Open - Egret and Fiddlesticks catchall

[enthunder]

Who: Lightning and YOU
Where: 1. Dining Car | 2. Dressing Car | 3. Gym Car | 4. Wildcard
When: Egret + Fiddlesticks (backdating fine, she was on autopilot for most of Egret)
What: 1. colouring books and chill | 2. light fails at makeup | 3. know what this train needs? a 10' magical robot | 4. wildcard
Warnings: N/A

1. colouring books and chill
[ The long table of the dining car is often cluttered with half-finished projects, bowls of snacks, forgotten mugs of coffee... And, sometimes, Light, and whatever she's picked to occupy her free time today. It took her a few months to realise that training and sleeping and training some more was a stupid use of her time - or rather, a few months and a day where she's pretty sure she passed out on more than one person, even if everyone involved is either too polite or too intimidated to mention it.

The point is, she still feels a little silly tucked against the table, her 'colouring book for adults' quote unquote open to a meadow of unfamiliar wildflowers. It's not something she's done since... she doesn't actually remember when she had the time to do something as pointless as colouring. When she was four, maybe, before her parents would let her help with Serah and she had nothing better to do.

So it's with some self-consciousness that she squints down at the pencils that came with it, trying to work out which colour she should start with. ]

2. light fails at makeup
This month was apparently the month for catching up with things that she never had the time or the motivation to look into before now, because when Lightning woke up and, stretching, remembered that the gym was booked up today for some kind of informal (but deeply meaningful) sports tournament involving webshooters, she only cast around for a minute or so before the unassuming tote bag caught her eye.

She'd bought it as an experiment, really. Thea and Misa had reminded her that it was probably going to come up sooner or later; they couldn't rely on missions having a convenient 'kill 'em all' section for Red team every time. Eventually, they were going to have something with a social aspect. Plus, the fact that it was something she didn't know how to do rankled a bit.

Easy to fix, though.

Or, easy in theory. Fifteen minutes later, she and a spider were perfectly amiably ignoring each other on opposite sides of the dressing carriage, and she had a layer of red nail varnish drying on one hand. One nail was already smudged, and her SCA now had a fetching smear of red along one corner.

"How long's this meant to take?"

3. know what this train needs? a 10' magical robot
[ She's picked a relatively quiet time of day for this, and the furthest section of the gym. See, watching the shades gather in the sky made her realise, amongst other things, that she'd let herself get complacent. The missions were challenging, but she didn't think she'd ever felt inadequate, or ill-equipped. Until that moment, that is, when suddenly having the service of a mystical being gifted unto her by the goddess Etro would have been useful.

The thing is, Lightning genuinely isn't sure how the Eidolons work, theologically and physically speaking. A l'Cie has a crisis of faith, and the goddess sends them from the world beyond, right? But, is the world beyond a real place, or just a hokey explanation for a phenomenon fueled by fal'Cie smoke and mirrors? Does the Eidolon live within the l'Cie? The glowing crystal rose that glimmers and sparks in her hand, that until seconds ago was a nebulous feeling of warmth in her chest, indicates yes. (A small part of her, cynical and afraid, wonders how much it will hurt, if she calls and he doesn't answer.)

(That part is crushed down remorselessly.)

Nothing for it. She's cleared the area, warned people that she's going to try something and she'll answer questions afterwards. The crystal goes spinning into the air, and as it begins to fall back down, she jumps up and smashes it with one blow of her knife. No shards fall - they explode outwards into a blinding circle of pink magic. By grace of Etro, let thunder herald your arrival. Come forth, sunderer of falsehood, spins around one petal-like section, and, A name in blood, a pact of truth. Odin shall rise, his bond eternal and unyielding spins widdershins against it. ]

Come forth, Odin!

[ There's a moment of stillness, as she catches her breath and stomps down further on the fear, and then the circle is a flower, spiralling upwards, and the end of the gym car is suddenly filled with both deep pink rose petals, and a robot, armour still gleaming with the residual power of the summoning. He drops to one knee, knightly, and still towers over Lightning.

She exhales, shakily, and gives the 'all clear' signal to the rest of the carriage. And brushes the petals out of her hair. ]

Long time, no see, big guy.

4. wildcard

Comments

3, because I am weak for magic and robots.

[unfavorableinstigation]

[... This was not what Nita had expected to see in the Train today.

