"Well," you respond, "I think Yelena was going to say something?" You also realize the current seating is perhaps not ideal - Lynx is sitting next to Elaine with one arm still over her shoulders, while you and Yelena are in the row ahead of them, sitting backwards on the seats. It seems Elaine is at least making an effort to restrain her frustration with Lynx's presence, but you decide to help things along, coming around and wedging yourself between the two of them. Elaine's expression is of nothing but gratitude, despite the fact that the new seating arrangement is rather cramped.
"Oh, right," Yelena finally says. "I'm from Krasnaya."
"You seem dressed rather dandy for that town," Elaine observes, and Yelena withdraws a bit. "I visited once; it was a sea of overalls and soot stains."
"Yeah. My family is... well, well-off by our standards. Nothing compared to the capital, though!" She waves her hands in front of her, oddly desperate to downplay her wealth, and this is the most animated you've seen her. "I mean, this was my best dress." You try to imagine her in overalls... or anything less fancy, really, but the image doesn't quite coalesce.
Still, you decide to spare her and change the subject slightly. "Aren't you warm? Being down south like this."
"It has more to do with elevation, I think," Lynx says, tapping a finger to her chin thoughtfully. "I mean, Krasnaya is up in the mountains." Yelena nods in confirmation, and you resist the urge to bury your head in your hands.
"It is warmer down here, but it's not uncomfortable. People always ask us how we stand the cold, but to be perfectly honest... we don't." She gives a small grin at this.
"I already knew that. The elevation thing," you explain in an attempt to defend yourself. "I mean, the temperature here isn't any different than down in Skvarska; it's not like the valley's big enough for any real difference in weather." Elaine pats you on the shoulder with an Understanding Look that somehow does nothing to ease your defensiveness. Imagine that.
"What's it like to be by the sea?" Yelena asks suddenly. "Have you ever been on a ship?"
You shrug. "It's nice to fall asleep to the sound of waves. I mean, my house isn't right next to the water, but it's still close enough that I can hear them if I leave my window open. And no. My dad was, but all the big ships have been stuck in dock since the barrier fell. The fishing boats still go out, but I haven't been on one."
"I heard the place used to be a lot nicer, when there was still trade going in and out." Elaine says. "Is that the case?"
"No, not really. I mean, the ships stuck at the docks are always kind of depressing to look at, but it's still a pretty nice place overall." Maybe you're just biased on this, though. Sure, there is that one part of town you always want to avoid if possible, but wasn't that true of every city? The area where you live in particular is a well-maintained neighborhood thick with trees and comfortably small houses. You're about to say more, but the moment you open your mouth again, the train horn blows and the brakes squeal loudly.
"Oh, looks like we're here!" Lynx says, getting up instantly. Outside the window, you can see an outdoor platform approaching as the train slows down; the screeching from below intensifies as you draw nearer, before finally letting up once you come to a halt.
The moment the conductor opens the doors, Lynx has grabbed her bags and run outside; Yelena and Elaine follow shortly after. You're about to follow them as well, before you remember the fifth passenger. Quiet Girl somehow still hasn't moved.
What do you do?
> Call to her, let her know it's time to go. Maybe she just fell asleep, or something.
> Go grab her and pull her along. You don't know how long the train will be in station, and you don't have time to wait around.
> Get Lynx to get her. The bigger and stronger girl would probably have no trouble wrestling her off the train.
> Leave her be. Surely she knows, and is just taking her time, right?
