The empty compartment smelled musty, but would do for the long train ride. Leather briefcase thrown into overhead rack, Duck pulled his portfolio from between the brass clasps and settled himself into his seat preparing for departure. He pulled out his letter of employment, signed by a Sir Topham Hatt. Having only communicated with him through the telephone, Duck was hoping to make a good first impression.

He glanced out the window at the rain beginning to fall when he saw someone in the reflection. He turned around and a man immediately gave a couple sharp knocks on the compartment door. He caught the man's eye and saw him grin as he pulled the door ajar.

"Hi there. Was hopin' you wouldn't mind a bit of company." He had popped his head looked about the space. "Most every other seat's taken."

Duck closed his portfolio and gave an apathetic smile. "Sure, of course. Come on in then."

The man slid open the rest of the door to reveal he had both a suitcase, a messenger bag, and at the end of a droopy leash a small, grey, Norwich Terrier. Duck's eyes widened, but he wasn't opposed.

"It's alright he joins us too yeah?" The man asked, coming in and plopping down on the seats opposite.

"Oh, of course. Of course. I love dogs." Duck reached a gentle hand forward and let it take a sniff. "He's a handsome one."

"Don't let him fool ya. He's a right mongrel when he wants to be." The pup lazily looked up at it's master panting gently.

Duck gave a loving rub of the dog's ear before straightening back up into his seat.

"Name's Oliver by the way. This one here's called Toad."

Duck let out a small chuckle. The ugliness of that name paired with that small little thing was comical.

"Go ahead and laugh." Oliver snickered too. "He just sits and stares. Then when it's dinner time and you hear him groan.. Half the time I could swear it was a croak."

The two laughed and Oliver turned the conversation.

"So what should I call you?"

Duck looked back at Toad who was now curled at Oliver's feet. Already asleep as the train finally set into motion.

"Well I suppose… everyone calls me Duck."

"Mother disliked you that bad huh?" Oliver said blankly before cracking a smirk.

"No it's nothing like that. If you want to know, my proper name is Montague."

"Oof were you dealt a bad hand. And laughin' at 'Toad' as if that were strange." They both had tears as they relaxed into each other's company.

"So why– Stop it! You'll make me start again." Oliver commanded Duck as he threatened to hiccup another laughing fit. "Why on Earth would you choose to go by Duck?"

"I didn't choose it! It was sort of nickname given to me. My mates chose it because of how I walk." Duck pulled up his pant leg to show a heavy steel prosthetic where his left leg should be. "Makes me waddle, but I don't mind really."

"Good gracious," Oliver stared unapologetically. "How does one wind up luggin' somethin' like that around?"

Duck let his leg shine, leaning back without letting his pants leg drop.

"Work accident. Pretty stupid if I'm honest. At Swindon I was an engineer for the Great Western and we had–"

"You worked for the Great Western? At Swindon? YOU'RE AN ENGINEER?" Oliver's teeth were bared in an enormous smile. "I worked at Wolverhampton! Have my license and everything! How have I never seen you before?"

"I'm still pretty new to my certification. Been used to shunting and yard work with only a few main line trains to my name." Duck recalled. He couldn't believe the coincidence, and once he thought it, he had to ask.

"Tell me Oliver, where exactly are you heading?"

Oliver cocked his head and reached down to scratch Toad's ears.

"I'm changing over at Kirk Ronan and headed to Knapford on the Island." Why do you as—

Oliver cut himself short as Duck threw a hand to his forehead and let out a guffaw.

"Oliver. We're both going to Sodor! Tell me, were you just hired to –"

"- be trained as a driver for the North Western Railway?! Duck can you believe it?"

The two men were giddy as Toad had sat back up and was looking between the two, panting gently.

"May I say congratulations to you." Duck said taking a faux bow.

"And a hearty congratulations to YOU!" Oliver returned the gesture letting the hard 'R's' of his accent linger.

"I think it'd be wise if we became friends." Oliver proposed. "I think it's the only way."

Duck extended his hand.

"It's either the Great Western way, or the wrong way."

Oliver gave a meaty shake and the two gossiped about the Great Western the entire trip to Sodor.

I have been agonizing over how to integrate these two into the cast. They're such known and beloved characters that I wanted some way to give them distinct characters to grow from. I think giving Duck an obstacle like his leg to explain his 'waddle' driven nickname can make for some fun narrative choices.

As well as choosing to make Toad, Oliver's dog. You can't have Oliver without Toad and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to make that dynamic work. But today something clicked and I thought, Dog. It eliminates dialogue between the two, but we can still let personality shine through that little Norwich Terrier. (Yes I googled 'small grey english dogs' forever and settled on this one. Now I know they exist and so do you. =))

As always thank you for reading everyone! Next chapter is shaping up in a fun way too!

-REN