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!
controlsthedie: blushing Valentine's Day Thanatos (Roses are red - violets are not blue)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-10-31 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Thanatos thankfully refrains from saying what he's thinking. It's not like Thanatos knew what he needed. Space, time... Zagreus. That's part of the problem; Thanatos doesn't know and hadn't been in any condition to figure it out after Jinnjar. Nothing to do for it now. All Thanatos needs to do is not mess this up, so moving onto a less charged topic is appreciated. Even if he hadn't meant it as such.

But the confusion is evident on his face for what Zagreus adds to the topic.

"... I considered giving Mort ambrosia, but what do you mean by 'leveling him up'? I've never heard of anything like that." Then again, it's not like Thanatos had "used" Mort for anything but a friend, a companion, a reminder to speak and get out of his own head from time to time. Mort wiggles his nose but gives no clarification.
dyingpro: Curious (Goodbye to all the plans that we made)

[personal profile] dyingpro 2021-11-18 08:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"You know, make him stronger. Make his powers more powerful?" He searches Thanatos' face for some hint that it might be a joke, but it's clearly not. Zagreus lets out a quick huff of breath as nervous energy pours into him again, but this is important stuff Thanatos needs to know!

"Right. So. When you let me borrow Mort - future you, I mean - and I'm - was in a bit of trouble on one of my escape attempts, I would hold onto Mort and think of you, and you'd just... appear, for a moment, to help me out, with that cool death magic circle you do when we're comparing kill counts. It's like I can you briefly through Mort, to make a long story short. And because I was curious and I had some spare Ambrosia to dole out, I gave him some, and it seemed like the connection grew stronger. Like I could summon your help more times before Mort's magic disappeared for that escape attempt, or something. It's hard to explain, but... I hope that makes sense?"
controlsthedie: concept sketch of Thanatos (You'll be killed by what'cha don't know)

[personal profile] controlsthedie 2021-11-22 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
Thanatos's face remains as baffled as before. It's not a joke. He really doesn't know what Zagreus means. Mother Nyx never said anything about making Mort's powers stronger.

"It's worth trying. I've given Mort things to eat, but you act like I've had access to ambrosia before now." He never saw Mort get stronger or gain powers from the food he's had. Thanatos never felt like he could summon his mother through Mort. "Although, Mort is moving on his own. A little. Been trying to instill my power in him like I've done with the others." And to strengthen their bond if possible since the bond between Thanatos and Nyx needs some work thanks to events on the train.

"What do you think, Mort? Are you getting more powerful or just starting to move like Cerbie?" Mort squeaks a few things, but still nothing is truly clarified from him. He just says how he will protect Thanatos from the scary things and keep him from being alone.

Thanatos returns his attention to Zagreus, a bit nervous, almost shy. "... In the future, you call on me for help? And I come?"