"Uh, miss... you probably need to get along to your seat now... we'll be leaving soon alright...?"

"heh, heh, heh,"

Out of earshot of her partner, Henrietta, and mentally on a different planet besides, one Deneb Cygus was currently preoccupied in the engine room located at the front of the train. With a serene glimmer in her eyes and an equally impassive expression, the doll-like girl was currently passing the time stroking the magical apparatus meant to control the engine of the magic train. She was petting it like a friendly dog she had encountered on the street.

"Uh, miss...? Are you listening? You okay...? We really need to get going..."

"Everything is fine."

*Pet, pet.*

"Please proceed with your duties."

"No, that's what i'm saying, here. We can't get going unless you mov-"

"---All is well, please proceed."

"But I can't proceed if---"

*Pet, pet, pet.*

"Everything is fine. You may proceed whenever."

Taking off his hat, the engineer rubbed the back of his neck before turning to look at the conductor. 

"Hey boss, wasn't there, like, another one we could, ya know, talk to...?"

"Right..."

Looking down at Deneb almost as though she were a tortoise that had crawled into a busy intersection, the conductor opened the door behind him and turned to leave. Walking at a brisk, but controlled pace, he went to find Henrietta shouting----well, shouting something.

"Uhm, excuse me miss. It sounds as if you're looking for your partner. Well, I am happy to report that we have found her, now could you perhaps do us a favor and maybe... relocate her from the engine room? We can't leave with her in the way... oh and thank you for taking this job. Huge fan of Cat's Cradle by the way..."

Slicking his big white mustache, the train's conductor gave a somewhat awkward smile as he none-the-less reached into his pocket to eye his watch...



Henrietta Blair