The train was huge.

It was no doubt powered by astermite and Chloé couldn't help wondering how she would build such a thing. It was an impressive feat of engineering and she had half a mind to pull it apart to understand how it functioned. The largest moving objects she had made were her automatons, making it quite fascinating to her. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to be pursuing that particular avenue of curiosity. She had places to be and the train needed to remain intact.

The station itself was equally impressive, efficiently laid out to shuttle people off without delay, luggage automatons zipping around and miraculously not crashing into people or each other. It was so overwhelmingly crowded Chloé was sticking close to Jean-Jacques side, anxious not to lose him. Large groups of people were still difficult for both of them. They hadn't been in the outside world all that long and preferred to keep to themselves anyhow. It was hard to break the habit of reacting negatively to anyone who came within an inch of them. Jean-Jacques probably would have been carrying her, thereby negating the problem, but they had learned that that was prone to drawing attention to them. Besides, one of Jean-Jacques' hands was taken up holding their picnic basket.

They managed to weave between hurrying people and luggage to get to the train without incident. Jean-Jacques, ever the gentleman, offered his hand to help her as she climbed aboard the train. The inside of the train was just as exciting as the outside, with rows of upholstered benches lining the carriage, alongside the generously sized windows. Already there were a good number of other patrons in their seats, all apparently unaware of how very extraordinary the situation they were in was.

The most experience Chloé had with vehicles was horse-drawn carriages, and Jean-Jacques had only ridden a train once while she was still asleep. It was unimaginably foreign to them, even more so because it was available to the general public. Never in her wildest dreams had Chloé imagined such a thing, though travel had always been far removed from her thoughts. And if the trains were impressive the airships they had seen in the sky were another beast entirely. They would have to make an excuse to ride one of those together some day.

They took their seats at an empty bench, Jean-Jacques taking the spot closest to the window and storing their basket beneath his seat. The seat was slightly firmer than ideal, though perfectly acceptable for how long their journey would be. Chloé adjusted her skirts and hat to do something with her nervous energy as they waited for the train to start. The fashion of the new century was an interesting thing to get used to and she hoped she and Jean-Jacques fit in with the clothes he had made for them. They were summer clothes too! It seemed everything was outside of their established comfort zones. Chloé could admit however that some of the things she had worn in Gévaudan weren't terribly well-suited to the weather, closer to summer than winter attire.

Eventually the conductor made his rounds and checked their tickets, the train lurching into motion not long after. Chloé craned her head to watch out the window as it carried them off. Everything was flying past and yet the horizon remained right where it was. Knowing intellectually how large the world was couldn't prepare her for what it was like to see with her own eyes the sheer scale of everything. In point of fact the train barely covered a fraction of the Earth and that made it all the more awe-inspiring.

Chloé spared a glance to the other passengers. None were paying them any mind. She was still getting used to what was and wasn't appropriate now that it wasn't only her and Jean-Jacques in their own little world, but if no one was watching it shouldn't matter either way. She stood up and hopped into his lap, startling him from the trance he'd been in while looking outside.

"The view is better from here," she explained.

Jean-Jacques' expression softened a little and he adjusted their position so they could both better watch the scenery together. The smallest of things aroused pure, unadulterated exhilaration in them both. Jean-Jacques had waited for her to wake before truly experiencing the world so, although he had been living outside Gévaudan for some time already, there was barely a difference in their responses.

The trip seemed to end nearly as soon as it began, their station rolling into view with surprising swiftness. It was almost disappointing that they would have to disembark when riding the train was so delightful on its own. Chloé climbed out of Jean-Jacques' lap and they shuffled off the train with a crowd of other passengers when the doors were opened.

The station was much like the other. A little quieter perhaps, but still filled with a confusing throng of people coming and going with varying levels of urgency. It was a little relieving to slip between them and eventually step outside into the open air. A new town spread out before them into the distance, seeming to glisten in the summer light. And between the buildings Chloé spotted it; their destination. The faintest glimpse of the ocean.

