a little dream of her | part i

[groundrules]

A LITTLE DREAM OF HER

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This is the first of two logs covering the Dream county travel Arc — it stretches until 23 April OOCly and covers roughly one IC week. There is an entirely optional wedding mystery plot, which will depend heavily on information gathering, sharing and deduction, rather than on supernatural powers.

Boarding scenarios for existing and new characters are covered under the Old Timers and New Arrivals header, respectively. Click on the tabs for details!

OLD TIMERS

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Absorbing Wrath, Licyn and Yelena’s feedback, King Deimar of Alem decides against joining his brother Haiva in ‘noble sacrifice’ to hell. Good news for the party, who depends on royal savvy to reach Alem’s otherworld transport beacon, buried in the labyrinthine tunnels beneath crumbling Alem.

■ Deimar and his paladins guide small groups back to the beacon — but the keypoint’s war-drained energies only let a handful of party members out. Characters who have dropped or been swept by AC during Arc VI go home. You can also canon update your character now.

The party must heads onwards east, boarding a dreamy train at a station near Hassir. Here, find exotic stalls with wares once intended for Alem — from the latest travel fashions, to unlucky artefacts, heavy alcohol and narcotics. You can even purchase a domestic ghost.

Whether the Merchant supplies a ticket or false staff uniforms for you to proactively sneak aboard, don’t dally — this train runs like clockwork.

NEW ARRIVALS

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You wake up to claustrophobia, ash and gravel in your mouth — and a sense of urgency: run. Midway through a slovenly, rattling underground corridor, you meet an irritable woman, who leads you out, at the foot of a serene, smoke-topped mountain.

The woman passes you a pendant that allows you to understand her and to communicate with others like you. You are one of many otherworlders brought into Akhuras by undead lords who seek to weaponise you, as they battle humans and each other for dominion. Don’t believe her? Look up. The holy citadel Alem yet burns before the dead armies of Rahakku.

The woman is Karsa, an associate of the elusive Merchant, who collects and leads otherworlders east, where ancient beacons can transport them home.

Regrettably, you’re late — you arrived with the unexpected last gasps of Alem’s dying beacon and must now catch up with the others, who’ve departed on the Sandman train express.

WHY THE LONG FACE?

Karsa barters for a carriage led by two nightmare horses, along with several such steeds for confident riders. These are mercurial mounts and dizzyingly fast — your only shot to reach a train travelling through Dream county.

■ Karsa warns you must not fall asleep during travel. The horses will invade your nightmares, consuming your vital energy while you suffer asleep.

■ Talk at all times or sound the shrill silver bells Karsa provides to wake up any sleepers.

You reach the seaside village of Kyari, where you must board the incoming Sandman express. Regrettably, the horses have left Karsa with just enough coin for one ticket for the wounded Dean Winchester. Everyone else: make do.

You must also help Karsa sneak in fist-sized, forbidden dream boxes. Try to avoid the Sandman’s guards and their canine sentries, who scent newly boarding passengers for such contraband. Return the boxes to Karsa once on the train.

You’ve got 45 minutes to board, once the Sandman reaches its rustic station. Some options?

■ Play stowaway and break the rustier locks of the economy class cars.

■ Sweet talk the depressed Conductor. You bought, but just… forgot your ticket.

■ Distract the guards while your group boards, so they can sneak you on after.

■ Plant dream contraband on another would-be passenger, when the dogs draw close.

■ Ride one of those god-forsaken horses and jump on top of the train once it starts moving, then make your way in through ceiling hatches. God help.

A fully veiled young woman might lend you a hand.

THE SANDMAN

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All aboard… the Sandman, a majestic 100-car train that gallops on an emaciated railway across Dream county. Ghosts and dream residents wave as it passes by.

The Sandman stops once after leaving Alem, at seaside village Kyari, before crossing the abyss of the Cradle — the turbulent, storm-prone birthplace of dreams, where it is constantly night-time.

Some say the Cradle is only a cauldron for those who steal dreams or make them into living things. Others say the Cradle has its own mind.

To avoid igniting dream storms, passengers are strictly prohibited from carrying dream tokens and performing dream magic. Characters find their powers are significantly reduced while travelling on the Sandman.

New arrivals join the Sandman at Kyari with group caretaker Karsa, who introduces them to the old party.

■ The Sandman offers exquisite single-person compartments with en-suite bathrooms for First Class passengers, while Second Class travellers share generous cabins in pairs, and up to four voyagers can bunk up in… cozy Third Class cabins. Shared bathrooms and a small sauna cabin are also available.

■ You can hide in the staff, luggage or coal stock rooms.

■ You can decide your character’s First/Second/Third Class, staff or stowaway status. (Pick a job for staff!)

■ The LOST & FOUND booth contains an assortment of clothes and items forgotten by passengers, which you can raid (within reason). Latest findings: cigarettes, medical-grade opiate powders, a a beautiful green dress and pink striped men’s suit, all brought in after the Sandman leaves Kyari.

■ Amenities range from dining & bar carts to game, exercise and cinema halls where the (PG-13!) pleasant dreams you’ve gambled away can be viewed freely, or passengers can hold recitals or seminars.

■ You can gamble in regular currency or pleasant dreams (not memories).

■ Travellers are polite and social. You learn early on that you share a voyage with renown heroine and First Class passenger Firo, who, alongside her friends and sister party, picks up her bride Prassenze from Kyari.

■ Within two hours of leaving Kyari, the sky begins to darken, becoming pitch black and occasionally loudly stormed. It stays a starless night time throughout your journey over the Cradle.

■ For communal safety, windows and doors are locked and magically enforced shut after the train departs Kyari. The nightmare storms within the Cradle region crackle with highly chaotic energy that can (re)shape reality, endangering passengers. Deputy conductor Michel Bauc holds the window and door keys. An irritating, tinny, train-wide alarm sounds if anyone tries to force a window open.

■ You might sometimes find fellow passengers trying to exit the train or open the windows to join the storms, while they nap. Do wake up them up.

■ Whether you’re an insomniac or don’t typically need sleep, you find you fall instantly asleep at midnight and awaken refreshed by 8 a.m.

■ A skeletal crew serves the Sandman at night. The most authoritative figure is gloomy Conductor Rossakoff, who slinks silently across the train.

THE MENU

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Trot down to the dining carts for an unforgettable meal included with your ticket. Formal evening attire is expected during dinner. Some courses are lightly sparkled with stimulants that deepen certain aspects of diner’s emotions during the meal — this is not disclosed ICly, but visible to you OOCly in the menu. (ex: the Ham and Laughter Eggs triggers roaring laughter and a good disposition ).

   BREAKFAST

   SUPPER & DINNER

   SNACKS & BEVERAGES

DREAM SMUGGLERS

The new arrivals helped Karsa bring contraband aboard, but they’ve steps to go to their final destination. The sorceress doles out fist-sized boxes containing precious dream fragments of happiness, sadness, fear, surprise, anger, guilt or disgust — explicitly prohibited cargo that regains its magical properties once aboard the Sandman.

Each box comes with instructions for drop off under a dining hall table at midday, under a roulette table by 6 p.m. or in the coal room by 8 p.m. Karsa says the deliveries are an explicit favour from the Merchant to an old (dream thief) friend aboard the Sandman.

■ Pair up for your run! Those who hold dream boxes feel their emotions to a player-chosen degree of intensity, throughout their adventure.

■ Beware the vigilant guards of the Sandman, who run frequent searches for illicit dream artefacts. Some bring dream-catching dogs who catch the scent of the dreamed things.

■ You may feel unusually sleepy while holding dream boxes. Doze, and you wake up to find your dreams have summoned a wo/man, child or animal whose temperament embodies the box’s emotion. They can’t help drawing attention, but slowly disappear within 30-60 minutes — wait, are those the guards?

■ Caught smugglers are locked into ‘jail’ cabins, while their contraband is placed in the office of Conductor Rossakoff. First-time captives can be bailed out at ludicrous expense or in exchange for maid service, but repeat offenders are jailed
for the rest of the voyage. Liberate your dream box back from the Conductor’s strangely barren, otherwise untouched compartment.

■ Successfully delivered boxes feed into the mystery of the missing bride. You mysteriously fall asleep to a sweet dream if you wait to meet the collector — and wake up to a feeling of wrongness, as if reality is mute and diffuse around you, before your hearing and vision resettle.

THE GROUNDHOG WEDDING: A MYSTERY

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Firo’s bride Prassenze boards the Sandman from Kyari. She comes alone, veiled head to toe, and only brings a modest case. She is short, thin, pale and shy, prone to silence and retiring to her cabin at the earliest opportunity — a far cry from boisterous Firo.

…so much so that Firo’s sister Lita and friends Dulcinea, Maiza and Attru tell anyone who’ll listen that Firo is marrying this girl after courting her for six months through correspondence. Even bashful Hugo admits the pair is… perhaps a little mismatched. This is their first in-person encounter.

■ The wedding party members plead or offer coin for you to coerce the loving pair to delay their marriage — or to sabotage the wedding, due to take place in two days.

■ An enthusiastic Firo meanwhile asks if you can help with celebratory clothing or wedding ornaments.

■ Shortly after, Lita appears lost in her thoughts and altogether not there, clutching a letter in hand, the day after the Sandman departs Kyari.

HERE COMES THE BRIDE... AGAIN

1.0

No one forgets their wedding night — least of all brave Firo, who, vows performed, makes merry with her group and timid bride over a magnificent feast in the dining halls. Everyone is invited.

The blushing bride is visibly infatuated with Firo, but overwhelmed by the loud, relentless social activity. She hardly speaks to anyone, other than Firo, whose friends complain increasingly loudly that Prassenze is aloof, a cold fish, and thinks herself above them.

Prassenze excuses herself to freshen up in her cabin. Nearly an hour’s absence later, a worried Firo checks up on her — finding the bride’s compartment locked from the inside. Once the door is forced open, the partygoers — and you? — discover the inside stormed, bridal veils discarded on the floors, and windows widely open as the Cradle’s nightmare tempests rage.

The bride has vanished.

Terrified, Firo questions everyone in earnest, accepting your assistance to find Prassenze.

2.0.

You wake up next morning to find everyone reliving the same wedding day, which only fellow otherworlders recall. Squinting outside, you see new landscape — suggesting the Sandman has covered a day’s journey.

The bride Prassenze is present again, but sharply different in appearance and manner. Now, she is closer to Firo in size, her build athletic. Her manner is brusque, assertive, commanding. Some in Firo’s group are put off, others frightened. Firo appears a little taken aback by her bride’s domineering nature.

During the second wedding, a drunk Maiza and Dulcinea quarrel with Prassenze, who doesn’t back down. A frustrated Firo tries to break the fight, verbally lashing out at her friends for drinking and at Prassenze for stooping to their intoxicated level.

Prassenze storms to her cabin. She is once more found missing, when searched. As before, her compartment was locked from the inside, the window is wide open, and her veils have been abandoned.

3.0.

You wake up to a third wedding day, with only party otherworlders recalling the past two days. Prassenze looks and acts differently from the first and second wedding day — now she is of average build and height, with an especially jovial, overly friendly manner, prone to laughter and pranks. This time, she drinks with Firo’s friends, plays (and wins!) at many of their card and dice games, humours their stories and even flirts — but is so devoted to Firo’s group that she accidentally neglects Firo herself throughout the day. Firo repeatedly tries to coax her to spend time together, but fails, and abandons her during the wedding feast — perhaps meeting you for a drink instead?

Realising she has driven Fire away, a distressed Prassenze once more withdraws into her compartment at the end of the (third) wedding night — and disappears, leaving the same clues behind as on the first and second wedding day.

There are no further repetitions and time passes regularly after the third wedding day. The morning after, apothecary passenger Rigolante mentions asks Conductor Rossakoff to conduct a search, as some of his herbs and measuring tools have gone missing.

