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!
herarrows: (Laughter)

[personal profile] herarrows 2021-02-04 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"They're quite well known for that." Imagine seeing them on a battlefield, Heralds being the good little targets that they are. But at least it makes them identifiable when they need to be. Because so many people here understood that.

"Yes, it's a uniform. I've missed wearing it."
afterburner: (a spinchter says what?)

[personal profile] afterburner 2021-02-04 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
Wait. She'd seen Prisoner sign, but at first the words didn't gel in her head. He...made a friend?

Well, that wasn't exactly the first time he'd made a friend besides her--there was a reason that Team Fandango had existed, and she wasn't the only part of it--he'd come after her and made sure she was okay when Renee had chased Spinel down that day.

"You did?" she asked, after a few moments. "Frickin' sweet, you need to introduce me to them! Did you meet them on platform or something? What're they like?"
thawed_pride: (Nort-Well this is going poorly.)

[personal profile] thawed_pride 2021-02-04 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Then, general purpose assistance, rather than focusing on a singular problem."

He reaches into a pocket for his notebook, and flips it open to a page with a creature hastily sketched on it. There are words written above and below the sketch, but the handwriting is practically illegible.

"Have you encountered any creatures such as these, in any of the endangered worlds?"
luckydragonsfoot: (he ran into my fist 12 times honest offi)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-02-04 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
Somewhere in the semi distant crowd, someone is muttering- "...aw hell he's bein' a mooch..."

But it might be too faint to hear.

As it is, Red Eyes isn't an infant but he's not debating that, too interested in the fireball. It's neat! It's blue!

In reply, since frankly he's astounded she's holding it still- how!! He tilts his head back to try similar.

What results is...well. Little spitlings of fire going up a few inches, accompanied by chittering sounds. Occasionally he stops to peer around the fireball again, but otherwise he just tries to copy it.
makeadragonwannaretire: (Default)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Well I can appreciate seeing things through to the end." Though if she knew just what it was Cassie was thinking of she might change her mind.

"It's just as well I suppose. I've already been told we can't leave until...something allows it." She made a vague gesture with her finger indicating the train.

"I suppose most people just make the best of it while it lasts?"

makeadragonwannaretire: (And I thought my jokes were bad.)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah...so there was a reason behind my being placed on this team." She tugged at the collar of her hoodie looking only mildly put out.

"If the red team is a combat based group, what do the other teams focus on? Is there someone organizing all this or is it...you know?" She gestured at the train as if it was listening to them right now.
dyingpro: Curious (Goodbye to all the plans that we made)

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-02-04 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, of course I did! I was excited because I'd brought along Mort this time, and I was eager to...

[When Thanatos goes even more deathly pale than usual, Zagreus suddenly feels a painful tug in his chest as well. He's said something wrong, of course he has, just like he always does, always pushing Than to teleport away and leave him to wonder what he could have said differently--]

Than, wait.

[Without thinking, Zagreus reaches out and grasps Thanatos' hand in his. Not the wrist, no, never the wrist, even he knows better than that. No, he's just catching Than's fingers with his own before the God of Death can disappear in his usual puff of smoke. His friend's fingers have always felt a little cold to the touch, but there's a comfort in the sensation of those long, slender fingers entwining with his own, even if it's only for the briefest of moments. He finds himself at a loss for words, still, and so instead of relying on logic for his words, he instead speaks from his heart. He's always been better at that, even if it's gotten him in deep trouble on more than one occasion.]

Even if you've been trapped here for weeks like you seem to believe, Than... wherever this place is, we'll find a way out together. You and me, I promise. All right? Together.

[He gives a little wry smirk, his brain finally making up for the loss of words earlier with one of his usual witty quips. This tender moment surely needs a bit of ruining with a funny observation or two.] Besides, if I'm good at anything, it's breaking out of places.
makeadragonwannaretire: (Blue sulking)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
Ugh, I'm sure you think that too.

[Backing away again she made sure to keep a wary eye on the girl as she continued her exploration.]

What can you do to be sure of that if you're not a fighter?
deage: (conversing)

[personal profile] deage 2021-02-04 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
Haibara pauses a moment at Azula's question. Not... necessarily because she's thinking of an answer, but that she's processing the question and why it would be asked.

"We tried to keep some sort of structure going, but there's honestly too few people, and with too many people coming and going at each station." The train leadership was an idea doomed to failure.

"Calling what's left 'the honor system' might be right, but it's also effective due to the closed quarters. If you're too much of a jerk, nobody will help you. If you're violent, there will probably be a half dozen people in the same car willing and able to fight back."
foxyou: (Cool. As. Ice.)

[personal profile] foxyou 2021-02-04 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
Is this man implying he should go around with a hood on just to hide his (admittedly ridiculous) ears? He opens his mouth to retort, and—promptly finds himself bristling instead.

"Don't you dare call me Xiao Jiu." The voice comes out bitterly angry, the fox stopping in his tracks just to glare in a very definitely intimidating manner.
nocawsforconcern: (pic#14159154)

[personal profile] nocawsforconcern 2021-02-04 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
I can win.

[She says it like it's that simple...]
makeadragonwannaretire: (sweattoassimmakickyergod)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
"Familiarity breeds contempt they say...do they say that in your world as well?" She dismissed it with a wave, "It's something of a relief to hear even if the lack of structure makes me feel like we're doomed to failure."

