voidtreckermods: (voidtrain)
VoidTrecker Express Mods ([personal profile] voidtreckermods) wrote in [community profile] voidtreckerexpress2020-12-01 06:00 am

A New Platform [Intro Post December]

On the Train

It's only been a couple of days since the Voidtrecker Express took to the void once more, and many of the passengers are still recovering and recuperating after a very hectic end to their latest mission. Nevertheless, they are awoken by a familiar message.

"Good morning passengers, it is day sixteen of the month of Imagination. Points have been updated on the system."

They have indeed, and everyone can spend the morning shopping. Those who have been on the train for 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 the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform. It is warm outside with a pleasant breeze that flows down the platform, rustling the light spread of leaves that litter the floor.

As usual the first to leave the train notice nothing, walking silently, rucksacks on their backs, towards the barriers. Akemi Homura, Alfred the Poisoner, Donatello Versus, Chie Satonaka, Joscelin Fitzthomas, Ronan Lynch, Rose Tyler, Tangle the Lemur, Trowa Barton, Wester Mazaki and Whisper the Wolf all pass through the platform, not looking back before 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 swirling leaves at their feet, moving in flurries and rattling against each other softly. As their eyes adjust, they will see they are on a platform, cement and packed earth forming a very practical, plain-looking shelter. Behind them is a set of barriers, and in front of them is a single track extending both ways into thick fog.

They are standing, in clothes that are not their own and a style 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 eight 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's 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 lead to something terrible. 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 (see
'Publications'). The store rooms have been restocked with more jars of honey, the ingredient of the month of Imagination, as well as sundries.

A new carriage has been added right next to the luggage carriage. It is a second medical carriage, or triage carriage. Downstairs is more open with beds and chairs, upstairs are two surgical bays for those that need immediate attention.

For those intrigued by the claim of a parcel for every passenger they will find several large boxes filled with small blue bags. Inside each bag is ten dark blue coins imprinted on each side with a silver snowflake. Each bag has a small label with a passengers name. On the other side of the label it reads: Keep these safe for now.

Of course for any passengers that have bought items, these are also scattered around the luggage carriage as well.

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 taking advantage of the pleasant weather and the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train sets off, the fog obscuring the view again 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!
hotheadwarmheart: (Small smile)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-05 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
He totally did, and any protests that he didn't Lea would argue with. So yes, it's probably better that he doesn't right now.

Lea smiles a bit at the consensus about the garden plot though. "Well, I guess that means we're doing it then," he said. "Any ideas about what you'd like to try growing first? I've seen a bunch of different kinds of seeds there to choose from."
zechs_isonfire: (are you serious - manga)

[personal profile] zechs_isonfire 2021-01-05 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course I do," Zechs answered her, "from time to time. Everyone does, even if they don't remember it. A random consequence of -"

He paused, because while he'd been puzzled by the non-sequitur, it made a lot more sense if he considered - the train's oddities let him consider the illogical idea - "you mean to say, when you dream, it's this Fade? You don't simply have normal dreams?"
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-01-05 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not sure..." He blushed slightly. "Sorry... I'd need to learn a little, I really don't know all that much. We should look at what seeds there are."

And hope that there were some they recognised.
zechs_isonfire: (mask - serious)

[personal profile] zechs_isonfire 2021-01-05 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
"You're welcome," Zechs nodded back to him.
fun_thementalist: (happy song)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2021-01-05 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
Rather than look offended, Gen looked particularly flattered.

"You say the kindest things, my dear," Gen told her, smiling brightly. "That's exactly it. Sometimes I might try and be humorous instead, or try and give advice. But, really, it's all for the sake of entertainment. I can't really say I've got anything particularly profound to say, but if I can give people hope? That's a pretty good day."
fun_thementalist: (dragged in)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2021-01-05 06:14 am (UTC)(link)
Sighing dramatically, because there'd be something wrong with him if he didn't, Gen said, "Fine, fine, I'll help you. We'll make it delicious, and maybe disguise it so people don't even know they're offal, picky eaters they might be."

