voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-04-01 05:27 am

A New Platform [Intro Post April!]

On the Train

Two days after they return from their mission they are awoken as usual "Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Egret. The shop has been updated and points have been applied to passengers tickets."

Those that go to check the shop terminals will find they have indeed updated, with the option to buy larger items and also animals. The morning goes on until just after noon there is a second announcement.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." A lurch and a jolt and they are soon surrounded by the fog that means they are at a platform. Though the fog is thick, thicker than usual perhaps, there are patches on sunlight shining through and it is pleasantly warm.

The doors open and the first few to disembark do so with rucksacks on, hoods pulled up, silent and almost blank faced. Cu Chulain, Dio Brando, Disreputable Dog, Heiji Hattori, Loki Maedhros, Maglor, Naruto, Thor, Tobias Fangor.

They walk to the barriers, show their tickets and disappear.

But on the platform itself there are once again new faces. All are stood, waiting for the train.

For New Passengers

At first all they can see is 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 as people begin to shift or call out it will become apparent they are not alone.

The platform is not large and it holds eighteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. It's warm but foggy making it hard to see much, but there are clearer patches bathed in sunlight found across the platform. 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. 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. The store rooms have been restocked with an abundance of onions, in case the passengers weren't bored of them yet.

Passengers who are not brand new will notice that the train has gotten yet longer again with a sixth sleeper cabin for new arrivals.

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. 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. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever changing colours.

Welcome to the Void!
sendiintheclown: (clown mask)

[personal profile] sendiintheclown 2020-04-02 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, so the thing could talk. And sounded distinctly male, though Trowa knew better than to presume. He'd been slapped the first time he'd done that as a boy when his group had been near a town. "It's what my ticket says. Do you know which bunk is free?" He could freak out over having met an alien later. When he was alone and knew the location was secure. Until then, it was safest to behave like this was just another mission.
shutupnail: (more grumpy than evil.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-04-02 07:09 am (UTC)(link)
The calm attitude was fine by Piccolo. He preferred it. It made things too damn awkward when people got weird about him being an alien. He didn't have time for that sort of thing.

He shook his head. "I couldn't tell you which one is mine, much less theirs. I'm sure they'll let you know. Rapunzel, at least, is kind enough."
sendiintheclown: (clown mask)

[personal profile] sendiintheclown 2020-04-03 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Where Trowa was from, Rapunzel was no more than a fairy tale. But then again, he was looking at an actual alien. "I will hope to meet her soon." His head was sure to start hurting any moment.
shutupnail: (crossed arms.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-04-03 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
There was probably a fairy tale about a girl like Rapunzel back in Piccolo's world too but he hadn't a clue. Humans and their culture were weird to him despite the fact that he'd lived his entire life on Earth with them. But as far as he was concerned the name was just a name and the girl just a girl, even if she did bare resemblances to a fairy tale.

"Yeah, it'll be easier to know who to expect in the mornings. You'll end up in the cabin whether you remember it or not. Or wanted to go there or not. Anyway, my friends call me Piccolo. You won't see me in there often--too cramped, beds aren't really my style, etc--but if you do it'll be during that time when the train does it's thing where it puts us all in our cabins."
sendiintheclown: (clown mask)

[personal profile] sendiintheclown 2020-04-03 05:19 am (UTC)(link)
So the train could relocate people at random? That was interesting to know. "I'm Trowa. Nice to meet you."
shutupnail: (more grumpy than evil.)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-04-03 05:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Likewise."

That was simple and painless. Piccolo couldn't ask for a better first meeting than that. There was a brief lull in the conversation.

"Well then." The Namekian pushed off the wall and stood up straight. "Unless you've got any questions--" humans usually had a few questions for him "--I'm leaving."
sendiintheclown: (clown mask)

[personal profile] sendiintheclown 2020-04-04 04:11 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, there would be questions. Many, many questions. But right at the moment, Trowa's head was spinning with too many changes and too much going on. "I'm sure I'll see you around." He needed a very strong cup of coffee, since he doubted anyone would provide him alcohol. He knew he didn't look near old enough to drink.
shutupnail: (Default)

[personal profile] shutupnail 2020-04-04 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
Piccolo nodded in acceptance of that then turned to do as he had said. "See ya then." He exited the carriage.
sendiintheclown: (clown mask)

[personal profile] sendiintheclown 2020-04-04 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
Watching the giant green individual leave, Trowa sighed softly. This experience was really going to stress him out, but at least now he could at least try to distract himself. Checking the cubbies, he found the empty one and went about unpacking his bag. To his surprise, he found his mask inside. Why that and not a gun, he wasn't sure. Taking care to hide the sentimental item in the back of his cubbie, he folded the rucksack and tucked it inside as well.