voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-01-01 05:55 am

A New Platform [Intro Post January]

On the Train

After a very quiet latter half of the month of Catfish the calendar clicks over. Passengers wake up in their beds as usual to the passenger announcement. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of domino.".

Those that have been on board a while know that new months usually come with new people and so the message a few hours later will not be a surprise. "Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void imminent." A lurch and a jolt and they are soon surrounded by the fog that means they are at a platform.

It will come as a relief that no one leaves this time, no one with packed bags to walk silently towards the barriers.

Added to that the platform itself holds more people then it ever has before. Twenty one figures, all the colours are represented. The ground is icy and their breath pools in white clouds around them.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see if steam. Billowing around them as they come to their senses. They are standing, in clothes that are not their own, styles they might not even recognise. They are carrying a rucksack on their back. For a moment it seems to just be them, alone in the white haze but then the steam begins to fade and they realise they aren’t alone.

The platform is not large and it holds twenty one figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. The air is cold, the ground icy beneath your feet. Both left and right the tracks disappear into the mist. 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 into the cold step a selection of people. Some are human, some are less so. They are wearing the same hoodie in one of the four colours, red, orange, blue and purple.

The Train

The doors hiss open. Those from the train may encourage those on the platform to board. It’s not like there is 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 not be a good thing also it’s very cold out on the platform. The train is warmer.

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. The store rooms have been restocked and it seems that water chestnuts are the month of Domino’s ingredient of choice! Any of orange team who who go to check the luggage cart will find a parcel containing gingerbread snowflakes, decorated with icing. One for each of the orange team, including new members, come share in the reward!

New passengers will find their tickets allow them into their cabins. They may need to negotiate for beds, especially if they want a top bunk!

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 and you will hopefully find a pillow for your bed if it has not been nabbed by a roommate, there are also spare blankets for if it gets cold.

Departure

A second horn sounds to encourage any stragglers and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view 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."

Hopefully someone warns you that you really want to heed that warning because a moment later there is 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever changing colours.

Welcome to voidspace!
faithfulsupport: (How is it..)

[personal profile] faithfulsupport 2020-01-13 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
Green eyes looked over the woman and he listened intently to the conversation. He had no idea what this was about, talking about versions of people, but he was certainly making sure to get in every word. This Lord Vader sounded like a pretty big menace though that was easily enough felt, whatever the 'force' was. That Vader person certainly wasn't emitting any bright anything, more like dark and menacing, but he kept those observations to himself.

"I am." Ignis said, reaching out to grasp the woman's hand gently with a nod. "Ignis Scientia, at your service."
knifewithnoname: (yes okay)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2020-01-13 06:10 am (UTC)(link)
She blinked at that. He was strange. But this whole train was strange. She was getting used to it. She nodded at him and grinned.

"I will be seeing you around." She turned to leave, off to see who else had arrived today.
runs_on_batteries: (hair petting)

[personal profile] runs_on_batteries 2020-01-13 06:17 am (UTC)(link)
Tony didn't see him that way and would've said so if Ignis had voiced his guilt. He knew this was also an act of love. With all of the sexual haze ebbing away, he was left with all those thoughts and memories he had been trying to hide from. Taking the man's hand, he brought it to his lips before getting up. "Come here, just for a moment."

He sighed, he wrapped his arms around the advisor and simply held him. It wasn't with any of the sexual intent as it had been before. Right now, he just wanted the man close. They might be in a closet, but it was safe and secluded from the rest of the train. He was reluctant to leave this shelter, but he knew they needed to.

Letting go, he got up and followed Ignis to their cabin.
faithfulsupport: (Relaxing)

[personal profile] faithfulsupport 2020-01-13 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
Ignis flushed at the feeling of those lips on the back of his hand and he couldn't help but smile. "You're quite the knight, making such an old fashioned gesture." Knights as such didn't exist in his world, but he'd read plenty of tales of them here and back home on Eos. There was a smile as Tony's arms came around him and the advisor gently pushed his hands through the dark hair.

He couldn't admit it out loud but he loved when they were alone together like this, because it was them against the world. Placing a soft kiss on top of his boyfriend's head, he rested against it just a moment and sighed. "From now on, I should call you my hero knight." A pause as he thought of the rings he'd almost commissioned Curufin for. "Or my Iron knight, or just sir knight. Either way, it's something from a fairy tale." It was silly, but that was the way Tony's old fashioned gesture sent through his head when he kissed his hand. True knights didn't exist anymore if they ever did, but some of the things that his lover did like just now made him a believer, just a tiny bit.

Back in their cabin, luckily no one was there, so Ignis had Tony lay his head on his chest which was a reversal of what they usually did. But this was so he could spoil his lover with the gentle hair threading, anything to soothe and relax the man in his arms.
orangewayfinder: (Get on that)

[personal profile] orangewayfinder 2020-01-13 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
"In the..that place." Terra's head went down, recalling that conversation. But she'd helped him and he owed her for that, even if he was more than sure that she was kind enough to never ask anything of him due to that. That wasn't the point, the point was fairness and kindness in return for what he'd received.

