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!
deadwenwalking: (follower)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-14 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh. I see." While Wen Ning would rather choose who he teams up with on his own, he supposes things could be worse. Hopefully if they're ever put against each other it's in a friendly, competitive spirit and not just to cause trouble between them.

"Is there... anything in particular that we do? As the blue team?" Were they in charge of any particular type of task? Or was it really only for organizational purposes and they would be assigned whatever. He wants to believe that he can be very versatile in what tasks he can do, even if he's generally only used for his strength. Surely he'll be able to do things like cooking for the group too...
happyends: (better than the rest)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-03-14 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Um, it kind of varies.."

After all, the missions are so wildly different, both in general objective and setting, that it's kind of hard to just sum their goal up as one singular thing. But it's not as if she can't give some very, very broad pointers. Even though Madoka has to think about it for a moment while pressing her fingers idly together.

"Usually we're.. protecting something? Either animals, or people, or a place.. And sometimes that protecting involves a lot of fighting, and sometimes it doesn't." That's the part that wildly varies. Some missions it's like they get the brunt of the force, and other missions they don't have to see a single battle at all. It's weird.
deadwenwalking: (shy)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-15 07:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Protecting something... He can do that. The train appears to at least know some of his strengths, in that case. It's true that he's failed to protect some people in the past, but he'll still try his best here. Maybe he'll have the means to do better here.

As long as he doesn't accidentally hurt anyone he's trying to help.

"I hope that I can be useful to everyone." Wen Ning lowers his gaze to the ground. "Is everyone on the team... physically capable?" Are there those he'll have to look out for under his own color? They could have other skills that aren't made for fighting and that might not make sense for this team's purpose but he's sure there are reasons as to why they're organized the way they are.
happyends: (better than the rest)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-03-16 10:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Physically capable. Talk about a loaded term. In fact, Madoka isn't quite sure where to place herself when it come to a term like that.

Hence why she's quiet for a moment before answering. She's trying to figure out how to answer something like that.

"Well, not all of us can fight." Is that what he means? Madoka feels like that's probably it, considering the topic of their usual mission goal. "And there's quite a lot of young people on our team.. Um, I mean, most even younger than me, though a few my age too.."

And while some of them can definitely fight, some others - like Madoka - are still relatively new to it and yet others are just totally regular kids.
deadwenwalking: (seeking)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-18 01:59 am (UTC)(link)
This response has Wen Ning looking concerned. How were those that needed protecting themselves supposed to protect others? Had they been grouped together so that the stronger ones could look out for those who were weaker? Surely that has to be the reason.

"Are there enough people that can? Fight. I mean. To look out for you." If he's going to be put into the position of looking out for a bunch of younger passengers then so be it. It wouldn't be right to put too much on their shoulders or to expect them to do tasks that are too much for them.

Protecting others is still a good goal. He far prefers it to destroying things. It's only a matter of exactly how much protecting he's going to be responsible for.
happyends: (so it's now or never more)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-03-18 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes.. There are some really strong people on our team as well!"

Madoka does sound confident about that one. There are some people in the blue team she really, really believes in, so it's a no-brainer for her. After all, they've managed to make it through all the missions so far as a team.

"You should try to see if you can talk to our team leaders sometime.. They're really kind and smart. Like mister Wang Ji! And then there's mister Piccolo, he's really strong on top of it. Those two take really good care of the rest of us on missions."
deadwenwalking: (cautious)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-20 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
"WangJi?" Wen Ning latches onto that name, looking a bit surprised all of a sudden. "Lan Wangji? Hanguang-Jun?" It's a name he knows very well. He'd been travelling alongside him and Wei Wuxian until very recently so it's surprising to hear that not only is he already in this place but he's apparently already been put in charge of one of the teams.

He shouldn't be too shocked. The second jade had always been very strong. It's not as if he can't see him in a leadership position either. He'd taken A-Yuan under his wing and had many disciples under him. He's very good at what he does.
happyends: (i want to see you smile with power)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-03-20 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
She nods.

"Yes!" Or.. rather, she doesn't recognize that last name the other is using, but Madoka doubts there could be that many people out there in the multiverse with that name.

But it does make one thing very clear to her here.

"Do you know him?" Oh, at least that's a good thing! Madoka is sure Wen Ning will be much less confused about everything that's going on when there's someone right on his team who can explain everything to him - in a way that would make the most sense to him, since WangJi would know better than anyone what Wen Ning is used to, and what he can use for comparison in explanations.
deadwenwalking: (try)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-21 06:43 pm (UTC)(link)
It will be more confusing to Wen Ning once he realizes there is more than one Lan Wangji on the train. He'll have to find the right one, and things are going to become even more difficult to keep track of.

But for now he's unaware of this and he nods his head. "Yes. He's a good friend from back home." well, he considers him one, anyway. It can be hard to guess what the second jade is thinking at any given time but he'd like to believe they get along pretty well.

"It seems that... there might be a few of us." Which is both comforting and worrisome at the same time.