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!
canyounoct: (ready)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-03-15 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Got it," Noctis said, as if it wasn't weird to need or use a shield of that size. It brought to mind the Shield of the Just, which wasn't as wide, but was nearly as tall as he was. He more carefully shifted away the smaller packages. "I'm Noctis, by the way."

He left out his surname out of habit, even with his given name being pretty dangerous on its own. Not that it mattered here.

But then what she said caught up to him, and he wondered - carefully stacking some light and squishy parcels to one side - "We can ask to get stuff from our home just mailed to us?"
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14488470)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-03-20 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
The Inquisitor might have related to that, 'Tabris' had held too much danger on Thedas. Danger to her relations still in Denerim, and danger to her use as an example of elven excellence that the shemlen couldn't take credit for.

"I'm Alley," still weird to use her name at all, honestly. Hadn't heard much of it for years before this place, all Inquisitor this and Herald that. "It costs 'points', like money. No one's quite sure how we accumulate it but it happens with time."
canyounoct: (you talkin to me?)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-03-23 04:13 pm (UTC)(link)
They're kidnapped from their homes, and they can ... well, you don't exactly kidnap items. Steal items, from their homes if they want? If someone was like using his fishing rod and he asked for it, did it just disappear from their hands? How did any of this work?

Thinking about that, at least, was a lot easier than thinking about what was happening because he up and vanished.

"Huh," Noctis said, thinking that through as he continued to get the bulk of the smaller packages carefully shifted over. There's a large item underneath, he'd bet anything that was Alley's shield. "I've heard we're sent on missions, too, so having your weapon sent here is just smart. Though it seems unfair you need to buy it, if whatever kidnapped us wants us to use stuff like it in the first place."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14486533)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-03-25 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
"There's a lot that's unfair about this situation. Showing up without proper gear is certainly on the list."

No shield, no armor. Thank the Maker the train had at least brought her with the bar standing in for her left arm, and the soft leather glove covering her right hand.
canyounoct: (Default)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-03-31 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
“Yeah,” Noctis agreed, a little quietly. But his problems were currently in a box that he didn’t want to think about. A box that was figuratively rattling and demanding to be opened, but -

- But, distraction! There’s something large and flat. “Hang on a sec.”

Uncovering it, Noctis easily lifted the parcel. “The tag’s on the other side - is this yours?”
inquisitor_lavellan: I know you've been burned, but every fire is a lesson learned (let's join forces)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-04-01 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
Not too flat; that shield was bulky. Alley sets down the box she'd been carefully moving and comes closer to squint at the name tag. "That'd be the one. You can set it down."

She knows how heavy that thing is. But she handles it with just her shield arm, so someone able to lift it isn't unheard of. It certainly slots Noctis into a 'possibly warrior' category in the back of her mind, though.
canyounoct: (considering)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-03 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
Considering some of the weapons he had to swing around on a regular basis, well. Gladio might give Noctis a hard time, but he and their Marshal trained the young prince well. He still set it down with a little oof, though, and smiled a little at her.

"Glad I could help," Noctis said, stretching a little as Alley got it open. "That thing feels like it can really pack a whallop."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14488473)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-04-06 10:55 am (UTC)(link)
Alley wastes no time in getting the box open, using a small paring knife she'd taken from the kitchen at some point and stashed in her red hoodie's front pocket, to cut the packaging.

When one only has one hand, one has to make use of what tools they can.

The top opened, Alley reaches in and grabs the shield and lifts it out. It's every big as big and bulky as the weight had suggested. And...
spiked, in places. And... glowing? Those four blue squares at the top of its face are definitely glowing, electric blue. Lyrium.

"Fucking finally. I had to borrow a shield last mission and it was tiny and light."

Neither trait which the Champion-specialized warrior appreciates in a shield.

She sets the shield aside and reaches into the box again to retrieve the straps that will let her wear it on her back, irregardless of whatever else she's wearing. Someday, she'll order her usual armor from the train, but for now the cloth train uniform and the shield have to get along.
canyounoct: (magic)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-10 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
Their worlds' magics were decidedly not the same. Noctis had never seen anything like lyrium in his reality - perhaps a potion or elixir might be close, but only in its function. And yet - having so much magic inherent in himself, he still noticed something odd about the vivid blue metal set within the shield.

"Woah," Noctis said, perhaps not too intelligently, as he looked at it. It's not really a magic he could interact with or recognize - but lyrium was potent enough from Alley's world that few people were utterly unaffected. He forgot not to be nosy, "what's that blue stuff there?"
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14476670)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-04-16 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Lyrium," Alley glances over at Noctis, then over at the shield, and back again. "It's safe enough set in my shield like that," by dwarven hands, no less, "but it's dangerous stuff to mess with."

At least this is the normal, untainted, blue variety. Blighted red stuff is a lot worse, and nothing she'd have allowed onto the train.
canyounoct: (can you noct)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-17 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not going to mess with your shield, promise," Noctis said, holding up his hands in a universal gesture of peace. "Was just curious, I've never seen anything like it before. Probably because I've never heard of Lyrium before."

He tilted his head slightly, wondering aloud, "I heard there were going to be different types of magic that I'd run into here, stuff that only exist in other realities."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480612)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-04-21 09:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know what all can be bought from other people's worlds," Alley points out simply, "so anyone who actually notices the lyrium, I'm going to warn."

If they order any on their own, she at least tried. Not that that would make any difference for some of the more curious and reckless minds on the train.

"This the first bit of other-world magic you've encountered?" It sounds like that's what he's saying, but surely not?
canyounoct: (considering)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-24 04:37 am (UTC)(link)
"I've, uh, just gotten kidnapped," Noctis told her. "Mostly people have been talking about how not to stare out the windows, how we're not getting home, but. I read the pamphlet thing, kind of. I think I got the gist of it."

He read the whole thing carefully, but he's used to people considering him a slacker, and Noctis was too practiced at playing into that to say otherwise.

"If you're next going to ask me why I'm not freaking out, I am, trust me," Noctis told her. "But it doesn't seem to be anyone's fault, not those who are stuck here like us."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14486528)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-04-28 02:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Mn," Alley picks up the shield with her singular, gloved hand, and slots it into the bracket now strapped to her back in a practiced motion. Beats carrying it any other way currently available to her.

"People react to shit in different ways. At least your way isn't causing anyone any problems."
canyounoct: (skeptical)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-29 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
"So, what, some people flip out and start attacking people?" Noctis asked, which would be ... pretty bad, honestly, if you had kids like Madoka or Asriel but also people like him and Alley. A lot of people would get hurt or worse.

Noctis frowned. "Is there any kind of security on the train to help with that, or ... it kind of feels like everyone's on their own, here."