(Chapter Six: On the Rails)

The sun was even hotter than before, even though said object in the sky was already a fourth of the way to the horizon; soon it will get cold, but luckily the beach was already in sight. A small dock with a few boats tied to it was occupied by a few denizens of the sand and sky. Birds and what looked to be Nomads had a small town with palmetto trees swaying in the ever so slight breeze.

Julia had never seen this place before and had never gone here with Melody. The tall girl smiled "Wow, my first boat ride, and a new town.." she spun around with glee, "ain't this a nice evening?"

"Wait, you've never ridden on a boat before?" Gabriele questioned, head tilted to look at Julia as the three got off the boat while Julia told the Mafia man to get means of navigation back to Mafia Town "I feel honored to have shared this with you then."

"Hey, hey! Me too!" Mu spoke up, waving a hand at the two. Julia giggled "Don't forget I'm still here too, buddy!" If Gabriele could roll his eyes he would, but he knew the child was just having fun.

"Yes, yes.." Gabriele pats her head "how could I when you're just as loud as Zephyr.."

Julia laughed out fully at that, she didn't know why she found that funny, but it sure did fuel up the doc's pride when he managed to get such a reaction. Meanwhile, Mustache girl was left confused, a pouting face kept looking at the two; she wanted to know what was so funny too.

"We.. should get to the station before night time," Julia was recovering from the sudden outburst "a hot day in a desert is always followed by the cold."

"Indeed; I'd rather not be smushed in between you girls when night rolls around," Gabriel said, imagining the thought of being an immovable pillow rest. He'd much prefer to move around like the person he is, thank you. "I'm also not too big on sand.."

"Is it because It's coarse, rough, and irritating," Julia smiled smugly at him "and the fact it gets everywhere?"

Gabriele stopped for a second, not needing to turn around "I feel like you're mocking me."

Julia was having a fun time.

As expected, nighttime rolled around. Luckily the station had an indoor waiting area, with a fire keeping the place warm, Mu and Julia sat as close as they could, while the doctor got as far away as possible. When Mu had heard that Gabriele was made completely out of fabric and stuffing, she understood why he wanted to stay away. A single ember could do serious damage to him.

"What's with you and hanging out around living dolls anyways?" The child spoke, "first the one on Melody's ship, now this one here.."

"So, you met my son?" Julia asked

The red hooded girl sputtered, looking up at her with wild eyes "your son!?" She looked at her then at Gabriele like she was implying something. In which it totally flew over Julia's head. She may have gotten older, but she was still the same oblivious girl. "Are you two-?"

"Hmm?" The taller girl tilted her head, understanding that she was still talking about Kero "oh, no! I just kinda.. picked Kero up at Subcon; guess he just took a liking to me after I freed him from a fight."

Realizing that Julia had no idea what she was trying to say, the child dropped the subject for now "So you just.. adopted him..?" Mu raises a brow at her

"Pretty much." Julia shrugged "made his body myself out of potato bags.."

"Potato bags.." Mustache girl looked at her, unamused.

"He's my precious potato child, leave him alone.." the taller girl was offended.

From afar, Gabriele listened to their conversation. They had kept talking about different things and what they've done over the four years. He had found out that Mu's actual name was Lynn and that she rarely uses it anymore. She was known as Mustache girl, but Julia Intended to use her actual name more.

As his mind wandered, he focused on the flickering light of the fire and the crackle of the embers by accident, triggering his PTSD. By the time he figured out what was happening, Julia was right next to him trying to get his attention.

"Doc, doc-" Julia gently shook him "Gabriele! Are you okay..?" He breathed heavily even though he had no lungs to breathe from, his shoulders shook from the sudden stress and he was being watched by Julia and Lynn. "Hey.. hey, you wanna.. go outside for a bit?"

Taking a moment, he nodded stiffly, getting up and taking her hand to walk. "Lynn, stay there okay?" The mustached child nodded, taking a peek from the bench she sat on. Watching the two walk out the door.

