paixaorpg | Getting on the Evil Train, Take 2! [ CLOSED ]

Entry tags:

Getting on the Evil Train, Take 2! [ CLOSED ]

Character(s): Al, Dias, and Yuna
Content: They actually get on the train this time!
Setting: Train Station
Time: Wednesday, mid-morning
Warnings: None so far.

Well, it certainly had taken them some time to convince Dias that the train, as Alphonse referred to the machina transport, was not an evil beast that needed to be slain rather than boarded. After several days of time staying at one of the hotels near the Niflheim gate, Yuna, Alphonse, and Dias stood on the platform eagerly (or nervously in some cases) awaiting the train that would finally take them deeper into the strange, city of Paixao.

In truth, the days spent with her new companions had not been a waste at all as far as Yuna was concerned. They'd chatted with one another about their homelands and just generally had a chance to get to know each other a little better. Dias wasn't terribly talkative, but Yuna had to admit she'd kept a few secrets herself. It was still refreshing to learn more about the two men, and she was honestly thankful that she'd been placed with two, capable, pleasant companions. It could've been worse. Much, much worse.

"I think I hear it coming," Yuna announced, the telltale whistle that they'd heard before sounding in the distance again. She turned her gaze to Dias briefly, gauging his reaction this time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Al closed his journal and tucked it awkwardly in his pocket, leaning out to see if he could see the train approaching. The air was still heavy and the ground damp from the past two days' rain, and the chilling wind didn't make it much better. It didn't suprise him that there were few people venturing out this morning. The sooner they could get seated in the (hopefully warmer) train compartments, the better, he figured. And would it be sooner? Dias had said he was fine with riding the train, and Al trusted that, but nevertheless he peeked out of the corner of his eye at the man, trying to read his face.

Dias was all too aware that he was being watched by both Alphonse and Yuna for his reaction to the approaching train. It didn't exactly make him any more comfortable, but their concern was understandable; he hadn't exactly hidden the fact that while he would ride the train if he had to, he didn't like the idea, trains themselves, or anything to do with them any more than before.

And that whistle still put his teeth on edge.

He stood, arms folded, until the train had stopped in front of the platform, still belching smoke and hissing and making all other sorts of forbidding noises that did NOT, in Dias' mind, equate with anything safe to even be near, much less get into.

But they needed to move on, and Al and Yuna had assured him this was safe, despite all appearances and all instructions from his instincts...and he was tired of looking ignorant.

Dias snorted quietly through his nose as a door opened and people started filing inside. With an almost defiant glance at both Al and Yuna, he strode forward and through the door, the first of the three to board the train.

Of course, as soon as he was inside the door he stopped for a moment, causing a temporary bottleneck as he let his eyes adjust to the suddenly dimmer light, and his hand was still on his sword hilt. Just because he'd agreed to board this thing didn't mean he wasn't still suspicious of it. But once he was able to make out the details of the interior and ensure himself that there was nothing immediately dangerous to present itself, he stepped further into the train compartment, letting the grumbling people behind him filter in as well.

Dias refused to feel guilty for his precautions causing them a momentary inconvenience.

Yuna smiled, refraining from honestly congratulating Dias on getting over what seemed to have been a very rational fear, considering the world that he apparently came from. As genuine as her praise would've been, it would probably only serve to make her tall companion embarrassed or annoyed. So, with a slight nod to Alphonse, she stepped up behind him. The ex-summoner nearly ran right into his back when he stopped upon entering the train but managed to catch herself this time and waited patiently for him to move on, ignoring the grumbles behind her from other passengers.

In turn, Yuna moved on and scanned the aisle for a set of seats where they could all sit together and chat during the ride. Finding a row, she waved one arm to her companions with a small, indulgent smile and a soft laugh.

"Who wants the window seat?"

So there was nothing to be uneasy about after all then! Dias seemed perfectly comfortable with boarding a train now, perhaps even eager with the way he boldly stepped inside-- Or so Al thought until he stopped short just inside and looked about warily. He held in a chuckle. Maybe not entirely comfortable.

Al slid out of the way along with Dias, peering curiously around at the interior and other passengers, then followed Yuna down the aisle to the seats she had found for them.

