(no subject)

[trainmasters]

Who: newbies + you
When: Day 22, evening
Where: around

[This evening, out of nowhere, Hazel's carriage disappears. There's a shower of sparkles, a bright light, and after that... it's gone. Anyone who was in its hallway is now in the Garden entrance. The Garden car itself is now hooked to Clover's carriage, as if it had aways been and Hazel was never real. Clover itself is currently bare as well -- the lock screen is dull, completely turned off, and there are no lights inside. No one is there, now, but at least the space remains.

In some carriages, that loss of vibrancy is countered by the appearance of some new heroes. In general, the gloomy mood throughout the train is only heightened by the onset of a heavy storm. Outside there's a crack of thunder that rattles the train, and it begins to pour so hard the edge of the clearing is barely visible through the windows.

The rain, the thunder, and the strobe-light effect of constant lightning will continue til dawn.]

Comments

[crimeson]

I dunno if that guy's being quite so pragmatic about it.

[awakenerd]

This "Prince"?

[crimeson]

That's the one.

[awakenerd]

I think it would be good if you explained a bit.

[crimeson]

Yeah, that's-- sorry, I'm just a bit thrown off. Um, you've been brought here by the Prince to help us try to take back the universe from something called Malice, which has taken over, uh... pretty much everything but this train.

[awakenerd]

...I guess that would be worth skipping the trial for, if it's that big an emergency.

[crimeson]

Yeaaaah, sorry about skipping your terrifying realm.

[awakenerd]

Ha. Well... It's a highly unusual situation though, I'm not contracted to any of you. That's going to be tricky.

[crimeson]

What do you need from a contract?

[awakenerd]

I cannot function at my fullest without one.

But it can wait. Both you and the other man act as if you know me. That should not be possible. It's been a few hundred years since my last summoning, I think.

[crimeson]

...Were you ever human?

[awakenerd]

A long time ago.

[crimeson]

Do you remember?

[awakenerd]

No. Memories wane in sleep. They'll return in time... probably.

Are you claiming to have known me as a human?

[crimeson]

...Yeah. I guess I am.

[awakenerd]

[Things must have gotten very very very fucky.

He reaches up and puts a hand reassuringly on Randy's head.]

Then I'm sure I'll remember you. Sorry to ask you to wait a little while.

[crimeson]

[STOP! STOP MAKING HIM WANT TO CRY!]

I can be patient. Thanks, though.

[awakenerd]

[Gently.]

Were we close?

[crimeson]

...I think so.

[but now he's sad and anxious and he's been feeling a lot of Ah Yes I Was A Crow-Based Rebound lately, so,]

[awakenerd]

[Randy??? Rean smiles gently.]

Then I'm sure we were. And will be again.

[crimeson]

[look,]

You're soft as ever.

[awakenerd]

...Soft?

[crimeson]

Gentle.

[reaching over to headpat HIM]

[awakenerd]

[Oh no. What's happening??? Are we going to get in a headpat loop or is Rean just going to blush a little.]

You have the advantage of me, that's not really fair.

[crimeson]

[petpetpet]

We were coworkers. Teachers at a military academy.