■ Player characters can change events and investigate during the second and third groundhog wedding days. Regrettably, Prassenze still disappears.

■ Non-PC characters and the Sandman’s crew only recall the third wedding day.

■ Conductor Rossakoff says the number of dreamers whose dreams help propel the Sandman during the obligatory midnight-8 a.m. nap — what do you know, you were helping all along! — has stayed the same since leaving Kyari, meaning the bride is alive on board. No one seems able to find her… help a distraught Firo find her missing wife!

CAST & CREW

	FIRO Good-humoured, sincere and just heroine, renown for her many feats of bravery — from rescuing villages to outwitting sphinxes and challenging immortals. Loud and prone to laughter. Quick to tell everyone about her beloved Prassenze.
	CONTESSA LITA Doting older sister of Firo, married to a Count who prefers a quiet life at his countryside estate. Preposterously wealthy and fashionable. Life of every party.
	MAIZA Once a gifted mathematician, Maiza quickly realized there is more money for the modern man to make from his brawns than his brains. After retraining as a barbarian, he served as muscle (and accountant) during many of Firo’s adventures..
	ATTRU The prince of a distant land, some say descended from wolves. Walks among men to learn their ways. Looks young, but will mention at least three wives and five children in the first five minutes of conversation. Smooth.
	DULCINEA Redeemed mercenary, who once used to sell her sword to anyone with the coin to spare — some say, even the dead! Turned an honest leaf after meeting Firo, of whom she is very protective. At times still sinister at her edges.
	HUGO A pilot turned priest, or a priest turned pilot. Met Firo during his many travels. Soft-spoken, mild-mannered, but jittery, with the kind of thin nerves that suggest he has survived numerous fraught circumstances.
	RIGOLANTE An apothecary of exotic drugs and herbs. He had hoped to make his fortune in Alem, but arrived just as the fortress crumbled, before he could sell enough of his wares. Prays he will find better fortune east.
	CONDUCTOR ROSSAKOFF The gloom and doom of the Sandman, eerily tall, slinking and silent. Passengers prefer to deal with deputy conductor Michael Bauc because of Rossakoff’s intimidating and discouraging presence. Takes a hard stand on smuggling or passenger misbehaviour and all but worships the Sandman.
	PRASSENZE The all-veiled bride of Firo, boarding at Kyari. Not once, not twice, but thrice disappeared.

IC TIMELINE

Day 01: Boarding at Hassir/Alem (morning)

Day 03: Boarding at Kyari (midday); within two hours of departing, the Sandman starts journeying on the railway above the abyssal Cradle — the sky is pitch black at all hours, nightmare storms rattle the train.

Day 04: Lita begins to behave airily, as if she’s not quite present.

Day 05: First wedding (16:00) and wedding feast (19:00)

Day 06: Second wedding (16:00) and wedding feast (19:00)

Day 07: Third wedding (16:00) and wedding feast (19:00).

Day 08: Rigolante asks Conductor Rossakoff to enforce a search for his missing herbs and recipients.

QUESTIONS

NPC THREADS

Comments

[groundrules]

Camembert. In. Aspic.

*please bear in mind the power restrictions this time, if trying to solve the bride's mystery using supernatural means! It is all about ze... grey little...

...ahem-hem.

In the spirit of mystery solving, please try to info share, and limit your questions to three, at least for a few days, so other folks can have a go too c: You can come back to ask follow-ups after a bit!

[blackscales]

Is... Irenia coming with us? I just realised the tether would mean she'd have to fly through the cradle, since she's a touch big to be on board.

NPC THREADS

[groundrules]

Reply here with a short starter and with the name of the NPC of choice in your comment header, if you'd like to thread out interaction with any of the NPCs of the cast & crew! NPC threads tend to be more compact, for expediency. You can start threads at any point, but they must finish by 21 April, so any fallout from them can be integrated in part II of the plot.

You can sign up until 23:59 GMT on 5 April for a RNG draw for one of three plot-relevant NPC threads. The lucky (?) winners will be linked starters to their threads here on 6 April — you don't have to do a thing, unless contacted!

Conductor Rossakoff

[mashiara]

Conductor? Conductor Rossakoff?

( Nynaeve, looking put together, not fancy but heartily practical like any hard working woman of smaller towns, and distinctly disinclined toward nonsense or the acceptance of nonsense from the world at large, doesn't so much attempt a smile as a nod once she's tracked this man down. )

I'm Nynaeve al'Meara, Wisdom ( with a slight grimace to follow, because this is Known if the title's recognised, but not if it isn't, and nothing's been convenient the last two days, she adds some clarification: ) and healer. I was told to speak with you after having my luggage and ticket lost — Light, man, are you well?

Beitang Moran

[beitangmoran]

I. All Aboard!

[Moran hasn't been heard complaining much about accommodation and transport lately. The truth is, as a solider, he's had to use both in harsh conditions, so none of what they've been subjected to was wholly unexpected, but as a prince, he's still used to a much better standard on a daily basis, and it would be lying to say the train is not a relief.

He is draped in his blue and silver robes as he is escorted to one of the First Class cabins... and when it opens, his face looks visibly disappointed, making the train attendant who seemed obviously proud to display their best standard falter a little bit.]

... Is that truly the best that you have? Well, I suppose it shall have to do, even if it is a bit.... rustic.

[There are some polite blinks and forced smiles among train personnel as he sweeps inside, all smooth silks whispering against the carpet.

Some might believe he was simply getting in character for the travel duration, but even after the door is closed, he will be inspecting the surroundings, and find them rather wanting. But beggars cannot be choosers and there are at least places to read comfortably and take notes.]

II. Social Butterfly

[While Moran doesn't personally enjoy being sociable, he knows how to play the game with consummate skills. While he only introduces himself to fellow passengers with his name, whispers that he is a prince from a distant land spread like wild fire among other first class passengers. Most of them are too polite to actually ask him if it's true point blank, but his impeccable manners and his regal bearing betray it through every gesture.

In all honestly, he would love to spend most of his time shut in his cabin with Xunxian, but he knows better and for the sake of appearances, he makes himself spend several hours every day in more communal parts, sometimes reading, sometimes taking notes in precise Chinese calligraphy, and a others absorbed in seemingly superficial conversations with fellow passengers while waving his fan lazily.

If he sees a known face, he might wave them over to introduce themselves... or swoop in to save them from having to talk to rich people.]

III. The Menu

[Moran has never cared much about food in general except as a concept for sustenance, and he is not a very adventurous eater. So after one look he will set the booklet aside.]

Just order whatever you feel like. Oh and do ask if they have some tea, if you'd be so kind?

IV. The Wedding

[The family drama around the wedding is almost fun to watch at first. Moran is even entreated to stop it at some point, but of course will answer that courting by letter and only meeting your spouse on your wedding day doesn't seem so strange to him, and Mistress Firo seems quite happy with the match.

And he will, in fact, gladly counsel Mistress Firo about wedding clothes and ornaments.

Everything seems normal until the disappearance, which of course shocks everyone. but the search gets interrupted by the dreaded sleep that takes everyone at midnight that Moran finds extremely annoying because he likes staying up to read and now invariably falls sleep on whatever he is reading.

And the next morning... after a few perplexing moments, he will catch the attention of whoever in their little group he can grab.]

Now, I know my power is prone to certain fits at times, but I am quite sure I did not in face have a vision of an entire day. This wedding ceremony already happened yesterday, and the bride vanished. Why is she now back, and why is everyone making wedding preparations again?

[Please tell him he did not dream and/or hallucinate that.]

V. Wild Card!

[Do you need a prince that can occasionally be psychic - even with his powers hugely dampened - for anything? He's your man, just ask nicely.]

the wedding | day ii

[downswing]

( Come morning, the events of the previous evening seem eclipsed — diffuse, mute and darkened, like touching a wall to find wet in wake of shattered eaves. Something rots beneath lacquered appearances.

He watches people pass him like marionettes in a shadow play, timidly strung along, tipping and staggered. Watches Firo's group whole, trading barbs at a nearby dining table, the great broad man slamming a joyous fist to thunder down the punctuation of his amusement. The sister of the bride covers her mouth in the elegant sweep of a threadbare fan. A scrawny man sketches the shivered start of a smile.

An alliance of travellers that may have perhaps, collectively, misplaced their late-night recollections in their wine cups — but not mislaid a beloved bride. And then, the lack of commotion in the train, the perfectly organised, syrupy rhythm of a business that has ironed out achieving efficiency while performing its hospitality. The servers do not aim for anything more than the expected. All is in place.

Nothing amiss, when Beitang Moran and he assume a morning seat at their dining table, accidentally combined at a table through fault of crowded arrangements. Not when they are presented the early choices, when Lan Wangji begs every ancestor in heavens for the privilege of a bowl of rice, then settles, audibly: )

Tea. ( And once the server has receded, to Beitang Moran alone: ) Perhaps a door game. Superstition.

( Some devilry of a farce wedded people perform, per local custom. )

wei wuxian | the untamed

[weifinder]

sandman: fine dining (days 1 - 4)

Wei Wuxian has claimed one of the small tables for two in the mixed dining carriage, where the menu itself tends toward the small dishes and drinks instead of the fuller menus offered by ticket class at specified hours of the day. He's working on talismans, cinnabar and paper taking up room with the tiny plate nudged to the side with dates and apricots upon it, and a glass of claret sitting pretty and sipped at in distraction, every so often.

Nonchalantly, he sets each to the side before switching to an easy smile for any diners who look to join him, chatting with the people of the train and sliding into easy commentary about this or that. Only when the people of their group hazard a seat across from him does his gaze gain a glint of more knowing amusement, and he asks, "I was considering making a few double happiness charms for the wedding party. What do you think?"

wedding: feast (day 1)

He's dressed to impress as far as the standards of what he'd been able to lay hands on from the stores prior to their departure from the seaside town. The tables have been slightly rearranged in the dining carriages, making for longer stretches of shared dining spaces, tables thrust together and rebolted down to handle the rumbling momentum of their trainride.

He's seated at the edge of one, drinking from a glass of water with his wedding wine only half full, the cheers he expects vastly different in execution, if not in overwrought well wishings for the happy couple. It's nice, he thinks, in a disconnected way where he wants to be happier with the joviality of it all, but he just isn't quite. Still, company is appreciated, and the seat to his left remains open for a time, should anyone wish to join his table. He passes them a full glass of wine as they sit, flashing a more genuine, easier smile.

"Ever seen a ceremony like that before? Reminds me very little of any from where I come from, except in the plenitude of fine foods and wines had after, ah?" He winks, inviting his companion in on a jest over how far removed their where I come from's really are.

wedding mystery: night one

The unfolding chaos with the bride's disappearance leaves him frowning, staying on the outskirts of the milling people both yearning for a glimpse of the bridal room and the gasps of surprise over where could she have gone? A few details niggle at his attention, and regardless of what this train keeps locked down within his skin, his mind has no similar constraints.

He catches the attention of a face either newly familiar or oldly familiar, a member of their particular group of offworlds disguised as people of Akshura.

"You didn't hear an alarm at any point from when the bride left, did you?"

wildcard

ooc: Hit me up with a starter or asking for me to kick us off on one for mystery wedding day/night 2 or 3! He'll be wanting to investigate, and I'm happy taking that on with a number of people interested. He can be found near anywhere on train, could be a lively dining companion for the odd to him meals, and may be spotted carrying around a rabbit like he thinks it's the Done Thing.

Tag me in whatever style you prefer to thread, I'm happy with ( action brackets ) as much as with straight prose!

Sandman

[balancedwire]

When Xie Yun has free time he whittles. Sure, it's unconventional with the way that he does it. One should use a knife when they whittle but he uses his metal hairstick instead. Something that he's been doing for some time. It's how his wife ended up with the wooden blade that hung around her neck. He'd been bored in a jail cell (one that he could get out of due to said hairstick) and had whittled it as he waited.

