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!
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:19 am (UTC)(link)
They drop to a crouch beside her bean bag, looking sympathetic. "Wanna talk about it?" they offer, along with their plate of cookies. Though this looks more like a got cocoa kind of talk, if she's this upset. Platform days are hard.
wewillwewill: (Elidibus-faintsmile)

[personal profile] wewillwewill 2021-09-07 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, that question again. Though whatever other reactions were, Elidibus does seem more interested than taken aback.

"So these components are merely an amplifier? Would you be capable of using the spell at a weaker level as well? Or would it be impossible?"

That the train isn't providing such a basic necessity for this type of spellcasting... well, Elidibus can't say he's surprised.

"I would be interested in seeing a demonstration. Of course, I would provide a replacement for the required materials as compensation."
acapriciousthing: (Default)

[personal profile] acapriciousthing 2021-09-07 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
"This stop seems to have been a rough one for a lot of people." It was normal for missions to be hard. And there are always losses at the platform. But this seems to be more than usual in terms of how hard they hit. Maybe just coincidence. "It's normal to feel like this."
worthallthis: (told you so)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:23 am (UTC)(link)
Soldat noticed him shortly after he came in. They're used to being watched, but they also pay close attention to anyone actually dedicated to watching, out of deeply ingrained habit. You never know when a handler will insist on changing the routine up, or demanding a particular performance.

The sneeze does make them pause, and give Koumyou a brief sidelong look. "You sure? I could change it up. If you're that interested."
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
First, they shrug. It's not much of an answer, but it's a stopgap until they can free up a hand to take their chewing pendant out of their mouth. "Could be a lot worse," they say. "More concerned about some of my friends."

First Lightning, now Peter. Buttercup can't be doing well, but they also haven't actually seen her.
worthallthis: (thinking)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
"I mean. Meat is meat," Soldat allows, slicing at some of the new ingredient carefully. "I haven't found the best condiment to go with it yet. Maybe mayo? I think it's better cold than roasted, but I haven't tried. Sauteing yet, either."

They think sauteing might be best, because of the oil or vegetable juice it could fry up in.
bakegarasu: (his eyes have all the seeming)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-09-07 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. Platform days are always hard." He looks at what Soldat has been working on. "Need a hand? I can chop or something."

He's not exactly going to be the best help, but Soldat's a friend. He wants to be helpful for him, at least.
worthallthis: (thinking)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Meat from some kind of animal I've never heard of," Soldat says with a helpless little shrug. "Reminds me of the bear meat. Actually." Which means no roasting unless they want to turn it inedible.
wewillwewill: (ard-sidelong)

[personal profile] wewillwewill 2021-09-07 04:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes. Though in this case, I will make use of the clock you already possess." Setting down the pencil, Elidibus reaches for the clock he'd been given to examine.

Ah the missing 'time'. "Do you refer to the time between the final hour and when we awaken in our beds?" That was disconcerting to say the least when he first experienced it. "...What exactly are the measures for each of these sections? Or at least its total?" The Ascian studies Tidus a moment, before then turning his observation to the clock.

"Do timers and clocks belonging to passengers normally mark the missing hours? Would this device be special in some way and stop during the missing time? I can take this into account, but please be as accurate as you can."
worthallthis: (Default)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Actually pretty good for the mission," Soldat admits. "Past two haven't needed much from the supplies. So they've just been. Kind of. Piling up in the Arms band."

Because Soldat has only taken a few days off from work, in the past two months. Maybe they're experimenting a little more, taking it a little slower, but still. Baking every day for missions, nearly.
worthallthis: (smilesad)

[personal profile] worthallthis 2021-09-07 04:36 am (UTC)(link)
"Not bothering me," they assure her. They're used to being watched while they work. "I'm probably not the most impressive person. On this train, though. You should see some of the others." They don't even have magic! (YES, YOU DO. Not combat magic. IT COULD BE, IF WE PRACTICED MORE.)
flameinthedarkness: (Worry 01)

[personal profile] flameinthedarkness 2021-09-07 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
Then Idia would have to weigh up the options between running and hiding in a corner. But for now, that wasn't an issue.

Instead it was nervously waiting until he got an answer, Idia pulling at one of the end of his sleeves with his opposite hand. What was that all about, huh? Was it really that hard of a question? Was this guy judging him? He wasn't the one hogging all the cards now, was he? When that answer finally came to break the silence, Idia's shoulders slumped a little in relief, realizing it was only still polite to thank him, despite that whole staring thing the other guy had done. "Thanks." But not really. Don't you know it's rude to stare?

Ah, oh, there was another issue with that. It's the fact the case was clearly resting on some sort of weapon! Who puts a weapon on a table? Idia had just planned to slide the case over to him, but since he has to actually lift it as well he instead settles on another method to do so; a wave of his hand to use magic to lift the case far enough into the air that he could move it without dragging the weapon along with it. Would it be considered too rude for Idia to take it to another table? Maybe, both for this guy and if someone wanted to use the other table. So instead Idia lets the case settle on the opposite side of the table to Xehanort.
blitzcheer: (very gud thinker)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-07 04:48 am (UTC)(link)
Was he going to take off the clock front? ...well, Tidus wasn't against it, if it meant a better way of telling time than "mop and bucket o'clock". But he should have expected the following questions, particularly about timing. He starts humming and hawing, before sitting down in the seat opposite Elidibus, bringing out his notebook with a, "Wait, lemme see... ah..." and starting to flip through it.

