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!
nutkrusher: (Default)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2020-12-03 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Cassie. Team Purple."
iamnotgod: Many lines curving off into the distance and entangling, shaded in colors from yellow to purple (Default)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2020-12-03 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
"I understand."

And he did - being left alone was its own kind of pain, because it meant you had known what it was like to not be alone.

"Is it easier to talk about how you feel, or play it out?"

He had met people of both dispositions, and ones that differed more widely, but those two were chiefly at play here.
subcircuits: (tamed dogs can still bite)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-03 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Log on!" he says, so exasperated he flings his hands up in the air. That makes his Interface flash at him-- unclear command, please repeat-- and he actually growls in frustration. His Interface is now crowded with errors and faileds from his repeated attempts to get the transport local to admit him. With rather more, ah, expansive movements than are really necessary, he starts selecting errors and dismissing them. Violently. Like he's throwing them off to either side.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita looking right, holding a book. (I'm In The Book)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-12-03 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[That explanation gets a quirked eyebrow from Nita - so, while she moves to start on her share of cleaning the bathroom, in the name of having something to do...]

Like the Virtue?

[She's met all of one Virtue being before, and it had inhabited a Spear that could disguise itself as a pen.]

Sounds rather more important than a keepsake. Does it work with your Digivice, or is it something separate?

[Given what happened with the last thing he got from home, seems only fair to check.]
consider8: (Assess)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-03 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
That... was a good point, and made her feel a little guilty. "Well..."

"...everyone has been so nice. I was trying to do without and help how I could. I didn't want to be a burden..." That, in her eyes, would be the worst thing she could be.
subcircuits: (stunned)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-03 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
What Webmind is saying is so much that Devero actually stops dead to process it. He actually covers his mouth with a hand, eyes going distant as he mulls over the full import of what he's just been told.

"So... it's sapient and it's tramautized?" he says finally, looking up at Webmind to see if he's got that right.
barenakedspirit: (pic#13981654)

[personal profile] barenakedspirit 2020-12-03 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
"It's fine." Galo says as he briefly glances to Eight. He won't forget how quickly she joined in and helped. "Pain just sucks no matter what kind it is." He doesn't know what set it off but he doesn't need to know.

"Take your time. Best thing to do is just let it out." He rubs at his throat briefly and lets his hand fall. Some things never fade but that's not going to help to say that right now.
subcircuits: (thanks for the sucker punch)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-03 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
...He is not expecting an explanation like that. If anything, he's expecting it to have something to do with an ID serial, like his EMID. (He's still really annoyed that his unique, private serial is printed across basically every item that he has to his name currently, not to mention openly available on the passenger roster.)

"I'm so sorry," he says quietly, his expression solemn as he looks up from his work for a moment. "Did you ever... regain your memories?"
its_dad_sanzo: Burial-era (just might be a dick joke)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-03 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Ohh? Well, there's plenty of time, I should think. Even if the next mission involved robots again, I've heard they're only once a month or so."

So, weeks at the least, but probably more than that. The odds of more robots a second time in a row, in an infinite multiverse, were probably reasonably low.

"Not feeling well -- were you someone who was evacuated? I heard about that. From the big fight at base camp, right?"
inquisitor_lavellan: have you no idea that you’re in deep? (do I wanna know?)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Everyone's been very quick to tell me that this wasn't their plan or doing, so probably not."

Alley kind of had that effect on people. It seemed to have followed her from Thedas, even if precious little else had.

And then, with a nod at the screen and the string of... gibberish, "You're going to need a nickname, if that shit's your name."
subcircuits: (tamed dogs can still bite)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-03 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
Senku's assertion makes his brow furrow. "Not in my experience," he objects mildly.

But comparing philosophical outlooks on the fundamental nature of humanity is a much lower priority right now that the whole 'people being held against their will' thing. He bristles up, hands clenching into fists. "How? Why?!"
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480612)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
So he hadn't just broken it, but removed it. That implied doing it on purpose, rather than having it shatter its way off his wrist or something.

"...Why'd you remove it, then? To try it out?"
consider8: (Sorrow)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-03 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
"The head keeps what the heart weeps." Eight shook her head. It was the start of a poem, but she didn't have the full thing formed in mind. Instead she pokes her hand inside the bag, pulling out an extra addition that she placed on top: a bottle of water held fast with a cork top. She lowered it just in sight of Rich and held it there for him to take or dismiss as he saw fit.

As for the bag, it was extended to Galo to do with what he wanted to. She was content to play the supportive role here.
subcircuits: (run that by me again)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-03 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Fucking hell," he groans, running both hands through his hair.