So when he sees Wei Wuxian he gives the other a bright smile before sitting down, eyes looking over what the other was making. "I think they would appreciate the charms. How many have you made so far?"

Xie Yun | Legend of Fei

[balancedwire]

[ All Aboard ]

[ Being as the young Emperor is prone to traveling the world and helping where he can the train is a bit of a reprieve. He's also not really caring where they put him where the cabins are concerned. Though, he finds himself in First Class anyway.

The room, itself, isn't too bad and there's a part of him that wonders what his godbrother, Zichen, would think of it. If he'd be taken aback by them giving them something like this. He knows, honestly, that Zichen would have been upset if he'd known this was where they'd stuck Xie Yun. Not that Xie Yun, himself, really cared.

Of course, he decides to explore the room a bit. Might as well get used to it and when the time comes explore the train itself. ]


[ Menu ]

[ Food is something that Xie Yun loves. Though, he loves making it for others more than anything. That doesn't stop him from looking over the menu to see exactly what they have. Some of the things he's heard of and others he hasn't. ]

Have you ever heard of any of these?

[ The only thing that, honestly, appeals to him at the moment is the wine. ]


[ Dream Smugglers ]

[ He knows that they're there, hiding. Of course, he doesn't know these people that have boarded the Sandman but the last thing the young Emperor wants is for anyone to get caught. No need for others to end up in 'jail' among the train, much less for the duration that they'll be there the whole entire time.

So Xie Yun is bound to catch the other person's eye but not say anything, not yet. He'll wait until things settle before finding out what help the person really needs, if any. ]


[ Wedding Mystery ]

[ He will do his best to convince the loving couple that it is not good to marry after such a short time. However, he knows that when loving someone there are things one will do without fail, like marrying the other person.

Of course, he finds something to do after the wedding ceremony only to have himself falling asleep at midnight. Something that he has never done. No, he prefers staying awake to whittle or write poetry. Something that he enjoys.

Which means when the next day rolls around he tries not to frown. This? It all seemed the same all over again. What was going on? ]

Do you remember this the same as I do?

[ It'll be said to someone close or to someone that he's trying to keep distracted from the crowds around them. No one liked crowds, after all. ]


[ Wildcard ]

[ If nothing catches your attention toss something at me and we'll go from there. ♥ ]

menu!

[reparo]

[It's certainly a big jump from the war-torn Alem, or the more provincial Ke-Waihu, where they met. This might even be called luxury.

She leans over to look over the menu, scrunching her nose at the thought of camembert. in. aspic., and looks towards the drinks where Xie Yun pointed.]

Oh! They have coffee - you should give that one a try.

licyn mansbane | original character

[bravelyrunsaway]

spa carriage: days 1-4

( Licyn is in his 'uniform' for his role, but he refuses to button the vest, and the underlying shirt is left unbuttoned to his collarbone. There are whispers about it, shocking, shocking! But he's so laid back and easy in his flirting handling of the train patrons who're looking to make use of one of the beautiful bathing suites the spa carriage boasts. He sits at one end of the carriage behind a lovely wooden counter, where he hands out bath passes and bathing salts and bath bombs and bathing everything, including monogrammed fluffy towels.

He laments the lack of mobile bar in the carriage, but on request, can provide water or send a call to one of the other staff to bring along a bottle of chilled white wine. Only chilled white wine. Nothing else.

He smiles, elbows planted on the countertop, chin resting in one hand when he recognises (by scent or sight, don't wonder about it, he won't tell) one of their ragtag group. )

What'll it be for you, love? Can't quite boil yourself in the baths here, but the water stays hot, and the oils and soaps are surprisingly easy on the nose.

wedding ceremony: drinking (day 4)

( He's "off" duty for the dinner, catching part of the ceremony near its end for the sheer novelty of it all. There's enough abundant generosity flowing around that he can slip into the dining carriages and slide himself into an open seat at the bar rather than the chattier tables, where he flirts with the staffmember on duty and takes advantage of the open nature of said bar while watching the diners with a sort of relaxed nonchalance.

He slides a drink toward the person who sits down next to him, nodding his head toward the front of the carriage they're in. )

The happily married couple just left again, they've been making the rounds. Seems a little overwhelming for the veiled one.

( Noting it, not all that concerned. He lifts his tumbler of whiskey to his companion. )

Clear skies to you!

wildcard

( ooc: Licyn can largely be found in areas of food or drink or at "work", and will gladly sleep anywhere there's an inviting enough looking surface, though he does have cramped staff quarters to make use of. Hit me up with a wildcard or a prompt for where you'd like to run into him, and I can write us a starter! Tag in to me with either action brackets or prose, I'll thread in kind. )

spa carriage

[rumorate]

God, I can't remember the last time I had an actual bath.

[And by that she doesn't mean bathing for the purposing of bathing. She means sinking into hot water and staying in until she both prunes and that water's run cold. Their last few stops haven't exactly left time for luxury and the prospect is tempting.]

Is there a variety of scents?

Evan "Buck" Buckley ‍🚒 911

[3point0]

Nightmare Horse [ For fellow new people! ]

Buck gets up on a steed with relative ease, and extends a hand to someone to help them get onto theirs. It helps that he's relatively tall, and seems pretty confident in riding a steed. "I'm Buck," he greets. "I'm from uh, Earth?" His brows knit a bit. "Have you heard of it?"

All Aboard

Okay, so Buck isn't expecting to have any trouble getting on this train, except, they really could've supplied him with a ticket, or a little more explanation of why he was doing this exactly. To be fair, someone did explain, but he's new and he's from a normal Earth and he absolutely thought that was a whole load of horseshit. And as a former ranch hand? He really knows his horseshit.

Still, getting stuck in this charming village when everyone else he'd met the entire journey is leaving also seems like a very bad idea, so he hurries it onto the platform, before getting stopped by a conductor. "Hi," he says, pulling out the most charming smile he can muster. "Yeah, my ticket, oh, I must've dropped it somewhere back there, you know, long journey, I came all the way from um--" He pauses as he pulls out a receipt from his pocket, definitely from a Whole Food's. "Oh, no, not it."

"Okay, I actually really do need to get out of this town, so, is there any way I could just have you put the fare on my credit card? Or maybe an IOU?" He bites his lip and gives the conductor puppy eyes, and he is starting to be receptive, but then shakes his head, muttering something about 'the last time.' Are you going to help him, or laugh at his sad attempts?

All Aboard, Pt II

Beggars can't be choosers, and as the train starts to pull out of the station, Buck still hasn't been able to barter his way onto the train. However, he really doesn't want to be left behind, even though the villagers are quite nice, but he takes a deep breath and then a running jump at the train, managing to leap onto the caboose, but nearly slips off in his haste, reaching up for anything to grab so he doesn't fall off.

Dining Cart

Having stowed away on the train, Buck immediately runs into someplace where thankfully, someone's stored a very generic-looking uniform. It's a little small for him, but he does a quick change, and though it's a little tight everywhere, he thinks it's hardly noticeable if he rolls up his sleeves.

Look, it's a style. The colorful socks he'd put on this morning? Probably not the best way to blend into the crowd, but one thing's for sure: it shouldn't be any issue for him to act at home behind a bar. He'd done a stint as a bartender down in Peru, and had, thankfully now, learned way more about mixing drinks than Spanish.

1. Until a passenger orders a drink he'd never heard of, and all the spirits and liquors are in unfamiliar bottles with equally unfamiliar labels. "Sure," he says, trying to uncap a few bottles to covertly smell or taste them without rousing suspicion. "Coming right up."

2. Later, he's just a little bit tipsy, and maybe your character is too. "Alright, spill," he says, pouring the both of them another round of shots. "Tell me everything."

Wedding, Day I

Buck spends the evening behind the bar, mixing up drinks, listening to people gossip about the wedding. People love to gossip to the bartender. But mostly, unfortunately, it doesn't really stick. He doesn't think any of it will be important later. After all, it's a beautiful but stressful wedding, and from what he's heard of the brides? Yeah, he'll want to steer clear of that marriage.

He's managed to get away from the bar to mingle a little bit, walk around handing out champagne around the time people start to get antsy over when the wedding is actually going to start. At some point, even copious amounts of champagne isn't doing much to tide things over, so he hangs back with your character, who he's somehow pegged as not a native. "Think there's a betting pool on whether or not they actually get married? This is starting to get kinda awkward."

Wedding, Day II

"Okay," he says, going over the list of evidence in his head again, which is short for him. He hasn't really come up with anything good, so he tries: "I mean, do you want me to get up on the train car and check? I guess she could've taken off all the veils because they'd fly off if she got up on the moving train anyway."

And then, he shakes his head: "Wait, can we start over? Does anyone know what she looks like? Did Firo give a description?"

Wildcard

[ hmu with your starter or at assemble for a custom one! ]

dining cart 2

[rumorate]

Allison laughs, enjoying the warm buzz of alcohol rather than the jitteriness of siege nerves. She feels like he must be new, especially if that's where he's opening, but she reaches for one of the refilled shots and takes the opportunity to try and narrow that down.

"You might have to be a little more specific. Because there are some people in this group who do not understand the concept of oversharing."

Asking for everything is very much a "be careful what you wish for" sort of situation in these parts.

nynaeve al'meara | the wheel of time

[mashiara]

we ride the night: days 1 - 2 (fellow new arrivals)

( She's braided the shrill silver bell into the ends of her hair, keeping part of her multi-braided hair draped over her shoulder as they ride to catch up with the train supposed to take them eastward. Arguing that none of this makes sense had been both her internal and external dialogue the time before they'd been confronted by these nightmare horses, and much as she would have preferred a sensible mount, she could ride. Those who couldn't needed to be with the injured man in the carriage, and so she's here, guiding her horse closer when she sees someone start to nod off and aggressively tugging on the ends of her braid when she does. )

Can't be drifting off yet! ( Firmly stated, as if that's enough to keep herself or her companion awake. At least the bell only jingles some now that she lets go of it, balanced forward, letting the nightmare horse run at its improbable speeds. ) You awake enough to talk and ride? We can try exchanging stories. Better than only startling each other awake again.

sandman: third class passenger assistance, days 3 - 4

Have her chew on this when she's fussing, it'll help take the sting from her gums as the teeth keep working their way through.

( She nods to the woman, smiling at the child and smoothing back their frizz of hair. Her expression returns to a more neutral, evaluating one, looking around the common area of this third class carriage, but the small ills and fusses of the children she'd heard acting up or out over breakfast have all settled now. She shakes her head, minutely, frustrated at how obvious a division there is between different class passengers, even when this whole trip is supposedly some sort of luxury. Can't let it not be strictly defined by those who have more, and those who have enough but are therefore not enough in other's eyes.

She exhales in a huff, heading back to the table she'd sat down at earlier. The lemon water there has since gone cold. She sits, picking it up and looking down into it with a bleak glance, before lifting it to drink anyway. Waste not, want not. )

Can I help you? ( She asks when she's joined at the table my someone probably actually looking to eat, glancing up to recognise them as part of the "summoned" to this world. Whatever turn of the Wheel brought them to this, she had to at least appreciate she wasn't the only one thrown so far out of normal by this situation. Or the only one so strongly motivated to get whatever east enough to send them home. ) If it's advice on the menu, I'd say avoid the clotted anger. Looks like cream. Wouldn't trust it worth anything.

the missing bride: take two

Once was enough, now she's gone missing again?

( Nynaeve throws her hands up, pacing in the narrow corridor far down the carriage from the missing bride's quarters. Close enough to hear the same sort of outcries that she'd heard passed mouth to mouth the evening before. )

How has no one else noticed? It's not like there were that many food stores to serve the wedding banquet twice, and where did she go? She showed up again this morning! What kind of nonsense magic is at play here?!

