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!
miseris_socios: (Default)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't really like it, either." Most people aren't trustworthy, anyway. "... Oh. You can do magic? That's really cool..."
10billionpercent: (Satisfied)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
That was fair enough, it was good to define boundaries anyway.

"Not at all, actually, I've been trying to find a way to learn for months so I can understand it better." He smiled. "This book is about using mathematics to create magic."
miseris_socios: (huh?)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
"... Uh." Huh. "... Are there a lot of people who can do magic here?" Math magic just sounds... dumb.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
"There are some." He said agreeably. "I don't have magic in my world though, so it's completely foreign to me, and very interesting."
miseris_socios: (Default)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
"... So it'd be seen as normal if someone had magic?" Look, he knows the questions are obvious, but he's not sure if it's safe to reveal things.
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
"That seems to be the way of things." Senku commented, tilting his head at Ken slightly.

"There are a wide variety of people with a wide variety of skills not necessarily the same as your home. Some are not human."
miseris_socios: (huh?)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
His shoulders relax a little bit and he sighs. "Okay. I... the way I use magic is a little weird... so I just... it's not supposed to be something people know about at home, but this isn't home."

Unless he's dreaming or hallucinating, which is possible.
10billionpercent: (Let Me Explain Something)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 07:00 am (UTC)(link)
"I couldn't say much about how things are in your world. My world is likely very very different." Senku explained. "But I don't think people will mind. If they ask, just explain it's your magic."
miseris_socios: (Default)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
"... It's... it looks like I'm hurting myself to do it, that's just... why I ask. I don't want people to get all jumpy about it."
Edited 2021-02-03 07:04 (UTC)
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not gonna lie. If I saw what looked like you hurting yourself, I would probably be very alarmed. But now that I know, I would manage..not to mention, I can guess you're perfectly fine when you do it?" Senku asked.

"You might have to explain that part of your magic even if you don't want to tell people what your magic is."
miseris_socios: (blankly)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
He sighs and pulls his Evoker from his bag. "... I have to shoot myself with this. There's no bullets."
10billionpercent: (Side Glance)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 07:14 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know if there's many people who don't know what a gun is, so they will probably find it alarming the first time." Senku commented. "Just tell them it isn't going to harm you, and that should be enough."

For him it was, but he wasn't the most emotional person.
miseris_socios: (standing proud)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Good, because if we're supposed to do missions and someone gets hurt, I don't want people to think I'm hurting myself when I summon a buzzsaw-monster thing. But that's the only way I can heal. ... Magically, at least."
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 07:33 am (UTC)(link)
"You're a healer? That's a good skill to have." Senku responded.

"Well, for me at least, you won't have to worry about needing to use it. I'll remember what you told me."
miseris_socios: (Default)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 08:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Good. ... I also have electric and light magic. Though the light magic only really works on things that are weak to it." Hama's always a gamble, and not even Shadows are always weak to it, despite the name.
10billionpercent: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
He considered that a moment. "I don't know if we've ever encountered anything that was weak to light. Maybe not in the time I've been here." Then again, Senku couldn't be sure he understood what Ken meant.

"I don't think you're the only person with electric magic, so that's less unusual, if that helps you."
miseris_socios: (blankly)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
“... A little.” There’s no point in not being blunt with this. He turns his Evoker over in his hands. “... I’m surprised you’re taking me seriously.”

He knows how he looks - just a kid.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
He blinked a moment. "Should I not be?" Senku at least, seemed a bit bewildered by Ken's declaration.

He was fond of children, and a bit more delicate with them for whatever that was worth, but he wasn't good at treating them less than he did the adults. Some people would talk to children like they were kids and Senku couldn't do that.

Coincidentally, it made him very popular with the children in the village.
miseris_socios: (hey!)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
“Most people don’t take me seriously because of my age. My team does, but...” No one else, usually. “Even though I know a lot more stuff than some people might think. ... I don’t really talk to many people anymore. They always treat me like I’m stupid. I might have missed two years of school but I’m not dumb.”

... Whoops. That was a little bit of a rant. “It’s just... not what I’m used to from most people...”
10billionpercent: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not sure what your age has to do with anything." Senku mused thoughtfully.

"Then again, that might've been true in the world I grew up in, but my world has changed so drastically that none of those things matter. I'm not sure they ever would've mattered to me, but they definitely don't now." It was hard to imagine how he would've reacted so long ago but it didn't matter since the present was the present.

"A lack of education doesn't make one dumb, and people who are inherently dumb usually have some different skill that sets them apart. Everyone is good at something."
miseris_socios: (weapon of choice)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-02-03 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
“... A lot of people don’t think like that. Either too young or too ‘innocent’.” The only innocent person in Strega is Koromaru and they all know it.

“You actually have some sense. It’s... nice. I’m good at a lot of things... I’m good at surviving. Especially in a city... i - if a mission takes us to one I can help get us through.” He has to be reliable. He has to contribute. “And I’m good at fighting with a spear. ... I need to make one, I guess.”
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-02-03 09:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't think much about people's innocence. It's...too vague a concept for me." He admitted.

"Survival skills are important on these missions. Not as many people have them as I think should. We haven't been to a city yet, but I can't discount the possibility in the future." He almost hoped they did, it would be a different think to navigate.

"A spear is your choice of weapon? I don't have what I need on hand for that, but that's the kind of thing you can scavenge supplies for. You can also buy weapons with points, but they're very expensive."