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: (meerrrrily merrily meerrrily)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-05 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"No one calls me good-lookin' either; they just make fun of my new shorts!"

Thanks, buddy! But it's an easy shot to make, and so he's standing here, thinking. Should he take Inigo around the train and get people to say how they'd rate him? Inigo would die pretty quickly... maybe he can get a picture of him to do it with? Hmmm.

Don't mind his wandering eye up and down you, Inigo, as he thinks for a few seconds.

"Know what we've gotta do then?"

What's a little Inigo death, anyway?
flatteries: (on the noose around your neck)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-09-05 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"I wasn't m--!!"

But as Inigo is trying to think up a retort to the first thing Tidus says, his brain suddenly catches up with the rest of what the other says.

And that makes him pause.

And stare.

(Clearly he is not on the same one-braincelled wavelength right now.)

".. Wait, what do we have to do?"
blitzcheer: (whatcha gonna do about iiitt)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-05 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"First," he starts, "we grab our stuff and we put it where it needs to be. After? Meet me in our room."

That does nothing to answer the question, but let's see if we can get away with answering the question - by Tidus going over to where the weight bench is, the rack and poles beside it.

"You figure out what you bought and that games machine! I've got this stuff to take to the gym."
flatteries: (not your flaws)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-09-05 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Inigo's mouth opens and closes a few times, like he's trying to think of some sort of protest - probably something along the lines of asking Tidus why he can't just explain it right now - but not finding the words for it.

Especially since he does suppose he should get this machine over to the games carriage before anyone else puts their grubby hands on it and breaks it..

"A-Alright?!"

So he ends up with agreement.

Just.. confused agreement?

"I.. will see you later then. After I'm done with the machine."

(It might take a while.)