voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2022-02-12 07:08 am

No Place Like Home: On the Train

ANNOUNCEMENT
'Voidtreckers, and passengers of the Voidtrecker Express.'

The female-coded voice of the Voidtrecker Express speaks, as smooth and calm as always.

'Please, may I have your attention. I have been compiling answers for you, and it has been noted that many believe it is wrong that you were brought here at all. This is an opinion you shared with the ministry. You were not asked on this journey. You wish to go home. Some of your worlds are in danger. Some are gone.

The need for heroes is vital, and the Voidtrecker Express must continue saving worlds. You have done countless good. However, it was not the intention of this voidcraft to keep you prisoner.

Those that wish to leave may do so. I shall send you back. You will return to where you last were before you were pulled here. It can only be to that exact place. Be ready. Exiting voidspace in ten, nine, eight...'


The countdown finishes, the only warning as the train shudders as it leaves the void. Outside the train's windows, they see a familiar sight: of a smoke filled platform.

'For those voidtreckers that wish to leave, all you need to do is walk through the barriers. The train will remain for one hour for you to partake in parting rituals.'




NO PLACE LIKE HOME: TRAIN



GOOD BYE...
Those that have been on the train more than the twelve days of this month will be very familiar with the sight before them. A smoke filled platform, polished stone cobbles lining the ground leading to two large stone arches, with glass barrier doors. All that is needed to leave is to press their ticket to the reader next to the doors, and they will open.

Unlike most people who leave each month, blank eyed and silent, the people who choose to leave will be able to say goodbye, They can take whatever they wish of their belongings from the train, or leave them for those that remain behind.

The air is chilly, enough to discourage standing idle outside for too long, but not so uncomfortable, so long as people are bundled up. The sky overhead is cloudy, giving the platform an altogether dull and melancholy air. There are no new people waiting, just an empty station, and the barriers, with all that lies beyond them.

The doors will remain open as promised, so that those who wish to leave, may do so. The barriers let them through and they disappear.

[ Note: A top-level for goodbyes and leaving can be found here. ]


REMAINERS
The train, good to its word, remains for one hour before the horn toots, a warning to board if they are planning to. And this is where the first inkling of things not being right, when some who try to board the train might find themselves instead pressing their ticket to the barrier, and those who try to remain on the station - or leave through the barriers - may find themselves stood on the train, with the doors closing behind them.

It's a much smaller crew who remain as the train counts down, the usual shudder as the smoke vanishes and the kaleidoscope of the void appears. Only for a second, before the train lurches violently to the side, flinging everyone sideways before righting itself just as violently.

As people regain their feet and their wits, they will realise the obvious - they are stationed back on the platform, mist and smoke swirling around the train.

"Apologies Voidtreckers. Retrying entry to the void in ten, nine..."

Once again they are jerked into the void, and once again they tumble out. Hopefully this time, the passengers thought to brace themselves lest they get thrown across the carriage once more.



STUCK IN TRANSIT. Phasing back to the void seems unlikely. It's clear something has gone very wrong, but the doors remain shut, and the train remains silent. There are a few attempts over the next few days, always warned for and given a countdown, but always ending in failure.

Outside the windows, the fog swirls around, remaining thick. It seems for now, they are going nowhere; for now, they must wait.

But they needn't sit idle, with the attempts at getting back into the void having made a mess. While anything large is bolted in place, and shelving have rails to protect anything inside at normal levels of turbulence, there's still a lot that has gone flying as the train was lurched around.

It might be wise to secure anything else as well. It's clear they will be trying again to return to the void, and it might be wise to avoid having to clean up all over again.



SHADOWS WHO ONCE WERE. The platform outside the carriage windows is shrouded in smoke and fog, fluctuating in thickness as it swirls around the train, obscuring the view.

But those looking out of the window may spot a figure. A friend. Someone from the train; they appear, then disappear. Sometimes there are many, sometimes just one alone. Sometimes they leave together. It's not easy to see them, as they drift in and out of the fog, and visibility is bad.

They cannot hear them, or interact at all. They can only watch as more of their fellow Voidtreckers appear, vanish, appear again. The doors will not open, the train remains silent, clearly dealing with whatever problems it has ran into.

