[OPEN] + [some closed]

[salutosinedelectat]

Who: Aziraphale, Crowley, Lan Wangji, Conan, and YOU
Where: Several different carriages
When: A lot of backdating: some close logs between the 26th of Grasshopper and 5th of Horseshoe, one in the halfway Horseshoe; open starters between the 13th and 24th of Horseshoe
What: Necessary conversations and confrontations are had, some literature and history is discussed, and life continues on for one of the angels in the train.
Warnings: Possible discussions of sensitive past events involving, but not limited to: the end of the world, war, violence. Talks about real world writers. And maybe language. Will add more if necessary.


(Skip to the end for open prompts)

[Closed, for Crowley]
[Sometime in late Grasshopper] Build Up Some Character

Aziraphale was quite happy to put all of the mysteriously magical mess behind him- once again. Another mess among many, and another example for the growing research that claims that islands equal some sort of stranger communal invasion of the mind, or some other sort of magic-based unpleasantness. He's not quite sure of the full logic behind it yet, but the evidence is getting quite hard to ignore.

But, after everything that happened in the island, the quaint little break mixed with unwanted, unwarranted, unprompted invasions and sharing of his and others' psyches and memories, he was far too happy to simply return to the train and settle down with a cup of tea and the privacy of his mind intact. Sure, he and his unfortunate memory-sharing partner had tried to go about it as simple and effective as they could and were both fairly cordial, but that didn't take away the distress of finding themselves exposed the way they were. And, sure, it did lead to the angel and the demon having a rather necessary conversation about things in their past that they had needed to address for a while, and it brought them even closer as a result, but he still would have preferred if it hadn't happened quite so forcefully. But he fears that if he actually voices his disdain for all of these mind-invading events that seem to have exponentially grown in the number in the last year or so once more, whatever higher power (that isn't The Almighty) that is watching them might just drop another one on them out of spite.

When things settled, he relaxed. Well, mostly: he went about resuming his readings - both on his research on the Void and the ministry that apparently chases the train they find themselves in, and some fiction to sate his own curiosity -, as well as continuing the rest of his routine on the train. But he couldn't ignore the state the demon was in.

The angel partly wandered if it had to do with the conversation they had, even if it seemed to have ended on a positive note. Perhaps something had been left unsaid. Perhaps they didn't talk about everything they should have. Or, perhaps, Crowley's own experience in the island had a stronger effect on him than he had let the angel know.

Whatever it was, the angel tried to accommodate him as well as he could, while politely avoiding addressing the change in behavior. He made sure to check on the demon throughout the day. As always, invited him to share meals and pleasant conversation. Kept him updated on his research. He even suggested they watched a few of the animated films that were are their disposal in the cinema cart, despite Aziraphale's utter lack of interest in them. He found himself coming short on how to improve the demon's mood, just short of asking him directly what has exactly been bothering him.

Still, he tried. And that's what he found himself doing then, having gathered his things from the private room he had spent his day in, and finding the demon late in the afternoon, with the idea to invite him to yet another film viewing. Dealer's choice. Hopefully something the angel could sit through without having to suppress his scathing criticism.

"Ah, there you are, my dear. I've been looking for you." Aziraphale held a book and a couple of notebooks under his arm. "I was wondering if you're in the mood for a film?"
-------------------------------------

[Closed, for Lan Wanji]

[Sometime in late Grasshopper, early Horseshoe] Take Two
As the days passed, Aziraphale found himself occasionally thinking about the man he had found himself in a surprise mental bond with. Another passenger, of course (as if there would have been any other option), a vaguely familiar face as those that you find when you keep same space and schedule as a stranger, remembering them without ever uttering a word to each other.

Well, they sure had to share some words, when they met. Awkward, uncomfortable words, not by fault of either of them. Having been made forcibly privy to moments in each other's lives hardly counts for productive conversation, sure it surely leads to them remembering each other for at least some time.

After all that happened, and some ultimately positive fallout from the things they had seen, the man had been on Aziraphale's mind every so often. Perhaps they had even seen each other, walking by through carriages, passing by the kitchen. Aziraphale wandered if the man had had to deal with some sort of consequence borne from his own memories, like he had.

