[Game 21] That Night

[arsgoetia]

After everyone has gotten fed and had a chance to learn the basic details of what things are like here, Kieran calls you all together (pretty much because Madison had been trying to work up the steam to do so, so Kieran stepped in instead).

It's dark outside, and a little chill—about 9 or 10PM.

"Okay, guys," Kieran says. "So, Maddy's got enough train tickets for all of us minus two. Maddy's staying behind because of prophecy reasons, and I'm going to stay with him so he's not left alone in this house and also because I'm probably a killswitch for a powerful incubus, aka my boyfriend, showing up if anything happens to me and, by extension, Maddy." He delivers this all in a deadpan. "Anything else, Maddy?"

Maddy looks a little alarmed to be put on the spot, shaking his head and flushing a little. "Er. Not for now. Oh . . . if anything goes. Weird? Please listen to Sariel—he's . . . in charge?" And he hands over an envelope to everyone's favourite psychopomp.

Comments

[Preparation]

[arsgoetia]

Sariel, standing in the doorway to the kitchen with an apron on, drying a pot from dinner with a cloth, just frowns, gives the group a quick glance, and nods.

Elli turns to face the group as Sariel sourly accepts the tickets. "Okay, does anyone need a disguise to appear more human…? I'm open to ideas or, uh, you get whatever I come up with!"

"And if anyone has any last minute questions or preparations to make," Sariel adds, "better to do it now, because once we're out there, we're going to be in public and have to try to pass as normal travelers."

[defendless]

How normal are we going for here? Should Zeno start using pronouns properly?

[playfair]

They'll probably just think you're normal-weird.

[innerdemon]

That's probably fine. Obviously the more we fly under the radar the better, but if it's going to trip you up, don't worry about it. Plenty of slightly weird people ride trains.

[liarliarliar]

[has gotten himself a bag which he has filled with motion sickness medicine and other helpful bits and

and now he's just tossing in snacks

just all snacks]

Aren't we a normal looking crowd? I think so.

[aethericbody]

[raises his hand, maybe borrowed a thermos to carry coffee with them]

Are our clothes all right, or will we need to borrow some?

[playfair]

Oh, I can help give people advice on how to act normal.

Re: [Preparation]

[tenebrat]

[ raises a hand ]

I will be in someone's shadow, mostly, so I only hope money was not wasted on my ticket...

Re: [Preparation]

[beleaving]

I am certainly open to whatever you wish to make of me!

[monere]

If anyone has a cell, let's exchange numbers.

[onelastknight]

[ I feel like maybe I come pre-equipped with an outfit change. if i didnt before i do now cuz in like, jeans and a t-shirt and a jacket, like a normal living human ] I don't think I'll have a problem passing as normal, although the size of our group is a little conspicuous.

[redetermined]

[just gonna check in with kieran and maddy]

Will you guys be okay on your own?

Re: [Preparation]

[beginningofwisdom]

My questions will be answered on the journey, or not at all.

[his lab coat's vanished somehow, leaving him in a plain T-shirt and slacks]

Re: [Preparation]

[rollwillpowercheck]

[I mean, he's wearing a very 90s sweater, but fashion sense aside, he looks normal.]

This feels like a field trip.

Re: [Preparation]

[ancestuous]

[he looks down at his clothing, which are normal enough]

I think I have all I need...?

[troublebrewing]

[Robin Is A Normal Person... who's stuffing candlesticks into her purse]

If anyone's cold, I think we have some extra jackets? Maybe? I don't know.

[bowtiedbones]

I'm a normal human, so that's fine, but is magic an open known thing here or is that something to be sneaky about?

[runawaystory]

[used some pg-granted powers to swap her clothes to something more suitable to the 21st century. still cute and stylish though.]

A little cash would be nice? And someone's phone number, in case we get separated.

[psychopompous]

[heads upstairs for a bit, then comes down wearing a sweater and scarf. you can borrow clothes from him if you're Average and want to look like a hot youth minister I guess]

Re: [Preparation]

[tenebrat]

[ AFTER SHOVING SOME PEOPLE INTO DIFFERENT CLOTHES AND OGLING SOME BUFF DUDES, cys speaks up again ] Oh!! Also, if anyone needs to hide something, I can put it in my shadows? I can fit quite a bit, so it will be no problem.

(frozen comment) [The Midnight Train]

[arsgoetia]

[You head to the train station on time. Sariel makes sure you are on time. It's a pretty easy trip by foot to the nearest bus stop, and from there a largely uneventful ride. There is no bus-related sidequest.]

[Some details you'll learn:
- It turns out your tickets are, strangely enough, for Philadelphia
- Maddy has suggested you group off into separate compartments of the train, to avoid travelling as less of a big and suspicious group.

According to the way the tickets were grouped, we've got:

Group 1: Sariel, Kano, Eliza, Rosalie, and Zeno
Group 2: Elluka, Naomi, Kaname, Shuri, Robin and Bakura
Group 3: Maon, Fon, Arias, Haurchefant, Arthur, and Paracelsus

. . . and Cys with whoever Cys wants to be with. If anybody wants to switch groups and stay with a new sudden BFF or anything, you're welcome to do so. If you feel like tempting fate and archangels.]

[You arrive at the train and proceed through checks and clearance remarkably easily. Or maybe not that remarkable, given that you've got at least a handful of magic-users that might be slightly tipping things in your favor.]

[The train leaves the station at 11:50. Scenery is pretty dark, so hopefully somebody brought some cards . . .?]

(frozen comment) [Group 1]

[arsgoetia]

[There are a pair of middle-aged women sitting in this compartment, facing each other across a small chess set. One of them is very small and slight, with heavy dark hair curling around her cheeks. She looks up as you enter, watching from over her glasses, but has her attention drawn back to the game by her partner. You can tell by the set of her shoulders that she's still paying attention to you, though.

Her partner is cheery and a little too loud, chattering pleasantly about this and that and chess strategies and plans for Halloween. And if you all were feeling like you might stand out, she's got a dramatic head of blond hair and a bright blue military-esque jacket, with a charming smile and an air like you could put a sword in her hand and she wouldn't look out of place as a dramatic prince.]

(frozen comment) [Group 2]

[arsgoetia]

[Aside from you all, there's a young man sitting in this compartment. He looks to be university-aged, with the sides of his head shaved and his the rest of his hair in a really fantastic swoop to one side. He's tan and strong-looking, with a tight shirt and a jawline that could cut paper if you angled it just right.

His eyes sweep over your group as you enter, and he lowers his phone, though he doesn't approach, still wearing his headphones.]

(frozen comment) [Group 3]

[arsgoetia]

This compartment is empty. It looks like someone had maybe been sitting there a while ago, but there's just a jacket draped over one chair near the front. Which might be for the best, since you guys are all a bit . . . enthusiastic.

(frozen comment) [Going Anywhere…?]

[arsgoetia]

At exactly midnight:

There's a high-pitched whistling sound, and abruptly, all the lights in the train go out, plunging you into darkness.

For those sensitive to magical energy, you suddenly feel a huge spike of something sharply unpleasant, hot and searing like a burning brand. Voices cry out. The more human among you feel quite faint, suddenly, but you hold onto consciousness fiercely, like something catches you and pushes you back into wakefulness.

There's a crackling sound from overhead and a voice comes over the intercom. Male, lilting, and not a voice that you recognize, though it's also probably not one you're likely to forget.

"Testing, testing . . . oh, it looks like there's more of you still around than I thought. Well, that's all the same to me. Sit down, settle in. Hope you didn't have plans, 'cause you're not getting that Airbnb deposit back. This train's going straight to Hell."