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: (skip to end game pls)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-09 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, you're gonna get that," Tidus starts. "Red Team isn't really special about that - a lot of people don't care about doing anything 'cept what they want. So you have to decide what a leader role should be for that. You're not used to this, right? So you're still feeling out what to do. But the title 'leader' has a lot to it. To be honest - I think it gives off the wrong idea. It puts people's guards up, but then makes you responsible for everything about a team if something goes wrong."

He looks at Otoha. "But that's pretty unfair, right? To everyone."
bakegarasu: (once upon a midnight dreary)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-09-09 05:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. I just don't know a better word than 'leader'." Not one that doesn't have weird associations with it, anyway. "... You're right. It's unfair. Just... I just want to make sure everyone gets out of what we're doing alive. We have people who can heal a lot of things, but even if people can come back from the dead..."

He closes his eyes and sighs. "Memories of that kind of shit stick with you. ... And I'm no good at mental health stuff. I don't want that for anyone. I guess that's kind of a simple goal, but it's worth it. If people want to blame me for shit, I can take it. People dying on my watch?"

Otoha opens his eyes and stares off into the distance of the platform. "Not happening again. It's happened twice, which is two times too many." Red team is not going to turn into dead team if he can help it. All of the hate or abuse, he can handle. Guilt, he's not so good at dealing with.
blitzcheer: (we go in circles)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-09 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
"..Me and Roland cooked up another word. Kinda thinking it'd be better than leader in a lot of ways, if the other guys agree with it." There's a lot that Otoha's spilling out, and Tidus can appreciate the passion, as subdued as it comes out in how he speaks - but no less loud. "'Team Organiser'. There's no authority to that. You help organise, and other people can be on board as they want. Even if it's just a few of you guys in Red planning, that's all you need. Let people know what there is and keep track."

He turns from the train wall he's leaning against, to better face Otoha.

"We both just want to help keep people safe. We will."
bakegarasu: (can you feel the sunshine?)

[personal profile] bakegarasu 2021-09-10 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
"'Organizer' sounds more right. We're a bunch of disorganized people that need some kind of guiding hand. Even if that hand has to flick them in the forehead from time to time. ...And you're right. We will."

He offers the smallest of smiles to Tidus. "You're a good kid, Tidus."
blitzcheer: (wibbly wobbly)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-09-10 06:55 am (UTC)(link)
He gives an extra tug to his own smile. "Just been here long enough to get an idea of the place. Everyone's got good intentions, but you need a system that works for us." He motions out his hands.

"A bunch of people from everywhere trapped on a train. We're not an army! But it doesn't mean we don't want to look out for people."

He then folds his arms, with a huff. "Some of the people here used to be real stingy about a few of them deciding everything. But you're gonna get people who know stuff from all over. They're worth listening to, and letting help."