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!
sizedoesntmatter: (126)

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-03-17 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
"In my timeline she tried to borrow one. I believe it was just to get me to react."

It's always a hoot to know the differences. Seems like she didn't in the others.

"Though that was like way over a year ago. Not that far into our friendship I think. But I guess for you that never happened since things are of course different between our timelines."
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-03-19 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Huh!" ...Oh, hey. Actually.

"Early in th' friendship... ...I dunno, maybe she did- I mean, ain't like it would've come up righ'? We'd have t' get on th' subject first anyway..."
sizedoesntmatter: (067)

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-03-22 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Basically, yes. It was a conversation about borrowing one, thus how she decided to borrow it."

He soon chuckled for a moment.

"It's always interesting to think back to moments like that and think how it's changed."
Edited 2021-03-22 13:40 (UTC)
luckydragonsfoot: (Heckye)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-03-24 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"Wild..." He half whistles- and then laughs. "Hah! Tell me abou' it! I mean, these days-"

He cuts himself short, and immediately chokes.

"...Oh god."

Oh no.

"Oh man- Yugi- Malik would have tha' memory in my world I think," he wheezes, doubling over with laughter.
sizedoesntmatter: (073)

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-03-26 10:38 am (UTC)(link)
Yugi stared at him for a moment. He understood what he meant. These days he could think back and know just how different he was like six months ago to now. While they weren't huge changes they were still there.

But after watching the others reaction he found himself pausing and wondering just what the other might be talking about. Considering other worlds he could at least take a guess.

"Would he? I guess with different timelines things might happen at different points. The one I mentioned for example was well before we ever met Malik." Though to be fair it was a subject that came up after to.
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-03-26 11:52 am (UTC)(link)
He's still wheezing, and it's a bit hard to explain.

He's trying though- "Nah, nah, I mean-"

Oh boy. Oh boy-

"Righ' so Malik borrowed Anzu's body a bit yeah? An' then we all got shoved int' th' virtual world, righ'?" The wheezing laughter fades, and he sobers up a little bit more. "...Since they were in th' same body, tha' meant their memories were both goin' around th' same source when Noa tried trappin' 'm in 'm. So Anzu knows shit Malik does, an' Malik knows shit Anzu does..!"

Among other things, but he's keeping the conversation positive!
sizedoesntmatter: (67)

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-03-31 10:34 am (UTC)(link)
"In this instance, we're talking about your timeline, which you have told me a bit about so I only know about the virtual world through you and Seto." Because it never happened in his timeline.

"But I at least understand what you mean."
luckydragonsfoot: (Heckye)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-03-31 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeahhh, had a feelin' I glossed it over..." Oops.

"But!" He grins. "Now y' know!"
sizedoesntmatter: (205)

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-04-05 10:49 am (UTC)(link)
"I think there will be a lot more we don't know since we missed out on tiny details that at the time we probably didn't consider." Yugi could at least think of a good few either way.
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-04-08 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Eh, prob'bly...an' heck, we kinda forced ourselves t' stick t' th' big stuff when we went over it all as a group, saved the headaches..."
sizedoesntmatter: (135)

[personal profile] sizedoesntmatter 2021-04-14 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Exactly. Plus it was a better idea to do that or it would have probably taken a couple days." Was he saying that jokingly? It was hard to really tell.