"Oh!" Al gave a small, excited start at her offer, and his eyes lit up eagerly. Watching the world fly past was the best part of riding trains of course! His few memories of this were much treasured. "I mean--I would, unless either of you want to...?" He held Yuna's eyes earnestly, not wanting to take the chance from her, and knowing that Dias would probably rather not.

Al had judged Dias right; the man took one hard look at the window and turned away. "Not interested."

Well, Dias had to admit that the interior of the train was vastly less noisy and forbidding than the outside, and slightly comforting in that it was obviously furnished for the comfort of its passengers, none of who seemed unduly alarmed by anything(although a few were still shooting him dirty looks for delaying their boarding of the train, which he pointedly ignored). He still would have preferred walking, however - how big, after all, could Paixao be?

He tried to shake the image of the line at the gate from his mind.

"Take whatever seats you want," he said absently, presumably to Alphonse and Yuna, although his attention was anywhere but on them. He was still eyeing the interior of the compartment, their fellow travelers, the windows, the doors - everything. And his hand was still resting on his sword hilt. It was hard to tell if he was actively suspicious of their surroundings or merely taking careful note of them, but the position of his hand suggested that either way, he intended to take no chances.

Yuna laughed and shook her head.

"You can have the window seat, Alphonse. I don't mind at all." The young woman stepped back, waiting for the young man to claim his place. She waited for him to to take the seat before easing into the next, open one. It was assumed, rightly or wrongly on her part, that Dias would prefer to sit closer to the aisle in case something happened. Well, if he did have a problem, she wouldn't object to switching seats with him.

"I've witnessed some grand machina at work, but this is completely different from anything Spira has. I wonder how quickly it will take us to the center of the city?" Yuna spoke, not wanting to prattle on about something horribly meaningless and happening to fall into it anyway.

"Ah--thank you!" Al replied with a pleased blush. The window! He slid into his seat and immediately took to looking out at the station and all the people moving about the platform, oblivious to his wide-eyed gaze. A grin was plastered on Al's face, and his legs childishly swung back and forth, often scraping the floor unexpectedly. Riding the train was always so exciting!

He turned his attention away from the window as Yuna spoke up, albeit a tad reluctantly, and carefully considered her question. "Hm...They seem to be the fastest things around here too"--Al briefly looked to their watchful companion and wondered how he would handle things once they started moving--"but I guess it still depends on how far we go. It can't be more than a few hours. Wasn't there a map somewhere...?"

Once Al and Yuna had taken their seats, Dias settled himself in the aisle seat, still looking somewhat wary and the fingers of one hand still curled loosely around the hilt of his sword but overall seeming a bit more relaxed - more something visible in the tension easing from his muscles than in his expression.

"There's a map over there," Dias spoke up after Al's voice had trailed off, nodding to one end of the compartment where, indeed, a map was mounted on the wall. He hadn't been looking around entirely idly. "As to how far we go...that would depend on where we're going, wouldn't it?" He turned to look at his two companions, seeming thoughtful. "And we don't even know what places there are to go yet..." Well, that wasn't ENTIRELY true. Their journals had a map function; Dias had discovered this accidentally while they were in the hotel. But that didn't do them much good when they didn't know what the labeled places were - and most of the names were indescribably foreign, so what they represented wasn't immediately apparent. It would be more accurate to say that they didn't know what the places to go to WERE. "We should figure out where it is we're heading."

Yuna took a moment, after pulling out her own journal to check it again, and then piped up softly after Dias suggested that they determine where they were going. She hadn't informed them about Tidus and their rather complicated story, but it would hurt to make a suggestion.

"I actually spoke to someone I haven't seen in some time over the network, on... that message board thing. He's staying near the Actua Are in the middle of town." Immediately upon speaking, Yuna realized how selfish her request probably sounded and instantly rushed to explain herself. "I-I know that must sound horribly bold of me, but I was just wondering if you all wouldn't mind stopping by there. Just for a bit. I've not seen him in... quite some time. Of course, I completely understand if you don't wish to waste your time. I-I don't mind going alone," she finished hurriedly.

