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!
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-09-04 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sure." Demyx eased into a little smile, although it was his own fault for being weird about things. He didn't know what he was expecting out of seeing Ienzo again, but it hadn't gone like he'd hoped and he'd sulked about it.

"Metronome." He answered with a little grin. "I got him, ah, two weeks ago."

The dog in question was wagging its tail happily. "He likes music." Well, he seemed to like Demyx's music, but who knew with dogs?
anxiousbookworm: (Cheerful)

[personal profile] anxiousbookworm 2021-09-05 12:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Frankly, it hadn't gone in a way Ienzo had liked either. Hopefully he'd redeem himself a little bit this time.

Ienzo smiled back. "Cute. Of course he does," he said. His tone had a some amusement in it. Naturally Demyx would get a pet with an affinity for music and name it after a musical device. It was charming in its own way. "He suits you."

Demyx didn't have to worry probably, dogs were generally perfectly happy as long as they had their basic needs met. As lazy as he could be, Ienzo didn't think he'd neglect an animal, either.
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Oh yeah got carried away)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-09-06 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Ha, thanks. He seems to like me anyway, which is pretty good since...someone has to listen to my music." Demyx said, only hesitating a moment. There had been someone who listened to him often and he just walked away.

Of course, Metronome looked like he was being well taken care of, not that it was difficult. Food and water and attention made the dog very happy and all too pleased to stick around Demyx.
anxiousbookworm: (Reflection)

[personal profile] anxiousbookworm 2021-09-08 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Ienzo crouched down and held out his hand a little so Metronome could sniff him, if he chose.

"Technically, anyone within earshot listens to your music," he pointed out. "I imagine it's not a big hardship. Unless something has changed significantly, I remember it being pretty good."

Despite all of the complaining Demyx had endured, from Zexion included. To be entirely fair, Zexion's complaints were generally less about the music itself and more about Demyx lying around and being lazy.
melodiouspacifist: (Aw We Do Too Have Hearts)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-09-11 05:11 am (UTC)(link)
"Heh, thanks, I think. I know, but usually I'm just in the music car, out of the way." He smiled a little bit.

"Not that many people come to visit me." He glanced at the barrier slightly. Well, perhaps no one would come now.
anxiousbookworm: (Side-eye)

[personal profile] anxiousbookworm 2021-09-12 10:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Which was probably largely why they didn't see much of each other- they were both in their own worlds, so to speak. Demyx was a bit of a contradiction with being social. He had a personality that suggested he was a people person and might have a lot of friends if he chose, but he also... well, didn't seem to choose that. He'd always spent much of his time alone, separated from the others. It didn't surprise Ienzo that he'd continued along that vein.

"Did you... want people to visit you?" he asked carefully. They didn't know each other all that well, not really, so he didn't want to overstep any boundaries.
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-10-04 08:47 am (UTC)(link)
"I didn't mind when Reno visited." Demyx answered but he smiled and shrugged. "I guess I don't mind."

He didn't really know how to ask for people to be his friend. He was friendly, but not terribly social in a way.

"Nothing I can do about it, probably."