voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2021-10-01 04:51 am

A New Platform [Intro Post October]

On the Train

The train continues its journey

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day sixteen 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. Asch, Ayumi Uoshida, Cleopatra Selene, Della Duck, Ghost, Hanuel Min, Jaisyn Solo, Jonathan Sims, Martin Blackwood, Nie Huaisang, Vermouth; 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 four new faces. Wearing hoodies, three in purple one orange, 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 relatively small, a brick wall behind them and cracked flagstones on the floor. It is cold, icy cold but the wall at least shelters them a little.

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, freezing 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 four 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'). The store rooms have been restocked with fresh ingredients, including yadon tail, as well as all sundries.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags.

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!
jan_ken_hacking: (B| stare)

[personal profile] jan_ken_hacking 2021-10-08 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
"...Knight Quest?" Admittedly, the games have not been much her focus. Mostly it's been the books. And speaking of the books-

"...What was the sport called?"

It looks like Tidus has successfully landed a role in lending some company (and teaching) for a distraction.
blitzcheer: (remember to smile)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-10-10 01:35 pm (UTC)(link)
He's got a hook.

"Blitzball! Lemme show you- I'll explain along the way. Knight's Quest-" and he is walking and talking now, but not leaving Kiyoiri behind; he looks at her, stepping, waiting for her to keep track, "-is a game where you make a team of heroes, and you have to get a special artefact that'll save the land." Insert very ohhhh mystical tone in that. Which lightens, as he explains: "It's always a lil' different. It randomises each new game, see?"

Sports books should probably be upstairs, but considering nobody here is his legal guardian that can tell Tidus what to do, he's made a spot on the bottom floor for all the books he likes. So don't worry they're not heading up, 'cause they're heading over

As Tidus continues yapping. "But anyway, blitzball - that's the game I play! Two teams going off against each other. It's a little like...football, I think? 'Cept it's underwater."

Or soccer, whichever of the names the translator gives. But Tidus takes them to his corner of the library that he fills, and what does he fill it with? Magazines and sports books.

One day, it'll be appropriately labelled as the Chill Corner. Now, let him pick up one of those books, so he can flip through, find a nice page... aha!

He turns it to Kiyoiri, open full spread, to the sight of two teams in water during a game, beautifully photographed.
jan_ken_hacking: (o    o)

[personal profile] jan_ken_hacking 2021-10-11 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Ah-" Well, apparently they're walking and talking now, so she'd best follow. Knights Quest at least sounds normal- like those random dungeon games her friends would play at home. Blitzball though, is a little more...

...Woah. "...It's...completely..." C...completely submerged!?! Football (and it does come out to her mind as football at least, sort of, but that's not the point) is one thing, but if they're underwater for a decent amount of time then...

Wait- "...How does everyone breathe..?"
blitzcheer: (all for you)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-10-15 08:48 am (UTC)(link)
"You hold your breath!" Said, as if that's the easiest thing in the world. "You have to learn how to hold it that long, and water in a blitz stadium's easier to handle than any other, but you put in the training if you wanna be a pro!"

That's the true way it's done. Can't give all the credit to easily-breathable water, now. He looks at her.

"What's the longest people can hold their breath where you're from? You know?"
jan_ken_hacking: (o    o)

i googled this and GASPED tbh

[personal profile] jan_ken_hacking 2021-10-18 11:34 am (UTC)(link)
H...Holding breath huh....

"...Technically speaking the world record is 24 minutes, but it involves not moving at all. For actual active swimming..."

"...The average would be around 3 minutes at best."
blitzcheer: (do the thing yuna!!)

meanwhile me, who holds my breath maximum 0 seconds

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2021-10-18 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"You like reading trivia?" ...look, it's his first thought when she happens to know some kind of world record; which isn't impressive by blitzball pro standards, buuut he can see it in comparison to its swimming counterpart.

"That's not that bad," he remarks. "That's what people would be doing who just play for fun, you know? You have to train to get better at it, like your world record friend there."

He taps the book. "These people are made for the water, so that's lucky for them. We know how to make water easier to hold your breath in too back home. But it's all about training in the end!"
jan_ken_hacking: (Talking)

sobs in solidarity

[personal profile] jan_ken_hacking 2021-10-19 12:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Well.

"...Something like that..." Can having trivia be shoved at your throat by dozens of historic figures be considered reading trivia? Vote now on your phones.

"I don't think the world record person could compete that way, if they couldn't move the whole time, but it sounds as if most professional free divers would manage well at least. ...The water is easier to hold your breath in though?" How would that be?