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!
longforgottenpromise: (smiles)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-03-04 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Was that Tidus?" It's a half joke, but it's the sort of thing Tidus would do. He was always thinking of others and trying to help them be as busy and happy as was possible.

"We can paint whenever you wish, it was fun... I mean... If you want."

Another nervous smile. "I told Inigo about the handprint we made, I think he would like to paint with us sometime."
strawberryprotector: (smile)

Wrap here?

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2021-03-04 04:54 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll keep that in mind." Ichigo's smile notched just a smidge wider. "I'd better get up to the kitchen and get started, though."
comefadeaway: (Hopeful)

[personal profile] comefadeaway 2021-03-04 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll take a look at it." Yoite promised with a bit of a smile. He was interested in the sign language Devero was doing, not that he was sure it would help, he'd have to try it.
10billionpercent: (Avoiding Emotions)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-03-04 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not much trouble. I'm Senku. If you have questions later you can always ask me.

[ He just likes talking about things and gushing about weird scientific mysteries, so he's definitely the kind of guy who likes being the answerer in the game 20 questions.

He'll nod though and let her go find her room. ]
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-03-04 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
He smiled and shrugged, he knew going into this that Xue Yang was going to outpace him and he was fine with it.

"Something to look forward to." He joked. "It's the strangest thing."
blitzcheer: (ur not me mam)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-03-04 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"It is real!"

Tidus is at least used to this, coming off from knowing Inigo, and the way life changed for him back in Spira. They have the long hallway of the training gym now just to get through, and Tidus turns himself to face her, walking backwards and talking. As you do. Arms brought up over the back of his head.

"It's kinda like a painting. Kind of... imagine you could catch a dance performance, and watch it over and over. It's like that - that's what movies are! It's complicated how they do it," and nothing Tidus would be able to adequately to explain ('glass and wires'), so he won't attempt, "but you can do the same for dances. For anything. You get the right equipment for it - you could even see yourself dancing on a screen like that. Or Inigo!"

The wonders of technology.
flatteries: (and if you close your eyes)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-03-04 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ His smile drops for a moment when he hears those last words.

It's a little painful to hear her say that. It's amazing how Olivia could think such things about herself - as if she isn't instantly likeable. As if she isn't a total ray of sunshine in anyone's life.

Inigo picks Jumblie up, slowly gathering the creature into his arms. ]


You know.. There's no such thing in any world as a person who wouldn't like you just for being you.

[ He knows it's technically not true. There are many cruel people out there, who may only like Olivia for what they could get from her, rather than for who she is. Inigo knows that's the truth, but-- he doesn't want to acknowledge that ugly side of any world.

He just wants to think of all the normal, kind people out there. Everyone who would instantly know just how amazing the woman standing in front of him is. ]


I really hope you'll be able to see that yourself too. [ Hypocritical much, Inigo? Isn't this exactly the kind of thing he should be telling himself? ] If only you could see yourself through my eyes.
subcircuits: (determination)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-03-04 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"There's always something."

Devero regards him for a long moment, as if assessing him, then takes a deep breath. "Listen," he says. "Six hundred years ago, the world I come from? Was almost completely annihilated. There was a plague, and between the Pathogen and the systemic collapses in the aftermath, ninety-nine out of every one hundred people on Earth died.

"We call that aftermath the Dark. The world went dark, and I don't-- I don't just mean because of power grid failures. The Pathogen didn't kill every one of those ninety-nine people who died; some of them were killed by other people, and some of them-- when the world collapsed around them, when everyone they loved died, when everything they knew crumbled... They couldn't take it, and they found ways to die too.

"My world almost ended, in the Dark. But you know what? It didn't. The survivors refused to give up-- on themselves, on each other, on their futures, on the world. Some of them didn't even know there were other survivors, didn't think they had a future, but they held on anyway."

Devero stands now, and steps around the table between the benches to kneel in front of Ken. He reaches out and grips the kid's narrow shoulders. "I know shit seems impossibly dark where you are right now," he tells him. "I know there's no light to be seen. But that doesn't mean your life is over, all right? There are other people out there in the dark, and they will help you."
miseris_socios: (unimpressed.jpg)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-03-04 05:50 pm (UTC)(link)
He twitches when his shoulders are grabbed, trying to fight the urge to pull away or summon Nemesis to shock the shit out of this guy. It's hard, and he only barely focuses on that part of the guy's speech.

"You say that. I don't really know if you believe it. Not deep down." He takes another deep breath and stares Dev directly in the eyes. "I'm... sorry about your world, that sounds pretty crappy, but it's not the same. People are literally dying where they sit where they sit because Shadows are eating parts of their mind, but we can't survive if the Dark Hour ends. The others do their assassination when no one is awake so they can pry the target otu of their coffin and confront them. It's always someone who did something really bad, so don't get all weird about it. And electronics don't work during the Dark Hour, so it's easier to steal then if you pry the doors open."

"And SEES is trying to take down things that are responsible for maintaining the Dark Hour. I'm not saying I want most people to die from Shadows and Apathy Syndrome, but none of us could get a job even if we had documentation. That seems pretty damn dark to me." Literally and figuratively..

"If it's dark, you can't really see the other people. Duh."
knifewithnoname: (yes okay)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2021-03-04 05:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well you should be telling him to be training it better."

She wrinkled her nose at the dog again, she doesn't even want to poke it, it's too weird.
adregem: (no one has come close to doing it)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-03-04 06:10 pm (UTC)(link)
I see. You must be very passionate about dancing to want your gear right away.

