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!
blitzcheer: (always always always always)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-02 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Platform got you down?"

Tidus sets the clocks onto the table to free his hands, down on the first immediate surface he has to put them on.
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (i'm standing here)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-02 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Della lets out a small sigh. "... Lena, the kid from my world? She went back. Which... you know, she should! Good for her! Just... you know."
blitzcheer: (i still remember it)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-02 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh. Oh.

"Sorry," he says, the word breathed out, but still heavy. He makes his way over to her on the beanbag pile, lowering to join her.

"Yeah, now you're stuck being the only duck around. On a train full of featherless humans." There's some mirth, but it's light. Still, that's probably a part of it too, isn't it? "Were you two close back home? I don't know much about you two."
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (i'm standing here)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-03 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Not really," she admits, closing her eyes for a moment. "She's the best of a friend of my kids, so... we weren't exactly besties. But after a while, you'd be happy to have anyone from your world... sometimes I swear I'd be happy to even see some of my uncle's worst enemies!"
blitzcheer: (ummmooo)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-03 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hmm... torturing them by making them be stuck on a train? Not a bad idea... but what if you got stuck with them for a whole month? Or more?"

Perish the thought, Della!
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-03 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
A soft little chuckle. "Yeah yeah, I know I'd go crazy. But you're surrounded by humans all the time, so...you might be a little biased."
blitzcheer: (tfw yuna tbh)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-04 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey, this isn't my first round being far from home! Well, you, neither," he admits, "but I get it. I mean...we all want something familiar, right?"

He stretches his arms out in front of him, twisting them, giving them a look over.

"...You think I'd make a good-looking duck?"
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (so kiss me)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-04 01:13 pm (UTC)(link)
That makes her snort, mostly because she didn't see it coming. "Well, I don't know if you're good looking for a human... but I think you'd be an eye-catcher!"
blitzcheer: (heyy you want some???)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-04 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"You bet I'd be!" Time to flex an arm, patting the muscle there (it's there!!)! "A sports star like me? I'd give all the ducks something to watch! But I gotta know, would I have white feathers? Is it always white feathers? 'Cause I'm supposed to have brown hair..."

Or is it white regardless, top to toe?!

"I'll have to get a cool style, whatever I look like!"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-05 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ducks come in different colors, just not a lot of them." Della explains, straightening up. "White is the common color, but they've also got green and brown... so, maybe you'd be a brown duck."

Time for some reminiscing! "Fenton's a brown duck - he's an intern scientist inventor dude who works for my Uncle."
blitzcheer: (know what that means?)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-05 12:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ohh, a smart guy, huh? Right, right- your Uncle was the guy who made the ships. Did they make just ships? I know he tried to make the ship to reach you..."

He lets a finger arch in the air, then trail off with his words. Anything else being invented there?
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-05 11:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, to be fair, he didn't make it himself." Della straightens up. "He helped with the blueprints, but mostly, he had guys make it for him. With his money, he has access to the top inventors and scientists."
blitzcheer: (full of laughterrr)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-06 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
There's a low ohhhhh. "So then, what's he famous for? There's gotta be something."

If he can do blueprints, and he's got so much money!
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-06 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"Being the world's greatest explorer, adventurer, but most of all? He's the richest duck in the world." She listed off her fingers. "Richest man of ALL TIME. He's so rich, he's got an entire bin of coins he likes to swim in!"
blitzcheer: (ummmooo)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-06 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Swim!?" Tidus scoffs, incredulous, a look that tries to crack a smile, but stays puzzled. "Okay, there's liking money, but isn't that a lot? Why not settle for a pool? With slides and all that?"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-06 09:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh, he has a pool. But right now, my brother's keeping his house boat in it." Because that's a normal sentence.
blitzcheer: (oh it's a dweeb)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-07 02:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"...did he do that because he's visiting?"

That sure is a sentence, Della.
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (i hate to wake you up)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-07 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Della waved a hand in a so-so matter. "He was only planning to stay there until the boat got fixed... but with his bad luck, it kept breaking in new ways."
blitzcheer: (put some clothes on)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-07 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"Geez." Talk about bad luck! "Can't he just get your uncle to buy him a new one? Saves the trouble than getting the same one repaired if it just keeps breaking!"
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (Default)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-07 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Della snorts - no fault of Tidus', since he doesn't know the family dynamic.

"First off, Uncle Scrooge would never simply buy anyone anything. He doesn't believe in hand-outs. He's rich, but he's also cheap - the man uses the same tea bag for over a month. And second, Donald's also got his own stubborn pride - he'd never ask."
blitzcheer: (prince aliii prince aliii)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-08 03:20 am (UTC)(link)
"...no offence, but your uncle's kinda weird."

A guy who swims in coins and will use a teabag for a month straight. That's weirder than being prideful - because that, Tidus can get. But it's also a baffling kind of weird, because - Uncle Scrooge is just weird right now.
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (so kiss me)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-08 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
Another good, hard laugh. "You bet he is! You didn't think anyone related to ME would be normal, did you?"
blitzcheer: (wibbly wobbly)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-08 09:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Not gonna lie, they're making you look more normal the more I hear about them! A family of adventurers makes way more sense to me than the tea bag thing."

A pause. "Please don't tell me he does that all the time."

Please.
sos_pilot: by <user name=cupcake_graphics> (so kiss me)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2021-09-08 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Della gave him an amused look. "A month straight. Every time. He says you can 'taste the savings'."
blitzcheer: (GGUUHHH gugugughuhguh)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-09 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Uggggggghhhhhhh. Bleeergh." He's grimacing, shivering, sticking his tongue out even with that 'blergh'.

"Nope, nuh uh. Don't like that. Does Donald serve tea on his boat? I'll go hang out with him." After all: "A boathouse in a pool? Sounds like the dream to me."

(no subject)

[personal profile] sos_pilot - 2021-09-09 09:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] blitzcheer - 2021-09-09 12:39 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] sos_pilot - 2021-09-09 21:29 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] blitzcheer - 2021-09-10 07:04 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] sos_pilot - 2021-09-10 18:59 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] blitzcheer - 2021-09-10 21:38 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] sos_pilot - 2021-09-10 23:50 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] blitzcheer - 2021-09-11 08:34 (UTC) - Expand