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!
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Furious)

Cabin Friend :D

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2022-01-01 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Q'uila likes to keep a careful track of the Passengers aether, you never knew when you might have to quickly hunt someone down, and she feels like she's acclimatised to Elidibus' constant presence like a burning itch between her shoulder blades. But it seems like this platform was sent to test her as a familiar aether seeps aboard the Train, catching her by surprise as it approaches the cabin she is currently in and setting her hackles up.

The sight the greets Zenos as he opens the door is a particularly furious Miqo'te, purple fur bristled to its fullest extent and ears plastered so far back they almost seem to meld with her head.

"You," There is enough venom in Q'uila's hiss to kill anyone else and her glare would be sharp enough to reslit Zenos' throat, "What are you doing here?!"
asheaveniswide: (pic#15371991)

[personal profile] asheaveniswide 2022-01-01 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
For her trouble and hostility, Q'uila gains ... a remarkably bland look in return; she's assessed and summarily dismissed as a threat worth worrying about.

No sudden excitement or interest, no, though her species is noted and the hostility quite frankly expected from any Eorzean. He hadn't caught echoes of the Ascian's presence in this car, however, so it was unlikely to be this miqo'te. In some other reality, finding his 'friend' here and waiting for him would be like all his nameday gifts all at once, but this one...

This one hasn't bothered to check to see if her aether matches up with any he's already familiar with. He will, that much is certain; so much could be read from another's soul. Instead he holds up the end of his ticket, the briefest twitched smiles crossing his lips. "This is where I have been directed."

Someone out there has a terrible sense of humor, at both their expense. "Mayhap words with the conductor will be warranted, for placing Eorzean and Garlean in the same small space."
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Death Glare)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2022-01-02 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
Q'uila's eyes dart to the ticket and her lips curl back in a growl, one that is less like a miqo'te and a touch more draconic.

"Oschon's wrinkled bollocks, this is the stupidest thing this train has ever done!"

Her fingers twitch, Q'uila fights back the urge to draw a weapon, not only would he not die again but her preferred lance would be worse than useless.

"What is the last thing you remember before the train dragged your sorry arse here?"
asheaveniswide: (pic#15371993)

[personal profile] asheaveniswide 2022-01-02 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
And they wonder why Garlemald calls them barbarians. Zenos is reasonably sure they wouldn't know proper etiquette and civilized behavior if it popped up and hit them with a book on polite society.

The growl earns a long-suffering sigh.

"Come now. Enemies we may be, but there's no need to be boorish about it. Should you find a civil tongue somewhere in your head, mayhap your questions will be answered." Until then, he's... going to study the bunks with all evident dissatisfaction. He's not sure he trusted himself to either top bunk, whether or not they're claimed - they look flimsy to his eye.

It's pretty obvious if nothing else that he doesn't recognize her, else surely his reactions would be very different.
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Annoyed)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2022-01-02 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
That earns Zenos a hearty scoff and eye roll, "You are the last person who deserves my politeness regardless of which universe you have come from. The only time I respected you was when you removed yourself from your mortal coil and saved me a cut of my blade, alas you seem to be a rather nasty type of cockroach."

Q'uila shifts to the side, towards her bunk in a very obvious signal to bugger off and come back later.
asheaveniswide: (pic#15371987)

[personal profile] asheaveniswide 2022-01-02 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
"I have no interest in the respect of animals." His tone remains utterly impeccable, as he very much chooses to not bugger off and come back later - this is now his space as well, after all, and there are cubbies to check to see which bed is occupied and which is not.

The narrow confines of these tiny rooms and his lack of normal hyur size means he's probably going to be far closer than she's comfortable with, a complication she's going to have to get used to quickly or find a way to switch rooms with someone else.
dragoonrouge: (Q'uila Thinking)

[personal profile] dragoonrouge 2022-01-02 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Q'uila scoffs once more, "Please, if I had a Gil for every time that a Garlean reffered to me as such I needn't have become an Adventurer in the first place."

Her fur bristles and she hops up onto one of the bunks to maintain a distance from Zenos, "Gods, your aether is almost as awful as the Zenos of my universe. Less empty though... Mayhaps you have yet to canabalised Garlemald, or are you slightly less insane?"
asheaveniswide: (pic#15371990)

[personal profile] asheaveniswide 2022-01-02 08:30 pm (UTC)(link)
It's fairly easy to tell which ones are taken. And .. are those scorch marks? Did someone set one of the beds on fire at some point?

That's a puzzle that keeps him occupied for a few minutes, deciding he is not going to take the already-crispy bed; besides which the cubby is already occupied with someone else's belongings. "It is long an Eorzean tactic to attempt to incite and offend and then pretend to be the innocent victim when retaliation strikes." Hard to provoke into action, it seems, for not even his voice has wavered, though only briefly does his gaze turn back towards her. "If you don't wish to be treated a barking dog, consider not acting like one."

And then back to the patient business of unpacking.