The moment the two walked out, Julia immediately felt the cold hit her like a punch to the gut, and she knew what that felt like. "Hot, damn! It's cold out here!" The night sky was beautiful though, the stars so much more different then the ones she's used to seeing.

"You.. can go back.. inside, if you wish.," Gabriele whispered, finally finding his voice.

"No, no! It's fine, I want to make sure you're okay-" those eyes, well eye in Julia's case, has worry in them. The two sat down on the cold stone bench, immediately giving her shivers. She fought off the cold though "What... was that back there.." She then realized that wouldn't be such a great thing to ask "I- I mean if you don't mind me asking-"

"I.. I..-" Gabriele sighed out of habit "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you.." he couldn't stop looking into her eye. There was that feeling again, that little want to just.. be held? He couldn't just say that though, oh no- something deep down told him not to.

"No, I'm sorry.., the fact that I can't do much to help you.." Julia looked away, up to the sky and at the moon

A moment of silence passed, to try and gather his jumbled thoughts, to try and calm himself... maybe he shou-

A loud whistle from the tracks, a moment passed then, again and again, seem like the train was almost here. What timing, to be interrupted by anything, it was the train. "Right then, he stood up a little too quickly, looking at her still "gather our little friend, I shall be waiting right here.."

Julia gave one last glance at the plague doctor, still a worried look, as she left to go get Lynn; the words he heard the child say echoed in his head-

'Are you two-?'

"Good heavens.." he placed a hand to his head, "what has gotten to me?"

The train was as crazy looking as ever, just like the time she and the kid were staring in that detective movie. That, in all honesty, was fun, wish she could say the same for the others though.. Julia looked at her hands, remember the white-hot pain when she touched the burning metal of the train car.

But the train was back to normal, as big as ever. The tall girl was glad the Conductor was able to rebuild his train. Speaking of which, she has a trip in mind before the train takes off. As Julia wandered off, that left Gabriele to watch over Lynn. Lynn also wanted to explore-

"Don't wander off to far.," he called out, earning a reassuring wave.

Something shuffled quickly behind the doctor, far in the corners where he couldn't see. He didn't turn around, no- whatever was there was aware of him. He didn't like it.

Julia traveled through the dinner cart, it wasn't as lively as before, but that's due to the fact that its night- "wait, aren't owls nocturnal..?" She pushed that thought away, maybe they're not up yet.

As she walked, the quiet room was filled with her tapping, but then, there was shuffling; Julia stopped. Sounded like the clinking of metal.. quietly tiptoeing to the source, she started to hear humming now.

A fork clattered on the ground and slid, she looked down and picked it up. As she stood back up she was met face to face with an odd-looking crow. The tall girl jumped a few feet. The bird wore the same kind of coat as the others, but more slightly tinted purple? She couldn't tell, however, the Crow also didn't wear a hat like the rest of the crows she's seen. Three little feathers popped up like a mohawk. Eyes a super light shade of pink.

It just stared at her, then the fork, then her, then hummed again "Mmm.. fork..?"

"I'm sorry.. what?" She asked.

"Fork! Mmm.." the crow pattered in place. Julia now understood that he, yes, it was a he, wanted the fork in her hands. "Mmmm, Fooorrrk... Mmm..-"

"Oh! Uh, you sure you want this?" She looked at it "it was on the floor and-" but the Crow gently took it from her and hummed with a small smile, then proceeded to pull out a piece of crumpled paper. He handed it to her.

Julia looked down at the paper, to her surprise, it was a.. a wanted poster?! "Guy, (With many Forks) is wanted alive for five hundred pons on the account of stealing Forks statewide." She read out loud, looking up to see that the crow was gone.

She quickly looked around, a little frightened; That crow moves fast. But why Forks..- Julia just now noticed she assisted a thief steal Forks. "I'm... never speaking of this to anyone.." and continued walking.

Eventually, she had made her way near the front. That was a more busy area it seemed. Owls chatted about, some worked and some just kept sleeping. There were some crows walking around asking questions if they'd seen an ex-detective who was stealing forks. Julia nimbly avoided contact with them. That's a situation she doesn't want to be apart of anymore.

