voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-10-01 05:30 am
Entry tags:

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!
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971677)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 10:21 am (UTC)(link)
She knelt down beside her, though kept some distance in case the woman needed room or air.

"My name's Kitty. Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

The woman didn't seem to be injured, from what she could see. But she wanted to be sure, just in case she needed assistance.
blitzcheer: (never trust a squirtle)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-03 10:26 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah!?

...

Does shouting about it help!?
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971686)

A

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 10:27 am (UTC)(link)
Kitty had a feeling that something like this would happen. Since Inigo told her that Gerome had disappeared during the mission, she'd worried about their next stop at the platform.

Which is why she had come down, because she figured that Inigo would be here, no matter how difficult this would be for him. But she hadn't expected this. Maybe she should have, though. He bottled up his feelings so much, it was only a matter of time before something broke.

Walking up to him, she hesitates a moment before gently placing her hand on his arm. "Inigo..."

What could she even say to him?
knifewithnoname: (quiet fear)

time skip as discussed

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2020-10-03 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
She just gives her a hard glare and continues walking, not looking back at her. She knows Ple Two is a lot more sensible than most but she still doesn't want to talk to her, even look at her. She just stalks onward towards the train.

Later, after even more stupid things happened she was... still angry. Not as angry. But restless, not wanting to sit still. Avoiding her cabin because she didn't want to go there, she probably had a new roommate...

She didn't want to think about that. She went to find Ple Two, scowling at her from across a carriage.

"Do that offer be still standing?"
adregem: (that feels kind of weird...)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-10-03 10:38 am (UTC)(link)
Roland's initial survey of his beddings only leads him to quietly think to himself - 'Has he put this in the wash? Purple's got laundry duty. Maybe I can volunteer?' Thankfully, he doesn't voice this out; just stares at the wrinkles, and leaves that for another time. Sooner than later, maybe. Wonders if his pillowcases are being cleaned routinely, too...

The older man chuckles and settles in as comfortably as he can upon Tidus joining him, tucked under the bottom bunk, knees not quite touching but could if he crossed his legs the other way. "No, it's got nothing to do with supplies." Roland hesitates. Feels his tongue grow a bit heavy. Gift-giving isn't his specialty, he'll be the first to admit it, but what else could he do when their hands were all tied with limited resources, in more ways than one? He's been thinking about them since Irivar anyway - both of them - so he wouldn't have been able to rest until he did something for them. Something. Anything. What made sense? He thought about it, until he finally arrived at what was natural.

He doesn't clear his throat. That's definitely not nervous energy.

"I got you some gifts."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971788)

I am also sorry

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 10:40 am (UTC)(link)
[ The additional screaming and the feel of little legs certainly doesn't help things, and Kitty is doing her best to shake the bug off of her. ]

OhmygoshohmygoshgetitoffGETITOFF!
knifewithnoname: (silence)

[personal profile] knifewithnoname 2020-10-03 10:42 am (UTC)(link)
She only half sees their arrival, though she hears his noise of pain and is satisfied. It is a small thing, standing on a game piece won't hurt him for long and honestly he's not someone she particularly wishes to hurt.

But he is a person, on this train, and for now that is enough. She glares up at him on his cloud, surrounded by the chaos she has caused.

"Yes?"

She glares at him, daringly.
blitzcheer: (icon icon tea)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-03 10:46 am (UTC)(link)
I got you some gifts. Tidus pause, or so his person does. The straight admittance, the clearing of the throat--the lack of a gift to give over, yet the fact there was a gift in the first place to receive. It's a surprise, if awkward; only awkward in the way Roland seems to be approaching this. Awkward in the way Roland's being.

"A guy cries on you-" he straightens his back some, arms coming up his legs in the motion, "-and you buy him presents?"

A joke, but not heavily given, and a level of personal that Tidus doesn't really want to linger on, leave in the open either. "What is it?"

He'd make guesses, but he doesn't want to--would rather give Roland the opening or nudge he seems to be waiting for.
seacub: (AnxietyBoy prevails)

[personal profile] seacub 2020-10-03 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
It's certainly...a lot of chaos. Emporio doesn't know if approaching is a good idea, certainly- but he doesn't exactly feel like leaving is wise either. Personally, he counts the girl as a 'friend' so far- and maybe he doesn't have a lot of experience with those, or great standards for that matter, but it's still something he keeps in mind.

The question was ignored.

He gets the feeling the answer is 'she' happened. Weather floats behind, not yet doing much of anything, while Emporio simply stands upon the ground.

"...."

He looks to the games, and back to her. "...Can I help put this stuff away?" he ultimately says, very clearly not saying what he Wants to ask, but not really knowing what is 'safe' to say. "I..."

Hm. "...I don't know what happened. ...It kind of...feels like you wouldn't want to say though..." It also feels very much like saying 'are you okay' would get something thrown at him. So.
adregem: (the best days still lie ahead.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-10-03 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
The book in his hand - one he received as a gift of a world that looked like Evermore but was packaged with a different title, Estavania? - is promptly closed, with a finger in between the spine and page to make sure he doesn't lose where he is in his reading. Roland looks up at Senku, and smiles at what he sees.

Bold of Senku to assume this wasn't going to end up in small talk later on.

"Well now. Would you look at that?" he answers, casually. It's in its natural state, small and tiny as it has yet to be used. "Got any special plans for your brand new magitek?"
marriedanidiot: (losing you)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 10:49 am (UTC)(link)
Breathe she reminds herself.

