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!
deferences: dns (♪ yielding)

[personal profile] deferences 2021-03-13 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
“I'm not sure. I think time maybe moves differently here too?” He's not entirely sure and can't prove that theory, but there is something off— also: being on the train for long periods of time makes everything run together. Funnily enough, he'd been with Wen Ning before appearing here as well, which will be interesting to learn, particularly when they hadn't appeared with one another all those months ago.

It's fortunate for Sizhui his ears are the only thing that blush whenever Wen Ning reaches over and pats his head; the gesture may be somewhat awkward, yet it doesn't deter him any, just makes a wide grin come across his face instead. He straightens upright afterward, tipping his head with contemplation while considering if there's a way for them to actually hug in this position without it being extra complicated. He doesn't think so and before he can ponder further, Wen Ning's apology has instantly caught his attention.

“You have no reason to apologize, it wasn't your fault. During my entire time here, I've never met any, uhm, version of you? Until now, that is, so perhaps we come from a similar time.” Whichever of Sizhui's arms is nearest, he reaches with it, gingerly touches Wen Ning's forearm and upturns an earnest expression when he asks, “What's the last thing you remember?”
deadwenwalking: (resolve)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-14 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
The concept of time moving differently is almost harder to take in than the concept of other worlds and other versions of themselves. Are they from different times on the same world, or are they actually from two separate but very similar worlds where the timeline is off by a few months?

He shouldn't think too hard on that. It'll give him a headache. It's all so much.

It's odd to hear that Sizhui hasn't met another version of him when the Lan Wangji he'd spoken to already recognized him as different from his world. If he's been here before, it must have been before even his young cousin's arrival. How long have people bene on this train for?

"We... we were travelling together. You were going to help me honor our family." Sizhui had been the first person he'd looked for upon his arrival. If anyone else had been taken along with him it would have been the boy. He never would have imagined there would be an issue like this when he found him.
deferences: dns (♪ cross-examine)

[personal profile] deferences 2021-03-20 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
That sorta thing is exactly why Sizhui doesn't linger on the idea; he much prefers accepting their timelines coming together and it being the same world. Wen Ning looks like the Ghost General he knows, which is more than enough for him. Best they both avoid the headache of trying to make better sense of it when it's really quite unexplainable.

Too long, he'd imagine the answer being, but since he's only been here for a short time compared to some passengers, he cannot confirm nor deny. Lan Sizhui himself hasn't ever encountered Wen Ning in any form until now and the boy's quite pleased it seems like they're from the same time (or close-ish, at least).

He nods gently while listening, thoughtfully biting his lower lip, teeth sinking deeper once it's affirmed they were together before they'd been whisked away. Control your excitement, you don't know this. But it's fine, he's almost certain his expression is mostly steeled and even if it's not, he can smile after withdrawing his hand and it isn't too odd. “That's the last thing I remembered as well before arriving here on the train.”
deadwenwalking: (contemplate)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-21 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
That's the last he remembers and yet he's been here longer? Wen Ning's brows knit together in confusion. "Then... I don't understand. How did you get here before me?"

Had the puppet been lost in limbo somehow? No, he can't think about it. He really can't. Wen Ning hasn't even been subjected to more modern examples of science fiction and his imagination is still enough to have him thinking up all kinds of plausible yet uncomfortable scenarios. They're both here and safe now. That's what matters.

He shakes his head.

"You are alright here, aren't you? Y-you haven't been hurt? They treat you alright?" Whoever 'they' ends up being. The train itself, potentially, from what he's heard.
deferences: (♪ steadfast)

[personal profile] deferences 2021-03-24 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
To that, “I'm not sure,” and Sizhui's shoulders lift in the faintest shrug. Literally, he has no idea how he'd gotten here first or why it'd taken the train so long to bring Wen Ning when they had been traveling together before.

Gods, don't bring up anything like that, lest the Lan disciple starts panicking about what could've happened to his traveling companion after he disappeared. (Did he vanish? Is that how these things work? Or perhaps time has simply stopped at that particular moment in time until he returns—) No, that seems too far-fetched, but given where they are, considering the cabin bedroom aboard the train... does it matter? Not really, not whenever they're here now, reunited, and can do all the catching up necessary.

Sizhui blinks thoughtfully, contemplating, wondering if anything bad has happened during his time with the Voidtrecker Express. “Yes, I'm alright, you needn't worry about that. There was only one time I got injured and it was minor burns. So far, everything has been rather safe.” For him, anyway, he can't speak for other passengers.
deadwenwalking: (hdu)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-26 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
[to overflow!]