[ Roland isn't sure if he's being rude or not, but he finds that it's more disconcerting to tell Olivia that he already knows she's a dancer thru Inigo...So he will take the polite route, since he's already trying to get to know her as she is and not merely in her capacity as the boy's future mother. Plus, there's something he does want to add to the conversation as they continue to traverse each car, people asking to be let through, forcing either of them to give room, backs to the walls. ]

You know, where I come from [ - originally, at least. ] there's a style of dance that actually uses clothes like this. [ Hoodies and all. Sometimes, even looser, for maximum comfort. He turns to her with a smile, honestly intrigued. ] It's interesting the things you get to learn when you go around other worlds and meet new people.

[ Not that that justifies kidnapping. But the conversation comes from a genuine place of interest. ]
myblueskies: (the world is beautiful!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-03-04 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll try my best." To be the best teacher he can be. He stood up slowly, feeling a bit shaky after lying still for so long but led the way to the art supplies.

"We got to get some card and some pens and glitter and um... We can see what else you want that we have because you can put whatever you want on it."

He clambered up onto the chair to reach the supplies up in the luggage rack.
myblueskies: (sad eyes)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-03-04 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"She's not from the same world as me. We met in the heavens so she might have gone there but she might have gone back to her own world. I don't know."

He didn't even know where people went, when they left the train. "I think she went to her world for a little bit before she came here, but she didn't tell me much about that."
myblueskies: (hope)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-03-04 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"I like having fun and playing too sir! But working hard is really important."

He smiled. "I don't know. I guess I must have learned it when I was alive, but Elfnein always worked hard too so I learned a bit from her!"
makeadragonwannaretire: (And I thought my jokes were bad.)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"A small bit of personal choice. I suppose it's better then nothing." But only just. None of this sat right with her, the lack of control, the idea that they were some selfless heroes swooping in on unknown worlds to serve them like commoners.

But most of all this girl. This all too familiar monotone attitude.

"Well I should thank you at least...talking to you has helped me make my choice even if I don't like it." Could it even still be called good manners if she was doing it out of obligation?

"I am Azula, and I suppose we'll be traveling together for some time."
makeadragonwannaretire: (Crazy sass)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
People being people. She made a face at that and looked away towards the crowds once more.

"I used to understand people, then people changed." She commented dryly before looking back to Zelda with concern for the advice.

"Like motion sickness?" She had never had a problem traveling by boat or cart before but she'd also never been on a magical train before.
makeadragonwannaretire: (I'm a girl of simple tastes.)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
That actually made Azula's lips curl into a smile.

"It would seem to me we might have some common ground after all. Not to go into too much detail." Just because Alice was so forthcoming didn't mean Azula was about to be fair about it.

"It does please me somewhat to imagine you taking your fate into your own hands and earning your freedom. Why do you suppose so many have it out for you?"
makeadragonwannaretire: (Siblings)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:04 pm (UTC)(link)
A chill raced up Azula's spine at the sound of recognition. Had she finally reached the moment she'd been dreading since speaking to Senku?

"Yes, he was my brother. I was told he was here before me." She answered with a guarded glance at Kitty trying to read her expression. "Did you know him?"
makeadragonwannaretire: (The Super Sane Stagger.)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"A spa." She repeated, even with all her privilege no ship or major mode of transportation she'd been on ever came with a spa.

"And the attendants there know what they are doing? There are professionals on board?" She hadn't been to the spa in so long just the word itself was enough to get her moving towards the doors. Slowly but...progress.
makeadragonwannaretire: (Where is harvey dent?)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, at least something could be salvaged out of this insane conversation. She needed a good ego stroking at this point.

"Not Magic. Firebending. It's a type of martial art that only the truly special can master from my world." She took the ball of flame in her hand and snuffed it out before tracing her foot along the ground in front of her and making a light trail of blue flames which crackled dangerously for a moment before dissipating.

"It takes most people a lifetime of training to truly master all it's forms, but I've already managed it."
makeadragonwannaretire: (I'm surrounded by idiots)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, I would hope you could." She mused trying to sort out her next choice. It was so much harder now with so many threats lurking just out of the corner of her eye. Every stranger was a possible betrayal. Even this seemingly cheerful woman.

"But for how reasonable it is no one here seems miserable. Not even angry. How long does it take to just accept this is your life now?"
makeadragonwannaretire: (tears)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, I suppose that would be a problem for us wouldn't it?"

Her tone had gotten colder suddenly and she wasn't looking at him. The words miserable psychopath Were echoing in her head and suddenly she caught sight of some movement in the reflection of a window they were near.

No...probably just those people outside who still hadn't boarded.

"Being stuck on a train heading into the unknown is hard enough. No sense in being miserable about it as well." She finally answered ready to resume her tour.

"Let's get started, I'd like to be at least something resembling comfortable before we're moving again."
makeadragonwannaretire: (Ugh this is bullshit)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:21 pm (UTC)(link)
It's good that he's moving so slowly because only in this moment does she realize the excitement of discovery had made her lower her guard. She hesitates looking him over for signs of deception before taking the chocolate from the machine.

She doesn't open them though she just looks at them. The weight, the sound the wrapper makes. Something tugging at her suspicious mind.

"Thank you." She finally manages before unwrapping on of the bars. It's white this time and she brings it closer for inspection.

"If you're expecting something in return I don't have much to offer." she began "Though I'm sure you already guessed that given how obviously new I am."
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (to notice i'm alive)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-03-04 10:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooh. This was getting cooler by the second.

"Any way I could learn how to do it?" Della asked, because if anyone was "truly special", it was definitely Della Duck!
makeadragonwannaretire: (Green ugh)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-03-04 10:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes...because the idea of a talking, walking clothes wearing duck that could fly airships wasn't already insane. Now Azula had to imagine them fire bending.

"It's not unheard of for animals to bend elements, the fire Firebenders were dragons...but if you haven't already shown some level of potential it seems unlikely." she hesitated and then added "Have you manipulated any sort of elements before?"