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!
firewalled: (Even if you realize it's me)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-02-04 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"Trying? I've got that part down pat now!" Which isn't saying much, but it's a good start for Rich, really. Self-preservation is something he needs to work on.

He's a little flustered to get a decent compliment from Otoha, and smiles at the most of them. "That's high flattery coming from you. But for sure, I can help with whatever you need! I know this place is a lot to get used to, but it's not so bad, I promise."

He stands to offer a hand to Yurine. "Like he said, I'm Rich. Rich Goranski. And if you're looking for a normal human, I'm the best you're gonna get here."
blitzcheer: (heyy you want some???)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-04 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Buying for your own party?" Tidus grins teasingly, and he'd fold his arms if not- ah, let's just make this parcel poof! in a light glitter of gold.

"In that case, I think we should get more people into this. How about Madoka? It wouldn't be right if we left her out!"
blitzcheer: (very gud thinker)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-04 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
She doesn't have to? ...well, okay. You know what? There's weirder things about people, and that's better than hearing the usual 'I have to eat for five people' that they usually get. He blinks at the news, but takes it in stride fairly easily.

"Seems like it!" He shakes his head a little. "We got answers recently from the train, or whoever you think's in charge - it's not a chatty thing." One way or another. "But the gist is, it needs heroes and it grabs whoever it can get to do a role. So we..."

He swings a finger pointing between them, specifically the colour.

"We're Purple. Every team has a specific task, and we normally get, like... fighting things. --well, 'cept last mission," he admits, "but last mission before that was-- oh. Actually, we had to clear up some stations that got overgrown..."

Wow, his examples are going great so far.
bakegarasu: (i heard a tapping)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-04 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"... Huh." He considers that for a moment - the statement, rather than the apology. "It's fine. ... I could kind of tell, given... I mean, it's not in my body." That part seems like it's obvious to both of them, now.

"... What are you, exactly?"
blitzcheer: (pulling me in)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-04 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh the ICP! Here, we can look-"

He's turning to go back to the doors in, sparing a look to see if she'll follow. One shouldn't be hard to locate and get booted up with the slip in of a ticket, sparing Najaran some room so she can stand beside him at the console.
bakegarasu: (i see you)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-04 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"I meah, I guess. Seems like we get a weird variety of points, though. I got a ton of points and I didn't do too much, someone else might get less. No idea who decides what the distribution is." Obviously they get paid for their work, but why he got so many isn't somethng he knows.
bakegarasu: (i hear you)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-04 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, now you need to actually be able to hit me." It's not fair, he dodges too fast and they both know it.

"Yes, I know it's not 'normal', but it's more normal in a lot of ways than what we're used to. ... And more normal than how he lived even when he was 'human'. "She's on red team so she's supposed to be on cooking this month and... uh." Rich already saw how cooking went with Otoha. "... Might need some help."
adregem: (aint nobody got time for dust)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-04 03:35 pm (UTC)(link)
He scoffs amusedly, shaking his head. "Oh, is that what you wanted? Next platform, pro. Don't worry, I'll sponsor your team." So that's pretty much the long, joking answer to 'no,' though if he's prodded, what he got him was perhaps the next best thing.

Not even the kick Tidus performs to demonstrate his new pair of pants on the hammock is enough to distract Roland totally from how Lydi looks incredibly distressed at the reports coming her way...before a man wearing a trenchcoat and fedora walks in, the only indicator he's even from the same planet on his face: half-mechanical, half-human. But they seem to know each other, before her voice fills the cinema car. You must be wondering how I got here, why a rookie like me's suddenly assigned to a case as big as the Heist of Galaxies...

The film smoothly transitions into the very beginning of Lydi's life and times, but it's a lot of filler material as one might have to establish such a scene, so Roland takes a longer glimpse at Tidus's clothes, and what he says. For some reason, Roland nods in approval.

"That's good. He needs to buy more things for himself. Guess we're all getting dressed to the nines. I hope I get to see his outfit soon." Another earth saying but by context, it should come across precisely as it means; looking nice and just the way you want to. "Jeans are made with a material called denim. They're pretty popular where I come from." Roland takes a quick peek at the screen - Lydi's discovering her penchant for reverse psychology to get out of trouble - before returning to his careful study of a new outfit, one more modern than Tidus realizes. "The train got you the right shade, at least. With your skin tone, I'd say light denim is perfect. For Inigo, if he got jeans too, a darker toned denim would look best."

