voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2022-01-01 05:21 am

A NEW PLATFORM [INTRO POST JANUARY]

On the Train

Despite whatever Voidtreckers may have learned or how they feel about those revelations - or reminders - of the precariousness of their situation, the train flies ever onward.

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Poi. 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. The weather is dry but there is a chill to the air and a strong breeze." 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. Dairine, Okada Izō, Rapunzel, Satoru and Siebren; 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 thirteen new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours and 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 long with a grassy mound behind them. It is blustery and the air is cold, they will be glad of those hoodies.

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, windy platform; then the fog begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

Thirteen figures, 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, with cans of corned beef lining the shelves.

For passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags. Those from purple who go to find their prize will find a large box containing a gingerbread train for them to share. Plenty enough to go around, even for the largest team.

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.

Snow Time: Rock Garden

Winter seems to have followed from Osiga and nested in the rock garden. There's a chill that nips in the air and a light snow (real snow) fills the air. A thin cloudy haze at the top of the carriage seems the source. Yet the kaleidoscope of the void will assure that this is no timely world stop.

People might have seen it occurring the night before. Snow falling heavy before tapering off with an odd precision, leaving a heavy blanket over the carriage 'ground'. By morning of Platform Day, a miniature winter has descended, ripe for snowforts, snowballs, angels and snowmen.

It's not just the climate that's changed. Many statues and rock features are missing or moved. Digging below the snow reveals soil now frozen but providing a barrier between the bare floor of the carriage. Keen eyes will see changes are made with safety and available space in mind. The fountain has been emptied but the pond and streams are frozen solid, allowing intrepid spirits to try slide-skating over the surfaces without the risk of breaking through. The mosaics are still around, and enchantments are in place to protect paintings and paper decorations from damp. Any plants have been sent to sleep or taken to safety.

The benches are still around. Paths and bridges are covered with fresh snow, but, as the day goes on, it's trampled down and or scattered. Najaran's woodfolk may be glimpsed near Jingyi's shrine or hiding in the shadows of rocks and statues still present, perhaps even buried in the snow and peeking out. Shy around humans, though those with pointed ears or Hylian lineage may find an easier time interacting.

There are signs on both doors of the carriage warning of the change and mentioning the dressing carriage will have winter gear, and it does: with hats, scarves, gloves and ice skates in a variety of sizes. Dispensers with warm drinks such as coffee, hot chocolate and hot water for tea are available in the Games Carriage.

Early the next day, the snow will be gone and the gardens returned to how they once were.

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!
myblueskies: (beautiful world)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-01 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'd love to build a snowman!"

Romeo is far from the only kid on the train but it's always nice to see others his age. Especially someone who has just offered to make a snowman! That must mean she knew how to do fun things and didn't think she had to be all serious all the time.

"Let's make a really huge one! As big as the carriage!"
bruiserprincess: (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-02 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah!" She's not sure they'll manage quite that much, but she's going to have fun trying. "Does stuff like this happen on the train a lot?"

It's not the sort of thing that she'd expect on a train. But neither was dimension hopping so she still had a lot to figure out.
myblueskies: (of course!)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-02 12:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sometimes. Not too often. We never had snow... Well there was one time we went to a world and we didn't stop but the roof opened." He waved his hand at the glass above them.

"And it snowed then. And when there's a void storm weird things happen."

But they are not in a storm right now....
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-03 07:57 am (UTC)(link)
Molly looks up at the roof and then right back down at the snow because that sure is a sight she wasn't expecting up there. "WHoa... is a void storm something about that?"

She wants to play but she also needs to know what she's gotten into.
myblueskies: (beautiful world)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-03 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes!" He nodded. "That's the void. It's like a big sea that we go through, 'cept it's all around us!"

He waved his arms around to demonstrate. "A storm is when it goes all swirly and scary things happen!"
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-04 06:22 am (UTC)(link)
"It looks like a crazy cartoon portal!" And the way he talks about it just makes it sound more and more like that. "Scarier than snow?" Snow is cold but it doesn't seem scary.
myblueskies: (Alfredo is speaking!)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-04 08:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Way scarier than snow!" He looked at her, "Are you scared of snow? What's a cartoon portal?"

