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!
promiselisting: (wild alot sighting)

definite Strikers spoilers from here on out prolly

[personal profile] promiselisting 2021-04-04 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah. Close enough.

[ Futaba takes one last deep breath to steady herself then gratefully accepts that hand. Honestly, in some ways Ann is one of the more reassuring people who could be here, she thinks.

And now that she's feeling a little steadier on her feet (ish) she takes a look around. ]


At least this place is a little too weird to like... think we got dragged into another Jail or something.

[ Not that she's sure there could even be another Jail in Osaka at the moment, with Konoe's already there. But even if there was, this one was more than just a little... out there, to really think it connected to someone's psyche. ]
menaretrash: (pic#14137161)

#fosure

[personal profile] menaretrash 2021-04-08 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ann grins and helps Futaba to her feet, before she lets her go and steps back enough to give her her personal space back. ]

This definitely doesn't have Jail vibes, no... and no one here seems to be glued to their phones or devices, either. I haven't heard a single person say the word 'EMMA' yet at all.

[ She sighs, placing her hands on her hips. ]

I dunno what's going on, but I feel like this is just another weird attempt to separate us all. I'm just glad that we found one another pretty easily. But... why a train full of random people, I wonder?
promiselisting: (all these Seebass NEST quotes...)

[personal profile] promiselisting 2021-04-09 02:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... there's something slightly off about what Ann says, but it's not something she's able to immediately pin down. So she mentally shrugs and puts it aside for now. ]

Huh, yeah... Well, I was getting sick of hearing people complain how it wasn't back up yet.

[ So no real loss there. ]

It's almost like this is some giant mass isekai or something.

[ Isekai isn't usually her genre of choice but there are a few good ones out there. ]
menaretrash: (pic#14137355)

[personal profile] menaretrash 2021-04-09 02:46 am (UTC)(link)
[ There's definitely something a little off about what Futaba says next, and she blinks. ]

But... it... mm, never mind.

[ Whatever, they can figure it out later. Right now, the train... thing needs to be their focus. They can hash out deets later. ]

Yeah, it is... let's just hope that this is a nice, calm one and not something too crazy.

[ Please, for the love of whatever 'God' resides here, no crazy shit. ]

The train looked pretty big from the outside, huh? I've never seen one quite like this before.
promiselisting: (I wanted it to be a 1% wipe....)

[personal profile] promiselisting 2021-04-09 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah... it kind of looked a bit like something from a historical American film or something...

[ And she definitely hasn't watched a lot of those at all, but Back to the Ninja III had a part taking place in frontier America she's pretty sure. And there was a whole plotline involving needing a train a lot like this one to get them fast enough for the time travel to work and-

She's zoning out isn't she? She's pretty sure she's zoning out. Futaba jolts a little, shaking her head and looking at Ann. ]


S-sorry. [ Anyway ] The platform was weird too. No entrances or exits, I think. Like we just appeared there.
menaretrash: (pic#14317398)

2 weeks later hahahahahaaaaaaa

[personal profile] menaretrash 2021-04-22 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
It did! So uh, I hope this thing is also up to safety regulations... but from what I've gathered so far, there haven't been any crazy incidents or anything, so I think we're pretty safe for now.

[ God. As someone who spent a few years in the States... she has seen her fair share of those films. Ugh. ]

Yeah, this feels like some Metaverse crap but it's... clearly not. At first I thought this was one big hallucination or something, at least until I saw you. I guess all we can do for now is explore and gather information.

[ A pause, and her shoulders drop. ]

...Kinda feels like we're back home, huh?