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!
weisexual: (Default)

Lan Wangji | OTA

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-02 02:36 am (UTC)(link)
Luggage Car
He is grateful for the chance to get it back. He holds it gently in his hands before turning and heading towards the door. He doesn't intend to waste any time in trying it out and making sure that it sounds just as it should. And perhaps to also make sure he is not out of practice after all this time without it.

The guqin is still wrapped up since that is how the train sent it. Wrapped and with his name on it. Taken care of in away that Lan Wangji is glad for. He doesn't know how it is able to bring the things from their world but he can tell immediately that this is indeed his.

Music Car
He is already playing the guqin. Strumming along the strings, a soft expression on his face. He is glad to have it back and knows that he will be able to help on missions a lot more then he did before.

Winter
He is dressed only slightly warmer then he normally would be. He is used to colder temperatures. He settles down on one of the benches and looks around at all the snow and the way the Rock Garden has transformed into this temporary winter wonderland.

He isn't one for taking part in wintery activities but he can at least enjoy the fact that it is something a little different from normal train life.
mynameisallen: (132)

Music Car

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-01-02 08:53 am (UTC)(link)
Allen for once was taking the time to actually sit down and listen to some music. But what he hadn't been expecting was to hear an actual instrument instead of the music the train provides.

So slowly he makes his way over to the source before watching.

"It's a nice song."
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-03 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
He looks up from his playing. He knew eventually someone would come while he was playing. It is impossible to be anywhere on the train alone except perhaps the quiet cars. But he didn't want to isolate into the quiet car to play. He is actually quite content to play where people will hear him. Because some people might benefit from the sounds of life music.

"It is meant to help calm ones soul."

The spiritual energy infused within the music is a healing component. Unseen all around them in the waves of the music as it fills the room.
mynameisallen: (148)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-01-04 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
"Calm ones soul." That might explain him not feeling as tense than he might have been five minutes ago.

"I guess a soul does need healing to... Though how does that work?"
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-05 04:30 am (UTC)(link)
"Infusing spiritual energy with the notes of the music. It transfers it to those that hear it." And the healing can begin. He doesn't have to put spiritual energy into the songs but he wanted to make sure that he still could. He has no idea how being on the train might have effected him and this was partially a test for himself.
mynameisallen: (101)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-01-05 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"That honestly...sounds really useful. Especially on the train." They have been on about healers haven't they, right? Allen knew that he was meant to be kept a close eye on because of the fact he can be reckless.

But this kind of healing. To Allen would help in a different way and that was a good thing.

"So what do you plan to do now you can do this on the train?"
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-06 06:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can help after missions with healing mentally or emotionally. This will also help during missions. Certain notes and songs can be destructive."

It is all about how it is used and what energy gets put into it. And Lan Wangji is one of the best when it comes to using this kind of weapon. He is glad that he now has this ability again.
mynameisallen: (Laugh ★ Your hilarious)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-01-07 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
While I hope that we won't need that kind of healing next mission. I would also know I was just kidding myself. Missions tend to always have something happen." Where that might be a very useful thing.

Allen soon went to sit down, a question passing by in his mind. "So was it an ability you learned with the instrument or something you could always do?"
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-09 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"One must train how to use their spiritual energy they are born with." So it is a combination of things. They are born with the golden cores that allow them to use abilities and those abilities need to be trained.

"Using instruments to control spiritual energy is something my clan specializes in."
mynameisallen: (229)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-01-12 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"So... doesn't everyone have this spiritual energy?" Or was it only for those of his world. Either way he was at least interested in trying to understand. ANd how does the instrument help with that?

So many questions.
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-18 03:50 am (UTC)(link)
"They do not." Some people were simply born without a strong enough golden core to be able to strengthen it and become cultivators. And he has yet to figure out if there are people not from his world that also have golden cores. Some questions he is unable to answer.

"Some have it, some only have a weak one, some do not have one at all."
mynameisallen: (103)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-01-18 09:49 am (UTC)(link)
At least it answered the question in Allen's mind in that for the most part it's not a case of everyone has it, some do but it depends on if it's weak or not. But it does make him wonder how something like that works.

"So those who have it, could they make it stronger or is it if you have a weak one not much you can do?"
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-20 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
"You can make it stronger. It just takes a lot of time." Years of training, sometimes decades. It really depends on the person, their resolve and their desire to improve.

"People dedicate their lives to becoming stronger."

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jinlingers: (Default)

Music car

[personal profile] jinlingers 2022-01-07 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
The sound of the guqin is familiar and the way it's being played is also familiar and so it's not a surprise when he finds Wangji to be the musical artist at work. he listens quietly for a little while.

"Hanguang Jun, what is that one called?
Edited 2022-01-07 19:57 (UTC)
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-09 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Calming." Because that is the best one to chose when unsure how things will go. He wants to be able to calm the souls or settle the hearts of anyone on the train that might need it but he still has to be careful. A few wrong notes or things played in a different sequence can change everything.
jinlingers: (JL-50-35)

[personal profile] jinlingers 2022-01-10 02:37 am (UTC)(link)
Jin Ling nods at the answer and he looks at the instrument again. "It's nice," he says, and he'd never really appreciated music much before but it actually does seem to do a bit of what it says.
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-10 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
He nods and continues his playing. He doesn't know if the other needs it but he might as well let the calmness fill the room. They all go through a lot of stresses with the mission and now things going crazy on the train itself.

"Different songs can heal different parts of the body."
jinlingers: (Default)

[personal profile] jinlingers 2022-01-15 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Jin Ling could pretty much always use some calmness and it does... feel nice somehow.

"What about the heart?"
weisexual: (playing music)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-18 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Some can heal it...or harm it." But he refuses to play anything from the book of turmoil. He stops playing the current song and changes it to one meant to help with the heart instead.
jinlingers: (Default)

[personal profile] jinlingers 2022-01-19 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
"How does the healing work?" Jin Ling asks quietly, fiddling with the edge of his sleeve.
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-20 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Just like adding spiritual energy into an open wound to help it close. The spiritual energy can soothe in the same manner when allowed to enter the mind."

Healing from the inside out.
jinlingers: (Default)

[personal profile] jinlingers 2022-01-20 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
Jin Ling contemplates that and he shifts where he's settled, his eyes on the guqin for a long moment.

"I'd like to try then," he murmurs.
weisexual: (Default)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-21 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
He pauses in his playing and looks at the young man near him. He figures that the boy doesn't mean he wants to play but rather wants Lan Wangji to try and calm his mind. He doesn't know what might be ailing the teen but no matter what it is there is no guarantee that his playing will help.

"Do you feel unsettled?"
jinlingers: (Default)

[personal profile] jinlingers 2022-01-22 04:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I do."

He has for a long time, even before he arrived on the train.
weisexual: (playing music)

[personal profile] weisexual 2022-01-23 12:19 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't know how much he can help the teen but he will do what he can. He takes a few moments to adjust and then starts to play a song that will try to soothe his mind.

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