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!
adropofsunlight: (159)

Re: on the train

[personal profile] adropofsunlight 2020-12-03 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
She nearly jumped slightly. Honestly in all her thoughts about various things she hadn't even thought about someone else being around. So to say she had been surprised was a slight understatement.

"Ah, hey... I didn't realise you were there.... I'm sorry about that. Got a little too focused on some ideas. So yes, I was thinking about something, mostly painting related"
blitzcheer: (falling into pieces)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-12-03 12:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, she's on another octo-planet with all the excitement! The bump only gets a small sound from him; otherwise, Tidus about ready to chuckle in the absolute giddiness she's exhibiting.

"That's cool-looking!" Like, it's not untrue! But he looks from it to Eight, eyes wide with interest. "But what does it do? Is it just your bag?"

'Just' her bag. But hey! Getting personal stuff back matters, okay!
blitzcheer: (something blah ugh words)

[personal profile] blitzcheer 2020-12-03 01:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ohhh." Oh right, painting! He knew that. Brings his thumb in and puts his hand under his chin instead, head tilting. "What're you thinking for in here?" what's natural... "The sea?"
marriedanidiot: (working hard)

Her: You sound funny. Him: Whut

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-12-03 01:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Xie Lian? Oh, you are friends? I met him earlier, yes." She smiles and shakes her head.

"No, this is lembas - waybread. With the missions, Lord Glorfindel and I agreed it would be helpful to have some to give out and take with us, at need."
marriedanidiot: (wisdom)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-12-03 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"We have not." She smiles at him, hoping the emotion will come through in her voice.

"But I have seen you around on the train - Nerdanel, at your service."
marriedanidiot: (Default)

[personal profile] marriedanidiot 2020-12-03 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"A star shines on the hour of our meeting, Xie Lian." She smiles.

"No, no! This is just something I am doing as I am the only person who knows how to make lembas - waybread, that is. Lord Glorfindel and I felt it would be wise to have some on hand if we need it for missions."

This is not PERFECTLY accurate as the recipe is easy enough, but Nerdanel is the only one who knows the correct blessings to impart into the recipe to give it it's full effects.
its_dad_sanzo: (serene)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-03 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Mmm... well, I saw a few people use swords!" Koumyou offered, after having to think about it for a second. His own methods weren't universal, after all, at least not without years of training. "There was an elf guy and uh, Roland! Have you met Roland yet? He's very sweet."
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14480649)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Nerve damage had wrecked havoc on some of Alley's own senses, particularly that of touch on her one remaining hand. There were more reasons for that soft leather glove covering it than to hide how deformed it had become. The shape still wasn't quite right, even so.

"You... accidentally exploded a little bit," Alley repeated slowly, and snorted, wryly amused. "Sounds like you were busy."

Still not particularly judgemental, here.
Edited 2020-12-03 14:45 (UTC)
onehandsomeslickninja: (the cool ninja)

[personal profile] onehandsomeslickninja 2020-12-03 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Do you have to make them out? Like if you were on the sea and saw another ship off in the distance and there was a speck that was PROBABLY some guy on it, could you get him?
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14488450)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
"This is 'not bad'?!" Alley asked, sounding just a touch like she might freak out at any moment.

Nothing looked familiar! She was just going to stand here as far out of the way as she could, singular hand grabbing onto the back of a seat hard enough that, had she been wearing her usual gauntlet, she would have aerated the furniture.

If this was the Fade, it was really pulling out some stops in terms of weirdness. That it might not even be the Fade--
firewalled: (get up get out and get done)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-03 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"... Great. Cool. This is really adding up to be a great second lease on life, huh?"

Seriously, he survives a house fire and an evil supercomputer controlling his every move, only to get transported here? How is he supposed to do anything to make up for things?

"How long have you been stuck here?" he finally asks. Maybe he can get an estimate on how long he'll be kidnapped.
onehandsomeslickninja: (turned away cool)

[personal profile] onehandsomeslickninja 2020-12-03 02:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Edge folded his arms, though he took a moment to consider his response carefully. The sharp words he might use on a young and promising ninja weren't appropriate here, so he had to rein it in and be more diplomatic.

"Helping a teammate and friend is never a burden," he finally said. "And having you at your best helps us all in turn."
firewalled: (get up get out and get done)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-03 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's... pretty weird. You are aware that's an extremely un-normal thing to just mention right off the bat, right?" Sorry, but Rich comes from a fairly average world. There's no such thing as evil overlord books where he's from!

"Um... they explained the basics? We're all trapped on a train, can't get off, don't have a choice about leaving. Nothing about magic books or whatever the hell."

Granted, they might have been focused on making sure he didn't pass out.
mtsilver_conquor: (Regrets)

Lots of crabs, that's for sure. Too many crabs if you ask Eva.

