voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-09-01 05:54 am

A New Platform [Intro Post September]

On the Train

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Nebula. 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 doors open. As usual, those who leave first notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. A-Qing, Atem, Beauregard Lionett, Casper LeBlanc Jr, Donatello Versus, Frankie Bacon, Ichiban Kasuga, Kumoko, Lena Sabrewing, Mami Tomoe, Mono, Peter Parker, Reno, Shi Qingxuan, Tobari, Wen Ning; 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 platform is open to a bright blue sky, speckled with a couple of clouds. It's very warm, enough that they will not want to stay in those hoodies for long. Behind them through the fogs is a set of barriers, set in a brick wall and in front of them is a single set of tracks extending both ways into that same thick fog.

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 on the foggy, blistering hot platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform isn't large, but it is enough to hold the 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'). They will also find a bunch of posters around the train and might notice the new clock in the standard coach.

The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, the ingredient this month is a strange meat, yaddon tail.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. There is a box labelled for purple team containing a stick of rock for each member of purple team, including those who are new. Join in your teams success!

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 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!
amnesiadragon: (maybe i'll even buy a sheep)

[personal profile] amnesiadragon 2021-09-02 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
He watches, taking the information in carefully. He's not sure... but he's used the Causeway. It seems like the same sort of thing. He heads in after Tidus and sits down at one of the tables. It looks like a table he might find in the Empire -

... Huh. How does he know that? He shakes his head and sighs, sitting patiently with his bag in his hands. There's a sword hilt poking out from the top of the bag.
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Games Room

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-09-02 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"It is. I've been living on the Ghost for ten years. Some days it feels a little cramped with five people and a droid, but my family's chaotic enough that that would probably happen anywhere." She loves them though. Wouldn't change any of it.
averyusefultray: (Default)

Re: Chores

[personal profile] averyusefultray 2021-09-02 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Purple's on passenger areas this month." He doesn't look new, but she doesn't remember seeing him at any of the Purple meetings before. Uniforms do have a certain organizational value, after all. "It only seems fair with how many of us are tromping through them causing the mess."
irrationally: (Default)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-09-02 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Alice gives him a bit of a curious look, momentarily stopping trying to open the suitcase she's kneeling next to.

"Merchants?" There's some confusion at his question, but then she realises it's probably since he thinks all of this was sold to them? She did say 'ordered'.. sheesh, it's always such a pain to adapt to what these new people do or don't know.

"No, the train makes all of this appear out of nowhere."

.. which sounds so weird and said with such a flat tone that it almost sounds sarcastic.. but it is just the truth.

The only problem is that Alice, considering what she's used to back home, doesn't really care about whether explanations sound ridiculous or not.
irrationally: (a little more now i'm awake)

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-09-02 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, it's--"

Before Alice can finish that sentence, there's already a dog right at her feet.

And who is Alice - even Alice! - to resist that? She can't say no to a dog who clearly wants some love, so the girl moves to kneel, trying to gently pat the dog. Even if it's not super easy with the way it's moving around, but she's trying!

She is also trying desperately to keep the corners of her mouth from curling up, but that's very much a losing battle right now. Ugh, what a cutie, this dog.

".. It's rare for people to show up here with a pet. It has happened before, but it isn't exactly common."
irrationally: (i don't even have a song)

iii

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-09-02 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Alice likes the greenhouse and the garden cars, so of course she can be found there pretty often as well.

And while it's not exactly rare to spot people there tending to plants - it's the whole purpose of the carriage, after all! - Zagreus seems to be a little different in this moment than most other people doing it. It makes Alice raise an eyebrow as she approaches him.

"Do you just have this one little plant to take care of?"
irrationally: (i don't even have a song)

train

[personal profile] irrationally 2021-09-02 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's not really surprising to find people in the garden carriage.

.. It's a little more surprising to find them just.. standing around and looking grumpy, for some reason. Alice isn't too sure if this guy is new or just someone on the train she hasn't bothered to remember, but the fact that he's frowning as he's looking around sure stands out to her.