Chloé took off running.

"Chloé!?" Jean-Jacques yelled.

A moment later she heard his footsteps pounding along behind her and grinned. She had to hold her hat with one hand to stop it blowing off, while using the other to keep her skirts out of her way as best she could. As the sea drew closer she could taste salt on the wind and let out a small, delighted shriek. The ocean really was salty just as she had heard, though she had never quite believed it until that moment. As she raced along it registered in her periphery that the people she passed were looking at her strangely. She couldn't care less, though she should have. There wasn't room for anything besides pure elation. She had hesitated long enough, it wouldn't do to deny herself the world any longer.

She finally skidded to a halt when she reached the edge of a set of old wooden steps leading down onto the sand. Chloé took in the sight in front of her, drinking in every detail of the bright whitish sand and glittering water extending all the way out to the edge of the world, where it joined the cloudless blue sky. Within seconds Jean-Jacques was at her side, panting heavily. She glanced at him, also out of breath but unable to stop smiling.

She held out her hand. "Will you take the first step with me?"

Jean-Jacques took her hand without faltering and after a breath they simultaneously stepped forward. The sand on the stairs crunched beneath their shoes as they descended, the layer of sediment growing thicker with every board, until they reached the bottom and properly stepped onto the beach itself.

Even the sensation of walking on sand was new. The way it slipped beneath their soles and made every step that little bit harder could be compared to the ice in Gévaudan, but only superficially. The sand was much softer and more pleasant, though particles were already sticking to their shoes and to the edges of Chloé's dress.

There was a scattering of other people around the beach, a few in the water too. Chloé and Jean-Jacques found a quieter area a little further down the waterfront, away from most of them. Jean-Jacques set down their picnic basket, laying out the blanket for them to sit on and unpacking the food he had made for the outing.

Looking at the selection of fruits, pastries, cheese and bread laid out before them it was clear they had probably brought too much. Even if the both of them did have relatively large appetites. They contented themselves grazing on the feast in front of them and watching the coast. Small numbers of gulls picked their way through the sand or circled overhead while crying out in their shrill voices. The bravest of them wandered close in an attempt to steal some food. Chloé and Jean-Jacques resisted the temptation to feed them, knowing more would flock around them if they did.

The gentle ocean waves provided pleasant ambient noise, the push and pull of the water against the shore a hypnotic sight. Looking farther out a small group were paddling in the water together.

"I would like to do that," Chloé announced, nodding towards the distant figures.

Jean-Jacques glanced at them. "Next time we can bring swimsuits too. Maybe someone like Jeanne or Noé as well, we might need help learning to swim."

He looked back to Chloé. She had leaned over to begin unlacing her shoes.

"What are you doing?" Jean-Jacques asked, perplexed.

"I'm going in the water," she declared, pulling her shoes off and beginning to roll down her stockings.

"You can't! Isn't that indecent?"

"It's no less decent than wearing a swimsuit."

"Chloé, there's no need to be in such a rush to do everything."

Chloé ignored him, standing and walking across the sand. After hastily packing their food back into their basket and leaving it behind Jean-Jacques followed along at her heels trying to convince her they could go in the water another time. He had half a mind to simply lift her off her feet to stop her in her tracks. He was only stayed by the certainty that that would make her angry at him. He stopped where the sand met water and Chloé kept going. She lifted up her skirt as she waded out, holding it high to not get it wet.

"Come on, Jean-Jacques!"

He stood at the edge indecisely, the waves just barely touching the tips of his boots. He looked down at the shallow water, somehow insurmountable in its mundanity. Then he looked up to Chloé. She was smiling at him so wide her eyes were nearly closed, wind blowing through her hair so it shimmered in the sunlight. She let go of her skirt with one hand to beckon him, allowing part of her dress to fall into the water.

Jean-Jacques closed his eyes and exhaled. He bent to remove his shoes and roll up the legs of his pants before following after Chloé, leaving his shoes right there on the sand. The water was cold, yet not unpleasantly so. Fresh water against his skin wasn't a sensation Jean-Jacques had ever wondered about, it was hard to say if the feeling itself or the newness of it was what made it so invigorating.