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-12-03 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"You could say that," Eva laughs a little, but it's hollow; lifeless and her stare is haunted, even as the bird moves to her lap. "Mission turned bad on us. Very bad. At least one death and several almost deaths...."

A swallow. "-including me."
mtsilver_conquor: (Default)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-12-03 03:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"Neither am I. but well. I wanted clothes that weren't train given, so..." There's a shrug at the end.

"By next Platform you'll likely be wishing for something other than this. Anyway, I'm Iden'no Eva. One of Orange's Leads. Nice to meet you."

There's a short bow.
iamnotgod: Many lines curving off into the distance and entangling, shaded in colors from yellow to purple (Default)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2020-12-03 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
There were two ways to go about this: backtrack and clarify, being as this was most likely train psychology, not any kind of human psychology.

Or: "Yes. We have also, within the past four months, encountered another world being destroyed in the same manner, on a planet containing a kingdom we were supposed to help save from an unspecified disaster. Apart from the train experiencing some internal false alarms, we had no warning."

Well, those who had stayed on the train had that warning; those who had gone had even less.

By this point Webmind has stopped walking as well; other passengers will just have to deal.
iamnotgod: Many lines curving off into the distance and entangling, shaded in colors from yellow to purple (Default)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2020-12-03 03:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[Webmind's expression shifts to one showing just a hint of worry.

Followed by an emoticon with a question mark.]

?
iamnotgod: Webmind projecting a smile. The robot is wearing an orange hoodie. (A smile!)

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2020-12-03 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you need an extra body involved with the food prep, I am happy to assist."

That was a standing offer; Webmind could always lend a hand with chores, whatever they happened to be.

And- ahhh. "Your point is well-made; I haven't seen the train issue one SCA to two people before. I wonder if the software even allows for that."

If tethering could be considered to require software.
Edited 2020-12-03 15:53 (UTC)
firewalled: (Time to raise a flag for the ceasefire)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-03 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"...Well, that's... weird," Rich responds. "I mean, I guess it's a good thing, but how can they take someone from one time and drop them back without time passing?"
unfavorableinstigation: It is dark, but Nita is inside reading a book. (Dark)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-12-03 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"No kidding. No one's been able to leave of their own free will, I warn you; those people who leave each platform have something odd about them. Something... changed."

She shook her head of the unpleasant memories.

"Most of them don't come back, though, so maybe they make it home all right. Or- wherever else they were headed."

Trying to shake off the rest of the mood, she sighed. Expression brightening a little, she offered a hand to shake.

"Sorry about that; I'm Nita."
zechs_isonfire: (curious)

[personal profile] zechs_isonfire 2020-12-03 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"That's why I had asked for my own weaponry, as well," Zechs agreed. Finally, he joined her to sit on the ground, sitting on the opposite side of the gun. "Did you know that the Arms Band provides unlimited ammunition for your firearm?"
zechs_isonfire: (bored look - manga)

[personal profile] zechs_isonfire 2020-12-03 04:19 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's the reason it's pretty oversized," Zechs told her, straightforward. He could see her obvious trepidation, and it would seem understandable enough, considering her unfamiliarity with the technology. But offering pragmatic reasons as to why something was the way it was, why something existed, would likely help.

And, well. Other cold truths. "Any passengers who remain on the platform die when the train leaves. I'm not exactly certain why. But after death, we're revived and wake up in the train's luggage compartment. Undignified, but more convenient during a battle than being permanently removed from the roster."

In other words - one way or another, she'll end up onboard that train.
unfavorableinstigation: Nita working with a Kernel (Wizardry Is Kid Stuff)

[personal profile] unfavorableinstigation 2020-12-03 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nita could probably say something about how Kindness wasn't foremost found on the battlefield but, uh.

... Probably a bit too philosophical for bathroom-talk, there.]

There's more than one kind of way to save a person, that's for sure.

And kindness can do it for a lot of people.
inquisitor_lavellan: (pic#14486529)

[personal profile] inquisitor_lavellan 2020-12-03 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm not refusing to get on," Alley glanced at him side-long, eyes narrowed. "Maker knows I don't see any other options available to me right now. But that doesn't mean I'm going to do this shit at a run. Is it going to take off all at once without warning? I assume if that was the case, you'd already be back on it."

She was feeling a bit cranky, but who could blame her? All things considered.
firewalled: (Time to raise a flag for the ceasefire)

[personal profile] firewalled 2020-12-03 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay, great! Can you not do that without flinging your hands around?" And you know, without giving him some great flashbacks to syncing up with Jeremy?

"Seriously! It's creeping me out! There's a keyboard right there!"