voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-07-01 05:50 am
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A New Platform [Intro Post July]

On the Train

Luckily for everyone the final couple of days of Fiddlesticks are quiet and mostly uneventful. Eventually though they awake to the announcement. "Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Grasshopper. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train a while 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." A lurch and a jolt and they are soon surrounded by the fog that means they are at a platform. Also a loud pattering sound, which they will discover once the doors open are hailstones. They might want to grab their raincoats.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Ann Takamaki, Drizzt, Geralt, Huehuecóyotl, Ignis Scientia, Ivy Wakefield, Jiang Yanli, Lan Sizhui, Maebhrin Tillinath, May Parker, Nie Huaisang, Osomatsu Matsuno, Raven, Roxas, Shaw, The Iron Bull, Ultimo, Wei Wuxian, Yuki Sohma, Yuffie, Yukito Tsukishiro

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies and waterproofs, 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. The second thing they will notice is it is cold, hailstones rain down around them, though they don’t last long on the platform ground, melting into slush.

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 nineteen figures all facing the tracks, all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies. 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. 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.

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.

Indeed whereas usually there is plenty time for people to be met and brought slowly onto the train, the whistles blow a lot quicker this time, as if hurrying the passengers along.

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, it seems carrots have taken over the bacon, though there are plenty of other staples.

Those from blue team who go to investigate will find a box of biscuits. There is enough for the whole team, including new passengers. Join in your team's success!

Those who are not new will quickly discover some changes made to make the train accessible to those who can’t see, including Braille translations of all the signs around the train.

There is of course the new music room to explore. A double carriage, the downstairs has instruments to learn and practice with, as well as a series of music screen points. Those who play around with the screens will soon discover their SCA’s can now store music and can choose their favourites to listen to around the train.

Upstairs is a performance area and holds a piano.

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 over the noise of the hail stones 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!
luckydragonsfoot: (ewwwww thing)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-01 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Tick't, tick't..." He pulls the rucksack off, squinting at it and opening it. "...I don' s'ppose it's always th' same pocket..."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971957)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-01 11:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe check your pants' pockets? That's where I found mine when I first got here."
luckydragonsfoot: (he ran into my fist 12 times honest offi)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-01 11:11 am (UTC)(link)
Ooh. Ooh, he doesn't like the sound of that. His pants are wet. His coat is wet! All of the things are wet, and he digs into the pocket and-

"...Huh." Ok. "...Figured it'd be paper, when y' said 'ticket'."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971787)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-01 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
She winces a bit as well.

"W-Well...hopefully it'll dry pretty quickly? These things are apparently supposed to last a while."

For however long they're here.
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-02 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well...tha's th' thing righ'? Th's definitely ain't paper..." He wobbles the ticket a bit, blinking owlishly. It's hardly pleasant to look at- or to hold- but it's far-cry from mush. "Guess tha's handy, it'd really suck 'f I couldn't go anywhere b'cause th' thing was soaked an' stuff."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971947)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-02 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, that'd be pretty bad." She gestures to it. "Is it still readable even though it's wet?"
luckydragonsfoot: (nyh-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-03 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
"Nyhhhh.... ...Looks t' be," he decides, blinking. "...kinda weird though, since I'm pretty sure th's ain't japanese..."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971649)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-03 08:27 am (UTC)(link)
"It probably isn't. There's some weird system that lets us all understand each other, as well as read everything printed on the train even though it's technically in its own language." She shakes her head. "Just be glad you didn't get here earlier. That system had gone down, so there were a few hours when we all couldn't understand each other."
Edited 2020-07-03 08:27 (UTC)
luckydragonsfoot: (ewwwww thing)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-03 10:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Y' mean like on those sci-fi shows..?" Woah...now that's really cool.

...

Except that last bit. "Hihh! Am I glad tha' ain't happenin then, yeesh...I stink at English!" And he'd be willing to bet that one would be a more common connection.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971676)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-05 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, pretty much. And English probably would've been the last thing to worry about, since everything on the train was in a language that isn't from Earth."
luckydragonsfoot: (say again-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-05 10:52 am (UTC)(link)
"HIHH- Like, any earth!? No earth at all!?"

