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!
flowersinmyparadise: (xD)

[personal profile] flowersinmyparadise 2021-04-21 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, a cart!" That must be what he heard. "Yea, that makes sense!"

It also makes all the luggage make a lot more sense. Honestly, riding with a bunch of people on a cart sounds like a fun bonding experience. He's looking all the more forward to being here.

"Where is everybody else? Or is it just you and me for now? Do we pick up more people later?"
chocobosnap: (Selfie grin)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-21 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh, well, you can totally consider it like that. It's just really really long, and not uncovered." Prompto said with a hum.

He smiled and pointed at the door. "If you go through there, you'll find the other cars. There's a lot of people on board right now, but uh, yeah! Every two weeks people go and come, or so I'm told. This is only my first time stopping to pick people up since I got here last time."
flowersinmyparadise: (^o^)

[personal profile] flowersinmyparadise 2021-04-24 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Every two weeks, huh? That sounds like a lot of people."

But if they come and go, it probably balances out.

Tobari just beams.

"I can't wait to see the places we go to, then. I want to see where these people come from and the villages they want to head to."

He clearly has the wrong idea about how this train works, where people leave and come back just as they please.

"Hey, what's it like where you're from?"

Tobari plops himself down to sit in his box (he hasn't left it yet) and looks like a child getting ready for story time. He wants to get to know Prompto first.
chocobosnap: (pic#12045178)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-24 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"O-Oh um..." Prompto was wringing his hands a little bit. He hated being the bearer of bad news. "We don't uh, go to our worlds? I mean. We get these missions you see. T-To save people! So it's good! It's just uh, I don't think anyone knows how to go home."

He looked very apologetic but he was trying to smile. See? It wasn't all bad!

"Well, uh, I'm from Eos. That's my world and um, my country is Lucis. I was on a road trip so now I've gotten to see a chance outside the city. It's kind of exciting. And pretty!"

It was also a living nightmare, but that part was left unsaid. For now.
flowersinmyparadise: (oAo)

[personal profile] flowersinmyparadise 2021-04-26 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Tobari's ears twitch while Prompto talks, noticing the smile over the apologetics, and something off about Prompto's excitement. But he can't tell what. He resists tilting his head a little as he opts to try to follow along instead. Leave the subtle body language for when Prompto wants to talk about it - he won't prod. Even if he really wants to.

However, this whole thing about not going to their worlds and how no one knows how to get back home doesn't exactly make a landing for him. Best as he can figure, it just means that everyone brought here (wherever here is) is lost and just doesn't know where their designated villages are as of yet. It sounds like everyone is chosen to help other people though!

"Can't complain about helping people, especially if it's a mission to do so!" That's an excitement all by itself. He can tell it's going to be worth it to be here. Maybe he'll learn lots of new things, too.

"I've never heard of Eos. I bet it's nice. And you said you get to travel?"
chocobosnap: (Selfie grin)

[personal profile] chocobosnap 2021-04-27 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
"I think so too." At least, Prompto wasn't complaining about that, but they did need to head home. Noctis had things to do, after all.

"Yeah, we're on a road trip! It's me and my three best friends." He grinned. "We've gotten to drive all the way across Lucis which is pretty cool in itself. I've gotten so many pictures!"

They couldn't go back. It was better to focus on the positive though.