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!
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-05 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
She smiles, taking the hand.

"I'm glad to hear it."

And, excited as she is to make a friend, she decides to continue to act as human as possible - out of fear of losing what was so easily gained.

"I like you as well."
marvelous_murderbot: (agent pose)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-05 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
She is still thinking about the possibilities of a greenhouse when he speaks again, distracting her. The idea of creating life rather than taking it...

"Oh, I hadn't noticed. Please, lead the way if you're uncomfortable."
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-05 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
She nods, and leans in towards the ghost, speaking again. What emerges is a string of droid binary, a language understood by most all artificial life forms where she's from. After a few moments of that, she sits back to see if it worked.

"Hmm."
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-05 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Two of them, then, in case of that."

She nodded with the latter, guessing what overtime meant, really.

"Is there anything else you think I need to know?" she asked, finally.
nutkrusher: (Contemplative)

Herp, meant to write "over time"

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-02-05 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think I've covered most of it, but we hand out leaflets, too," Cassie says. "Read those if you'd like to know more."

She pauses. She's not entirely confident enough in her senses yet to ask this woman if she's human. It'd make her look like a real asshole if it turns out she's just sucking at it again.

"Anyway, that should cover it."
dyingpro: Annoyed (The weight of the world)

lmao whoops

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-02-05 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Zagreus squints with his two differently colored eyes for a moment, but then shrugs his shoulders as he decides to hand over the avocado with the conspicuous chunk bitten out of it. What's Ryo gonna do, try and kill him? He's had worse.]

Avocado, huh? Never heard of one before. I'll have to ask Mo- my... friend back home if she knows anything about them.
nocawsforconcern: (pic#14159151)

[personal profile] nocawsforconcern 2021-02-05 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Tasty things wrapped in a tasty breading.

[#nailed it]
blitzcheer: (water five four up)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-05 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Hadn't noticed? He wonders what to do, but screw it, it is cold, and he can always poke his head out later, maybe, if he's lucky.

"Alright. I'm Tidus by the way," he introduces, taking a step to turn for the train. "Sorry you got kidnapped, but welcome aboard? There uh, anything you do need, if you don't need food? What were you up to before you showed up here?"
dyingpro: Smirk (No contracts)

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-02-05 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Computer. Ah, that one fellow I ran into was telling me about them. Says they're 'calculating machines'?

[Kaiba's tried to explain them and, well. That's about as far as he's gotten on understanding them.]

Is that where the computers keep the music, at their 'database'? So you order it from here? How do you pay for it, though?

[He seems to enjoy the music as it fills the car, tapping his fiery toes against the floor of the music car a bit, before moving to a different spot so he doesn't singe the spot he's on.]

You know, I don't think I caught your name. I'm Zagreus.
dyingpro: Curious (Goodbye to all the plans that we made)

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-02-05 10:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, sure, you are now... but at some point you weren't. And it seems like somebody else got attached to you somehow? Never seen anything like that before. Did you get cursed, maybe?

[Confusion washes over Zagreus' face as he continues to gaze on V.]

I suppose it's not really any of my business if you don't want to tell me, but I thought I was the only one who could come back from being killed.

[And the God of the Dead, but that's a tale for another time.]

You're sure you're all right, though? No dizziness or discomfort, anything like that?
dyingpro: Annoyed (The weight of the world)

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-02-05 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
You can? Wow, that's pretty cool-- wait. How can you only be a ghost part-time?

[Okay you have Zag's full attention now, Danny.]
fivemilesdeep: (But if we try this)

[personal profile] fivemilesdeep 2021-02-05 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't miss that squint, but...well, he's been friends with Thanatos for two weeks. Powerful people looking at him like he's insane for suggesting perfectly normal things is starting to become old hat.]

[He gets a plate and a knife, then sets about slicing open the avocado, one long cut all the way around and then a firm twist to separate the halves. He might not have had these at home, but he's had enough practice here to have some idea of what he's doing. He removes the pit and is carefully cutting the avocado into slices when there's a break in the conversation, and...]

[He pauses for a moment, closes his eyes, and sighs. He really doesn't want to have to be the one to deliver bad news to a god(?), but there's no one else here and lying will be much worse in the long run.]


You...might not get to see her for a while. We don't really get to choose when we leave.

[He's just going to keep that knife perfectly still until he gets a reaction. Not that it'll help him, but...best not to draw attention to it.]
marvelous_murderbot: (dramatic pose)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-05 11:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"I am known as Guri," she replied, following a step behind him, hands folded behind her back.

