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!
catti: (hmm)

[personal profile] catti 2021-10-01 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)
K'zeka Tia, same.

[He'll offer a fistbump, because why not? The worst that'll happen is she'll decline.]

On the train, aye. [A nod as well.] There was Norvrandt...
Edited (Werds) 2021-10-01 21:58 (UTC)
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Thinking)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2021-10-01 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[Q'uila is more than happy to reciprocate with a jaunty fistbump when a big piece of the puzzle falls into place.]

You're the Warrior of Light. [It is very much a statement, not a question.] Now I know why the edges of your aether brush so familiarly against my senses, I would know Ardbert's aether anywhere.
catti: (:))

[personal profile] catti 2021-10-02 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
[Objective complete!]

At your service. [And among other titles, of which he's lost count.]

You must've known him well, or else spent a good deal of time around him.

[At the mention of Ardbert, he reaches up to gently rub at the fabric of his hoodie above his heart. Who knows how much of 'Ardbert' might still be around; he certainly doesn't know.]
Edited 2021-10-02 05:55 (UTC)
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Grin)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2021-10-02 09:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Q'uila's tail flicks playfully and she nods.]

Aye,I would say so. In fact I would say that I knew him exactly as well as you knew him.

[Reaching into her pocket she pulls out her most recently reclaimed possession; a very familiar amber crystal, giving off the faintest warmth and a soft orange glow, and baring a carving of a circle with a dot in the centre.]

You and I are somewhat like two peas in a pod by many accounts.
catti: (???)

[personal profile] catti 2021-10-03 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, he can't say he expected that stone to be in anyone else's possession.]

That's-- [Did she get it in the same way he did?]

That makes you the Warrior of Light as well...a Warrior of Light. [Right?]
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Thinking)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2021-10-03 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
[She offers him Azem's soul crystal. If K'zeha chooses to take it it does indeed feel almost exactly like his own except for the fact that the soul stone doesn't immediately 'click' with him, bound to another as it is.]

Aye,though from a completely seperate version of Hydaelyn and the Shards than you where I am one of a party of Warriors similarly to Ardbert and his friends. [Her tail lashes before being reined in.] I assume Elidibus has already revealed himself to you? He hails from yet another version of our worlds, the Warrior of Light there is apparently a Hyur fellow.
catti: (over there)

[personal profile] catti 2021-10-04 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
[He does take the crystal, noting that it does indeed not feel quite 'right'. Not so much 'wrong' but...unfamiliar. After turning it over in his hand a couple times to examine it, he hands it back to her.]

A party of Warriors...but not the Scions? [Interesting if that's the case. As someone who's traveled alone for the better part of the past several years, it's difficult to imagine a proper traveling party that isn't part of an established group already.]

I met Elidibus outside. He and I have declared something of a truce while we're here.
dragoonrouge: (Default)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2021-10-04 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Not the Scions. We all ended up pumping into each other repeatedly at the City State memorials for the Calamity and got to talking. One thing led to another and we decided to form an Adventuring Party. 'Twas then that we all realised that we had had trouble with Ascians and met the Scions. [She will never not be thankful to have had her family with her, she couldn't imagine the stress of being the sole Warrior of Light. K'zeha absolutely has her respect in that regard.]

Ah, a similar agreement to the one I entered with him then. He has stuck to it so far but, you know, Ascians. [She grimaces.] I rather wish that whatever has brought us all here had made a different choice about the physical form it granted the bugger, but at the very least he isn't masquerading as Ardbert here.
catti: (thinky thoughts)

[personal profile] catti 2021-10-07 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[It is very stressful, and he copes by distracting himself with things unrelated to his position, like helping other people with their menial chores problems and musing about the light-repelling properties of the inside of the Exarch's hood.]

Ah, a group of your own. I'm envious. [He has the Scions now but for so long he's been on his own.] Though I suppose I can't complain too much...I wasn't exactly a lonely child. [A short laugh before he returns to serious at the mention of Elidibus.]

At least there are two of us in case he decides to break the agreement? [And the rest of the train, but the cats are the most qualified to deal with Ascian Bullshit.]
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Thinking)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2021-10-10 07:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Menial chores are always surprising common and a most excellent distraction considering the way most chores had a tenancy to spiral into something ridiculously convoluted. Her ears flick in amusement.]

Aye, I would have to say the same about my childhood. Being the oldest of my sire, I was a strong choice for babysitter. [Ah miqo'te tribes.] I agree, and I feel a lot more comfortable knowing that I will have a brother-in-arms to stand alongside with. Though I do not believe it to be an issue for the moment.

This Elidibus... He is remembering his past from before the summoning of Zodiark.