Call of the West

<Train SFX the entire duration, always in motion>

H-hey, this seat next to you isn't taken, is it?

{Pause for answer}

No? Would it be okay if I sat next to you? The attendant made me move and there's not a lot of options to pick from.

Oh, thank you! 

<Luggage being put overhead; a small sound of paper moving; the listener sits down afterwards>

He was being super mean about it for no reason! It's not my fault people in the dining car won't leave!

Ugh.

I'll try to be quiet. I know the curfew hours are soon...

You're not planning to sleep, are you? I don't want to keep you up with light conversation or pleasantries...

No? Oh good!

Mind if I ask where you're off to from here? It's a long ride!

Boston to Cleveland? That's certainly a unique journey! What's so good in Ohio?

Visiting your mother during the semester break, nice nice! I hope the weather is good there. It always seems so cold.

I also got on in Boston. What a coincidence! I'm doing the full ride to Chicago...it's going to be a long night for me.

Yeeeeep! End of vacation and now I'm off back home. I miss Boston already, it was so much fun! I'm so jealous that you get to live there. [Immediately realizing] O-or so I assume.

You can call me Ray, by the way. Short for {Rain/Freya/Grayson}. It's nice to meet you! May I ask your name?

{Pause for listener answer}

That's a lovely name.

You mentioned you were in school, right? Might I pry a little to know about your major?

{Pause for listener answer}

Mechanical engineering? Wow-ee. That sounds tough.

{Listener explains}

Looking to do hydromechanics? You're studying to be the world's most efficient plumber? [Mild chuckle]

I'm teasing. That's super unique, and I'm glad you've found something that works for you.

{Listener asks about speaker}

Oh! No college for me I'm afraid. I don't think I'm really cut out for something like that. I work at an automobile body shop. Tricky stuff, but I learned from the best—my dad!

I also sometimes take pictures for people. I'm not like a professional or anything, but if you're gonna give me $50 for a family photo...well. I wouldn't ever say no to that.

{Listener remarks about their job}

You work part time at a deli? That's cute! Are you the chief executive charcuterie board maker or something?

No way, that's actually what you do? For real?? Talk about an incredible guess. Guess I can read you like a book!

Good thing those pages are so captivating, hmm~?

Kidding! Kidding.

{Pause}

I love this train ride. It's always so calming...give or take the area around Buffalo. It's not really turbulence, but it's definitely something, right?

I don't like flying. They can say it's safe as much as they want, but something about being cooped up in the sky like that really freaks me out. I'm not good with heights at all.

This is so much better anyway, right? Low security, bigger seats, bigger bathrooms, better food...

{"and cheap!"}

And cheap! You're so real for that.

I wish I could do this all the time. It's hard to get away from the body shop though. Really had to beg my dad to give me the week off to do it!

[Under breath] Though I won't have to for long.

Hmm? Oh, nothing! Just thinking out loud. [Nervous excuse on the fly] Just...cursing dear ol' dad out for being stubborn. Mhm.

{Pause}

Say, have you ever been to Chicago before?

No? You totally should! It's got a crazy different vibe than Boston does, that's for sure.

Warmer, for one. I feel like I've been living in this hoodie all week.

I could show you around! Lots of cool parks and places to eat. Boat tours...

I could even show you my little CB Radio setup! It's been my little summer project to learn about that whole field. Guess some of the clients coming in rubbed off on me.

{Listener plays it down}

Well, I'll take "considering it" as a win in my books. [Full of it] You're certainly only one quick 22-hour train ride away!

I'd let you show me around Boston some more in return~

Or Cleveland too, I guess. Not sure there's much to actually see there. Gray skies? Terrible football teams? That creepy guy on all the billboards?

Let's both agree to stick to Boston.

<Lights flick out>

Looks like the noise curfew has settled in already. Weird, don't they normally do it once we stop at a station?

I guess I should stop talking now.

The low lights are really relaxing. Super hard to see anything.

[Softer] Like this...

<Syringe poke>

Shhhh...

I know, I know...your thigh might sting a little bit. I'm sorry for the pinch.

I promise that I won't ever cause you pain again.

It's too late to fight it. It's a really potent dose, and the quiet nature of the car will only get you in trouble.

Relax...relax...

Sleep deeply. When you wake up, everything will work out just like it needs to.

{Pause}

I had my eyes on you for a long time. We used to chat online a whole lot. 

How's it going, Moony?

{Pause; listener recognizes}

Awwwe, you're so cute when your eyes go all big like that. Your name was Moonbeam, but only one person was allowed to call you Moony, weren't they. 

Mhm~! It's me! Wheelspoke. 

I promised that we would meet up together one day, didn't I~?

Promise fulfilled. I found the school you went to from a Facebook post by your mom. Thanks, Cheryl! 

From there, I worked so hard to save up enough to finally see you.

I watched you as much as I was able. The little life you led, the people you surround yourself with, the work you put into the world...

It's perfect. Just like you are, and just like you've always been. Since the day we'd bet I'd always been enamored by you. Seriously! You're just that special to me.

I want to join that world by your side, Moony. You'll let me, won't you?

{Pause}

Awww, you've slumped out onto my shoulder already. How cute! See, even now you put so much faith in me to keep you safe.

You'll be coming home with me this time. It's okay! I already explained everything to your mother. It's a good thing we've had good ties for a few years! Your fault for not using social media much.

If you're good...we can maybe see her on the ride back to Boston. Maybe.

We just need to go over some ground rules once we get home about how this is going to work out, okay?

[More hushed delivery from here on out]

I don't want to change much about your life. I've read all sorts of horror stories about situations like these! Taken away, never to be seen again...

That's not how I'd operate, and you know it.

We just need to work on...integrating me into your life again.

After you stopped talking to us on the internet, I worried we had done something wrong to offend you or scare you away. You were such a big part of my world and losing that really hurt.

But everything ended up being fine...

[Sigh]

No more slipping out of my fingers, Moony. We were meant to stick together for the rest of time.

When you wake up, you'll have a new, loving {partner/girlfriend/boyfriend} by your side and a big wide world to explore, just like you said we should do.

Ahh, I can think of it already....

[Yawn]

I guess I'm getting sleepy too. I'll just lean back against you here...

<Light ruffling of fabric; repositioning>

Mmm. You're nice and warm. I like that. I always knew you would be, but actually feeling it feels great too...

I'll rest up a bit. It's a long way off to Chicago, anyway.

Goodnight, Moony~

<Optionally let train sounds run longer for ASMR reasons; otherwise fade out>

END.