The sand again had a different texture when experienced with bare feet and underwater. It was almost muddy, sticking to the soles of his feet as he cautiously made his way over to Chloé.

"Isn't it nice, Jean-Jacques?" Chloé said once he reached her side, playfully kicking a small wave of water at him that sloshed against his calves.

"It is," Jean-Jacques conceded.

Chloé turned from him, humming, and walked a few more steps, hiking her dress up a little higher as the water got deeper.

"How far are you planning on going, Chloé? We shouldn't wander too far." Jean-Jacques professed nervously, putting a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

She looked over her shoulder at him appraisingly before turning back to face him properly, even walking back a few steps towards him. Jean-Jacques allowed himself a relieved sigh, not paying attention as he did so. Abruptly there were hands on his chest and before he could react Chloé was pushing him backwards. He toppled into the water with a satisfying splash.

"Chloé!" He yelled, already feeling the cool water soaking through every layer of clothing.

She laughed at him, covering her mouth with one hand in an ineffective attempt to stifle her mirth. Quick to retaliate, Jean-Jacques' hand wrapped around her wrist and Chloé screamed as she was yanked forward, falling on top of him and sending up another - albeit smaller - splash of water. After the daze of the initial impact wore off Chloé adjusted her position on top of his chest to look him in the eye and frowned.

"That was completely unnecessary."

"You pushed me first!"

She huffed, using one hand to shove his head down into the water, soaking his hair and the back of his neck. Jean-Jacques responded with an indignant sputter, grabbing Chloé's waist and turning to the side to dump her in the water beside him, drenching both of them further. A lively wrestling match ensued, in which they did their very best to ensure not an inch of their partner remained dry. Though for the most part they let each other do whatever they wanted, taking surprisingly civil turns to push or pull or shove.

By the time they were exhausted and bored of playing they looked as though they had actually been swimming, and maybe dragged along the seabed for good measure. Jean-Jacques leaned back in the water on his elbows, Chloé atop him, reclining back against him. They lazily remained like that, watching the sky, content to not return to dry land quite yet.

Something drifted past.

After a long moment Chloé said, "Is that your shoe?"

"Huh?" Jean-Jacques glanced at the half-submerged object.

He flailed upon realising that, yes, Chloé was right. He snatched it from the water, looking back to the beach and proceeding to frantically swivel his head as he realised his other shoe was not on the shore where he had left it. Chloé, much less troubled, surveyed the water almost boredly.

"Oh, it's over there." She pointed lackadaisically.

Jean-Jacques followed her finger and spotted it instantly, drifting further out to sea. There was a small rush of panic and a sinking feeling in his gut. Chloé was still on top of him and he didn't want to ungraciously push her off but he also really needed to hurry before it floated into deeper water.

With no other options he could think of on the fly Jean-Jacques grabbed under Chloé's legs to lift her with one arm as he stood. It was a good thing Chloé reflexively latched onto his shoulders or he might have dropped her. She leaned into his neck to hide her face, laughing furiously as he struggled to wade through the water, getting well up to his knees before reaching the errant shoe.

Once he had picked it up he let both boots hang loosely in his hand as he caught his breath, the small burst of adrenaline dying down. They were visibly filled with water and sand and he made a face looking down at them. They were likely going to be damaged in some way shape or form, even if only minorly. Chloé abruptly squished his cheeks in her hands.

"Don't look so miserable! You were having fun a minute ago. It will be an amusing story to look back on in the future."

Jean-Jacques pouted. "You wouldn't be saying that if your shoes had been ruined."

"If my shoes had been ruined I know you would carry me wherever I needed to go."

"Are you saying you'll carry me?" Jean-Jacques raised an eyebrow.

"You're a silly boy, of course not. What I know you would do has nothing to do with me."

"I could drop you right now."

