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!
melodiouspacifist: (Aw We Do Too Have Hearts)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-17 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Ugh, dangerous missions are the worst." Demyx complained. He sighed softly.

"Oh well. Guess we'll see how it goes, if I'm still here."
swansongs: (To what I said)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-18 02:52 am (UTC)(link)
"They really are." He hated everything about them, more or less, especially seeing other people get hurt.

"What d'you do? That you're used to missions, I mean."
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Yeah yeah I'm on it)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-19 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh nothing really interesting, just some missions for a guy. He was just a pain in the ass." Demyx complained lightly, to brush off the question.
swansongs: (Let's face it I blew it you waited)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-19 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
"Uh-huh." Dyme could take a hint sometimes, at least. He knew when someone didn't want to elaborate on something, and wouldn't push for more information. No matter how curious he was. "I imagine a lot of jobs--and people--are a pain in the ass," he said. "Of course, I'm just imagining. I've never actually done anything besides music." But he'd never want to work retail or anything else like that.
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-19 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't really know, I've mostly just had the one job for the longest time and never really liked it. But I totally quit." Demyx said with a grin. "So I don't really have to worry about it anymore."
swansongs: (That I should really stick)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-20 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Good!" Dyme nodded. "I hope you find something better to do. You know, when this whole mess is over."
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Yeah yeah I'm on it)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-21 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
"Here's hoping. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I'm out of here." He looked like he was thinking about it for a moment. Was he worried? Definitely, but he didn't really want anyone to know that.
swansongs: (Let's face it I blew it you waited)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-22 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure you'll figure out something." Dyme believed in people, even strangers. "You've got family? Friends?" People who could help him out until he got a new job?
melodiouspacifist: (Aw We Do Too Have Hearts)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-23 02:04 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh no, nothing like that." Demyx shook his head. "Well. One friend. Maybe. If we're friends. I'm not actually sure." He shrugged lightly. He didn't know what Ienzo thought about him really.

"Mostly he just tells me not to touch anything in his lab."
swansongs: (To what I said)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-23 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh." Well, that wasn't the kind of answer he'd been expecting. So much for his planned 'support in friends and family' line. "Well...I'm sure you'll end up with friends here, at least." It was surprisingly hard not to make friends on the train.
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-23 06:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, sure." Demyx responded, but he was also skeptical about that. "It's fine if I don't have friends or anything, I've got my sitar."
swansongs: (Let's face it I blew it you waited)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-24 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
Likewise, Dyme was skeptical about anyone being fine without friends. "Don't you get lonely? I mean, I like being alone a lot of times, but not always." He couldn't imagine someone having no one.
melodiouspacifist: (Nort Huh??)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-24 03:56 am (UTC)(link)
"Uh, well." Demyx began. "I guess, but I'm a Nobody, so that's how it's supposed to be."
swansongs: (To what I said)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-25 12:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Um. Why's being a nobody mean you have to be lonely?" Was there some sort of logic here that he wasn't connecting?
melodiouspacifist: (Think Think Think)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-25 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"It's like...I don't know, we're not supposed to be friends." That much he surmised, considering just how much they were manipulated into being at each other's throats.

"Which is fine, since Nobodies don't have hearts, so any feelings aren't really supposed to be there." He was repeating someone, but really, that was the best he could do. He knew he had feelings, or at least he was pretty sure, but he didn't understand how any of that connected to anything.

"We're meant to be empty." Demyx finished.
swansongs: (Let's face it I blew it you waited)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-27 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
He was really trying to wrap his head around this, but it sounded...a little ridiculous. "What do you mean, don't have hearts? Everything has a heart." Or almost everything, he guessed. "And how does that mean you don't have feelings?" He was. So confused.
melodiouspacifist: (Aw We Do Too Have Hearts)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-27 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"It just does, that's what I've been told." Demyx sighed and shrugged.

"I'm not the scientist smart guy, I don't really know the answers to questions like that."
swansongs: (Let's face it I blew it you waited)

[personal profile] swansongs 2020-12-28 04:10 am (UTC)(link)
Dyme took a deep breath. "Okay." That was fair. Sometimes people just didn't know things. "It all sounds kind of suspicious to me, but...that's just me."
melodiouspacifist: (Default)

[personal profile] melodiouspacifist 2020-12-28 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, tell me about it, all kinds of suspicious but..." Demyx shrugged. What he did know, he wasn't going to explain at the moment, and what he didn't know was an awful lot more. People would probably have questions and he wasn't ready to go there.