He shook his head at her questions. "No, I was kind of hoping you could tell me but I guess we're both left without answers this time." It was tough to say but if that's the way it was, that's the way it went. And there wasn't much they could do about it really. They were stuck here on a train going who knew where.

Looking down at his blue hoodie, his blue eyes then went to Namine's orange outfit. "Guess we're on separate teams too."
marriedanidiot: (wisdom)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-01-13 03:24 pm (UTC)(link)
She wrinkles her nose.

"Well, I suppose that would depend on how you define magic, no?"
marriedanidiot: (mother)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-01-13 03:25 pm (UTC)(link)
"Xion is a friend of yours? I hope you get a chance to meet her again, then."

Nerdanel reflects that there are an awful lot of children on this train - it's really quite alarming.

"Did you enjoy what you did see?"
stealsyourheart: (PON)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-01-13 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Kaito grins. "I'm a bit obvious, yeah. I prefer a gentleman thief who returns what he steals to detectives any day - I figure it's more exciting than a standard murder mystery."
stealsyourheart: (smile for me)

[personal profile] stealsyourheart 2020-01-13 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"If it's old fashioned weapons, Feanor-san might be best. He's a smith, apparently? If you want things that go boom, Tony-san and Miss Ash are your best bets, I think."
themasterthief: (♠ a loner by nature.)

[personal profile] themasterthief 2020-01-13 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'll keep that in mind," he replied. Sounded like they might all be useful in their own way. Especially for the train as a whole. Garrett just wanted some tools. He would look into like he said. But didn't sound overly worried right now.

If anything, he looked distracted. He was looking around the room but nothing seemed to be holding his attention. He was probably ready to move onto the next carriage in his exploration.
rieper: (double o 47.)

[personal profile] rieper 2020-01-13 06:52 pm (UTC)(link)
47 had experienced that fairly early on one evening when he had been trying to finish up a project. He had not been pleased. Eventually however his internal clock had adjusted and he did his best to be already in the cabin when sleep was forced upon the passengers. The waking still bothered him since he usually woke up a few minutes before whatever time he set for himself in the morning--it was a taught skill from back during his training. But he couldn't adjust no matter what he tried here. The train, or whatever part of its operation that controlled that aspect, wouldn't let him wake at any other second.

Agent 47 would have bristled were he any other man. A slight tension filled the air though just barely perceptible to anyone who paid enough attention to such things. He didn't like the idea of that.

"What did they do while the passengers were locked in their rooms?" Obviously they couldn't see what they did on the rest of the train but maybe someone had found evidence of something, anything. If not, there was at least what they did know from what happened when they entered the cabins.
rieper: (overcast.)

[personal profile] rieper 2020-01-13 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
The hitman made a noncommittal noise. 47 was caught between wanting to disagree and saying that he would never allow anyone to tell him what to do unless he wanted it, and remaining less formidable by simply deflecting as he did with most conversations on the train so not to reveal too much of his true nature just yet. It was easy for him to remain calm and quiet and unnoticed, but he had never maintained a cover for more than a few months at a time. He hoped he wouldn't have to here. He preferred his assignments to be quick and efficient.

Whatever this was, he doubted it was going to be either with the way it was going so far.

"I haven't had any trouble," he ended up replying simply. It was true and it didn't mean much in the long run. He didn't explain how it was because he didn't go looking to start a fight.
democratically: (engage)

[personal profile] democratically 2020-01-13 07:00 pm (UTC)(link)
"But that makes no sense." Not Palpatine. Why she is saying those things, Padmé has no idea. There are those that do not like him, but regardless, why go so far? "He has done much for the Republic."
democratically: (encounters)

[personal profile] democratically 2020-01-13 07:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mm. Look at it on different scales. Say, a town compared to a village compared to a city." Maybe that will help it a little? "Each planet governs themselves, like a town would, but then each town might be connected to a larger city that offers certain services. Rules and bills that deal with trade or transportation."
knifewithnoname: (that sounds unpleasent)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2020-01-13 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
She noticed and understood enough. She didn't like that level of control either. She tilted her head.

"I do be thinking they did be inspecting the train. That's what they did be saying. They did be coming into our rooms and they did be checking our tickets and... they did be having a light in their arm that they did be running over us. They did be saying who we did be being, how old we did be being and how long we did be being on the train for and what worlds we did be going to."

Information they had maybe got off the tickets? She had no idea.
onehandsomeslickninja: (down to business)

[personal profile] onehandsomeslickninja 2020-01-13 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
"I understand that, but rules and laws rather than treaties and agreements are where I'm confused." Maybe a fine line, but an important one to Edge. "Laws and rules employ enforcement."
badassfreakingoverlord: (determined)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-01-13 08:48 pm (UTC)(link)
"...You have a depressing life if you think every conflict should get resolved with people being upset. And some things are just black and white, yes or no."

