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!
its_dad_sanzo: (the moon greets the rising sun)

keep telling yourself that Dev

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-04 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Was before, will be again," Koumyou says it with absolute, peaceful certainty, shifting how he's sitting so that he can rest the back of his head on the edge of the pool. That's a lot of pale, slender throat suddenly on display, a few strands of that hair of his curling against it.

"Where there is power, there will be people who want it."
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-04 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure, I won't turn down the help." Senku said easily. "This isn't the best day for it, for a lot of reasons." He commented. "A lot of people are recovering, including me."

Senku was sharper, but still not quite at his best. "Fortunately it will keep in the arms band."

"No idea." He admitted. "I know very little about the SCA." He didn't think even with a smashed screen he'd be able to pry it apart, it almost looked like it was just a solid piece of machinery.
consider8: (Clever)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-04 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Okay!" Out comes the cell phone and she leans into him, cell outstretched.

"Oh!" She turns to look up at him. "Make sure to have the part out for it to see!" That was the whole point, right?

When she's reasonably sure that Devero has been given enough time to have the part up and posed, she clicks the octo phone and raises a victory sign in front of the camera.

They have defeated the hydraulic part!
subcircuits: (reproving)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-04 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Devero turns and all he sees with this first glance is some just pugnacious-looking kid harping on him. He's not terribly impressed. "You want me to use a manual interface? Are you serious? That's disgusting."
melodiouspacifist: (Think Think Think)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-04 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
That made things even more confusing for him, but he could figure her out some other time.

"Roster?" Demyx asked, blinking and looking a bit bewildered. He hadn't nearly gotten that far yet.
melodiouspacifist: (Think Think Think)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-04 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
"I really don't know anything about trains. I mean. It looks like a train to me." Demyx admitted.

Honestly, he hadn't been so caught off-guard by a conversation in awhile. He was genuinely confused.
mtsilver_conquor: (casual)

[personal profile] mtsilver_conquor 2020-12-04 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
"It's what we called them when they were first discovered and the name stuck over the millennia. They're not actually dead and I can show you pictures later if you like?" Eva says with a small shrug before moving onto the next topic.

"Ah... the PC and printer aren't mine; compared to tech back home, it's at least a century out of date." At least, probably more. She doesn't exactly know. "Someone brought it from the shop for trainwide use and Roro and Lele can hook up to it via Fixed Wifi known as Bluetooth."
consider8: (Trou8led)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-04 01:54 am (UTC)(link)
She didn't know too many yet either, but was aware of a few. Still that was no longer the important part, now was it.

"I'm sorry for your loss." There really wasn't too much more she can say. "It's not fair."
subcircuits: (avoidant)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-04 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
"This must be like a vacation for you," he remarks. Koumyou certainly looks like a man on holiday, so peaceful ease with which he's relaxing into the water. (Yeah, he's peeked. Yeah, he regrets it instantly, actually catching his breath at the sight of the Sanzo's inviting throat--)

He looks away again, so sharply that the water slops against the lip of the pool in his corner. "--Right," he says, recapturing the thread of what Koumyou had said. "Isn't that a universal truism?"
forleaving: (005)

[personal profile] forleaving 2020-12-04 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Thank you, so do I."

He nodded. "Tea sounds like a nice idea." He narrowly stopped himself from adding another 'thank you' after that, but it might have been a politeness overload.
subcircuits: (hunted)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-04 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
"And what we're good at, we should contribute," he says, with just a hint of rote recitation to the words. A philosophy from his home?

At the prospect of spending anywhere with this many people and no privacy, Devero grimaces-- probably more expressively than he realizes. "This going to take some getting used," he mutters. "I come from a small town too, but I still have my own damn quarters."
its_dad_sanzo: Ibun-era (hi)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-04 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Someone on the train will eventually go for the sutra, maybe even more than one someone. It's inevitable.

Or, maybe he'll get swept up by reincarnation before that point. He's still pretty convinced this is just some kind of death waiting room, after all.

Either way. There's no use worrying about it. At least if someone tries to take the Seiten, things will be very interesting for a bit.

And the luggage car will be busy. Part of him is eager to see how it might unfold.

"I suppose it must be," Koumyou lifts his head just enough to look at Devero, at that sudden movement. Is something wrong?

Hm. He lifts his free hand out of the water to brush some of his own hair out of his eyes, and then sits up.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

And a few small puzzle pieces click into place.

"...You know, I haven't seen you so much as in passing these last few days," he adds, "and you've been tense since I walked in. Did I offend you the other day?"
nutkrusher: (Smirking Wiseass)

Platform

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2020-12-04 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
A similarly dressed figure descends from the air and lands beside her.

"Ugh, I know, right? Same bland, color-coded clothes for everybody. It's like joining a cult, only without all the adventurous group sex."
subcircuits: (interface)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-04 02:22 am (UTC)(link)
Un-self-consciously, he puts his arm around her shoulders, although he doesn't actually quite make contact. There's no weight, no pressure. He grins for the camera--

"--Right!" He scoops up the joint and displays it as best he can in the limited space available to them, his grin returning. He holds it-- part and pose-- until he's sure the picture's been taken, then sets it aside again.

But just for a moment. "My turn!" he says, reaching for the thing on his ear. "If you don't mind?"
light_of_willpower: (long-hair-casual-huh?)