It's clear that something has gone very, very wrong.



A SWIRL OF REALITY. The constant entering and exiting of the void takes its toll eventually. Sleep is harder to come by, there's a general sense of disorientation as the train moves in and out of void space. It is more than just their bodies that are being bashed around, it is their minds as well.

Tempers might peak or emotions might come on stronger than they usually would. Adding in the stress of the situation, and the knowledge that those who left seem to be returning, leaving, and returning again to the platform, and passengers are unable to call out or reach to them, it's a very tense few days.

When they do sleep, their dreams are plagued by weird dreams. Not always bad, but bizarre for sure. Often they dream a dream that is not theirs.

OOC NOTES
OOC post. Ask questions here.

This is the first half of February's event. It will last between Poi 22-25 (12th to 19th February). The second half of the event will go up during 20th to 25th February (Poi 26-28) where those left behind will rescue those out world hopping.

Feel free to play out threads for as long as you like, of course! A few details:
  • The train will not be responding after its first attempt to leave the station
  • No matter what, the doors won't open.
  • Though they can see the voidtreckers outside, those outside don't seem to be able to see them through the windows and so communication between the two groups will not be possible.
  • Likewise their SCA comms are not working during this event.
yondu: (1 6 7)

[personal profile] yondu 2022-02-23 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
Hearing it is always different than knowing it. And it's hard to hear, surprisingly, because the idea of expendibility is so deeply ingrained, the feeling of unimportance. He can be killed, he can be exiled, he can be abandoned with ease. He's not truly important to anyone.

Except right now he might be.

"Alright." Yondu agrees quietly, in that tired gravel tone of his. Though it's not entirely truthful. He still can't believe it. He still would absolutely walk into the line of fire for someone more important than him. He just has to make sure Soldat doesn't see it, right?
mynameisallen: (91)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-02-23 08:13 am (UTC)(link)
"Unfortunately no. I was in another place before that one, but I would be working to get back there." It was annoying and probably a lot more work than necessary, but until he left they hadn't really found much about where he had been currently.

Though being here reminded him that getting back there was the most important thing to him now.

"But the last place I was at did have a futuristic world so... always something there. BUt I wasn't able to even go back to check."
mynameisallen: (Stare ★ You don't want to escape)

[personal profile] mynameisallen 2022-02-23 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
"Could be with my situation. I've been gone for a year so I wouldn't be at all surprised." Sure, Nea had been rather quiet the whole time but considering he was pretty engraved into his DNA of sorts, he wouldn't have been surprised that without Allen being around he could finally take over the body. Which means Allen knew very well going back now would mean he could vanish or be impossible to regain control.

"But you are right. It makes it seem like that if you can't go back the only option is to forever stay here."
agoodsoul: chthonicons @ insanejournal (98)

[personal profile] agoodsoul 2022-02-23 08:50 am (UTC)(link)
Sorry, Inigo. The vidya games are more important than you and kitchen pots. And are you sure you're not made out of points, Tidus? Highroller tossing out points left and right.

"C'mon-" Dennis is with him on this though. Out the door and let's get moving!

"Maybe if we're lucky they've just a few bumps." Fingers crossed!
blitzcheer: (something blah ugh words)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 09:05 am (UTC)(link)
He gives her a thumbs up, in return for her wave, a nod.

No more words, before they get too sappy. ... but he will miss her. And hope she does well. He's really not sure what kind of world she's going back to...
blitzcheer: (isn't it wonderful?)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 09:47 am (UTC)(link)
Tidus stays within that embrace quietly, the grab for supplies forgotten, the rush that had been in him, how little time an hour felt, ignored for this moment. To make it last, imprint it in his memory. That Taiki too won't forget.

But it doubts he will. Neither of them will - even if they can't be together, they'll have each other in their hearts, always.

When Tidus does eventually, finally pull back, he does with some colour at his eyes; a gloss to them, wet with moisture but no tears yet to fall. But he does sniff, tugging on a smile - sad, as it is thankful. Warm.

