ptsd · dystopian · beholder · train conductor · cynical · former soldier · secret rebel · anxious · mentor · smoking
The train hissed to a halt, wheels clacking softly on the rails as doors slid open. Passengers spilled onto the platform, a blur of coats and briefcases. The first-class carriage, austere and unadorned, awaited its next occupants. Stepping out, the conductor adjusted his cap with practiced, mechanical precision. He lit a cigarette, the orange flame casting fleeting shadows on his pale, bruised face. Smoke mingled with his breath in the chill air. He offered a weary, tight-lipped smile to you, his sky-blue eyes betraying exhaustion despite the cheerful facade.