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!
blitzcheer: (making a choice)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-02 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Nies? A family name? So Tidus thinks, wonders, but decides not to comment on it. ]

Rough place back home? That's the same for other people too. [ Said sympathetically. ] But if there's nothing you know about- like the machines, or how any of them work, it doesn't hurt to ask.

That's pretty normal too! The kitchen's got the most going on.
kumoko: (thanks for the meal)

[personal profile] kumoko 2020-10-02 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Okay, Yao-kun. Got it! ]

S'okay. [ Talking is normally pretty hard, but he's not looking at her directly, and... you know what, that really helps, actually! She brushes crumbs off her pale hands and counts on her fingers. ] The elves use 'Arma', but there's 'Charlotte', 'Webs', 'Seamstress', 'Spider Girl', 'Stinger', 'Ede'...

[ Is that all of them? Eh, it's not like she really bothers to keep track. It's usually pretty obvious if someone's talking to her! She's already skittering over to him at his offer of tea, though. Polite guy, huh? And pretty cute, if you like the teen idol look.

She can't sit properly, but she tucks her limbs beneath her, the two wicked scythes on her front legs disappearing under her body. She wants to make a good impression on a new teammate, okay? (Spiderloaf time.) ]


Thanks!
extrasaltypotato: (showing you the ropes)

[personal profile] extrasaltypotato 2020-10-02 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
This train plays fast and loose with time as well as space. There are some people who are alternative versions of people others know. And some from later in the history that they know, or earlier.

None of them any less real, but it's a bit disconcerting.

Ah, but my manners. Call me Hikaru - a Wizard of Mundus, among other things.
extrasaltypotato: (ten pounds of kink in a five pound bag)

[personal profile] extrasaltypotato 2020-10-02 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Star Aria. From my world - well, my world before Mundus, and here.

I will not pretend it's at all a simple game but I do find it rewardingly deep. A game of interstellar empire. Care to learn?
flatteries: (and some just won't)

wildcarding it up!!

[personal profile] flatteries 2020-10-02 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Inigo's mood today is.. well, let's call it debatable, but he's trying really hard to ignore it right now. He has something to ask Nita, after all, and he can think of one place where he's sure to find her.

And he's right. The moment he spots her in the library, a rather relieved look passes over his face, and he quickly makes his way over to her side.

"Nita." He starts, pausing until he gets her attention. "Do you have a moment?"
irrationally: (now i can't sing; i can't feel)

on the train

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-10-02 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
.. Oh, Xander.

It's saying a lot about how used Alice has gotten to Xander's.. let's call it 'Xander-ness' that she isn't even too surprised to see him going around with a sign like that of all things. It's just so much like him, even though Alice would normally find the idea ridiculous.

And exactly since it's Xander, she makes her way up to him. Not for hugs though! Of course! Clearly! She just wants to talk to him, okay, don't get it wrong.

"Are you going around hugging the whole train now, hm?"
sunbloom: (Does that sound okay?)

exploring;

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-10-02 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Sleeper 5 has been a busy place today for new faces; Itsuki felt, privately, that while it meant a lot of turnover, it also meant new possibilities. That, as much as the pale face looking back when the girl stood in front of her, decided her, and she finished packing up her purple rucksack with the pile of sheets she'd been holding before she turned fully to the other girl. "Mm, I'd be happy to have you along! I'm not so new anymore - I've been here for about... two months?" She paused, frowning slightly, and counted on her hands. "The translator, the warrens, Jema'grethy Island, the golems, yeah, it's been right about two months."

She nodded sharply, then shrugged the rucksack onto her back, smiling again. "But anyway, Purple's on laundry duty this month, and platform day seems to be a good time for bedding, since we're all up and about. I won't ask you to help, but would you like to come along, and I'll point out things as we go? I can try to answer questions, but there will probably be a lot I don't know." She seemed apologetic about that, but it passed quickly enough. "Besides, whatever I can't answer, I can probably introduce you to Light or someone that's been here longer."
ramengroupie: (discuss)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-02 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Group communication, but not private.

