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)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-08 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
As reactions go, she'll take 'cool'. It sure beats people freaking out and being afraid of her, even if she fully understands why.

"Sand you say?" She can guess the plants and games seem a normal enough thing. Sand needs clarifying.
philosopherspotato: (:0)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-09 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah! There's a bunch of big rocks in it too. It's called a 'garden', but there's no plants at all..."

Oh...It's a SAND garden...
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-09 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sometimes people say garden to mean a place they've arranged a special way outside. And then I guess inside on a train too." There's a chain of logic there because words were such wonderfully versatile things.

Why should't the train have that sort of garden if it could travel dimensions?
philosopherspotato: (oAo)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-11 08:28 am (UTC)(link)
"But if the garden is inside the train-" Well, she starts there, but then Death finishes, so now it makes complete sense again! "OHhhhhHHhhhh..." Well, then that's settled isn't it!

"Isn't everything arranged a special way though?"
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-12 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess, depending on how you think about it. SOmetimes things are just allowed to fall where they will. A garden is a little more deliberate... but even that's not always true I guess." THe more she thinks about, the harder it is to really nail down the word garden other than knowing it when she see is.
philosopherspotato: (:0)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-12 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Gardens sure are a lot of things huh..." Potato realizes along with her, perhaps slightly awed by it. "I guess that's why the one with all the plants is just 'green house' then."

Yes, calling that one for the green things is probably way easier, if Garden can be so many other things.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-14 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
"That one's easy, at least. That means a place that you grow plants inside." It could technically mean a house that happens to be green, but she's not opening that can of worms. Potato seems like the sort that she should keep things simple with.
philosopherspotato: (oAo)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-14 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
To keep it simple is definitely wise- Potato can definitely wrap her head around more bizarre and severe matters, but what that matter particularly is is often a mystery.

For now at least, she simply nods sagely. "Mnhhh...because we can't go outside the train, so all the plants are inside..."

...Yeah that works.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-16 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
"It sounds like they wouldn't grow very well outside anyway. No sunlight."

That does make her wonder how the greenhouse works, exactly. But there are ways. Lots of grow lights maybe.
philosopherspotato: (: D)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-16 03:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh yeah, there's just all the other lights... ...the ones you can't look at, or you get a headache."

She hasn't done that too long, fortunately.

There is a pause- "...You know a lotta stuff, huh!" That's cool!! "I bet you're as smart as Granny is!" Maybe even............smarter??
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-17 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not sure I can get a headache." Her head is technically not really there but... the rules are already different here if she can't leave the train.

"I've been around for a long time, I've had the chance to see a lot of things." She's fairly confident that she's older than Granny.
philosopherspotato: (:0)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-18 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"I wasn't sure either, and then I found out!" Well she sounds happy about that at least.

She is definitely older than Granny though. "Does that make it even cooler when you see more new ones?" Potato asks however, blinking her big round eyes.
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-19 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
It would be a new experience, at least. Remind her of mortal frailties. It might even be good for her.

She grins at the question though. "It does. It's exciting to run into something new!"
philosopherspotato: (: D)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-19 01:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes!"

A thought occurs.

"Are you gonna go look at the rest of the new stuff on the train now?"
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-20 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
She nods. "Sure am. If I'm going to... live here for lack of a better word, I should know all about it."

Sometimes language isn't meant for the personification of actual death.
philosopherspotato: (oAo)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-21 10:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Is it the wrong word because you're Death?"

This is a very serious question, but also, she just wants to know.
acapriciousthing: (Definitely Death)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-05-22 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Not Death, specifically. But because I'm an idea, that means I'm not technically alive." Mortal languages aren't really well equipped for talking about her existence. "I guess it's close enough to right though."
philosopherspotato: (:0)

[personal profile] philosopherspotato 2021-05-24 01:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmmm. Something doesn't seem right about that.

"How come people always talk about keeping ideas alive then?"

That probably makes Death very alive, if she's an idea then!