After a week had passed, he then found himself thinking that perhaps they should talk once more. Perhaps there were more questions, something to say, or maybe they could simply try to have a proper conversation without feeling exposed and uncomfortable.

Aziraphale arranged such a meeting, and figured they could sit in one of the private cars for such an exchange. As he waited, he poured himself a cup of tea from the pot he thought to prepare for the both of them. He hoped the young man liked tea.
-------------------------------------

[Closed, for Conan]

[Sometime in early to mid Horseshoe] Literary Insight
When Aziraphale was aware that the train now sported a library, he got quite excited about the prospect. Nothing, not ever, could ever compare to his own bookshop (oh, how he misses it so), but the thought of a place with rows of shelves with a myriad of tomes, perhaps several he never even knew of, from worlds he doesn't quite know, ah, it does bring some joy to his heart.

He was, of course, quite disheartened when it turned out to be something that looked like a library (or, rather, two kinds of library, and he admittedly found himself more attracted to the academic-looking one), but was mostly devoid of books to ever fill the long collections of shelves. It was heartbreaking to see.

Still, he made the best out of a bad situation, and spent the majority of his time in the library, picking at what books he could find, and making mental notes of what he should request in the future.

On his way to one of the desks in the top floor, which he much preferred, he happened to spot the young man at one of the desks. It was hard to miss anyone up there, specially since the space was really just devoid of books in the first place.

"Ah, young Conan. Hello." He offered the boy a smile. "Getting caught up on our reading, are we?"
-------------------------------------

[OPEN]

[Between the 13th and 24th of Horseshoe]

I. Library
This car was a disappointment.

It still is a disappointment, but he's been making due. He does quite like the environment in the first floor of the car, something much more familiar to the kinds of places he would spend days in before he ever opened his own bookshop, but utterly empty shelves are still quite the sore view.

Regardless, he's taken to bring whatever books that do catch his eye upstairs, now having found a new place to continue his research. Though, with all the time in his hands, including the time that most other passengers are sleeping, he's gone through several of the books many a times, trying to drain them of every drop of information he can find about the Void, the trains, the ministry, and anything that might help him make more sense of this mystery.

He's accompanied by Crowley sometimes, committing the crime against decency that is talking in a library, but he would argue that a library without books isn't really a library. An idea of a library, perhaps.

Either way, he's spent much of his time that others went outside to take on fantastical quests reading through the books available to them. Perhaps he's crossed paths with other bibliophiles and some curious minds. Perhaps people that suffered the same disappointment as him...


II. Games
He's never quite stopped properly examine the games carriage ever since it first appeared. It's just been quite a while since he's sat down for a proper gentleman's game, like chess or checkers.

During one of his breaks from reading, and has he's stretching his legs by taking a walk through the train, he makes a stop at the game carriage to examine the stock.

It's quite hard to miss all of the games that seemed based around trains. One where you're meant to build your own paths and best your rivals by taking up as much of the board as you can. One that seems to be about how to effectively run your train and make each area as productive as possible. And yet another one that seems to be about a train heist.

All quite good, he does suppose, but a tad bit complicated for him. Though he does eye them curiously, and the myriad of strategy games. They seem to be cute curious and complex, far more than he remembers. Are there maybe some of these on his own version of Earth?

III. Wildcard
[OOC: Aziraphale will be all over, as usual. Feel free to start your own prompt, or even ask about what you'd like to play in the replies. If you wanna plot privately, feel free to PM this account, find me at skree, or find me on the Discord server.]

Comments

Library - say, 14th Horseshoe?

[iamnotgod]

It had been a fairly somber mood since everyone from the mission had reboarded the train - and why wouldn't it be, given how many people had gone missing? - but there would always be books.

If... not necessarily as many as some would prefer, him among them.

"Ah, Aziraphale, good to see you," Webmind remarks in passing, low enough in volume to register as 'acceptable' for a library, but hopefully loud enough to draw the angel's attention anyhow.

"I do not suppose you know what to make of this book?" he asks, holding up the title 'Missing Worlds'.

"It is, perhaps, not the most enlightening, but I have read worse in a similar vein back on my Earth."

This is ridiculously late, I'm sorry!

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale perks up when he hears the friendly familiar greeting, offering Webmind a polite smile."Ah, hello."

