[Closed] This Isn't the Hogwarts Express

[francia]

Who: Envy (exeggutorhead), France (francia), Miguel (trailweblaze), Tulio (greatbigrock)
Where: The Magnet Train (Johto ➜ Kanto)
When: May 15, around lunchtime
Summary: Following the Spring Cleaning event, it just might be high time to take a good trip away from Johto for a new world change of scenery.
Rating: PG to PG-13
Log:

The recent events had been not the strangest that Johto had thrown at France (that would most definitely be the nightmarish week spent soulless with the strange pixelated Halloween as a runner-up), but they had certainly been the most disgusting and among the most taxing. The turn in the weather hadn't been reassuring in the slightest, and France had decided, as soon as the storming cleared up, that it was fine time for him to take a vacation as he'd been considering one for a couple of months.

This is how he found himself on a lunchtime Magnet Train heading for Saffron City with Envy, Miguel, and Tulio. Setting his ticket on the side of the table between the four seats, France leans back into the chair, letting out a sigh of relief.

"God, I'm glad to get away from that place. The past couple of weeks have been a complete disaster."

Comments

[greatbigrock]

"Yeah", he muttered, throwing France a look from where he was leaning back against the seat, arms crossed and looking ... mostly neutral, for once. Not hostile, at any rate, since things had worked out fine this time around - no soul-stealing bugs, no bombs, nothing like that.

But it was still a reminder that Johto could sometimes be a bad place.

Also, honestly, the fact that he was just tired probably played a part in it.

"Looks like we agree for once."

[exeggutorhead]

Envy's been alternating between leaning back in his chair and resting his elbow on the edge of the window to look out. And not just because he can't sit still for more than five minutes. The trains in Amestris were nothing compared to this as far as speed and technology went, and after dealing with the city trash coming to life and the storms and flooding, it's nice for there to be something not incredibly annoying or dangerous to focus on.

And better yet, he doesn't have to move for it. Even he's tired as hell after all that.

"It's a miracle."

...but Envy is never too tired for teasing.

"How long a ride is this, again?" Not that he's complaining if it is long.

[trailweblaze]

Miguel, meanwhile, is too busy sitting practically glued to the window, staring out at the landscape swooshing by. He's for the most part quiet, marvelling over the incredible speed this thing can move and also at everything appearing so fast outside.

"Wow, look at those things!" Except this is probably the twelfth time he's said that and pointed at whatever thing it was and they'll have rushed past it before the other's can turn their heads to look, cause this train-thing sure is fast.

[francia]

France tosses Tuliio a slightly disconcerted look.

"It does appear to be so."

Unlike his companions, France is more than familiar with this level of technology and travel, so the train and its speed doesn't come as too much a shock to him. He's also a bit more awake than he appears, having drunken a couple shots of espresso before checking out of the Goldenrod Hotel for the last time in hopefully quite a while.

At Envy's question, he looks to his ticket with a bit of a frown.

"I'm... actually not sure."

He glances over at Miguel, a little uncertainly. He doesn't have a window seat, and it doesn't seem too fascinating whatever they're passing.

"I don't think it's anymore than a handful of hours."

[greatbigrock]

"Either way, it's winding-down-time", Tulio announces, already leaning into Miguel a little as it is, his grumble of "sit still, why don't you?" coming across as affectionate more than actually angry.

Because, for once, he really isn't angry. Again, things had gone well. Hell, they'd even gotten a nice share of spoils from looting Goldenrod when things were chaotic. In the end most of the walking trash hadn't been too hard to avoid once you learned the tricks.

"God knows we earned it."

He's watching the other two though, as if considering something. France sure seems a little off, but not in any way that necessarily pings him. It's with a mental shrug he sinks down a little into his seat.

[exeggutorhead]

"Well, however long it is, I'm not going to complain about getting to travel by something that isn't Pokemon or walking."

Trains, even really cool modern trains, are still nice and familiar. And he's really not too surprised by Miguel's reaction, considering how they hadn't used to know what things like electricity were. He settles back in his seat again from his latest look out the window--and no, he hadn't been able to tell what Miguel was so excited about-- and casually links his arm around France's elbow. He half-grins.

