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!
consider8: (Recre8)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-02 10:18 pm (UTC)(link)
At precisely five minutes, Eight strides in, strange bag on her back and fire bucket in her hand. She practically saunters she strolls up to Gen, a contented smile on her face.

She gets a good six feet distance for social distancing before clutching the bucket in her hands. "So. You want to know what this is? Well..." She follows up the statement by dropping a blot of magenta ink right in front of her.

Before he could say anything jumps into the air, transforming herself and everything she's carrying into a rather large octopus. Despite the puddle being less than a centimeter deep, her whole self dives in like it was a three feet pool of ink.
fun_thementalist: (whut)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-03 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
Gen allowed her to have that distance, eyebrows raised in curiosity. He was opening his mouth, about to say something friendly and playful. Such as, if this is an ink bomb, could she let him change into his train-issued clothes first? He didn't like those as much.

But then she turned into an octopus - clothes and all - and dived into the tank. Gen's eyes went very wide, and he couldn't help it. He went forward, looking.

"What?" Gen couldn't see into the ink, though, since it was thick and viscous. "What just happened? Why - is this fun for you? Certainly, being able to shape-shift looks like a good time, if it's something you could do whenever you like to ..."

... Was he speaking to a puddle of ink? Whelp.
consider8: (Competitive)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-03 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
The puddle laughed and burbled. "You may want to step back, Gen~" was the only warning he got before a soft geyser of ink rised from the puddle. Like most things, this was a normal thing for her, but on the train she didn't have the opportunity nor the reason to do something like this.

As she reformed, a pair of magenta bars on the tank indicated that it was full. With that she could freely throw a bucket full of ink to the right and the left of the puddle, effectively boxing Gen in to the far side of the gym.

"This," she flips the tank around for him to see. "Is an ink tank! It lets me store any of the ink I make!"
Edited (m-more HTML issues /sigh) 2020-12-03 03:35 (UTC)
fun_thementalist: (see what you did there)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-03 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
As warned, Gen quickly backed away, just barely managed to get sprayed by ink. But his reflexes weren't good enough to get basically painted in by her ink, now backed into a corner. Whelp.

"I can see that!" Gen said, eyes wide and, kind of wondering about - how much ink did she produce? There seemed to be a lot of it now. It kind of seemed rude to ask about something that came out of a person's body, but, again, he was literally boxed in with it. "I guess it's a good thing that you've got ... somewhere to put it all. And throw it all. ... Please don't splash me?"
consider8: (8eaming)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-03 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Eight giggled as she dove back into the ink. Before getting the tank she could produce small trails of ink, but they were little pools compared to the large stream she just made. From outside, Gen could see the quick movement of a rather large fish (actually an octopus) churning the waters from one side of the room to the other.

She missed this. Being able to feel the rush of the ink moving past her body. Doing spins and twirls out of sight. Letting her tentacles glide past.

Once she hits the wall she climbs up a small section that was clinging to it. She jumps out into a spin, a streak of magenta ink following behind her as she begins to move to the other wall. She jumps up again. On the second attempt she twirls back into a human shape, a small spray flying out and coming dangerously close to where Gen is standing. She gives him a wink before diving back into the ink.

A part of home had come back to her.
fun_thementalist: (manga - fond)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-04 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Gen's expression softened as he watched her. A lot of the context was lost on him, but it's clear that she was having fun. That she was at home like this, experiencing joy and happiness. Given all the terrible things that'd happened, it was just ... it warmed his heart to see. Someone at least got some sort of piece of themselves back.

... But really. Gen squeaked a little. "Please, my friend! Watch the ink! I don't know how easily it'll come out of my clothes, I spent good points on these!"

Yet Gen was smiling too much, expression much to soft, to seem like he was mad at her.
consider8: (Enjoya8le)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-05 05:07 am (UTC)(link)
At the protest Eight propped half her body at the edge of the pool of ink with the other half semi-submerged. "Aw... don't be too worried, it comes right out!" She grinned, but fine fine, she won't be too much of a tease.

"So, without the ink tank, I can only depend on the ink I produce. But with the ink tank I can fill it up with the extra ink and use as much as I want!" The rest of her body sinks in and she sloshes around again, only to propel herself up into a somersault black flip, landing so close to Gen he could swear some of the viscous liquid got all over him. She's honoring his wishes though, and is... fairly certain the maneuver was safe.

She wasn't done, though and flipped it around for him to see. "This is a combat model too, see?" She pointed to the little circle on the bottom. "You can hook in some straps down here and use it to hold a small carry bag. So on the next mission, I can bring tools and medical supplies with me."
fun_thementalist: (whut)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-06 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Gen tried to lean closer even with all the ink around him to see better. He tried to figure out ... no, this wasn’t a deception this time. He actually didn’t get it.

“Ink, for combat? What exactly can you do with it?” Gen asked, genuinely puzzled.
consider8: (Competitive)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-06 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, it'll be a little different here." The enemy combatants wouldn't explode when exposed to too much ink. "But our weapons can fire at somewhere between 100 to 300 psi, depending on the weapon. Even if it doesn't affect you the same way, it will pack a mean punch."
fun_thementalist: (manga - eerrk)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-08 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
"... Remind me not to make you angry," Gen said, eyes going wide. "A canon that sprays liquid that fast, no matter what it is, is not something I want to be on the other side of."
consider8: (8emused)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-08 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
"Not making me mad is a good idea~♥"

"I think that might be my next purchase. I found a slosher on board, but I need a charger or a shooter."
Edited 2020-12-08 01:29 (UTC)
fun_thementalist: (manga - begging)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-09 02:48 am (UTC)(link)
Gen laughed a little nervously, like he's actually worried about her threats. "Right, right, right. Message received loud and clear, my dear."

He hummed. "I still can't get a handle on why the train gives some people a bunch of points and others don't get a lot. How have you been faring so far?'
consider8: (Included?)

[personal profile] consider8 2020-12-09 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
Huh...? That was a bit of a tonal shift, but certainly one that merit exploring.

"I'm just shy of being able to order a weapon. Until then, I'll just have to use my train slosher."

Bucket, she means bucket.
fun_thementalist: (manga - hmmm?)

[personal profile] fun_thementalist 2020-12-13 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
"Train slosher?" Gen asked, thinking it was another kind of ink-spraying canon. Except one that was more ... sloshy?