voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-04-01 06:00 am

A New Platform [Intro Post April]

On the Train

Once again passengers are awoken by the morning announcement.

"Good morning passengers, it is day Sixteen 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 after lunch. A lunch that may be a bit sparse: between the big eaters and the stress bakers, the stores have been stretched thin the last two weeks.

"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 steam is thin, with blue skies seen above. The sun shines brightly down, warm light pooling on the platform.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers: Cassie Lang, Glorfindel, Jessie Custer, Olivia, Paddra Nsu-Yeul, S’reee, Thea Queen, Wei Wuxian.

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, open, with a vine-covered wall stretching high either side of the barrier. 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 eighteen 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 doors close behind them.

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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including plenty more tomatoes.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a suitcase stocked with spare wash kit items, for those who are running low as well as a box labelled Do Not Use Yet that is full of small 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 who are making the most of the sunshine. 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!
famtastic: (ngh)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-04-07 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
"An experiment in thermodynamics. If you're trying to make an AI with shoddy equipment, you need to make sure it doesn't run hot. Cool is better but warm is passable for now. Or at least I'm not sure how to make it work with what I have here which is nothing. Unless you happen to have some spare titanium alloy lying around."
famtastic: (concern)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-04-07 06:00 am (UTC)(link)
It was not so the Doctor tried her best to prod her awake.

"Hallo. Hallo there. Are you okay?"
fivemilesdeep: (Default)

[personal profile] fivemilesdeep 2021-04-07 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
Nothing to say is not necessarily a good thing here. Not even Mort tries to interject, which is in and of itself worrying.

But...he remembers leaving Eloe for the first time. Remembers coming across his first caravan, entering a new city. Remembers, despite reassurances, being terrified that the people he met would turn on him for the smallest perceived slight, and being deeply shocked when they didn't. When they treated him like a person instead. When, removed from the context of his past, he could finally be one.

It's not the same for Thanatos, but it's close enough. He lays a hand on Thanatos's arm. "I told you what I needed," he says gently. "You can tell me what you need, and I'll do my best." Wait, that's not everything, is it. "And it's okay if you don't know what that is yet."
famtastic: (you're clever)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-04-07 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Oooh that's a thought. I'll network. Before that then...come on." She patted a chair. "It won't bite, I promise."
famtastic: (huh)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-04-07 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you have a heart and a core? Or just one or the other? Does that mean you're undead? What if someone tries to exorcise you? Sorry. Lot of questions. Feel free to tell me to get off. You're just mostly new and that's really new to me."
famtastic: (yes?)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-04-07 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Right." She's not great about this herself but she has a lot to call on and few people to call her on it. She rolls up her sleeves and grabs a blue marker. Ten guesses about what she's about to draw.

"Do okay with the demons?"
fivemilesdeep: (I'm sorry)

[personal profile] fivemilesdeep 2021-04-07 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
He takes a breath. He has no courage left to give - but she'd said yes, and he can't back out now-

"Promise you won't leave."

No, that's not it- that's not right, and he scrambles to amend it. "I mean- I know the train sends people away sometimes, and that's not- I-" He stops, and forces himself to take a deep breath, in and out, shaky though it is, before he tries again. "Promise you won't get rid of me if I do something wrong. Promise you won't- just-" He stops, gesturing uselessly in an attempt to replace the words he can't quite find, and slumps when that doesn't work. "Or if you do," he finishes weakly, "at least tell me."

There is a part of him, deep down, that knows Persephone won't abandon him - not willingly, at least. There's too much kindness in her for that, kindness she hasn't hesitated to share with him. The rest of him needs to hear it said aloud - needs the words to finally quell his anxiety, his terror at being among people and still utterly alone, before he can start stitching together the tattered pieces of his confidence and his calm.
sirentologist: (Default)

[personal profile] sirentologist 2021-04-07 06:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes and no. Sometimes there are Guardians on the way into a Vault. Other times there's just the Vault beast." Clearly, if he can't grasp this simple concept, there's not need to go into anything more complicated than just the fact that there are Vaults in the first place. She'd rather not have to try to explain that.

"As far I have been able to determine, no. The design is not at all similar, and I've seen no errant Eridium." She has her own, but that she is trying to keep from becoming public knowledge. There's a certain blue robot who'd love to take it from her broken fingers if he knew it was there. "There are also no indications of any similar interfaces, or of Siren activity."
famtastic: (cautious)

[personal profile] famtastic 2021-04-07 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I hear you there. Always good to take up a hobby." She cleans off the part as best she could. "You could always start a band. I thought of doing that once."
worthallthis: (lookdown-sarge)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-04-07 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
They pass it back, after running a metal finger of their own over it, thoughtfully. "I'm not always good at talking. But I hope this will have been enough to help keep it alive." There are lots of different versions of alive; living metal doesn't seem that far off from, say, a plastic ghost or a tree or a weapon who's died far too many times, now.

Soldat isn't one to ask for things, but they've realized a long time ago that if good things are offered, they won't turn them down. So they'll let Yondu do this, even help if he needs it. "Let me know if you need the stones. I'm going to get the rest of them next time points are counted, probably. There's sixteen of them, total, and they're all about the same size."
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-04-07 06:43 am (UTC)(link)
They might already have thought of the question, and their own slightly warped sense of privacy means they don't mind sharing. They stick the metal hand into a pocket, where they've already deposited the stones, and find the familiar shape of one of the five. "Here. This one's pretty easy."

