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!
magicurls: (Default)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-06 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
"As long as it's all right."

Mami then moves to finish straightening her bunk. "I know the arrangement is...awkward. But we manage. There isn't really a choice, the train forces us here every night."
amery: (∞ This had better be worth my time)

[personal profile] amery 2021-03-06 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
His eyebrows raised. "Does it really force us here? That's awfully rude of it." He might have been here before, but he'd never tried to sleep anywhere else but his bunk so this was news to him.
magicurls: (weight of the world)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-06 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Mm, that's right. Unless we use your ticket to check you into a bed in medical---the train doesn't want to teleport injured people. Wherever you are at lights out, the train brings you to your bunk and knocks you out, forcing us to sleep at least 6 hours. It's a little worrying."

But that's train life for you. "Did you get all your other questions answered?"
amery: (∞ This had better be worth my time)

[personal profile] amery 2021-03-07 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'd say it's more than a little worrying," he said. There was a lot to not like about the train, but also there was an upside; he was alive.

He nodded. "I believe so. This isn't my first time here."
magicurls: (Default)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-10 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, right! Welcome back." Really, Mami's memory was a little spotty...so many had come and gone.

"But it's nice to finally meet you, in that case. The train's gotten rather long, huh?"
amery: (∞ Nice little smile)

[personal profile] amery 2021-03-10 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you." He nodded.

"And it has. There are so many excellent new additions. I can already tell I'll be spending a lot of time in the library." And perhaps the gym, but definitely the library.
magicurls: (contemplative)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-03-17 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
"It's sadly not a very big library," Mami laughs. "We have to request books and fill it ourselves. But with time, it'll have plenty to read I hope."

She taps a finger in thought. "The cinema's media collection is more complete, but of course it's mostly fiction. And wild fiction, at that. The void train cartoon with the rabbit's rather silly, and I can't believe how many episodes it has."
amery: (∞ This had better be worth my time)

[personal profile] amery 2021-03-18 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
"A library at all is better than none." Besides, he was sure everything in it would be foreign to him, and if he was interested in going through it, it would take him some time.

The cinema, on the other hand, was still a strange concept to him. He thought he understood what it was, though he hadn't visited it yet himself. "What, exactly, is a cartoon?" he asked.