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!
miseris_socios: (ugh...)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-21 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's not as popular in the same way where I'm from, but I understand those things." He's aware of Christianity and the general concepts, but he's never studied them.
irrationally: (and set sail for dreamsy)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-02-21 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
She shakes her head. "Not really. It's only happened once, on a world we visited."

So it feels more like an anomaly - especially since it was just that one world. She never had as much trouble on any of the other worlds they visited, did she?

"Otherwise this is very easy for me." And, as if to prove that, she makes the knife disappear and then reappear in her hand a few times. It's all very casual, like this is nothing she minds showing off in the least. "I mean, the finite aspect to it is more that there are only a few specific things I can take out like this."
irrationally: (i was travelling through the past)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-02-21 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Out of all the answers she expected, this wasn't one of them. Sure, she expected a 'no', or an 'I can't fight', but this goes beyond that. The way the other goes so pale, like she's shocked by the very idea.

It's pretty extreme, especially considering Alice's own comfort with violence, so it leaves her staring at Merwen in confusion for a few moments before she manages to speak up again.

"Well.. That might be a problem then. There's quite a lot of fighting on these missions, since there usually are things attacking us in these other worlds."
irrationally: (now i can't sing; i can't feel)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-02-21 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"Good." That he's willing to work on it, that is.

It's enough for Alice to let go of him, though she doesn't get up from the seat she's sitting on together with him. It's not like she wants to just leave Dyme right after having a talk like this, so while she's here..

"Why don't you teach me a thing or two about playing this, hm? I've never done so before. I know a few songs, but only through singing."
flatteries: (you wish you'd never said)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-02-21 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll have to think about that.." He says, obviously still in thought even as his mouth moves and he speaks. It's not an easy thing to solve, after all, since the move kind of naturally leaves Roland vulnerable like that. It's something Inigo will have to ponder - trying to think of how to execute that move in a way that ends slightly differently. He moves his free hand up, scratching his head. "Maybe we need to find a way to put more distance between you and the enemy at the end there?"

It's a thought for another time though. If Roland wants to try it again first right now, Inigo will gladly indulge him. The new sword he's holding fades back into his Arms Band, and instead he grabs his usual sword off the floor. He hasn't practiced enough with the Levin Sword yet to be able to use it very well, even during sparring.

"Alright!" He says, once he's ready. Sword in hand, some distance between the two of them. "I'm doing it for the surprise!"

(Okay, let's be real. We all know Inigo would do it even if there wasn't a surprise. Dumb little daddy's boy.)

A moment later he rushes towards Roland, swinging his sword in a way that shows he isn't bothering to hold back. If Roland wants to test out that move, he ought to practice it in actual combat situations!
happyends: (the ancient magic i dreamed of)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-21 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no.

Madoka asked that question without thinking of the potentially depressing answer she may get, but here it is. It stings a little - knowing that both Romeo and Alfredo are such good kids, and yet they never had that much to eat. Never really had a fancy treat. Clearly that means they'll have to make up for it through this somehow..

"We can get all of those then, at least!" But leaving it at that doesn't feel too fair, so her smile turns a bit softer and more sympathetic a moment later. Perhaps even a tad apologetic. ".. I'm sorry, Alfredo. Um, I hope I didn't make you think of anything too bad."

Because not getting to have full dishes doesn't sound fun to her.
happyends: (the ancient magic i dreamed of)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-21 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Look how quickly it works.

Madoka sees that expression on his face, and almost instantly the girl seems to shrink. Not literally, of course, she's at the same height as a moment before. But mentally, both in her facial expression and mannerisms, she immediately seems more nervous, worried about having offended him so much with what she was saying.

Her hands move to fidget with each other.

"N-Not really, sir.. I guess monks meditate, but it's not as if everyone is a monk.. And, um, martial arts is more of a hobby for s-some people, I think.."

Look at all this 'I guess' and 'I think'. Immediately she's more unsure of each and every single word that comes out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry. My world must be very different from what you're used to.."
gentle_jim: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-02-21 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Jack purses his lips, foot moving idly where it's crossed over his ankle on the pool chair. He's honestly surprised Trunks cares enough to ask him that. Just curiosity, maybe?

"I died. Which super sucks, cause I really miss the old meatsack." Sure, robot bodies were stronger with less of a tendency to bleed out, but there was something about flesh and meat and muscle that was just... better. Or so he thinks. It's what his memories tell him, at least...

Do not go down that rabbit hole, Jack, he silently admonishes himself.

"Good thing I had a creepy stalker that did tons of scans of my brain, right? Bam, I'm an AI. Didn't make it back into a body of my own before I was brought here though."

gentle_jim: (huh?)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-02-21 09:11 pm (UTC)(link)
He's got no idea who Najaran is, but he does recognize the name 'Kaiba.' He's pretty certain that was the CEO kid he met his first day on the train. They'd weirdly had a lot in common...

His brows knit slightly as she talks about her social life before the train, his first thought being that it sounds really pathetic. Normally his brain to mouth filter is non-existent and he would have just blurted that right out, but for some reason he makes a concerted effort this time to have another thought (and maybe listen a little more....maybe) before speaking. Maybe its her sad sack expression...

