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!
happyends: (i want to see you smile with power)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-14 01:50 pm (UTC)(link)
".. I know," she says, realising as much with a smile the moment Alfredo mentions it.

Romeo isn't a very needy kid at all. He's happy with the little things in life. But even so..

"It can't hurt to spoil him a bit all the same though, right? If anyone deserves it, it's Romeo!" Since she definitely thinks he's the best of them.
hisblueskies: Blond boy smiles, hand in fist over heart. (Default)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-14 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"He does."

Alfredo holds his head down a moment. "He really does."

Just for a moment, he breathes to himself; sighs.

Then he looks back up; clear-eyed, ready to make plans.

"I know he won't remember as many of the foods from home as he does from the heavens - maybe if we got dishes from both our homes, that would make up the difference?"
happyends: (so it's now or never more)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-14 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah.. Right, I think the heavens were pretty close to Japan..? Or were connected to Japan, somehow.."

It feels like she's faintly heard something about it before, though not enough so that Madoka sounds fully sure. But it'd make sense. Alfredo getting dishes from his and Romeo's own world, then Madoka getting him things that would be reminiscent of the heavens..

"We do have rice! I'm sure I could make something yummy with that. Do you think we'd have to order ingredients for the food from where you guys come from..?" Madoka.. isn't even too sure where that is, after all. Now that she's thinking about it.

It may be why she's blushing a bit as she says it. She feels bad for not knowing!
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares slightly off-center, one eyebrow perked. (Eyebrow-raise)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-16 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"That did seem to be the theme? Culturally, anyway."

Granted, Alfredo hadn't had much to judge from.

"I know we have some of the basics - certain kinds of rice are used in Italian dishes, too. Or pasta."

Those avocados would be hard to fit in, though! Probably better to order dishes outright instead.
happyends: (better than the rest)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-17 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Madoka nods.

"Hmm! I wonder if some of that meat is still left?" She wonders out loud, though she seems to grow quiet a moment later, looking a bit more unsure as she suddenly realises something.

".. Using bear meat of all things may be a little weird, though.."

That's not exactly any kind of meat Madoka has ever worked with before. And she doesn't even think there's a Japanese dish out there that uses bear meat of all things in the first place! It's not just something you can substitute other kinds of meats with, right?
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy, mouth partly open, stares slightly off-center. (Doubt)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-18 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
Alfredo frowns, because on the one hand, he agrees with Madoka.

But on the other, maybe they don't have to leave the meat out?

"Maybe there are, and if we ask for a recipe on the train's shop it would find one for us?"

Though he has no doubt such a thing would be obscure, at best.
happyends: (lies in the palm)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-19 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah, right.. I guess it would be easier to do that."

And she has the points for it, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. Madoka may hesitate to spend them on herself, but this isn't for her! They're plotting all this for Romeo's sake!

"Though in that case I'd have to think of what kind of dish to order for him first! I have no idea what Romeo's tastes are like.." Her voice trails off, and she shoots Alfredo a questioning look. "Do you know?"
hisblueskies: Blond-haired boy stares slightly off-center, one eyebrow perked. (Eyebrow-raise)

TMW there's very few feast-focused scenes in your canon... .-. /shakes muse gently for Ideas

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-19 07:30 pm (UTC)(link)
There's a notable pause - on the one hand, he knows some of what Romeo used to like, though they didn't eat together often. They'd both been chimney sweeps at the time, which naturally meant neither of them had gotten to eat much, let alone well.

On the other, it's not as if he doesn't know anything: "Most of our time together, we didn't get to make whole dishes. I know some specific foods - apples, cheese and bread - but not so much what ways of putting them together he liked best."

Clearly this means at least one dish should be danishes...
happyends: (the ancient magic i dreamed of)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-02-21 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh no.

Madoka asked that question without thinking of the potentially depressing answer she may get, but here it is. It stings a little - knowing that both Romeo and Alfredo are such good kids, and yet they never had that much to eat. Never really had a fancy treat. Clearly that means they'll have to make up for it through this somehow..

"We can get all of those then, at least!" But leaving it at that doesn't feel too fair, so her smile turns a bit softer and more sympathetic a moment later. Perhaps even a tad apologetic. ".. I'm sorry, Alfredo. Um, I hope I didn't make you think of anything too bad."

Because not getting to have full dishes doesn't sound fun to her.
hisblueskies: Blond boy with candle, smiling (Hope)

[personal profile] hisblueskies 2021-02-22 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Alfredo, gallant as ever, shakes his head.

"It's okay. And... I can try looking up dishes my parents liked, as well."

It wasn't as if Romeo had gotten to meet them Alfredo likes to think they would have liked each other, anyway, so it wasn't as much of a risk relating to his friend's memories.

"That the meals have history for us might be something he'll like, too."