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!
chocobosnap: (pic#12045179)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-09 01:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh, his name is Wen Ning? It was fine, it's just a bit weird. The other two guys are used to that kind of thing, they have titles in nobility but I don't. I was just an ordinary guy who befriended a prince and now here I am." Prompto smiled brightly.
fennu: (jc-24)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-09 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ah." That explains a great deal. Wen Ning, for all that he might be praised for, had his own share of failings, and his earnest politeness is one of them. It's the kind of thing not often shown in Jiang Cheng's direction. "Is that all you are?"
chocobosnap: (Selfie grin)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-10 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Uhhh yeah, I guess? I mean, school was like ages ago." Prompto said with a laugh. Two years, anyway.

"Oh." He said, bouncing in the spot to get his heart rate up. "I'm also a photographer!"
fennu: (UNTAMED-003)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-10 11:24 am (UTC)(link)
"So you are a trained warrior who fights to protect a friend and you think 'that's all'?" Jiang Cheng raises his eyebrow, but he lets the matter drop.

It's not his fight, is it? Not when there's something else capturing his interest.

"What is a photographer?"
chocobosnap: (Tada!)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-11 06:42 pm (UTC)(link)
He wasn't sure about warrior, that seemed a lot more formal than what they were doing, but Prompto wasn't going to argue.

"I take pictures with my camera. It's a great way to document our roadtrip! You don't have photography?"
fennu: (c431)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-11 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"No." He frowns, considering it. Taking pictures? The only thing Jiang Cheng can imagine is the art and calligraphy of his world, but for some reason he doesn't imagine that is what is being talked about.

Instead, he shakes his head.

"Can you show me?"
chocobosnap: (Default)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-12 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Course I can." Prompto said with a bright smile, and there was a little sparkle of light as he activated the armiger to find his camera in his hands.

"This is my camera." He informed him, but he didn't take a picture just yet, he came closer to Jiang Cheng so he could look at the back.

"Look if I push a button here, it will show you the pictures I've taken." He then was pushing an arrow to get past the fog pictures, but there were a couple of shots from the last world they'd been to, and then more colourful shots from around Eos. His friends standing by the Disk of Cauthess, was the first one.
fennu: (101)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-13 11:41 am (UTC)(link)
The sparkle does make Jiang Cheng pause, blinking for a moment, before he forces himself to pay attention to what he's being shown. The technology on this train continues to shock him, but he is starting to adjust. Starting.

Peering over, the surprise is clear on his face.

"It is like an instant portrait," he says, voice softer now, mostly from awe. "Is this common in your world?"
chocobosnap: (Selfie grin)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-14 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's right." Prompto said with a bright grin and he nodded. "Uh, yeah, pretty common. I got this really nice camera." He held it up a bit. "But people even had cameras on their phones and things like that. It was pretty accessible to everyone."

He pushed a button to get out of the recall of the photos he had stored on it and offered the camera to Jiang Cheng. "Wanna try?"
fennu: (012)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-14 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
The first thought that comes to mind is what is a phone, but it seems safer not to broach that for now when he's still learning about this. His fingers reach out, carefully, to take the camera, and he hesitates.

"What do I take a photo of?"
chocobosnap: (Tada!)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-17 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
"You can take a picture of anything you want. Uh, me, or anything in this room, you if you turn the camera towards you." Prompto said with a smile.

He stepped in front of him and flashed two fingers. "Here, I'll model for you!" He joked lightly.
fennu: (jc24)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-17 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Jiang Cheng immediately dislikes the idea of taking a photo of himself - he knows what he looks like and he's sure he looks stupid dressed as he is - so he nods his head. Better to take a photo of the man who the camera belongs to.

He lifts the camera, frowning as he tries to get to grips with it. After a moment, he presses the button.

"There."
chocobosnap: (pic#12045176)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-17 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Prompto grinned and came back around to take a look. "Here you push this button here and you can see the picture you took."

He goes to it and grins. "Hey, pretty good for your first try!" He probably would've said that whether or not the picture was good.
fennu: (c243)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-18 08:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I see." Jiang Cheng nods, turning the camera just so he can see what he'd done; the picture did take, and it seems fine. Nothing to complain about, right?

"Are there many cameras on the train?"
chocobosnap: (Default)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-20 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
"I've got no idea." Prompto said honestly. "This one I brought with me from home. I've been taking pictures since I was a kid." He smiled. It was his favourite hobby.

"I haven't seen many people doing that."
fennu: (108)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-23 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"There are many people from worlds like my own," he says, nodding his head. "Photography is unfamiliar to me."

But... He would like some of his own. He wants to remember the people he will or has lost.

"Have we been to worlds that have them?"
chocobosnap: (pic#12045179)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-24 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've only been to one mission so I don't really know, but I bet you could buy one from the points store if you really wanted to." Prompto said with a little smile.

"They make the kind too, the polaroids, that print the pictures right away. I don't have a camera like that though, at least, not on me right now."
fennu: (jc-16)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-25 07:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think I want one," he admits, voice low. If he can take pictures of the people he cares about, especially a-Ling... Those kind of things would be worth keeping.

Frowning, he looks at the camera they have with them. "Can it make copies of the photos? That you can keep?" He doesn't know what print means.
chocobosnap: (Default)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-25 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, uh huh." Prompto agreed with a smile. "I could print a picture for you if we go to the computer with the printer, but the camera I mentioned does it itself. So it kinda has the pictures come out of the camera right away."
fennu: (UNTAMED-002)

[personal profile] fennu 2021-04-26 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"I see." Jiang Cheng pauses for a moment before he breathes out, nodding his head. "This is... Very interesting technology."