[centre][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/181008/b02a8e514a847d83c3d8892fffdb6f35.png[/img][/centre][hr] [color=bf00ff][I]'The right thing to do is the right thing to do.'[/I][/color] He was right on that aspect. But he wouldn't expect much from these soldiers. Some of these men and women were already too engulfed in taking care of themselves that they may not even want or have the time to take care of others. But he could always hope more people would be like Isaac and Jean in that regard. Of course he would not stop the fact that he would be taking actions to reverse whatever Middleton was trying to indoctrinate her. But just expect it would not be a full support like he would want it to. As the train slowly rolled on the tracks, the sound of engine and clash of metal mixed violently and messily like a horribly played symphony, Michael found himself being attracted to the scenic outside as Jean made the mention of the poet. The landscape that he was slowly passing through, it wasn't a beautiful flower field, nor a rich and well-nurtured rice paddies. It had once been though. Those once beautiful creations of god was now a death valley. All the innocent trees and flowers doing goods for mother nature now dead. When would the seeds of possibility prosper again. When would the wounds heal? [color=bf00ff][I]'The right thing to do is the right thing to do.'[/I][/color] [color=bf00ff][I]'A reminder for our future selves never to repeat this atrocity again...'[/I][/color] Perhaps somewhere, sometime, these fields would not exist... After Jean left off to get some stripper clips, Michael found himself unoccupied for an indeterminate amount of time. Thankfully he did have a deck of playing cards. He didn't know if these guys could play cards or not. He was pretty sure if they were from a family of upper middle-class, or even a small nobility like Michael's, they would probably have learnt it somewhere in the balls or parties they went through. But whether or not they were capable of playing card games or not, he didn't care. He could make do by himself. But as he was reaching for the deck inside his rucksack, a strangely familiar voice caught his attention. [color=bf00ff][I]'Mickey?'[/I][/color] He turned to the doorway to realize... Lucia? She was alright. And happy in fact? What? How strange was it that he was just informed that she was in bad shape when she appeared completely fine? Did something or someone cheer her up? If that's the case, then great! He was quite relieved to see Lucia in such cheerfulness. Now that he thought about it, this was the first time he saw her in this state. He couldn't blame her though. The first sight she was crying of a horrendous task. The second she was recovering. The third she was called back to that bastard. And the fourth she had passed out from artillery. Perhaps this was indeed her true nature: a pretty and innocent girl who only wishes to bring smile to people's face. Well, perhaps a little too innocent... [color=bf00ff]"Uhh..."[/color] He could feel her hand on his face, her thigh pressed against his chest. She was grabbing onto his hair, and ow ow! She was pulling it! What the hell was she doing?! She soon released him as soon as she settled on a seat nearby. Again, Mickey? She meant Michael? And all of that stunt she just pulled off, just to get to the nearby seat? [color=bf00ff]"I appreciate the effort, but you could've just asked."[/color] She probably just didn't know. It did come off as a little strange to him that she didn't bother to ask. She probably didn't know basic etiquette in terms of gestures rather than being rude. But considering all the ladies he had met in his life were rather luxurious and had a prestigious origin, they were normally pretty and elegant in appearance but especially very well-mannered in words and gestures. He swore they would freak out like rats meeting cats if they saw Michael in this state. As well-pampered as they were, they probably had never seen the sight of having to run for miles a day, or especially the fact that you could fall dead with a hole on your head any moment. [color=bf00ff]"My career as an actor has been a disaster. That's when I decide to go to university instead"[/color] Or rather he was about to. If that paper had come a little earlier! Well, not worth dwelling over it anymore. It had already been months ever since. He had already received his baptism of fire already, so he probably couldn't really say anything otherwise. Once again, he went through his rucksack and took out a deck of cards. Fifty two in total. His fingers busily fiddled with the cards, counting if he had accidentally left any back in Garnia. But occasionally, from the very outside corner of his eyes noticed as if someone was trying to burn his face with only their eyes. Quite constantly at that. Curious, he turned around to Lucia. It was her. Nobody was sitting in that same direction except for her. She was holding a pencil and a small book, just like Franz did the day before. Was she also an artist or something? But just as he was looking at the book, it slammed shut as she put it away. It appeared to be some kind of secret? Personal ones probably. After getting the notification, Michael was dealing the deck out when Lucia showed her appreciation for what he, no they did yesterday, as she hugged everyone of them, with Michael being the first as he was the nearest to her. And for the rest... [color=bf00ff][I]'...'[/I][/color] If anyone could see him right now, his oxygen output was virtually non-existent. He could scent her fragrance you know. The warm pleasant but difficult to describe scent. It...God! His irises directed straight to the side as his subconsciousness erupted an all-out war about whether he wished or wished not this would be over soon. If she knew just to ask directly, all of this could have been averted. Easily at that. And he's not Mickey! Whether or not he wished it or not, reality still marched, as Lucia settled down in her seat again. And Michael finally breathed again. He didn't even bother correcting her about his name anymore. It probably didn't even matter to him after all that stunt she pulled twice on him to even surface in his mind. Seriously, it had to take a bit of boldness and shamelessness to climb over a boy twice, whilst one could have just quickly excused themselves with only two words. When he thought this was over, Britta showed up at the doorway to deliver some food. [color=bf00ff]"Thanks for your effort."[/color] Michael graciously accepted the small box of ration. It wasn't hot delicious food, but it was rather quite nutritious and filling. It did take a while for him to settle down with this type of meal daily, but his adaptability did amaze him sometimes. Though right now getting one would be a little difficult considering the woefully undersupplied front they were in. The meal the other day Michael also needed a bit of persuasion with the cook as well. He didn't pay attention to Britta as she talked to Isaac. He didn't intend to pay attention to anyone for now. He just wanted to shut himself off and enjoyed his meal for now. Who knows when would he get this again. But then again... [color=bf00ff]"You guys..."[/color] Britta didn't climb over Michael, rather she was just reaching for Lucia, which was alright, but in front of his eyes were something as equally uneasy to look at as getting climbed on. That wasn't even from the same girl. [color=bf00ff]"Excuse me."[/color] He coughed gently, but visibly, his brows were pouring into his nose. [color=bf00ff][I]'Could you please clear the vision for me?'[/I][/color] [@FalloutJack][@LetMeDoStuff]