voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-03-01 05:44 am

A New Platform [Intro Post March]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day One of the month of Kazoo. 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 is thick, the air is warm and humid and there are rumbles of thunder, the air heavy with the promise of rain.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Alfredo Martini, Daia, Enna Alchiba, Lord El-Melloi II, Natsuno Yuuki, Nita Callahan, Saku Gyousou, Sakura, V and Wen Qing

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, and seems smaller with twenty-seven 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.

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'). Those not new to the train will note the addition of an eighth sleeper carriage. The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, it seems the month of Kazoo is defined by the tomato and there are plenty of them.

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 as thunder rumbles further and the storm threatens to break. 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!
famtastic: (doctor)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-02 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
"I think the train is controlling itself. Isn't it brilliant? Such a lonely old thing pulling people through the stars. Could be wrong, of course, just got here. As for this-"
She glanced down at her clothes. "Not much of a team player myself, but I can make do."

The world saving seemed fantastic. Right up her ally honestly. Just like home save for not like home at all. Still she was sure that Yaz and Ryan and Graham would like it here, if only for the novelty. Maybe not the hoodies however.

"What... Hmm... Anyone who is better to avoid or to be wary of."
fashionably_strong: art by unknown, if this is yours let me know and I'll credit (cheerful)

[personal profile] fashionably_strong 2021-03-02 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
"They can be fun to watch sometimes. As long as there's other people around to laugh at it with."

Not her first choice for movie watching, but it had its charm when one had company. If nothing else, it was the sort of thing to go into with low expectations.
famtastic: (snicker)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-02 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
Interesting. The Doctor absorbs it all as she sorts her things out. Not much in terms of things, what she wants, what she wants to bin. Everyone turning into kids is fascinating and she wonders what must have occurred to make that happen-- if were physiological or otherwise.

"I would be careful about saying not take it easy on you. I bite." She clicked her teeth at him as she passed him by the door, then kept grinning as she went out into the corridor.

"Does changing into children happen often? You seem pretty blase about it so I'm assuming it's not something to sneeze at."
achickenformylove: (mdzs 5)

[personal profile] achickenformylove 2021-03-02 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
WangJi also offered a slight bow in return. The bunny in his arms would certainly explain why he didn't give a full bow. The bunny was a little wary now. New scents, but he just snuggled up more to WangJi.

"HanGuang-Jun. It is a bit of a surprise, actually seeing another of me on the train. I knew that it happened."

First, he had roomed with one, then two WuXians.

"Are you well?"
fashionably_strong: (Default)

Theatre

[personal profile] fashionably_strong 2021-03-02 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
Bulla remembers how cheerful he was before when they spoke, and from seeing him around the train, it seems to be his usual disposition. Given the timing, she can guess at what might have put him in such a state.

"Hey." She puts the movie she's watching on mute upon realizing there's a sex scene in the movie that she'd rather not pay attention to, and turns over to him. "I can hold the punching bag for you in the gym if you want to take whatever's bothering you out on it."
yondu: (1 9 0)

i. platform (arrival)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-02 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, that looked like a kid. Not just a kid, but a kid that wasn't Terran, tryin' to look as little and inconspicuous as possible.

He only caught a glimpse, but Yondu moves between a few people to get over to him.

"Hey, littl'un. Hold up there."

Now the hard part is he can't tell right away if this is a child or a race of small furry people. But either way, they look completely uncomfortable, whoever they are.

A blue space pirate with all the bearing of a shark wanders over to Asriel's side, half looming over him, half hiding him with the leather coat he's wearing over his blue team uniform. He's actually hoping that this isn't a kid. Watch him be wrong, though.
deadwenwalking: (follower)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-02 03:23 am (UTC)(link)
It's some kind of sprite, or fairy. It has to be. That color hair doesn't come naturally to anyone. Wen Ning takes another step back out of sheer startlement.

"A... train?"

Scared, might not be the best word to describe how he feels about this large metal creature. He'd rather not engage, if it's avoidable, but he's also fully prepared to attempt to stick a fist through its armored siding if need be. Especially if it seems ready to devour someone important to him.

He gives a polite bow to the girl. "Apologies, Miss Fairy. I'm not familiar."
sirentologist: (Glory)

Re: All for one, and one for science!

[personal profile] sirentologist 2021-03-02 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. One of the people. Although she does have to approve of the various robot parts the woman is carrying. In her hair. How fascinating! She'd have to see if she could get some of that. Did it even still work if it was cut off? Maybe she could--

--oh right, she was talking.

