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!
10billionpercent: (Ha Ha)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 10:32 am (UTC)(link)
Senku chuckled. He had some kind of reputation, didn't he?

"Probably not, this is a very tame experiment. Do you want to help me?"
blitzcheer: (wibbly wobbly)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 10:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Depends! What is it?"

He could joke, 'what'm I risking?', but he's way more curious about what Senku's up to. Give him the deets!
10billionpercent: (This...is exhilarating)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 10:45 am (UTC)(link)
"It's another SCA experiment." Senku began, setting his book aside without even marking the page. He'd remember.

"We'd have to switch for a moment though." That was more risky for Tidus than most. "I estimate it would take roughly two minutes. But in general, I'm planning on switching because I know they're attuned to the individual. So I want to open that jar there." He gestured. "Which contains urushiol which I am very allergic took and it should make my SCA beep."

He hummed. "So I want to know if it would make mine beep on your wrist, or would it automatically know I'm wearing a different one and have that one beep instead."
blitzcheer: (sorrrRRRrrrrYyyyyyy)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 10:58 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. It's that.

That idea he gave Senku ages ago, which Tidus only realises towards the end of Senku's explanation that it is. He looks at his SCA, remembering the time he took it off and exchanged it with Taiki. But, nothing happened then, right?

He shakes his wrist a little, finally deciding with a slight tip of his head. "Alright. But just two minutes."

And Tidus starts to take it off, rubbing his wrist some before he hands over the device, waiting for Senku's.
10billionpercent: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 11:05 am (UTC)(link)
It was indeed the idea that Tidus gave him before the last mission. He just hadn't gotten around to it. He'd had to come up with the best way to test it.

"If you feel any adverse effects, don't hesitate to tell me and we'll stop immediately." Senku advised him because he was not trying to hurt his friend.

He removed his own SCA and switched with Tidus, slapping it onto his wrist.

It felt...weird. It definitely felt incredibly strange for some reason, but it wasn't his wrist, or the weight, or anything that might make more sense. It was more like a feeling of unease.

"Once you've got it, I just need you to put your arm on the table near the jar."
blitzcheer: (very gud thinker)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
Tidus hums in acknowledgement, but he knows deep down he'll be fine; he can last longer than five minutes without it on, but he has to push down that anxious feeling that clings on anyway, whenever he messes with his SCA.

But he wraps on Senku's, and there, again - that feeling, an unease. He remembers this. His brow furrows, but he's listening to Senku, stretching out his arm so his hand is sitting by the jar, leaning some against the table.

"This fine?"
10billionpercent: (This...is exhilarating)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Perfect." Senku answered and undid the lid of the jar, leaving his hand on the table next to it.

Something very interesting happened in that moment - the SCA on Tidus' wrist would begin to beep, a red alarm meaning get away from that substance immediately. Senku didn't look surprised though, he was expecting the red alarm.

Then, after a moment, the one on Senku's wrist would go off, beeping in unison with the one on Tidus' wrist.

Finally, the one on Tidus' wrist would stop.

Senku could feel that some of that unease and discomfort was faded, but there was still something bothering him, however as far as experiments go, this made him grin. "Fascinating. Tell me, do you feel a little less uncomfortable?"
Edited 2021-05-01 11:58 (UTC)
blitzcheer: (blah blah bluh wuh weh)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, the beeping - that's a surprise. For at least a second anyway, until Tidus realises what it means, and it's pretty obvious it would do that, isn't it? It's interesting though, when his own on Senku's wrist goes off, and at least if for some reason SCA's got swapped, well... at least whichever one they were wearing, they'd be fine.

"Should I move my hand away?" he slips in before the question comes up, and when the beeping's faded - but whatever Senku's answer, he'll frown some, before giving a small shake of his head.

"Me? No - this is the same I felt when I gave Taiki my SCA."
10billionpercent: (Avoiding Emotions)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
Senku shook his head while the beeping was going on, but once it had translated over to the one on his wrist, he closed the jar and moved to remove it.

"I know, it felt really strange at first. After the beeping transferred over, it felt less strange, but still not right." Senku reported.

Then he held out Tidus' SCA back to him. "Thanks for helping. That was an unexpected and interesting result."
blitzcheer: (bluh bluh dad sucks)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"We were standing with our SCAs switched for a while - it never really changed for me. I don't know about Taiki... I can ask him later if you want."

But he's taking off the SCA as he says it, passing it over to make the exchange and put his own on - where finally, the feeling starts to fade.

"Do you think you could go around wearing someone else's SCA on a mission like that? That's what I wanted to do, but everything felt too...wrong."
10billionpercent: (Huh?)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 01:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"If I don't get many volunteers, I might ask him." Senku hummed thoughtfully. Otherwise he might get enough to get a good data point to determine whether or not that was a common thing.

Senku exhaled slowly. "I see the benefit of your proposal. I'm not sure I could contain myself that long." He admitted.

He didn't always have the best handle on his impulses. A feeling like that would drive him slowly insane and he already knew it.
blitzcheer: (everyone gets a keyword!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not gonna say go for it!" Tidus assures. "It's too bad though - I'd really like to be able to change the maps on missions, you know?"

