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!
worthallthis: (friendly)

Post-platform, cat welcome (sort of ;) )

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-02-02 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
Soldat is easy to find. Really, the first and most obvious place Otoha might look to find them is the kitchen car, which is where they are, humming along to a song playing on their tablet as they whisk eggs and grate cheese for omelets.

There's a little plastic ghost sitting on the counter next to their lantern, with glowing green eyes and little chains that seem to rattle on their own. As Otoha comes in, they rattle, prompting Soldat to pause in their whisking to lean over and pat the top of its head with a finger. So they note Otoha's entrance without being smack in the middle of something. "Hey. How'd the platform treat you?"
bakegarasu: (the city is at war)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-02 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
Jazz. Huh. He blinks at the song and then again at the ghost.

"Well..." He turns and gestures towards the cat, stepping aside so they can get a better look at each other. "... They managed to grab Yurine from Shinjuku. I don't know how." He lets that sit for a moment.

"Yurine, this is Soldat. Soldat, this is the yurine of Shinjuku."
sciencegirl: (070)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-02-02 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Not even for yourself?" That is. Very concerning.

"Hey, when they let us back on the train, would you wanna come with me? I'm not the best cook, but I can make soup!" Kind of. She can follow a recipe, though, and she knows they have those.
seacub: (AnxietyBoy prevails)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-02-02 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh?"

Oh. Duh. "..Oh. I used my Stand. ...it's, um... ...like a super power I guess?" ... "If some super powers could look like people...or. Other stuff I guess..."
miseris_socios: (Default)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
He looks at the other kid, then back at the train. "... You're not with SEES, right?" Because that sounds familiar.
seacub: (AnxietyBoy prevails)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-02-02 08:39 am (UTC)(link)
???

????? "....S...sees..?"

That's a no.
miseris_socios: (ugh...)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
Ken looks up at the guy. And then up, and then up. He frowns and crosses his arms. "No idea. I just got here, too."
miseris_socios: (huh?)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 08:41 am (UTC)(link)
... Yeah, definitely a no, unless he's playing dumb. Still... "It sounds like a Persona." Maybe that'll get a reaction, maybe it won't. He can't be too careful.
yondu: (1 5 9)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-02-02 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
Yondu's been there. Having your parents sell you sorta wrecks the whole perspective on family. Hell, only five minutes ago did he eat his pride and call himself a dad for the first time.

Kid looks like he's tryin' his best with what he got left.

"It still ain't armor. Playin' meat shield ain't good enough. You need some double thick fabric at least, not whatever this is." He tugs at his own hoodie. But he just sighs out his nose, looks around at these kids on the platform, wonders how many of them don't have anyone either.

Goddamn, this is some shit. And he's no good at this! "So we go on missions. Guess we got barracks or somethin'?" He coaxes him to keep explaining 'cause it's better than the boy getting all hung up on something he can't help.
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-02-02 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
"It does?" Persona to him definitely just means. Well. The dictionary's typical.

"...what's a persona then?"
najaran: (Vagabond)

[personal profile] najaran 2021-02-02 08:45 am (UTC)(link)
"I ate," she assured her. "I just didn't think I should be cooking with a runny nose is all," she said, leaning against the train. "And we can go back on any time, I think. I... just wanted to see if Duo was here."
miseris_socios: (standing proud)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 08:47 am (UTC)(link)
"... It's a part of yourself that you summon to fight." So... yeah. Sounds similar.
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-02-02 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
.... "You've never seen a hoodie?" Even he saw one before and he's from Florida... "Ah- Sometimes we get things to offset that though! ...normally on-site but..." Aha. "...Well, I think I have a few ideas that Weather can help with at least," he determines, leaving it at that.

Onto the matter of this train! "I can show you? I don't know if I'd call it barracks, but every one shares a cabin with up to three others. The rest of the train though..." He looks along the great line that fades into the distance. "....well, there's a garden car...a games car...the kitchen, dining, medical ones... ...it's...definitely not a normal train. Or ship, probably."
thawed_pride: (Nort-Well this is going poorly.)

[personal profile] thawed_pride 2021-02-02 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
He notices how far the boy is craning his head to look at him, and bends down to be closer to his level. He's still a little above eye level, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable to look him in the face.

