Nineteen Explosions [Voice || Action for those on the train]

[idmakeitaweek]

JARVIS --ak- su-- ---s Ty-l-- and Miss Ru---an are sa--. Obviously I'm -- th- tra---.

Th---gs aren't g----g so well he--. Stay of- the ---in if yo--e not go--en on.

[Action for those on the train]

[Tony is in compartment Nine pacing back and forth with a glass of Scotch. He keeps poking at the device trying to increase the reception or contact

Comments

[action]

[windsorknot]

[ Arthur's making his rounds again, which brings him through compartment nine. The whole situation has him on edge, his steps slow and measured as he paces through the middle of the compartment. He slowly surveys his surroundings as he walks through, only stopping when he runs into a familiar face. ]

Mr. Stark?

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

Arthur. I'd say a pleasure to see you but I'd rather you be above ground. Care for a Scotch?

[action]

[windsorknot]

[ He manages a weak smile, more an upward quirk of the mouth than anything. ]

I'll pass, but thanks. [ He leans against a wall, chancing a glance outside just in time to catch what looks like downtown Paris flash by. It's gone after a moment or two. He's learned to ignore them by now, though his gaze still lingers a second too long. ]

Any luck making contact with the outside?

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

I spoke with my room mate but it was fairly broken up. What about you?

[action]

[windsorknot]

I haven't had any success. Text-only communication would work better in this case, I think.

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

Perhaps. If it'll send out reliably. I'm having doubts that anything would get out with any kind of clarity right now. They don't want us in contact with anyone.

[action]

[windsorknot]

All the more to isolate us, huh. [ He glances back at the door he came from, as though remembering something. ]

Staying in groups of at least two seems like the safest bet.

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

Perhaps we ought to make the rounds and advise people of that?

[action]

[windsorknot]

Probably a good idea. I can't stay here for too long, anyway. [ He told Ariadne he'd be right back, after all. ] I was making my own rounds.

[ Arthur chances another glance at the window, which only shows empty darkness this time. ] What do you think's the cause of all these deaths?

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

[Tony avoids looking out the windows as he takes a sip of his scotch and starts walking toward the door separating the compartments.]

I don't know. I have a hard time believe the deities don't have a hand in it though. They seem to have their hands in lots of pots.

[action]

[windsorknot]

Isn't that always the case? [ Arthur turns away from the window and shrugs. ] Making us suffer for seemingly no reason seems to be their modus operandi.

I've heard that death isn't permanent here, though. [ He doesn't sound particularly happy about the idea. ]

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

There's a theory that the City gets something out of causing us misery. It runs the City in a sense. I'm not sure how much I believe that right now.

As have I. It's not something I've experienced first hand. Thankfully. [He's not thrilled about this either]

[action]

[windsorknot]

I've heard that story before, too. It would explain some of what goes on in the City, sure, but that doesn't mean it makes any sense. Misery's an emotion, not a form of energy.

I haven't, either. [ At that, Arthur takes a quick glance around. ] All we can do is try our best to stay aware of our surroundings at all times.

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

Unless the City has figured out a way to turn emotions into energy.

[He's not entirely sure he believes it and it's obvious by his voice.]

Speaking of being aware, are you seeing scenes from your world outside the windows? I'm assuming the windows are personalizing to each person or considering the possibility this is a personal torment.

[action]

[windsorknot]

Maybe. Stranger things have happened here.

[ Considering how he's seen everything from downtown Los Angeles to one or two of his apartments to Paris so far, it's definitely personal. ]

Yeah, I'm seeing places from my world every now and then. Probably some kind of trick. The fact that we're seeing different things only makes that more likely. [ another shrug ] Knowing this place, I'd agree that it's meant to torment us. Show us what we can't have.

Re: [action]

[idmakeitaweek]

Or what we can't fix, stop or save. [He's trying not to watch Pepper die out of the corner of his eye]