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{James : Train : Training Car -> long route -> Dining Car}

In the end, it seemed that James couldn't stand focusing on practicing for too much longer. He had managed to figure out the proper amount of energy necessary to manifest the "Blunderbuss", and had gotten accustomed to the boost of speed as well as the range of his new "Dash" ability too. However, without someone else here as well it was rather boring and he realized that he couldn't go as long without food as he thought. So with a sigh he gave up on the idea of waiting for Jenny to return. He was certain they would get a chance to train sometime in the future. He silently stepped out of the Training Car and back into the Stable Car. He heard the rest of them talking amongst themselves, but wasn't terribly interested in talking right now. After the training he closed his eyes enjoying the cool evening breeze that entered the car through the down ramp that lead out of the car. He leaned against the door frame for a bit, just letting the breeze cool him down.

He then opened his eyes, looking out toward the ground, the crater from Arabella's attack still noticeable in the slight darkness though mainly because of his instinctive senses. It was then that he noticed Bobbi still outside on the ground. Where she had been after Rae's heart was taken and Noelle disappeared.

'She must really be shook up about all of this... Better get her inside though.'

Without even realizing he did it, the corsair jumped down from the top of the ramp onto the soft ground and he quickly made his way over to his friend. Reaching his hand out for her to take.

"Come on Mizu let's get inside."

She silently nodded and took his hand, slowly rising to stand. She seemed exhausted, or maybe she was just emotionally worn out. James lead her into the Lounge Car and then from there without even acknowledging anyone he saw he passed through into the Dining Car. His focus solely set on getting Bobbi into a bed. When he reached the Sleeping Car he gently set her down onto one of the beds and left her there to lay down and fall asleep. He then finally made his way into the Dining Car with a small smile on his face as he made his way over to sit in the bench directly across from Dawn.

{James : Train : Dining Car}

James sat there in silence, obviously lost in his own thoughts as well, though that bit of mental privacy didn't last long as his friend soon started coughing up a storm, apparently she hadn't noticed him until now and he startled her. He couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction as she asked when he had gotten there and accused him of being a Ninja disguised as a pirate.

"Oh just a few minutes ago, and as always it seems you have a knack for not paying attention. Especially to what is right in front of you."

Although he had to admit, he had a bad habit of unintentionally sneaking up on people when they didn't expect it, even to the extent that he scared them.

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. What's on your mind?"

((Woo! Another long inner monologue/catch up post. Nothing really important, just character development and thought process...))

[[Louis : Train : Training Car -> Dining Car]]

Louis had managed to slide past the group in the stable car, not stopping to talk or take part in their conversation, instead, he followed his stomach and made his way to the dining car. Once there, he took a seat at the booth where his back was towards Dawn. He listened as she conversed vaguely with Silver, then watched as James made his way in and sat down behind him.

Louis placed his head down on the table and cupped his head in his arms. He closed his eyes and took deep breaths. His arms ached, he could feel his muscles straining each time his heart beat and the black veins scattered underneath his tattered sleeves pulsed, I need to be more careful. Using darkness... is becoming harmful. Each time I'm adding to these sores... not at all what I'd hoped... if it wasn't for that...

Louis' mind drifted, flashing images of Kyle's replica and how he'd nearly killed Kichi and Louis in a single blow, He wasn't even trying. Pulling our strings and playing us for fools. There's no way we even had a chance.

Louis glanced at his hands were a few black bruises remained from the after effects of the replica's attack, I was lucky... my affinity was the only thing that kept me from any serious injury... but even so... Louis struggled to grip his hand into a tight fist, Usually the darkness gives me strength... but like this... it's like I'm carrying around lead in my arms. I don't even have a way of expelling it. I'd like to just get rid of it in battle by using my attacks, but all my attacks draw it in from my surroundings and make it worse. I'm sure this sort of progression wouldn't be so severe normally, but I took in so much at once in that single moment.

Louis buried his face in his arms, blocking out the light, What do I do? These monsters... they're not at all what I thought we were creating... I knew all along they were going to be powerful, but to act like this... they're uncontrollable... unpredictable. I can't plan anything if they're involved. And I only fought 1, how many are there anyway? If one alone is capable of this... then what chance do we have against all of them.

Louis left his thoughts for a moment, listening absentmindedly to the girl's sputtered speech and coughing before returning to his thoughts, Even if I somehow managed to fight those monsters with the help of these guys... what good would it be? Already we're dropping in number and that was done only by 2 of those replicas... if we had to fight them all again... even as one unified group... I have no doubt in my mind... we'd be decimated.

Louis cringed slightly as thought came to his mind, 'Why am I even fighting them anyway?'

No... I have to fight them. My goals... they're not the same as those monsters.

'They're not?' He questioned himself again.

No... they can't be. Those replicas... they don't want the same thing. I don't want what they want. I want to end pain... I don't want the same thing they do. They want to cause pain. I don't want the same thing... I'm not a monster... I'm not... right?

