voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2022-05-01 05:47 am

A New Platform [Intro Post May]


PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 18
(RABBIT)



BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Rabbit. Points have been updated on the system."

The voice of the Voidtrecker Express welcomes passengers at the same time as always, sometime after breakfast. With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later, as the colours of the void outside the windows blur more and more.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. The weather is hot and dry.. 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.

ON THE PLATFORM


1. THE ARRIVAL

At first, all your character can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. But as their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform. It is indeed hot and dry. The dirt packed ground of the platform was cracked and dusty. The air hazy and shimmery if they looked through the fog. The sun blazes down from above, not much shade to be found.

They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they're one of Eight figures: all facing the tracks, and all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies, the latter in one of four colours. Purple, red, blue or orange.

But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.

The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. A-Qing, Joseph Kavinsky, Ken Amada, Kumoko, Mina Mongoose, Naoya, Peter Parker, Ronan Lynch, Senku Ishigami, The Iron Bull, Yosuke Otoha Zenos yae Galvus
They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.


2. BOARDING THE TRAIN

After a short time, about ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Everyone will feel a pull when they do, a need to board, and those from the train may encourage new arrivals to board. This feeling grows into one of apprehension and turns worse the longer they stay off-board.

For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.

For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.

a. New arrivals will notice a screen and console in every carriage sharing the same message, and a stack of leaflets in holders by them offering further information to the curious (see 'Publications'). There are lavatories available on each carriage on one end, with another console with a deposit box under it at the other. This is the train shop.

b. It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is mushrooms, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.

c. Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. 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.

d. At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink.

For those interested in what the reward for Purple team was, they will find boxes of cookies

DEPARTURE


Spend your time exploring, if you will. But people will have half an hour before a second horn sounds, encouraging any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air to board. After five minutes from this, the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train begins to rumble with activity, and the platform starts to disappear into a fog as the voidcraft moves. A female-coded artificial voice echoes throughout the train.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. 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.


NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS
flatteries: (i could spill my guts out)

[personal profile] flatteries 2022-06-04 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
The communication lines are all tangled up here, that's clearly the problem.

Because to Inigo the other's answer - that awkward, half-confused 'you're welcome?' just reads as Esteban being confused to him, but not for the right reasons. He just thinks that it's got to mean that the other is so naturally nice that he can't even see it for something as special as it is.

It's not like he'd be the first type Inigo has met like that by now though. He's used to it, and so it doesn't seem to take away from his amusement in the slightest while he's just enjoying his food here.

"I think it's easier if you just eat," he says, still smiling. "You look like you might just shut down entirely if you get more confused than you already are now."

And we don't want any steam coming out of Esteban's ears from how overworked his poor brain is. Just accept the compliment, Esteban! Don't think about it too hard!
crowneddragon: (Round_eyes)

[personal profile] crowneddragon 2022-06-06 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Like I'd let that stop me." Mischief sparks in his eyes as he holds onto this much.

He really should stop, for everyone's sanity, but he's feeling more settled now, more on top of things, so he can banter a bit back with his friend instead of taking his suggestion. Besides, he's decided now, and it's not a bit of confusion that's going to slow him down, not when what he has to say is so important.

He just needs to be able to say it.

"Thanks, Inigo." There! That's a start! "You know y're precious to me, right?" Its not the first time that he uses the term, but it's true. Oh! Is this what Inigo means by being nice? That's not being nice, that's Esteban being truthful!

His grin widens when he seems to catch on, at least a bit, what his friend is trying to tell him, and Esteban runs with it.

"Y're patient, an' carin'," please, dealing with Esteban on a daily basis deserves a medal, pure and simple. "An'--" here, he falters, uncertain if he's allowed to say much more, but he can't just let it go silent. There has to be a way that he can speak the truth without hurting his friend. "An' you're very brave."

It falls too short of what he wants to say; that to keep trying beyond the pains Esteban has only gotten a tiny glimpse of-- he can't quieten it. He can't keep it silent. "An' you're strong." He doesn't mean by the path of the blade.

"I'm proud t' be your friend." Hmm. He might be pushing it a bit; he's happy enough to claim that friendship on his side, but Esteban is aware that he's got this tendency to get attached to people, maybe too quick, maybe too fast. He's unrepentant, but hopes Inigo doesn't mind the term.
flatteries: (you don't gain a single thing)

[personal profile] flatteries 2022-06-06 09:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Heh. This is exactly what I mean!"

Apparently Inigo doesn't seem bothered by the friend term at all here. Really, it would have been stranger if Esteban hadn't called him a friend.. If anything, the only thing about what the other is saying that seems to drag a different reaction out of Inigo, slightly making his cheeks light up, are all those compliments getting fired off at him in such rapid succession.

It's.. a lot! But he's dealing! Or trying to, anyway. He can kind of hide his fluster behind the food he's eating here, even though it's rapidly dwindling now..

"That's exactly what I mean when you say you're nice! Do you think a whole lot of people bother to tell me that?" Inigo shakes his head.

Certainly not back home, that's for sure.

"It's something only nice people go out of their way to say."
crowneddragon: (Sunshine_Grin)

[personal profile] crowneddragon 2022-06-10 02:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Then y're a nice person too~" he adds, because Inigo literally gave him that one, and he's not above adding more to his list. "An' you should hear it more of'en~" Esteban makes a mental note of that, though he's not sure if he'll manage. He loves his friends, but it always seems to him that showering people with compliments has a time and place.

Not.. that this has stopped him before. He'll find ways; he absolutely will.

But for now, he's content to simply snatch up another bite of his pie, tracking down what he intends to do today, his grin returning. There's aimless chatter at the back of his throat again, something simple and easy to fill the silence, about the wind in the weather carriage and how it reminds him of the saltgrass seas, the sound that it made as it wailed across the flatlands.

He's a good storyteller, really, and he can hope that Inigo gains comfort from his presence, the way Esteban does when he's around his friend.