He's got the times here somewhere. Senku sat and counted them for him!

"I think other clocks count all the time, but I can't be sure. I got one clock, my first one, and it started at a different time each day. Senku thinks it was doing that because of the time we sleep? But this clock-"

He stops his page flipping, looking over to the small alarm clock.

"I just got it. I...don't know what it does when we're asleep." His eyes go to Elidibus. "Let me grab the times?"

Maybe they count the sleeping time too - he wasn't exactly sure of anything with the clocks, other than them being good for some form of scheduling. But giving the time, he'll be manage to find the page he wants, and turn the book to Elidibus, jabbing a finger at the numbers.

(There's other random notes on the page, nonsense, written in a particular hand. 'ingots? 4 weapons - quila', 'fire gem any gem', 'more smoke bombs', 'blitzball bomb', 'capsules no good 4 food'. )
yondu: (2 1 5)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-09-07 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Y'know what? I'll help get ya somethin'. Alright?"

He remembers the first time he met Peter he was eight. Eight and small and incredibly fragile. Memories were all well and good, but sometimes it was nice to help those memories along. That's what he kept his own trinkets for.
yondu: (0 8 2)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-09-07 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
Right. Right. Context. He has all the bearing of a concerned father here.

"Kyoko, well... the one with the Purple Team. She had a real close friend, Mami. She really liked her cookin', an' Kyoko likes eatin' an'-

"I guess I got reminded that it's more than us bein' down someone that knows their way around a kitchen. That girl was family to someone." He looks at the deformed fruits he'd just tried to render.

"You know how to deal with a heartbroke girl? 'Cause thatn's new for me." He's dealt with a pervy boy, not tragic teenage depression in a person that could literally turn into a monster if it overtook her. And yes. Yes he's asking this to a magical storage device. But he doesn't know Potato. Hell, one of the best parents he knows is a duck!
yondu: (2 2 1)

[personal profile] yondu 2021-09-07 06:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Normal." He says at the last creation. Fortunately, none of them are poisonous. Just very confused.

She's a good-looking lady, though. He will note that. But he can't tell whether it's the 'studious' good-looking or the 'eat someone up' good-looking. At the moment she's just coming off as that curious, studious bit.

"Normally I eat a lot of meat, so the mystery meat ain't no problem for me. I prefer it." Them sharp teeth. "I just think people get scared. Train might be reliable now, but I don't trust it to stay reliable. But uh... I only ever started eatin' this kind of fruit on the train." And that means he has only a few months worth of familiarity to work with.
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
Jake twitched his nose. Huh. Did the cool lady think he was going to cause trouble or something? That was decidedly not cool!

"Well...we're all kidnapped, that sucks. Definitely. But I'll have you know I'm a trained detective. I laugh at danger! And I pick my socks up off the floor. Totally doing the adult thing right."
monkeyinthewrench: (stare)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
Oh...this dude's dead. Dead like a zombie, or dead like Hades, or like a spirit guide....his jaw drops briefly as if to ask, but he realizes this barrage of death related questions is highly inappropriate.

"Wow, I'm...sorry to hear that, man."

He's mature enough now to let that linger a moment before resuming.

"Waterpark sounds super fun, wish I hadn't missed it, but...man, my boss never takes me to the waterpark for dealing with stuff like that. The conductor must be at least somewhat cool."
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
"There might be. They're usually pretty low to the ground."

Jake gets down and crawls by the fridge, snaking an arm behind it. Alright, machine in! And it turns on!

"...Ooh, I think it's working! Though we might want to think about moving it once we test it out, all these suitcases don't make the best stage. You need room if you're gonna perform with your whole body."
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh my god. Chopped up like a butcher. It's even more gruesome than I imagined."

Jake recognizes that word and smiles, a distinct gleam in his eye. "But we're okay. I'll get on, we'll go save the worlds...got any more incredible inventions to show us?"
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
Jake's frown twitches to the side. "No pattern is the worst pattern! But that's okay. Wouldn't be fun to crack the case if it was too easy."

He makes another note. "So does that mean you don't like to talk about yourself?"
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh right! I knew that. I swear I read words and don't just look at the pictures."

Manga's not even that word-heavy! Amy would be so disappointed. But he smiles and carries on.

"Oh cool, chemistry. I was terrible at it. And I was going to ask about that, actually. Big dangerous missions where people are probably falling left and right, and I didn't hear anything about a medical team."
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:27 am (UTC)(link)
"...whoa, movies and games. I'd almost think they were trying to make this a pleasure cruise. To keep us nice and well-behaved."

Jake sounds suspicious for about 5 seconds before he brushes this aside. "All that stuff and you don't hang out? Did it get boring already?"
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Whoa, so. Cool aliens everywhere. Wait, sorry, is that an offensive term? Probably is. I mean. People who come from cool places and have cool stuff."

He fiddles with his notebook a minute. "So, uh, I'm Jake. I'm a detective, snooping's kind of what I do."
monkeyinthewrench: (Default)

[personal profile] monkeyinthewrench 2021-09-07 06:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Well that was nice of it."

Okay, so Amy and Holt and Charles and Rosa and Terry and Gina and...heck, even Hitchcock and Scully, probably aren't dead. That's a relief. He exhales as he listens to the rest, and then he has to wonder.

"Wow. Okay. So I guess I earned it with my illustrious detective career, but how'd you get your hero card? It's gotta be a good story."