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!
longforgottenpromise: (listening)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-09-05 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
He shook his head, "No. I didn't see any red."

It was a small number joining them this time. It varied vastly, sometimes there had been only a few people, other times the platform was crowded. Another mystery, a question with no answers.

"I saw a blue I think and a couple of oranges but mostly purple."
controlsthedie: painterly side profile of Thanatos with purple butterfly (If you take my advice)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-09-08 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
He'll have to do a recount of how big the different teams are. It's unbalanced, and he worries about what it might mean for missions. Sure, people don't necessarily stick to the same teams, but... it still concerns him.

"Has it always been like this? Do you know?" Thanatos realizes he doesn't know how long Taiki has been on the train. Longer than him at least, and being on the Red Team, Taiki would hopefully pay attention to that.
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-09-08 05:01 am (UTC)(link)
"I think so... Um I mean since I arrived it has been so. Red has always been the smallest."

Blue was pretty small as well. He had never kept a strict count but he was certain Blue had always outnumbered red.

"I guess their missions... Tend to be more specific in nature." Not that he had ever done a red mission. The one time he had tried he had been evacuated to orange after the first night.
controlsthedie: game art of Thanatos default conversation picture (But the other saying I like so much more)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-09-11 07:53 am (UTC)(link)
"More specific, but I question the inclusion of certain members on this team." Buttercup and Ken are still on the train, even if Mono is no longer with them. They can fight, and Thanatos knows that children their ages have fought in wars before. However, that doesn't mean they should be forced to fight. Thanatos wonders if they are closer to him, only knowing a certain way of life, and that's why they ended up on the team.

Then there's the fact that a number of Reds don't even participate on their missions. That suggests that they'd be better suited somewhere else, right? Even he questions his placement. (Though, Thanatos doesn't know what other team he'd even be on if not Red.) "Let's hope the Red Team will never be given a mission too big for the size it is, even with others joining in."
longforgottenpromise: (thoughtful)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-09-11 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes..." He bowed his head. He had no idea why he was on this team, a creature who could not fight unless ordered to by his king, someone who wasn't even on the train any more. Someone who was ill if they were near bloodshed. He was no use to Red team in any way.

Plus there were children on red team. No one should have to fight but children especially should be kept away from violence.

"I hope not..."
controlsthedie: painterly side profile of Thanatos with purple butterfly (If you take my advice)

end thread?

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-09-12 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Thanatos tries to appear calm even if he feels his anger start to rise. Not now. Not here. There is someone who he can yell at, and as soon as the train doors open, he's going to. Maybe it'll even have a chance of doing something to fix this.

He looks back at the train, waiting for those doors to open, so he can shift inside and give a piece of his mind to the one entity that might know something but remains all too secretive.
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

sure!

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-09-12 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
Taiki's not sure what he said. But he can tell something is wrong, that Thanatos is angry. At the situation? At him?

But he drops his eyes, assuming it was something he had done, or said, or not said. He glanced at the train as the doors opened again and then back to Thanatos, apologetic.
controlsthedie: screenshot of Thanatos shifting away in Elysium (Guh-dong...)

Nooo Taiki, he's not upset at you

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-09-12 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
There it is. That pull that begins to signal the return to the train. Thanatos turns to Taiki. "Excuse me, I think I'll leave others more fitting to bring the newcomers to the train. There are some things I need to attend."

Then he disappears in a flash of starlight and darkness.
longforgottenpromise: (listening)

sobs. Also wrap!

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-09-13 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course." He bows his head again, still feeling guilty.

And a little confused. But it's not as if he speaks to someone who is a god of Death regularly, who knows how he managed to insult him.

He feels guilty but he buries it for now and moves further into the crowd, to welcome people.