voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-11-01 05:36 am

A New Platform [Intro Post November]

On the Train

The morning after the Halloween party passengers are once again woken by a familiar voice.

"Good morning passengers, it is day one of the month of Imagination. 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. But through the fog comes sunshine, causing patches where the light shines down to warm the concrete. Looking up passengers will not be able to see the sun through the fog, or much of the sky at all.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing as they walk silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Bryn Pendragon, Bucky Barnes, Colden Rollins, Elena, Fai D Flourite, Jiang Yanli, Juliette d'Aubigniy, Misa, Peter Parker, Samata Mahto, Satou Kuroneko, The Doctor, Tohru Mutou, Zuko, 10 Vigilant Gaze Purges The Horizon. They all walk silently and do not look back as they disappear through the barriers and into the fog beyond.

But on the platform itself there are 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 the thick fog, penetrated by beams of light. As their eyes adjust they will see they are on a platform, behind them are a set of barriers and in front of them is a single track.

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 five 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.

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 and Honey is the newest ingredient, jars of honey stock the shelves and the ICP's in the kitchen have recipe ideas for the month.

A new carriage has been added, those that go to investigate will find a small but function-able spa, complete with a small hot tub and even a steam room. It is a relaxing room with sun lamps and relaxing music or nature sounds available through the ICP. There are a couple of massage tables, with a course for how to give massages for those eager to learn.

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 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!
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Dark)

Platform

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-01 12:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita's not sure she can do this today.

Looking around, though, she can tell she's not the only one having trouble. Small comfort, she thought, with more than a hint of bitterness.

"Hey," she begins, making to follow Kitty instead of head up toward the engine like normal.

"... Let's go together, okay?"

Neither of them had to be alone right now.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971655)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-11-02 09:51 am (UTC)(link)
She barely acknowledges Nita's presence until the other girl spoke. Glancing up, she nods distractedly, though where they're going she isn't sure. She hadn't really thought of where to go, just that she didn't want to be out here.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking directly at the viewer, mouth slightly open, as if she's in the middle of an important or unamused expression. (Focused)

If Kitty doesn't want to stop here, they can make more detours!

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-02 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
In fairness, Nita doesn't know either.

So once they're both on the train, they just walk. Until-

"Wait, did we get a spa this time? Or a pool?"

It was fairly small, for a train car; not a double-floor. But she could hear the sound of water, through the doors out of the corridor.
Edited 2020-11-02 15:59 (UTC)
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13969459)

This should be fine! She was planning on stopping by here anyway

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-11-03 08:57 am (UTC)(link)
Pausing for a moment, she glances up. "Oh...a spa, I think?"

She'd been so excited about getting a spa just yesterday.
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Reading Indoors)

\o/

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-03 02:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"... You want to check it out?"

Together was pretty well implied, there.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971819)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-11-05 07:13 am (UTC)(link)
Glancing at Nita, she nodded.

"Yeah...couldn't hurt to take a look, right?"
unfavorableinstigation: Nita Callahan kneeling in the woods, drawing a glowing blue diagram on the ground while reading from a book. (Drawing a Spell Diagram)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-05 02:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita gently nudged Kitty to take the lead, here.

But once they walked in... warmth.

"Whoa. Surprising amount for such a small space in here."

Nita was going to be a while in her explorations, to be sure.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971652)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-11-12 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
It was a pleasant warmth too, not sweltering or anything.

"Yeah...it's kind of nice, right. I wonder if it'll be like those hot springs on that one planet."

The words are out of her mouth before she realizes it, but she winced a bit at the reminder of that planet. It was there that she and Bucky had become bonded, after all.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita Callahan kneeling in the woods, drawing a glowing blue diagram on the ground while reading from a book. (Drawing a Spell Diagram)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-12 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Nita's thinking of that just as Kitty says it, though with another context - and another conversation they'd had about the hot springs.

This time, she reaches over to give her friend-and-roommate a reassuring shoulder squeeze. A short one, but a sympathetic gesture all the same.

"... If how the train treated the library was any indication, I don't think so. But we won't have to draw our own water," she points out.

It's not specifically intended as a joke, given the day's mood, but she's doing her best to demonstrate that not everything has to be dark - just as it can't be like how things were before.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971678)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-11-13 08:27 am (UTC)(link)
Even if it's not a joke, it manages to get a small laugh from Kitty anyway, though it's more a release of some tension than an actual laugh. Still, she glances at Nita with a smile.

"Oh well, there's that at least," she says with a shrug. Glancing around, she notices the closet by the entrance and peeks inside. "Oh, here are some bathing suits."
unfavorableinstigation: Nita Callahan kneeling in the woods, drawing a glowing blue diagram on the ground while reading from a book. (Drawing a Spell Diagram)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-13 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"... But no showers," Nita adds; there seemed to be pros and cons to everything on this train, weren't there?

"I mean- I do have a spell to handle that; just have to rework it a little if we don't want to pop over to the nearest Sleeper car."

Better off not asking for the details on this one, Kitty.
goingthroughaphase: (pic#13971654)

[personal profile] goingthroughaphase 2020-11-20 10:28 am (UTC)(link)
She debates on how curious she actually is, then decides to let that drop. For now.

"Okay. Do we wanna give it a try, to clean up first before trying the pool out?"

It was a courtesy, after all, though she doubted that everyone followed it.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita working with a Kernel (Wizardry Is Kid Stuff)

I fully anticipate whenever Kitty asks about the spell in a thread, now. XD

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-11-20 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's only polite."

Nita nods, managing a small if genuine smile.

"I'm game if you are."