middleofsomewhere | Let it Snow: Purple Start

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Let it Snow: Purple Start

"We are now approaching world#58291. Purple team to doors." As the last flurry of activity occurs the voice speaks again. "Warning: Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one." the usual jerk, shudder lurch as the colours from the window turn from the void to a white haze of snow.

The doors open for purple team to alight. It is a scramble down from the train, there is no platform here and the ground below them is a sheet of ice.

They seem to be in a town, ice below them, snow drifts piled high. They can see the mountains in the distance and high above the down there is what seems to be a giant ice block floating in the sky.

But for their more immediate attention there are snow creatures. Snowmen, oddly formed snow animals. Eight foot tall creatures made of ice. Some seem intent on throwing snowballs at cars and the buildings of the town but it is not long before the team are spotted and the creatures make their way to them.

This is their battleground. They may find things they can use as weapons in the town itself and their job is to ensure there is still a town when all of this is over. It’s going to be a hard and very cold few days.

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"Hey, I wasn't implying that I'm about to give up!" It's followed up by a laugh, almost a little too quickly. Not that he's really lying - Inigo would keep fighting until he'd literally drop to the ground from exhaustion if he's have to. He's done it before.

It's just that he likes to keep things light. Even if it's done through making dumb jokes.

Case in point: "Perhaps I was just wondering if you were able of keeping up with me." At least judging by the dumb grin on his face, it's very obviously a joke.

"It wasn't my intention to suggest you were," Amery said.

The humor almost sailed over his head. He came very close to replying indignantly before he realized it was a joke. "Of course. I'll be able to keep up just fine." He wasn't going to make it a competition, even a friendly one. It was a shame Anastasia wasn't here; then no one would be able to keep up with them. The snow creatures wouldn't stand a chance against fang and claw and wing.

Yeah, that's not exactly the most joking reply from Amery, huh. Inigo wonders if maybe - despite seeming like a good enough guy - he's just a slight stick in the mud type? Or maybe he just doesn't have a good sense of humor. Inigo has known a lot of types like that back home though, so it doesn't really bother him.

He's momentarily distracted by one of the creatures rushing their way though, and he quickly knocks it out of the way with a swing of the spade he's carrying.

"Are you used to this sort of thing, then?"

It sure looked like it from the way Amery took care of that other creature earlier.

Amery was, indeed, a stick in the mud. On the surface, at least. Once you cracked his shell, though... few people managed that, though.

"Well, not...this, exactly," he gestured to the creatures. "But I am used to fighting, and war." And no matter what form the enemy took, he was comfortable fighting. And after he'd seen talking dragons, lumbering snow creatures paled in comparison. "Besides, there's no sense losing one's composure over strange new things."

"You're saying that now, but I am not so sure everyone would share that sentiment."

Or more like most people wouldn't be able to stay composed in the face of something like this even if they wanted to. Inigo is also used to these sort of things, hence why he acts so casual about it, but plenty of people who have never seen battle would probably freak out on the spot here.

"It is a sign you're a strong guy. It's admirable!"

He was well aware that not everyone would be able to keep their composure in the face of new and strange things, but he wasn't an airman for nothing. The last time he'd allowed himself to be genuinely surprised and shaken by something was the day he discovered the dragons could speak.

Pausing for a moment, he offered a rare smile. "I do try my best," he admitted. "I wish to be strong for those who need it." Like the townsfolk they were trying to protect here.

He smiles very genuinely. Especially since Amery showed a smile! He hasn't really seen that before, so it feels like a victory more than any of the monsters he's managed to deal with so far. Getting smiles out of people is just a lot more fulfilling, okay.

"Well, I'm sure they'll appreciate it, even if they do not seem to be present at the moment." Nope, totally not meant in any sarcastic way. Inigo just as an innocent side left to him that genuinely thinks that. "It's slightly freaky though, don't you think? This place is like a ghost town. Not that I can blame them, considering there's these things all over the place.." He gestures at the ones lying on the ground they took care of just now.

"The fewer of them that are here, the fewer people to worry about protecting." Having all the townsfolk somewhere safe was better. There was no cowardice in running when you couldn't fight. "Though I suppose it does feel a little...odd." To be fighting in a place that was supposed to be full of people, but was empty instead.

It definitely feels odd. He doesn't drop the smile from his face for even a moment, but boy, oh boy, are empty villages like this sure making Inigo remember things he'd rather not think about. He really hopes that these people are doing okay.

Rather than being frozen. Or eaten by some of these things. Or who even knows.

"Is it the first time you've seen something like this? I assume not, if you are used to war."

Amery made a thoughtful sound. "I'm usually in the air," he admitted, "Scouting ahead, figuring out what the enemy is doing. There are not so many deserted towns in those cases." So, this was new to him.

You get a little used to it, Inigo thinks, but never fully. But that's definitely not the sentiment he wants to impart on Amery here - it's much too depressing. And that's not what they need in their current situation.

"Up in the air? That must be relatively nice." You know, better than dealing with the enemy on the ground.. "Cynthia often did that back home too while riding her pegasus, but I've never tried it out before."

"It was quite nice," Amery said. "I would fly on Anastasia, my girl." He paused for a beat, then remembered that not everyone knew about the Dragon Corps, especially here. "She's a dragon, made of metal," he explained. "She was built for running reconnaissance." And what a team they'd made.

"Where I'm from, a pegasus is just a fairy tale." But he had to admit his curiosity was piqued.

"Truly? I'd say dragons made of metal would most likely be considered a fairy tale if someone spoke of them in my world." There's a slight hint of teasing in it, but it's mostly just a honest statement. Dragons are pretty normal where he's from, but he can't think of ever having heard of a metal one..

But something about what Amery says makes him smile fondly.

"Although one of my close friends usually flies on his wyvern too. In fact, his wyvern is a girl too!" Sure, Amery is older than Gerome, but Inigo thinks they have quite some things in common otherwise. Except Amery might just smile a bit more. (And that's saying something.) "It's unfortunate that he isn't here. I'm sure he would have loved discussing flying on dragons with you. Minerva is everything to him."

"Indeed. Even in my world, some people consider them fairy tales." Or legends. Gods, even, things of myth meant to be revered.

"That's a shame. It would be lovely to discuss dragons with someone." Even more lovely to have other members of the Dragon Corps around, though he wouldn't exactly wish cosmic kidnapping on them. They had important things to do, and he could really only hope that they were getting along well enough without him, even though they would be a man down. "Anastasia is family to me," he added. "I miss her."

Inigo smiles a little as he listens to Amery.

"Apparently some things are the same no matter the world." Inigo isn't used to working together with either pegasi or wyverns - or even horses, really. So he knows he has never fully understood the kind of bond his friends share with their non-human companions. Still, he thinks the way Amery talks about Anastasia sounds very similar.

"It must be strange to be without her. I truly wish this train was better about not tearing people away from the ones they love."

"It is," he agreed. The bond between him and Anastasia was strong, as it should be. He had been unsure at first, when he'd been introduced to her, but ever since she'd chosen him, they'd been inseparable. She was like a sister to him. "I would give anything to have her here, though I don't think she would fit in the train. I can only hope that we'll find a way back to our homes eventually."

If this train traveled to all these different worlds, like the one they were on now, then surely it could travel back to the places people had been taken from. Maybe the more successes they had, the more people they helped, the better their chances. Or maybe that was simply wishful thinking.

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Let it Snow: Purple Start

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