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!
weifinder: (profile | i've made my decision)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-03-24 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Does anyone know? There are theories, reincarnation cycles they more or less believed in, even if not strictly following certain paths of spiritualism or religious thought. What's being asked is something he can only speak to as an outsider, but...

He reaches out, clasping his friend at his shoulder, and then supporting his forearm, holding it at the elbow.

"We return to the world we're from, in theory. No one can say if it's the time we left, or if being here means we do go missing there. I don't know that any one of us who recognises each other even necessarily shares a world." He pauses, then offers Wen Ning a tired, apologetic smile. "I'm sorry I don't have a better answer for you, Wen Ning. You deserve one."

He deserves the hope of his sister, not just the reality of her loss all over again. Hesitating, because he's genuinely not good at this, he then steps forward and pulls Wen Ning into a nice, boney, slightly less awkward hug.

Sixteen years ago, he'd been too late. He might not have anything to say for that, but here, he can guess at what Wen Ning has already been told. Here, he's not too late for that.

"So does she."
deadwenwalking: (apologize)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-03-26 03:21 am (UTC)(link)
Wei Wuxian offers possibilities, but the answer is inevitably what he'd already assumed - no one knows. No one knows where she's gone, what's happened to her, or if she was even from the same world as his to begin with. Though the latter point matters the least. Wen Ning will love any version of his sister he might come across.

The hug takes him by surprise. It's the second he's received since his arrival. Despite the depressing turn the conversation has taken, the gesture is very welcome. Affectionate human touch is something the puppet has lacked since his sister died, and the swell of emotion brought about by this whole turn of events causes a noticeable shudder to run through him.

His tear ducts still won't function for him, even though he's gotten his body to move less corpse-like since his original reawakening. If they did he would have soaked Wei Wuxian's shoulder by now.

"I-it's alright..." He closes his eyes a moment, calming the churning anguish in his gut. "Thank you."
weifinder: (headache | won't you come in)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-04-01 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
It really isn't alright, and it's not meant to be. They both know that, in the mapped landscapes of their losses, in the ways they've learned to live with answers being less than satisfactory, in happiness being hard won and found in unexpected moments.

He's not an experienced comforter, but he's tried, sort of, to figure out hugs. He's given out more on this train than before, and the only one not to his son being--to Wen Ning's sister.

He can't make up for the unfairness of them not being able to meet, even here. So what is it in hugs? What did his shijie do, a lifetime ago so close he might touch it still if he closes his eyes?

He strokes his hands over his hair, figuring he'll leave it to Wen Ning to end this hug.

"It's not, but... you're not alone, either. Not here, not back home."
deadwenwalking: (comforted)

[personal profile] deadwenwalking 2021-04-03 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
[To overflow!]