Ignoring the Overlord's grumblings, the Prinny closed its eyes and looked generally delighted."Nice to meet you, Misa, dood. Where ya from?"
badassfreakingoverlord: (dot dot frickin' dot)

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-01-13 08:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Seriously?" That hit a surprisingly sensitive spot on Zetta, who drew himself up with all the dignity a book could muster.

"I lost everything. My Netherworld, my castle, my family, even my body. Try topping that for a sob story. The difference between you and me is that I am going to get it all back, and nothing's going to stop me!"
runsfast_rollsfar: (o_o)

[personal profile] runsfast_rollsfar 2020-01-13 09:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Prisoner was maybe a little surprised that someone actually addressed him. He sat up and would let his legs hang over the sort of edge of the train and then slide down to land on the platform. He pulled his journal out showed it to the man, tapping his finger under the text on the front: Prisoner.

Up close it would become apparent that this being was some sort of corpse with fire for a head, though the nature of what it was may not be immediately visible beyond that.
badassfreakingoverlord: (laughin' and floppin')

[personal profile] badassfreakingoverlord 2020-01-13 09:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, yeah, you haven't done anything yet." Right? Zetta sure didn't recognize that status screen, which he would have if he'd seen the guy in action of some sort! And since Zetta hadn't seen it, obviously, it didn't matter! "But you know that old saying: They came for the smokers, and I didn't speak up, because I wasn't a smoker. They came for the Overlords, and I didn't speak up, because the Overlords didn't need any help because they were awesome. They came for the buck-ninety-nine cheeseburger specials, and I did not speak up, because no matter how hard I shouted the guy at the drive-in couldn't hear me through the speaker... wait, I'm not sure that last one was right. Hold on."
rieper: (sideeye.)

[personal profile] rieper 2020-01-13 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
The bald man cocked his head to one side slightly. Well, that was an interesting twist to the anecdote 47 thought the book was trying to get at. He got the gist of what Zetta was attempting to say though. The real problem was that he truly didn't care.

"It sounds like you have an issue with these people," he said. The implied was 'but not me'. And as long as he kept out of the way, which was to his preference anyway, he didn't plan on having one.
rieper: (default.)

[personal profile] rieper 2020-01-13 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
There was a small frown forming on 47's face. That was information they presumably already had, always had from the start as indicated by the directory and amount of control they had over the train. So the only point 47 could really see in such an action was intimidation. A show of force, so to speak. It let the passengers know just how little control they had and how much these inspectors did. And how willing they were to exert it.

47's fists clenched and released a few times in succession. That wasn't very good news in his opinion. But at least he had an idea for an enemy. A point of interest to keep an eye on.

"And that was all? Nothing else?"
littlepaperbird: (Default)

[personal profile] littlepaperbird 2020-01-13 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
He shook his head a little as Nerdanel suggested he share the tales of his own world, as if implying that there was no way his own tales would live up to those that the elves likely had experienced, but he didn't comment. That was unfair: just because elves lived an impossibly long time didn't mean they necessarily discounted those around them.

Mention of something called the Istari interested Paper. Did they not have wizards and sorcerers where she was from?

He paused, then responded to her final comment carefully. It was clear he was trying to pick his words carefully as he thought it over. His demeanor would grow more serious as he spoke. "Anything can be dangerous if put into the wrong hands. A wizard who spends their life devoted to learning magic can turn to learning forbidden magics: necromancy and soul magics, for example. Sorcerers, born with innate power, could easily use their power for evil. They are often surprisingly strong for having no formal training." He paused for a moment, considering his next statement. "No deal comes for free, that is true. To pick an appropriate patron that requests nothing that is a detriment to the fellow people and the world around you as well as to use the granted power for good can be tricky."

"Devils and demons are never to be dealt with, given their nature and the nature of the Hells. The Fey can sway either way: some simply wish for entertainment while others desire trickery. And the Old Ones..." Paper looked up, as if expecting to see a starry sky. It was clear this was maybe a small habit. "...They seem less than interested in the happenings of planes. At least, mine seems less than interested." He blinked and looked back to Nerdanel. "Part of why I search ruins is for more information on the Old Ones. All I know is that they reside in the Far Realm." There were other patrons, of course, but they often ended up adjacent to one of the ones he mentioned.

He's quiet for a moment, then some of that cheery demeanor comes back, though not as much as was there prior. "So the Istari? Is that a people, then?"
littlepaperbird: (Default)

[personal profile] littlepaperbird 2020-01-13 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"In my experience those that are heroes do not do because they are asked, but because they are capable and it is the right thing to do." Paper fidgeted with the hem of his hoodie absently.

"It's not convenient to be here, but clearly we are needed for something. If that something is to help, then why would I be upset?" He was an optimistic bird.
littlepaperbird: (Default)

[personal profile] littlepaperbird 2020-01-13 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
How staunchly she was against the term of family threw Paper for a moment, but it didn't show on his face as much as cause him to simply pause before responding.

"I mean at the guild we weren't all really related, and not everyone was there because they wanted to be: work is work, after all."

Clearly he didn't quite get a more pessimistic point of view.