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!
irrationally: (i don't know what is real)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-06-24 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"But then.. how are you planning on resolving that?"

What chance do they get to process anything now, when they're stuck on a train hurdling itself through the void and constantly throwing them into stressful missions? Sure, at least Alice - and Devero too, she thinks - are away from the bad influences they had back home, but that's only a marginal improvement.

It sounds like he might have a bit more of an idea than her though, since he is talking about resolving some things.

And Alice trusts him enough to be willing to listen to him on this.
subcircuits: (the solemn man)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-07-09 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Step one has been identifying the rot." He has to look up and away from her, his eyes fixing on the door at the end of the carriage. "When I first arrived here, I didn't know anything was wrong--"

He cuts himself off there, because even as he says the words he knows they're a lie. The skin across his shoulders prickles and he shifts them uncomfortably. "I had been in denial about anything being wrong," he corrects himself softly; the tension eases. "It's been-- months-- and I'm still figuring out all the ways she's fucked me up.

"Once I've figured out what needs to change, then I can start figuring out how I want to change it."

irrationally: (reverberating through my dreams)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-07-09 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
She, huh? She's gotten tidbits here and there from Devero, enough to determine that he really had been through some stuff, but here he seems to be talking about a single person. She wonders if it's the same person he mentioned way back during the tea party..

.. but it's probably best to not ask. Especially when Alice herself isn't at her best either, and she shouldn't risk any emotionally complicated situations right now.

"I think that part is much harder," she says, softly. "Figuring out how to change it."

After all, Alice already identified what needed to change a long time ago. Maybe she's ahead of him there, never having denied her trauma - if not just because the trauma slapped her in the face to a point where she couldn't ignore it. But it also means that she might have to find out the answer as to how to change it all by herself.
subcircuits: (never considered that)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2021-07-15 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
"It is," he says with a nod. "But you can't figure out how to change it until you know what it is. Like I said, that part's just step one.

"Step two is figuring out what your end goal is. What do you actually want to change? Step one is point A, but without a point B to shoot for, how are you supposed to plot your line, right?"