voidtreckermods: (sparkly train)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-05-01 07:50 am

A New Platform [Intro Post May]

On the Train

Like clockwork, the Voidtreckers are awoken by a familiar message this morning.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Llama. Points have been updated on the system."

With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later.

"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 air is sticky and warm, the windows almost immediately dewing over with the humidity outside.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Azula, Prisoner, Amery Vallet, Dyme Graydon, Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, Yoite, Piccolo, Bulla Brief, Xie Lian, Kurosaki Ichigo, Hua Cheng, Renee Corbin, and Ran Mouri; all pass through the platform, not looking back before they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

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 find themselves on a platform, rich wood and pale stone forming a natural, tree-like structure overhead. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into thick fog. The air is rainforest-hot, and the sound of frogsong can be faintly heard over the drip of the artificial canopy.

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 fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, and seems smaller with twenty-eight figures scattered around, all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. Then there is 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 pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. 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.

Behind them, the doors close, and the train is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform.

The Train

After a short time, the fog clears and 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 several crates of nori, the ingredient of the month of Llama, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. For each member of Purple Team, a small silver box with their name on it contains a glittery cupcake.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, but at least they won't be alone in their confusion - since the sleeper carriages are now double-decker, and experience isn't going to avail the passengers in finding their rooms.

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.

The new double carriage's transfer ICP is active, allowing people to move to a double room should they meet the requirements with another person, though they'll have to move their belongings themselves.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air, and 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!
enthunder: (smile ☇ thems the breaks)

departure

[personal profile] enthunder 2021-05-04 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Light would have asked after the gunblade when they were in the luggage carriage, but being burdened by a heavy case of gate parts and also a minor case of 'doesn't know what to do with enthusiasm', all she'd been able to do was grunt her enthusiasm and offer a half-mile. Now free from equipment, she makes a beeline for the training carriage, on the assumption that Q'uila will want--

Yeah, there she is.

"Too late for a demonstration?"
sciencegirl: (1 4 5)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-05-04 06:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't think you have to worry about that, Rich. There are a lot of people on board that would be able to break her. And... I put so much work on her, I don't want that to happen. So I'm going to do my best to make sure there's no excuse to."

He tucks her journal close to her.

"I spend so much time on them that I hate seeing them broken. A little bit of me goes into each one I make."
myblueskies: (they really are delicious apples!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-05-04 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay mister Phineas!" He smiled as he lay on his bed and looked down at Phineas as he went through his luggage.

"A long time. Since the month of Bassoon and that was a long time ago!"
promiselisting: (I can't deal with a Mara that oneshots m)

Wandering? Wandering.

[personal profile] promiselisting 2021-05-04 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh."

It's a very eloquent response from a very eloquent teenager. Honestly she's marginally surprised they noticed her, given that she's stuffed herself in a corner of the library with her laptop doing her best to give off 'don't notice me' vibes. New people. More new people, just like she'd been. She wants to try to interact with everyone on her own terms but of course with a train it's almost impossible unless she stays holed up in her room and even then because she has new roommates now and it's awful.

"I've only been here a couple weeks," her mouth supplies finally.

Ugh, a couple weeks already. She really hopes the others got her messages.
myblueskies: (the world is beautiful!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-05-04 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh!" What had he meant then? Romeo grinned at him as he asked another question. "Since the month of Bassoon and now it's the month of..." What had the train said. "Llama!"

Another grin. "So a very long time."
sciencegirl: (002)

[personal profile] sciencegirl 2021-05-04 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"I still have some experiments that I want to do, but because it's closer to mission time I've been focussing on finishing Claudette. Hopefully the security project can be better coordinated."

The motion sensors were essentially done. It was enough to pass on to others for expansion.
firewalled: (Once more?)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-05-04 06:35 pm (UTC)(link)
You should be careful... I know it doesn't hurt for you, but doing damage like that is still bad for your body.

[He hesitates for a moment, staring at Otoha's wrist, before a quiet sigh pushes past his lips.]

It's not your fault. I hurt you too. Didn't I?
gathersnomoss: (Default)

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2021-05-04 07:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"What should I see here that's different?" Zelgadis said. "If it's just seeing, I can do that, but there's probably things I need to know how to do. Or what not to do." Being a passenger on a ship was a lot more 'what not to do'.
yondu: (1 4 7)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-05-04 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
A voice he doesn't recognize. Yondu squirms out to see the young man. He has a funny thought that he kind of reminds him of how Quill looked when he was younger. Not dead on or anything, but enough that he's pleasantly reminded.

He can guarantee that Peter was more of a turd, though, without even knowing this boy's name.

"Thank ya." He takes the part and scoots back up under there, getting at a cord that's draped around the back of the table. "This is gonna need some cord management back here. I done made a mess."
oncedriven: (Default)

[personal profile] oncedriven 2021-05-04 07:32 pm (UTC)(link)
So, not that much worthwhile information to be had there. Asch just nods. "Anything else you think is important, then?"
oncedriven: (could no one ever dry up the spring)

[personal profile] oncedriven 2021-05-04 07:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Still better than this," Asch replies, plucking at the chest of his hoodie with an expression of absolute disdain. "Or at least bad differently."

