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: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-03 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
I'd like to go home instead. [ She says with her brow furrowed because that seemed more important than riding a strange train to nowhere. ]
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Default)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-03 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think we can.

[Ayumi jerks her head over at the odd station behind them.]

Whatever brought us here, I'm pretty sure it won't let us go back without doing something first, and that train is the only way out of here righ tnow.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-03 08:08 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not a big fan of being manipulated into things. [ She may know a thing or two about that. ]

Is there really no other way? [ She might not look it, but she pauses a moment and tries to teleport home. Nothing happened. ]
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Mildly Terrified)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-06 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
Not that I can see, and I think it's probably a good idea to get out of here before the train leaves and we're stranded here anyways.
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-07 06:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ One last attempt, and it's a no go as well. Rui frowns, kind of really annoyed about it. ]

I suppose if there's no choice. [ She agrees with a frown and exhales slowly, this is kind of a nightmare isn't it? She takes a few steps towards the entrance of the train. ]
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Kira Kira Smile)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-10 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
[Ayumi nods seriously as she walks with her, thankful that Rui isn't too set on staying on the platform. In her experience, going with the flow in this kind of situation typically saves her bacon, and with the ominous feeling creeping up her back she's pretty sure that obstinately refusing to get on the train would've been a bad idea.]

What's your name, miss? I'm Ayumi Yoshida.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-10 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ She can feel it too, the strong discomforta at being on the platform, that urge to get on the train. She doesn't like it, but she hasn't got a better idea right now. ]

Ninomiya Rui. [ She responds with a little sigh. She'd hesitated only briefly, but decided to leave her handle out of this. ] Most people just call me Rui though, if they call me anything at all.

[ Well, anything that's not an insult. The internet was harsh. ]
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Excited!!!)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-11 09:32 pm (UTC)(link)
It's nice to meet you, Rui. [Ayumi pauses, then laughs awkwardly. She's so used to utterly bizarre situations like this that she's only just now realizing that her measured reaction as if this was just a normal Tuesday miiiiight be mildly offputting.] Although that's probably not any comfort considering what's going on.
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-12 09:36 am (UTC)(link)
It's alright. [ Rui offers. ] Nice to meet you.

[ She isn't really sure what's going on yet, and she's not really looking forward to this either. ]

Guess I'd better figure out what's going on here...
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Serious Ayumi)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-13 03:10 pm (UTC)(link)
It's nice to meet you too, Rui!

[Having taken a few pamphlets from one of the more experienced passengers, Ayumi pores over one intently, absentmindedly handing another to Rui.]

Maybe this will help.

...haaaaah. This place really is just like normal for me.

At least I'm used to it.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-13 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you. [ She smiles slightly and starts flipping through the welcome guide. ]

What's normal for you? [ She can't help but ask. ]

Do you normally live on a train where you're from?
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Default)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-18 01:06 am (UTC)(link)
Not exactly. It's more the, "getting yanked across time and space to help with some kind of emergency before getting sligshotted back home."

So yeah, the train really is business as usual.

[After three years of this kind of thing, you get used to it.]
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-18 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh..well I can honestly say this is the first time it's happened to me. [ Is that unusual? ]

I'd rather be at home right now, to be completely honest.
hanabibloomingatthegates: (Excited!!!)

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-19 08:24 am (UTC)(link)
So would I, but we've got to make the best of what we got, right?

[After getting catapulted through space and time (willingly and not) so often, Ayumi's taken a philosophical stance with this kind of thing.]

We should figure out where our cabins are so we can put our bags down and figure out the train without having to lug these things around with us.
partofthecrowd: (Dressed Down Neutral)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-20 07:18 pm (UTC)(link)
That sounds like a reasonable plan. I suppose you have a point for now, until we can sort out what's really going on.

[ She's both in a rush to get back, but also not. It was complicated. ]
hanabibloomingatthegates: (:))

wrap this up soon?

[personal profile] hanabibloomingatthegates 2021-05-23 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
That's generally what's worked for me in these kinds of situations. Find a place to settle down first and figure out everything you can, then start exploring. It's just common sense!
partofthecrowd: (Default)

Seems good here!

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-05-23 08:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Alright then...I'd better find the room on this ticket first. Thanks, uh, for your help.