Platform

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-12-04 02:27 am (UTC)(link)
Trunks was, as usual, staying somewhat back as people left, and new people were revealed. Until a flash of bright cerulean in purple drew his eyes. "No..." He murmured quietly, blue-eyes widening as he took in the familiar-ish hairstyle and features. Looking stunned, as he made his way over.

He's not showing it, but his brain is trying to decide between joy and panic.
light_of_willpower: (long hair profile talking)

[personal profile] light_of_willpower 2020-12-04 02:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Just the one, but it sounded like she hadn't understood that. Hmmm.]

That's fair. Maybe next mission then. We should be better prepared, so you could probably find some time to fly then. Plus it can be faster to get around at times.
consider8: (Assess)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-04 02:35 am (UTC)(link)
She had been noticing the device, but that confirms it. Her curiosity is piqued and she finds herself wanting to know more of what it can do.

Oh, but now is not the time.



"Va-veemo! Of course!"
consider8: (Assess)

Exploring the Train, Pt. 1

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-04 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Eight saw the girl on the platform before. She wanted to go up and see her, but circumstances required her to get back on board quickly. Still, she was glad to see that she had made it back on board. Circumstances aside, it was a nice feeling to see another girl on the train that was her age.

Her ears quirked at the question. "Oh! Um... no, not always. There's a kind-of 'night,' where it looks pitch black outside. It's kind of spooky."

Oh right. "And then there's the void storm. But um... you'll be warned if we ever encounter one of those."
subcircuits: (kinky bastard)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-04 02:47 am (UTC)(link)
One of the real downfalls to being so tall is that Devero can't sink into the pool and have it swallow him up, no matter how much he'd like to dissipate into the water right now. He hadn't realized how openly he was choreographing his discomfort, and being called on it is not making him feel more at ease.

He really should have listened to that instinct to flee.

Shoulders hunched defensively, Devero sits up in the water too. "No!" he says. "No, not at all, Sanzo. I really enjoyed the time we spent together. I just--"

He just what? Even he's not really sure what he just, except that he really wants to be around Koumyou and he knows Madame wouldn't approve. But he can't exactly dump that on someone he's only known for a few cumulative hours. 'Being around you the other day made me feel like a hormonal teenager in the best way, but I'm in a kinky relationship with the Big Boss back home and my junk belongs exclusively to her' was not the kind of thing you shared with a casual acquaintance.

Still, he owes the other man some kind of explanation, if only so Sanzo doesn't think too badly of him for acting like an idiot. "You make me nervous," he says finally. "I've never met anyone like you before."
fashionably_strong: art by unknown, if this is yours let me know and I'll credit (playful)

[personal profile] fashionably_strong 2020-12-04 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
Bulla couldn't help but laugh at the remark. "I think I could do without that kind of adventure in my life. Are you a new arrival, too, or do you know who's in charge of all this so I can go and judge their boring fashion sense in person?"

nutkrusher: (Listening Intently)

[personal profile] nutkrusher 2020-12-04 02:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Unfortunately neither," Cassie says. "Nobody knows who brought us here or who's in charge. Only that we've all been pressganged into a private army that goes on missions in every dimension this train stops at."
fashionably_strong: art by unknown, if this is yours let me know and I'll credit (cheerful)

[personal profile] fashionably_strong 2020-12-04 02:56 am (UTC)(link)
Bulla greeted him with a big grin. Oh, what a relief! He recognized her. His hair was longer than she saw it last, but she was grateful to see her big brother.

"Trunks! Oh, I'm so glad to see you!"

Without further adieu, she launched herself at him for a hug.
iamnotgod: Many lines curving off into the distance and entangling, shaded in colors from yellow to purple (Default)

/squints at this tag, gives up and posts

[personal profile] iamnotgod 2020-12-04 02:58 am (UTC)(link)
"First, let me be clear: void travel is not the same as space travel, though this train has apparently made stops in space before. Now, to answer your question: when I say 'destruction of a planet', I mean precisely that; all that's left of a planet is space debris. There is no way to tell while we're in the void what is happening, but in physical space the destruction is absolute."

A pause, to let that enormity settle, and then, "We've only recently learned more about the matter; the plan is to convene within the next two days and make sure everyone is brought up to speed. Has anyone else mentioned the nature of Voidtrecking missions to you yet, Devero?"
its_dad_sanzo: (eyecon)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-04 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Koumyou sinks down instead while he ponders that. Not all the way, of course, the water coming up to just below his eyes so that he can continue to watch Devero closely, his long bangs fanning out across the surface around him.

He blows a thoughtful bubble, then another, before pushing himself back up again enough to speak above the water.

"Because I'm a priest? Or..." his mind scanning quickly over their past interaction, he recalls Devero's reaction to that which Koumyou guards with his life, protects with every drop of blood in his body.

"...Because I guard the Seiten sutra?"

It wouldn't be an unreasonable thing, to be nervous of him for that. To one degree or another, neither are exactly bad guesses.
fashionably_strong: (Default)

[personal profile] fashionably_strong 2020-12-04 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
"Better pitch black than a bright rainbow light show through the night when people are trying to sleep, I guess," Bulla replied with a little shrug.

"What does a void storm look like?"