"Really? Someone you know?!" Al exclaimed with an excited clap of his hands. "That's wonderful! Good for you, Yuna." He was certainly very glad for her, but at the same time this confirmed that it was possible that Brother was here and could be found. He made a mental note to check out the message board she had mentioned at his next chance. Maybe that was the key to reaching Brother.

He shook his head and smiled reassuringly, "It's okay, I don't mind going at all. And you should see him! He must be important for you to want to see him." Al looked past her and to their other companion. "Dias? What do you think...?"

Dias glanced over at Yuna. "I think that's as good a place as any to go," he said with a slight shrug. "And if it's someone you know...that's a good sign. Maybe we're not the only people from our respective worlds to be pulled into this place - and maybe your friend will know more about it."

He glanced down at his journal, which he'd been checking sporadically; as it turned out, it seemed people could read the entries he'd been making into it, but far more interesting was the discovery that Dias could read THEIRS...of course, the discovery had come at the price of his finding out that there was, indeed, something wrong in this city. Granted, this meant that all his instincts had been correct, but there were some things he would prefer being wrong about. "In any case, I don't think splitting up would be a good idea. From what I've been hearing from other people using these...machines..." He lifted his own journal to illustrate what he meant. "...there have been some mysterious disappearances recently. Not to mention kidnappings."

To be honest, such occurrences were GOOD things for Dias, at least as far as being a mercenary was concerned. Mercenaries made their living taking care of problems like these, and Dias had become especially good at it. Obviously it was a shame that such problems existed at all, but that didn't change the fact that Dias' livelihood relied on them. But he didn't like to think of what such things could mean for Alphonse and Yuna, whom he'd developed a sort of vague affection for already.

Yuna could hardly contain her own elation when her companions agreed to go with her to meet Tidus. If they'd been adverse to it, she would've felt just awful. Obviously, she had to go to him just to see him again, to verify that he was really, honestly there. And, quite honestly, she'd been hoping against hope that he hadn't just... well, vanished. All that considered, to just leave these people that she'd been spending time with since she'd arrived would've been terrible. Yuna wasn't close, personal friends with either of them. How could she be when they'd only been together for a few days? In the face of such curious, vague circumstances, however, it seemed natural to form bonds with trustworthy people for the sake of simply surviving.

And, really, she enjoyed Alphonse and Dias' company very much so far.

"Wonderful! Thank you you both so much," she exclaimed, trying not to sound too inappropriately ecstatic. "I'll make an entry for him to let him know we're on our way, then."

[ooc; I am so sorry it's taken so long to reply! This week has been rather busy. I'll be posting details on the OOC community as soon as I finish this. Ah, also, I'm assuming that the train hasn't begun moving yet?]

"Okay!" Al replied, delighted that Yuna was so pleased. Dias' comment about the disappearances and kidnappings were a bit worrying, but as long as they stuck together or in safe, public places they should be fine, right? If he himself got in danger...well, maybe learning how to fight had another, greater purpose after all.

He squinted across the compartment and attempted to count out the number of stops they had until they reached around where he recalled Actua Are to be. "I guess it'll be a few stations until we get there," he said. "I think we get off at that one in the middle, or maybe the one before it..."

As he trailed off, the train's whistle shrilled, and it gave a starting lurch to pull away from the station. Al watched their surroundings go by faster and faster as they picked up speed, his jaw dropping the slightest bit in amazement, before turning to his companions to gauge their reactions.

The sudden jerk of the train as it began to MOVE nearly set the already-tense Dias through the roof, even though his companions had already explained the general premise of trains and he had in fact known it would be moving eventually. Fortunately, he was able to hide any obvious outward signs of his surprise beyond his fingers clamping down around his sword hilt until his knuckles went white.

People honestly thought this was an improvement over walking? He didn't care how much faster it was...

"What are we going to do for money?" he asked eventually, once his dubious gaze had flickered throughout the compartment again and reassured him there were no visible threats, despite his every nerve being on edge. "We already spent some for the hotel, and we didn't have much to start with."

Dias wasn't particularly concerned for his own account; so long as he had his sword, he had a way of making a living, either outside the city or within it. But he didn't know how self-sufficient his companions were, and he wasn't sure if he alone could support them...he hadn't had any traveling companions before, and wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation.