His eyes soon fall on the book, rather curious. " 'Missing Worlds'. Is that a new addition?" The angel can't recall seeing it before, certainly hasn't read it. "What is it about?"

S'awright; it IS good to see you!

[iamnotgod]

"Fairly so."

If more to the other residents than Webmind himself.

"It describes - if in somewhat haphazard a manner - the disappearances of various worlds, which parallel to what happened to the Kingdom of Biq."

Not that the Kingdom itself had a mention, but then why should it? That had likely happened after the book had been published...

Aaa thank you!

[salutosinedelectat]

"Kingdom of Biq?" The angel asks curiously, glancing at Webmind for a moment, before his eyes settle on the book again.

"May I take a look?"

^_^

[iamnotgod]

"But of course."

Webmind holds the book out to the angel, smiling.

"And, while I do have a list of the worlds we've visited to cross-reference, I also have no doubt you have your own. It may serve you well to bring it up while reading this - seeing as the book does refer to worlds by their numbers, and not so much names."

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale takes the book, leafing through it curiously.

"I'm afraid I haven't been present for many of those stops yet." He did notice a pattern in the time it takes to get to them, however. "But I did hear tales from a couple of other passengers about different worlds. Have you found matches, then?"

[iamnotgod]

"Unfortunately not. Though given that I have not been on this train for long comparatively, either, we may end up visiting one of these places in the future."

Which made it in some respects worth speculating about.

[deductiongeek]

Conan looks up from his stack of books. (He'd read them all before multiple times, but that didn't mean they weren't worth reading one more time).

"Oh hello Aziraphale!," he says brightly. "Did you find anything interesting to read lately?"

[salutosinedelectat]

A human after his own heart, really. A good book is always worth reading more than once.

"The choices are still quite limited, I'm afraid." The things he's opted for, mostly pertaining to the Void, Void trains and other related searches, together with his lack of need to sleep, didn't quite make for a prolonged activity. " I would love to find something new. How about you?"

[deductiongeek]

"I ordered a few more books last month, but I think I might need to get more soon. They don't last very long."

[salutosinedelectat]

"Yes, it's rather unsatisfying, isn't it?" Aziraphale easily reads most books several times through with ease, and has well done so with the ones he's picked for his research, just in case he missed any particular detail to add to his notes. Unfortunately, for as much as they inform him about the world where the train itself comes from, he's yet to really find a proper hands-on use for that information.

"I has truly hoped that gaining a library would actually, well... include the expected contents." He gives the surrounding empty shelves a gently forlorn look. "I'd go as far as to say it feels like someone felt like pulling our leg."

[deductiongeek]

"It is a little disappointing. But I guess just giving all of us the books to fill it would have been too easy."

Conan still remembered arriving here when there were no books available at all. The first month had been miserably boring.

"Have you found anything interesting to read lately?"

[salutosinedelectat]

"Ah, well, I've been rereading the magazine articles about the world the Void Train originates from, just to make sure I haven't missed any important details. Not the most informative, but they do serve to puzzle it together." His notes had turned a bit circular due to his repeated examinations, but it's best to have too many notes than too few. "Plus as many books about the train and the Void as I could find. Still rather scarce, I have to admit. And I found myself reading what turned out to be works of fiction, a couple of times."

Closed to WangJi

[achickenformylove]

[The memories that had passed between them had been uncomfortable for WangJi, if only because he liked to be completely in control of what he told people and that had been taken away. Someone he hadn't even known had seen things about him.

Even so, he was aware that this wasn't going to change just by ignoring it. For either of them. So when Aziraphale reached out to him later, he accepted, heading to the private car that they had agreed to meet in.

Aziraphale was already there when he arrived and WangJi clasped his hands, giving him a bow in greeting before approaching the table]

Greetings.

Re: Closed to WangJi

[salutosinedelectat]

[ For a very long time, Aziraphale didn't feel like he had complete control of who and what he is. Sure, those above him didn't always have an eye on him, and he surely found his ways to explore his own interests and some of his wants and needs (with some help, of course, and never quite breaking the rules as much as it was bending them), but his mind had always been his own, at least. Well, ever since he and the demon were plucked from their original world of residence, it seemed like whatever masters of the realms that they happened to find themselves on had other things to say, whether that meant sacrificing their own private thoughts and emotions in return for safety - or, at least, survival -, or things like what happened just a week ago, where the exposure took a bit more of a direct meaning.