This is not what she had expected to see at all, outside of maybe cartoons of which Nita was starting to think the train itself had watched too many... or Nautilus.

Certainly Orisa wasn't this big!

Trying not to get in Odin - or Lightning's - way, she says,]

/Dai Stiho,/ Odin. ... Welcome to the Voidtrecker Express?

that's a mood

[enthunder]

[ Both Light and Odin turn to her as she speaks, though Odin's movement is made awkward by the fact that he isn't able to stand properly - the horns on his helmet scrape the ceiling of the carriage as he straightens.

While he's working that all out - she'll leave him to it - Light quirks a mildly embarrassed smile at Nita. ]

Looks like we'll have to save him for special occasions... I forgot how big he is.

[unfavorableinstigation]

[Nita does her best to ignore the noise and let Odin adjust.

It takes some effort.]

Yeeaah - though, how long has it been, if you've managed to forget that sort of thing?

[Thinking beings that big are normal is one thing; forgetting their height entirely is another.

Hopefully it's not quite that bad.]

It'll make one hell of an impression, say, at the next platform, though.

1 coloring books and absolutely zero chill

[flatteries]

[ Oh boy.

You can't really enter the dining carriage and not expect to see someone. There's always at least someone present, especially with how busy the train is nowadays. But of all people he could've seen there, it just had to be Lightning, huh. Just had to be one of the few people he's Awkward around.

At least he's not super terrified of her anymore after the party, but still most definitely awkward. At the same time Inigo is also not the type to try and just quietly sneak back out of the carriage and hope she didn't see him - that's just rude! He doesn't want Lightning to think people don't want to be around her.

So he just sucks in a deep breath and moves over to where she's sitting, trying to sit down on the seat opposite from hers as ~casually~ as possible. ]

Hey, Lightning. What are you doing?

deep breaths inigo

[enthunder]

[ It's a good thing Lightning doesn't have anything approaching empathy, because as far as she's concerned, she and Inigo are... friends now? She's fairly certain they're friends. She wouldn't embarrass herself at a party for anything less than that, so logically...

Well, in any case, it means that she's a bit less self-conscious when he sits across from her. ]

I... have no idea. Naminé makes this look so easy.

[ Maybe red. She picks up a pencil labelled Radical Red and starts to shade in one of the larger sprays of flowers in the foreground. ]

w h e e z e s

[flatteries]

Naminé?

[ He repeats the name, like he's trying to think of who exactly that is, while he's glancing over at what's in front of Lightning at the same time. Inigo has never really seen a colouring book before, so he's looking slightly surprised - but mostly interested.

Not just because he himself wants to participate though. ]

Oh, you're drawing-- no, colouring? That's nice. [ Inigo's artistic talents lie elsewhere though. For sure. ] I didn't take you for the type to do these kinds of things.

[ Then again, she had danced with him at the party? Which had also been very, very surprising.

And of course, like an idiot without a brain to mouth filter, Inigo just lets the first thing that comes to mind roll right off his tongue: ]

I must have missed this soft side to you when we first met!

2.

[themasterthief]

In a corner of the dressing carriage sat a new adornment: a rounded bird cage. The occupant inside was quite when Lightning first entered the carriage and easy to miss. But the longer Lightning sat over there looking into a mirror the more noise the bird started to make. At first it was a few simple flutters of the wings then a few quiet chirps. Until eventually the magpie in the cage was kind of hard to ignore, chirping regularly as if to get attention.

[enthunder]

She ignored it fairly easily for the first few rounds of performance, but by the time it was making a noise that sounded uncannily like her old alarm clock... Well, she was mostly just impressed that the spider hadn't eaten it yet.

But, that in mind, it had gotten to the point where, given how many animals and shapeshifters they had, she only felt mildly ridiculous turning around in her chair and making eye contact with the odd black-and-white bird.

"You wanted something?"

2

[sensitiveapple]

Misa had gone to the dressing carriage to see Kumoko. Why? Because the spider is awesome and the clothes she made even better! But then she sees someone that she doesn't really know standing in front of a mirror. The manicure is... well, it's a disaster. She wonders if the woman had ever been trained to have the 'gentler' arts as Hurog called them.

