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

[wisdominshadows]

"Oh!"

Zelda stood up from where she was rummaging through packages to take a proper look at him properly.

"Curufin? Goddesses, you've been gone for a long time! Are you all right? Do you remember anything?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin looked back, actually rather pleased to see her.

"Zelda! Yes, I'm all right. I can't remember when I left. . . but . . . I think I've been in the Void again. All I can remember is the darkness and the peace, and the occasional flashes of colored light."

He contemplated her. "Are you collecting a purchase?"

[wisdominshadows]

"A healing potion. One of the scientists on the train was looking for samples, and I promised her one from Hyrule."

She sighed, pushing a strand of hair behind her ears.

"You've been gone for... two months, perhaps? Some things have changed- actually, you arrived just in time for some rearrangements of the sleeping quarters. But Eva is still leading Team Orange, and you'll see other familiar faces as well."

[blue_ice]

"...Curufin?"

Kaiba is here searching in vain hope for someone else, but he's happy to see any long-disappeared teammate appear given the circumstances.

"I was starting to think you weren't coming back."

[mtsilver_conquor]

Forget the questions, she can answer that later. Eva would like to try and literally attach herself to her brother via a hug please and thank you.

That it might be awkward? Who cares.

"You're back!!"

[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?"

[so_dark_a_road]

"Kaiba! I'm so glad to see you! How have you been?"

Curufin gave him an affectionate smile.

"I'd rather be here than anywhere else, so I'm glad I did come back. And what brings you to the Luggage Car today? Packages to pick up, people to look for?"

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin opened his arms, accepted the hug gratefully, and returned it with great affection. He didn't care if it was awkward either. Eva was his adopted sister and he was overjoyed.

"I'm back, and I'm glad to be back, and I'm very glad to see you, Eva! What did I miss? And how's Team Orange doing?"

[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."

[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.

[runicfeathers]

"Curufin!"

Willow has already set her books and seed packs down somewhere out of the way and is immediately rushing over to the voice, also feeling that her bond isn't empty anymore. She's thrilled, delighted, and over-excited to see the elf again. She hadn't even thought to check the roster that morning either to see his name was no longer in gold, otherwise she would have rushed over much sooner.

"You've been gone some time, but for how long I am... unsure. It's good to finally have you back."

There's an offer of a hug waiting as she speaks.

[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."

[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."

[so_dark_a_road]

"Willow! I'm glad to see you!"

He too senses the bond and is happy that it is not empty for her anymore.

"It's good to be back, and it's very good to resume my friendship with you." He senses the offer of a hug, steps out of the trunk, goes to her and accepts that offer. He puts his arms around her, and his embrace is very gentle and affectionate. "How are you?"

[runicfeathers]

Her return of the hug is enthusiastic, yet gentle, taking care not to be too rough despite her relief. She knows Eva had much work to do without him around, and is glad for them both that their workload would hopefully equalise.

But the question of how she is perks her up even more, having not had the best of times when he'd disappeared and clearly now in far better spirits.

"I too am glad to be able to resume that, you have been missed by all. But I have been well," A short pause, collecting her words so that she doesn't babble, "I have been helping more in medical and on missions. Others now know what I am, but... I am more okay with this now. I can help others better this way."

[10billionpercent]

Naturally Senku is in the luggage car, he tended to be on platform days even though he wasn't intending on lingering too long, just finding his purchases and leaving. The thump was a bit of a surpise.

"You've been gone awhile." He smiled.

Curufin will notice that Senku is looking well. He seemed to be in good spirits. He was in his orange, of course, platform day but at the same time he'd added a platinum pendant on a chain around his neck, and on the wrist without the SCA he was also wearing a band with a flower on it, two things he would likely not be without again.

"Welcome back, I suppose, unless you were meant to return home in which case, my condolences."

[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.

[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?"

[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.

[so_dark_a_road]

Curufin wouldn't be concerned even if Willow positively crushed him with a hug! He'd just laugh and be pleased with the sentiment. He's glad to be back to take up his old position of co-leader of Orange Team, and he'll take on whatever part of the workload Eva wants to share.

He's pleased to see Willow looking so perky. He smiles down at her.

"I'm glad you've been well. And that's good you've found such useful ways to help out. I always did have faith in your abilities and your intentions. And it seems others now have the same faith. How did what you are become known? Did you tell people?

[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]

Curufin sat up in the trunk and grinned at Senku.

"I guess I have been gone a while," he agreed. "Funny how I forgot that people return in this manner. Or I'd have just lightly lifted the trunk lid instead of putting my fist and my foot through it." Another grin.

He did notice how well Senku was looking, and he also noticed the pendant and the band. "Hey, nice jewelry!" he remarked. "Did you buy those or did somebody make then for you?" Being Curufin the metalsmith, he was always interested in the craft and its products.

"Thank you! I'm glad to be back. No, I don't think I was meant to return to my own world, and I wouldn't choose to go there of my own free will. As far as I can remember, I was floating around in the Void again. I wanted to come back to the Voidtrecker, and apparently my wish was granted."

[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."