Well, today, all he's aiming for is pleasant conversation and a nice cup of tea. The things that happened are not the angel's fault, but he supposes that, considering that they found themselves partly emotionally exposed to each other anyway, he might as well make the effort to know the young man a little better. See how he's doing.

Aziraphale looks up as the door for the private room opens, and is quick to set the teapot down and wipe his hands on his argyle sweater vest. ]

Ah, hello.

[ With minimal fussing, he returns the bow, out of politeness.

On the table, it seems like Aziraphale took enough care for the setup that one would have expected it to all be arranged on an antique, intricate tea set, instead of the simple plates, cups and pot that he managed to find in the kitchen. There are biscuits, which seem freshly made. ]

Right on time, dear chap. I do hope you like tea.

[achickenformylove]

[WangJi took a moment to appreciate the tea setting and everything that had been arranged. They weren't the same plates that were normally available to everyone on the train. That was rather flattering that he brought out his own it seemed]

I do. We drink tea often.

[And he would come over to take the chair across from him]

Your tea service is very nice.

[salutosinedelectat]

Ah, good. And, well, I suppose I can't take credit for it. Hopefully there won't be any trouble in taking it from the kitchen for a short while.

[ Smiling politely at the young man, Aziraphale gets settled into his seat, wiggling slightly as he gets comfortable. For a second, there is a pause, and many things to say, but first thing's first - he picks up the pot and pours them both a cup of hot tea. ]

I do hope I haven't interrupted anything with this meeting.

[achickenformylove]

[So it was one of the train's sets as far as anyone knew]

Hopefully.

[WangJi seated himself properly, hands folded in his lap until the tea was poured. Once it was, he picked it up so that he could subtly assess it. Not to be rude, but it was a habit. If someone were providing high-quality tea back home, it showed that the guest understood it.

Of course, tea on the train was different, but if he didn't make it, he still did this]

You did not interrupt anything.

[In truth, he was glad to meet with him]

[salutosinedelectat]

[ Aziraphale does understand his teas, but unfortunately his choices on the train are a bit limited. Granted, if he wanted to, he could miracle himself some proper blends, but that would be cheating.]

So, hum.

[ As he prepares the rest of his tea, and then politely gestures towards the biscuits, waiting for his guest. ]

I do suppose there are some things we should probably talk about.

Closed

[agathokakological]

Crowley hadn't been feeling himself. This was a problem because Crowley was always acutely aware of his own inner workings, his own trials and personal anxieties. Normally, even if he was feeling a bit off, he could at least pinpoint why, and if there was no solution for such a thing, he'd sleep it off. This was different. He'd tried sleeping it off. He'd tried distracting himself with his plants, he'd tried clinging desperately to his angel when he felt the need, but he couldn't figure it out, and that terrified him.

He'd remained fairly calm for the most part. He'd been calm on the island, at least in the fact of most other passengers. It wasn't until all the pent up emotion between himself and Aziraphale was prodded at that he'd been unable to save face, and he recovered fairly quickly. He remained fairly calm on the train, too. His sunglasses helped... distancing himself where he could helped, but there were subtle differences, enough of them that he was sure Aziraphale had noticed.

Sometimes, when you bottle things up enough, they spill over on you. Aziraphale may have caught just that in the process of happening as he extended the invite, and Crowley's voice warbled slightly in response, threatening to get very weepy very fast.

"A film... y-yeah. What did you have in mind?"

Re: Closed

[salutosinedelectat]

Aziraphale stopped in his tracks, before he could even think to try and spare Crowley the politeness of feigned ignorance (again). Listening to that shake in Crowley's voice made something deep inside the angel's mind feel quite unsettled, and sparked great urge to immediately comfort him.

