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!
fun_thementalist: (Default)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
Oh. This man was an easy sell for his magic, then, wasn't he? Gen beamed at him, charming and friendly. "I do. I also have another deck on me from the games carriage, since my personal deck is a little customized. I also can perform magic tricks and tell fortunes, if you're interested."

Gen then blinked at him, and asked him wryly, "You mean, in the reality you were kidnapped from - you've got no idea how people can consistently earn money, either?"

That sounded pretty nightmarish. Of course, when he was performing, some years he could at book more profitable venues with his agent's help than others. Sometimes he could secure book deals and television appearances, sometimes he needed to get creative. But that was chance, luck of the draw, skill in negotiating with people - it wasn't a machine or train deciding randomly what his time was worth.
fun_thementalist: (Default)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
"You haven't seen anything like this before?" Gen asked her, as he produced a deck from the game's carriage and then began shuffling the cards.

If her eyes were very sharp, maybe she'd even be able to spot there's no magic being used. Just slight of hand, like a thief.

Gen spread the cards after shuffling them, and told her, "Please, my dear, pick a card, any card. Memorize it ..."

He split the deck in half once she took the card, like he was going to shuffle it once more, and invited her, "and then place it back here, please."
fun_thementalist: (manga - whut)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:14 am (UTC)(link)
Gen shrugged, "Apparently some people here were dead, once? So if it gives people a second chance ... that doesn't seem so bad, right? But you know ..."

"Probably, the train doesn't want us to have a say, because it would be really short on volunteers if it did," Gen agreed. "Unless this just became ... a train full of frustrated formally dead people. So. Actually."

Wincing, Gen pointed out, "It's awful and morbid of me to say it, but then the train would have tons of volunteers."
fun_thementalist: (swindle~!)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
"I can't say I know anything about Blitzball," Gen admitted. "I don't think it's something my reality has ... maybe? Actually. Maybe I shouldn't say that. I know ... not really much about sports. So for all I know, it does exist somewhere, and I've just been ignorant of it."

Gen smiled at him. "Movies about art sound really nice. As for my favorite move ... that's really hard. Right now, I can't help but think of this cartoon, Howl's Moving Castle. Have you ever seen it?"
fun_thementalist: (swindle~!)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
"It's a fancy word for a magician," Gen winked at him. "It means that I use a lot of psychology, fortune telling, and little mental tricks as well as slight of hand and traditional stagecraft as part of my performance, my friend."
subcircuits: (the thoughtful man)

cw blood

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-13 02:25 am (UTC)(link)
Devero takes the injured hand into both of his own, hissing between his teeth as he sees the damage. Thank goodness for long arms; he reaches down the table and grabs a napkin out of a stack waiting to be used and immediately starts dabbing it at the blood.

He glances up at Koumyou as he does. "Not for no reason, it doesn't," he protests softly, before he asks again, "so what happened?"
its_dad_sanzo: (just watching another friend die no bigg)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-13 02:33 am (UTC)(link)
"We've all got land-mines in our minds, don't we?" Koumyou asks, watching him fuss over his hand. He helpfully reaches with his other to pluck the shard of sharp ceramic from his skin. The blood wells up a lot faster, after.

"I just touched one of mine, that's all."
fun_thementalist: (fanart - soft kiss)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
Gen had to try not to giggle as Senku ranted, not wanting to interrupt. His eyes glittered as he went on and on. Really. It's obvious to just about anyone that Gen was completely delighted, that he got exactly what he wanted from Senku.

"So, what you're saying, my darling," Gen's eyes glittered, "Is that you think about me constantly, that you want my attention all of the time, that you're always daydreaming about me ... that you feel so very strongly to me ... and that you always want to be with me."

Leaning in, even with a squirmy kitten, Gen would try to steal a kiss from Senku's cheek. "So sappy, Senku-chan. But I feel the same way."
fun_thementalist: (manga - innocent 1)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:42 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that's very fortunate for Ken, if that's the case.

[ Now just rolling with it, Gen gave them the patented, friendly smile that they were used to when he served them ramen. ]

How big is big, though, I wonder? Would you still fit in a train car? Through one of the doors?
subcircuits: (hunted)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-13 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
Devero folds the napkin over a couple of times and places the pad against the upwelling blood at the base of his thumb. He sandwiches Koumyou's hand between his own and applies a firm pressure.

He doesn't look up at the other man, but he does ask diffidently, "Would it help you to talk about it?" Because he certainly understands what it's like to have mental land-mines-- a few of his own had already been triggered just earlier today, hadn't they? He doesn't want to pry into something raw.