"You arrived by yourself?"
sizedoesntmatter: (220)

Train

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-02-02 08:52 am (UTC)(link)
[Yugi seemed a lot happier than he had been a couple of hours ago as he looked at the ring he was currently wearing around his neck before letting it fall back down when he heard someone.]

Ah, hello Della. What are you reading?
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-02-02 08:54 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Well. "...oh. That...Is like Stands... ...supposedly they're 'extensions of a person', so..."

Huh. "Maybe..."

It is at this point, that Weather appears- in all their cloudy glory.

"....are they like that, kind of?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971678)

II Music Carriage

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-02-02 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ The Music Carriage is one of the places that Kitty most frequents. Sometimes she would use the performance space to practice dancing, but mostly it was just nice listening to music and looking for songs to download on the SCA.

She can't help noticing the way Zagreus is staring at the screens along the wall, though, and when he catches her she offers a smile. ]


Oh no, sorry. Did you need any help with anything?
miseris_socios: (no!)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 09:01 am (UTC)(link)
He takes a step back, just to regain some personal space. "... Yeah. I'm fine." He's not, he still feels like he's going to be sick. He takes a few deep breaths and then catches the guy's eye.

Wait... he sounds similar. That voice... and those eyes... but he doesn't look the same. It still makes his insides feel cold as he hears the echo of a gunshot, and he looks away for a moment, taking a few deep breaths before forcing himself to look back.

"I can take care of myself." ... Dammit, he has to ask.

"The name Sakaki Takaya doesn't mean anything to you, does it?"
yondu: (1 1 5)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-02-02 09:05 am (UTC)(link)
"Nah, I ain't..."

Suddenly it dawns on him. He doesn't see any other Centaurians around. Mostly Terrans and whatnot.

"I'm a Centaurian. I don't know much about Terran clothes. I also just came from havin' a uniform."

Hoodie won't do him too much good. His fin is too high to wear it. But he gestures for Emporio to go ahead. Go on. He'll follow.
thawed_pride: (Nort-Why am I still here?)

[personal profile] thawed_pride 2021-02-02 09:07 am (UTC)(link)
He tilts his head at the name, then shakes it.

"I've never heard of anyone by that name. But...are you certain you're alright? You look ill."

His tones, at least, are nothing like the voice Ken is remembering. There's a genuine concern in them as he looks the boy's face over for other signs of feeling sick or on the verge of panic.
miseris_socios: (huh?)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 09:08 am (UTC)(link)
"... Kind of. I can..." He looks around, trying to make sure no one's close to them. "I can show you, but it... looks bad, the way I summon. So don't... don't freak out."

He reaches into his bag to pull out his Evoker.
sciencegirl: (075)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-02-02 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Alright then, as long as you're sure."

She pauses for a few moments, wondering if she should ask. She probably should, just in case she should watch too.

"Who is Duo?"
miseris_socios: (ugh...)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-02 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
"... You sound like him. Your eyes look like his, too." It's not him, but given the last... not even an hour. Ten minutes? Twenty? He has no idea. As much as he feels sick, his expression is flat. His tone is likewise emotionless, for all the signs of tension he's displaying.

"I'm fine. I just thought I'd -" He cuts himself off, laughing shakily. "If you're lying and you're going to shoot me you might as well just do it." It's not him. It's not him.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971826)

Lay of the land

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-02-02 09:13 am (UTC)(link)
With the new passengers arriving, it probably wasn't exactly the best time to be cleaning up the Standard Coach. And she wasn't doing a deep cleaning, but Kitty figured it couldn't hurt to quickly tidy up the Standard Coach, especially because of the new people coming. They could use the carriage as a place to gather their thoughts while trying to understand their situation, and it might as well be someplace that's not completely messy. Beside, it was one of her chores, so why not.

As she was finishing up, though, she could feel someone watching her. Looking around, she spotted Azula nearby. "Hi," she greeted with a small smile. "Do you need help with something?"
Edited 2021-02-02 09:16 (UTC)
najaran: (Pensive Chat)

[personal profile] najaran 2021-02-02 09:21 am (UTC)(link)
"A friend," she said quietly. "He used to be on the train with us."