( She's very willing to blame this on magic, but she's never heard of anything that would work like this. Then again, if the Aes Sedai did have similar abilities, she never would, would she? So her lack of knowledge on this point (and magic as a whole, she admits to herself, begrudgingly) is as useless to anyone else as it is to herself. )

wildcard

ooc: Nynaeve can be found around the train, though she'll be offering mostly to help the passengers with various ills or any of the PCs who need it (looks at Dean too), and can be an investigative buddy for the disappearing bride!

sandman: third class passenger assistance, days 3 - 4

[beautifullies]

[ When Claire approaches, it isn't for food or drink, but instead she's curious after observing. ]

Actually, I'm less interested in food and more interested in you.

[ Well, that sounds odd, so she starts over, quickly. ]

I'm a physician, and I've seen some of what you've done to help. I haven't seen anyone else doing that, and my hope of meeting another doctor brought me over.

Claire Fraser | Outlander | Newb

[beautifullies]

↬ ɴᴏᴡ ʙᴏᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ↫
𝐈.

[ Claire's getting on this train come hell or high water. She won't be charming her way in, she's too dirty and exhausted for that. Not to mention, the skull in her bag feels like something damning, even if she's done nothing wrong. Her mind wants to splinter in a dozen different directions, but instead, she tries to focus on the task at hand.

Perhaps with some teamwork—this idea leads to approaching the closest person.]

You don't happen to think a well-acted medical emergency will get us on board do you? I think I could play a convincing doctor.

𝐈𝐈.

[ Another attempt to keep her mind off of what she's left behind: Claire begins walking the train once she's on, roaming and asking pockets of people, and individuals who look as stunned as she feels, if they're alright. ]

Are you injured in any way? I'm a physician, I might be able to help.

↬ Tʜɪʀᴅ Cʟᴀss ↫

[ Accommodations have never fussed Claire much. She's spent too long sleeping on the road either under the stars or in army tents. And before that, she'd slept in so many foreign places, she now has the unique talent of adjusting to anything.

Based on the setup, it seems she'll have at least one other bunkmate, possibly three if it's stretched. She's already changed out of her grimy clothes and into something that feels familiar, like a time from so long ago she can hardly remember. Not her first choice in any case, but the only thing that fit, including the trousers. When she hears footsteps stop just beyond her field of vision, she turns with a soft rustling, ready to face her company for the foreseeable future. ]

Hello?

↬ Dɪɴɪɴɢ Cᴀʀᴛ ↫

[ It seems others have had the same idea she has, that it's time to find something to eat. She's lucked out on one of the last tables, but someone who seems to be waiting, is close enough to hear her as she catches their eyes. ]

Join me, won't you? It's rather dull, dining alone.

↬ Bᴀʀ Cᴀʀᴛ ↫

[ Claire can't push off her thoughts of what she's lost, again, forever. Perhaps it's the wedding. She's tucked herself away in the bar cart, drinking something that tastes enough like whisky that it stings her eyes.

She'd just found Jamie again, and now she's somewhere impossible without him. It all makes her feel a bit like she's losing her mind. She's a lone woman sitting with a drink she's hardly touched. It's more that she's staring into it, lost in thought. Her features, though, are filled with consternation tension keeping her shoulders slightly hunched.

What if she never makes it back to Jamie, this time? ]

↬ ᴡᴇᴅᴅɪɴɢ 2.0 ↫

[ At first, Claire thinks perhaps she's having an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, the strongest she's ever hard. But then, she's absolutely sure time has passed.

Reaching for someone at random, she politely interrupts them. ]

Sorry, but I saw you here yesterday. Or what should be yesterday, I suppose. In any case, have you done this before? The wedding, I mean.

↬ ᴡɪʟᴅᴄᴀʀᴅ/ᴏᴏᴄ ↫

[ I'm good with just slamming something at me, Claire will be around! Feel free to hit up my plotting comment, or you can find me on discord! ]

dining cart

[westviews]

[Wanda isn't one to seek out socialization, but she's not one to ignore someone talking to her, either. The friendly acquaintances she's made thus far have been found over food. What's one more?]

Thanks. [She says as she sits, pushing her red hair back over her shoulder.] Looks like everyone else got hungry at the same time.

allison hargreeves | ota

[rumorate]

the sandman

[She grabs one of the available tickets without hesitation, though she opts for a third class car so that she, Five and Kamala can stick together. It's a bit crowded but it makes all of them feel safer, so she's not about to complain. Once her belongings are stashed away, she starts scavenging what she can, as well as going in search of the nearest bar.

She trolls through the lost and found, not above scrounging if it will help her play the part, but it all comes to a halt when she sees an abandoned pack of cigarettes among the hidden treasures.]

Oh fuck yes.

[She snatches them up and shoves them into her pocket before continuing on her trip to find the nearest bar. Soon, she has a drink in front of her, and she lights one of her pilfered cigarettes, taking a deep inhale. As she exhales slowly, so much of the tension she's been holding relaxes and she melts a bit into her seat. Sure, it's not healthy for her, but after the stress of Alem, she's taking advantage of one form of stress relief.]

dream smugglers

[She takes a couple days to herself, long enough for her to get restless before she volunteers for some smuggling runs. She doesn't plan to get too deep into things, just enough to have something to do, and she won't deny that her particular set of skills is useful to this specific task.

Tucking their bag into a bag that can pass for a clutch, she glances up at her partner and offers a smile.]

So. Ready to do this?

groundhog day

[Weddings are always a mixed bag for Allison. She has been married twice, after all. She had the spectacle Hollywood wedding, and she had a simple church wedding with the man she loved, and for the most part, she usually enjoys weddings. She loves celebrating the love of two people who want to commit to each other for the rest of their lives.

Despite being divorced and leaving her second husband behind, that does mean something to her.

But the wedding that's sitting front of mind as she nurses a drink at a table in the corner is Luther's and how she wasted those last days with him being bitter and resentful. She doesn't know if he'll be there when she goes home again. She doesn't know if any of them will be. But she can't help but feel a stab of guilt that maybe she contributed to how things ended.

She misses him. She wishes she had been a better sister on a day that meant so much to him. And she hopes against hope that he's out there somewhere and that he's okay.]

wildcard

[Put her anywhere on the train, if you have something specific in mind - I will roll with it! Or you can ping/pm me for a more specific starter.]

the sandman

[reparo]

She has ridden on the Hogwarts Express every summer for the past seven years, prior to coming to Akhuras (as involuntarily as that was), so she is used to her fair share of trains, really. None like the Sandman, and none quite as dapper, in hindsight.

She's chosen this moment to exit the cabin and explore, stretch out her legs and decide whether she wants to find out what a cinema of dreams actually means on board this train, when she spots a familiar figure sitting at the bar in one of the bars on board the train.

She pushes her way quickly through the crowd and manifests herself at Allison's side just as she exhales that vile smoke. The non-smokers' rule: the smoke always ends up blowing in the face of those who don't smoke.

She lets out a cough, waves the smoke off, and gives Allison an amused look. "I don't have to tell you those are terrible for your health, do I?"

Wrathion | Warcraft

[blackscales]

[ OOC: If none of these work, you can hit me up here, via PM or via discord to plan an alternative and I can write you something custom! ]

Day 1-7: Cabin

[blackscales]

Wrathion is assigned a cabin in first class, and he retreats to it quietly and stares there for large quantities of the trip. He was never a particularly social creature to begin with, but he is now particularly withdrawn. The arrangement of a private cabin allows him to avoid the crowds. Although he does appear for meals and to have drinks now and then, he sits alone when he can. He occupies himself writing, reading on occasion, and as he moves about he is often seen followed by a small droid from Serthica. It used to belong to Anduin, and as much as he dislikes it he can hardly get rid of the thing now.

He is not, however, so anti-social as to be polite.

Any knock to his door will, eventually draw him to it. Depending on the hour he is, sometimes, faintly dishevelled as if he may have been fidgeting with his hair or perhaps laying down. Still, he flicks a faint smile.

"Can I help you?"

Or, if he was expecting the visit, he simply steps aside to allow you in.

the doctor | doctor who

[thedreamer]

the cabin: days 1-7

► red bed redemption -
[ Having relatively little use for actual quarters at all—he has a bed somewhere on the TARDIS, yes, but the Doctor doesn't require sleep or the intimate privacy of a bedroom the way humans do—he's more than eager to opt for a third class cabin, pleased to share the space with others. With everything that's transpired recently, they all seem due for a moment to catch their breath. Well, everyone else. The Doctor can never quite settle or rest, particularly after what happened. There are new people to meet, friends to catch up with, people to check up on, mysteries to solve, and sitting still is absolutely maddening.

So, catch him standing outside one of the third class cabins, grinning for no apparent reason, tugging at his (very becoming) bowtie intermittently, and trying to catch the attention of any passersby. ]

You look the sort who needs company. Plenty of room, what do you say? [ Witness here an enthusiastic gesture to the interior cabin. ] And bunk beds, can you believe it? They're just cool.


► resisting a rest -
[ To anyone absolutely fortunate enough to be sharing a cabin with the Doctor, the first morning after the forced sleep at midnight leaves the ancient Time Lord more than a little nonplussed. He doesn't sleep much as it is, and to be forced into it, well, it's not altogether pleasant. (Nevermind he might be a bit hypocritical for the thought alone.) ]

Quick, what do you last remember? We were mid-sentence, weren't we? You were telling me about the...the thing, the thing that went whoosh, grand thing it was, beautiful story, I was about to take notes, and then it was - [ As he talks, he makes a lot of excited hand gestures, then curves his hand around to point and indicate the floor, making a pfft sound and briefly sticking out his tongue, before rubbing the back of his head. ] You might have warned me! [ His voice raised as he looks upward, apparently cross with...whomever/whatever caused this. Before looking back at his companion— ]

You slept well, at least? Cozy in the bunk and not on the floor, like some of us.


► melatonement -
[ At some point, making his way from his cabin to the dining cart, the Doctor runs across a fellow passenger attempting to unsuccessfully escape the train altogether, evidently while still completely asleep. ]

Mate, you'll want to rethink that.

[ His voice is soft, of course, not enough to rouse the young man from sleep, but he doesn't want to startle him, either. The door is locked, at least, so there's little chance of him getting loose, but it's a concerning sight, to be sure. In typical Doctor fashion, he's equally fascinated, studying the man's movements for a moment, the way he appears drawn to the chaotic storms just outside. ]

Do you hear something? Feel it, I wonder...

[ For any passersby, feel free to muse aloud with him, and try to help the sleeping passenger. ]

dining cart: day 3

► we cannoli dream -
[ Dressed about as smartly as he knows how—he's always dressed smartly how dare you—the Doctor invites himself to sit with someone who seems to be, for all intents and purposes, sitting alone. Most reasonable people would assume that someone had chosen to sit alone and might not prefer uninvited company. This is, however, the Doctor. ]

Having a look at the menu? We're spoiled for choices, honestly. That custard in particular is not to be trifled with.

[ He gives a little grin as if to say, I'm being very clever and you should definitely appreciate it with a laugh. ]

bar cart: day 4

► you had me at merlot -
[ The Doctor is leaning against the bar, making idle chitchat with anyone who might just happen to glance in his direction; which of course, he interprets as tacit approval to begin speaking, whether it's welcomed or not. At some point, he decides to yet again attempt a drink. Wine—why? He hasn't enjoyed it before. But times change, tastes change, so perhaps...no. It's promptly spit out as soon as the sip is taken. He pushes the glass aside and focuses on what he's best at, talking. ]

Have you been okay?

wildcard

( ooc: The Doctor can pretty much be anywhere doing anything so if none of the above options appeal, please feel free to tag in with anything or let me know if there's a particular prompt you want and I'll be happy to write a more custom starter! )

you had me at merlot

[reparo]

She was going to ask for a glass of water and a coffee, because she has decided to try to stay awake longer today - despite what the train might decide to make of that - but witnesses that elegant display.

