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: (:])

[personal profile] flowersinmyparadise 2021-04-23 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Tobari breaks into a smile.

"Yea, I saw that there are other yokai here! I'm really happy that they seem to all be getting along with humans."

He thinks of back home fondly, and hopes that Reimei's okay handling things by himself. Hopefully the other yokai aren't being too rambunctious without their leader around.

"I'm trying to do the same back home, myself. But it's still going to need some work. Who's the yokai leader around here? I'd love to meet them."

Learning some tips and tricks to manage this would be great, actually.
blitzcheer: (trying not to use same keywords)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-04-24 07:24 am (UTC)(link)
"Leader?" That gets some of a furrowed brow, but it doesn't break Tidus's smile; more confused than anything, if just for a beat.

"There...isn't anything like that here," he answers, hands spreading some. "If someone was a leader back home, you'd have to ask around and find out! The only leader types we have 'round here are the people who try keeping the teams organised, but you're thinking like a head honcho, in charge type, right?"

And Team Leads weren't that stringent.

"And none of them's a 'youkai', far as I know."
flowersinmyparadise: (oAo)

[personal profile] flowersinmyparadise 2021-04-24 05:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Tobari blinks wide-eyed for a moment.

"The yokai don't have a leader here? And they get along fine with humans?" he asks with pure bewilderment. How's that possible? "Do they hurt anyone?"

Back home, not having a leader is unheard of. Yokai left to themselves usually just cause chaos and are easily manipulated.

"What are the ones that try to keep the teams organised like?"

He's trying really hard to figure this out, but he needs more information for sure.
blitzcheer: (skip to end game pls)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-04-24 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"They're alright - just people trying to help out," Tidus explains with a wave of his hand. "We're Purple Team, so ours is a guy called Roland. He's good - loves to be fussy and work all the time, but friendly. He's human," he adds, since - that seems to be worth sharing with this guy. "We used to have another guy, an elf if you've heard about 'em? But he got sent back home."

And now that he's thinking about it... there's, what, one non-human on Blue Team, one non-human on Orange team for leads? Though, elves looked more human than not.

"There's been no fighting between humans and not-human around here though - not in the time I've been around." He shrugs. "What, do humans and youkai have bad blood where you're from?"
flowersinmyparadise: (||D)

[personal profile] flowersinmyparadise 2021-04-26 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't know what an elf is; but it's great that humans get to help lead others here. That makes me happy to hear."

Honestly, he's eager to meet all of them. He can't wait to see what it's like and how it's all run here.

"A lot of yokai don't tend to get along with humans, no. But," Tobari clenches his fists and grins. "That's what I'm trying to change - it's my dream to create a paradise where humans and yokai coexist and thrive together!"

His tails flick, and excitement sparkles in his eyes.

"I was doing pretty well - I already claimed a lot of yokai territories for it. Where I'm from, yokai answer to the strongest. So I had to prove my worth a lot of times. But, if there's a way to get yokai to work together without having to rule them, I'd like that a lot too. I hope I'll learn a lot here."
blitzcheer: (tfw yuna tbh)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-04-26 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, that sounds like a goal and a half. He's briefly reminded of the Ronso - those who seem to decide most things through strength - but it's not all the way similar either; there certainly wasn't a lot of 'ruling' over them, anyway.

And the leads didn't sound similar to this either, but Tidus waves a hand some conversationally, not entirely discouraged by what this guy might be able to find. After all-

"You should chat around and get to the know the other passengers - I bet you'll hear some stories that way. Hey," he goes on after a beat, looking around a second, "I know what you can do. There's a way to talk to the whole train. You can use that, get to know any other youkai on board."