Awkward Return | Llama Day 1 | Open

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin suddenly found himself inside a large trunk in the Luggage Carriage. It was a little deeper than a coffin but not as long, so his legs were cramped. "WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING IN HERE???" he yelled, loud enough to be heard outside the trunk.

It was a claustrophobic situation, and he glared up through the dimness at the lid of the trunk. For some reason, it didn't occur to him that the thing probably wasn't locked. Suddenly there was a BANG, Curufin's fist bashing into the underside of the lid, and then a CRASH, Curufin's boot following up with an even harder blow.

Both the fist and the foot left holes in the lid, which popped open and fell against the back of the trunk. Curufin sat up and stared around the luggage car. "What the fuck?" he swore. And then he saw whoever else was in the car and quickly replaced the scowl with a very puzzled smile.

"Hello?" he said. He scratched his head. "Have I been gone from the train?"

Comments

[so_dark_a_road]

"That'll be a useful thing to have on the train," he replied. "I'm guessing that scientist will be looking for a way to analyze the potion and discern the ingredients and make more of it."

He sighed, too. "Two months? That's a long absence, in Voidtrecker time. I'm glad Eva is still the Orange Team leader, and I'm glad that some people I know are still here. What's this about rearrangements of the sleeping quarters? I wonder what the reason for that is?"

[wisdominshadows]

"We always are in need of supplies," she agreed. "I don't know whether it's possible in this case... the wood witches who make these potions use magic in their creation, as well as specific ingredients. But I suppose we might as well try."

Zelda still thinks it might be more practical to bring a cow aboard, but the train shows no signs of accommodating bovine passengers. Also, to be fair, dragging a cow along on a mad voyage past the stars would probably be cruel.

"When we entered the platform today, the sleeper carriages rearranged themselves- what were the odd-numbered carriages are now upper floors. There are also new rooms specifically for couples, which seem to be causing a bit of a headache."

[so_dark_a_road]

"It couldn't hurt to try, could it? I wonder if there is anyone on board who has magical skills and could stand in for the wood witches who aren't here? I don't know if anybody's really tried to combine science and magic in the way those witches must, but somebody ought to try."

No cows on the Voidtrecker, that's true. And no, we musn't be cruel to cows!

"Ah, I see. The train stacked the sleepers in hopes of making the space more efficient. And as for the couples' rooms. . . " He shook his head but didn't look disapproving. "Headaches or not, there are couples on this train that will benefit from having their privacy at night. Not me and Glorfindel, unfortunately. I sense that he is no longer on the train. I'm single again. I guess I'll just kick back in my narrow single-guy bunk."

[wisdominshadows]

"Herblore and magic, really. I know some of the former, but those particular recipes are usually passed down from mistress to apprentice. And I'm not sure I like my chances of not poisoning the train trying to replicate them."

She has considered, though. And keeps considering.

"You'll find some changes there too," she tells him, a little relieved she doesn't have to break the news about Glorfindel. (The Triforce of Wisdom provides far less guidance on how to discuss other people's love affairs than a normal adolescence would, and Zelda only got the former.)

"Two new roommates, I think- one should have arrived today, but the other is from my own world."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Hmmm, I see your point. Well, maybe there will be some way to replicate those potions, even if not now."

And who knows, maybe Zelda will be involved in some way?

Fortunately she didn't have to break the news about Glorfindel. Curufin and Glorfindel are both proficient at mind-speech, and even at their first meeting they found they had an intuitive sense of what the other was thinking, not only generally but often very specifically. Curufin had opened his mind to search for his friend and lover as soon as he broke the lid of the trunk, and found that he was not on the train.

"You mean those two new roommates are yours or mine? And who is the one who is from your world?"

[wisdominshadows]

“Yours. Mine seem to be as steady as anything is here.” Though Dairine has been having a hard time of it of late, what with-

Ah. That Curufin might appreciate knowing.

“Link came aboard at the last stop. He is a gifted adventurer... and an old friend.

Also you should know: Nita Callahan was one of the departures. You were one of the people she meant to leave her records of prophecy to if she left the train.”

[so_dark_a_road]

"All right, I guess it'll be interesting to know someone else from your world." He likes the idea.

"What kind of person is Link?"

A trace of sadness crosses his face. "Nita is gone??? Oh no! But if she left any records of prophecy, I'll surely read them. Not only for their potential usefulness, but in memory of her."

[wisdominshadows]

"Gregarious. Kind. Utterly fearless." A pause, then she adds, "And, it seems, with some new experience with places like the train. You might find interesting things to talk about."

Nodding.

"I've been through them a few times, and I can't see any specific patterns. But I'd be glad if you could look through them. Perhaps you could see something that I missed."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Sounds like an engaging guy, this Link. It'll be interesting to hear what he thinks of the Voidtrecker Express, and to hear about his previous life and adventures in your world."

He nods, too.

"I'll certainly go through Nita's records, and you and I can talk about them and compare notes. Where did she leave them? Are they paper records or on the network somewhere?"

[wisdominshadows]

"I have them- not with me, but in my room. I've considered rewriting them into a more official book, but I've not yet gotten around to it."

She sighs.

"You've just returned, so I don't wish to take too much of your time. But perhaps once you've settled in a bit, we should discuss this further."

[so_dark_a_road]

"I'll help you with the writing, if you like," offers Curufin. "Just if you want. Maybe this is a project you'd like to have charge of yourself. But I'll certainly read these records whenever you want me to, and I'll tell you my thoughts on them."

He hears that sigh and gives her a kindly smile.

"You need never worry about taking up too much of my time. I'm your friend. Besides, all I have to do is check the network and see where my room is now, and then go there and claim whichever bunk is left. And say hello to my roommates, if any of them are there. Shall we meet somewhere later, and have that discussion?"

[wisdominshadows]

"Oh, I think you might have a bit more than that," she tells him with an amused look. "You're a popular man on this train, after all. People will want to talk to you all day."

With that observation, she nods. "Of course. Perhaps after dinner?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin grins. He points at his chest. "Me??? I'm a popular man??? Unbelievable!" He is only partly joking. He still remembers who he was in his own world, how adherence to the Oath had made him exactly the opposite of popular. Of course, only hours before his death, he had forsworn the Oath, and after his death he had refused the summons of Mandos and stayed in Middle-earth as a spirit, finding groups of refugees and leading them to Ossiriand or over the Ered Luin to safety. The rumors about the Feanorian ghost had circulated, and he found himself far less hated and even admired by sone. When he first found himself in world in another universe (Arda Marred), he had stayed on the new path that he had chosen, and he carried on with that effort in another world as well (Hadriel), and he was still committed to it on the Voidtrecker Express. Maybe it is now easier for people to see him as someone worth befriending.

"All right, after dinner, then. Where would you like to meet?"

[wisdominshadows]

She merely gives him a pointed look and a raised eyebrow.

"What about the library?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin grins again. Zelda does the pointed look and the raised eyebrow at least as well as Curufin's brother Maglor does.

"The library sounds like an excellent meeting place. You're going to bring the documents with you?"

[wisdominshadows]

That is a high standard, to be sure.

"Of course. It wouldn't make much sense to do otherwise."

[so_dark_a_road]

Indeed it is! And Zelda surely lives up to it.

"All right, then I'll meet you there after dinner. I'm looking forward to it!"

[wisdominshadows]

"Until then," she says with a nod.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Until then!" he says, climbing out of the trunk and checking his SCA to see which room he is now assigned. He gives her a friendly wave and heads out of the Luggage Car.