voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-10-01 05:30 am
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A New Platform [Intro Post October]

On the Train

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Horsehoe. Points have been updated on the system and new stock is available."

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. The first thing they may notice is that this platform is inside a basic shelter, making it warmer than the last couple at least.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Adora, Alex Hashimoto, Catra, Cloud Strife, Elizabeth Midford, Feanor, Gerome, Gladiolus Amicitia, Glimmer, Ifrit, Isabella D’Oro, Maru, Nari Reno, Noctis Lucis Caelum, Prompto Argentum, Scorpia, Siobahn Chereshei, SXT-2, Tamamo-no-Mae, Tony Stark, Uta, Zidane Tribal

But on the platform itself there are many new faces. Wearing hoodies in all four colours 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 gloomy, even without the steam and fog. They are in a wooden building, open to the tracks on one side. It in a creaky shelter, cobwebs hang from the rafters and there is a peculiar whistle as wind finds its way through the cracks.

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 gloom 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, with… teddy bear shaped luncheon meat being the main ingredient to be found. There are plenty of other staples.

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a room full of lockers, designated as the Armoury. Even for passengers without weapons it is somewhere to secure possessions. There are instructions on how to use the lockers and enough for everyone to claim one.

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 braving the snow 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!
shadowslipping: (pic#13321640)

[personal profile] shadowslipping 2020-10-05 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mnnn. Though the term is 'Duel Doctor', given the connections shadows hold. Actually, because of how vital it is for the monsters of the realm, being able to perform well in the card game is as important as holding one's own in combat- it's a rather demanding task..."

Ah, that said. "Psychology...is somewhat right? I wouldn't consider myself adequate for the field as a whole though," Yuume warns. "While we're trained to understand the appearance of the Dream- the inside of the soul as it looks while opened to the realms- the greatest importance is non-interference. We arrive, we move, and we find what fits best. The glove itself uses the energy of the soul to seek out a close match- so truthfully, much of the work on the psychological end is simply to avoid causing harm to the client themselves. If anything went wrong, we could cause irreparable damage after all...or worse, cause their death alongside our own."
fun_thementalist: (swindle~!)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-10-05 03:07 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm just a performer!" Gen laughed softly too. "Not even half as educated as any university student would be, regardless of their major. So I know how you feel, my dear, about feeling a little like dead weight at times."

Gen shrugged. "Whenever I see something strange that science can't explain - on the train, the answer often is magic. As fantastic as that sounds! If someone believes time stands still at home, I'd imagine that is how they knew."
fun_thementalist: (manga - innocent 2)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-10-05 03:11 pm (UTC)(link)
"I can't say I'm an expert on souls!" Gen laughed a little. "But your explanation helps, thank you kindly."

And made Gen feel slightly less on edge, under his friendly mask.

"Ah, they did mention you're a demon Overlord," Gen's tone was almost, but not quite, teasing. "That sort of title sounds very weighty and grand, but we didn't have those back home. So far as I was aware, anyway."
adregem: (president kickass is back)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-10-05 03:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He takes a couple of dirtied clothes overflowing from the rim of the basket and nestles it in his arms just so he isn't letting Meng Yao do all the work either. Roland doesn't move yet, waiting for the other to get settled. ]

Wow. I don't know if that's necessarily a good thing, [ Given this was a kidnapping, essentially - ] but at the very least, you're in the company of familiar faces. [ Now he will start to slowly move, further towards the direction of the Sleeper cabins, but keeping half his attention and gaze at Meng Yao. ] New to you? Is that right. Anything I can help with?

[ The offer comes easy, well-practiced. ]
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking directly at the viewer, mouth slightly open, as if she's in the middle of an important or unamused expression. (Focused)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-10-05 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita nods.

"You'll find that we - Voidtreckers, not just wizards - only get called on to involve ourselves with worlds in an immediate crisis too."

Resonances could pop up anywhere, it seems.