They set it gently on top of their gun box, in Buttercup's reach. "Set it on your palm, and close your fist around it." If she does, she'll experience this memory, the safest of their memories with HYDRA. It's the only remotely happy memory where it's actually clear who the memory belongs to.
fivemilesdeep: (Mmmmmaybe)

[personal profile] fivemilesdeep 2021-04-07 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
"That, and I want to make sure you make it there in one piece." With the way Senku is acting, it's a concern, and the last thing Ryo wants is someone that exhausted falling asleep in the hall.

He walks alongside Senku, occasionally raising a hand for the kitten to sniff. It's odd, but it's cute, and he rather likes it.
fivemilesdeep: (But if we try this)

[personal profile] fivemilesdeep 2021-04-07 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
Devero please do not flirt with the teenage disaster bi it gets confusing

He ducks his head again, this time to hide the blush rising on his cheeks. It's been an exhausting and emotional day and he is not prepared to handle the sudden reminder that Devero is very attractive on top of all that. Gods.

He busies himself with retrieving the indicated box instead. "Are you not planning on coming back here?"

...right, and ask Devero to walk the length of the train twice. He can not win today.
zombiemessiah: (m105)

[personal profile] zombiemessiah 2021-04-07 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay so this isn't the fault of intergalactic aliens. Or, at least, not the ones you studied, but they felt fit to grab an expert. Are we all experts at something?"

Murphy's a borrowed expert, but he has the brains of two of the world's best virologists.

"You know, besides summoning whirlpool because you're confused...."
yondu: (2 3 0)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-04-07 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Sixteen huh? Just draw a circle on a paper about the right size an' I'll use it as a guide. I don't need more'n' that."

He knows that Soldat has limits on how much they like to be touched, but Yondu isn't all that averse to it himself. He pats their metal arm because that seems to be the safest route to show some affection and let him have that distance.

"I got ya covered."
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-armor-smile-confident)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2021-04-07 07:47 am (UTC)(link)
"I think, as long as I'm not outfitting the entire train, it'll be alright." Trunks said. That was the impression he'd had, and his father might've even said that, from when they talked.

"But yes, the trunk with it is taking up space on my bunk right now." With a grin once more.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971654)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-04-07 07:52 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I guess so.

[ She scrubs at the counter a bit more, then sighs. ]

You know anything about getting burn marks out of...everything?
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971815)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-04-07 07:54 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, it's really been a trip.

What do you think of it so far?
controlsthedie: screenshot of Thanatos in Elysium (Do me a favor and die?)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-04-07 08:06 am (UTC)(link)
"I... didn't realize I needed something." What could he need? Is there something he needs? Wait. There is. There is something Thanatos thinks he needs, but he doesn't know if it's something anyone could help him with. There's a part of him that's been missing, that he's only realized recently. Something incredibly intimate and painful but also beautiful and unforgettable.

"No, that's not exactly right. There is something I think I need, that my world needs. If I'm not on this train because I am Death Incarnate, then... maybe there's still a reason for this fate." Thanatos has to believe there's a reason because his sisters are the Three Fates. They weave the fates of all.

He sighs. Ryo probably thinks he's about to say that he needs to find a way back home to the time he left it. (Which is also true but not what he asks.) "I know your world doesn't have many gods, but does your world have a god or goddess of Life? Someone... who's the counterpart of Death?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971956)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-04-07 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, he is so cute.

With a soft giggle, she leans up and places a gentle kiss at his temple, just along the edge of the bruise around his eye. "There...how's that?"
hashtagparkerluck: (201)

[personal profile] hashtagparkerluck 2021-04-07 08:27 am (UTC)(link)
Admittedly that was not quite the kind of kiss he was hoping for, but it still helped improve his over all mood so he'll still call it a success.

"Much better." He states, grinning at her. Is he allowed to kiss her? He'd really like to but he doesn't want to push anything so maybe he should just leave it for now.

"So um... h-how-how's your day been?"
helborn: (i'm not an anime protag i swear)

[personal profile] helborn 2021-04-07 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Uh. Eighty, I think? Rough count. But I can hold like four hundred pounds of stuff in there."
agoodsoul: (2)

[personal profile] agoodsoul 2021-04-07 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
Dennis looks uncomfortable as Inigo explains things, peering out the window to look for what he's taking about. It's already happened, but he doesn't know that.

"Can't even say goodbye..." He mutters, "Sorry, must be hard, getting to know people here and then they're just gone." Who can even say they're home again?
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971678)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2021-04-07 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
To be honest, she had kind of hoped he would kiss her. But the fact that he doesn't assume it was okay is also one of the reasons she finds him so sweet.

"It's been...busy. I don't know if you heard about the fire in the kitchen after breakfast this morning, but I was helping clean up afterwards."
agoodsoul: (36)

[personal profile] agoodsoul 2021-04-07 08:53 am (UTC)(link)
Tidus has the right idea. Keeping him talking will help. He nods at the taking it easy, learning more would be good, but a little at a time is also a good idea.

"Yeah, got trains and cars, electronics." Talking about home isn't so bad. He sits up a bit straighter, "From London." Wait uh, different worlds apparently, "Earth that is. Still weird that knowing there's all these other places, planets."