Style matters, people. And while the conversation they share in the midst of a cinema car with a movie on the reel is not one related to the title at all, a loud BAM! jolts Roland, their shared web seating swaying. Lydi's whole clan just got caught up in an explosion...and she's convinced there's more to it that meets the eye.

Roland shifts again, leaning his head to whisper as dialogue plays out; "Let me know if you're getting clothes again. I'll help. Looks like the train's giving out Earth clothes from the basic catalogues."
Edited 2021-02-04 15:35 (UTC)
firewalled: (You start to realize if)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-02-04 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"I meant your stupid shades and your holographic abs. You're not impressing anyone with that schtick."

Listen, Rich is pretty strong, but even he can't lift the stupid thing for long. Eventually, he puts it down with a heavy thunk, wrinkling his nose.

"Have to say, there isn't anything about your mug, even a solid gold mug, that would make me come. Unless it was possibly melting it down to pay my bills."
makeadragonwannaretire: (Still Human)

[personal profile] makeadragonwannaretire 2021-02-04 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
This is the first time in her life Azula has ever considered that ducks might have eyebrows and she hates that fact.

"No...no way. Not even a little." She backed up slowly still unable to take her eyes off the oversized bird.

"What even are you!? Where is your shell? Why do your feathers look like hair?"
adregem: (always covering your six.)

the train

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-04 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Roland wouldn't describe seeing the newcomer as someone who was calm, so much as she seemed more stoic than anyone else who thought it wise to stand up while the train has yet to move. Watching passively, even as the trademark jolt of the Voidtrecker coming back to life fails to do much of anything to the blonde woman apart from readjusting herself, hands behind her back.

Sat by the Standard Car, Roland even finds it interesting that she stares out into the vast void, whereas most people would cringe in discomfort at the inevitable migraines to follow the foolish deed. Yet she seems to be doing the opposite, pondering versus looking away. His new Purple teammate was a most curious one indeed.

Roland decides to make himself known. Though he has since traded in the typical train uniform for clothes more familiar to him from back home - a black turtleneck with a long coat tied by the waist - there's little doubt he's as much a denizen of the train as she was.

"Excuse me, ma'am." Roland says nicely, well-practiced and confident, hand against his hip. "Welcome to the train. You've been looking out into the void for a while now. Your head doesn't hurt at all?"
adregem: (chin up kid.)

[personal profile] adregem 2021-02-04 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, between books and movies, suddenly Roland's engaged as ever with Ken. Both things, Roland's incredibly passionate about, though movies seemed to pique his interest moreso than the books.

He does however, store away for a later time the fact that Ken hadn't been coming to school for years at a time. A statement innocent enough on its own, but by experience alone, Roland knows its never as simple as one might expect. A story behind it all, but not one for him to ask or prod about for now.

"What do you like for both? Genres, and favorite books and movies?" Apart from the superhero kind, of course. "You can order titles at the store, once you've gotten enough points. If it's not here now, you can buy it and the train somehow acquires the closest thing to it."
miseris_socios: (not so innocent)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-04 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"I like superhero movies and um... things that are a lot of just... good guys winning. I know the world isn't really like that, but it's nice to pretend that it is sometimes." It's never been like that, and he knows it. "I really like Phoenix Ranger Featherman R. It's still going though, so I don't know that it could get a collection or anything. ... It'd be nice, though."

Books... "I'll read most things as long as there's no romance. Romance is... I don't know. People get really weird about it. ... I don't really like mystery books either. Police aren't the good guys and neither are detectives."
firewalled: (Just digging my grave)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-02-04 04:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think that might be a consistency among all of us. I've also had enough of crazy, but it's something that kind of just keeps happening to me. Bad luck or something."

He's trying to keep his tone casual and light, hopeful that doing so will also encourage her to do the same.

"As far as I know, not a lot. I mean, all our needs are provided for, and if you do the missions, you get points to buy stuff from home at the shop." Rich probably needs to take advantage of that now, after his first real mission. "But the train said we don't get to go home until the missions are all completed. And we don't know how many of those there are."
blitzcheer: (something blah ugh words)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-04 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Listen to Mister Fashion Guru here! Advice that near earns a reply to it, but then the volume vibrates through the cinema car, and Tidus's eye had already been on the screen not to be caught off-guard in theory -- but man, did that rock the place! Roland too, to be fair.

