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!
gentle_jim: (talking)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-02-07 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
"What can I say? I look best in gold." He sticks his tongue out and winks.

"Holy shit - I should have asked for a talking one- Oh my god, why didn't I think of that sooner!"

Trunks's answer to his question gets a sigh and a displeased frown. "Ugh, why is everyone here some kind of freakin' gym rat..."
herarrows: (Notice)

[personal profile] herarrows 2021-02-07 05:48 am (UTC)(link)
"Are you sure you're not a Herald? You sound more and more like one." Really, with each conversation it seemed more and more like he could be one, even if he's from the wrong place. Ah well.

"What sorts of jobs would allow for that much time? Mine certainly doesn't."
deage: (gonna cap ur ass)

[personal profile] deage 2021-02-07 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
"A gun is a.... I suppose the best way to describe it is as a miniature crossbow. It fires very small bits of metal called bullets, but with enough speed that it's impossible to see them in the air, and enough power that it will pierce your entire body." Not always - though a bullet left inside can be even more dangerous - but it was important to know when to truncate an explanation for clarity.

"Anyway, treating this train as a learning experience is a good way to look at it." It will, at least, be less frustrating that way. It outlines clear goals and can instill purpose. It's actually a very good idea.
bakegarasu: (i hear you)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-07 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't... know? I'm not good with computers." He'd never really needed to be. He's not one of the guys who handles any of the paperwork.
subcircuits: (heart-hands)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Devero's eyes lift to the tendrils, then drop back down to Koumyou's face. He's still so unused to this reciprocity, to someone trying as hard for him as he tries for everyone else. Overwhelmed, he can't help himself; he wraps his other arm around the priest and dips his head for a kiss.
forleaving: (008)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-02-07 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
He raised an eyebrow but said nothing at first. Adam knew their accommodations weren't the best, but they were a lot better than nothing and he'd learned from a young age not to complain about certain things. Personally, he was happy just to have a roof over his head and a place to sleep.

Eventually, he nodded. "All the beds are full," he confirmed. "I'm not sure if the train offers better bedding, but you could check the shop."
its_dad_sanzo: (chin up)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
And Koumyou hooks his arms over Devero's shoulders and goes up onto his toes to meet him, smiling into the kiss and more than willing to linger like that, too.
subcircuits: (if you're sure...)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
"I remember you telling me that," he says. He has an intense urge to reach out and take Yoite's hands in his, but he resists it, saying only, "I hope they don't hurt, at least...?"
gentle_jim: (eyebrow raise)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-02-07 06:03 am (UTC)(link)
"True that," Jack agrees, because his company owned the whole planet and suspicious murders were actually just outright murders along with the whole slag experimentation on whomsoever he felt like inflicting it.

"Pretty ballsy for just a kid. Guy probably did you a favor though. Doubt you coulda really done it. Takes a lot to kill a grown man. I should know."
pleple: (There you are)

[personal profile] pleple 2021-02-07 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Her face instantly heats up. ]

I... I'm sure she'd play along with that...
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-07 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't really know what a Herald is, so I'll say no." He chuckled lightly.

"Mine neither, but in the modern world a lot of people's did. My dad's was like that. I just don't like relaxing."
miseris_socios: (not so innocent)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-07 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
True, he'd been shaking, but... "He was going to die anyway, apparently. Something he was taking. He should have been glad for me to kill him." He hadn't fought back. "I'm stronger than you'd think."

He looks at the bust and then the man. ... Yeah, this is fair. "Want me to show you?"
subcircuits: (all right i'm listening)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
Devero takes him at his word, getting up with a quiet, "Follow me," and leading the way out of the garden car. He's heading towards the front of the train, the quiet car in particular. There's really no better place to get some privacy, short of locking oneself in a bathroom.
miseris_socios: (blankly)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-07 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't speak until they get to the quiet car and Dev more or less steers him to a compartment. It's fine. Close quarters isn't an issue if he has to. He sits and closes his eyes, trying to get his breathing back under control. He can't freak out. He doesn't have backup here.
subcircuits: (the earnest man)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
"Trains usually are, compared to ferries." Even without the specific context of the ferry she means, or the worlds it moves between, he feels fairly confident in making that assertion. "And this journey is likely to be a terribly long one, I'm afraid."