Crowley wouldn't entirely appreciate, he thought, if he made a big fuss about it. As far as negative emotions go, he's quite used to seeing Crowley express anger and irritation, and he's even been privy to a few moments when the demon's perspective at the time felt quite dark, but he was still not used to seeing this level of vulnerability from him. Even after those quiet moments they had in the islands, and even after their exchange once they freed themselves from whatever was binding them and their memories with other passengers, Aziraphale finds himself short on how to possibly comfort the demon in a way that won't feel like an attack on his pride.

So, got his wits back about him, and faintly cleared his throat, and tried his best to make it look like he hasn't noticed.

"Well, there looks to be one film about a crime-fighting detective that travels through different universes." Aziraphale found little interest in this summary, but he remembered Crowley's fondness for those movies about that James Bond fellow. He couldn't quite find anything about spies, but this sounded equally as flashy. "Perhaps we could give it a try."

Re: Closed

[agathokakological]

Crowley wanted to tell Aziraphale. He wanted to tell him that he was scared, that he was feeling things he didn't understand, but Aziraphale would just fret and worry. Crowley didn’t want to be a burden, he was supposed to be strong for his angel and protect him when needed, but he felt too fragile for that in the moment.

He could tell Aziraphale was trying, particularly with such a flashy movie suggestion. The angel would have never picked anything of the sort unleas he were trying to make some sort of gesture, and this warmed Crowley's heart to some degree.

"Yeah, sounds good." he replied more somberly than he had meant to, then clearing his own throat in attempt to push it all back down within him.

Crowley felt distant. It would be different if he could put his feelings into words, but he didn’t comprehend them. They weren't his own. Timidly, he approached the angel, his hand slipping into Aziraphale’s.

Re: Closed

[salutosinedelectat]

They had never been quite good at putting their own emotions into words. They were good with words themselves, at least most of the time, as one manages to gather quite a level of practice on how to use them when they've been around for the entire existence of human language, both the living and the dead ones. But personal expression is a tricky thing, when you've spent most of your existence having to hide what could have been taken as weakness or malfunction.

"Right." He offered Crowley a smile, one that was clearly loaded with questions, and some faint disappointment in the lack of excitement in the response he had gotten.

The angel adjusted the notebooks under his arm and suddenly found Crowley's hand in his. The act in itself wasn't surprise, has they had delightfully indulged in such simple but pleasant shows of affection for some time now, but there was something about the careful way that the demon went about it that held a strong hint of vulnerability.

Aziraphale's smile was concerned and sympathetic. He held Crowley's hand up and patted it with his other, setting them both on their way for the cinema cart.

"I've done another run through the magazines from the world this train origins from." He offered casual conversation, a repetitive subject that had already been explored to death, specifically by the angel himself. "I'm afraid there really isn't much more to gather from it. The best chance for more information seems to be attempting to purchase more books about it."

Re: Closed

[agathokakological]

Such an act itself wasn't abnormal for them since they've become more intimate, but it's fairly clear from Crowley's own demeanor, the way he clings to Aziraphale, and the fact that he's still hiding behind sunglasses that it's almost an act of desperation. Aziraphale is strong and safe, and Crowley doesn't want to stray far from his angel when he feels so vulnerable.

"Oh," He remarks, almost distractedly as the angel talks, like maybe he hadn't heard him at all. He'd known he was talking, he wanted to hear it, but it just kind of floated above him, like Crowley was under water.

"Sorry, angel, did you ask me a question?" he wasn’t sure he had, but there was so much going on inside his head that he didn’t understand, he couldn’t help but feel distracted.

Re: Closed

[salutosinedelectat]

At points, Aziraphale would expect Crowley to not listen to things he'd been saying. Those points usually involved hour long rambles about any given subject that was more of the angel's interest than the demon's, and a rare occasion of general awareness by the angel. But this wasn't one of those moments. Crowley wasn't being dismissive, or uninterested. And the angel struggled to keep pretending he didn't notice that something was clearly wrong. He'd like to believe that if something had happened that he wasn't aware of, Crowley would feel comfortable enough to tell him, nowadays, with how they find themselves. But Aziraphale wasn't so sure he could way much longer before he went ahead and asked.

"Hum, no, I haven't." He responded awkwardly. "I said I-...well, never mind. I suppose it's not important."

They stepped through armory and the library, entering the music carriage.

"Quite a walk, nowadays. I do wonder how much longer this train will become, at this rate."