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!
its_dad_sanzo: Ibun-era (actual high priest Koumyou Sanzo)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
And all the tendrils of the sutra just... stop. Frozen in place, hovering just where they had been, like some kind of spindly weird sculpture.

"Too much?" Koumyou asks gently.
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Dark)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-07 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Is it a want if it's also a purpose? Sometimes it's hard to make that distinction."

Take it from a workaholic, Tidus. Though in most cases people worried about Nita being that focused...

"Kind of sounds like it's handicapping itself - or like reality's going out of its way to make things difficult."

Having your world destroyed was one thing; having everyone else who could help you forget it existed was another.

"If it's possible, I'd just... I'd like to know why this train. Why Enrara, and all of System #1015?"

She sighs again, leaning her head back against the wall with a thunk.

"... Maybe I just need to vent more. Sorry 'bout that." Because that was what it felt like she was doing.
achickenformylove: (mdzs 1)

Sleeper Cabin

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2021-02-07 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
WangJi happened to be wandering the train as he usually did after everyone boarded. Today, he had brought Little Radish, his white rabbit with him so when he returned to his cabin for just a moment, he still had the rabbit with him.

But as he walked in, he noticed the new arrival had found the cabin.

"Welcome." And on his team too. He could tell by the hoodie. However, it might be harder to tell since he was wearing his white robes. He no longer had a blue hoodie, unfortunately.
springforth: (pic#14001883)

[personal profile] springforth 2021-02-07 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
Leaves she can do. A set of laurel leaves springs up on the crown of her head, curling over her ears. She picks one and carefully holds it out for the clickfly, waiting for a reaction.

"Lovesharer--your partner?" She tilts up, smiling right back, "That's a lovely thing to call them."
springforth: (323)

[personal profile] springforth 2021-02-07 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't not have things to do, that's for sure."

Just not the grand things he's probably imagining. More down to earth, more day to day. But she gets the point.

"Depends on the job, mostly. This last one was not to my skillset, might have been to yours. A lot of fixing water pipes for my sector and wrangling little robots for everyone. Ask me to gather crystals from flowers like I did a few worlds ago, perfect, easy, I can do that. Fix leaky pipes, not so much. But I guess if you get all types of people, you get people who can fill in for all types of work and teach what they know."
subcircuits: (tch!)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
Devero startles a little, turning quick to face her-- oh. A stranger. Not that he would mind being asked even by someone he knew already, but the fact that she's probably a new passenger inclines him to helpfulness.

"Candy and crisps," he says, holding up first one blank foil package and then the other. "Although apparently I don't get to know exactly what kind of candy and crisps until I open them. The train pulls bullsh-- er, crap like this all the time, unfortunately."
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Reading Indoors)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-07 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
Nita knows better than to go for the tummy - at least without asking! - but she doesn't so much as raise a hand towards the tempting target.

Instead, she gets immediately distracted just as planned. /Still not sure how to feel about being a Senior. This isn't anything like the time S'reee got her temp promotion!/

Not that Saash had been around for that anyhow.

/Did any of us catch you up on how that happened, by-the-by?/
luckydragonsfoot: (ewwwww thing)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-02-07 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah yeah, tha's fair." Actually on that end. "Guessin' th's 's normal where you came from though? Mos' folks can't uh...do anything like that, where I was from. I mean a pokemon might, but that wasn't my world either, more a stop b'tween..."

Oi oi- "...'Even you'...geeze, y' sound jus' like- Righ', trainstops 'r unknown other than th' platforms- 's a rescue team goin' through space an' such, y' just got recruited t' it."

The pony is now spitting sparkles.

"Oi, cut tha' out, yer not a fire-type."

"Nihihiiii!"
subcircuits: (fucking WHAT)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Too many," he says. He releases the priest and takes a step back, turning slowly on one heel to take in all the frozen ribbons of paper. He's pretty sure he saw an art installation like this one time back home...

Anyway. "I didn't mind so much when they were just sort of... floating, but when they all started moving with us..." He gives his head a shake. Nope.
gundamofthedesert: (smiling)

Farewell to departed

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-02-07 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
Quatre hadn't been having good luck recently. It seemed that each new platform meant that more people he knew were leaving. But he spotted Curufin, who had gone to the barrier and he couldn't help but follow him over. When his space heart was being bombarded on all sides, a calmer "voice" felt better.

He smiled, watching as they all left, giving a wave as well. "That is a nice sentiment."
subcircuits: (the soft man)

Sure!

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
Devero drops down into a crouch, just like someone would with a dog. "I haven't seen you around before," he murmurs. "Did Entrapta make you?"

He offers the droid one hand-- again, just like most folks when encountering dogs-- and uses the other to open up the network map in his Interface. He sends out a query ping, interested to see what shows up from the little 'bit.
its_dad_sanzo: (pink portrait)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
"Makes sense," Koumyou actually looks at the tendrils, too. He normally doesn't pay them any mind, of course, but if he tries to really take in the paused mess of paper around them...

