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The compartment door PV "Zachary Reid"

the compartment door • backdated 1 sept 2024--
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Carina walks into the busy train with an old sophisticatedly designed hand-me-down luggage, which had held her mother's belongings just twenty-four years ago, along with a small pine box, roughly hewn with iron hinges and a sturdy latch. Inside, neatly arranged are boxes of match, bought and given to her by Elise. Just a few minutes before, she had tugged and pulled the heavy luggage behind her, getting its wheels occasionally catching on cracks in the sidewalk.

She had intentionally picked an empty compartment hoping no one would join.

Getting a window seat, she rest her tired legs and relaxed her back. She looks out at the view not to watch the scenery but to dwell in it while mentally repeating her 'mission' to make friends. Maybe if her mother asks to take a friend together for a visit, she could politely ask someone to play along for her. Hesitating, she thought about being able to have a change in character and hop by the next compartment to share snacks given by her mother, thus asking for a friend. That would be weird.

Later, not now.

With her cold fingers tracing the fogged up glass, she debates whether to keep the compartment door open or close it. She imagined conversations but never warm enough to speak. Then, there’s frustration in her procrastination,“Why is this so hard for me?" She whispered. Standing up, she reaches the doors just in time before a little girl wanted to open it.

Forget about it.

Finally, she relaxed herself once again. Not having to waste her time imagining that absurd 'mission', she drifted off to sleep.

Minutes later, she was stirred awake by the heavy scrape of the compartment door sliding open. She stiffens, unsure whether to look up or keep her eyes closed.
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---thoughts • speech • [url=https://i.postimg.cc/GmHYbv2W/photo-2025-05-03-15-22-17.jpg]outfit[/url]
@Zachary Reid

The compartment door PV "Zachary Reid"
Mention : @Carina Kaede
The platform and everything that came with it have been exhausting. A good kind of exhausting, though, one that drummed in his bones with fizzy excitement for whatever came next, because something always came next. He'd gone through the wall, stepped with his mother and father to the edge of the train to take it in, its curves perfect and its look ancient. A steam locomotive, a 4-6-0, red and running on magic, built in 1937. The feat of having such a thing run on magic was unbelievable in itself and Zachary had been completely engrossed with it, bending over to take a good look at its wheels before being dragged towards a door by his mother.

The usual speech ensued: be good, be kind, have fun, study well, no trouble. Then, the hugs, all the hugs he could take, really, and he was gone through the door of the carriage, hopping his way down the corridor, his luggage dragging behind him.

He took it all in, stopping by a wide window to drink up the sights as he felt the train begin to rumble beneath his feet, as if trudging along by real coal and not magic itself. Soon, it picked up speed, and Zachary was on his way to find somewhere to sit for the long ride.

He'd always disliked rides, being stuck somewhere for so long, but every single carriage looked unbelievably spacious, though all inhabited by too many people to count. When he finally found one, it was one with a young girl inside, her eyes closed. He grimaced, doing his best to slide the doors open softly, as not to wake her, but when that didn't work, he gave up and flashed her a wide smile.

"Is it alright if I sit with you? Honesty, seems like everyone in England or whatever decided to join the school and there's no space," he hummed, not waiting for an answer as he shoved his luggage overhead and sat down with a loud sigh. "Man, this is crazy," he added before holding out a hand. "I'm Zachary. First year. I mean, to be, I guess? Going to the school for the first time, you too? It's kind of nerve-wrecking but also exciting, don't you think? I hope there'll be food; My mum said that someone will come and offer up sweets, and I can't wait, all the excitement is making me hungry as hell."

The compartment door PV "Zachary Reid"
the compartment door • backdated 1 sept 2024--
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It might be a noisy group but she was surprised and relieved to see only a boy. Could I say no? Whoever would come in before they ask? Yes, that boy would.

His infectious warm energy made her try to smile back as he introduced himself. She studied him thoroughly and found it amusing, that someone as effortlessly talkative as him could still seem so wide-eyed and overwhelmed by it all. He is only a young boy, however, tall, good-looking, and probably extroverted. Except for that, he seems pretty normal to her.

"Carina here, Carina Kaede." She stood up to give the boy an awkward handshake before going back to her seat, tidying her outfit as she sat. Her voice was soft but carried a certain precision like she had practiced introducing herself. 'Nice to meet you, Zachary. First year too.' Another tried-on smile, her eyes then flickered over to the window as the scenery blurred by. "You’re right, it’s all kind of overwhelming... in a good way."

All went quiet again.

After a few minutes, she shifted slightly in her seat, she reached down to her satchel, as the edges of her robes rustled softly. Her fingers went through a few books, a folded parchment, and the edge of a quill case before finally curling around a small paper bag nestled quietly at the bottom. She lifted it gently into her lap, letting the sugary aroma fill the air. She revealed a handful of pastel-wrapped sweets, each glinting faintly in the shifting light of the carriage window. Picking a candy with a light yellow wrapper, she glanced at Zachary, and extended her hand, quietly offering it to him. Given to the boy's startled expression, she assured him, "Would you like one? My mum packed them for the ride, and said they’re good for calming the nerves.”
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---thoughts • speech • [url=https://i.postimg.cc/GmHYbv2W/photo-2025-05-03-15-22-17.jpg]outfit[/url]
@Zachary Reid
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