"Usually about fifteen minutes?" Misa offers tentatively. "But then you have to add the top coat." She shrugs. "Would you like some help?" She offers, unsure if such help would be welcome. But it can't be all that bad, right?

(kumoko snores in the background w lil spider snores)

[enthunder]

Nothing about how Light was approaching the activity suggested even a faint familiarity with the gentler arts, from the way she was firmly holding the brush to the way the varnish was applied almost by stippling in some areas.

"The, uh, top coat?" She looked mildly alarmed that she might have to do multiple coats. "I... yeah, I guess I would."

Dining car and coloring books

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin comes into the dining car, having realized that he forgot his mug of coffee and wanting to drink the rest of it. Furthermore, amongst all the rubbish, he left one of his projects on the table when he went off to clean the kitchen. He's back now, carrying his mop and bucket. He looks past the clutter and sees Light with her coloring books, and he smiles in greeting.

"Hey, what's that, a field of flowers? And you've got colored pencils? Wonderful."

[enthunder]

"Got them from the store," she agrees, amiable enough while she's preoccupied with keeping the red inside the lines. "I don't recognise any of the flowers, but that's nothing new."

[longforgottenpromise]

It was in between meals and so the dining carriages were quieter than before, Taiki entered, a crate in one hand and a bowl of vegetables in another.

He knows nothing about Jerboa and it's not like they have a way to read up on what the creatures eat. Vegetables seem likely so he has a few different ones to try.

He spots Lightning and nods at her nervously. He's seen her around obviously and there had been that strange dream with the animals.

He sat a little way away from her, to not be in her way and placed the crate on the table in front of him.

[enthunder]

Likewise, Light mostly knew Taiki from sight and the nebulous, cotton-thick memories of green fields and gentle animals. It was strange, really - normally she tried to at least connect with the other members of Red team.

But then, she recalled from a brief mention that he was a pacifist, and didn't want to join the Red missions, so she guessed that explained it. Maybe he wanted to distance himself from the so-called warrior team... Except, here he was. She committed.

"Everything going alright?"

1. colouring books and chill

[really_sketchy]

[Naminé approaches the table slowly, her sketchbook clutched protectively in her arms while a small collection of paints, pencils and other drawing implements are pinned between against her abdomen. She owns a backpack but she it's too big to be carrying around the small volume of art supplies that Naminé has slowly collected.]

Lightning? Maybe I join you?

I wanted to draw but... I would like company.

[She dislikes being alone and she doesn't get to see Lightning outside of the short morning training sessions she's gotten in the habit of attending. Naminé isn't much of a fighter and it shows but she does like learning new things.]

aaaaaaaa <3

[enthunder]

[ Given that it's Naminé's influence that has Lightning leaning towards the colouring book in the first place, it would be churlish to refuse.

It would also be extremely unlikely; she enjoys spending time with the shy teenager. She's already clearing up a section of the table's clutter beside her workspace. ]

Be my guest.

fiddlesticks, day 2

[blitzcheer]

[ A new day comes, and Tidus wakes.

Which is surprising, in the same way it might be for most newcomers: seeing the view from their beds for the first time, deciding and figuring out routines they're still not sure of. This isn't his first case of showing up somewhere new, but Tidus doesn't escape the fumbling of it, going with Yuna into breakfast with barely an idea of what else to do afterwards except, apparently, clean up after everyone? At some point?

This space sharing ride was gonna be a headache.

But Tidus knew this was going to be more than a cramped sleepover, with some vague idea of what might be in store for them. A vague idea that didn't really prepare him, but there was someone around he thought that could help. A someone whose head he looked out for in the dining cart--the same one attached to the body that'd stuck the tip of a sword inches from his face yesterday.

'Hey, Light! If you're free, do you mind if I ask you about some stuff later? Train stuff?'

What better way than to let her know they were still cool than to use the nickname her friends call her?

Hopefully, her mind wasn't changed about him knowing nothing about that Agent of Chaos business. It didn't seem to be, when she agreed to meet him in the kitchen--once service died down, and the rest of the Red Team got to sit down to eat themselves. At least, that's who Tidus suspects to be in the dining cart when he goes back, continuing along to the kitchens where the salty smell of bacon hits him something strong.

He winces, but finds Light inside--and the mess that comes from feeding an overcrowded train, interrupting whatever greeting he would've given. ]

Yeesh! Wanna pretend you're Purple Team? We're wiping windows.

