voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-07-01 05:55 am

A New Platform [Intro Post July]

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 Merriment. 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. Without the fog, it would be difficult to tell they'd made the transition out of the Void - the platform is dark, save for soft blue lights high up in the ceiling.

The doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Luke fon Fabre, Lan Wangji, Xiao Xingchen, Ann Takamaki, Meng Yao, Cleopatra Selene II, Jaisyn Solo, Rogue, Adam Parrish, Yuume Souryuu, Pepper Potts, Ray, Futaba Sakura, Beetlejuice, Tony Stark, Kotoha Kakimoto and 47; all pass across the platform, not looking back. And then they're gone, disappeared 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. The grey tiles underfoot and the concrete arches overhead are hard to discern for those with ordinary eyesight; the area is almost pitch black. At the first motion among the newcomers, however, faint blue light suffuses the area from above - striplights have been activated. Behind them is a set of barriers, half-sunk into a wall of fog, and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same thick fog. The air is cool and still, almost stagnant, save for the slight breeze coming along the tracks.

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 dark haze; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, and seems smaller with twelve 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, perhaps ten minutes or so, 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 coconuts, bottles of coconut oil and tins of coconut milk, the ingredient of the month of Merriment, 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 golden cardboard box with their name on it contains a slice of cake.

New passengers will find their ticket allows them into their cabins. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. 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.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers taking advantage of the arguably 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: (Impassive)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-01 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
She wasn't expecting someone to bring a blanket and stretch out.

"Are you, um, comfortable down there?" Rui couldn't help but ask before she really thought about it and reconsidered talking to a stranger.

If he didn't hear her, that was fine too.
weifinder: (smirk | next to me)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-02 08:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Absolutely," he said, shifting his head to smile up at the unfamiliar voice addressing him. "Next time I'm thinking of even bringing a basket of food along—like a quick meal?"

Or more realistically, purchase alcohol from the train shop at some point and have a nice companionable drink out on the platform, but details.

"Maybe that platform will be sunnier, like the one before this!"
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-02 11:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, I see. Like a picnic." She responded with a shy little smile.

"This one is awfully dark." Rui agreed with a little nod, looking up at the sky. She hadn't personally thought about it.

"As long as you haven't..fallen or something."
weifinder: (laugh | of a hole he's made)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-02 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
He laughed at the idea, shaking his head. "I'm not old enough to worry about not being able to get back up, and any extenuating circumstances, ah... those things, this one doesn't worry about anymore."

There was only one time in his life where it was, and never again.

"Definitely should make it a picnic next time, though! Would you want to snack too?"
partofthecrowd: (Thinking)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-03 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Well...I do enjoy snacks." Rui admitted with a small smile. "I usually snack on things like jelly beans." She explained.

She ate way too many of those.
weifinder: (glance | yeah i follow my track)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-03 05:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Jelly beans?" He arched up his eyebrows. "I haven't heard of those before, can you describe them to me?" The train in its unending beauty of presenting more options than any one mind could possibly hold at once: across more worlds than he could count on all his fingers and toes. Eesh.
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-04 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh!" Rui smiled, actually brightening a little bit. "You're missing out then. They're a candy that are soft with a very thin crunch shell. They're almost pure sugar and each colour is a different flavour."
weifinder: (bunny | gotta keep moving on)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-05 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Sweet might not have been his biggest preference for foods, but he's still intrigued.

"Is that something the train has regularly, or is it one of the 'shop' orders you can place? How many different flavours are there? Do they come in multiple colours?"
partofthecrowd: (Oho!)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-08 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
"I haven't seen them in the vending machine, but the tubs I get have nine different colours in them all mixed together, kind of like a rainbow." She explained with a smile.

"Pink is my favourite. It's kind of like cotton candy."
weifinder: (listen | is hovering)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-10 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Cotton candy?" He blinks, mystified in an entertained way by this, too. "Another thing I can't say I've run into yet. These jelly beans taste like other things, so it's what, a small version of something else? Do they ever taste like vegetables?"
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-10 12:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"No, definitely not." Rui said with a giggle. "They taste like fruits sometimes, but are much sweeter, the black ones are licorice." She grinned.

"Cotton candy is also mostly just sugar that's shaped like a fluffy cloud."
weifinder: (smile | here stands a man)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-11 03:24 am (UTC)(link)
"Is it? Sounds a little like dragon's beard candy!" Which, were he to know, wasn't so wrong; the same candy floss was involved, albeit with peanuts and sesame seeds in the centre. He doesn't mention that licorice is more familiar to him as a medicinal ingredient, but he guessed he can see it something like candy?

... Or something.
partofthecrowd: (Oho!)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-11 02:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not familiar with dragon's beard candy." Rui said with a little thoughtful hum.

"What is it like?" She couldn't help but ask.
weifinder: (smile | ease the feeling)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-12 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
He held up his hands, illustrating the process as he tried to describe. "The candymakers have all these thread-fine strands of sugar, kind of, and they make them stretch over and over again to build a sort of hollow nest. The middle is stuffed full of the peanuts and sesame seeds! Sometimes other things, but that's what I remember. You might have one bigger than your hands, or one that fits easily on your palm, and you eat them and the strings melt in your mouth and stuck to your hands and face. Very messy, very fun!"
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-12 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh that does sound like cotton candy kind of...and delicious." She admitted with a little laugh. Her sweet tooth was strong.

"Except ours doesn't have the nuts and seeds in it, it's just the sugar. Sometimes it's different colours like pink or blue."
weifinder: (clever boy | you're looking)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-13 07:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh, what about purple?"

Asking for personal reasons of wondering if he can order any for Jiang Cheng, in addition to his son, Lan Zhan, and... "Or some kind of gold colour?" For his nephew, who probably would also like sugar.

"I wonder if we could order dragon's beard from the train too. It'd be a nice treat! Maybe it can come as all its... parts? Not that I've ever made it before."
partofthecrowd: (Impassive)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-14 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well I...honestly don't know." Rui admitted. "I hope so, I mean you seem to be able to order whatever you want from the train." She said with a smile. "I would want some jelly beans again soon."

She shook her head. "I've never made it before."
weifinder: (smile | who don't ever change)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-16 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not sure if anyone I know on this train at the moment does," he says, breathing out in a huff of laughter. "Ordering it might be the way. Say, if I do, I'll make sure you get to try some, ah?"
partofthecrowd: (Default)

[personal profile] partofthecrowd 2021-07-17 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you, I'd really appreciate that." Rui wasn't the type to say no to tasting new desserts, after all.
weifinder: (ask | from the cold)

[personal profile] weifinder 2021-07-17 03:47 am (UTC)(link)
"Then consider it a deal!"

Maybe he'd even see the recipe card in the kitchens, but at the same time...

... spare them both. Order via the train shop.