Not that she has much of a leg to stand on here, considering the resting grumpface she's got and all.. But still. ]


What's wrong? [ She asks, clearly more curious than necessarily concerned. Alice can't help but want to snoop a little in odd situations like this. ]
anxiousbookworm: (Side-eye)

I

[personal profile] anxiousbookworm 2021-09-02 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Ienzo was feeling a little bit cooped up. It was a new thing for him, but he supposed that in Radiant Garden, and the castle after that, there had always been plenty of space- not that there wasn't space on the train, but it was still a train, and one was always going to be a bit constricted. It was starting to feel claustrophobic. So he decided he'd go out for platform and stretch a little. Maybe he'd even see someone of interest! He didn't know who, but it wouldn't hurt to glance around. There were really only a few people he would've actively avoided, and one of them was on the train already. He could always just get back on.

He did some big, possibly ridiculous looking stretches when he got out. He did wish that this was actually outside. He kind of missed outside. Who knew that was going to happen, not him!

He did not see Reno leave, nor did he really even know who Reno was even if he'd seen it, but he did spot Demyx afterward. In a purple shirt now instead of orange. Huh. Had it really been that long since he'd seen him? He looked upset, and while Ienzo had some misgivings about inserting himself into a situation he didn't belong in, he could at least listen, right? So he went over.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.
flatteries: (from the scrapes and bruises)

ii

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-09-02 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Inigo is looking around on the platform - not for anyone in particular, really, but when he spots Elidibus there, he can't help but approach the other when there's a moment when he isn't talking to some new person.

Sure, their last conversation might have been awkward.. though not exactly on Inigo's part this time, as much as it was due to the fact that he was caught between what felt like two warring camps. But that's exactly why he feels like he needs to hit the other up right now, as he approaches him.

"Hey," he says. "Did you make up with Q'uila yet?"

.. sure, considering the words they had exchanged back there, Inigo figures it's not as simple as 'making up'.. but he feels partially responsible now after witnessing how upset Q'uila had seemed. He's got to ask.
flatteries: and so was your food (your waitress was miserable)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-09-02 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Her upset state is more than obvious, which means that he keeps smiling in the face of it - though there's definitely the sort of look in his eyes that makes it very, very obvious that he feels for her.

"You look like you could use a hug."

He's already opening his arms a little, even, so she can indulge in exactly that. But he doesn't move to hug her just yet - wanting her to actively choose for it, especially when she's upset to begin with.
flatteries: (to shoot me out of a cannon)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-09-02 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
He fully moves over so he can - in the most nosy way possible - look in the suitcase himself. It does look like it's packed with clothes, but that's usually what happens when you get to order 5 outfits for the price of 1 from back home, huh.

Inigo reaches out, shamelessly grabbing one of the pieces of clothing off the top of the pile. It unfolds in his hold, and Inigo can't help but let out a chuckle at the sight of it.

"Short pants again, huh?"

Look, it's just that he never sees anyone wear these as much as he sees them on Tidus.
happyends: (light that is found)

[personal profile] happyends 2021-09-02 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, that's a bit too strong of a denial - especially when she had only asked such a slight, not-pressing-at-all question. Even Madoka knows that when people react like this, it's because they're trying to hide something.

The true question she's asking herself here is whether it's okay or not to dig into it - especially when Prompto might be really hurt. Is he the type who'd prefer talking about it or not? Madoka is only now realising that she doesn't even know.

So she decides maybe the right idea is to give him a feeew more minutes, and then ask him further about it. Which means that for now she is latching onto his hand, using that as leverage to tug him back onto the train.

"Come on, let's go sit down together inside there."

Before the train leaves without Prompto. That'd be even worse.
happyends: (i can believe in)

luggage

[personal profile] happyends 2021-09-02 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry, Ken. You should know the first rule of any carriage here on the train - they never stay empty for long.

So even though he sure entered this one while it was empty, it's suddenly no longer empty when Madoka enters the carriage, ready to pick up her own things. She doesn't seem to mind someone else's presence, instead just smiling as she spots Ken there.

"Ken-kun, hi! Were you picking something up too..?"
blitzcheer: (wibbly wobbly)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-02 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"They're good for moving in!" For sports and training, bro! Tidus is a fan, A+, will always wear shorts. And he's looking through the orders, to see them in the flesh from what he saw on the shop screen.

"You can try wearing a pair. They're better when you're outside though, in the sun!"

Ugh, can they go back to vacation planet? Tidus would like to, thanks.
monkeyinthewrench: (spy work)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"The Avengaboys! You know, earth's super-strongest heroes! The Incredible Bulk, Sergeant America, Iron Dude, Spiderling, Eagleeye, Black Viper, aka not at all a ripoff of another copyrighted comic book?"

