voidtreckerexpress | 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"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.

"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?"

"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.

"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?"

"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."

"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."

"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."

"That'd be handy." Man, if they could actually grow their own materials...! "Persephone's helping growing some plants for healing from Roland's world right now. I tell you about that? We'll share them out once we get more to the different teams, but he got a book on 'em too, just in case there's anything we can do with them."

This is a real learn and grow time.

"It would be good to take advantage of her powers with plants, if they're plant based, which I can't imagine they would be. I suppose we're going to have to take a look and see if there's more to it than just gathering materials." Senku mused.

"You didn't, actually. I wonder if he'd let me read that book too." He was mostly curious. "Planning for healing is an excellent use of time if missions are going to be like the last one."

"Sure, after he reads it," Tidus says with a shrug. Because Roland will actually read the books he gets instead of slinging them onto other people. "You should chat with Raven too if you're gonna get interested in potion making. She made drinks that make you sturdier - something like that!"

He can't help but laugh some, shaking his head and hands spreading.

"We're gonna be ready to open a pharmacist soon on this train."

Senku chuckled openly at that. "I could make you a pharmacy now if you wanted Western or Eastern medicine as opposed to magical medicine." He looked thoroughly amused.

"I make all the medicines at home." Chemistry was fun.

"It might be worth asking her, once I read the book for context. I want to know what I should be asking about."

Potion making. What strange place this train was, but Senku had always had a thirst for knowledge.

A New Platform [Intro Post May]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject