Dave and Bambi: Calamity Rose Edition

Pressure

The whirring of the train car against the rickety tracks filled the air with a specific type of ambiance: boring, mundane, and completely mind-numbing. The stained windows only projected darkness, as the whole system relied on being underground (why add windows anyway...?), looping under towns that descended so far down into the city they might as well count as burrows, and the occasional light that would come from a specific type of fauna that invaded the underlying depths of the city above. Their illuminating spots gave an idea of fireflies that resided deep down under. The whole idea of spiraling towns, glowing creatures, and the occasional rattling movement of the subway was more than familiar to Bendu. If he had motion sickness, this would've been the worst ride of his life. Claustrophobia would've also been a curse...considering he was squished into a corner of a cramped subway car with other just as annoyed individuals.

He just had to wonder...why were there so many people crowding this place at such late hours?! It was already dark outside and every citizen, big or small, tall or short, comprehensible or mindfucked was packed like sardines! He knew people were either heading home or to their night shifts, but this was just ridiculous. He could barely even hear his own thoughts over the drone of various unintelligible conversations happening all around him. And don't even get him started on the SMELL. It was public knowledge that these cars were cleaned every once in a while, yet it was not enough to mask the scent of a horrible mix between sweat, deodorant, cologne, and someone's strawberry perfume that was making him want to gag. The only thing resisting that urge was the stares he'd get from people that were almost two inches from his face. Bendu had to wonder why he'd choose the subway over just walking. His stupid "INTUITION" led him astray...AGAIN.

The simple thought of having to stay on this subway any longer was starting to pull at the mere thread that was connecting his sanity to his anger management. The best he could do was ride it out and wait till the next stop so he could get the hell out of here. He was so caught up in his own thoughts of wondering if he should try to close his eyes and think of somewhere more peaceful, or tough it out like a real man, that he didn't realize someone was trying to talk to him.

"Hey." The random stranger spoke to him, interrupting his train of thought as the thread was only tugged harder. His reason had already been broken, pulled so hard it tore, only making him respond with a very loud and blunt:

" WHAT. "

Now he was gathering the stares of the people close to both of them. The person trying to talk to him flinched from his sudden loud response. Now recovering, they slowly turned away from him so as to  not make eye contact. Uncomfortable was not the right word to describe this situation, especially since others were starting to stare at him. He felt his face flush from embarrassment as he still had furrowed brows from his sudden angry burst, looking down at his feet to shield himself from any more humiliation.
Thankfully, as if a higher being had taken pity on him, the train had conveniently begun to slow near his destination. A monotone voice rang over the intercom, mercifully turning the passengers' attention away from him;

"Now arriving at; District 1, Fiosa. Please remain where you are until the train comes to a complete stop and stay away from the doors.."

It then seemed as though said higher being walked back their pity—as all of a sudden, a painfully loud siren began to blare over the still-speaking announcement, startling Bendu so badly he physically jumped from his seat. The droning sound made it impossible to discern the rest of the words over the intercom. He instantly recognized the alarm as one of the many alarms that determined the danger the realm had to face, specifically the city... as did everyone else, as a ripple of groans and frustrated exclamations filled the air. Even then, everyone's piercing gazes had shifted away from him, to his great relief. The prospect of dealing with the emergency test system in a crowded train was... not so relieving, but at least it meant getting out of this place slightly sooner than normal. Now it was also just a matter of waiting for the test to end so he didn't have to listen to these godawful sirens anymore!