He looked up for a moment. "Um but you can't look at it for long or your head will go funny!"
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-05 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Not scared but... it's weird." She's seen plenty of scary stuff more often than snow. "Oh wow are you from someplace that doesn't have cartoons?"
myblueskies: (apples and smiles)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-05 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't think we did... But there's cartoons here! In the cinema." He grinned at her.

"I never saw any portals in them though..."
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: Molly Hayes | OTA

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-06 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Well... there's a lot of kinds of cartoons, maybe we just need to find the exciting adventure ones!"

She frowns. "Or maybe this is too much like that anyway."
myblueskies: (they really are delicious apples!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-06 05:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Well this is an exciting adventure!" He can agree with that. "But I still like watching adventures in the cinema!"

He grinned. "Also the one about singing cats in space. That's the best cartoon."
bruiserprincess: (YAAAAAAAAAAAAAY)

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-06 06:06 am (UTC)(link)
"Singing cats in space?" She's never heard of one like that but you have her full attention. "That sounds so cool! Can you show me it later?"
myblueskies: (the world is beautiful!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-06 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes! We can go watch it in the cinema!"

It really was great! He grinned at her. "Oh I'm Romeo! What's your name?"
bruiserprincess: (Default)

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-07 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe some things about this train might not be quite so bad. She still wanted to go home, but she could definitely watch cartoons while she was waiting. "I'm Molly. Have you been here very long?"
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-07 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Molly is a nice name!" He nodded with a thoughtful look. "More than a year now! It's been a long time!"

But he certainly doesn't seem too sad about that.
bruiserprincess: (Default)

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-08 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Wow... NIco would freak if I was gone that long." Nico will freak pretty quickly, actually. THere are plenty of people who might not think it's weird, but her friends will worry.
myblueskies: (the world is beautiful!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-08 07:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Who is Nico? Are they your friend? I bet they are really worried! We get worried when people disappear from here too."

But that was just how life was. People appeared. People vanished. It had been the same in the heavens. It's hard to think that there's places where that isn't normal.
bruiserprincess: (Default)

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-10 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, she's my friend. Kinda our leader." As much as they have a leader anyway. It's a weird kind of team. "She fought really hard to keep me out of foster care so if I disappear that'll be a problem."
myblueskies: (oh no!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-10 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
A friend who was a leader? She sounded very cool! And she must be very worried... It was bad that people were taken away from their friends!

"What's foster care? Did she have to fight bad guys?"

He looked a bit worried.
bruiserprincess: (Default)

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-11 05:52 am (UTC)(link)
"Fighting bad guys is easy. Foster care is when they hand you over to random grownups. She had to convince grownups who think they know better that it's better for me to stay with my friends."

Also that she was just going to keep running away.
myblueskies: (Alfredo is speaking!)

cw: mentions of child slavery

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-11 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
Hand them over to random grown ups? He paled slightly. "You mean to sell you?" And her friend had managed to save her from that, so she could stay with her friends?

Her friend had managed to stop something as big as that? She must be very powerful indeed!
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: cw: mentions of child slavery

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-11 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"No." She stops and thinks about it. That's not quite true. "THat's not supposed to be how it works, but sometimes bad guys are sneaky. The random grownups are supposed to take care of me but they can't do that like the people who care about me."
myblueskies: (big brother)

Re: cw: mentions of child slavery

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-01-13 05:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh." Well it was good that she hadn't got sold! That was a really scary thing. But she's right, people who cared about her were better at looking after her than random grown ups would be.

"I'm glad you got to stay with your friends though."
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: cw: mentions of child slavery

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-13 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
"There's a robot who I have to do homework with now, but we're all together still. They're the ones I know I can count on." Not that she's paranoid or anything. She's perfectly capable of relaxing. She's doing it right now!
bruiserprincess: (Default)

Re: cw: mentions of child slavery

[personal profile] bruiserprincess 2022-01-14 04:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Me too. It's weird, but we've got it all working. Other than me being here."

This is really not the sort of thing most people can prepare for.