Some of the owls who were awake and working took notice of the tall girl. They thought she looked like someone they knew, but with their anxiety, they didn't want to know if they were right or wrong in fear of being embarrassed. Though it didn't stop them from looking at her.

Julia could hear the Conductor as she quietly took notice that the owls know she's here. She smiled, as she quickly got up behind the Conductor and switched hats with him. Of course, he noticed something wasn't right as he turned around to start giving an ear full to whoever was messing with him and his hat.

"Oi! Who the wise peck-" when he turned around Julia crouched in front of the angry bird, "what the, What!?"

"C'mon, gramps! Let me drive the train!" She smiled at the Conductor, who was clearly stunned.

"Lass..?" He questioned, looking at her.

"Not dead!" She answered, giving his hat back and taking hers "never died."

A pause, the two looked at each other, and then the two embraced in a tight hug. If anything, the Conductor missed her and Melody the most. The Conductor cackled, "Julia, Lass! The peckin movie world thought yer was dead!" He let go and looked at her "aye, the lot of us did.."

"Well, if you have any movies coming up, you know who to call!" Julia smiled, then added in "just as long as no lava or stabbing is involved-"

"Ya got it, lassie," he smiled, then motion for her to follow him "So, where ya headed? Yer on me train, must mean yer goin someplace?"

"Yeah; Me, that plague doctor, you remember him?" She looked down at him and he nodded "and the mustache girl-"

"Wot!? Ya let that little peck neck onta me train!?" He turned around and shouted at Julia, but she was unfazed by it. In fact, it didn't make her flinch at all, so he calmed down.

"Relax, she's with me. I'm gonna vouch for her." Julia stated, looking at him with a serious face "she can be a good kid when she tries."

"Fine then, I'll take yer word for it," the Conductor pointed at her "but if she does anytin, she's gettin the boot!"

Julia nodded, if that were the case, she'd be prepared to start walking on foot. That was only a worst-case scenario. "Alright, anyways-" she paused for a second "we're headed to Subcon; we got business there."

"M'guessing yer gonna need a room, huh?" The Conductor asked, "That forest is still another night away. On account of a couple of a few stops along its way."

Julia confirmed this, She was starting to notice just how tired she was getting, let alone how Lynn must feel? She was gratefully given a room key for one of the many sleeping rooms. As she left, Julia heard the Conductor clear his throat,

"Em, between yer and me;" She smiled, Julia could guess what he was about to say "Ya didn't see Grooves yet, did ya?"

"Nope," The Conductor cackled at this again, he was first; probably should have mentioned it, that he'll probably brag about it later- but he was happy.

"Honestly, Julia.." Gabriele looked at her, Holding Lynn as she was out cold while the taller girl fumbled around with the key "that's what crows do, they take anything that is shiny."

"But like-" Julia finally got the door open "he specifically went after Forks!" She whispered, taking a look at the room. It was small but nice. "He could have taken anything, Spoons, Knives; at least you could dig and cut with them-"

"But Forks are rather.. easier to pierce and grab.," he noted.

The two looked at each other; taking a silent note to avoid this deranged crow man. He could do some serious damage with those things, and he's been stealing fork statewide! Who knows how many he has!

Placing the child down on a separate bed, the two adults sat on a rather comfy couch. They continued to talk about things, may it be magic or miscellaneous things like favorites, or things Gabriele used to do. However vague they were.

Julia unintended to lay her head on his shoulder, making him freeze up. By the looks of it, however, she was about to pass out. Gabriele sighed, "Rest now, I'll wake you when morning comes.." not moving her at all.

I've only ever done romance like one time a few years back, but even then I was unsure about it. I'm gonna give it another go and see where this genre takes me- hopefully, it doesn't go up in smoke.

Current active Characters of Mine:

Julia/Fedora

Gabriele/Leader of Hearts (Friend?)

Guy with many Forks (Crow Fork Thief)