<span style="color: #0000BF">Aboard the train, carriage C3 </span><br/><br/>"Pardon me."<br/><br/>Beau heard a voice. Earning his attention as he smoothly turned to look at the figure before him. Her hands were folded demurely in front of her, as she continued to talk softly.<br/><br/>"I wondered please if you could tell me: Is this the 16:30 off-peak commute? And," she added as her unease continued to trouble her,<br/><br/>"is this seat taken?"<br/><br/>He blinked rapidly- as if someone had woken him up from a burdening trance. Phantom images of the graffiti word flashing before his eyes. Until it faded and he saw a dainty squirrel and panda girl standing in front of him.<br/><br/>"No!" he replied so suddenly.<br/><br/>Then hesitated.<br/>" I mean... no... not as in 'You can't have this seat' but as in..." he looked around the train "this seat isn't taken..." he looked back and smiled reassuringly. Scratching the back of his head which turned his gesture into a sheepish one.<br/><br/>"... I mean, it's not like anyone else is on this train, right?" he sighed, ever so slightly exasperated. He was a bit annoyed at himself for losing his composure. How the tides turned with his mannerisms.<br/><br/>"Not from what I've gathered... so far..." the female hybrid answered. Sweeping her head, as in to take in her surroundings. Bob of hair following the motion.<br/><br/>He looked on curiously.<br/>Bless her heart. If he didn't know better, he'd say she was questioning the lack of passengers on this train.<br/><br/>Sure, he found it... unusual. At best. Trains could be empty at times though, believe it or not. He had heard stories of 3AM trains being completely empty. Which would beg the question as to why they'd be run at all. Apart from being there to cart the intoxicated home after a heavy night out of boozing.<br/>Or even first morning 5AM trains wouldn't exactly be a full house party. More sleeping grounds for those poor early start commuters with demanding jobs.<br/><br/>However, it was 4:30pm in the afternoon. He couldn't deny that an empty train little before rush hour was a little bit odd. But why waste your time worrying like this girl was?<br/><br/>"To answer your other question, yes, this is the 16:30 off peak," he suddenly remembered the first inquiry she posed "guess the train's not for everyone!"<br/><br/>A non-chalant but hesitant laugh following after that last statement.<br/>Beau's expression fell normal again, before his interest piqued when he noticed something about her eyes. Or rather, what was covering them.<br/><br/>"Isn't it getting a bit too dark to be wearing sunglasses?" the blue toned squirrel asked.