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!
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

Re: Settling in

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-05-02 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
"If this place is anything like the last place I was randomly transported to, that trend is likely to continue," Leia said. "I don't suppose you have a particular fondness for cats? I believe there was a version of you there who did at one point, though I'm fairly sure he was gone before I got there."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

Re: Settling in

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-02 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"I like all cute fuzzy animals." Not a particular fondness for cats. But they're nice. "But I've never wound up anywhere I didn't plan to be before."
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-05-02 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Probably not the same version of you then," Leia said. "Because it's safe to say that no one planned to end up in Nautilus. It wasn't really that sort of place."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-03 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm still getting used to the idea of there being people I haven't met before." Other planes of existence are one thing, but this was straight up other realities. "I guess it's nice that there can still be surprises."

"So there's more than one place that... brings others." That probably makes more sense than there only being one, all things considered.
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-05-13 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
Leia nodded. "Apparently so," she said. "Though I'm not sure how many, or how they might interact. I'm not even sure how many are represented here on the train."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-14 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess the only way to figure that last part out is to talk to people." No great hardship there. It was the plan anyway. "How they interact might be trickier. But we know whatever divides these places isn't as solid as it seemed before."
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-05-22 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
"You've got that right," Leia said. "And I'm definitely looking forward to talking to some of the people here, yes. Well, those I haven't talked to already, at least."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-23 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
"A lot of them seem really friendly." She'd had so many offers to show her around and answer questions. Not to mention greetings on the platform. That was something to enjoy about the experience.
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-06-01 06:11 am (UTC)(link)
"That's one good thing about places like this," Leia said. "When everyone is in the same boat- or in this case, the same train- there's very little reason not to help each other or assist newcomers."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-06-02 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Unless they're really hurting." She's seen a lot of things in her time, after all. "It's going to be strange to not know everyone but... it's a bit exciting."
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-06-12 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"That depends on the person," Leia said. "Sometimes, hurt is something that motivates someone to help rather than dissuades them from it. But you're right that it's a bit exciting." And promised to likely be more so down the line, whether they liked it or not.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-06-15 04:20 am (UTC)(link)
"I get to experience completely new people all the time, but a whole new situation? THat's been a long time." Every person was distinct of course. But the bigger patterns tended to repeat for a while.
motherofresistance: (Small smile)

[personal profile] motherofresistance 2021-06-25 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
Leia chuckled. "That was somewhat true for me as well, before I arrived in Nautilus," she said. "I had thought there wasn't much that could surprise me, but Nautilus seemingly went out of its way to prove me wrong. It remains to be seen how well this train competes."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-06-25 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Keeps us young, right?" It's dangerous to let oneself feel the years too keenly and be unwilling to face a future. "I'm pretty sure enough rules are already out the window."