"Erm...have you?" she asks back with an amused look. "I take it the house wine is not to your liking?"

Hermione Granger

[reparo]

1. DREAM A LITTLE DREAM OF TEA

"The thing I always find curious is that traveling through Akhuras feels like we're travelling through multiple moments in history," Hermione murmurs, her gaze wandering over the few people currently occupying the dining cart. She has set herself up in a corner table for two, a teapot resting in front of her, steam still coming out of the spout. Also in front of her at that table is a journal she has clearly been taking notes in, and an empty teacup waiting to be filled once the tea is ready.

And you, whoever you are, catching her gaze on your way somewhere and inviting comment unwittingly.

"Right now I'm expecting a Belgian inspector to barge in through the doors and demand eggs," she adds as a joke, fondly remembering the films her parents liked to leave on the telly on Saturday afternoons. She seems lost in thought for a moment there, struck with nostalgia of them, and then she shakes herself and looks at you again.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep you - although if you want, the seat is free."

2. EAT A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

She's not sure why she's been given a cabin in first class, although she hasn't looked that gifthorse in the mouth, and has undeniably been enjoying her en-suite bathroom. But, when it comes to the fine dining on board the Sandman, she doesn't understand why it needs to be so classist.

So her mistake today is that she chooses to sample from the second class menu for breakfast.

Maybe it's the food. Maybe it's the view of a darkened chasm outside. Maybe it's the dread and inescapability of Akhuras, the people who have left, the people she has left behind, maybe it's something in the air, but - there she is, bent over with her head resting on the table, tears slowly trickling down her face.

Don't ask her why.

[ooc: Because thickened syrup of sadness, that's why.]

3. SMUGGLE LITTLE DREAMS TO ME

She's noticed you, one of the newcomers, looking shifty and panicked because there are guards working their way through each cabin on this wagon. There are rumours of smugglers - of the Merchant having forced the newcomers to smuggle dream boxes onto the train - and the look on your face confirms it.

So she acts fast.

"There you are! It's been so long!" she exclaims, and throws her arms around your shoulders in a hug that ends up with her blocking the guards' view of you, for now. In your ear, she whispers: "Quickly, put the box in the purse at my left hip. It'll hide it from them, no time to explain." And louder: "How are you finding this train? We should catch up over some tea!"

[ooc: Your get out of jail once card; she will return the box after the guards are gone, don't worry. For context, Hermione's purse is charmed to be a lot bigger on the inside.]

4. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING, YES BUT WHAT A SHAME

She takes a seat next to someone familiar, this time around, wearing the same attire as yesterday, looking just as well-rested as yesterday, but less in the mood to party than she was, yesterday. Yesterday: the first iteration of this wedding.

"So..." she says, quiet and careful, "...have we done this before?"

5. IMPROV A LITTLE DREAM OF ME

[YOUR CHOICE OF SCENARIO GOES HERE.]

1!

[kahl_175]

"Kahl not know Bel-jan," he pronounces it awkwardly, having to slow down for the new word. "But this place have beacons. Maybe old times, people come from other places, stay here." The beacons don't seem to work too good anymore, if they ever had. Like old Orokin tech. Powerful, and hated everybody.

Grineer tech is more reliable, but it's big, for big people. And he's feeling that a lot on this train. He's stripped off his armor plates so he can fit better, but he still has to duck through doors, and squeeze into furniture, like he's carefully doing now. "Kahl happy to stay. You on network, right?" He remembers her from right after he showed up here. It's been... pretty busy since then. He's glad for a break.

adrienne peters ★ original

[pathologise]

★ new arrivals

( adrienne was no stranger to having to stay awake, used to pushing herself too far on how awake she could be. but she didn't trust what was apparently in front of her, didn't like the idea of somehow being in a strange place with little answers and demands given. and she certainly wasn't going to fall asleep on this carriage with strangers around her.

not that it seemed to stop some of the others from falling asleep, causing her to ring the bell in her hand every so often. and if that didn't work give them a nudge with either hand or foot depending on how close they were to her )

You're supposed to be staying awake.

( she gets it, she's feeling the exhaustion to but come on )

★ the sandman

( despite not being in uniform when she'd started looking around the bar, at first just investigating it and had been asked if she was the new hire adrienne had quickly agreed. they'd thrown her a uniform and had set her to work and honestly... she fit in. it helped that she knew her way around alcohol, helped more that this was a job that she'd done before and working behind that bar made it a little easier for a minute to forget the weirdness of the situation. a little )

So what is it this time?

( whether or not it's your first drink or more, but she has a smile for any customer. she may also have a drink for herself nearby. is she supposed to be drinking behind the bar? nope. but it's coping and she knows how to go slow. until she's 'off shift', anyway )

★ wildcard
my plotting comment is here. adrienne will be spending most of her non-cabin time in the bar either bartending or getting very drunk. there or the dining car is the best place to meet her to just chat. bar threads can also have a range in how drunk she is from sober to someone get her home. lmk if you have a preference!

the sandman

[traumatology]

This time?

( the answer's almost automatic, like he hadn't expected to be spoken to and he just said something so there wouldn't be awkward silence.

he sits up a little straighter, gloved hand reaching for his drink and he shrugs. )

This time, I'm wondering when the dead people are gonna start popping up.

bucky barnes — mcu ( old timer )

[traumatology]

01. THE SANDMAN

No.

( that's the first thing he says upon stepping into the cabin and finding himself transported to the lap of luxury. it makes him feel unbelievably out of place and uncomfortable. this isn't the place for him so he immediately steps out and starts walking away.

the first person he sees? he tries to give them the ticket. )

It's yours, free of charge. I don't want it. I'll sleep outside.

( yes, he's going to sleep outside the moving train. he could do it. just anchor his arm and it'll be fine.

whether the person takes the ticket or not, bucky doesn't stick around, finding his way to the bar cart to take a seat. he orders a water because what's the point of getting something harder? it's not like he can get drunk.

he doesn't want to even try and be envious of those people that can. )

02 THE MENU

( even if he's not all that hungry, it's easier to sit in the dining cart than it is in that stupid cabin. he'd rather be here where he can sit in the corner and watch everyone than tucked into that cabin.

there's a cup of coffee in front of him and his shoulders are hunched, back tense because he just...has some kind of bad feeling about all this.

then again, he has a bad feeling about a lot of things. leftover paranoia. )

03 DREAM SMUGGLERS

( it's good to know that his bad feeling wasn't just a result of his past issues. no, as soon as he had that box in his hands, he knew there was something up with it. he knew and yet, he's still holding it.

some people pass him and eye it but he just shrugs like he doesn't know what they're looking at. he doesn't even know why he's doing this beside the whole 'help people out thing' that he's been working.

he makes his way through the train, box tucked underneath his arm and starting to feel that creeping sense of self loathing that comes along when he thinks about all the shit he's done.

he tries to ignore it, fails, and really wishes he could just get drunk. )

04 WILDCARD

( if you want to do something that doesn't fit the above. )

02, after some inevitable encounters probably

[westviews]

Hey.

[Whatever happened in the bowels of hell is forgiven and forgotten--more like Wanda is happy not to think about the mess of that city.

As for bad? Wanda looks a little... agitated. She sits with an exhale across from him, blocking his view.]

We should talk before you hear things.

America Chavez | MCU | OTA

[starlingroad]

New Arrival
One of the first thing America tries to, despite the rush, is get the sling in her possession to work. The usual disappointing sparks show, but nothing more. This doesn't seem like the best place to start punching holes in the universe, so she doesn't even attempt that. She will be sorely horrified to find later even those holes don't go very far - little more than perhaps where she just was, but certainly not another dimension.

Not sure what else to do, she boards the nightmare horse driven carriage. If anything keeps her awake, it's the worry over what has she ended up in now? And what's going to happen? How can she get back? It might not be home, but she knows people there. She knows none of these. That doesn't stop her from speaking up if she sees someone's eyes close too long and their head bow. Sure, she has a bell Karsa provided them all with, but her impulse is to use her voice.

"Stay awake," America tells one of the others. It seems odd they're in this kind of situation and barely know each other, but that's most of her experiences, so not completely off brand.

She is not above poking a person, either, if they are close enough, and start to drowse off. The recipient does not have to be pleased about this.

Sneak
There is a lot of staring at the large train before her. Always new experiences, but this particular one feels formidable. They have limited time, and need to board somehow, of course, something like a giant star? Would be very flashy and attract unwanted attention. She does, in fact, start to punch the air, but stops, thinking about the others. She could just leave them there.... But... Luckily for America, her powers aren't the only skills she has. She's been slipping in and out of places, and nicking items off of people for a while, might as well put the knowledge to use.

Of course, this sort of thing always works best with a distraction, and she isn't sure she can provide that and lead anyone else safely on board. If anyone wants that position, she won't stop them from taking it, but she will keep the person in mind and make sure they board.

It might be really obvious to some watching from the train when an individual in bright robes gestures for others to follow her, then slips into the train via an unmanned car. Having someone else open a door might come in handy about then. She will definitely owe a person a favor for that.

She looks around, checks where the guards are, then waves people ahead. Going by herself might have been safer, and she was tempted to do it, even paused at first when she looked at the rest of the group, but it feels wrong to just leave everyone to their own devices, if they're not used to this sort of thing.

And once on board, she will actually address the people she helped check paths for.

"That wasn't fun. But we're here. Probably best if we split up, right?" Or sticking together might work in their favor for a time - she will be willing.

When she is on her own, or at least out of view, she takes off the bright colored Kamar-taj robes, revealing a t-shirt, jean jacket and jeans. She is not giving up the robes, or her sling, but maybe in a different set of clothes she won't be as noticeable? In case someone did see her sneak on.

Contraband
Considering both the box she holds, and the fact she is smuggling said item aboard, America keeps moving and doesn't stay in one place too long. It's her attempt to avoid the guards and their dogs as much as possible. Also, perhaps because of the constant feeling of shock, she suffers a tad paranoia.

There are at least a couple of times the guards seem far too close to her liking, and she peers around, certain no one notices, as she attempts to stuff the little box under an entirely different seat, or in someone else's jacket. She's usually adept at this sort of thing, but with so many other eyes, it wouldn't be impossible to catch her in the act. It's up to the individual if they rat her out.

Searching
Once again, America abandons her seating for something new, and looks, cautiously, into the cabins to find vacancies as well. If occupied, she turns away, quickly, if locked, she leaves the cabin alone after an initial attempt that goes no where. She keeps an eye out for everyone that passes by, inspecting them to make sure they aren't watching her.

If she stares too hard, too long, it might be because she thinks she saw someone she knows. But that cannot be. She sure hopes it is not.

Staring back or asking questions about anything noticed is more than fair. She is not in the mood for a lot of questions, but exactly the type who might answer the right ones.

Even if she sees people approach, if they get too close, or look back at her, her whole body will jolt. If a door closes behind her, or if someone speaks from behind her, she will outright squeak in surprise. Not exactly the most inconspicuous person at the moment.

Wildcard; Down for wedding fun, delivering the smuggled boxes together, or feelings food, or anything else goes here

[OOC: Will do [, (, past, present, prose, whichever is most comfortable - I will follow. Feel free to contact me on plurk metaljean, on this journal, or discord #midnightcat8900, whatever is most comfortable for you. Even if we don't have plans, feel free to hit me up.]

search on wedding day iii | use prose if you want, I do not miiiiiiiind

[downswing]

( She is skittish, rabbit-like, fearing the hurts of her own shadow. He spies her at distance, the lone gut of the corridor thinning where two carriages bind, and passengers must traverse from the dining halls into the residential car.

A new face, chained to their... travel alliance. Barely a child, abandoned. Lost. Too much of Sizhui's youth in her, unsharpened. Something of Kamala in her, of Hermione. When she has matured, of Wen Qing. There is a fragility woven into belligerence and a hard, steeled core that only women may embody. A dichotomy of forms.