Yuna jumped a bit but didn't exert any, other, outward signs of surprise. It was a bit more... jerky than the machina she'd been exposed to on Spira, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant. Just a bit startling. Dias seemed to be able to keep himself calm as well.

The ex-summoner nodded at Alphonse when he mentioned the stops. "Yes, I believe this one might be best?" she suggested, gesturing to a point on the map nearest to the hotel Tidus had mentioned. It was then that Dias spoke up, earning himself a surprised look from Yuna. She flushed, not aware that she hadn't thought of something so important. As a summoner on her pilgrimage, expenses had been minimal due to the fact that she was, well, a summoner on her pilgrimage to defeat Sin.

"Ah... I... I'm not entirely sure. Did you... have something in mind?" she asked lamely, embarrassed by her own ignorance.

"I don't know..."

Al had never had a need for his own money before, and wasn't quite certain as to how he could go about making it. His neighbors farmed, Izumi-sensei sold meat, and the Rockbells made automail; but he had neither the supplies nor the talent for any of that. He didn't even arrive here with anything other than the clothes on his back. "Our neighbors sometimes give Brother and me snacks when we fix things for them, but would that be any good?" he offered weakly after a moment of consideration.

"I'm sure we'll be okay though! People will be nice enough to help us out even if we don't have a way to pay them back right now. We've only just arrived, so they must understand," Al innocently added with a confident smile.

[ooc; As a note from someone who hates random Japanese in English writing, I'm using Izumi-sensei because it was kept the English version. So I'm taking it as valid. Besides, nothing else sounds right.]

(OOC: Sorry it took me so long to reply, but I wasn't sure if we were ending the thread there or not. >D But I've found something Dias should probably mention before we end the thread anyway, so here it is~)

Dias wasn't terribly surprised that neither of his companions had apparently given much thought to the monetary aspect of their situation. He hadn't even been paying much attention to their replies, instead scanning through his journal; he was getting better and better at using it, an accomplishment he took some pride in. It might have been mysterious at first, but Dias had always adapted quickly...if not entirely willingly.

And the journal was proving genuinely useful, finally, because it seemed as though he'd found a job.

"I'm not so ready to depend on the kindness of strangers here," he remarked, flipping his journal shut. "Not when so many people are filtering into this place. If the people here gave assistance to all those who needed help, they wouldn't have enough left to feed themselves." He glanced over at the other two. "But I'm a mercenary. Generally we always find someone who will pay for our help." He held up his journal. "There's a man whose friend has been kidnapped, and he's offered to pay me to help rescue her. I'll need to go meet him after we've found your friend, Yuna - if the pay is good, we won't have to worry about money for awhile."

Dias was right. This was not Spira, and Yuna knew that she wouldn't be receiving any favors from the citizens here. Back home, not a day passed when a traveler did not show up to the temple at Besaid to see the 'High Summoner' in person, the one who had defeated Sin, with promises of a place to stay if she ever decided to go traveling again. This was a new world, and one would have to get used to not being revered.

It was funny, really. Yuna smiled softly to herself, folding her hands daintily in her lap. She'd never been fond of all the attention she received as High Summoner, and here she was. Stranded and awkwardly wishing she could find a familiar face in a new world.

"Oh, that sounds like a plan," she remarked finally. "I should like to help, if I can. After all, I wouldn't feel right about benefiting from your income if I did nothing to aid you." Her eyes drifted to the window, gazing out at the scenery as it flew by. This train was swift. Hopefully it would not be long until they met with Tidus.

"Oh," Al said with embarrassment. "That makes sense." He reproved himself for thinking that way. In Resembool everyone knew each other and helping or being helped by a fellow countryman was the standard thing to do, but he couldn't rely on strangers here, as Dias had pointed out. Or had he already fallen into that? Al didn't want to be a hassle for his companions, but he was already relying on them a bit and if he accepted Dias' money without contributing his own, he'd be depending on them even more. It wasn't Equivalent Exchange.

"I'll try to help too! I don't know if I'd be any good rescuing anyone, but I'll find some way help," he concluded firmly. If not with the rescue, maybe there was a job out there a kid like him could do. Lips pressed in determination, Al's eyes followed Yuna's gaze out the window as he tried to think up something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Getting on the Evil Train, Take 2! [ CLOSED ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject