After a rather "sedate’ trip south on the Express (opposed to the usual ruckus a train full of hyperactive kids could get up to), Briallen tried to convince her uncle that they needed to go to the Alley so she could pick up some gifts for Christmas to be sent to her friends. Vernon refused to drive her however. "I’m not going to put up with the traffic and congestion this close to the holidays. You should’ve thought about this errand sooner."