[OPEN] New Beginnings

[Alex Zadain]

"Arriving on time". I said out loud, looked down at my watch. I haven't been on a train since I was young in downtown Calgary. It was definitely worth the extra money to have my stuff shipped to the new house in order to take the train. It was seriously the only time I haven't thought about having a drink in over three years, since my brother lost his battle to the injuries he suffered in the car accident. I'm sure this sober feeling won't last long.

The train pulled into the station and I found myself staring out the window longer then I needed to as it took someone to tell me we were in the station before I snapped out of it. "Thank you." I said to the man working the luggage.

Getting out of my seat I grabbed my travel bag and headed out the cabin door. Walking down the hallway of the train I could smell the oaky, wooden paneling. My mouth started to water up as I thought of a nice glass of scotch at my new home. I told you that was short lived.

Taking my first steps onto the platform I looked around to notice this station was very busy. I didn't think a lot of people still used the train. Guess smaller towns rely on them a lot more. At the moment, I look like a dumbass standing here looking around while everyone moves around me.

[Fastion Hurston]

There was something about information getting passed on in physical form. Now, Fastion wouldn't want to say that he was a technophobe, but he just always felt more safe with their only being one copy. Perhaps that was because, it was always that way. Being part of the church, he didn't figure that a lot of their data was transferred to computer copies. Pen and paper. That's how it should be kept. Fastion was that stubborn man, one that didn't take well to change. Especially the dark change that he could feel shift through the air. One that seemed to constantly be altered by the countless new faces he began seeing throughout their quaint town. Now it wasn't that he didn't like people. He just didn't trust them.

Walking down the platform, against the flow of traffic, he aimed his gaze to the third cart. He came to a slow stop at the entrance, glancing around the crowd for a brief moment, before putting his hand to the open door way. A brown envelope merged into his open hand. His fingers gently gripped the package before he slipped it into his coat. His eyes darted around the area as the smooth transaction took place.

Once the information was acquired, he turned back towards the exit. With one step already being taken before his eyes made their way forward, Fastion only had a brief moment to avoid major contact. His right shoulder brushed abruptly against a man standing on the platform. "I'm extremely sorry, sir." He apologized, briefly patting the man on the shoulder that was hit. "It seems I wasn't paying enough attention."

[Alex Zadain]

It was hard not to be "that guy" as I looked around aimlessly for the exit. I had only been here for a few minutes and already looked like I didn't belong. It was most likely because I was still so out of it from the train, or maybe it was due to the soberness that I couldn't think straight. Dazed and confused I turned and felt a bump followed by a voice and a pat on the shoulder. "I'm extremely sorry, sir." Was the man's response.

That wasn't what I was used to. Being from Canada, we were the ones to say sorry to everything, maybe this wasn't going to be that bad living here. "No, no, my apologies. Taking it all in and not watching where I am going. My bad." I looked at him quickly, not enough really to get any description, just stock out my hand. "I'm Alex, it is very nice to meet you, and again sorry about that. Hate to start on a bad foot on my first day in town." I gave him a smile as I quickly examined who I was speaking too.