"Fresh bread would be delicious," Gen mused. "Oh. Now I'm getting a little hungry just thinking of it ..."
10billionpercent: (Ha Ha)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2021-01-05 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
"You're gonna have to wait Mentalist, we have a lot of work to do then. Think of it for your reward once we're done the coats." He said, as incentive. "And blankets."
fun_thementalist: (manga - innocent 2)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2021-01-05 06:30 am (UTC)(link)
That was a very sweet memory, and almost certainly meant that music was something very precious to Rich. So, he wouldn't make light of it.

Instead, he brightly pointed out, "Well, given the time we spend traveling - you'll have a lot of time to practice and refine your musical talent, my friend. Certainly a lot better than being bored - and you'll be bringing a lot of needed cheer to a lot of us."
fun_thementalist: (see what you did there)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2021-01-05 06:36 am (UTC)(link)
"That is a good point," Gen said, "if any of those people were with me when I was watching it. I don't think I'd laugh at someone's performance for being bad if they were there to see me. That'd just be rude."

No, he'd have more subtle ways to give his critique. Gen wasn't one to make enemies so easily.

He nodded to Romeo. "Exactly. They're people I'll likely never meet, and they're probably from realities I'll never have a chance to visit. Though, I'll make you a deal, my friend - if I do ever meet an actor from a terrible movie on this train, I'll do my best to help them improve."
fun_thementalist: (happy song)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2021-01-05 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
"He is!" Devero got a bright, fond smile, as Gen easily agreed to that without hesitation. "Senku-chan is amazing. Though you don't need to take my word for it - I'm sure he'd love to talk about the technology you have there if you're looking for some nerdy conversation about it."

The way he said 'nerdy' was incredibly fond, certainly not an insult.

Then, Gen winked at him. "Though I warn you, my friend - he'll likely ask if he can take it apart to see how it works."
flatteries: (the sun rises slowly as you walk)

[personal profile] flatteries 2021-01-05 08:44 am (UTC)(link)
UGH, RAPUNZEL. Please, do you have to call him out like this! Nevermind the fact that Inigo will soon openly mention it at the big meeting, he's still nervous about people knowing about it!

So the very mention of the d-word has him sweating a little, quickly waving his hands and moving on from the topic, as if wanting to make her forget about it.

"C-Come on, we've been standing around here just talking for way too long! Let's take a look around the train, let's go, let's go!" He may be practically tugging on her arm to get her to come along.
adropofsunlight: (103 (B))

[personal profile] adropofsunlight 2021-01-05 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay, got it." Walking around and see what there was wouldn't be so hard at least. Might take a few hours at best, but it was still something.

Plus it was with someone she cared about and that just made her happy. So with her bare feet hitting the ground Rapunzel happily started to walk, looking at wall surfaces as she went.
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Reading Indoors)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-05 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
"Maybe it existed before there were tethers?"

It's a shot in the dark, but that would be a measure of note.

Nita sighed.

"Just our luck. Still... save it for a rainy day?"
Edited (Wrong thread. XD) 2021-01-05 19:47 (UTC)
hotheadwarmheart: (Interested)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-06 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Maybe," Lea said. "If I understand the whole 'tethering' thing right, that really would be something."

"But yeah, I've got it memorized for now. Can't really do a whole lot with all this theorizing in the meantime, but it does get you thinking." And speaking of which, he paused, considering.

"You know... I wonder if the Voidtrecker is so 'legendary' mainly because so much information about it's been lost? Like, my world's distant past is called 'The Age of Fairy Tales', partly because so little solid information about it is left; mostly just legends and stories."
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking right, holding a book. (I'm In The Book)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2021-01-06 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"... But why only the Voidtrecker Express, and not the rest of Enrara? How would just that train make the impression? And-" she thought, another magazine-excerpt coming to mind.