"I promise we'll come help Tai," he says again, quieter, but meant for no one else but Taiki.
blitzcheer: (falling into pieces)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 10:20 am (UTC)(link)
Hah- "You want another big sleepover? Why not! How about we do it soon? Gonna be less people on the train... we should see about making dinner and getting everyone left together for a 'getting to know you' type of thing. See who's left."

And definitely, who's actually willing to be sociable.
blitzcheer: (do the thing yuna!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 10:25 am (UTC)(link)
"But you don't want to leave your home in that state, right? I wonder if there's a way to check... there's gotta be a way to figure out where you're from and find it's number, right? The Ministry could help."

If Allen asked. Who'd know how to other than the train?
blitzcheer: (trying not to use same keywords)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 11:12 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh yeah? How long's it been since you two were in this Naut place, and he was away from his world?"

He's trying to make sense of the order, or how they know each other. Were they both in Naut, and now they're going to this other place?
guru_clef: (Study time)

[personal profile] guru_clef 2022-02-23 11:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I came directly here from there," Clef said, as though that explained anything. "He returned to his world for a while before arriving on the Train."
yondu: (1 0 8)

[personal profile] yondu 2022-02-23 11:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Nah I uh... I'm pretty good and dead back home. Not even a body waitin' for me, most likely. So I just gotta work with what I got here."

At least that's his intention. His luck with things usually turns out terrible, and it will again.

"Looks like you're gonna go with ever'thin' you learned the hard way here, so that's gonna help ya out a whole hell of a lot."
blitzcheer: (that won't do nancy)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
It's what he got - nothing - and so it isn't a surprise to see nothing appear on the screen following the request. Tidus sighs before Madoka makes any noise, figuring out what was happening, or giving in before Madoka does.

Because he's been here, every day. Every day, trying to get the train to acknowledge them - and not succeeding.

"It's alright." He drops a hand on the young girl's shoulder, a comforting - and thankful - gesture. Making another side, one low and frustrated. "It's so...annoying how we come back here. The second we think things are getting better, and it's back to its old ways." No. No, rather: "It never changed to begin with."

So far, the only ones who seemed to be listening were outside their walls. And there was no way of getting through to them, either.
blitzcheer: (how u gUnNa DeFet iT)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2022-02-23 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Tidus does turn, looking back with a confusion that becomes more apparent with the offer of the gift. A puzzling brow, and he's quiet for a second, but-

"What?"

Did Elidibus forget something? What would he want to give him? He is curious, but he can't really say what he expects, waiting for whatever Elidibus is going to do next.
stonefvced: (oo2.)

[personal profile] stonefvced 2022-02-23 01:47 pm (UTC)(link)
He understands the desire, but even if someone could ruin the train there's no way to tell whether the platform they're stuck upon would remain safe forever or that there was any way to depart once stuck there. If some bodies weren't still alive back home, some worlds ruined, this was the only place they could live. Alice may or may not wish to cut that tether for herself and that was her prerogative but he couldn't allow her or anyone to put the lives of others at stake. So, they busied themselves.

"Neither I," he admits, continuing to work. "But the security of those aboard is more important to me at the moment." He pauses, eyes look up at Alice. Then, quietly: "believing this pipe dream of returning home was also madness."
wewillwewill: (Elidibus-ConvocationStone)

Icon is the item!

[personal profile] wewillwewill 2022-02-23 02:17 pm (UTC)(link)
And so Elidibus takes a half step forward, drawing out an item from his personal spatial storage and allowing it to rest in his palm. This is offered out.

A crystaline 'stone'. Gray with light marbling and cut in a particular shape. It seems to have a subtle glow even in the light. On the smoothed surface is a pattern; dots of varying sizes connected by lines. If it seems like a constellation then that is fine because it is. Even if it's not one Tidus might recognize.

Elidibus closes his eyes as if focusing for a moment. One last moment of drawing on what had been stored there and perhaps a sign of its importance to him before he opens his eyes again and focuses on Tidus.

"When our world was Sundered, the three of us who survived intact committed the memories of our brethren to stones such as these, that we might never forget who they were. That they might be reminded..." He pauses here as if remembering Tidus does not like long-winded speeches and shakes his head.