[ ...In these close of quarters, though, perhaps even a personal call wouldn't have been private anyway. ]
unfavorableinstigation: Nita working with a Kernel (Wizardry Is Kid Stuff)

awwww yeah~

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-10-02 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita's at the book-scanning station again, to no one's surprise - but when she looks up, she looks very relieved to see him.

The possibility that Inigo would retreat to his room - or stay on the platform well-past when the train would leave...

Rest assured Nita knows who's left.

"Always."

There's a small smile on her face, and she leaves the books at the station while she walks on over.

"What's up?"
enthunder: (listen ☇ sure w/e)

[personal profile] enthunder 2020-10-02 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
"Zechs it is." She crossed to the ICP in a few steps, and inserted her ticket into the slot next to the screen. The thought of the month disappeared, replaced by the long roster, and she waited for him to join her before pointing out his teammates.

"Enna's got good ideas, and she's fitting in well. Think she was a ship captain before she came here. She uses knives and summoned spirits." She scrolls down through the purple and orange names, to her own photo next to the name Claire Farron. "There's me. I've been here since what we think was the start of it, back when there were only ten of us walking onto an empty train. I'm a l'Cie, which means I'm a human branded by a fal'Cie. It also means I'm one of the people who can heal with magic, which comes in handy more than I'd like."

She paused, checking if he had questions about either her or Enna.
ramengroupie: (object)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-02 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
If you don't mind...

[ Only if you don't mind, anyway. Nita - Nita is the person Kaiba-kun had mentioned, isn't she? ]

...I did happen to hear you knew something. About the "train's memory".

[ Wormmon can tell this is going to be one of those long conversations about things he doesn't understand but that Ken-chan will explain for him later. He hops off to explore the library some more, so he can report to Ken-chan what he found.

If this turns into him standing atop the train-shaped bookshelf making "choo choo" noises to himself, no one may judge him. ]
sunbloom: (Good.)

[personal profile] sunbloom 2020-10-02 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Is void travel something you're used to, then? And really, it's okay. I've got a friend at home a little smaller than you are, [she indicates Wormmon as she passes him over,] and he's not very used to travel. He normally rides on my head.

[Itsuki giggles softly.] His plushie impression is pretty good these days. But anyway, since I know your names, I should probably introduce myself. I'm Itsuki, Itsuki Myoudouin. And this is the Voidtrecker Express, voidtrain that travels between worlds. Welcome aboard, awkward as it might be.
blitzcheer: (arms folding galore!!)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-02 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Private is not the train's motto. [ So, yep. ] You can get some one on one calls on mission though, whatever that's worth.
ramengroupie: (discuss)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-02 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
---Oh. That. He should. In fact, that's an important enough task that even answering Takato's questions can come later.

Ken inclines his head. "I'll come, too."

He's been feeling this odd - need? - to investigate the train, anyway. Honestly, it's troubling. But Ken has determined whether or not situations were traps by springing them (cautiously!) for eight years now. No need to stop just because he's not in one of his usual set of worlds.
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 2020-10-02 05:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[Fortunately, Ken is right!

Nita's smile fades into a more neutral expression as she nods.]

From the time we were on the island where people saw each other's memories, you mean?

[The peridexis may be recording Wormmon's cuteness for posterity, saving the video only to Nita's Manual and nowhere else. Not that it'll tell her the footage is there.]
extrasaltypotato: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasaltypotato 2020-10-02 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
It's a... place between places. I cannot recommend staring into it. A philosopher from my homeworld once warned that such things stare back.

Well, the recipe really is too large for any one person to drink. Besides, it's practice for my magical infusions, really. I need to relearn my magic from first principles, now that I know I can. My situation is unusual; compared to many, I'd readily admit I cheated and am paying the price now.
ramengroupie: (daisuke)

[personal profile] ramengroupie 2020-10-02 05:39 pm (UTC)(link)
We're familiar! Ken-chan knows me really well!

...That's not what he meant. [ Ken's smile for Wormmon is kind, though, not teasing.

Onto answering the question, though. "Familiar"....A summoned creature, isn't that? Ken can't say he ever read that many fantasy novels (or novels, period), but he's completely dismantled his best friend played enough video games with Daisuke.