"Aren't the tales of Captain V the same way? Lots of gruesome details, not so much facts."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14488470)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-01-06 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Right," that's a pretty standard way to handle weird shit, isn't it? Walk around and stare.

But first, the Inquisitor turns to look at Alice, and gestures to herself with her singular, gloved hand. "I'm Alley."

Names. Names are useful.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480646)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-01-06 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
"I mean, normal's subjective, isn't it? But before... yes, when most people on Thedas dream, they're actually visiting the Fade without knowing it."

It's gotten a little more complicated for Alleyana, ever since she grabbed that stupid orb at the conclave. Even now, with her arm gone, her dreams...

"That's the most interaction most people will ever have with it."

At least, if she can stop Solas from ripping the Veil down.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14486533)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2021-01-06 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Hn," Alley's not going to be a judgemental ass about it, anyway. She's always seen things in shades of good and bad, never wholly one or the other. And isn't what this guy does... similar to Cole? In a way?

Just, more mundane?

"I know someone like you, on my world." Right down to seeing the value in entertainment and hope, going by how Cole's new girlfriend is a traveling bard.
hotheadwarmheart: (Got it memorized?)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-06 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
Lea gave a bit of a wry smile. "Yeah that'd do it," he said. "Ever since that time Xigbar spilled coffee on his laptop, he's been protective of his electronics. He claimed it was an accident, but knowing Xigbar, he might have done it deliberately just to see how Zexion would react."

And no, not really. But he was so used to it at that point, that it didn't hurt to be reminded from time to time. He was always the reckless type, but it wouldn't be good to get careless.
hotheadwarmheart: (Attentive)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-06 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
Lea shrugged. "The train went all over the place, " he said. "Whereas worlds tend to stay put for the most part. It actually makes sense that if people would remember anything about it, it'd be the one thing they'd actually seen personally. Plus the train could keep going places and adding more fuel to the fire; a mysterious train with no known home port, roaming the void-ways for as long as anyone could remember, or something like that."

"And yeah. Lots of flourish, but nothing really helpful. We've got the same problem back home. Master Yen Sid has a bit more information than most, but really, it feels like we're trying to figure out what our enemy is planning based on bedtime stories and legends."
hotheadwarmheart: (Got it memorized 2)

[personal profile] hotheadwarmheart 2021-01-06 03:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Well then, we can learn together, I guess," Lea said. "We can ask people on board who might know a bit more about plats for some advice too. Who knows? Might be fun."
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Vexen You're Full Of Shit)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2021-01-06 03:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, probably." Demyx agreed, looking a little more serious for a moment. He hadn't been thinking much about Xigbar lately. He'd liked him well enough the first round, but the second...Everything was so much more complicated.

"Anyway, yeah, it's good to see Ienzo and all that. He's a good contact point I guess." Demyx responded. He wondered if Ienzo found him unnerving. He'd relaxed a bit, since his eyes reverted at least. Then again, so had Demyx.
myblueskies: (of course!)

[personal profile] myblueskies 2021-01-06 04:40 am (UTC)(link)
"It would be." He agreed, though he nodded at the deal. That was a good deal! It was always good to help people!

"That's good! I only know actors who were in really good movies, but if I ever meet one from a bad movie I will try and help them too!"
longforgottenpromise: (confused)

[personal profile] longforgottenpromise 2021-01-06 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
"Yes. There are a lot of people who work in there regularly."

He knows some of them, and he hopes they will be happy to explain things if they got stuck.
firewalled: (You can fool someone completely)

[personal profile] firewalled 2021-01-06 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Music is one of the most precious things Rich has, and it's clear how much talking about it seems to be cheering him up. Especially once Gen mentions others might actually appreciate it.

"You think people will want to listen? That'd be... really cool, honestly. Good thing I don't get stage fright, I guess."