"And I will hope to find more fitting clothing," she remarked, seemingly the only thing bothering her, "but other than that, I have minimal requirements. And before this, well. I had scarcely had time to adjust to any new role, but before that I was the Lieutenant and chief assassin to the largest criminal operation in the known galaxy."
marvelous_murderbot: (Default)

Still can be interpreted down an ok line. :)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2021-02-05 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
She nodded, executing a slight bow from the neck.

"Thank you, you have been most kind to me."
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares 1/4 stage right, serious expression. (Serious)

I hate it when my italics break like that, sob

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-05 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
The hug goes on for some time.

"... She is. And, regardless of what happened to me - to both of us - I think - no, I know - she's still alive."

She deserved for things to go right for her, after everything.
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares slightly off-center, one eyebrow perked. (Eyebrow-raise)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-05 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ple Two?"

He nods.

"You're right, from what I know of her. She's good at keeping her head in a fight. She and Madoka are close, I think."

They were good for each other.

"Though- what about your birthday?"

It's only fair to turn the question back on Tidus at this point, really!
constantvrunning: (Sad)

[personal profile] constantvrunning 2021-02-05 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's good to at least have a goal, for that sort of thing. A target range, I suppose."

There were definitely worse ways - worse reasons - to enact population control.

V's expression isn't as readable as Merwen describes her family life; there's a touch or two of wistfulness, perhaps?

They offer a hand to squeeze. "I can understand the importance of family. And what it's like to miss them when apart, especially when you were so close-"

Whether they were of blood or not did not strictly matter - but it's the look on Merwen's face that speaks volumes just now.

"... Thank you, for telling of them." Softly they add. "It is important to remember, even when it hurts."
constantvrunning: (Just M-Bot)

Let's give them a tag or two before V rushes over, hm? XD

[personal profile] constantvrunning 2021-02-05 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)
V is on the other side of the room; they don't notice quite yet because M-Bot is being quiet.

But Devero is interesting, to M-Bot. He looks up, tilting his head-frame, a few lights blinking.

He chirps - still trying to be quiet.
blitzcheer: (star light shine bright!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-02-05 11:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Hah- "Dunno!" He admits, lifting a hand in a light wave. "Had it some point on the train, apparently, but I don't know when. I didn't follow a calendar for a long time where I came from. I was travelling the world, and we had a lot going on. How long I was even there for..."

He shakes his heads, hands lifting in place of a shrug. But he's smiling, far from bothered.

"But, you could say I got a gift for myself - and for the train too. I got a bunch of comics about blitzball!"
dyingpro: Smirk (No contracts)

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-02-05 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
I do? Oh. Hopefully someone not worth putting to death on the spot.

[With Thanatos being stuck here, he's not sure if he'd make it back to the Pool of Blood at the House, and that's... not something he wants to exactly experiment with right now.]

The name's Zagreus. Pleasure to meet you, Nita.

[He accepts her hand in a shake. Friendship!]
constantvrunning: (Surprised)

[personal profile] constantvrunning 2021-02-05 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
`Other worlds...`

They seem to be genuinely intrigued.

`None of the spells I've known Witches to use look quite like this, you see - it's a colloquial term from my world,` they explain.

`For those in tune with the world, or the spirits therein, that can make either do certain things with the right tools.`

They feel they're talking over themselves, a little, which is embarrassing - but they still need time to parse everything.

`Did you end up on a platform like this, once? Or did this train travel directly to your world?`
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking directly at the viewer, mouth slightly open, as if she's in the middle of an important or unamused expression. (Focused)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-05 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Huuuuh."

Again: one hell of a firefight.

Nita shakes her head after a moment.

"Is that something you can turn on and off, or- wait," Nita pauses.

"Maybe I should ask if the other Karas ended up helping with the rest of that fight?"
nutkrusher: (Hey There Soldier)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2021-02-05 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Cassie returns the gesture with a casual salute.

"Glad I could help."
unfavorableinstigation: Nita working with a Kernel (Wizardry Is Kid Stuff)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-05 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"A few," Nita admits readily - a touch of self-deprecation seeping into her tone at her non-sarcastic answer!

She starts flipping through the book to show him.

"And more than a few that get real questionable about what a train is supposed to look like, despite being called that."

But, they were kids. Nita can forgive them.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita working with a Kernel (Wizardry Is Kid Stuff)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-05 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nita shakes her head rapidly.]

Definitely not.

[While Sven's relationship with death (and other gods) had been somewhat complicated, it hadn't been in that way!]

The pleasure's all mine, Zagreus.

[Hands: shaken! Nita begins to smile, though it's small.]

Not sure how soon we'll try to corral people into meetings - when we're all in the same situation like this, there's no sense pushing anything too soon - but what have people caught you up on about this place so far? Purpose, what life on the train's like, the calendar, that sort of thing?