Now, Lan Wangji's step was too hard, the great door between carriages crooning a hard shut. She gasps — and is it so unexpected a notion, with wedding and disappearances repeating in recent days? )

Apologies. ( Instinctive, simmered. The bow he sketches is half-lived, slow. ) The... nuptials have unsettled you?

natasha romanova | marvel cinematic.

[redhourglass]

i. arrival (newbies!)

( the world blacks out.

and then it's back, in roaring color, her heart beating a reckless staccato against her ribcage, the whispered run loud in her head with the acrid taste of ash on her tongue. so she runs, ignoring the part of her that insists this should be impossible, that she ought to be dead, ought to be shattered, broken in a million places. with all the adrenaline, it's a miracle natasha doesn't take a swing at karsa; even more so that she stops long enough to be handed a pendant and to listen to her.

after vormir (wince, even thinking the name hurts), what isn't there to believe about all this?

in the end, natasha ends up silent and sullen-faced in a carriage with some of the others. there are memories, pieces that she tries to put together in place but they don't fit. clint. the red skull. the stones. rushing air. and then — )

Splat. ( quietly, almost as though she doesn't realize she's said it aloud.

later in the journey, she's one of the few who doesn't seem to be nearly nodding off — on the contrary, her eyes are open, staring at the same space on the floor for what probably seems like hours, darting back and forth every now and then as though tracking movement that only she can see. still, she can feel the person next to her starting to fail, the way their head bobs and they bump against her shoulder.

playing it off as a stretch, natasha digs an elbow into their ribs and kicks a bell over where it slides across the carriage floor with discordant rings. the elbow isn't hard enough to bruise, but enough to get attention and rouse someone. )

Sorry. ( she does not seem sorry. )

ii. boarding, day 3 (newbies!)

( three days later, and a part of this still feels like a dream. like she's moving underwater; people are talking, things are happening, but it's like a movie. it's playing on screen, not happening her. (dangerous to think that way, she knows, and she internally kicks herself, pinches the inside of her wrist to bring back her focus.) still, how hard can it be to get on a train of that size? she's snuck into smaller spaces with higher security — probably. removing the whole 'other world' part of this.

she can practically see the wheels turning in the people from the carriage as they eye the train and do their best not to eye each other — some with better poker faces than others. some of them... no chance, she thinks to herself. moving away from the group with a nonchalant pose, she'll spend some time surveying the train and the security measures in place. not too much time, but .. enough.

enough to know that whoever is about to try and break a lock is in the exact wrong place. grabbing them by the elbow, she'll haul them back, hissing out of the corner of her mouth: ) Not there.

iii. the sandman (ota; dining cart, misc around places)

( she makes it on the train with only a few minutes to spare. in retrospect, riding a horse and jumping off it onto the train itself was not the same as a similar trick she's pulled a half dozen times with a motorcycle — but it'd felt good. a feat of acrobatics, using her agility, a confirmation that she's alive.

(she's not. she's very, very not.)

the compartment she breaks into is a luggage or storage area of some sort; easy enough to kip behind some boxes and stay out of sight. natasha does make a pit stop at lost and found, stashing her clothes in the top of a suitcase and changing into the green dress. her suit is starting to attract notice anyway. nothing she can do about her hair, so she leaves it in a tousled braid.

the people seem nice enough. they don't seem to give her a second glance, really. natasha finds herself a seat in the bar car, favoring the staff with a winning smile (just water, please). this place still has an unreal feeling about it - if she closes her eyes and just listens, she could be anywhere. still, she uses her position to eavesdrop on other passengers, filing information away in the mental model she's building of this place and what she knows of it (not much). wedding happening, with boisterous guests. perfect place to blend in properly.

the other cars aren't remarkable; it's when the sky turns back that she starts making her way down the train to beat a retreat back to the luggage car. it's too much like — well, it's just too much. she might run into someone in her haste, shoulder-checking them a bit gruffly. )

iv. the wedding feast (uno) (ota)

( she's never been a fan of weddings. but, it is a perfect opportunity to mingle; fall in step with a crowd of loud guests, move from car to car, check things out. makes all of it just simpler, and no one looks at her twice. still, the more she observes, the more ... off the vibes seem. the jokes of the friends had seemed in poor taste but the typical drunken thing — ha ha, ball and chain, etc. but to make fun of the bride at her own wedding feast? )

You think all of her friends had other places to be? ( conspiratorially to the person next to her with a nod towards prassenze; an invitation to talk more, or at least share in the weirdness if they don't know anything. natasha frowns as she observes the veiled figure who seems distressed; winding her hands, flinching at the boisterousness of the crowd.

later, she'll let herself get carried along with the crowd when the door is forced open. )

iv. the wedding (dos) (ota)

( strictly speaking, and contrary to recent experience, time isn't exactly natasha's thing. that's for the geniuses among them — the starks, the banners to figure out. but this whole groundhog day thing is getting old, even if it's only happened once. not to mention the night ending with a bang last night; the missing bride, who is now back. it doesn't add up, doesn't make sense, and frankly? natasha doesn't like it.

she lingers around prassenze's room on the second wedding, eyeing the staff who might come in and out and looking very occupied with a drink (vodka, lifted from the bar cart) if questioned or looked at directly. she might even pretend to be drunk if any train staff approach, though she'll relax once they indicate that they're friendlies or otherwise give away that this isn't their first wedding on the train in the past few days.

she'll be thoughtfully examining the windows, glaring out at them. she's still not over how much it looks like vormir but.. something is happening. especially given that none of them open, the indications of alarms from the gossip of the other passengers and staff looking warningly at anyone who messes with the latches, and —

well, and the open window in bride's cabin from the night before. )

v. wildcard

( feel free to hit me with your best shot! let me know if nothing strikes your fancy, either on discord or at iothe. for arrival, natasha is riding in a carriage. she's going to parkour onto the train via horse (rip, she is a Super Hero or smth). generally speaking, natasha is in full info gathering mode on the train itself and trying to fly under the radar .. sure would be a shame to have some big sloppy reunions in the middle of that. she's into the mystery, if only because Denial is strong and it's something to think about that isn't the fact that she's dead (oops). )

wildcard — train boarding

[vdovy]

[ There are others with more need of legitimate passage than Yelena, so she decides early on to go the stowaway route. Briefly, she peruses the market stalls, making off with an apple that she waits to bite into until she is comfortably seated atop a train carriage. From this vantage point, she watches some of their group board via traditional means while others rely on stealth and deflections to gain entry. It's quite the show, and after weeks of war and literal hell in Alem, Yelena relishes the chance to sit back and watch.

As the train departs with gaining speed, she starts to make her way over to the hatch. She squints against powerful winds to make out one of those nightmarish horses that accompanied the new arrivals keeping pace with the train. Its rider is—

Its rider is—

No. She won't be falling for that one again. This is the second time that someone— or something— in this world has taken Natasha's appearance. The first time, Yelena had to be dragged out of that haunted room, determined as she was to change Natasha's fate. This time, she snuffs out any speck of hope before it has a chance to fully form.

Relentless winds scatter hot tears across her cheeks. She curls her fists until fingernails carve crescents into her palms. Then she breaks into a run, barely registering the action ahead of her as Natasha's imposter propels itself onto the train. Yelena skips over the gaps between carriages and chases ahead. Just as the thing wearing her sister's face finds its footing, Yelena barrels into its torso, knocking them both down onto the metal roof.

Momentum keeps Yelena rolling until she nearly falls from the side of the carriage. She manages to catch her foot against the edge of a window and haul herself back up. Without pause, she raises her arm, the bracelet around her wrist glowing red, and fires a charge aimed at the thing impersonating Natasha. ]

Eda Clawthorne | The Owl House

[traaaaaash]

WHY SO GLUM, WITCH

[ If Eda were every honest about her feelings -- and she isn't -- being back in Akhuras is devastating. She was about to fight the greatest battle of her life when she was pulled back through the beacon, and now she constantly feels like she's gasping for air, a little.

Not that she shows it, really. No, Eda makes her best effort to appear as chipper as ever. Even if astute observers might notice that there is a new weariness to her, that she's nervous and more restless than usual.

Like others, she's trying to fit in with the current locale by dressing in a crimson flapper dress, of which she's torn the hem, because she always does, and has added long black gloves, simply because they conveniently cover up the new sigil on her right wrist. Look, she just really doesn't feel like discussing that right now.

And yet, in a moment when she feels unobserved, she takes off the right glove and just... stares at the sigil in the shape of a red, stylized lyre. She strokes it with her other thumb, expression tinged with something like regret. The sight stirs in her too many emotions to name, a storm that gets stuck in her throat -- and dang it, she really should get up, should get out of here, should keep moving, but she finds that she can't.

She clenches her fist and holds her wrist tight to her chest as her breaths get heavier. ]

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

[ Though she is technicall a stowaway, Eda quickly makes a habit of sneaking onto the first class dining rooms and sequestering herself away in a corner with her food.

Not that all of it is exactly to her liking, or even familiar. Right now, she's poking the camembert in aspic with her fork in distrust. ]

What kind of human food is this?

SMUGGLERY

[ Distraction is the name of the game, and Eda is so ready to play. Which means she gladly snatches one of Karsa's mysterious boxes to deliver it wherever it needs to be.

Big mistake.

Because she may no longer have magic, but she can feel the power coming off the box as a feeling of intense disgust creeps up her spine, and she swears she can feel the sigil at her wrist, still hidden under the glove, pulsating. ]

I think I'm gonna barf.

why so glum

[somebadnews]

[ Five isn't usually one to interrupt someone brooding over what could be any number of traumatic events they've gone through. He doesn't appreciate it when people get nosy about him, and generally any natural response he has doesn't come across well. People tend to think the worst of him, but mostly he lacks experience after a lifetime of solitude. Usually it's better to leave those things to Allison and focus on what's more important.

He's noticed Eda acting different from what he remembers of her, but it's merely something to note before he happens to be walking up behind her as she stares at her wrist. He's suddenly hit with an odd dose of nostalgia and for whatever reason, he interrupts. ]

How long was it?

Caitlyn Kiramman | Arcane

[clavesregni]

I. The Sandman

[Aside from a brief stint crammed between some barrels shortly after her arrival in this world, Caitlyn has never been on a train before. But all of this... it's familiar, in a sort of exhausting way. She recognizes the people she passes by in First Class, even though she's never met them. These are rich people. The sort of people who say one thing out of one side of their mouth, a different thing out the other, and mean neither. The sort of people she grew up around. She's instinctively uncomfortable around all of them.

She's also painfully aware that she's on a train with a girl who wants to kill her specifically, and if she happens to run into Jinx, there aren't a lot of options for fleeing.

All of this amounts to a desire to spend most of her time quietly enjoying the comfort of her private cabin. But it's not long before she realizes that the cabin is very small and, as luxurious as it is, there's nothing in it to do.

So she can be found in the gaming car, trying a glass of something and politely saying,] No, thank you, [every time anyone invites her to gamble.

Or in the dining car, sitting stiffly behind a menu and frowning, trying to flag down a waiter to ask what 'Affectionate Garlic' means.]


II. Wedding 1.0

[The champagne is nice, at least. Caitlyn sips it, listening to the chatter going on amongst the wedding party. They don't seem to care for the bride very much, and Caitlyn can't help but see a bit of herself in the girl. She's clearly uncomfortable with the saturnalian atmosphere of the party but enduring it, and all the barbed comments about her character, for the sake of her new wife.

When the girl makes her excuses and departs, Caitlyn turns to follow. Maybe chasing after a stranger on her wedding night isn't a good idea, but the others are being so open with their distaste for the poor girl that Caitlyn can't help but want to comfort her.

But as she turns, she bumps into someone standing behind her, accidentally spilling some of her champagne.]

I'm sorry, I didn't...