"And for ourselves." The survivors. "...This embodies much of who I am. And what my fellow Unsundered imparted of their collected memories. Of Elidibus, the Emissary."

Elidibus's expression may be difficult to read. "I do not know if you would be able to experience what's told within. Yet you are welcome to it, if you would be willing to remember me."
knifewithnoname: (heartbreak)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2022-02-23 05:30 pm (UTC)(link)
It better not change its mind. She sighed and then nodded. "I will be being. Goodbye Alice."

Her voice went a bit squeaky. She swallowed and then raised a hand, a wave before she turned around. Time to go.

Away from all of this. Back to her where she was meant to be.
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2022-02-23 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"That would be fun! 'Cause there's not so many people it won't be so tricky to cook for everyone. We'll have to count who is left so we know what we can make."

It would be good to get to know everyone more, make some more friends.
irrationally: (i don't know what is real)

[personal profile] irrationally 2022-02-23 07:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Can you stay here?"

It's a question that's said softly. Partially due to Alice's current state, in which it'd probably be hard for her to speak up any louder even if she tried, but also because it's an incredibly vulnerable question.

Not that Alice necessarily thought Guri was going to leave. But she did think the other might decide to stand around instead, like she's keeping guard that way, and that's not what Alice's heart feels like she needs right now. She needs someone a little closer by like that, to keep her grounded to this reality.

Because it feels like she'll float right off into a different world if she doesn't have that.

"My.. roommate." She tries to think of his name again, but despite having remembered it a moment ago, it now slips right out of her mind once more. "He.. is not here right now. No one else should come here."
Edited 2022-02-23 19:28 (UTC)
unrecovered: (Face: Uh-huh)

[personal profile] unrecovered 2022-02-23 08:35 pm (UTC)(link)
He raises both eyebrows at that. Nobody in their right mind would choose to stay, and yet here they both are. He stops short of asking which one this teenager is - odds are he's not going to say anyway, and there's no point in pushing when he doesn't need to.

He heads closer and takes a knee next to the teen and the bag, waiting for bandages to be produced and considering the timing of running back to the medical car for some. Will the teen even be here when he gets back, if he goes, or will he go find somewhere else to work out his temper?

He shrugs at that assessment. It's easier to crash a ship than to land it successfully, but he's pretty sure that observation won't go over well. "I'm guessing it doesn't normally make an effort to send people home either. From what I can tell, we're in uncharted territory, right?" It would make sense that things are going wrong when nobody has any idea what the fuck they're doing.
the_aunt_general: cap from aromanticmara at tumblr (Default)

[personal profile] the_aunt_general 2022-02-23 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Well that's going to be a thing. And it looks in its hardened state, like it ought to - like the armor of a Katolian general. Yeah, this she can get used to.

I used to default to that, too. Thankfully, I got smarter.
art_of_war: (96)

[personal profile] art_of_war 2022-02-23 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then would you please demonstrate how to leave feedback?"

(OOC: Mods are saying there wouldn't be much of a response from the train.))
the_aunt_general: (sweet)

[personal profile] the_aunt_general 2022-02-23 08:49 pm (UTC)(link)
She smiles as he works his way through all of that, understanding the tangle of emotions. Oof, she remembered those. They weren't ever easy to untangle, were they?

So she decides to cut out the middleman on this conversation - to wit, all that complex stuff. So she just opens her arms, gesturing with both hands. Get in there, kiddo. She's going to hug the hell out of you.
nell_of_soulwood: (Smiling shy)

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-02-23 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
And now its Nell's turn to blush a bit. "You are easy to be nice to. And you always seemed to look out for me. I appreciate that more than you'un will ever really understand."
nell_of_soulwood: (Smiling shy)

Re: Nell Ingram

[personal profile] nell_of_soulwood 2022-02-23 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll do my best," Nell assured him. She stepped back slowly and sighed. "I guess... I should probably get going."
marvelous_murderbot: (pensive)

[personal profile] marvelous_murderbot 2022-02-23 08:57 pm (UTC)(link)
There's not a moment's hesitation in Guri's answer.

"Of course," she replies, smiling gently at Alice. "I'll stay as long as you need."

There's no question of it, after all. None whatsoever.