"The kind that actually values scientific prowess and provides the proper materials for the exploration of a thesis. Although, I suppose I have had to build my own more than once, though I'd hoped that I could finally do something else."
fashionably_strong: (Default)

I - Platform

[personal profile] fashionably_strong 2021-03-02 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
Bulla has been flying around, taking advantage of the chance to finally have a little more open air. The train sometimes feels claustrophobia-inducing to her, being stuck in a relatively limited space for weeks at a time without any chance to go outdoors.

She's up in the air when she notices the furry little white individual trying very hard to not be noticed. In an effort to not cause unnecessary alarm, she descends slowly, touching down on the ground about ten feet from Asriel when she finally lands.

"This train platform is pretty weird, isn't it?"
tactlesstantei: (thinking)

[personal profile] tactlesstantei 2021-03-02 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
This place does have a habit of using names people would rather not use. Is there something you'd rather be called? [While she won't name names, she is aware that the train tends to use people's real names.

The questions do get her interest, mainly because Masumi's the curious type and wants to know what Mage Society is now that it's been mentioned.]


Nope. My world doesn't have magic or anything like that. Are those important where you're from?
yondu: (1 0 8)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-02 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
Here she is threatening to bite him before he can threaten to eat her, now how is that fair! It's not. "I'm gonna hold you to that," he jokes, before heading off on the long damn journey to the kitchen.

"It's more a case of I had a lotta strange stuff happenin' before I showed up than stuff happening here. The whole kid thing was weird but from the perspective of a man that was wagin' a jailbreak with a scientifically augmented intelligent racoon and a seedling tree monster and then had a real bad argument with a sentient planet who happened to also be an asshole, a few people turnin' into kids was nothin'. Some of the other people said it was rare that physical bodies get messed with."

So that's that, he guesses? Who the hell knows. The worst part is he knew it wrung some secrets out of people that ought not to be spread without cause to admit.

Most of this explanation happening as he leads her through the spa.
magicurls: (with a wink)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-02 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
"It's all right, it happens," Mami answers with a grateful smile. She adjusts her feet under her and gracefully steps back, glancing over the unfamiliar girl.

"Especially on a first day. Did everyone help you settle in?"
fightcreamsundae: (023)

[personal profile] fightcreamsundae 2021-03-02 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
"I mean I remember everything while I was here last, and everything before that, but as far as I thought I didn't leave? So wherever I went in between I guess is just lost." She shrugged. No point in being upset over what she couldn't change, can't miss what you didn't have. "The month I last remember was called Horseshoe, if that helps."

She smiled a little as she hoisted him up, mostly at being called a kitty lady. Her tail curled in amusement at it, and she chirped a little instead of a giggle. "It's okay. I'm sure it's been a little while for you and we didn't have the opportunity to talk a lot. On the roster I'm Siobahn Chereshei, but I go by Cherry, mostly." She met his gaze when he was on his feet, closing her eyes with her smile. "There's another kitty lady like me, with purple hair. She's my aunt Q'uila Sunrise. Don't get us confused, okay?" It's a small joke, very light-hearted. There was no way in hell he could confuse the two of them.

She linked her arm in his - unless he specifically pulled away or didn't want to - and walked with him through the stores and towards the kitchen. "So you're the one that baked all the cookies that Mr. Soldat is handing out?"
controlsthedie: concept sketch of Thanatos (You'll be killed by what'cha don't know)

Roommates

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-03-02 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Thanatos hadn't known Natsuno that well. They weren't friends, so he wasn't bothered that Natsuno didn't say goodbye before he left the train. However, he had been among the first Thanatos met here. Maybe that's why he notices the absence more...

Lost in his own thoughts, he only looks away from his own top bunk's storage when he hears, then sees the door open to a stranger's face.

"... Hello."

The greetings are done by Hypnos. Thanatos doesn't have his brother's way of welcoming people. (Once more, somehow Hypnos seems like a better fit than him.)
shitcopper: (you figure?)

[personal profile] shitcopper 2021-03-02 03:41 am (UTC)(link)
Most normal people don't know magic exists. Been that way since the Age of Man started. Well, it's all magecraft anyway, not true magic. Just trying to get a figure for where you stand in that.

[ In other words, you've been designated a normie. Not that that's terrible. Harker was a normie, and Harker could kill most mages with the invincible power of a baseball bat.