"But your presence matters regardless of the glove, right? Or- could the glove run a diagnostic on the person without Dream-diving?"
zechs_isonfire: (contemplative)

[personal profile] zechs_isonfire 2020-10-05 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Trapped inside a piece of luggage ..." Zechs repeated, eyes narrowed. He didn't doubt what Trowa was saying - it just sounded ridiculous. And for someone of his height, incredibly uncomfortable. "If they're to return me home, I hope I don't return here in that way."

But then, he shook his head. "I was more referring to the more sinister forces of work. The Void Ministry. The ... shadowy force that's destroyed two worlds, so far as one source is aware of. There's something deeper afoot than our kidnappings."
onehandsomeslickninja: (the cool ninja)

[personal profile] onehandsomeslickninja 2020-10-05 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ever used a sword like this before?" Sensing her desire, he held the weapon out slightly, implicitly granting permission. Maybe he was being a little more open about all this than normal, but having just gotten the weapon back, he sure felt like showing it off!
onehandsomeslickninja: (what?!)

[personal profile] onehandsomeslickninja 2020-10-05 03:32 pm (UTC)(link)
One eyebrow went slowly up.

"I wish that worked better around here, but it's not like there's so much to do we just need to pass the time between it all. It's all just boredom."
alchemists: (oh no)

[personal profile] alchemists 2020-10-05 03:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Well the hoodies are color coded for teams everyone gets assigned when they arrive...
alchemists: (look at the happy smol)

[personal profile] alchemists 2020-10-05 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm Elfnein, and normally I'm in the library or in the greenhouse. I've only recently started trying to make new foods after reading into how to make cheese and other items!
alchemists: (dead inside)

[personal profile] alchemists 2020-10-05 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
It's ok...

[ She hasn't opened her eyes yet to see that it's a worm and not a person. ]
alchemists: (but I think it's nice)

[personal profile] alchemists 2020-10-05 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I would try to read the materials everyone has gathered and put together for new arrivals when we reach the platforms.

[ There's a few flyers and other bundles of notes by people that Elfnein has collected. ]
silentwoof: (pic#13708406)

[personal profile] silentwoof 2020-10-05 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
"...still don't need it." Side benefits just don't interest her when she's getting by pretty well.
silentwoof: (Default)

[personal profile] silentwoof 2020-10-05 04:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[ How sweet. ]

...it's been in a lot of danger lately. It hasn't been totally peaceful for a long time. Dr. Eggman put his biggest effort in and finally... nearly won for real.

Still rebuilding a lot of it. But... it'll work out.
kumoko: (pic#13814659)

[personal profile] kumoko 2020-10-05 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[That's cold, bro. Good thing she isn't telepathic, or have some kind of mystical bond to sense his lack of friendship--

oh wait. Is this... top ten anime betrayals...?]


What's its name? [Let her guess!] Sooty? Tama?

[She's been around cats already! Orange guy has one, and at least one other person, because, you know, she lives in the room you have to go through to get packages, so it's like she's the train customs officer or something. She pulls out a length of string, and dangles it above the kitten.]
ramengroupie: (soft)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-05 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
You really are a professor, aren't you.

[ Wormmon shuffles around up on the bunk, grabs Ken's rucksack, begins seeing what all's in here besides the ticket.

This is a LOT of orange stuff! ]
ramengroupie: (interest)

saying they're in coach b

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-05 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The train is.....

A train. Ken didn't realize he had expectations of anything more sinister until he's left standing in a perfectly ordinary train carriage, some sort of...coach, he's supposing? There's rows of seats, though - is that a computer?

He heads towards it, intrigued by the sight of something out of place. A quick pocket check reveals what he's expecting to find isn't there, so: ]
Wormmon.

Right.

[ Wormmon dives back into the rucksack. He was in here when they arrived, and that means, that if it's not in his pockets, what Ken-chan's after should be.....

Should be....

If it is possible for a bag to begin quivering with nerves, this one just did. ]
ramengroupie: (soft)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-05 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you think so?

[ Ken can see how that would get...complicated, yes. Yet. ]

...If I had to pick an opinion, I'd say it was reassuring.