...Wait, what. "That's not my name, that's my ID. My name is Devero, which is what that should say!" He jabs at his entry on the screen, hard enough that it pops up in its own box. With a scowl, he closes that popup and swipes the screen, scrolling the list away.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14488451)

Re: platform

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Just-- out of range," Alley hissed, finding cover in the thick fog just up the track. Just going to lash the bag to her false arm... it's not a shield, but it's what she has.

"What is that thing?"
consider8: (Fear)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-03 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
Eight laughed. "Funny you should call me that. There's a special weapon called the Kraken that would--" Wait. Wait wait. What.

Did he just say what she thought she heard him say? "What do you mean I'm not an octopus?? I AM an octopus!!"

She had never been so accidentally offended since boarding the train. But she's more hurt than angry.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14486533)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm not big on threats," Alley was well aware that wasn't the most reassuring thing to say, but there it was. If she decided to cave someone's skull in, she was unlikely to let them know in advance.

Then, thinking of all the times she'd done something like stab a knife into a shopkeeper's desk to get them to focus on something other than her ears-- "At least, not with any intention to follow through. Humans just need motivating, sometimes."
reluctantjinrou: (Mournful Glance)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2020-12-03 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
"I understand. My friend left two weeks ago. Unfortunately we won't see each other again." Natsuno mumured.

"Hopefully you'll see him again sooner rather than later."
consider8: (Assess)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-03 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
So far, only one person knew her real name, even if it was plastered on the roster and posted on any luggage directed to her. She didn't mind. Though she didn't dismiss her real name, "Eight" always seemed to be the new name for the new her: the one that defected from the Octarian military to claim her freedom.

She looked up at him again at the question and tone. Perhaps he was a nicer guy than his first impression. "Yes. Well, most of them. I think? I reclaimed the ones that were taken from me, but it's hard to remember something that's been forgotten."
crimson_rain: shipping @ dw (06)

[personal profile] crimson_rain 2020-12-03 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
Hua Cheng would like to give him spiritual power too, to give him the strength and courage he needs after he left him in a scattering of butterflies, to fill in the void after he left him to wander in the mortal realm. He knew how lonely he is without him, but there isn't anything he could do, but he'll do anything to give it all up to save him. To him, his highness looks splendorous even wearing the plain purple hoodie. His reaction to his question. He loves the way he looks so distracted.

"I really long for this, dianxia. And by the looks of it, we're going on a journey together."

He waits for him, to collect himself to become calm, and ever-patient for him, to feel this moment on the platform is real, a start before they begin a new chapter and their journey for their lives. It's difficult to sum what he feels for him in a few words.

"I love you, dianxia. So trust me, we're going together." He wraps an arm around his waist to pull him closer, tilts his head side, and when he closes his eyes, he gently presses a light kiss to his lips finding his lips warm and soft.
inquisitor_lavellan: ‘cause I see now, I’m a veteran of things I don’t want to be (I’m a veteran of things I don’t wanna be)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
ID, huh? Like a crate of goods on a ship. A thing. The Inquisitor didn't share this observation, but she was inclined to cut him some slack in light of it.

"...You find anyone in charge around here to yell at about it, be sure to let me know," Alley grunted, stepping away to give the big guy space again now that they weren't both gawking at the crew list.

He didn't take up nearly as much space as, say, Iron Bull. But he was pretty big for a shem, and she was pretty average for an elf. Especially an alienage elf.
reluctantjinrou: (Sleepy)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2020-12-03 02:30 am (UTC)(link)
"It's not that, I don't think, it's that it seems like strength is my best asset, so focusing on something more in that vein is probably more attuned to what I would need." Natsuno mused.

"You're not looking for a dagger are you?"
reluctantjinrou: (Glancing Around Corners)

[personal profile] reluctantjinrou 2020-12-03 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll admit." Natsuno said, looking at Leafmon. "I'm confused."
crimson_rain: shipping @ dw (13)

[personal profile] crimson_rain 2020-12-03 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
Hua Cheng has no idea of the missions, being a new arrival and adjusting to his new life on the train. For now, he could the boy doesn't look well, but he hoped the food will help regain back his strength.

"You're welcome. Hopefully, it's not too heavy for you."
melodiouspacifist: (So Very Interested)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-03 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
Demyx looked mildly amused by that. "I'm not usually a thief or anything."

That didn't mean he hadn't done that before and he just sighed.

"I guess it doesn't really matter what I'm wearing." Now he looked like Halloween threw up on him which was somehow an improvement over just black.