Maybe its the fact that all the games he plays are solo or online with strangers who exist only to get their asses beat (or screamed at when they beat him). Maybe its the fact he doesn't have any friends anymore to play video games with either.

He smirks at her last statement, stooping down and picking up an undamaged controller. "You're a smart cookie, y'know that? Do you uh.... do you wanna play something? Like. With me?"
Edited (maybe its mabelline) 2021-02-21 21:13 (UTC)
xue_yang: (Evil but Cute)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2021-02-21 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"You really shouldn't have to do much planning for it. It should simply be something you engage upon when you want to." Which depending on what is happening around them, could be more often then simply as a means to forget a bad mission.
worthallthis: (sheepish)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-02-21 09:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Nobody seems to know for sure, but whatever it is, Soldat did manage two earn a solid chunk on the mission. "I've got a list of things all worked out that I want to buy," they admit, kind of sheepishly, as they heft the case and climb to their feet. "A lot of it's weaponry, sure. But some of it's shit from Beacon. That I miss."
badassfreakingoverlord: (disgruntled)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2021-02-21 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, but you got wheels. Hell if I know, I'm a book, not a motorcycle." And definitely not a shinki, so he had no idea how exactly that sort of thing worked.
sciencegirl: (105)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-02-21 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Really?"

She shifts to being much happier, the grin genuinely reaching her eyes as she uses her hair to pick up one of the controllers and delivering it to her hands. She's fair enough that she won't cheat by being able to hit all the buttons at once.

Yet. This is still her first time, after all.

"Which one has the best explosions? I wanna blow stuff up!"
kumoko: (arachne - fuck yeah)

[personal profile] kumoko 2021-02-21 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, okay, she's definitely getting the sense that that was a rude question! Whoops. Hmm. Monster etiquette is hard when you haven't met many monsters that didn't try to kill you on sight, but... Geez, he looks all sad.

"Hey, hey-- Don't worry about it," she tries, awkwardly, before leaning in a little. "I'll share my transformation spells with you, how's that? When I got here, I was just a spider, you know!"
10billionpercent: (Slight Smile)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-21 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not much planning anyway. I just needed the ingredients for cola, which I still had. I'll have to order some more though." Senku hummed. He was almost out.

"I don't usually drink much, I usually have to keep my wits about me. Perils of being in charge." He chuckled. "But I'm not in charge here."
foxyou: (you're not serious are you)

[personal profile] foxyou 2021-02-21 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Six AM....means nothing to him, but he gets the idea, anyway. At least he gets a bed to himself, or this would be no better than the Abyss he just came from. (That's a pretty big exaggeration, but he always was a little dramatic.)

He glances at the window again, just for a moment, before turning back to her. "The train feeds us? It isn't alive, is it?"
marvelous_murderbot: (neutral)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-22 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
"It is very interesting," she said, watching carefully.

"This is already very intriguing, for a kidnapping."
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-22 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[And she just keeps giggling. Her sense of humor is still growing, and it turns out puns are definitely there. The joke may have been beaten to death, but she's following it all the way to the glue factory, apparently.]
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-22 12:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Not really," she replied, "but I can. I have a complete and functional digestive system. I was designed to be a fully-functional replica, after all."

And because she's not entirely certain either way - and has never actually been asked, she finally asks a question in a chipper manner:

"Was the latter an invitation?"
comefadeaway: (Hmm?)

[personal profile] comefadeaway 2021-02-22 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
"The books are for first graders. I don't really remember what kind of books I got to read before. Not really many of them, and my brother had used them first so, it was just what he didn't want anymore."

At least the math stimulated his mind when he was locked away in the basement.
comefadeaway: (Sideview)

[personal profile] comefadeaway 2021-02-22 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
Yoite nodded a little bit. "Yes, somewhat. There will be nothing left behind."
comefadeaway: (Hopeful)

[personal profile] comefadeaway 2021-02-22 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
His eyes widened a little bit in surprise. He wasn't sure he knew how to use the cartridge but it looked like math.

"I like math." He confirmed with a small smile.
xue_yang: (Default)

[personal profile] xue_yang 2021-02-22 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
"More chances to relax then. You don't need your wits again until our next mission. So you have plenty of time to recover."

He has learned at least that much since being on the train. These missions seem to be on a pretty regular schedule.
swansongs: (I said that I would never do you wrong)

[personal profile] swansongs 2021-02-22 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
"It was...nice," Dyme admitted. "Our father was never much of a dad, so I think sometimes Nyckel was extra nice to me to make up for it. He was eight years older than me, but he put up with me really well." He laughed a bit. He knew there were plenty of times when he'd been annoying, but Nyckel had handled it a lot better than their father.

"Learning guitar with him are some of my favorite memories."
swansongs: (Let's face it I blew it you waited)

[personal profile] swansongs 2021-02-22 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Clearing his throat, he also let go and straightened up a little bit, rubbing the back of his hand across his eyes. He was feeling a lot better now, but there'd still been some remnants of almost tears to do away with.

"Sure, I'd love t--wait. You sing?" Was that what he was gathering from this?