Speaking of, Tidus glances at him as if he might be able to catch some particular face, but it's all too blanketed in the dimmed lights. Hears however the words that come whispered low, though the audio of the movie makes it take a second for Tidus to process. But he leans himself, humour not making his voice as low as he aims.

"Give Inigo a hand - if he hasn't died from embarrassment. Getting the dance outfit took a lot out of him."

Which is only a little fun, on all the protests and exclamations Tidus had to listen to - less the actual anxiety induced.

"He can do with more clothes." Well- "Can do with more everything."
firewalled: (Would you kindly laugh at me)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-02-04 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Why are we fl ipping the bird at the train? Rich may not exactly know, but what he does know is that's something the train probably deserves. So he does the same with a grin, before the stranger's explanation leaves him taken aback.

"So... even if we leave, we can come back? I didn't know that!" Fuck, he'd better be careful to find a solution for that too, when it comes to getting away from here. "So you didn't even get back home? Or were you home for a bit?"
hashtagparkerluck: (pFYSYPD)

Lay of the land

[personal profile] hashtagparkerluck 2021-02-04 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter's in his favorite room-the dressing car-and hanging upside down on the ceiling reading a book. He doesn't notice at first that he'd being watched as he's far too absorbed in his book but eventually he cottons on to insistent buzz from his spidey-sense and looks up-or down depending on the perspective.

"Uh... hey." He offers, trying not to sound too confused. "Guessing you're new? I'm-I'm Peter." He offers before unsticking himself from his place on the ceiling and dropping down again, landing in his normal spider crouch before straightening up again. "This place is a lot to get used to."
hashtagparkerluck: (lalala ignoring you)

Cabin 2:E

[personal profile] hashtagparkerluck 2021-02-04 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter's returning to his cabin to grab his notebook. He hadn't spent too much time on the platform this time because he didn't want to see anyone leave and instead made a quick glance at new arrivals. No one he was particularly looking for made the list so he missed a few that maybe he shouldn't have.

Either way, Peter swipes his card on the door steps in only to come face to face with Captain America. And he freezes. How had he missed the Cap? Did Cap know who he was?

"Uh.. hi." He offers after a moment.
subcircuits: (definitely like what i'm seeing)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-04 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know," Devero says, "but I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer." Which is a weak excuse given he had to pass right past their sleeper cabin to come here from luggage, isn't it?

He unlatches the top of the trunk and opens it. It is crammed full of parcels, which he starts to unload and lay across the stage. The top layer is comprised of a couple of paper-wrapped items that thunk as he sets them down and a low, flat box; revealed beneath those are several flat, rustly paper packets that he piles up in a careful (wobbly) stack. At the bottom of the trunk are several pairs of shoes, one of which Devero snatches out right away.

He whistles softly as he lifts them into the air. "Oh, these look even nicer than they did in the catalogue," he breathes, turning to show them to Koumyou.
hashtagparkerluck: (488)

platform

[personal profile] hashtagparkerluck 2021-02-04 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Peter wasn't really planning on coming out to the platform-he'd just glanced at the roster for new names but one stuck out to him and he's actually putting his shoes on, throwing that hoodie over his pajamas and it out the door. He looks around quickly and spots that familiar red hair before high tailing it over to her.

He doesn't exactly tackle her-he stops just short of that but there's that breathless excitement that could only come from Peter Parker.

"Renee!" He exclaims happily. "Y-You're back?"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-02-04 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Mm-hmm!

[ Della's laying on her bed, reading up a storm, making a noise to acknowledge she heard... something??? Yeah sure whatever, next page! ]
radishlobbyist: (c080)

[personal profile] radishlobbyist 2021-02-04 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
OOC: [ 3 would be fun? ]
reluctantjinrou: (Default)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2021-02-04 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes." Natsuno answered easily, not bothering to ask why, although he wondered.

"What's going on?" He asked, approaching Alice then, leaning against the counter.
reluctantjinrou: (Glancing Around Corners)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2021-02-04 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"I decided to get some clothes that weren't my uniform. If I'm going to be here indefinitely, it's getting boring." Natsuno grumbled a little bit. "I just didn't know what to get so I selected the random choices and it sent...this."
reluctantjinrou: (Default)

Arrival

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2021-02-04 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
Natsuno was doing his best, maybe, or at least some version of his best to be sociable.

Okay, he was there.

He greeted the child with a bit of a raised hand. "Hey."

His tone encapsulated just how enthusiastic he was about all of this.