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!
miseris_socios: (standing proud)

cw: suicidal imagery, sucidal ideation

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-04-05 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
[Ken watches her with almost obvious jealousy. He doesn't like the fact that he has to use the Evoker. For one, he has to keep track of it, for another he's never liked the imagery even though he's still not sure about how he can go on after all of what happened.]

Huh. Neat. That seems useful. My turn.

[And without any more warning he presses the Evoker to his forehead. There's a gunshot sound and the sound of breaking glass as blue mist swirls around him, his Persona appearing next to him, spinning her buzzsaws around and grinning.]
Edited 2021-04-05 02:56 (UTC)
promiselisting: (pic#12545591)

some strikers spoilers & discussion of last tag's suicidal imagery

[personal profile] promiselisting 2021-04-05 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
[ Even without the whole... added factor of her Persona and its relation to her Metaverse outfit, it's kind of funny how much of a psychological impact just an outfit change can have. She'd noticed something of the same while in Kyoto - as freaked out as she was at the others getting captured, and Zenkichi going in after them without any kind of powers at all, it was a lot easier to stay composed when she had her "game face" on.

It's pretty much that same composure now that keeps her locked in place when Ken summons his Persona. That composure which points out to her that Ken probably wasn't about to just kill himself in front of her. The sound helps - it's like breaking glass, not a gunshot.

Her hands still clench into fists anyway, tight and tense. She thinks she can get used to it, now that she's seen it. ]


Yeah I... Think I prefer our way. [ Her tone is carefully measured, compared to how flustered she was even just a few seconds ago. ] Also, I didn't even show you mine yet.

[ Her metaverse outfit isn't her Persona, after all. ]
miseris_socios: (suspicious)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-04-05 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nemesis fades, and Ken steps back. He'd thought it might not be, but she had weird goggles on which had to do with scanning, so he wasn't sure. ... He also hasn't seen someone transform like that outside of Featherman or something.]

Go ahead, then.

[His Evoker gets tucked back into his pocket and he watches her carefully.]
promiselisting: (you should've just left me unsubbed)

[personal profile] promiselisting 2021-04-09 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ Something about all this is leaving her feeling really... scrutinized. And not in a good way? Maybe she's just feeling nervous. She doesn't know, she stopped trying to fully parse her emotions out about half an hour after arriving here.

Is there enough room here? She's summoned in subway tunnels, sure, but not in a train itself. This was gonna be... interesting. ]


If we knock anything over you're helping me put it back.

[ She's a rebel, not a heathen. Plus her dad works in food service.

She raises a hand, hooking her fingers under her goggles, and pulls. As it comes off, it dissolves into those same blue flames that her outfit came from. And then, right above her, is her Persona, hatch at the bottom already open and waiting. Grinning a bit now, Futaba crouches for just a second, then launches herself upwards, catching the rim with her elbows and fully scrambling inside. ]


There we go.

[ Ken will probably be able to hear her voice in his head as much as aloud. ]
miseris_socios: (yay!)

[personal profile] miseris_socios 2021-04-09 06:51 am (UTC)(link)
[That's fair. He watches her and - aw. Why aren't any of theirs cool spaceships? He closes his eyes and nods, trying to send back to her mentally like they do at home. Sometimes it's just not wise to be loud.]

Like Chidori, definitely. Does yours also have attacking skills, or is it just for navigation?

[His 'tone' is a lot lighter, like a heavy weight has been dragged off of his shoulders. It's been... difficult to function as well without someone running analysis on who's where and how many enemies are around.]