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: (brb texting)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-04 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't really want to talk about it." Because there is too much and not enough and it's still a tender subject, a wound only just scabbed over except not so much anymore. "But I'm different, if it helps."

The last one again? Aside from the Master? Was she really? No, it wasn't the same. There had to be others out there. Refugees. Something. She is tired of seeing it. So damn tired.

That can be thought about later.

"The Doctor. That's what I go by. This looks like an interesting room." Said mostly just as filler. It was interesting but her thoughts are still a bit jumbled.
yondu: (0 8 3)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-05 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
"I reckon. There are some card games I ain't all that familiar with. Video games. People like it." Filler conversation in the one car he doesn't do all that much in. But as he said, he doesn't pry.

He'd pointed out his name earlier, but still he says, "I'm Yondu." Then taps his chest twice with his right fist, gives her a slight bow in Ravager greeting, but those red eyes are a little concerned when he regards her.

"Since you're the Doctor and all that, next car might be up your alley. It's Medical. There's a pretty good mix of magic users an' regular folks doin' business in there. Since I had a rough time before I showed up, I came in to get my fin checked out. Had a decent expert to take a look."
famtastic: (now this is a situation)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-06 04:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Love me some video games." And there may be some things she can cannibalize for parts, but she'll think of that later.

"Yondu." She grins. "I like that. What's that you just did?"

She wrinkles her nose.

"Not that kind of Doctor. I know some basics but-- I'm useless in a crises." Or at least that kind of crises.
yondu: (1 1 4)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-06 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
What kind of Doctor is she then? Well maybe it's just a name and- You know what? She's just strange. She's a weird Doctor. He'll live with it.

"It's a Ravager salute. How the fleet greeted and said good-bye, at least when you had one scrap of politeness in ya. There are a coupla big warrin' Empires back where I'm from. Went on for years and years. The best place for a capable person to be if they wanted out but still wanted to fight back? Was as a Ravager. So you got this good mix of good folks that just don't wanna answer to warlords an' the ones that are just complete idiots. I used to be a battle slave before I became one."

But even if he's 'retired' now, even if he was exiled, or no longer has a ship, because of the freedom it gave him he thinks of himself as a Ravager before he thinks of himself as a Centaurian.
famtastic: (now this is a situation)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-07 05:56 am (UTC)(link)
"That's rough, mate. Glad you got out of it." She pats his shoulderblade in a friendly yet masculine way, more like a light whap. "I like it. Renegade. Ravager. Me too. Well more one than the other. And less these days. But I used to be really wild. Now... I'm sort of... " she wrinkled her nose. "Responsible."
yondu: (0 4 3)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-07 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't really expect any kind of gentleness from people, and when it happens he usually has to go through some concern. "Had someone help me out of it. The head of the Ravagers." Being a battle slave? Not as big a deal to him as losing Stakar, though.

He passes through to the Standard coach.

"Who says I ain't responsible. You gotta be if you run a crew." Not always kind, but definitely responsible. "'Renegade', though. I like that one." Better than 'exile'.
famtastic: (concern)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-08 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Right? Well. I used to be-- it used to be-- I don't know, it used to not feel so much. Back when it was just fun, gallivanting around-- but then I don't know. Something changed." The Time War mostly-- but even before that.

"Pretty soon the weight of the universe really bears down on you and you get really tired of saving it every five seconds. But I've moved past that." More or less. Or at least she had a better handle on how to deal with that kind of depression.

"Live long enough and you'll learn it I suppose."
yondu: (1 1 7)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-08 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
"I will guarantee you that the vast majority of the people on this train have learned nothin' of the like whether they are the age of gods or still pint-sized, so you might as well just get ready for that."

He's seen enough of these people as both children and adults now to be sure.

But then he just laughs. "But misery is pretty good company, am I right? Nothin' makes you feel like a sore thumb quite like standin' before a real privileged life."
famtastic: (concern 2)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-09 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Right." A smile. "Though I've had a privileged life, I can't deny that. I've been able to do what I want, go where I want-- make my own messes and get out of them again. That's why I feel I owe it to others to help where I can, but have a lot of fun along the way."
yondu: (0 9 2)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-03-09 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Did you say you've been to prison? I mean, privileged people can go, sure. But usually they don't get that specific look that's all that distant when talkin', like sometimes the universe still gets heavy on 'em and they know all the bad feelin's in it."

And they're at the kitchens, finally, after a million miles of train.

"Stores are in there, let me find where they put the damn recipes." He turns on the ICP to find the right folder. Okay! Right there. He taps the screen.

"Alright, pick somethin' an' I'll go get the stuff for it. I know they do this ingredient by the month thing but they'll still have everythin' so don't worry about what's for when."
famtastic: (Hmm!)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-03-11 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not like other people. I'm not like anyone." It sounds like a display of arrogance and usually it is. But in this case it's truer now than it's ever been. She doesn't want to think about it and instead grins.

"Oh! Ratatouille! I loved that movie. Let's have that one. I'll help." Will she be any good at it? Probably not. But she needs to get her hands busy with something.