He's less scared and more alarmed, but it's still...well, alarming!
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971787)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-05 11:22 am (UTC)(link)
"It definitely wasn't a language anyone here from any Earth could read, anyway."
luckydragonsfoot: (he ran into my fist 12 times honest offi)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-05 11:24 am (UTC)(link)
"Aw man..." Well, the disappointment lasts about as long as it takes for him to remember that the translators are apparently working, in any case. The blond brightens. "Well, least it ain' an issue now righ'?"

It fades quick. "...Er...there's uh...no chance 'f it happenin' again...righ'..?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971649)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-05 11:29 am (UTC)(link)
She doesn't answer for a moment. "...we still don't know what exactly made them go down in the first place," she admits.

And if they don't know how it happened, they don't know how to prevent it either.
luckydragonsfoot: (OHHHHH NO-!)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-05 11:32 am (UTC)(link)
"Uhhhhh..."

That's! Not very promising at all!

"....S...so what d' we do...'f it fails again..?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971961)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-05 10:29 pm (UTC)(link)
She sighs a little. "Hope it doesn't last long, and wait for it to start up again. Just like we did last time."

It's not a good solution. But it's all they were able to do.
luckydragonsfoot: (ewwwww thing)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-05 11:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"Nyhhh...g...guess so then..." he squeaks, swallowing as he clutches his ticket. There's a fussy whinny at the side, and Katsuya jolts out of his thoughts.

"AH-! R-Righ', I w's s'pposed t' find th' showers...er, thanks f'r explainin' stuff yeah?" he states, still trying not to think about if the translation fails.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#14105706)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-07 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh yeah, sure," she says with a shrug. "No problem. I can, uh...help you find the sleeper you're in, if you want?"

It wouldn't be that hard to find, honestly, but she needs a reason to stick around to ask about the unicorn.
luckydragonsfoot: (heck yeah im cool-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-07 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Katsuya just shakes his head. "Nahh, I think I got it- 'sides, ticket says '1', so I figure it'll be th' first sleeper car I hit!" he adds with a grin. "Talk abou' lucky huh?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971957)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-07 04:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh...actually, from here, the sleeper cars go in reverse order." She points down the corridor. "When you walk down this way, the first sleeper car you'll hit is Seven, and then Six, then Five, and so on. Sleeper One is the last car before you get to the Dressing Car."
luckydragonsfoot: (Heckye)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-08 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
Ah!

Hm.

"...Oh." Boooo. "Well, guess I better start walkin' then huh. But at least now, 'f I hit a car that ain' a sleeper, I know I'm too far!" It's a way to look at it, certainly.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971805)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-08 07:46 am (UTC)(link)
She laughs a little. "Yeah, I guess that's true."

She's slightly disappointed that she can't talk a bit more to ask about his companion. But she also doesn't want to seem weird or anything.

"Oh, My name's Kitty, by the way. If you need any help, let me know."
luckydragonsfoot: (heck yeah im cool-)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-09 09:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Kitty?" Kind of a weird name he thinks, nodding despite the thought. He should probably be expecting weird names after all. "Righ'! Will do- I'm Jonouchi," he adds, nodding. "See y' uh...see y' later, yeah? Maybe 'n th' dinin' car or whatever."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971656)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-07-09 10:33 am (UTC)(link)
Hearing the questioning tone, she shrugs a bit. "It's a nickname." His name is a little odd to her too, so she can't exactly say anything.

"Probably. But yeah, I'll see you around. Nice meeting you."
luckydragonsfoot: (Heckye)

[personal profile] luckydragonsfoot 2020-07-09 10:35 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh!" Duh!!! "Makes sense," he laughs, rubbing his head.

From there though, he adjusts his hold on his bag, and gives an odd sort of whistle to the ponyta- now eagerly at his side and following behind him. "See y' aroun' then!" he calls back, heading off for the long trek to his carriage and shower.

If everyone's as nice as she was, then this train won't be so bad at all he thinks.

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[personal profile] goingthroughaphase - 2020-07-09 10:37 (UTC) - Expand