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

[blue_ice]

"Well...we had another dangerous mission, and the train brought us to a strange place where we could allegedly send messages to people who aren't here with us," he reported dutifully. He looked tired as he sat on one of the nearby suitcases.

"Yugi's gone missing. I'm holding my breath now to see if he'll come back, or if he's gone...but other than that, we live. We carry on. You were missed," he adds, with a tiny smile.

[so_dark_a_road]

"How strange," answered Curufin, "The train has never before even hinted that we might be able to communicate with people we left at home or in other places. "If I had been there, I'd have tried to send a message to my father, my mother, and my brothers. Did you try to message anyone?"

He gazed at Kaiba with sympathy, seeing how tired his friend looked.

"I'm so sorry that Yugi is gone. I really hope he returns. He meant a great deal to you, didn't he?" He responded to Kaiba's smile with a kindly smile of his own. "I suppose he'd want you to carry on. And yes, that's what we all must do. Thank you, Kaiba, for telling me I was missed."

[blue_ice]

"He hasn't...disembarked yet. I'm not sure if he will next time. But knowing you reappeared after being gone for so long means it's possible that he'll return."

Kaiba briefly touches the ring he wears above his locket, then looks at Curufin once more.

"I sent messages to my little brother and the pharaoh...the one who was Yugi's friend, and my rival. And a few former passengers who've departed since you left."

His face is grim on that last part.

[so_dark_a_road]

"Ah, then Yugi's name on the passenger list is still in gold? And yet he didn't disembark on platform day? That's at least a little hopeful."

Curufin looks back at Kaiba and tries to send a message of concern and good wishes with his eyes.

"I certainly hope those people actually received those messages. Who were the former passengers to whom you sent messages?"

He sees the grimness on Kaiba's face, and figures he lost some friends.

[blue_ice]

"I can't let my hopes rise too much. It's still likelier that he'll leave than he'll come back. But if messages can reach far-flung people...maybe I can puzzle it out and follow."

He dips his head a little. "Daia and Nita. They both left shortly after you disappeared."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Even though most people whose names appear in gold don't return, I'd say there's a point to hope. It gets you through the days. But even if Yugi never comes back, remember you have friends who care about you. I'll be here to support you, whatever happens. And I think you have a significant idea there -- if messages can reach people in other universes, then it must be possible for people to travel those same paths. And it must be possible for we human beings to figure out how to do it."

He hears the name of the other missing person. "I liked Daia, and I'm sorry he's gone. I'll miss Nita the most, but there was just something about Daia that made him special."

[blue_ice]

Kaiba bows his head a moment, hand clasped over his locket. He's deep in thought. What will get him through the days is maintaining a purpose, continuing to work...and friends, he supposes.

"The team's not the same without them. But there will likely be new people to welcome soon, and I intend to keep doing that. Thank you."

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin would agree with that thought. He hasn't mentioned it, but his lover Glorfindel is gone as well, and he misses him. However, he'll continue to have purpose and he''ll continue to work, and he'll still have his friends.

"I know. Every person contributes something to the team, whether it's skills or personality and interaction, or all of those. When that person leaves, something is missing. But you're right, new people will come, and they too will contribute. The team will change because of that kind of turnover, but we'll still make it the best team we can. We should welcome the new people, make them aware that they are valuable to us."