Too bad the train wouldn't listen to the proposal if he made it, or anything. But the thought about the train and proposals reminds him suddenly, looking over in the direction of the kitchen carriage.

"Oh yeah, you see what the new ingredient is this month?"
10billionpercent: (Actually Happy)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 02:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes!" Senku couldn't fight his delighted smile. "I'm not complaining about food or anything, but I've been really missing some of these flavours."

He had wants too, sometimes. While he didn't mind sacrificing them, he was still human.

"It's pretty good, I'm looking forward to proper onigiri in particular."
blitzcheer: (never ever try to swim)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-01 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus blinks, but his expression turns quickly hopeful. Onigiri, he knows about that-

"Wait, so there's Japanese food in there? Like the stuff from your world?"

Did it actually work!?
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-01 03:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's what it looks like." Senku said, still pleased but a little curious too. "Why do you ask?"
blitzcheer: (what the f is this)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-02 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
"I asked for Japanese food after you told me about all the spices. Figured it couldn't hurt to try. I guess it listened?"

Which, wow. It really does listen to the most bizarre of suggestions. He's less upset though, and more baffled.

"Did it look like there was more in there than usual too?"
10billionpercent: (Slight Smile)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-02 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I noticed the spices, and I'm glad to see them." He said honestly. "I've been dying for some of those flavours again."

It was probably self-indulgent and practically spoiling himself, but there it was. "I don't know if the amount of food is more, exactly, at least not compared to the population growth, but there's definitely a diverse choice in flavours."

Senku smiled. "You asked for that? Fascinating. I always think the train isn't actually listening."
blitzcheer: (prbly huffin' 'bout dad)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-02 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"It listens," Tidus says as begrudgingly as it deserves (and with a face to match), "it just picks and chooses what it's gonna do anything about. I asked if we could have more food before mission time, but it probably didn't do anything about that. Maybe that needs more people to prove that hey, we really need this. That's probably how it operates, right? 'Yeah, I can do this', or, 'maybe I can do this, but only if people bug me enough'."

The annoying workings of the Voidtrecker Express.
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-02 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ugh." Senku said, probably how they both felt about that. "We could do something about the food situation if we didn't get dumped in empty worlds." He commented sarcastically.

The virtual world with the robot helpers was the worst offender.

"We did get double rooms this time." Which he had wasted no time claiming one, thank you, he and his husband deserved private space.
blitzcheer: (no promises there)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-02 02:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh yeah, I saw. Got those weird hire rooms too." Because who asked for those. But Tidus scoffs some, a sly curl coming onto his lips.

"Is Gen already moving in your and his stuff into one of those?"
10billionpercent: (Default)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-02 02:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not going to lie, the really expensive one is tempting for a night. Like a deluxe hotel suite." Senku commented with a little hum.

He laughed. "Well after getting access, I went to pick up Orion and the few things I keep in my room and checked it out. Most of my things end up in the arms band, but we'll probably set it up to be a more proper living space. It seems to have a bit more room for that."

And they no longer had roommates to annoy, which was good. Not that he ran into much trouble there.
blitzcheer: (a match to gasoline)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-02 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Perfect timing for the both of you! I might try one of the fancy rooms too." Because okay, yeah, them being there might be weird, but- "All that space after being in a cramped room forever? You could jump in the spa for an hour and then go straight onto a comfy bed!"

A swimming pool would be nice too, but you have to make do with what you get...!

"But hey, you got some room in that arms band for a few more things?"
10billionpercent: (Avoiding Emotions)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-02 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"I think it's the temptation of a proper hot bath. I think it'd be worth the twenty-five points." Senku hummed. "I suppose my husband could rent it with me sometime, I don't think he'd forgive me if I went end didn't take him." He snickered lightly. Gen would absolutely love having a proper bath.

"As far as I know, I wasn't aware there was a limit to it, as long as you could remember what went in it." Senku commented. "And I don't forget things like that."
blitzcheer: (ur not me mam)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-05-02 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's an opening. For me giving you some stuff," Tidus says wryly, with a grin, and out from his own arms band, he makes appear what's evidently a book by the parcel paper, even before Tidus sneaks a look in to double-check, then sets it on the book for Senku to take.

"It's a book about magic and computers, or something like it. Thought you'd be into it! I got this too," he says as he makes another brown paper bag appear, this time taking out a very well-worn book, handmade and the paper inside not cut so evenly, and held together by tough string. That's going down too.

"This is for potions from Spira, and how they're made, hopefully. I haven't taken a look, but I thought you might be interested, since they're most of the healing supplies."
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-05-02 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh! That makes sense." Senku tried to pick up on everything, but for him that was impossible, but he wasn't offended at the correction, he just accepted it as fact. He pushed the cookbook he was reading further aside to give Tidus room to set down whatever he was given.

"Fascinating." Senku commented, accepting the book and turning it over in his hands, before opening it up to look at the table of contents. "Do you know, I picked up a couple of books about manadrive technology as well?" He was looking forward to reading about that. The idea of combining technology and magic is intriguing.

"Oh this is interesting." Senku hummed thoughtfully as he accepted the potion book with much more of a delicate touch. This one was old, clearly, and needed careful handling. "I'm very interested in reading this. It might be worth it if the ingredients could be grown, potions brewed instead of buying them all the time."

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