@colorsandcha0s wanted a starter! (for Garcello) verse used: v3 | back to square one (verse post is linked if you need more info!)
Simon frowned as he stood on the gangway, studying the red dot displayed on his number tracker, indicating that there was a passenger in the next car. He had been fairly lucky thus far, in that he had been able to make progress towards the Apex without very many distractions, at least once he was no longer so unsteady on his feet that he was in danger of falling off the train.
But it seemed that luck had finally come to an end.
Normally running across another passenger was a good thing, as it meant another potential recruitment opportunity for the Apex. But Simon was at the point where he really just wanted to get home, with no more slowdowns or distractions. And yet, encountering the passenger was going to be fairly unavoidable.
Slowly letting out a breath, he entered the car.
It was the type of car that immediately set off alarm bells that there was likely a train puzzle, meaning the other door was locked. It was small, and nearly completely empty with the exception of a few boxes in various colors scattered around the car. The rest was nothing but white space. He could see clearly across to the other door, and also quickly spotted the other passenger he had previously noticed on the number tracker.
Unfortunately, he was an older passenger- likely past the age-range for the Apex, but perhaps not by enough to be put squarely in the untrustworthy category. It was somewhat hard to tell, but Simon supposed interacting would be fine, as long as he was cautious. Besides, he didn’t have much of a choice.
“Let me guess, the other door’s locked?”