But he does want Koumyou to know that he doesn't have to bleed alone among the shrapnel.
fun_thementalist: (smug knowing look)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
"Why, thank you," Gen grinned at her.

He hummed. Two words for the same thing? Interesting. Gen quipped, joking along with her, "Vitamin C, probably, that's what a lot of fruits tend to have. So if you're feeling under the weather, I should run out here and pick you a bunch of these?"
fun_thementalist: (manga - orly)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
Gen hummed a little as he thought to himself. "Well. If you'd like a second pair of eyes - I can go around the train with you, and try to hunt down a better spot for your new mural?"

He'd like to help, somehow, but so far his suggestions weren't particularly good. That didn't mean he'd give up!
fun_thementalist: (manga - whut)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Trust me, I'm in the same boat, my friend," Gen told him.

Though he winced at the possibility Rich suggested. "Well. Not really the discharge you'd want after your stay, I'm going to guess. Most doctors tend to suggest a lot of fresh air and sunshine after just about any sort of ailment, even a tricky splinter once they've removed it - and this train gives you exactly none of that."
comefadeaway: (Default)

[personal profile] comefadeaway 2020-12-13 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't really know. I haven't...talked to a lot of people." Yoite wasn't even sure what he could say.

"I...suppose I have some value left."
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-13 03:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, yeah sure." Demyx answered, getting up and that huge sitar that was as big as him suddenly disappeared.
melodiouspacifist: (Aw We Do Too Have Hearts)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-13 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I wouldn't know anything about that." Demyx said with a bit of a wry chuckle.

"Sounds complicated."
melodiouspacifist: (Think Think Think)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-13 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Demyx sighed a little bit. "Yeah, I figured."

He couldn't catch a break could he? Just be left somewhere for a few weeks on a tropical island?

"I'm used to it." He waved his hand slightly.
melodiouspacifist: (Natural Look)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-13 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Hey thanks!" He said with a bit more exhuberent smile. He made like he was going to wander off. "I'll see you around, if we're all still here later."
subcircuits: (reproving)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-13 03:57 am (UTC)(link)
Devero's brow furrows. "That's... a strange pattern," he remarks as they head toward the far end of the triage carriage.

"What the hell's the void ministry? --No, you said mentioned this before, didn't you? Something about agents of void travel?"
subcircuits: (run that by me again)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-13 04:00 am (UTC)(link)
It's fantastic news and he's absolutely thrilled. Really.

"Stuck," he repeats. "As in-- as in we can't leave?" He straightens up and his eyes find the nearest door out of the carriage-- the direction of the nearest door out of the train. "This thing hasn't disembarked yet," he says swinging his attention back to her. "What's to stop me from walking right back off before it does?"
subcircuits: (hunted)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-13 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
This really just keeps getting better and better. He stares in blank-faced disbelief at the other man after that little revelation. "You had a sword? To fight--?" He can't even finish the statement.
subcircuits: (inquiring)

[personal profile] subcircuits 2020-12-13 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Yes. Yes, he certainly is. It's not that he's not unfamiliar with prestidigitation-type magic-- at least, that's what he's assuming this is-- it's just that he's a man who appreciates skill when he sees it. "Not right now, but I might take you up on that," he says. "Sounds like fun." And he's kind of getting the feeling that's in short supply around here.

His eyebrows loft at that wry question, then draw down again. Just as wry himself, he says only, "That sounds like capitalism, and everyone knows capitalism is exploitative bullshit."
10billionpercent: (I Sense A Plot)

[personal profile] 10billionpercent 2020-12-13 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
"No need to apologize. I wouldn't recommend dying, and I've been told that doing that to test a scientific theory is just going to piss people off."

Yes, he had to be told that.

"It's better for you not to die, most likely."
strawberryprotector: (laidback)

[personal profile] strawberryprotector 2020-12-13 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
Shrugging, Ichigo lightly massaged Grimmjow's paw pad. "I use lotion to keep them soft. As a med student, and in the future as a doctor, I have to wash my hands a lot. So lotion helps the skin stay soft."
its_dad_sanzo: (I see you)

[personal profile] its_dad_sanzo 2020-12-13 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't know. I've never..."

Talked about it. Old or new mines.

And some of it's so new, or so newly-noticed, why would he have? And he's touched on some of it, on muichimotsu, once so far with someone else. He had managed to keep his composure, but otherwise... never there, either.

His mind is a swirling, chaotic storm.

"I usually just pretend they're not there. The mines. And just kind of... dance around their locations."

Avoidance, it's great, right? Except if he stumbles.
Edited 2020-12-13 04:23 (UTC)