03-19-2014, 02:28 PM
Life had been moving fast for Jon, almost too fast as of late. It was good to attempt something as mundane and routine as take the train to the airport. His bags were already en route by courier, all he had to do was catch the right metro rail and get off at the right stop. Should be simple enough.
As Jon waited on the platform, he shivered and pulled his brown overcoat tighter around him. It was as if he'd forgotten what warmth was in enduring this Russian winter. He was dressed sensibly if not overly bundled, as he'd soon be sweating once inside, but there was little that could compete with a chilly gust of wind. Especially now, in the late afternoon, as the sun dipped below the thick gray clouds, setting them alight in a dance of reds and oranges, dreams of fire and promises of warmth that played out around him, mocking him.
His Wallet buzzed. Jon gave it a glance and ignored the call. Probably some organization wanting to hire him. In the weeks since the Custody Court had ruled in Jon's favor on Minutemen v. Custody it seemed everyone needed a piece of him. Caroline could handle that. There had been simply too much to do -- first Nick Trano, then Jensen James giving him premonitions of the biblical Apocalypse, and now the worsening relations in Dominance V. Throw in Jon's victory against the goliath that was the CCD and it seemed his spirit was woven into so many tapestries he feared he would lose focus and be unable to do something as simple as catch the train. He still hadn't found suitable apartments, instead living in hotel suites and working out of his Wallet. Great Spirit, he would have to start moving if he was going to get anything accomplished! Nick Trano had been on his own for too long and Jon feared for his safety. It was time to get the man back under his watch as soon as possible. Plus, Mecca wasn't freezing cold this time of year.
The train pulled to a halt at the platform and a bell rang, warning people to stand clear of the doors. Jon glanced at the board -- this was the one. He picked a car at random and stepped inside, conducting cursory, almost subconscious inventory of his new surroundings. He'd picked a car that was mostly empty. At the far end two young ladies spoke to one another. Was that paint on her hands? Jon couldn't get a good look at her face because another passenger had moved across his line of sight.
A few other passengers mingled among themselves. Then there was another man who sat by himself. The way he carried himself made him seem older than he probably was -- young to mid thirties? Well dressed and he sat with impeccable posture, aside from perhaps a hand stuck in a coat pocket. What disturbed Jon was that he seemed focused on something. A quick glance at the far side of the cab -- he was watching those two girls. A chill ran down his spine.
Other seats were starting to fill up. The alarm sounded the doors closing. Jon needed to find a seat. He saw the entire bench around the strange man was vacant, like there was some unspoken extension of his personal space that kept others away. It was quickly becoming the only place to sit.
He walked over and nodded to the man. "Good afternoon, may I sit with you?"
he spoke in introduction, nodding to the left side of the long bench. "I'm Jon."
As Jon waited on the platform, he shivered and pulled his brown overcoat tighter around him. It was as if he'd forgotten what warmth was in enduring this Russian winter. He was dressed sensibly if not overly bundled, as he'd soon be sweating once inside, but there was little that could compete with a chilly gust of wind. Especially now, in the late afternoon, as the sun dipped below the thick gray clouds, setting them alight in a dance of reds and oranges, dreams of fire and promises of warmth that played out around him, mocking him.
His Wallet buzzed. Jon gave it a glance and ignored the call. Probably some organization wanting to hire him. In the weeks since the Custody Court had ruled in Jon's favor on Minutemen v. Custody it seemed everyone needed a piece of him. Caroline could handle that. There had been simply too much to do -- first Nick Trano, then Jensen James giving him premonitions of the biblical Apocalypse, and now the worsening relations in Dominance V. Throw in Jon's victory against the goliath that was the CCD and it seemed his spirit was woven into so many tapestries he feared he would lose focus and be unable to do something as simple as catch the train. He still hadn't found suitable apartments, instead living in hotel suites and working out of his Wallet. Great Spirit, he would have to start moving if he was going to get anything accomplished! Nick Trano had been on his own for too long and Jon feared for his safety. It was time to get the man back under his watch as soon as possible. Plus, Mecca wasn't freezing cold this time of year.
The train pulled to a halt at the platform and a bell rang, warning people to stand clear of the doors. Jon glanced at the board -- this was the one. He picked a car at random and stepped inside, conducting cursory, almost subconscious inventory of his new surroundings. He'd picked a car that was mostly empty. At the far end two young ladies spoke to one another. Was that paint on her hands? Jon couldn't get a good look at her face because another passenger had moved across his line of sight.
A few other passengers mingled among themselves. Then there was another man who sat by himself. The way he carried himself made him seem older than he probably was -- young to mid thirties? Well dressed and he sat with impeccable posture, aside from perhaps a hand stuck in a coat pocket. What disturbed Jon was that he seemed focused on something. A quick glance at the far side of the cab -- he was watching those two girls. A chill ran down his spine.
Other seats were starting to fill up. The alarm sounded the doors closing. Jon needed to find a seat. He saw the entire bench around the strange man was vacant, like there was some unspoken extension of his personal space that kept others away. It was quickly becoming the only place to sit.
He walked over and nodded to the man. "Good afternoon, may I sit with you?"
he spoke in introduction, nodding to the left side of the long bench. "I'm Jon."