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!
wishalone: (077 ≬ manga ≬ color)

[personal profile] wishalone 2021-03-05 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
Kyoko hears her before she sees her. Her heart jumps up to her throat.

By the time Mami surfaces with cookies, Kyoko is already staring at her with a gobsmacked, heart-on-her-sleeve look.

Mami... Mami's here, too.

She doesn't know if she's relieved or worried. Or pissed off at whatever's responsible for them being here. And she doesn't have time to sort it out, because the next words out of Mami's mouth are not anywhere near anything she's expecting.

Kyoko's expression crumples, brow furrowing and mouth tugging down. "What? No. What are you talking about?"
magicurls: (to the future)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-06 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
Mami blinks and tilts her head. How could she not remember...?

"You caught me in the hallway. And you showed me your new horse transformation. Didn't you?"

Something like that would surely be impossible to forget.
wishalone: (048 ≬ anime)

[personal profile] wishalone 2021-03-08 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Horse?" What the actual fuck?

Kyoko steps forward, into Mami's personal space, eyes squinting and hand raised like she's thinking about putting it on Mami's forehead to check her temperature.

"Do you have a fever or something? Did you knock your head?"
magicurls: (magic flower)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-08 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah...no, I'm fine, I'm just terribly confused. I don't think anyone else onboard is having hallucinations, and usually things like this don't happen to just one person."

Mami's sure of what she saw! She lifts up her ring---nope, soul gem is clean and not reacting to anything.

"I know I didn't see you on-board before today, but then this strangeness happened. I'm sorry, I don't mean to disturb you."

Could one of her clones have somehow split off and gained independent powers? Surely she would've seen through a trick like that?
Edited 2021-03-08 02:13 (UTC)
wishalone: (062 ≬ manga ≬ color)

[personal profile] wishalone 2021-03-08 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
When Mami insists that she's fine, Kyoko settles back again, hands settling on her hips. As Mami checks her Soul Gem, Kyoko peeks at it, too, and looks Mami over carefully. It's clear, just like Kyoko's. And she isn't sensing any illusions -- She pulled that trick on Mami, after all, so it isn't out of the question for something else to try it, too. But... No. There's no magic around them. It's just the two of them, and Mami seems fine...

"I got on the train today, yeah. But I definitely haven't seen you before now. I went to the room on this ticket first." She reaches into a pants pocket and pulls it out, waves it a little. "Which... That was weird, too. Because my ribbon was in the bag I showed up with. Did you notice it was missing?"
magicurls: (contemplative)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-08 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Your ribbon? No, it wasn't..."

Mami squints at the ticket briefly. That's definitely a different team assignment. She has to think that over.

"And you don't seem to be affected by anything that would cause amnesia either, so...unless there's another you running the train, somehow..."

A remote possibility, but. She has an idea.

"I was going to bake a pie today. If I do that, that would lure any more of you out."
wishalone: (069 ≬ manga ≬ color)

[personal profile] wishalone 2021-03-13 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
Alright, that gets a short laugh out of her. "Well, you're not wrong about that."

Kyoko pockets her ticket again and plants her hands on her hips. "Maybe it's just somebody running around pretending to be me. Or... something." Given her own magic, she wouldn't be surprised in the least if someone had the power to do that. She just has no idea why, or why... her. "I dunno, it feels just as far-fetched as another me."

Mami said her ribbon wasn't missing... So either someone, whoever put her rucksack together, took it and put it there, or... there's already enough weird shit going on, it could be related to all that somehow. She won't worry about it for now. She said she'd come get it back from Mami, anyway. Even if... this isn't what she meant by that, at all.
magicurls: (wrapping up)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-17 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Mami tries to imagine it and can't quite get there. "But why would anyone do that...? You'd think I could sense that, but maybe my magical reading has dulled after being out of practice so long."

She thinks on it a moment more. "Maybe we could look around and try to solve this?"
wishalone: (096 ≬ manga ≬ uncolored)

[personal profile] wishalone 2021-03-18 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, I dunno how much I believe it. But it's obvious something weird is going on here."

And, if she's honest, then the idea of looking into it alongside Mami... makes her feel a little better. And... acknowledging that, even if just to herself, makes a bit of color raise in her cheeks. But Kyoko tries to play it cool, nodding once firmly, even if her word choice is an attempt at nonchalance. "Fine with me. It's probably a bad idea to just leave it alone."

... still, though, something Mami said bugs her. "What do you mean, out of practice?"
magicurls: (be alright)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-20 09:15 am (UTC)(link)
Mami waves a hand to summon her gem and stares down at it. "I haven't really used it to trace specific magic all that much without witches around. There's so much magic in so many directions here, all different...it can make your head spin. So I stopped trying to track it, except when something especially new comes up."

It's tiring, adapting every week. "Another imitating you would certainly qualify, though. That centaur shift was something else."
Edited 2021-03-20 09:16 (UTC)
wishalone: (059 ≬ manga ≬ color)

[personal profile] wishalone 2021-03-21 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Without witches around. Right... Without more magical girls, there probably aren't witches here. It's a new application of this awful fact Kyoko learned not too long ago. But, honestly... There's a lot of information to take in, here. No witches, and all the implications that has. Magic everywhere... And --

"Ugh... Centaur?" That's so freakin' weird. And Kyoko's already having a really weird day, but that... That might still take the cake.

But. She can't let that distract her. Kyoko's expression sobers. "No witches... means no Grief Seeds, right? But your Soul Gem looks clear to me." The question goes unstated; she figures she doesn't have to actually say it.
magicurls: (with a wink)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-22 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Mm. It was a big surprise! But she seems happy and in control of it."

Whatever's going on here. Definitely isn't this Kyoko, unless this is the biggest prank ever...but she doubts it. Mami decides to resume that search later...and answer the more pressing question, gesturing for her favorite partner to come out and say hi.

A small green, white, and pink hedgehog pops up from Mami's hood, chattering a hello.

"Oh, I have Rosetta to thank for that! She's my precious partner, a gift from my friend Jonouchi-san. Her purity magic can clear my gem, and it also seems to make plants grow big."