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!
bakegarasu: (heroes rise again)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-06 02:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"I mean I almost did... again... but she was able to make... herself... again? I don't understand much of any of this, to be honest..."
unfavorableinstigation: Nita Callahan kneeling in the woods, drawing a glowing blue diagram on the ground while reading from a book. (Drawing a Spell Diagram)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-06 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe..."

Nita doesn't yet know Yurine is on the train, so 'just ask her' is something she's quick to dismiss.

"If she's a spirit - of the city, you said? - then she still had something to regenerate from, physically, and an idea to anchor herself to, and thus you. I can't speak from personal experience or anything on this-"

Not counting kernels, technically.

"But it's not entirely new to me, either. And, well, you're here right now, right?"

And the Voidtrecker Express was its own class of weird, as Otoha no doubt knows by now.
bakegarasu: (the city is at war)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-06 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
He just shrugs a little helplessly. "You've got a better idea than me. It was never my job to be smart." Just to be muscle. ... But that alone won't cut it anymore.

"But yeah, I'm here. The city's not... in danger of being destroyed right now, at least structurally. So it's probably fine."
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking right, holding a book. (I'm In The Book)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-06 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
All Nita can do is nod to that, really.

"So... anywhere else you wanted to head, now that we've got the books situated?"

Back to the greenhouse, maybe.
bakegarasu: (heroes rise again)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-06 04:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know. ... Today's two weeks since the last station, right?"
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking right, holding a book. (I'm In The Book)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-06 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yup."

Hence the books.

"Sure seems like the platform was crowded again - want to check the roster, see if you recognize anyone before you walk past them in the hallways?"
bakegarasu: (death carnivore)

/makes wibble wobble time hands

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-06 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"I might do that, yeah. I kind of doubt anyone will get pulled. Though if it can pull anyone from whenever... might be interesting to see Nue again." There'd been a reason he hadn't killed the guy on first meeting - he'd seen a reflection of himself in a lot of ways.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita working with a Kernel (Wizardry Is Kid Stuff)

wibbly wobbly timey wimey! Am good with it turning into a joint thread at this point, fading, or n/e

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-06 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nue? Don't think you mentioned him before."

Nita gestures for Otoha to take up at the ICP this time; it does have the regular functions on top of library processing...
Edited 2021-02-06 17:00 (UTC)
bakegarasu: (ooh what you say?)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-02-06 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll tell you about it some other ti -" He pauses, hearing something in his head. A bell, as clear as if it were right next to him. "... I don't need to check. She's here. ... I need to go."

Without waiting for a response he dashes out from the library, starting to dart through train doors and down the length of the train towards the platform.
unfavorableinstigation: Foresty background (Forest)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-02-06 05:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"... Huh?!"

There's a distinct pause where Nita just stares after him.

"Guess there really is no such thing as coincidence."

Maybe she should give him a minute? Nita counts to ten, counts to ten again - then goes to pick up the books again.

Maybe she can drop them off outside his room, if nothing else...