[ Look at the flat baking trays alone. ]

[enthunder]

[ Light was used to platform days being hectic and draining - it was unavoidable, with increasingly large batches of strangers suddenly forced into a living space that only barely had time to stabilise between platforms or missions.

This one had been both particularly crowded and particularly emotional.

At least her evening had been more relaxing, even if she felt a little bad for hiding out in her room for dinner. It'd given her the time to sort through her feelings, and by the time she wakes up and starts the walk to Dining, she's firmly stamped them down. Everything is fine.

She's able to nod calmly to Tidus when he approaches her at breakfast, even, despite the momentary flare of adrenaline followed by an equal amount of shame. Clearing up the kitchen between meals helps. It's hard to get back into the mindset of the world of battle when you're wearing rubber gloves, up to your elbows in greasy soap suds. ]

Pass. Looking out at the void while you clean is a pain.

[ She finishes rinsing a grill pan, and picks up the next. ]

What train stuff did you wanna talk about?

1

[radishlobbyist]

[ Wen Qing had come to the newly improved dining car to enjoy her cup of tea and get the closest to a change of scenery you could get on the train, when she catches sight of Lightning sitting all by herself, seemingly deeply immersed in something.

She hesitates for a moment, uncertain if the disturbance would be welcome right now, but in the end she approaches her anyway, clearing her throat once she stands by the table. ]

What are you doing? [ Well, drawing, but that doesn't explain much to her. ]

[enthunder]

Colouring. [ she realises this isn't really that helpful an answer. ] Thought I'd try doing something that wasn't combat-related, you know? The one thing we've got in spades here is free time.

➳ one

[kabe]

( the dinning car had become a place where yuna could look out and enjoy the scenery of the outside world. although it helped to have tidus here, it was still difficult for her to become adjusted to being in such a foreign place where she barely knew anyone or what was going on.

today she decided to return to this spot, walking around in her gunner dress-sphere [the clothes the train had given her were far too stiff]. seeing lighting in the distance, yuna made her way towards the girl and stood close by. )

Hey there, looks like you're having some fun.

<3

[enthunder]

That's the goal. [ Light's not sure how much she's managing the 'relaxing and having fun' part of her plan, but it's definitely gotten her more contact with people, so... success?

Yuna even merits a slight smile; she can't help it. She also can't help the widening of her eyes as she sees that she's in yet another outfit. ]

Been buying clothing?

after council network post

[blitzcheer]

Were the meetings like that when you went?

[ It's the first thing Tidus says to Light in person once they meet, after whatever one wants to call the council ''discussion'' (which for Tidus, was something close to a 'oof!'). He'd seen-slash-heard her amidst the chaos, heard about her being on the council previous; and with what that entire exchange became, colour Tidus curious.

(Considering he doesn't recall a single name of who's on that council....)

Up on the second floor, there's only the noise of the train cart in general, the glow of the artificial lights. He's been up there once or twice before, but not enough that it doesn't feel like he's stepping into another world with its comical game pieces.

But those aren't what he's here for. ]

[enthunder]

[ Light is sat cross-legged beyond the rope barrier separating the floor games from the VR space, a headset held loosely in her hands. She doesn't get to play much; the screens are flashing languidly on the game select menu. She remembers back in the first months, discussing whether they should run team-building exercises with the Crisis series.

Pointless now, now there's a hundred and twenty people rather than twenty. When would they find the time?

She doesn't look up at the question. ]

More or less.

Wildcard - Fiddlesticks Day 16, After New Arrivals & Departure

[rieper]

After all the new introductions and greetings and fielding the usual questions for all the new passengers, 47 made his way to the back of the train to pick up his packages. He headed straight back to the cabin to fiddle with them similarly to last time he ordered from the shop.

He had three new items. One to stave off boredom, one to experiment with, and one set of clothes to be disappointed in. He immediately discarded the duck print shirt by tossing it onto Lightning's bed. If she didn't find it amusing then Sarai most definitely would and he could pawn it onto the smaller woman instead. The rest of the outfit he stuffed into his compartment and left for later.

The magazine he set on the table once he'd set the room up for it and then sat down. Opening the final package revealed the set of fireworks he received. A simple set, as expected, but he could work with some of it. And donate the rest to a good cause or some such silly thing.