It does seem like she lucked out as far as getting an outfit that suits her, though. It looks comfortable, even, though Asch wouldn't normally choose to show that much skin.

Her introduction gets a nod. "Asch. I'd say the same, but I wouldn't want to lie about my opinion of being here."
oncedriven: (could no one ever dry up the spring)

[personal profile] oncedriven 2021-05-04 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"We can eat human food just fine," Asch says, leaving out that Jade actually needs to. "It processes into ether if there isn't enough around naturally." But the train seems to have that covered, so he won't have to eat too much, himself.
zombiemessiah: (m30)

[personal profile] zombiemessiah 2021-05-04 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"About the missions or the train? The only thing I can think of is that every single person here is dangerous in some way or another. So don't worry too much about the kids, they kick way more ass than you'd expect and some would probably try it for suggesting otherwise."
gathersnomoss: (serious)

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2021-05-04 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"There isn't always a third option," Zelgadis pointed out. "Let alone one that you think of at the time."
gathersnomoss: (teasing)

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2021-05-04 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can't stop you," Zelgadis said. But he was trying to say it pleasantly.
gathersnomoss: (Default)

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2021-05-04 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not that I've ever seen," Zelgadis said. "Certainly not in the parts of the world I've been."
oncedriven: (could no one ever dry up the spring)

[personal profile] oncedriven 2021-05-04 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
That's good to know, he supposes, but Asch gives a one-shoulder shrug to it. "Plenty of blades look like children," he says. "Some of them even act like it. Doesn't mean they aren't just as dangerous. We don't really age the way humans do."
gathersnomoss: (Default)

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2021-05-04 08:05 pm (UTC)(link)
It seems to be the answer he expected -- good job, Hajime! "I'm a chimera. I used to be a normal human," Zelgadis said. "I was transformed."
oncedriven: (such a moment of such peace)

[personal profile] oncedriven 2021-05-04 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
...Sometimes you have to compromise, huh.

"Good enough," he says, with a little bit of a sigh. "And... I don't really think I have the context I need for that, but I'll take your word for it."

He has experienced exactly one movie, an action flick with very little plot but lots of explosions, at the behest of Mythra and Lloyd (who pretty much sandwiched him in on the couch to make him watch the whole way through). He's not sure if he's a fan of the experience or not.

"What did you wind up doing there?"
gentle_jim: (Default)

Handsome Jack AI - OTA

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-05-04 08:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Luggage Car

By now, Jack has seen several people leave the luggage car with a little silver box and upon inquiring about it, someone had even showed him it's contents.

Glittery cupcakes. And apparently only Purple team members were being provided this particular treat. Extremely unfair. First the fudge for Blue team and now sparkle cupcakes. Injustice.

"What, did I get stuck on Team 'On A Diet' or something?" he mutters as yet another person goes to claim their baked good.

Sleeper Lower Two

"Rentable rooms, huh? This your way of telling me you're up for that date?" Jack's leaning on the wall and appears to be talking to..... no one.

Games Car

Jack's been in the games car every few days recently, messing around with the duel disk awarded to him by Kaiba in the card tournament last month. At first he'd merely been slotting cards into it and watching it project holograms to get an idea of how it worked. By now, he's opened it up and poked at the hardware as well as started to read through it's code.

Right now, he's just watching the hologram of his custom card, Buttstallion, prance around the room with her Heoric Gun-toting Rider astride her sparkly back.

"God, I miss her..."
oncedriven: (from the heart)

[personal profile] oncedriven 2021-05-04 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Bizarrely, both of these things are things Asch actually does understand; his nod is firmer this time. (Even blades who live peaceful lives can't escape that some part of them is wired for fighting - or perhaps it's all the fighting they've done in the forgotten reaches of the past.)

"Jade and I will wind up going together on whichever team we go with, I'm sure," he says. "Normally blades go where the fighting is fiercest, since we're hardier than humans, but there's plenty of people who don't seem to be normal humans here, either."
lanxichen: (Liebing)

[personal profile] lanxichen 2021-05-04 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Xichen does not take too long to wind down the melody and lower the xiao from his lips, settling it across his knees. He doesn't look at the other person - new, he is rather certain, weeks on end on the finite train mean he has at least a visual idea of those who have been traveling already - but rather politely leaves him a bit of privacy.

But he does speak up. "Did I disturb?"
gentle_jim: (haha yeah okay)

[personal profile] gentle_jim 2021-05-04 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeeeah, didn't think so. Y'got machines at least?"
fightcreamsundae: (046)

cupcakesssss

[personal profile] fightcreamsundae 2021-05-04 08:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"I, um, I dunno about any of that."

It was Cherry who was picking up her cupcake and she had just finished peeking inside to see what it was that the train had given her team. She was instantly excited. Not only was it SWEETS it was also VERY CUTE and covered in GLITTER. What more could anyone want?

There's a moment of silence as she heavily debated if she really wanted to share this absolutely perfect specimen of baked goodness with him, but it's clear what the winner is once she spoke again.

"Do you want half of mine, Mr. Jack?"
gathersnomoss: (Default)

[personal profile] gathersnomoss 2021-05-04 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Printing presses. Firearms, at least in places without sorcerers. Gunpowder doesn't mix well with people who can hurl fire around."