There was always a chain of command in the Fire Nation. She just used to at the top of it.

"But the fact that the train is still here and some of you have been here so long must mean it works somehow."
foxyou: (calm for once)

[personal profile] foxyou 2021-02-04 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
If only he understood the magical popularity of kemonomimi...but at the moment he's distracted enough by the fact this spider woman is chatting with him like a normal person.

Ahem! He folds his arms, trying to look cool as a cucumber despite having been decidedly not that just moments ago. "A powerful fox spirit, recently arrived." If she won't give a name, neither will he! Also cutting out the fact he's a cultivator because that'd be declaring himself as the enemy...no, he's gonna stick with local teen fox kid, this is fine. "I suppose you are a resident of that...thing, over there?"
makeadragonwannaretire: (Fwish)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Well aren't you...charming?"

She snuffs out the flame with her fingers and then waves it in a sweeping gesture sending a larger ball of flame back towards the fog that she had just come from watching some of it dispersing from the heat.

This was nothing like the dragons of legend. It was far too...cute. Azula wasn't even sure she'd want to defeat something like this in battle.
kabano: (目)

[personal profile] kabano 2021-02-04 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
"You've said." She does not want to think about "adjusting" to being here--she would rather think about being gone, but apparently that isn't her decision. It stings, but then there's Otoha, doing his job and keeping her safe however she happens to need it. And right now it isn't the physical danger, it's the rest.

She's not even all that certain how she's going to "adjust."
makeadragonwannaretire: (Crazy sass)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Azula waited for further explanation, even gesturing her hand in a "Go On" sort of way before giving up.]

Are you always this helpful in explaining things or am I just lucky?
makeadragonwannaretire: (worried)

Platform

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Azula was normally much better at hiding her distress, but it's been a rough year or so and her walls are down for the time being.

Strange clothes, strange looking people, she keeps looking back to the fog like she's on the edge of just slipping back into the mist but obviously she can't.

And so every few minutes she makes an attempt towards the train doors, stops and turns back at a loss for what she wants to do.

"Come on...just make a choice." She muttered to herself as she shuffled past Raven in what would be her third attempt failed. "Either get on the train or don't Azula."
thawed_pride: (Nort-Well this is going poorly.)

[personal profile] thawed_pride 2021-02-04 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
The resting scowl didn't seem to bother him. He was well accustomed to it from Aeleus, who seemed to look angry no matter what kind of mood he was actually in. Finding this other person to be a fellow new arrival, however, was a disappointment, especially when he didn't seem to have any new observations.

"That has been my observation, as well. There are varying levels of understanding for the situation, but none were given a proper choice in their arrival."
nocawsforconcern: (pic#14159154)

[personal profile] nocawsforconcern 2021-02-04 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not good at explaining stuff.

[She just shrugs.]

I just do things. Punch people with a mountain or whatever.
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-04 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah!"

That produced a nod of understanding.

"Yes, yes that translates. Thank you."
kabano: (顔)

[personal profile] kabano 2021-02-04 02:45 am (UTC)(link)
She doesn't speak, but doesn't move from her spot either, watching and ready to flee if she needs to. She still doesn't trust him and especially not after that...outburst. But at least there aren't weapons pointed at her any longer.
deage: (listen to me i'm always right)

[personal profile] deage 2021-02-04 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
"It's hard to keep structure when anybody making up that structure could leave at any train stop. And every stop also brings in new people, who question what credentials people might have, or demand a position themselves. You can't hold an election every two weeks."

It's just expanding on what she hinted at with her last answer, but it works.

"I'd say our success is due mostly to the skilled individuals who keep winding up on board. Completely normal people like myself are a rarity."
kabano: (祈り)

[personal profile] kabano 2021-02-04 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
So far, Rich has been the...politest of Otoha's friends, and she actually finds herself a little more relaxed than she had been meeting the others. She scowls at the word "adjusting" but says nothing about it. She's going to grow to hate that word, isn't she?

"This is hardly 'normal.'" And you know that, Otoha.
luckydragonsfoot: (he ran into my fist 12 times honest offi)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-02-04 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
Oh! Ohoh! Now that's something he can do!!

"Ah hell-"

"Araraorarrrrr-" Clicking noises aside, Red Eyes rears up enough that even his shoulders can be seen, breathea deep-

And BOOOOSH! A massive billow of flame disappears off toward where Azula aimed as well.

"Ahhh heck, what's got you so excited huh..!?" Well, the incoming voice is Saying that, but he sounds more amused. Letting Kaseri down for now, Katsuya approaches- and Red Eyes lowers enough to chitter in their direction.

Hold on though-

"Nyh? Oh hey, someones out here."
wizard_redfive: (Confused)

certainly puts a different mood to the scene

[personal profile] wizard_redfive 2021-02-04 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"I'd hope not. You've probably read it more times than all the other books combined."

And she doesn't mean just on the train, you Holmes fanatic.

Dairine also notices, pretty used to random glowing things given the whole wizardry thing. But not usually around Conan.

"Uh, you carrying?" she asks hesitantly. Did someone give him a remote defensive spell or something?