"You would never do that," Chloé asserted blithely, kissing his cheek. "Time to head back I think?"

Jean-Jacques carried them to their picnic blanket on the shore, where they assessed the damage of their escapade. When Jean-Jacques set Chloé down she gave him a once over, coming to the realisation that seeing all of him made the extent of the harm much clearer. His clothes were completely waterlogged, wrinkled and sticking to him unflatteringly. He was also absolutely covered in sand, even his hair and his face. She looked down at herself, finding his disarray mirrored.

"I don't think we can get on the train like this," Chloé grimaced, picking at the wet fabric of her dress.

Jean-Jacques reluctantly agreed with her. Aside from how unseemly it would be there was no doubt it would be uncomfortable to sit and marinate in their ruined attire all the way home. As a solution they decided it was best they find somewhere to stay where they could freshen up and compose themselves.

They managed to find a hotel in the area. One that was run by and friendly towards vampires no less. From Vanitas they had learned it was easy enough to spot a vampire-run establishment once you knew the signs even if they didn't explicitly advertise as such. And vampire run establishments tended to have better bathing facilities.

Though being vampire friendly did not make them any more welcoming towards two very scraggly strangers still dripping from their stint in the ocean. It took a not insignificant amount of convincing to get a room at all, it was really very embarrassing. They had danced around the fact they had ended up in such a state by acting like a couple of children, and in the end it was their money that had helped them secure a place to stay. It was obvious they had been overcharged but considering their circumstances it couldn't be helped.

As soon as they were inside Jean-Jacques dropped the picnic basket and they rushed into the bathroom. There was a struggle as they both realised how difficult it could be to get out of wet, heavy clothes. They'd never been so completely sodden, even if they had gotten wet in Gévaudan's snow plenty of times. At least with one another's help the removal of their clothes became a less impossible task.

With the greatest haste they threw on the shower and pressed inside. There was no taking turns and there was no waiting for the water temperature to adjust, they wanted to be clean now. After the initial relief wore off they settled into a more comfortable position where they could both get the full benefits of the warm water. It was helpful that Chloé didn't take up much space. They took turns using the soap to scrub the sand and grime from their bodies, almost gratuitous in the time and care they dedicated to it.

"Let me wash your hair," Chloé said eventually, grabbing the bottle the hotel staff had helpfully left on the shower niche.

"Do you want me to lean down?"

"Carry me."

Jean-Jacques did as she asked, lifting her to a comfortable height. He closed his eyes as Chloé kneaded her hands through his hair, teasing and massaging tenderly. As the gritty sand washed out it was replaced with warmth and softness. Chloé kept going long after she needed to, enjoying going through the motions and how content it made Jean-Jacques. Afterwards he put her down and washed her hair in turn, taking equally as much care as she had.

Once they were satisfactorily clean they lingered a while longer under the shower head, reluctant to leave its serenity. When they did step out they dried off beside each other, using the plush towels the hotel provided.

After drying off, rather than putting their still grimy clothes back on, they instead found thick, soft blankets in their room and wrapped themselves in them. Jean-Jacques returned to the bathroom to do his best to wash their clothes meanwhile Chloé wandered over to the bed. She lay down and curled up, head sinking into the pillow. It was cosy enough that she settled down, meaning to only rest her eyes until Jean-Jacques came back.

She woke up to Jean-Jacques shaking her shoulder. She blinked up at him drowsily.

"Sorry to wake you. I just..." Jean-Jacques shrugged helplessly.

Chloé's sleep addled brain took a moment to understand his meaning.

She reached up to caress his cheek. "I'm not going to leave you again."

He leaned into her hand. "I know."

She pulled him down to cradle him against her chest. Her fingers played with the ends of his hair idly.

"You can fall asleep first. Wake me up if you need to."

Jean-Jacques nodded, pressing a little closer to her. She laughed under her breath. It was cute when he was needy with her. In time he was drowsing peacefully. Chloé smiled. Even if their trip hadn't gone precisely as planned she didn't regret a moment of it.