"And if I never see another walking trash bag again it will be too soon."

[trailweblaze]

Miguel finally tears his face from the window, only having heard about half of the conversation going on behind him. Because cearly, endless expanses of meadow and lakes and forests filled with Pokémon are more interesting than talking.

Although he does sink back in his seat a little. Fighting trash and thunderstorms does takes it toll after all.

"I wonder what Celadon is like..."

[francia]

France hums lightly, openly pleased by the additional contact from Envy. He shifts the hold slightly so that he can entwine his fingers with Envy's hand as well. He smiles fully, happy and openly pleased with himself, Envy, and the current situation.

"Even if there is trash, it's not mine to take care of because this is the start of my holiday."

France leans over and presses a fond kiss to Envy's cheek. His self-satisfaction is either infectious or irritating, or some of both.

[greatbigrock]

Irritating, to Tulio, who rolls his eyes and huffs at the display, although it does lack edge. He doesn't really care anymore - France has spent enough time around them by now, and he's got more on his mind than picking fights with the guy.

He still wasn't very fond of him, though.

"Unless Johto screws us over again", he says absently, regretting his previous change of position by stretching out a little, seemingly restless.

[exeggutorhead]

Envy is definitely pleased with getting that affection, and shifts more to lean against France's side.

"But we're not going to be in Johto."

Never mind that this distinction doesn't actually mean anything as far as ridiculous disasters and Envy knows it. He snickers a little, "Maybe we'll be incredibly lucky and this half of the world will let up on us."

And as for Miguel's question, he pauses to think a second or two before shrugging. "Haven't heard much about Celadon. Or anywhere but Saffron."

[trailweblaze]

"I didn't know anything about Kanto at all." Guess who is excited to go to a (to them) completely unexplored region? If you guessed Miguel, then you are right. There is nothing Miguel likes better than new and fancy places.

He's slid down quite comfortable in his seat, but he keeps throwing glances at the window.

"Do you think the living trash and the disaster raged there too?"

[francia]

Can you feel the love tonight right now? Because France is oozing it and the accompanying ego all over the train car now. Tulio's huffing and Envy drawing closer only adds to his approval of this entire situation.

He reaches up to card a hand through Envy's hair. "We're going to explore a new world. As I don't believe there are any other Nations there yet, I should conquer it in the name of myself."

Miguel's question gives him pause, his eyes narrowing momentarily as he tries to remember.

"I think I remember posts from a few places in Kanto about urban areas being similarly affected by that disaster," he says, a bit of a pout coming to his lips. "I hope they've cleaned it up the aftermath by now."

[greatbigrock]

He throws Miguel a quick halfway grin at that, one eyebrow raised as he nudges his side in a light but significant way. New world, am I right? That went wonderfully last time. ... or, well, it went a bit so-so, but he still remembers the whole thing with a smug air because all things considered, it looked like they were going to get away with it.

But falling back to what France is saying, and rather pointedly not looking directly at the pair, he pulls his shoulders up a little, dismissively.

"Probably. They're neat freaks around here, they wouldn't leave it for long."

[exeggutorhead]

He settles further against France's side, his expression growing more contented. But he leaves it at that, partly out of taking some pity on Tulio and partly because there's still only so much affection he'll show in front of other people.

"Heh, hopefully. Wouldn't want to conquer a region that's full of garbage."

Envy's actually looking forward to doing some exploring; they'd been in Goldenrod for a long time, and he's eager for a change of scenery. "I wonder if we'll be the first people from other worlds to go to that Cinnabar place."

[trailweblaze]

Probably infected by the love radiating from the other pair, Miguel has slowly and discreetly settled in closer to Tulio, now sitting with his arm pressed against the other.

He's staring out the window again, but not in the same excited manner as before. Tiredness is catching up to him, but wow he can't wait to get to Kanto.

He has no idea what Cinnabar is, but it's a new place and new places are great.

"That would be fantastic"