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!
helborn: (huh wha i didn't do it)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-06 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Basically anything? It's kind of like a stasis thing... food doesn't spoil, hot things don't cool, that sort of stuff. I wouldn't put anything living in there if you didn't want to end up with a corpse. And I can feel around for stuff, or -"

He held up a hand and suddenly a beat up wallet appeared in it. "Do that." He shoved the plush back into the hammerspace. "That took longer to learn than learning how to open it up in the first place."
forleaving: (006)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-08 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
That was mind bogglingly cool. There were so many possibilities for it, and technically it could double as a weapon, from the sounds of things. Putting living things inside of it had been one of the things Adam had been going to ask about specifically, so he was pleased to hear about it. Not necessarily about the corpse part, but still.

"That could be invaluable on missions. Or just around the train." So many things could be stored, they could carry things, move things, he was getting ahead of himself thinking of all of the possibilities. "Does it have any sort of size limit? On what can be put inside of it?"
helborn: (i'm not an anime protag i swear)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-08 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. I think... hm." He leaned against the bunks, thinking. "Last time I checked it was about four hundred pounds. Now that I'm not able to maintain a permanent structure I could probably shift it to be about eight hundred if I had to. I don't really know of any limits of what can be put in there, though I wouldn't shove anything that can make another interdimensional space inside of an interdimensional space. That'll probably wreck things at the very least."
forleaving: (005)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-09 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
That was a lot more than Adam had been expecting. That could definitely be useful. On the other hand though--

"Putting an interdimensional space inside of another interdimensional space sounds like how you create a black hole." Or something even worse. For a change, he actually couldn't think of what worse would be. Just...something destructive.
helborn: (Default)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-09 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Pretty much. I don't really want to test that one." For all he knows it could blow him up. "But I don't think I've ever filled it up other than just testing the limits."
forleaving: (008)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-11 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
"That's really cool." Not to be a broken record about it. "I'm sure having something like that will come in handy here since space is kind of limited." Adam didn't even know what he'd do with that kind of thing when there wasn't a mission.
helborn: (nope too cute to function)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-11 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. Shame there isn't ingredients for poutine here, or I'd just keep a bunch of it in there to have on demand."
forleaving: (015)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-13 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
Adam laughed. "That's oddly specific," he said. "Is it a favorite of yours?"
helborn: (you're kind of cute)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-13 01:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes, absolutely. I'm from Montreal, that's where it got invented. It's a 'sometimes food', but I like it a lot. When we'd get back from missions in Liminal I'd make a bunch just for comfort food if the mission was real rough."
forleaving: (015)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-14 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
Nodding, Adam smiled warmly. "I don't think I have a comfort food, but I'm glad others do. Hopefully, the missions here won't be too rough, though." Compared to...whatever Casper was used to.
helborn: (i'm at a fancy party pretending i'm cool)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-14 05:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Hopefully. ... If you do need help though, just let me know? My portals aren't working like they should, but I'm still fast. I can always come and find you."

It's not like there's any shortage of scents from people in this room.
forleaving: (006)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-15 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Portals?" Adam repeated. "You've got portals, too?" Maybe eventually he'd reach a point in time where things stopped surprising him, but it wasn't this day. "Also, thank you. If something comes up, I'll let you know."
helborn: (i'm not an anime protag i swear)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-03-15 09:06 am (UTC)(link)
"No problem. I'm just... trying to do what I can for people. I... don't want people to have to feel like they have to deal with things on their own." He knew what that was like all too well.
forleaving: (005)

[personal profile] forleaving 2021-03-17 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
"That's very kind of you." Especially for Adam, who was used to dealing with things on his own because he hadn't had anyone else for most of his life. He was used to relying on only himself to get things done. "I'm sure there are a lot of people who will appreciate that. I know I do."