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!
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-01 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Rui could not help but look at the mini pony. It was so...adorable! If they existed in her world, she probably would've bought several by now.

"Not really." She shook her head a little. She was speaking softly, as though she were a little shy. "I don't know this place. I just...got here. Unless you know an escape?"
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-02 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The pony in turn, is looking at Rui.

Pet her. You know you want to. (At the very least, Kaseri certainly would like it!!)

Katsuya ignores the pony. Honestly, he's a bit focused on the escape bit. "Errr...I mean 'f I'm honest I meant 'lookin' in like, th' way most look f'r where th' food is, or th' showers or whatever," the stuff people try to make sure is there before they complain even more about the lack thereof as it applies, "...But. Escape's sure...a way t' put it, I guess."

A pause.

"I mean, s'ppose if I got r'cruited f'r a rescue train b'fore I got used t' world hoppin' crap I'd feel th' same, so I guess I can't blame y'..." He's been a lot more relaxed about the whole affair since doing a similar song and dance on an island in another world though, so he supposes he has an unfair advantage here.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-03 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
That would be an unfair advantage. Unfortunately for Kaseri, Rui was too respectful to just reach out and pet strange pets. No matter how cute they were.

She sighed heavily. "Well. I've heard I can't go home, but I suppose it's also good to know the best ways to move about the train. My NOTE allows me to teleport through electronic devices."
luckydragonsfoot: (Heckye)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-03 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Kaseri just bats her big doe eyes, fruitlessly, and hopelessly.

Maybe if she's lucky she'll get put down. Well. "Yeahhh sorry abou' tha'..." Awkward...oh!

But he might have an idea with that last one! "Oh shit really?! You could prob'bly zip across th' entire train then..!!" He'll explain, he swears.

"Here, here, check it out-" He motions to follow, moving for the ICP of the carriage. "See these? They're like lil' tablets an' such. When y' use 'm t' make an announcement, it hits every carriage, no if's and's 'r buts abou' it." Katsuya turns, grinning. "An' I mean every carriage. If tha' still works for y' with these, you're savin' like...20 minutes of walkin' possibly!"
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Stare)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-03 08:12 pm (UTC)(link)
She smiled slightly at the adorable little pony and then nodded. "That's right, although I usually do that for a longer distance than the train."

Rui took a step back and in the blink of an eye, she was on the other side of the room. "See? I can handle the train alright. It's just..." She returned in front of Jonouchi. "Coming back from getting off if there's still no way home."
luckydragonsfoot: (he ran into my fist 12 times honest offi)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-07 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Errr..." Well, she made that dark. She made that real gloomy and dark. "I mean... ...Yeah I got nothin'. Other than y' can prob'bly do a bunch if we stop anywhere tech-y, there's uh...yeah, not really a way off until we handle whatever weird nasty reality eater th' train's up against."

Don't worry about it, it's fine.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-07 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"I wish I knew more about that. If it was technological, maybe I could do something?" Rui asked but frowned a little bit.

"But so far, from what I can tell, I can't even get in to look at the engine."
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-09 01:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Er. Prob'bly f'r th' best, train's kinda it's own bein' an' all. Y'd be pokin' int' somethin's head, tha' ain't righ'."

He has Thoughts about invading someone's head. THOUGHTS. "Hones'ly we don' know much abou' th' big reality eater either, jus' tha' it'll prob'bly go f'r our own homes too giv'n th' chance. An' not b'cause we're here either."
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-09 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"Just because it is capable of its own thought doesn't mean maintenance isn't required. I have to keep X up to date for her own protection." Rui said, blinking a few times. "She's my AI. She runs a lot of the functions of my social media platform. We work together. It would be easier to work together with the train if we knew each other better."
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-11 09:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah but tha's th' thing righ'- if we don' know how th' thing works, we'll do more harm than anythin' righ'? Get th' feelin' 's aware of tha' bit."

He shrugs. "Honestly I ain't gonna say th' train's great with communicatin'- be way easier if it gave us some instructions on th' patch-up end- but I guess if it can't pass tha' along, it makes sense t' lock out."
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-11 09:35 am (UTC)(link)
"I honestly couldn't say." She shook her head. "I haven't really looked at it to begin with." Rui admitted.

"Maybe if I can figure that out..." She could communicate with the train? She could certainly try.
luckydragonsfoot: (ewwwww thing)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-12 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Er..." No...no now he's got a bad feeling...

"Seein' how it's ended up in headaches f'r everyone far as I've seen...maybe stick t' th' suggestion box f'r a bit, yeah? Like, ask if it's cool t' try an' say hi 'r somethin'."
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-13 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Headaches?" Rui asked. "The train can cause headaches? How?" She blinked a few times, a bit puzzled by that.
luckydragonsfoot: (he ran into my fist 12 times honest offi)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-13 12:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nyh-" Oh.

"Oh, nah like...not on it's own jus'...tryin' to poke their mind with another mind I guess ended tha' way. Prob'bly some kinda compatibility thing 'r whatever."
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-13 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I don't have that kind of power." Rui said with a bit of a hum.

"At least, not outside of my teammates, when we're transformed together."
luckydragonsfoot: (ewwwww thing)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-14 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh! Well, guess 's all good then. Err...unless they all show up I guess?"

Eh. "Gonna be real, chances are kinda low- hell everyone I knew from home? Ain't actually from home, we're all from like...slightly differen' timelines 'n such." The blond shudders. "...got no idea how th' hell I'm still alive in 'm either."
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-15 08:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's alright if they don't." Rui commented with a bit of an absent look.

"Anyway. Thank you for the information." She bowed slightly.
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2021-05-16 03:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey, no probl'm! Uh...jus' wish I could, I dunno, brighten things up a bit? I get why most here don' wanna...be here, but it sucks, y'know?"

He just wishes more on the train were able to enjoy themselves instead of...well. Not. He gets why it's harder to have fun on the thing than otherwise, but it still feels bad.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-16 11:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"I suppose. I don't know, I'm a little lost at the moment to...brighten things up." She sighed a little bit.

"I'll try and make an effort." She felt exhausted already, it was nothing Katsuya did, it was just how things were.