WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[The train wouldn't stop. Not until very early the next morning. The few who might have been awake would be able to exit the train, entering the cool twilight of the dawn. The star is dark, and few stars can be seen in the sky as a cold breeze begins to blow from the mountain beyond. You can see some chunks of rock floating idly nearby, far away from the station that it won't hit trains, but near enough that one can see they are larger than the train they just disembarked.

Lastly, laid out in front of them, the first port of call: Menahoven. The mountain: The Throat of the World.

But which world? Who knows. Not any of yours. Maybe it doesn't matter. Not when you are so far from home. Not when you have no way to get off this rock without the aid of the trains-and they will not let you pass.

It looks like you're stuck here until the Conductor decides to leave. In the meantime, everyone will need to get comfortable.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[higanbana]

Ah, you tried one?

[But still, good to know they're short-duration...]

I think so, as well. There are some medical supplies in the armaments car, but certainly nothing to mend more grievous injuries. Should someone break a bone or worse, we would be more or less out of luck.

I know not how effective these will be, but it has to be better than nothing.

[telecosmetic]

Yeah, definitely. Also...do you have any idea what might be a good place to keep them? I've been storing mine in me and Zack's room, but maybe somewhere people can get them easier would be better...

[higanbana]

...Hm.

They might be a bit too prone to rattling and breaking, should we keep them in the armaments car with the other supplies.

Perhaps we can ask the rats in the lounge if it would be permissible to store them among the drinks in the bar?

[telecosmetic]

Oh, that's a pretty good idea! If the drinks can stay steady all the time, other kinds of bottles should be able to as well, right? We'd probably need to put up a sign too, just in case.

[higanbana]

That would be the hope, yes. Like I said, I imagine we would need to speak to the workers in the lounge and make sure that would be all right, but I imagine a sign would definitely help matters.

[telecosmetic]

Even if they don't allow it, maybe we can at least look at how they're stored to see if we can use the same method.

[higanbana]

That is a possibility. It might be difficult without materials with which to construct things, though...

[telecosmetic]

I guess...maybe the chairs in the lounge or dining room might work for temporary cushioning, if we can't get the supplies for it right away.

[higanbana]

...Ehehe. Perhaps it is better to use the dining car than the lounge. A multitude of cats seem to have taken up residence in the lounge with me... I imagine they would have far too much fun knocking our handiwork to the ground.

[telecosmetic]

[Oh right, the cats.] Oh, that's probably a good idea then...I know at least one of them might listen to me more, but not all of them... [The lounge is just the cat kingdom now. They're gonna host the Jellicle Ball there.]

[higanbana]

[And Ris is not at all going to stop them. LET THE CAT UPRISING BEGIN—]

In my experience, they don't often listen to much. They do as they please. The lounge is their kingdom, I just rest in it.

[telecosmetic]

I suppose it's only a matter of time before we start having to pay tolls to enter.

[higanbana]

Ehehe. We'll all need to find a healthy supply of fish, then...

[telecosmetic]

We'll all need to learn to fish then. I bet the kingdom won't accept plain old canned fish.

[higanbana]

Oh, but where can one fish on a train? We may all be doomed yet...

[telecosmetic]

Alas! Perhaps we shall just have to suffer the penalty of never getting to watch romantic comedies or read boring books again!

[higanbana]

...Or sleep, if you are me...

Ehe. Then again, they may have accepted me as one of their own, at this point.

[telecosmetic]

Oh? Then can we perhaps interest you in a job as an ambassador for the rest of us?

[higanbana]

I do not know how much I would be able to offer my aid! They do not listen to me, after all... they just accept me as a warm place to take a nap.

[telecosmetic]

Oh? I can certainly offer myself as another bed, should they need one. It doesn't seem too strenuous a job.

[higanbana]

What with all the cushioning in the lounge, I hardly think they need one, but... cats are cats. They will take all they can get, I think.

[telecosmetic]

[Eliza chuckles.] Maybe they like listening to human heartbeats as a lullaby.

[higanbana]

Ehehe, perhaps... it's a sweet thought, to be sure, but given how I have noticed they tend to curl up, I think the truth is a bit different.

They like to make their nests up against bent portions of the body. Up against the chest and stomach, behind the knees. As we are much larger than cats are... perhaps they find it comforting, something like being cradled?

I know that is why I curl up in my blanket the way I do, at least.

[telecosmetic]

Yeah, that does make sense. It's also why I like snuggling with Zack, but I also like being the one cradling people sometimes... [Both her little bros have endured so many giant wing-hugs from her.]

[higanbana]

Ah... you and he are close?

[That's surprising. She hadn't really considered that the screaming bandage man could get close with anyone.]

I am glad that you are at least able to indulge in that a bit, here. Myself... I am not particularly fond of physical contact.