[Adrenaline Drive] - [Act 1]

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ Beneath the strange light of this world's two moons - one round and white, the other small, misshapen, and red - the steel lines of twin train tracks glisten, running parallel over the horizon. The land in all directions around is all high, rolling hills, grassy and dotted with thick, clustered shrubs but sparse of trees. The peace here is absolute - but for barely a handful of seconds.

On those tracks, a train is rumbling along at breakneck speed, bright light spilling from the windows and thick, black smoke issuing from the stack. Inside, the soft, classical decor is awash in a warm, yellow glow that seems not to emit just from the sconces on the walls, the lamps on tables, but from the very substance of the train, itself.

In spite of the rather cheery effect this luminescence lends to the bigger picture, however, if one were to poke around behind the doors of the luxurious private cars, here, they might find the place a shambles. Lamps broken, furniture scattered about, glass from the windows littering the floor, and perhaps even a few droplets of something that looks suspiciously like blood dried into the carpets - it's total chaos everywhere. Or, everywhere except the dining car, which remains mysteriously intact.

In fact, the train's sole other occupant is currently holed up, there, in the midst of an exorbitant meal. He's a young-looking man with long, silver hair and thick, round spectacles, dressed in what appears to be some odd cut of cassock. He seems unfazed by the speed of the train (though in reality he is almost perpetually stricken with motion sickness), let alone the tacky, white tiger-print wallpaper plastered to the interior of this particular car. On the contrary, he's just terribly engrossed in his present bit of business-- ]

Oh yes, I think I'd like to try this one, next! [ He says, holding up his menu with a free hand, making some vague indication toward an item from the desserts section.

He's mistaken the sound of strange footsteps for those of his waitress (or waiter), it seems. Oops. ]

Comments

[tiniestoverlord.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't even quirk an eyebrow at the destruction--such things are common in the Netherworld, after all. What does surprise him is when the other man speaks up.]

Excuse me?! Do you even know who you're talking to?!

1/2

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

Oh?

[ Abel pauses, breaking away from that intense concentration he reserves only for eating, and glances over his shoulder, an expression of calm curiosity on his face. ]

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ Well, look at that. It's just a cute little kid! ]

Ah, I'm afraid I haven't the slightest idea, actually! But should you really be talking to strangers, hmm? I'll bet your parents would worry.

[tiniestoverlord.livejournal.com]

["Cute little kid", my foot.]

What are you even talking about?! I'm the strongest demon in the Netherworld, I don't have to worry about talking to strangers!

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ Adorable!! ]

Oh my. And such an imagination, too. You know, that's really admirable, these days. Though I think you could take a friendlier approach to it...

So, weren't you just about to introduce yourself, oh great and powerful demon?

[tiniestoverlord.livejournal.com]

[Say that again and there will be a sword to your throat.]

I am the great Overlord Laharl! I'm not some kid with a wild imagination!

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Excuse me. I'm sorry for intruding.

[She doesn't particularly seem it; the courteous words seem more like a distant habit and she seems quite comfortable with the idea of having barged in as if she belongs.

The speaker turns out to be a girl in her late teens perhaps, dark-haired and dark-eyed, Asian features, fashionably but modestly dressed. She takes a few steps closer; her heels tick against the floor of the car.]

Shall we keep each other company awhile?

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

Eh--

[ That doesn't sound like his waitress. Setting aside his menu, Abel simply stares for a moment, as if he doesn't quite comprehend - strange women don't usually barge into his dreams on days when he most decidedly hasn't met any cute girls (and maybe once he wakes, he'll find this peculiar, then, too).

But it would be impolite to turn her down, since it seems there are rather few options for strangers seeking momentary companionship, in this deserted car. So he doesn't. ]

I suppose. It's really no trouble, you know. I haven't any more claim to a public dining car than the next person.

I'd hate to seem like the type who only likes to eat alone, anyway.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[It's almost enough to make her smile waver; she has too many memories of trying to convince herself it was fine to eat alone at school.

No matter; the flippant demeanor is back after just a brief moment. She seats herself nearby, posture perfect.]

Thank you for your invitation.

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ Abel smiles disarmingly, by all intents a perfectly natural look. He's kind of a mess, not possessed of the neatest of table manners, but cheerful enough to make up for it. ]

Ah, like I said-- It's not as if I own the place! We're all just passengers, together, so we should definitely try to share.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Where are you going? [Everyone should know that; just don't ask her the same question.]

[goldenpacifist.livejournal.com]

[Cain is disturbed by his brief walk through the train to reach the dining car. He was expecting a lot of things once he arrived (mostly terrible evil things that may try to kill him) but, his twin cheerfully eating away wasn't one of them.]

... What would you like Abel? [He asks hesitantly. Doesn't he know this place isn't safe...?]

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ It shouldn't be so strange to anyone who knows him even half as well that Abel might be the monster in his own dream - but there's no danger inherent, here, as the troubles at the root of all the destruction surrounding his cozy little dining car with the really awful wallpaper have all since passed.