Louis sank deeper in his booth slouching so that all of his weight was on his arms and his forehead, If I'm not then...what... am I?

[Joseph: Train: Dining Car]

The male silently prayed as he walked into the dining car.

Dear...higher being, be ye man or woman, one or many, heathen or not, please let me not be too bad...please?

Oh, yes, he realized that he was going to be somewhat hyper cause of the excess energy from the fight. And with no outlet...

Jogging over to where James and that new girl(was her name Dawn? He couldn't remember. He was always horrible with names), Joe got into the booth that was behind the girl, and leaned over slightly, waving at the girl.

"Hi, I'm Joe. Well, Joseph, but I go by Joe. Sorry if I seem a little hyper. Also, I'd hug you, but there's a booth currently in the way. Nice to meet you properly." And with flourish, he held out his hand. Oh, he was going to regret this hyperness later, he had a feeling.

[Azrael: PR: FDCQ]

Azrael listened to Ajora. That was it? Just think of 'negativity' and a form and then let it go? Well, isn't that easy.

Rage...hatred...lust...oh yeah, I can do that.

And so, Az's thoughts ran through the memories he had. The sexual encounters with men that, over time, came to mean nothing but more experience. The rage created from being too weak to change the bad into good. The hatred of people and what they can and will do to hide their own damn weaknesses by torturing him because 'they could'.

The ball of air seemed to grow, the air circulating faster and faster till Az lightly blew on the ball and it floated forward, the air becoming still before suddenly expanding, the black wisps increasing and making a humanoid shape that towered over the male.

The wisps seemed to thread themselves together, and from the wisps and air, came a beast of a creature. Tall, muscular with grey skin stretched tight. Three fingers on each hand, three toes on each foot, with sharp claws extending from each digit. Spikes that seemed like natural stone spikes on the obviously male's(even though covered with a loincloth) shoulders and elbows. Devil horns from the forehead. Long black hair, fangs, yellow eyes...and giant wings, like a bat's or dragon's, protruding from it's back.

Oh...Azrael was pleased at this creation. But he wasn't quite sure if he wanted to cover this up with a silly 'human form'...however, it'd probably make him more travel friendly.

"And Bal-Hur was born.... Alright, do your thing, Ajora. Make him f***ing gorgeous, but not too damn girly."

((Want a pic? Here.))

[Dawn : Dining Car]

Dawn blinked as she moved herself into a position that made looking back at Joe easier. She smiled slightly up at the male, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. Dawn was glad that he seemed to be in lighter spirits than he was when she saw him in the stables.

"Hi Joe," she said as warmly as she took his extended hand in hers in a small sort of hand shake, "Hey hyper is fine by me. I would be glad to join you sometime. I am sorry for not talking to you anytime sooner. It has been really busy since I got here. I haven't gotten much of a chance to do find out much of anything...."

As Dawn finished speaking, she looked back at James. She'd hope that he would give her some sort of answers for what was going through her mind. As much as she'd hate to seem rude to Joe and possibly kill his mood, this was something she felt, she needed to know.

{James : Train : Dining Car}

James nodded his head in understanding as she explained that she didn't know anything about what was going on... Pressing on the difficult question as to why they were all here and what had happened to Earth. The same questions that everyone had been asking at the start. He felt bad that he hadn't gotten the chance to explain it to her yet. He looked up at Joe momentarily and smiled, glad that he seemed to be doing better. He then turned his attention to his friend.

"Aye, I owe you an explanation. Though I haven't been with the group since the beginning so I might need some help myself explaining all the details if you wouldn't mind Joe?" He asked, looking up yet again at the bo-wielder. "Just feel free to add something if I forget it. Now where to begin?"

He seemed lost in thought for a moment trying to think of how best to begin. The beginning seemed simple enough.

"Alright then, the first thing you need to know is that Earth is gone. It has been swallowed by the darkness. We only made it here because we went through Deep Dive giving us these weapons." As he mentioned this he held his hand out and the hexagun appeared in it. It was only there for a moment before he willed the weapon away. "Thus we were able to fight and now we have somehow ended up in this Universe. As I'm sure you noticed here though, the worlds are all mixed up. Combined into one massive world. Which is why we have Beast's castle down the path on one side of the train, and Halloween Town on the other. We are here, because the King requested that we explore the world and gather the wise beings from the different places and have them go to the Castle to try and figure out a solution. The enemies we fight are as always, the beings who insist upon trying to interfere with the plans of the people trying to do the right thing. We find the Wise Beings, by following a magical list that King Mickey gave us, which reveals the name of the Wise Beings and it gives us a clue as to where we need to go. Joe don't you have the list right now?"

He said looking back up at the bo-wielder. He was pretty sure that was all there was to address and hoped Dawn would understand.

"Also did I miss anything? I think that's all there is to it..."

He added with a light chuckle. He had probably given too much detail yet again, he wouldn't be surprised if Dawn's head would be spinning with all of the information he had just given her. He remembered it had been a lot for him to absorb too.