But back to the main point at hand. ]
You can call me Ea-nasir. Call me Caster if we ever need to hide who I am though, yeah? Facing enemies. Something like that, I don't know what the heck to expect here.
hotheadwarmheart: (Sheepish)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-03-02 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
For helping with Xion. And I know you would have anyway, but... I just wanted to let you know I appreciate it. After trying to do things mostly on my own up til now, it's nice to have help you know? And someone to ask about stuff who actually has some idea what they're doing.

[As opposed to him, who's been stuck mostly winging it, relying on a combination of what works for him, some experience dealing with Isa, and a bit of common sense, with very mixed results.]
cureofmanyworlds: (Nozomi - proud)

[personal profile] cureofmanyworlds 2021-03-02 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Uh-huh! Can't believe how helpful everyone was, really!" Nozomi said, nodding.

"I guess you've been here for awhile?"
pleple: (Default)

Bean Juice

[personal profile] pleple 2021-03-02 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
"How much were you about to drink?" Ple Two asks, nodding at the pot.
sciencegirl: (067)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-03-02 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh! Yeah, right. That. There are a lot of scientists on board that have been having to make do. I did put in a request for a laboratory and an engineering car. Even a general construction area would be useful to anyone. Unfortunately, we have to work with whatever spaces we're given- There's a large room in the Quiet car, and the Luggage car can function as a work area.

"They're not the best but when you're in need, improvise, right?"

And all the while she moves a couple of locks of hair as if they're gesturing hands, still holding the scanner in the other. Which she looks at Tannis with and, oh huh, there's a power read-out? Fascinating.
averyusefultray: (Pew pew)

Re: train

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-02 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
She notes that the hoodie matches her own. THe bottles... were not quite quite what she expected in an armory but she's having a weird day. "Getting my bearings. I assume that this room existing is signficant."
pleple: (Vitamin souls)

2:E

[personal profile] pleple 2021-03-02 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ple Two is improving her social skills but, alas, she is still quite a blunt child - even now that she's back to her own relative normal. So when she moves quietly enough to slip into the room when Vegeta's tail is unfurled, she takes a moment to watch it, and just squints for a moment before speaking. ]

...have you had that this whole time?
emerald_mirror: (are you on the square?)

[personal profile] emerald_mirror 2021-03-02 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, no. Mr. Soldat, they probably baked those cookies themselves. There's a lot of people on the train, and I just try to help out where I can. Cookies are cookies, if you like chocolate chip, you're welcome to them." He hadn't gotten Ariana's recipe down before he'd left Artepus, so Mami helping him learn to bake had only been beneficial.

Cherry's distraction was helpful. "Oh, if she has purple hair, I couldn't mess you two up. Entirely a different color and stuff! I'm Xander, even though the train has my full name on the roster." Though he does snicker a little, leaning in to whisper.

"There's actually two of me, but my brother's not here, so the fact that I'm twins doesn't mess anyone up." The clone part might be worse, but he didn't divulge that much if he could help it. He enjoyed the arm link, so he didn't pull away at all. "It's probably kitchen time anyhow, someone's gonna get hungry."

Someone is the fluffball bat hanging from his right braid.
azurebichen: achickenformylove @ dw (12)

[personal profile] azurebichen 2021-03-02 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
Lan Wangji can make a joke, he does have a sense of humor. Sometimes. When he isn't so stern and stoic and he thinks outside of the thousand of rules.

"Of course, the train can't talk." But then again, the both of them had only been here for a day, not knowing the train's true nature yet and why it brought people from different worlds within itself.

"Mn. It's a city in Japan, an island overseas." He shakes his head. "It's complicated, but he and I become in a way two spirits sharing one body and we have a bond, so we're connect. He depends on me to live, so if I die, he dies as well. He's all right. He's quiet and well-behaved. He's a good cat."
canyounoct: (considering)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-03-02 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
There's a girl with cat ears.

... That's really just the first thing his brain registered, and then, Noctis listened to the rest of what she said. He blinked at her, a little weirded out by her cheer if she's just been abducted.

Wait a minute.

"How do you know how -" Noctis reasoned through this, "- I mean, obviously people are going to be upset, if everyone here's just been kidnapped like I was, but."

It's almost like she's used to this? Noctis wondered, "If you've just been kidnapped, how are you so cheerful about this?"

He's not necessarily combative - he's just extremely confused, and a little prickly because of the whole, well. Kidnapping thing.
famtastic: (let's go)

Platform

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-02 03:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Just the Doctor. Makes things far easier when you get around." A grin. "Captain Syndulla." She nods. "I mean yeah it is a bit inconvenient and the wardrobe is bland but all things considered if you have to be teleported to some unknown destination with no clue as to how you got there, this would be the best way."