Thus: ]


It's a similar concept. I - don't suppose your world has digital networks?
irrationally: (now the past is gone)

cabin 5:a

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-10-02 05:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ No, clearly the catharsis isn't allowed.

Or, well. It's allowed, but Alice sure is giving the other a judging look as she's sitting on her own bunk, staring over at Alexis. Alice looks Very Unimpressed. ]


And here I was just starting to like my peace and quiet.

[ Train, why did you have to give her the pillow screaming roommate? Couldn't it have been literally anyone else? ]
extrasaltypotato: (Default)

[personal profile] extrasaltypotato 2020-10-02 05:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you think this is impressive, wait until I start brewing draughts of haste and vigor and healing - and Greek fire, freezing bombs, lightning in a bottle." He laughs.

"But you have to crawl before you can walk, after all, and to be perfectly frank I think we'll need the wine after our next mission. If you can provide other recipes? Particularly ones suitable for the children. I wouldn't want them to be left out. Root and ginger beers, sweet and not alcoholic; fruit cordials. Things like that."
Edited 2020-10-03 00:25 (UTC)
extrasaltypotato: (showing you the ropes)

[personal profile] extrasaltypotato 2020-10-02 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Finding a suitable place to store my fussy squalling children would be most helpful, yes. So would formulae for other libations, including ones that the children on board might safely drink. Sodas and cordials and the like.

Truthfully I'm practicing the basic chemistry before I try to work literal magic. There is science to this, but the science is in service to the art, or else what's the point?
adregem: (this is where you come in.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-10-02 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
He rolls with it easily. Gen wouldn't know it, but once upon a time, he would know these by heart if only because his wife would have them by her vanity, next to their bed. But that was then, and his memory is foggy on that in the present, her things long packed away and kept for nostalgia's sake only. So the recognition is faint, but the interest isn't all gone.

Roland chuckles.

"Well, for hair products, I'm particular about it being organic. Strength, sheen, then maintenance, in that order of priority." Wow, serious talk? For hair? Can't blame the guy - he's fond of his younger body's restored locks! "As for makeup...Heh. I know this-" He holds up the bottle of foundation that he's held on to since he got it. "-is for your skin. Might come in handy if I need to make a striking impression, you know?"

But the rest of it, purple colored and too far out of his league, will be returned to the pouch.
extrasaltypotato: (showing you the ropes)

Re: shall we play a game

[personal profile] extrasaltypotato 2020-10-02 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[He laughs, recognizing that voice too.]

I'm all about whatever I can learn, but that certainly included farming last mission. You're the fellow I bulldozed with talk of rice, aren't you? Inigo?

There will be some practical results, at least. I'm practicing my brewing; you can make a fine wine out of rice, yeast and time.

But that's not what we're here for - we're here for games. Such as this one. I won't claim it's simple, but I like the depth of it.
Edited (oh right, room for the prompt.) 2020-10-03 00:27 (UTC)
irrationally: (now the past is gone)

platform

[personal profile] irrationally 2020-10-02 05:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Really, Alice is used to Attitude from children. The fact that most of them on the train seem so sweet is actually stranger to her than hearing one actually sound angry. That's more like how the kids back home acted, though Alice knows it's just since they're kids. They don't know better. They act on emotions so much easier, not holding anything back.

It's why she does step aside, but still looks calm. She only frowns slightly, glancing between the girl and the gate in the distance.

"Someone left?" She asks, and if the girl keeps moving, then Alice will just move right after her for the time being. It's not like she's really looking for anything on the platform anyway.
consider8: (Ring tone)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-02 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[She rolls her eyes.]

Yes I am aw--[And then awareness begins to start to settle...]

...there are people here who don't know what those things are?
consider8: (Computing)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-10-02 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ahh so that's it. The whole "insert a device" was a little more primitive than what she was used to.]

Mmm! We had those things. My place is very... modern.

[Oh but that would mean different things to different people.] We have big skylines and stores. There's vendor restaurants with ice cream, fried tempura, and soft drinks. There are cars and electricity and big screens. Octarian society is a little more complex though... this is a step down, really.

[Or a step sideways, more accurately.]