III. Wedding 2.0

E-excuse me. Excuse me.

[Caitlyn is attempting to jostle her way to the front of the train car, notebook in hand, but she's not having much luck getting anywhere. There's a whole throng of people here who have no interest in allowing a woman in what could charitably be described as a 'well-worn' uniform bother the brides on their special day.]

It's very important that I speak with them!

[This wedding took place yesterday, and at the end of the night Prassenze disappeared, and now here everyone is, doing it all over again as though yesterday never even happened, and no one will even entertain Caitlyn's questions!

Maybe everyone else has gone mad.]


IV. Wildcard!

[Plotting comment here, feel free to hit me up by PM or on discord!]

Wedding 2.0

[traaaaaash]

[ While Eda is also investigating, she knows better than to make herself so openly known. When she spots a familiar face trying to force her way through the crowd, Eda decides to intervene. She puts a hand on Caitlyn's shoulder. ]

Whoa, kid! I don't think you're gonna get very far that way.

Jimmy McGill | Better Call Saul

[slippin]

I. the silver screen

Once he's discovered them, Jimmy spends vast amounts of time in the cinema halls—hell, he'd probably wind up spending the night if the staff didn't insist on herding everyone out at 11 on the dot. Sometimes he ducks in to catch a quick show (though dreams, he's learned, can last longer than expected); on other occasions he settles in for an hour or two. Or three.

a. If your character pauses outside the door, or—huge mistake—stops to read the ornate hand-lettered sign proclaiming the car a CINEMA, a man they may or may not recognize pops out, beckoning to them. “Hey! Yeah, you! You gotta see this.” Jimmy's smile is wide, uninhibited. Noise leaks out the door—the sound of wind, or off-key singing, or the ocean. He almost doesn't wait to see if the other person's following him before heading back inside. “It's incredible!”

He speaks in a whisper that could stand to be more of a whisper as he ushers his companion to the rows of cushioned seats. “Where do you wanna sit? Me, I'll take the middle every time, but I know there's a sizable contingent of back-row loyalists out there.”

Or maybe your character is sufficiently intrigued to enter on their own, in which case they might spot Jimmy seated, yes, near the middle of the theater. His suit jacket's draped over the seat next to him. He's:

b. Totally absorbed in what's onscreen, which at first glance just seems to be a beautiful blue sky. Watch longer, though, and there's the unmistakable sensation of movement—clouds floating past, the rush of wind.

c. Once again absorbed in what's onscreen—for about five minutes, at which point he reaches for his suit jacket and quietly, calmly, removes something from underneath it.

d. Watching something that—if they've been gambling dreams and losing—becomes increasingly familiar to your character.

II. dream smuggling (aka: hopefully not the silver handcuffs)

It's closing in on six when the train guards mobilize, fanning out through various cars, their dream-sniffing hounds on high alert. Jimmy's almost to the lost-and-found booth, hurrying along without trying to look like he's hurrying. On his heels comes a whining, elegant grey dog attached via leash to a guard.

“Stop,” the man barks. When Jimmy doesn't slow, doesn't even turn, exasperation creeps into his voice. “You! Stop!”

“Sorry, I thought—” Sheepishly Jimmy scratches at his head with his left hand; his right stays out of sight. “Thought you were talking to the dog. Look, I know you're doing your job, but I lost,”—a left-handed gesture at the lost-and-found—“uh, my medication and time is of the essence here.”

The guard seems somewhat persuaded; the dog less so.

III. wedding, take one

He's all in on this wedding. So maybe it's a little unorthodox to get married on a train suspended above some kind of terrifying dream blender—raises a couple questions, legal and otherwise—but his first drink takes care of that. And with his second vanish any misgivings about Firo's entourage, the bizarre tension in the air like a wasp buzzing around a nice ice-cold glass of Coke. Or, fine, a wedding cake.

Jimmy drinks—whatever's handed to him, but he gravitates toward the colorful, the fancy. The excessively garnished. After weeks of ear-splitting attacks, life-or-death terror, and stale food (and in such small portions!), he'll take any excuse to cut loose. And he does his best to take other people along for the ride, whether it's insisting they try a certain cocktail, asking if they know any good drinking games, or even—unfortunately once he's well past the point of coordinated movement—inviting them to dance.

IV. wedding, take 2

a. The next morning...ish...finds him in the dining car, grimacing over the menu. Despite the requisite eight hours of uninterrupted sleep, Jimmy looks less than invigorated—he takes everything in at a squint, and clutches at the table when the train takes a curve or jostles its passengers even slightly.

He flags down the nearest waiter. “Yeah, can I get—one of those champagne buckets, full of ice?” Whether you're seated with him or passing by, he leans over, pressing the flat of his hand alongside his mouth, and says in a mock-whisper, “It's so I can stick my head in it.” A beat, a finger pointed at his companion. “Should we make it two?”

(Please make him eat some actual food.)

b. Midway through a lunch that's on the receiving end of a fair amount of nose-wrinkling and experimental prodding with Jimmy's fork, word of the night's coming festivities trickles through the dining car. It could be another table that mentions it, or the waiter, or Firo herself. In any case, Jimmy fixes a bright smile on his face and musters a reasonably convincing, “Yeah, can't wait!”

Then he turns, seeking out a familiar face. Letting his bewilderment show. “What is this, like an encore?”


[ ooc: Your choice of emotion for the smuggling starter, just put it in the subject line! I'm also into playing out emotional effects from food—feel free to include whatever in the dining (or even wedding lmao) prompts.

And I'm always down for wild cards/additional plotting! PM or hit me with whatever strikes your fancy, he's signed up for mystery stuff so feel free to drag him in that direction. ]

ii

[3point0]

Buck sees all this happening, and casually comes by, still dressed in his bartender clothes. He's not sure he can pull off how he knows this guy has a medical problem and if he has any authority to convince the guard, since he's 'staff', but he'll at least give it a good effort. "Hey man, are you okay? You're looking a little green around the gills."

ren amamiya | persona 5

[1797]

1 | KYARI BOARDING —

Hey.

[He pops up at the shoulder of the nearest semi-recognizable person and cocks a small, friendly smile. It plays oddly with the school uniform and bruises on his face and wrists (which have him looking like the loser of more than a nasty fight), but the other newbies have had some time to get used to that.]

Want to try to get up there?

[He gestures towards an open train window, too high for an ordinary person to reach alone, even as his eyes drift away to idly watch for guards.]

2 | THE SANDMAN —

[Sorry if that was your bunk in third class; there's a teen completely zonked out in it now. But, hey, if you let him sleep through the night (even if...he unconsciously keeps trying to open a window before midnight, sorry again), he wakes from his first night on the train feeling better than he has in days. Which means: It is time to get into trouble explore.

He loots the lost & found for a change of clothes, loiters around the various cabins (he's not stupid enough to try to go inside without just cause, but who knows, maybe there's a rat), and tries not to get any suspicious stares when he passes through the more opulent areas. Oh wait, they have movies? Dream movies? You can gamble your dreams?

Which is how he ends up at a table with a handful of cards or, worse, cornered by someone deeply annoyed by which dream he put down as a bet.]

No idea what you're talking about. Who doesn't like butterflies?

[It's maybe a little too innocent, as he tries to edge sideways so his back isn't up against the wall.]

3 | DREAM SMUGGLERS —

A | oh no he fucked up;

[He skids to a halt and palms his box onto a luggage rack before the guard catches up to him. Ren reacts instinctively, taking a wild swipe at the guy, fingers catching on his shirt; in a palace, he'd have enough momentum and strength to throw the guard, even with the clear weight difference, and slip away.

Instead, Ren loses his balance and slams his already-bruised shoulder into the train's paneling—he lets out the tiniest of swears—before he falls on his ass right under the guard's feet.

The guard similarly loses his balance but doesn't go down, and is so put out by what just happened that there's a long second where nobody moves.]

B | after getting caught at some point;

[He glances up from behind his bangs and glasses, eyes keen as he takes in whoever's fetched him from the train's makeshift jail. It's not that he's too prideful for a save—far from it—but he can't help but presume there's some kind of catch.

Whatever, he can worry about favors later.]

Thanks for getting me out.

[And then offhanded, to explain where he's headed with zero waiting around:] I have to get it back. Can you keep watch?

4 | THE GROUNDHOG WEDDING —

[Ren doesn't look thrilled on the first night of the wedding, if only because of the complete lack of tact from Firo's friends, but he watches the proceedings on the second like a housecat on a hunt, shoulders a little hunched.]

Why does she look like...that?

[Seriously, did Prassenze hit the gym for a year overnight.]

5 | WILDCARD

[Natch. He's also going to spend days 07 and 08 nosing around, so lmk if you'd like a starter for that or you can wing it with your own.]

4. groundhog wedding

[downswing]

( That so many catastrophes could fit like beads on a crowded string during the first wedding was a feat. First, the bride's humiliation, then her disappearance, then the violation of her privacy, when the population of a carriage whole saw fit to invade her quarters for 'investigation.'

...among them, a shamed, but resigned Lan Wangji, knowing better than to consign the evidence gathering to amateur exorcists, a sullen conductor and a horde of half-inebriated, bemused spectators chasing their entertainment.

Today plays out differently: first, the reiterations, each moment only a slight deviation from the day passed. Then, the scant recollection of the wedding already passed among each of the people Lan Wangji has inquired with. Now, the bride: resurging (good), in better and more confident spirits (excellent) and prone to taking down the world, one (wo)man from Firo's party at a bloody, growling and hyena-laughing time (possibly, not great).

Lan Wangji's stupor sparks, kindles, then stokes until he's staring owlishly from his seat (once more) at the wedding banquet, so wholly perturbed that he doesn't even fight a server from peddling the latest dinner monstrosity into his plate. It wobbles in, squelches, then plops. Ah. Stew. Ahead, more critically, Prassenze's deeply muscled arm plunges out before Maiza. Impossible.

Throughout this display of terrors, somehow, Wangji hears the question. )

Perhaps... she is not the same — ( Prassenze arm wrestles Maiza down to victory, to a might cheer. ) ...woman.

pietro maximoff | mcu

[margenes]

OPEN & CLOSED STARTERS
PIETRO'S PLOT COMMENT

—wanda /westviews.

[margenes]

[pietro, in many ways, feels like he's failing his little sister. it's not something he can quite put into words, but he's been having a hard time just connecting with her. it's not that they don't, but it feels like he's skipping a few steps, leaving him feeling a little out of sorts about it. as he picks out a dress for her, taking a hold of it before anyone can notice, he finds himself hesitating. it was never difficult to get things for wanda before. he always knew what she liked, what her preferences were, even if they were never quite on the money.

now? well, he can only hope she likes what he picked out.

taking a third class cabin for the both of them, pietro waits for the train to move, for them to settle for a bit, saying goodbye to his favorite clothes for now (should probably get those cleaned) and changing, instead, into something a little more fitting for the train's setting. he's already making a face at how the trousers feel on him.]

—don't laugh. [he cautions his sister, letting the shoulder straps hang from his waist, leaving the hat to the side.] I feel like a farmer. This is the kind of stuff deda [grandpa] would wear.

[scrunching his nose a bit, he moves to the side of the cabin, and picks out what he's been... worrying about. it's wrapped in a paper bag.]

I got something for you, Wanda.

[shyly, even. he hands over the paper bag, containing the dress he had chosen for her. that being done, he sits on the bottom bed, hands pressed together, waiting for her reaction.]

kamala khan | mcu

[cosplayqueen]

dining car

[Thank God for regular meals. She is going to be spending a lot of time eating here. She only has access to the third-class meals but after the whole Hell thing? Kamala doesn't care. She's openly savoring every meal she gets on the train. When she's not eating, Kamala is enjoying tea while she draws away in her sketchbook. It's mostly anime-style the Avengers. Her family does show up as well in a more realistic style along with fellow passengers.

