelltigress 2021-02-10 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Saash blinked at that, ears flicking backwards a moment as her eyes widened again. "Not that I recall--and I think I'd recall being experimented on. No. I'm a wizard."

Since it was fairly all right to admit to that sort of thing, here. The cat really didn't want to be censured for that sort of thing, once she got back to New York...

"Were you experimented on? That's horrible if you were, I'm sorry. And yes. I just showed up on the platform myself two weeks ago or so; it does take a bit to adapt. You're not the first, and you certainly won't be the last. Might I have the pleasure of your name, sir?"

She figures that's a good place to start, at least.
tortoiseshelltigress: (curious)

[personal profile] tortoiseshelltigress 2021-02-10 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"My name is Saash. I arrived on the last platform." And she's familiar enough with the human tradition of handshakes that she's game to actually play along with it, offering up a paw as if she's performing a trick.

It's amusing enough, though were Urruah to ever see it, her dignity! She'd likely never live it down...

"And it sounds like a welcome adventure, Roland! At least if I ever get back to New York, I might have something else to talk to him about besides food. He's a walking stomach, is Urruah." But Saash couldn't help laughing at that.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking right, holding a book. (I'm In The Book)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-10 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Honestly? No one knows what hit the train. I wasn't in the carriage that got hit, but the effect spread out from the... Games carriage, that one."

Nita taps her leg, remembering.

"But those shadows in the dream - maybe it was a memory? - were the same as the ones that destroyed the kingdom of Biq and system #1015."
tortoiseshelltigress: (Default)

[personal profile] tortoiseshelltigress 2021-02-10 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
/No, but I figured if I needed to know, I'd be told!/ Saash's mental voice is mild. That's not something that was personal, in any case. Just business as usual, when it came to wizardry.

/And, well. You were the first one here in this encounter, you know what that means as well as I do!/ That had her sounding a bit more cheerful, but it was playful more than anything. Saash blinked slowly and didn't move. Nita was polite, as was to be expected, but the offer remained.
firewalled: (It's all going gray)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-02-10 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's nice to meet you, Azula," Rich offers as he sticks that offered hand back in his pocket. No harm in that. He gets not wanting to get close to someone.

"Not super long? About a month, I think. I've been on two missions, but one hardly counted. It hasn't been too bad, though, now that I'm healed up a little." He smiles at her. "I can give you a tour, if you want? Or you can just figure it out on your own. It gets quiet enough between platforms that it's easy to do a whole walk through the train in an hour."
blitzcheer: (very gud thinker)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-10 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, dreams. That makes a little more sense, once Tidus pieces together what she means. He hums a small note, but there's nothing else he has to really add about that. Those weird world destroying things... he hasn't got any idea about what they are.

"Well... it probably still takes power to repair - the same it's using to travel through the void. So it must've done it 'cause it had to. You can't go around with a dent or hole or whatever in you."

Right? So, makes sense it would wanna fix up whatever busted it.

"But usually it saves all those jobs 'til we hit a platform." And if that was the case... he breathes out audibly, doubt in him as he suggests, perhaps unhelpfully:

"Are you sure it wants to talk to us? Even if it got more energy, or you did a bigger talk circle - what do you want to ask it? What if talking's not important to it?"
unfavorableinstigation: Nita Callahan kneeling in the woods, drawing a glowing blue diagram on the ground while reading from a book. (Drawing a Spell Diagram)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-10 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
/My sister showed up when I did, is all; doesn't feel right to give her the short end of the stick.../

Even if Dairine probably preferred not to be at the top for this, so to speak.

/And as for you, well - if we're all supposed to be from the same timeline, then I suppose it is pretty important. And even if we're not, a lot of what we end up working on can be considered... well, critical's one word for it?/

Meaning any of them being away for long, especially from in the middle of an intervention, could spell disaster for whatever timeline they were assisting.

The thoughts are worrying enough to keep her from focusing on the Offer of Soft, at least for now.
tortoiseshelltigress: (this wears me out)

[personal profile] tortoiseshelltigress 2021-02-10 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Saash just blinks up at V, waiting. Once he offers his hand, she baps it gently a few times. It does seem likely that if he'd offered a handshake, he'd have gotten one in return--the cat's aware enough of human customs; adopting them here with so much human interaction doesn't seem to bother her.

"I think so long as I'm not swatting you, you're probably fine, aren't you? Not that I tend to do that regularly, it's hardly polite." Another blink up at him. "It's nice to meet you, V. Though I do wish it could be under better circumstances." To wit, not on this train. But it is the way it is.
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Reading Indoors)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-10 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita adjusts herself again, cradling her head in her hands.

"Exactly. Maybe it uses the 'down time' that we're asleep, for certain repairs?"

And

"You'd think honest communication would be a higher priority, but if it's tied up in the whole energy deal... kind of a catch-22, I guess?"

As for 'what to ask', she lets that sit, because right this second? She's not sure where even to start.

"And if the answer to if it wants to talk is 'no' now, but it becomes a potential 'yes' later... would we check again? Would we know to check again?"
agathokakological: Stop talking ([260])

[personal profile] agathokakological 2021-02-10 05:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Crowley can't help but roll his eyes. "Wow... super impressive." he huffs sarcastically, sighing as he begins to move around her.

"You're being a real brat, you know." he continues, walking away. He doesn't have time for this. He came out here to relax, somewhat. If he's going to have to put up with a child thinking they know everything just to get some fresh air, he'd rather be inside the train. That, and he cares too much about Alice to let this get any uglier.
agathokakological: glorious tool ([021])

[personal profile] agathokakological 2021-02-10 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Crowley isn't certain he wants to talk about his private affairs with a complete stranger, even if they get along swimmingly, but he offers a nod.

"It's fine. There's a private car on board. Eh... most the stops are for missions, and I learned my lesson there. It's not the sort of vacation I want to go on."
tortoiseshelltigress: (I have a concern)

[personal profile] tortoiseshelltigress 2021-02-10 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Saash snorts at that. /You're still the elder; besides, I'm certain she helps you when she can. That is what family is supposed to do./ Not to mention that the rest of them should be helping, too!

And, well, Saash is trying. That's not an offer with an expiration in sight, at the moment.

/You can tell me, if you think there's need./ If a cat can look worried, Saash does at the moment. She hasn't forgotten where she was when she arrived here. Where her team was. She likely won't ever stop worrying until she's back in New York and whatever was going on has a favorable resolution. Oh, Iau! If only that could be assured! They'd likely all be happier.
badassfreakingoverlord: (ghost white)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2021-02-10 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh, sure." This was not what he signed up for, but he could sneak off later when the kids were reunited. No worries there. "But I gotta name you first and all."
blue_ice: (k bye)

[personal profile] blue_ice 2021-02-10 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll be fine," Seto promises. He does regret...but he has happiness right in front of him, and he's not letting that go, ever.

It's something he should share, actually. So after a moment of thought, remembering what Xander's told him before...he scoots over and leans against Xander, arm to arm.

"It's...made everything brighter. I'm glad I have so many people. You, too."

He lets his emotions say what words can't. Gratitude, fondness.
Edited 2021-02-10 17:37 (UTC)