In reality, this train is long gone, and the last car burned to the ground.

Without looking back, Abel tucks his menu under a growing stack of empty dishes, replying without a hint of recognition in his tone. ]

The chocolate tart, please. The really expensive one!

[goldenpacifist.livejournal.com]

[Cain could never imagine Abel as the monster and in his mind this is very much his dream. It leaves him to wonder if maybe he should have taken Seth's advice about running off to the cafe near the train station to get snacks before bed. Clearly they are haunting him.]

Alright... [He turns to the dessert cart, grabs the first tart looking thing he sees (really how many times has he had these kind of treats even in the city?), and sets it in front of Abel.]

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

Thank y-- [ For one second more, his pleased smile remains intact as he eyes his dessert, and then some hint of realization strikes him, a little jolt of recognisance. He reaches for Cain's wrist as soon as he's dropped the plate, lightning quick even as plain horror overtakes his expression - no, no, no. This isn't that kind of dream. ]

...You.

[goldenpacifist.livejournal.com]

[Cain is caught off guard. Sure something has been seriously off since the start of this little train ride but, Abel's reaction... Why was he surprised to see him? They were distant from each other but, it wasn't like they never saw each other in the city.]

What is it?

[dormition]

[There's a short pause as Minato leans over to investigate what he means, and then nods agreeably.] You're right, that one does look good.

[The whole thing is oddly familiar to him. Showing up suddenly at a mysterious location, the eerie atmosphere, something major clearly having gone down earlier... and a man acting like it's all completely normal, and speaking to him like he knows him. Yes, to Minato, this is life per usual.]

Do you mind if I join you? [So of course he wants to get to know him better.]

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

Oh! Doesn't it just? [ He takes this assent as confirmation of his impeccable taste, naturally, and smiles as brightly as the ornate lanterns lighting the curious dining car.

Waving over this total stranger as easily as if they were lifelong friends (maybe not his waiter, but welcome company just as well), Abel gestures to the comfortable-looking bench seat across from him. ]

Certainly not! I'd rather have a meal with conversation than one without, any day.

[dormition]

[It's certainly an interesting decor... Abel's ready friendliness gets a slight smile out of Minato, and he slides onto the bench, glancing around as he does.

This is an interesting dream. He wonders if he can talk to him without interrupting it; he genuinely doesn't like intruding on such personal things as what people tend to dream about. It's too late to have second thoughts now, though, so he goes ahead and introduces himself:] I'm Minato Arisato. It's nice to meet you.

... Is the waiter coming back? [He's hungry.]

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ Fortunately, Abel seems entirely undisturbed by the minor change of course his dream has taken; it's probably safe to assume he's either very accustomed to the unexpected, in his waking life, or simply absentminded enough just to brush it off. ] It's nice to meet you, too, Minato. My name is Abel Nightroad, but you can just call me Father! Everyone else does!

[ At his very valid question, the priest has the good grace to look a little concerned, glancing up and down the length of the car. ] Ah, honestly, I'm not so certain, anymore! But he did leave the dessert cart behind, if you don't mind starting off with the last course.

[dormition]

That's okay, I like dessert. [he announces, already reaching over to tug the dessert cart closer to them. He looks over his choices and selects something without fanfare - a dark, bitter chocolate mousse with ladyfingers and strawberries. That done, he refocuses his attention on Abel.] Father... So you're a priest?

[Minato isn't very familiar with Western religion, but he has passing familiarity enough to realize that this is pretty out of the ordinary for a priest. Still, after working for Kanzeon Bosatsu forging her signature and making popcorn, it's given him a different perspective on what to expect from religious figures. He doesn't bat an eye; he's just genuinely curious.]

[daha-az-tanrica.livejournal.com]

[Certainly stranger things have happened. Not that she's one to talk about strange occurrences. She's been in and caused ones stranger then this. Abel being here does prove a point that they can't ever have a bit of normalcy. This does offer a good chance for teasing. Actually it's always a good time to tease her brother.]

What? Can't you and your poor frail old self get it?

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

[ The easy calm that fills the room appears as unsettled by her sudden presence as Abel, himself. It isn't that he's never dreamt of Seth - on the contrary, she's often been at the back of his mind, over the years. But in this mundane a setting?

It's weird enough to see her wandering into his otherwise unpopulated dreamworld that he completely disregards the playful dig with which she greets him. ]

...Seth? What are you doing here?

[daha-az-tanrica.livejournal.com]

I thought I'd take a vacation from the kids.

[Which was to say she had no real idea. Dreams were always tricky and strange. Often the reason why she never paid strong attention to them or reasoning involving them. By Seth's logic it's best to just go with the way things are in this place. Better then trying to explain everything when she didn't even have half of the answers.]

It gets tiring dealing with children, you know.

[badbulletshield.livejournal.com]

Wh-What? Kids?

[ Seth with children? Now there's a possibility he's never considered. (Maybe he should stop eating so much food of questionable substance and preservation?) ] I think maybe I've missed something, here.