Designation: MELT

The train's passengers left the station ever so slowly, taking in the "awe" of Vaizeir as they stumbled ahead. The station was nothing worth taking a second glance at, but it looked better than any building they could see through the windows.

The rain was only a slight drizzle, so no one bothered with umbrellas. And besides the rain's pitter pat, and the footsteps, it was dead silent. No voices, no overhead speakers, no news kiosks, etc. Not a sound could be heard in the vicinity--

"CLACK--!"

A sharp metallic crack echoed through the station, only grabbing the attention of a few. Some faces turned to see the culprits, a scruffy man with a peach fuzz beard and an overcoat lumbering over a smaller boy wearing a neat blue uniform.

"Ah--!" The boy squeaked. He was pretty small, and instantly imagined the few outcomes of a situation like this.. "I apologize! I didn't see you."

The scruffy man looked down. An older model cellular phone littered it's innards; screws, tiny gears, etc. all over the floor. The sheepish boy looked down too. There was no way that phone wasn't beyond repair.

"Ugh," the man sighed a deep sigh. "Jus' watch where ya' going. If I weh anyone else, ya'd be on the train tracks."

"My apologies."

"An' don't act so fuckin' prim 'n' proper. No one 'ere gives a damn. You sound like one of 'em annoying Pendulum Knights."

The scruffy man looked down at the boy's uniform. It was light blue, with white cuffs and white stripes around the waist area, with completely white sleeves, A polished copper badge was on one of the cuffs. He took a step away from the boy.

"You ARE one of 'em Knights..... Damn, they sure ah gettin' desperate."

He changed his tune and his face lit up with a smile.

"Mah designate's Wagner. Oh, an' don't worry 'bout the phone. I can jus' steal one."

The sheepish boy looked closer at the man. With the smile on his face, he seemed homely, like a happy drunk.

"Nice to make your acquaintance. My name's-- er, I go by.--"

"HOLD IT," Wagner interjected. "Designate, boy. You gotta make up a fake name 'ere. Like a pseudonym. Only an idiot would tell a stranger their full name in Vaizeir."

Noted. The kid took a breath, and with a few seconds of thought, tried again.

"I'm... My designate is Melt."

"The fuck issat s'pposed to mean?"

---

Taking some time to look around, they noticed they were in an almost empty train station now.

"Hey, kid. You're prolly looking for the Pendulum. All the trainees arriving today go there, and it's at the centeh uh' town. I been there before, I'll show you the way."

"Really?" Melt's face lit up.

"Nooooo." Wagner said sarcastically. "I just said I'd show ya the way to getcha hopes up for no reason whatsoeveh with absolutely ZERO benefit to--"

"Okay, okay, I get it."