"I... inside, yes." She manages.

You survived this once, you can survive it again.

"There is... nothing here any longer."
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 10:50 am (UTC)(link)
Wangji is worried, and she musters up a smile for him, although she's sure he is not at all convinced.

"Thank you. I... appreciate it."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971826)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
She smiles. "Nice to meet you. I'm Kitty Pryde."

Smart-phones are already more advanced than the usual tech she's familiar with back home, besides the stuff they use in the Danger Room, but she at least has an idea of what she means. "Wow, that's really cool. So you're collecting data, huh?"
goingthroughaphase: (pic#14105706)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 10:54 am (UTC)(link)
[ She offers a small smile. ]

Oh, sorry. I know how that can be.

Yeah, a few months. My name's Kitty.
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 10:56 am (UTC)(link)
Someone is here.

She's still far too cold, but one hand curls slowly to hold onto Xander's shirt and she nods.

"I... will be alright." She murmurs. "I just... stay a moment..."
Edited 2020-10-03 10:56 (UTC)
blitzcheer: (chatter chatter)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-03 10:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ Tidus himself isn't the kind of guy to usually let go or not nudge a hesitant question when it presents himself. But with Wormmon going first- ]

Yeah, what's up? [ Support nudges! Not real physical ones, of course. ]
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 11:02 am (UTC)(link)
Her grip should be stronger, but at least she is moving.

"Yes." She nods. "I... that might help."
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971787)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-10-03 11:03 am (UTC)(link)
Kitty hesitated for a moment; she had an idea of what was wrong, even if she didn't know this girl. But not knowing her made approaching the subject more difficult.

"...does it help? Does doing all this make it any easier?"
marriedanidiot: (grief)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 11:07 am (UTC)(link)
"Kitty?" She blinks slowly, seeming to come back from some great distance.

"I... no. Nothing... physical."
marriedanidiot: (wistful)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 11:09 am (UTC)(link)
"No." She agrees, and reaches to hug him.

"Oh, Tidus, I'm so sorry, my dear."
blitzcheer: (and i can barely breathe)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-03 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Tidus is Just Trying His Best.

But wow, looks like Noct really did fall asleep! ]


Hey, sorry - the newbies wear you out? Just wanted to check up on you.
marriedanidiot: (losing you)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-10-03 11:10 am (UTC)(link)
A slow blink, and she stirs slightly.

"Ta...kato? I..." She shivers.
adregem: (lofty you say the silliest things.)

[personal profile] adregem 2020-10-03 11:12 am (UTC)(link)
Now, that gets him to loosen up a little bit, unused to the action but more receptive to Tidus's casual jest.

"Hey now, go easy on me. Didn't know there was a rulebook for these things." He answers lightly, nudging the arm nearest his. "And in my defense, only one of these are new. I got it even before Irivar." He takes a breath and out of his Arms Band comes a circular package, wrapped in paper and twine. He holds it in his lap for a moment, remembering exactly what was behind the packaging. If things turned out differently for both of them, he wouldn't have to second-guess things so hard. But now, knowing what he knows, what they spoke of underneath the cover of an alien twilight...He hopes he will still like it, regardless. Roland glances to the side, smiles and offers it to him at last.

"Here." He says, lowly. "Consider it a small victory against the train."

Should he choose to open it now, Roland will watch with sharp eyes and a trepidation lurking just below the surface. Tidus will find something he may not have expected, but is the closest to the real thing as they would ever get. A circular disk - a clock that can be attached to a wall. Instead of numbers however, there are colors in gradient transition. It's already active, and though it arrived in a light hue of red, the clock is now slowly turning deeper and deeper into its spectrum - red, to orange.

Tied with an other piece of string to hold it up; a letter folded into fours. Instructions in block letters; steps that Roland was able to decipher after days of study and deliberation about how it works, timed by the hour if they used their SCA's. At the bottom, another scribble: If you want to order more. 'A fully functional wall clock that can tell the time on the Voidtrecker Express.'

He feels better now that he's given it to him. Folding his arms back against his chest, his gaze now leveled with the ceiling of their tiny accommodation. He smirks, allowing some mirth to color his tone.

"...should I have gotten you flowers and chocolate, too? Heh." A return to Tidus's joke, just to break the mood if there ever was one.
shadowslipping: (pic#13321640)

[personal profile] shadowslipping 2020-10-03 11:13 am (UTC)(link)
Void...Void, she keeps hearing that and- "...When I hear Void, I think of darkness," she eventually says, forcing herself into calm with perhaps alarming swiftness. "...But if you've been here long enough to have pamphlets, then I think I can trust a small verbal summary yes. You say void, but it looks to me like a train station." A glance around, before she adds- "...an odd one, but still a train station..."
blitzcheer: (underwater sleeping)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-10-03 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
It always surprises him, if just a little, how often people hug on the train. Not that they're so in short reply since he because famous back in Zanarkand - but when he isn't the Star of the Zanarkand Abes, he doesn't expect it. It's strange.

But he puts a hand around to her shoulder he can reach, leans into it, trying to offer the comfort back. Quiet for a moment, just to indulge in the affection.

"It's a second chance we shouldn't have had," he says quietly; both of them, both he and Nerdanel. "It's worth the pain...right?"