He dips his head in greeting. "The Impatient One, hm? Is it okay to call you just Merwen, or should I use the whole thing?" He'd made that mistake with Koumyou Sanzo in the beginning. "I'm Devero. ...Just Devero; he/him for pronouns."
Edited 2021-02-07 06:16 (UTC)
gentle_jim: (huh?)

Getting the lay of the land

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-02-07 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
Jack is in the middle of making this suggestion, leaning down close to the ICP terminal and crooning into the mic with his best pick-up line voice. He finishes up with a self-satisfied smirk and turns around-

-only to find some kid right behind him.

"What the hell- have you been here the whole time?"
subcircuits: (definitely like what i'm seeing)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
Lingering is good. Devero's okay with lingering, and it makes a fine distraction from the sutra tendrils, now doesn't it? He opens his mouth slightly against Koumyou's, tasting the priest's lower lip with a darting swipe of the tongue. Is... is this still okay? They haven't really shared more than chaste smooches since before the mission.
yondu: (0 9 2)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-02-07 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Nah, we got a version of that story, too. I figure I got a gist." Just Holy Water never came up in theirs.

Maybe because they hadn't churned out any saviors on Centauri. Not that it matters, he doesn't look like he's judging. He expected to be in some kinda hell, anyway.

"Why didn't it work out?"
its_dad_sanzo: (mouth)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
More than okay, for the moment. It's a moment in which Koumyou gets swept up and forgets to be anxious about it, and just... chases after that darting tongue with his own. So there's the tip of Koumyou's tongue against Devero's parted lips, in a shy little swipe.

His arms tighten around Devero, and one tendril of the sutra actually lifts the priest a few inches off the ground to level the playing field a little.
subcircuits: (count me in)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
Devero gasps against Koumyou's lips, lifting his head to see what it was that had lifted the priest. Of course, what else would it be but the sutra? He can't find it in himself to be scared of a single tendril, especially not when it's making it easier for him to kiss Koumyou.

So he tightens his grip back up and returns his mouth to his boyfriend's with a needy little sound.
subcircuits: (i see you)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
Devero's careful not to get too much into Ken's space. He's used to being one of the biggest folks in basically any room, but compared to this scrawny kid he feels absolutely massive, and he wants to make sure he doesn't loom or block him in anywhere.

To that end, he actually leans up against the cabin wall, just inside the still-open door, and on the opposite side from the bench that Ken sits on. He watches him, notices particularly the rapid rise and fall of his chest, and says quietly, "Do you know the 4-5-6 trick?"
its_dad_sanzo: (I see you)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 06:42 am (UTC)(link)
And Koumyou's happy to be returned to, swallowing that sound and daring to try to slide his tongue against Devero's, slippery and hot and oh-so intimate past his lips.

For that moment.

And then the priest is pulling away, raising a bony hand to cover his own mouth like he'd just given voice to some terrible secret. "--S-sorry."
subcircuits: (if you're sure...)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-02-07 06:45 am (UTC)(link)
Devero makes that same needy sound as Koumyou pulls away from him, his mouth questing blindly after the priest's for an instant before he recalls himself. His brow furrows and he leans back a little. "For... for what?" he asks uncertainly.
miseris_socios: (ugh...)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-07 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
He raises one hand to his head, nails digging in a little. His breathing is slowing down slightly but he still has a distant look on his face. He doesn't respond to the question, just reaches for his bag with his free hand and grasps something tightly through the fabric.
its_dad_sanzo: (thinking)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2021-02-07 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
"For... for that," Koumyou's feet touch the ground again as that one tendril of sutra eases up off the floor just behind him. "I don't want to... coerce you or, or trick you, or... or any of that."

If Devero's so nervous about the sutra, it may be all too easy to 'give' him the wrong kind of distraction. The kind that would be wrong for Koumyou to engage in.