Jake smiles and shakes his head. He's learning fairly quickly that this is the weirdest convergence of worlds. But that last word has his expression sobering.

"...I guess I don't. Not if all these worlds are so different from mine. But that's even worse."
monkeyinthewrench: ('scuse me)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Jake rakes a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.

"In what way is it not so bad? I mean. I guess we're not being tortured right now? But there's still time for that."
blitzcheer: (have a good tiiime)

( for wei wuxian ; weifinder )

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-02 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
It's later in the day, when the two have agreed to meet. Tidus introducing Wei Wuxian to the new addition in the standard coach, so they could meet at Beanbag o'clock (after dinner, that is).

...which isn't a current of time that works unless you're in the standard coach, but nevermind that, it happened anyway. Tidus is waiting in said standard coach, his calligraphy set and paper ready (plain basic paper, from the art supplies) to the side, while he himself is passing the time by playing a handheld game, his hair slightly damp from an earlier shower. He isn't so impatient to be watching on every body that enters through the visible carriage doors, but if Wuxian comes from an angle his eyes can peer up and see him, he'll get a lopsided smile, a "Waitwaitwait, gotta save," before Tidus will pull himself away proper from his game, the sound of music dinging away from the device, and

It will probably be better if Wei Wuxian doesn't wait, however, since Tidus will wave a hand in the direction of the opposite couch. "Sit, I've just gotta finish this battle and I'll be ready!"

He speaks quickly, hurriedly, to show he's taking this seriously; even straightening his back from his slouched position over the table, like it's the game's fault that he's distracted still.

But if Wei Wuxian comes from the other direction, then he'll be able to catch Tidus tapping away at his strategy game, with characters and their units being moved around a field.
monkeyinthewrench: (so about that)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Jake scoffs. "Oh, everything! Being a detective's all about knowing stuff from the streets, and noticing things other people don't. And sometimes serial killers have the wildest calling cards. But I realize that's not a normal thing people geek about, so I will refrain from elaborating."

And then he hunches his shoulders slightly getting defensive. "Of course I can! I was an amazing detective before I met her, and I'll carry on. This case is about to get cracked like an egg."
monkeyinthewrench: (spy work)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay...treason? What? Why?"

Jake had quickly dismissed the theory that this was a prison train, but maybe he ought to revisit that thought. Was he still considered a criminal?
flatteries: (and sat in the back booth)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-09-02 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes, because we are outside in the sun so often."

Look, it's just the easiest joke to make in this situation - but the last thing Inigo wants to do is to actually cause this conversation to fall down the rabbit hole of how the train lets them have an entire two vacation days and nothing more, so he doesn't leave it at that.

Instead he stands up, holding the shorts in front of his legs.

"How do you think I'd look in them?"
monkeyinthewrench: (spy work)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"So we're in the middle of nothing. Got abducted from home, all my stuff stolen, don't remember a thing. Probably knocked out with some powerful drugs."

He's looking extremely irritated.

"So are you saying we're in the Matrix? That we're a secret society fighting evil agents?"

He's got to write all this down at some point.
monkeyinthewrench: (so about that)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not the way I'd motivate people, just saying."

Jake takes a deep breath to ground himself. "Did you see any of that happening? People...becoming better, or whatever?"
identityoftherabbit: (125)

[personal profile] identityoftherabbit 2021-09-02 06:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"No, no, elaborate." Terris can't hide the amusement in his voice. "We're all nerds here, right? By all means."

He has to visibly fight not to snicker. Apparently, he's pushed a button. But watching this guy's ego sure is interesting.

"It's so good to have you on the case. Tell me, what have you found out so far?"

monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"...huh, okay. I respect that," Jakes gives the man a nod. "Always happy to see people turning their lives around, but...this wasn't part of your plan, huh?"
monkeyinthewrench: (spy work)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-02 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, I'm alive. Didn't get motion sickness, didn't panic...actually, are weird space diseases a thing I have to worry about? Wait, don't answer that."

Jake pauses to reformulate one of the many questions bouncing around in his head. "I miss my girlfriend, and my squad. And I'm worried about what's going to happen to them without me. They're great, they'll do the job, of course they will. But do they know when we're going home?"