From time to time she'll note the difference in foods and turn to ask whoever is near:] Do you want to try some of mine? Yours looks so good! I'm down for an exchange.

wedding - day one

[Everything has sucked lately. It makes sense because you know. Hell. Really unpleasant for everyone involved! Kamala throws herself into enjoying this wedding. She can be found dancing to the music, coaxing people to join her, and chatting with whoever is willing to give her time. She eats her weight and then some at the feast.

Overall, she's the life of the party. She shuts down any talk she hears about the bride. Brides are allowed to be shy!!]

wildcard

[Please drop a prompt here or message me if these don't work for you, but you'd like some CR with Kamala. I'm available on plurk as milanobutterfly or PM this journal.]

Dining Car!

[blackscales]

[ Wrathion looks up from his own notebook, where he's been alternating sketching and writing, and pushes across to her the muffins and marmalade he's been offered with his first class meal. He's not particularly been eating much of anything they've brought, mostly sipping the coffee. ]

You can have them, if you like. I'm not that hungry.

[ Perhaps she'd prefer it? Is hers unappetising? He studies her food thoughtfully and then her reaction, waiting to see if this appeals. ]

Jesse Pinkman | Breaking Bad

[yeahmagnets]

WHY THE LONG FACE?: Part 1

Jesse is not a confident rider. He couldn't even conjure up the word "corral" or "pasture", opting to call it a "cowhouse" instead, when spotting a herd of cows in their desert enclosure while scouting an area to park his RV for illegal purposes that we won't talk about now. But as Karsa's carriage gets more and more crowded, Jesse cringes at the prospect of being stuffed in like sardines. It's not only that--as someone offers him the reins of a particularly rowdy horse, Jesse most of all does not want to seem weak. He works best while flying by the seat of his pants through life, leaping at opportunities given to him no matter how bleak the outcome might seem. No, he doesn't have a death wish, but he's ridden that creaky mechanical bull at the local bar enough times to know he's at least decent at holding on for dear life. Is there much more skill required than that? He'll just have to find out because, moments later, he's grabbing onto the pommel and the back of the saddle and heaving himself up onto that horse. It's anything but a graceful mounting process--all scrambling limbs and huffed breaths, probably several expletives grunted out as he struggles, but he makes it, and that's clearly the most important point, accentuated by a loud 'whoop' and his triumphant fists raised into the air. Yeah, he almost loses his balance in the process, but let's pretend that nobody saw that part.

Jesse's good at staying awake. It helps that the horse is bolting so fast that he has to cling to the thing with every limb he has, wishing he would sprout more. The thing's mane keeps whipping him in the face and he's got dust and dirt flying into his eyes and he is every bit Not Meant For This, but it's what's happening and if anyone's good at rolling with the punches, it's him.

"This shit is crazy!"

Jesse screams to the next person over. Eloquent, as usual.

[ ooc; Jesse will definitely wake up anyone he sees falling asleep. He's a nightowl, and most nights an insomniac even when he tries to sleep, so staying awake won't be an issue for him. He'll help anyone who needs help onto their horse. He's not the strongest guy, but he knows how to lace his fingers together and use his quads for boosting power. ]

WHY THE LONG FACE: Part 2

Jesse is not amused by the fact that after that hellacious horseback ride, there's still a very real possibility he'll get stranded here once he realizes they're actually asking for tickets to board this train, which appears to be the only way out of whatever this place is (he already forgot the name...something with a K? Or is that the name of the lady who explained the whole situation a little too hastily while his head was still spinning and he was still spitting out gravel from his unfortunate arrival?) Whatever the case, Jesse slowly eases his way backward through the throng of people, trying to come up with a game plan.

"Oh, this is totally perfect, yo. Just...awesome. Yeah, hows about I just toss you onto this horse that happens to be...I dunno, some kinda beast from Hell, almost kill you on the way here just for you not to be able to get on the train anyway? Yeah, that'd be hilarious.

During his distracted monologue, Jesse doesn't pay any attention to where he's going and he finds himself bumping directly into a fellow hopeful passenger who is in some kind of heated discussion with someone holding a dog, apparently searching for contraband. Unfortunately for them, Jesse's jostle sends several pieces of contraband scattering to the floor. The person is detained and several people scramble, some grabbing for fallen items, some running away from the entire ordeal, and yet others taking this perfect opportunity to climb aboard. Jesse manages to grab a piece of contraband. He's already holding onto a dream box for Karsa. In the midst of the chaos, he finds an opening to get onto the train without being noticed (hopefully). Looking back to the crowd, he notices someone nearby, looking a bit lost in the shuffle. He reaches a hand out, trying to get their attention.

"Hey--over here. Get on."

[ ooc; Jesse will offer help to several nearby passengers, ushering and/or shoving them onto the train before he gets on himself. ]

THE SANDMAN

Once aboard the train, Jesse decides on a second-class cabin. Being in first-class might draw unnecessary attention to himself, but he doesn't exactly feel like being crammed into a tiny room with three strangers, so second-class is a happy medium. He finds a cabin that seems empty, not entirely sure if he'll have a roommate. It's likely with the number of people who he spotted outside of the train, but maybe if he claims a spot first he'll have some kind of a say in who else rooms with him. He doesn't have many possessions. The contraband items get tucked away--one inside of his pillow. Not just in the pillowcase, but within the stuffing of the pillow for safekeeping. The other he slips into a pocket until he finds a better hiding spot. He leaves his dusty beanie on top of the bed he's claimed for his own. Hearing the door to his cabin open, he spins around towards the sound.

"Is this cabin taken?"

THE MENU: BREAKFAST

Still a little bleary-eyed, but feeling suspiciously like he actually got a good night's sleep, Jesse emerges from one of the cabins to explore the train and hopefully find his way toward some breakfast. It's not often that he has access to three square meals a day. His refrigerator at home stays empty more often than not, mainly by his own fault. Grocery shopping is an entire inconvenience, apparently. In the process of figuring out where to go, he backs up and bumps directly into someone. Jerking away, he raises his hands, palms out in an apologetic gesture.

"Sorry. I'm a little..." He trails off, gesturing. A little out of sorts. "You know where I can get somethin' to eat? Some breakfast? I'm starving."

DREAM SMUGGLERS: PART 1 (SUCCESS)

Not quite the greenhorn in illegal activity that he'd started out as some months earlier, Jesse manages to hang on to the dream box that Karsa had given him. There's still one tucked into his pillowcase in his cabin, which he has to figure out where to bring, and he's managed to score a dream token dropped by someone he'd bumped into before boarding The Sandman. This particular dream box is meant to be dropped off in the coal room by 8pm. The longer he's carried the box, the more disgusted he's been feeling about this entire situation. The two meals he's had were barely able to be choked down, everyone around him seems off-putting and frankly, he's tired of this entire ordeal. But let's focus on that tired point for now. The longer he waits, Jesse's inclined to find a place to make himself comfortable and, while comfort is few and far between in the hot and dusty coal room, he manages to slump against a burlap bag of coal and drifts off with the box in his hands, waiting for its collector. The movement of the train jostles an open bag of coal above him, causing some of the bag to spill out on Jesse, waking him. He coughs, clapping the black dust out of his clothing as he gets to his feet. Rude awakening. He emerges from the coal room looking like he's just worked a double shift in a mine, face and hands smeared with black. He's trying not to touch anything, his arms stretched out comically in front of him as he searches for someplace to get washed up. Unfortunately for you, he rounds the corners hands-first and plants them right on your torso, getting the charcoal all over your outfit.

"Shit! I uh, sorry. Hang on, I'll just--" Jesse stammers, grabbing a towel off a nearby cart. He tries earnestly to clean up the mess, but he can't really tell if it's working or just smearing everything around.

DREAM SMUGGLERS: PART 2 (CAUGHT)

Unfortunately for Jesse, while he's out and about the train trying to get his bearings, one of the guards, led by a search dog, is directed toward his cabin. The hidden contraband is found in spite of him hiding the thing inside of his pillow. Perhaps he should have left it in the pillow on the empty bed and not on the one where he haphazardly tossed his beanie. Of course the beanie was snatched up and given to the search dog to sniff him out. It doesn't take long to find him and Jesse finds himself being dragged away (whilst protesting, cussing, and literally going limp and forcing them to drag him. He's a little dramatic, so sue him.) Upon hearing his bail, Jesse is about ready to give up entirely, but then they mention that he can work off his offense by doing maid duties. It's not something he'll happily do. He barely cleans up his own place, let alone other people's shit, but if that's what it takes to gain his freedom, he'll do it.

Find Jesse, dressed in an embarrassing maid's outfit. Maybe that's part of the punishment. It's definitely part of the punishment. He's forced to wear some frilly apron with lace all around the edges and some type of frilly hat. He dons it all over his oversized hoodie and sagging jeans and probably is making himself look even more ridiculous for that fact, but he's just trying to work off his time as quickly as possible. He pushes along his cart, stopping at a cabin and raising a tattooed arm to knock on the door firmly.

"Housekeeping, yo. You need towels or a clean up? Anybody in there?" Jesse waits for an answer.

[ ooc note; I wrote this in prose, but I'll match your style if you prefer brackets. I'm pretty late to the party due to some unforeseen circumstances, so I'm not going to be super involved in the groundhog wedding mystery side-mission, however, Jesse would be willing to join the search party and help look for the missing bride. He'll also definitely be up for joining the wedding party and making use of the time to try and acquaint himself with his fellow passengers. That being said, I'm up for any and all interactions with your characters. If none of my above prompts feel fitting or you have something else in mind, feel free to toss up a wildcard starter of your choosing! If you'd like to plot anything or discuss things more, my plurk and discord handles are on the "taken" page, or you can PM this journal. I've been missing writing a lot, so I'm excited to dive in here and have things to do! I'll definitely be tagging out over the next couple of days as well. ]

DREAM SMUGGLERS: PART 1 im sorry this is too funny, have your milf moment jesse

[saintclaire]

Let it be known that six months on a cross-continent adventure fleeing the undead has not improved Kim's reflexes any, nor has it imbued her with the sort of combat-readiness that would have many eastbound travelers responding to an impromptu groping with a suplex or a right hook. In fact, this time has only made Kim more inclined towards diplomacy: she has no more desire to fight people than she does to be manhandled.

She certainly does not want to be manhandled. This is clear to her the moment he bumps into her, and crystal the instant he tries to amend things by making it worse. (Is it anal to care as much about the soot now embedded into her white blouse as she does about being touched at all? Probably, but it's all a black mark, in her books.)

"Stop," she orders, and then repeats, reaching for the towel to stop him, taking a step back, her eyebrows furrowed. "Stop that. What the hell is wrong with you? Personal space."

closed to rakel

[3point0]

On day two of the weddings, Buck's trying to pass someone on a narrow corridor, but he has wide shoulders and the other person, albeit shy-looking, is not all that narrow there either, so he bumps into them by accident and knocks something out of their hand.

"I'm so sorry," he says, as he bends down to pick up the trash bag for this staff person, brushing items back into the bag, but he can't help but notice that there's some empty dreamboxes that he helped smuggle in earlier.

He hears someone coming and tries to hurry up the moving, but then he recognizes their new friend as one of theirs. And sighs in relief.

[mashiara]

Nynaeve pauses, the folded towels in her arms getting set on the narrow table bolted to the wall.

"What in the world happened?" She asks, crouching down to help pick up one of the... no. She recognises that this is, frown turning into more of a scowl for the moment before she gets it into the bag of her fellow staff member. "Rushing through isn't helping take care of things, where'd you even come from? The carriage with all our fussiest? If you'd dropped this there, you know who they'd come down on, and it's not you. I have to work in those rooms!"

Her gaze cuts toward Buck, who she thinks is one of their number without a ticket, but also who hasn't been trying to pass off as staff. Or she'll run with that assumption for the moment.

"Is there any reason we weren't doing this last night?"