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!
happyends: (the ancient magic i dreamed of)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-03-22 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
That makes her smile slowly fade off her face. It's like her energy is deflating like a balloon - because it's like looking into a mirror. Like she's seeing the exact reaction Madoka had once she realised that she had been stuck here all this time and time just went on back home without her. And its many implications in the specific case of her world.

So she doesn't know what to say at first. Her gaze mostly just turns sympathetic as she silently watches him.

".. I'm sorry," she finally says, her voice a bit more quiet. "I.. I know. I know it's really hard, the idea of being away from everyone for so long.. I'm really worried about the way things may be back home because of it too." Especially since everything is probably just gone.

"But there's really nothing we can do about it.."

It's not the kind of attitude Madoka likes to have. It feels a little too defeatist. But she can't really offer an alternative when it's been proven they can't do a thing about when the train decides to pull them in and when it lets them go.
canyounoct: (Default)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-03-23 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Noctis was deflating, too. He felt so helpless. That it was simultaneously his fault for not being there for everyone that needed him - while, at the same time, he couldn't do a thing to fix it. He ran his hands through his hair and took a deep breath.

If he thought about it like that - he'd shut down. Game over. The very idea was just, too overwhelming.

So he just, somehow, had to not think about it.

"It's not your fault," Noctis told her, shaking his head while he pulled himself together. "Seriously. Don't apologize. It's not like you kidnapped me or something. And, like you said ... there's nothing we can do."

Just saying it aloud like that, though, made him feel nauseous.
happyends: (better than the rest)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-03-23 09:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"But I still feel bad for you.."

She doesn't linger on it more than that though. Especially since it feels like they'll go nowhere fast if they keep thinking like this. It's not like they'll be able to get him back home by just talking enough about it.

So Madoka shakes her head. Her chest still feels kind of tight, but she's trying to move past the sympathetic sad feeling.

"Um, maybe it'd.. be good to focus on the positive parts of all this..? I-I mean, there are some fun things on the train to do, at least.. Like videogames! Do you like those..?"
canyounoct: (considering)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-03-31 01:11 am (UTC)(link)
Noctis breathed out. He still thought that a cage that was plush and nice and fancy remained a cage. But he could appreciate what Madoka was trying to do.

Six knew he was good at trying to ignore his feelings just to move forward.

He nodded. “Yeah. I do - a whole lot, really. Um. So what kinds of games do they have here?”
happyends: (so it's now or never more)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-04-01 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"They have virtual reality games!" Madoka says, almost a bit too quickly. Like she's really eager to jump on this topic, hoping that it may bring the other at least a faint speck of light in the middle of this whole situation.

.. Granted, she doesn't know if Noctis even knows what virtual reality games are. Despite her knowing quite a bit about his world, she's not sure if virtual reality is a thing there..

But she may as well truck ahead now she's started.

"Different kinds too. So no matter what kind of games you like, I'm sure you'd find one you enjoy."
canyounoct: (you talkin to me?)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-03 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
"What, really?" Noctis blinked at her. "Like, the kinds you'd see in movies?"

He allowed himself to be distracted by the idea. A little sheepishy, Noctis admitted, "Really, I like a lot of different kinds - action games, RPGs, beat-'em-ups, racing games ... stealth games are pretty amazing too. And if they've got a good story ..."

Noctis cut himself off from awkwardly rambling. "Any one you'd recommend?"
happyends: (that has been plucked)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-04-03 05:24 pm (UTC)(link)
She laughs - just as sheepishly as he was speaking up just now, really.

"I'm actually not really good at those games.." Virtual reality, that is. Although she isn't that great at regular videogames either, honestly, so she'd feel awkward recommending one to Noctis when he seems to be such an expert in turn!

"But there's often people playing them over in the games carriage, so you could always ask them what they think! They must at least be pretty good if they're so popular, right..?"
canyounoct: (his dorkiness)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-10 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Probably," Noctis agreed, thinking a bit about what she said. "But, you know ... there's probably some party games there too, right? And those are games that everyone can be good at. They're basically like, board games with animations. You could have a lot of fun with those."

Because he was offering, "Sometime maybe we could play something like that together, how does that sound?"
happyends: (i can hold on tight to nothing)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-04-10 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
".. really?"

Her first reaction seems to be surprise, but it doesn't just remain that. A moment later something extra seems to sneak into Madoka's gaze, her eyes almost sparkling as she looks up at the guy.

"You'd want to play together?" Even though they just met! And sure, he may not be new to her, but Madoka is well aware she's entirely new to him - and yet he's still kind enough to offer to play together with her. "I really like board games, so that sounds like fun..!"
canyounoct: (you talkin to me?)

[personal profile] canyounoct 2021-04-13 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
Noctis shrugged. Madoka seemed nice enough. He wasn't hiding out here for fear of the Empire's agents tracking him down. And she had no idea who he was, and wouldn't be like someone in school fangirling over the crown prince. He could simply hang out with her like they were just normal people.

And ... not like they were kidnapped, far away from ...

No, no, he's not thinking about that right now. That's the point.

He gave her a tiny smile back, and nodded. "Yeah. Trust me, it'll be a blast. I'm looking forward to it."