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!
acapriciousthing: (Default)

Re: Train

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-01 06:55 pm (UTC)(link)
She recognizes every person she's ever met. Even merchants she collected millenia ago who mostly got remembered through a quirk of circumstances.

Though there's something different about him that she's curious about.

"Ingots? Still?" Whatever that different thing is, it's not enough to change that.
shitcopper: (Default)

[personal profile] shitcopper 2021-05-01 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Ea-nasir grins, the kind of grin you'd see on a used car salesman. "Not into ingots? That's fine, I've got all sorts of goods. Spices? Wait no. Crystals. You look like you're into that sort of thing."

She pauses for a few moments. "Don't have any tarot cards, though. Maybe I can make some." She seems to be very seriously considering this, and also maybe has a wrong idea about Death.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-02 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
"I really don't need anything like that." She's never felt the need to ask Destiny what's in the book. SHe knows when she needs to get involved and that's enough.

"And I'm not sure what you think I'd do with crystals."
shitcopper: (let me sell you some copper)

pretends this didn't take 2+weeks to write

[personal profile] shitcopper 2021-05-18 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Ea-nasir does not give up. She's the used car salesman of useless junk.

"Crystals? Oh, they're incredibly useful! They can store mana, be used as magical catalysts, act as phylacteries, balance residual energies, all sorts of things!"

She slides a little closer, not in an intimate way but in a 'does not respect personal boundaries' way. "You into magic? How about auras? You strike me as the type."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

Re: pretends this didn't take 2+weeks to write

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-19 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
"My magic doesn't require any bits and bobs." She can tell she can't do what she could in her own domain, but the magic's still there. And crystals won't make a difference.

"I'm not the aura type. I'm Death." THat might be the better option for shutting this down.
shitcopper: (ha HA holy shit)

[personal profile] shitcopper 2021-05-20 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
....You know, that explains some things! And raises some more questions. But Death isn't the first personification of a concept that she's met - not even the first personification of death.

"You know, I really should be trying to figure out who people are first, huh?" True Appraisal, stop letting her down.

"But hey, this is perfect! I have some great Stygian minerals, perfect for channeling the powers of death. Wanna take a look?" SHE DOESN'T STOP.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-21 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
"I think that's usually part of the whole salesman thing." People don't tend to try to sell her anything except when she's mortal. She'll occasionally make a purchase anyway if something amuses her, but that varies so.

"I'm a fundamental aspect of the universe and you think I need something to channel my power?"
shitcopper: (that is RICH)

[personal profile] shitcopper 2021-05-25 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, fair assessment. She's definitely a salesman, and a shady one at that.

But still. "Have you ever tried it?" Ea-nasir counters. Maybe having something to channel her power could be beneficial! ...In some way!

Of course, Ea-nasir's stuff is all low-quality junk, so her stuff would be useless for it even if it were the case.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-26 02:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I know my own nature." More than anyone else in the entire universe. SHe's completely comfortable in her on place in things.

Torn out of it, but no trinket is going to help.
shitcopper: (let me sell you some copper)

[personal profile] shitcopper 2021-05-29 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Ea-nasir's the type that's used to selling water to a fish, so to speak, but Death is rather. Stonewally. Well, death is kind of like a stone wall, if you think about it, so it fits!

Either way, she might have to give up on a sale for now. "All right, all right. Well, if you can think of anything you'd ever like to get your hands on, just let ol' Caster know, and I can find it. Merchants have our ways." But never giving up on future sales.