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!
seacub: ('boy i sure hope nothin bad happens')

[personal profile] seacub 2021-03-15 12:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"Y-Yeah."

Another sniff, but he manages a smile. "...Thanks, Otoha."
bakegarasu: (as i pondered weak and weary)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-03-15 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"No problem. ... You've always been good to me, even when I was a terrible little freak."
seacub: (: ' D)

[emporio voice] `what do you mean that's not normal`

[personal profile] seacub 2021-03-16 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"A wh-" What-!

He snorts, wiping at his eye again. "You weren't- You weren't terrible or freaky at all..! I just thought you were kind of quiet? And I mean, it made sense that you were nervous..."

He genuinely means that, it seems.
bakegarasu: (young memories)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-03-16 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"... I barely spoke to anyone at that age. My life was school - where I wasn't really talked to much and I didn't really talk to anyone - training, eating, sleeping... and the occasional mission. I was... kind of intense." It makes sense, and it was only when he got a little older that he loosened up slightly, but... he can see why his younger self would bother a lot of people.
seacub: (: ' D)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-03-19 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well...if it helps, I didn't speak to anyone either until pretty recently," he laughs- even if the reason why was, well. He couldn't. "And you didn't seem that intense."

His standards are pretty skewed to be fair though.
bakegarasu: (dream a little dream)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-03-20 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
He sets a hand on top of Emporio's head. "... Neither of us were really typical children, huh?" Shit, he's so fucked up...
seacub: (: ' D)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-03-21 03:00 pm (UTC)(link)
A weak laugh, but he nods. "...Not really, huh..."
bakegarasu: (i hear you)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-03-22 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
"I'd say it's not such a bad thing, but I don't know if I'm a good judge of that." Everyone else seems to have thought his childhood was awful. Which objectively it probably was, but he's never thought of it in such strong terms. "You don't have to hide here. You've got people here who'll fight anyone who tries to hurt you."

He ruffles the boy's hair gently before standing up. "... Soldat's been showing me some of the games in the games car. Maybe... we could play one together some time?"
seacub: (AND NOW A PIPE TOO??)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-03-22 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah... ...I both have and haven't been expecting people to say I'm weird, actually... ...no one ever noticed before, since..." ...Well, if he wasn't hiding he was interacting with inmates who frankly had far bigger worries on their hands. "And it feels like there's not really...a 'normal' here?"

A small shrug, and he blinks. "Oh- ...Yeah, that'd be great! Soldat... ...I think he offered me soup before."
bakegarasu: (can you feel the sunshine?)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-03-22 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. ... Soldat's a really nice guy. If you ever need help you can go to him." ... Unless he's actively freaking out or something, but he trusts Emporio to know how to recognize that sort of thing.
seacub: (Default)

[personal profile] seacub 2021-03-25 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"He seemed like that, yeah- it's good to hear it from someone else though," he admits, smiling.