There is rather a lot of them, isn't there?

(His processor can run a lot of tabs.)

"Want me to dismiss most of them?"
so_dark_a_road: (in the unmeasured night #3)

Platform

[personal profile] so_dark_a_road 2021-02-07 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Curufin steps out of the doors of the train and looks around for newcomers, especially new Orange Team members. He is wearing his usual outfit, black jeans, black laceup boots, and a black jean jacket. He has his orange hoodie wrapped around his waist and tied by its sleeves, so that he can be recognized as Team Orange.

He sees Yeul looking confused and calling someone named Noel. "Hello?" he says. "I'm Curufin Fëanorion, Team Orange. Can I answer any questions for you? We'll need to board the train in a few minutes, but we have time to talk."
subcircuits: (i see you)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 02:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Nothing to forgive, friend," he says. "It's a harder change for some of us than for others, and you're more than entitled to being overwhelmed by it right now. I'm going to hazard a guess that this is your first time on a train...?"
achickenformylove: (mdzs 44)

Daze

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2021-02-07 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
WangJi was fairly recognizable even as he moved through the crowds on the platform. He had his white robes from home and his forehead ribbon. A certain someone had taken his blue hoodies so he no longer had those to wear on platform day. It didn't bother him much, but it made it harder to pick out as a member of the blue team.

But spotting a blue hoodie made him come closer and he was certainly... shocked by who he saw.

"Wei... Wei Ying?"

But... he was still supposed to be on the train...
subcircuits: (embarrassed)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Could you?" he asks, turning back to Koumyou with a plaintive expression on his face.
springforth: (004)

[personal profile] springforth 2021-02-07 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
I--well if you're sure? I'm going to try to talk you into at least keeping one, you know!

[Persephone sets down a bag somewhere off screen and shakes out her hair] I'll come over, give me just a second?
gundamofthedesert: (contemplative)

1

[personal profile] gundamofthedesert 2021-02-07 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
[Quatre had become very observant of those who were losing people that they knew. He spotted Masumi watching those leaving as well, since he had come and was watching Zechs leave so he walked over to her]

Hopefully, they will return safely to their home if that is where they want to go or somewhere else if they can't go home.
hashtagparkerluck: (265)

Re: platform

[personal profile] hashtagparkerluck 2021-02-07 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"About as well as I can be." He shrugs. He's happy to see her but he can also respect that she doesn't want to be here. "I left for like... two months, or something like that. It's Jelly now. Mr Stark, Gwen, and Aunt May all left some time ago so you know, about as well as I can be considering the circumstances-and hey. It's not like I go looking for trouble-okay maybe I do sometimes-but not all the time."
thawed_pride: (Nort-You're about to learn a valuable le)

I forgot to remove extra stuff from the Heartless link that can mess it up.

[personal profile] thawed_pride 2021-02-07 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
"A combination of magic, electronics, and special materials."

He could go on about the mechanics of the Gummiphone and the special properties of Gummi in general, but then they'd be here all day. Night? What time is it, anyway?

"The Keyblade is, as far as I've been able to determine, magical. It is a weapon supposedly designed after a cosmic artifact, and is extremely effective against creatures associate with the heart or darkness."
its_dad_sanzo: (the moon greets the rising sun)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course," Koumyou just smiles up at him and without fanfare, without so much as a glance from the priest or a single gesture, suddenly...

Suddenly, there's only three tendrils frozen in the air. They're still contorted to fit around other tendrils that aren't there anymore, holding perfectly still.

"It won't hurt you," Koumyou reminds Devero gently, "it's part of me. It's like... extra limbs."
subcircuits: (run that by me again)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey," he says once Yoite's looking at him. He glances down at the black marks and then back up. "Are... are you all right, kid?"
kabano: (びっくり)

[personal profile] kabano 2021-02-07 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
For someone people don't see and never believe in, she is certainly being noticed. It's...odd, really. Something she'll evidently have to get used to. She's just not sure yet if she likes the idea.

"Who are you?"

She's still not used to interacting with people, either.
so_dark_a_road: (in the unmeasured night #3)

Platform

[personal profile] so_dark_a_road 2021-02-07 03:03 am (UTC)(link)
Curufin was waving goodbye to the departing passengers and wishing them well, when he heard Romeo's grief-stricken voice calling for Elfnein. He went quickly to the young man.

"It's really too bad that Elfnein is leaving. I know that you loved her a lot. I wish we could stop her from going."
subcircuits: (the soft man)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
Devero leans down as prompted and has a look at the ring (and the locket too, actually). "It's lovely," he says with a smile. "I can't believe I didn't know you had a partner here. Congratulations to you both!"