[ He smiles a philosopher's smile. He'd learned just how many similar worlds there were when everyone came together to fight the same enemy, and maybe that colors his opinions, but - people with no reasons to help each other did. It'd never been just them, fighting. ]

Because no world is alone.
reflecting: (questioning stance)

[personal profile] reflecting 2020-10-05 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, great. This train goes all-in on team-building exercises, just what I need.

Whatever, I'm getting out of here as soon as I find Jesse.
ramengroupie: (discuss)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-05 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"The void"....

[ Come to think of it, he's never really given much consideration to where his body might be, en route from the real to digital worlds. Yet it's possible to redirect someone if a gate's unavailable, or if their heart is drawn a certain way, so...

Does that mean his was drawn to this train? Or is something more going on? ]


Is that the space between worlds?

[ ....This really is a surprisingly typical-looking old-fashioned train, though, isn't it. His eyes slide across it, soaking in every detail. So do Wormmon's, but with more awe. ]

Ken-chan, this doesn't look like a train where they serve you bento.

[ Wormmon sounds disappointed. He has taken the train a lot with Ken-chan, to go to different hot springs. Going super fast is fun. But so are the little lunchboxes you can buy. Ken-chan always feeds him at least half.

If there aren't going to be little lunchboxes, this train is a great disappointment! ]
pleple: (Taking over)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-10-05 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"I... don't know that I can stay with you as long as I'd like. This has been distressing for a few people." Although Madoka has another friend here, apparently. "But I will do what I can."
fionnuisce: (your name's all it knows)

[personal profile] fionnuisce 2020-10-05 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
What, don’t I look like one?

[He looked like a worn-out 28 year old in a ponytail, so the jury was out.]
pleple: (Default)

[personal profile] pleple 2020-10-05 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"Only a few people seem to have missed out for... whatever reason." Lucky her.
flatteries: (not your flaws)

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-10-05 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
The one saving grace about this whole situation is that this isn't the first time Inigo has seen something like this happen.

But usually there's some sort of sound to it. He knows. He's helped do this sort of thing before, and he knows the awful crunching and popping noises it makes. It's not supposed to be this soundless - let alone this casual. Eight doesn't look like she's feeling much of anything!

So Inigo just.. stands there. And stares. His two braincells can't quite process it.

".. Is this.. normal for you..?" He sounds so confused right about now.
adregem: (dreaming in the real world.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-10-05 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
He keeps his own gaze low, hands stilled by his lap and fingers interlocked while Tidus speaks, eventually sounding fond at the mention of the love he was forced to see off not too long ago. Roland cherishes moments that people can trust him enough to tell them bits and pieces of who they are, knowing for himself how difficult it can be to tell them stories told only in the privacy of your heart.

And it's taking quite a bit for Roland not to ask more from the tale - what is Sin, did that destroy Zanarkand? Is Sin the reason he's -

If Aeons are like higgledies, spirits that require human connection to form into what they are, then are fayth the equivalent of godswind in Tidus's world? The source of all strength, of magic? Thoughts running wildly in his mind that he can't help but drift a finger under his chin, a tell of his when he's deep into his own mind. The high higgledy resting on Tidus continues to react to him well, cooing when it seems to agree with whatever he says. You're a team. Roland smiles, eyes closed.

"Alright. Message received." Roland answers, a chuckle resting just at the tail-end of his words, but never really coming out. "I'll do my best to follow both of your examples. After all, we're a team now too. I don't want you to think I'm not trying hard enough to connect - even with the little ones. Or that I'm taking any of this for granted." He looks at Hibber-Gibber then, but it's a distraction for himself to come to terms with what he wants to tell him next, something stuck in his throat that Roland has to swallow it down first before he can open his mouth.

"I wish I could have met her, here. Yuna." Wistful, with a tinge of regret. "Every time you talk about her, it's...I know you mean how you feel." Like at some point in time, she was Tidus's world. Might still be. Regardless of anything else.
Edited 2020-10-05 17:15 (UTC)