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!
magicurls: (questions)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-04-10 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
"All right," Mami assures. "We have enough food, the train restocks at every platform...anything we grow here is extra for personal use. I'd love to add more fruits to it, we don't get as many of those in stores as I'd like. Do you have any suggestions for seeds?"
morganizedchaos: (you got a better idea?)

[personal profile] morganizedchaos 2021-04-10 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you started a tree from seed, we'd be waiting a couple years," he says with a hint of a laugh. "Even the space lemons." Yes, the space lemons are designed for rapid growth to fruit-bearing age - really, the botany people deserve more credit - but they still take two or three years to reach maturity.
magicurls: (with a wink)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-04-17 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Not necessarily!"

And that's the beauty of it. Mami clicks with her fingers, and Rosetta comes racing down her arm to sit on Mami's wrist. The small green hedgehog wears a pink flower like a bow, and chirps happily.

"Rosetta has the power to accelerate the growth of plants, and I know a few other passengers have that ability too. We turned an area from a barren wasteland into a thriving farm overnight. We're using that to cycle crops more efficiently."
morganizedchaos: (you got a better idea?)

[personal profile] morganizedchaos 2021-04-19 08:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Hm." That's an actual sound made with his throat, rather than the phone clipped to his belt. It's less bizarre than some of the other things he's heard, considering that that bizarre experimental fertilizer could get large tomatoes fruiting in the same of an hour or two.

"Well, botany's not exactly my area of expertise, so I'll leave that in your evidently-capable hands." There's a slight smile, a hair self-deprecating, and the tone of the phone voice matches it perfectly.
magicurls: (:>)

[personal profile] magicurls 2021-04-22 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
Mami tilts her head curiously at the noise, but smiles. "Oh, I'm just a helper around here. My real focus is cooking and baking. I work here so I can fill the kitchen with what I need to make a delicious meal for everyone."

She curtsies as best she can while balancing a hedgehog. "I'm Mami, by the way. I also work in the medical bay if you ever need help with a small injury."
morganizedchaos: (you got a better idea?)

[personal profile] morganizedchaos 2021-04-22 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
"Don't sell yourself short," he says. Her curtsy gets a raised eyebrow, but hey, he can work with this. Ghost bows back in kind, maybe a little more dramatically than necessary, but with a grin that says he's taking what fun he can, where he can.

"Call me Ghost. And hopefully I won't end up bad enough off to need medical any time soon - I'm decent at basic first aid myself."