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!
averyusefultray: (Planning and plotting)

Re: Platform

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-01 11:07 pm (UTC)(link)
She does her best to regain her composure after the initial outburst. She's not sure where she is, but it seemed the mission parameters have changed. She needs to figure out. "It was a rhetorical question."

Though she would in fact like to know what the kriff.
chocobosnap: (pic#12045176)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-03-02 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
"R-Right, sorry!" Prompto said by way of apology, because he hadn't meant to interrupt her or anything.
averyusefultray: (Planning and plotting)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-02 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you have any idea what might be happening here?" Technically it was restating the same question. But considerably more politely.
chocobosnap: (pic#12045180)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-03-02 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
"No idea dude." Prompto said with all the helpfullness of dirt at the moment.

"I kinda just..sh-showed up here." He said with a nervous smile. "Like you maybe?"
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-03 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
That was some information, at least. Not information that got her much closer to understanding the situation, but it wasn't just her who had definitely been elsewhere moments ago. "Like me."

She squints through the haze. "I'm not even sure what sort of structure this is."
chocobosnap: (pic#12045178)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-03-03 08:55 am (UTC)(link)
"L-Looks like a train to me." Prompto said with a smile. "Like you know, for passengers? To go places?"
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-04 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
"I've never seen a train like that before." She supposes without repulsor tech, it could be. This really couldn't be Lothal any more. "There must be so much friction with the tracks..."
chocobosnap: (Selfie grin)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-03-04 11:45 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not sure. Maybe it runs on magitek." Prompto mused thoughtfully. That would be his first guess.

"I know about trains like this I just haven't been on one since we didn't have that in Insomnia."
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-05 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
"There's definitely no repulsors." She really was far from home, in that case.

"I'm not familiar with Insomnia." THe concept of insomnia, of course, but that sounded like a place not a state.
chocobosnap: (Heh Nervous)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-03-05 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh! Well Insomnia is the city I grew up in." Prompto explained with a bit of a smile. "Uh, it's kinda, well we can't go back right now but we h-hope to someday!"
averyusefultray: (Default)

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-03-06 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I know that feeling." THere's not technically anything stopping her from going back to Ryloth. Other than the fact that if she were to go back now nothing would ever get better. "I hope you get there."
chocobosnap: (pic#12045178)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-03-06 02:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"Thanks!" Prompto said cheerfully, regardless of how dire the situation was at home, they would work on it and he believed in Noctis.