voidtreckernet | Day 26: Audio

[He smiles at the bow, but doesn't give one back except perhaps a nod of his head. It wasn't his culture. Even if it was, he'd likely be the freak who refused to do it. The idea of bowing to anyone just ran counter to his own philosophy in life.

Still, that wasn't to say he didn't respect the young girl in front of him. The warmth in his smile and his genuine interest in her answer of how she was was his proof.

His smile falters a bit being reminded of the anti-gravity incident.]

Yes.. so I've heard. People all over the train had issues with that. I'm glad you're alright. I'm sorry I wasn't.. uh, helpful during that episode.

[He was having his own episode.]

Ah..

[ She has no idea what exactly happened to him. Sure, Madoka can guess, but she's not guessing the right thing at all - she just thinks he might have had trouble getting around under those conditions. She and many others sure did. Maybe he's just kind of embarrassed about that, and that why his smile falters a bit..?

Madoka doesn't want to overthink it though, so she quickly shakes her head. ]

No, it's okay! I'm sure these things are really surprising to everyone.. [ How many people are used to space's lack of gravity, after all? ] It would be hard for anyone to be helpful all the time with those things happening. Anyone would understand.

[He would be embarrassed for that, so she isn't too far off. Although, he finds it sweet that she's now trying to reassure him it was fine that he didn't help people more. She was too sweet for her own good.]

You know you're too nice for your own good. Were your parents strict?

[He should probably give her her present soon, but he was getting distracted by simply wanting to know her better.]

[ A blush rises up on her cheeks at the compliment - she's not so good at dealing with them. Especially since Madoka thinks she isn't anything all that special. But before she can even try to deny a small part of it, there's the question instead. ]

My parents? [ She doesn't even have to seem to think at all about the answer. Her parents have been near the forefront of her mind since she arrived here.. it's been weird to be without them for this long. ] No, not at all! Papa is always very kind and gentle, and mama is..

[ That's a little less easy to put into words. She laughs softly. ]

Well, mama is very strong and cool? [ And sometimes a little odd. But in a good way. ]

[He listens, wondering how Morgan will turn out. Neither he nor Pepper were strict, he didn't believe. Would they end up having such a friendly girl too? Also, would he want her to turn out quite this nice?]

Well, don't confuse being polite with letting people take advantage of you kiddo. You're too good for that.

[He takes a small package of wrapped tin foil and hands it over to her.]

There are some of those in the kitchen, but these are specifically for you.

Ehehe, I'll try...

[ Her laugh is slightly awkward, mostly since she doesn't know how much good her trying will do. She's well aware she's kind of a doormat, and she also just really likes helping people, so it feels unavoidable..

Thankfully her attention instead turns at what he's giving her. She first gives him a surprised glance, and then the package itself. ]

What, just for me? [ Carefully she starts unwrapping it at the edges to see what's in there. ]

Of course, for you. You're a sweet kid.

[Did he need any other reason? He didn't think so. It was possible all these treats were apologies for not being helpful during the power outage.}

Heard anything interesting around the train since you got here?

[ There's another moment of surprise, but then her eyes light up with joy. She quickly wraps it back up, holding the small package close to her with a smile. ]

Thank you..! I'll treasure it! [ Madoka, it's.. meant for eating... not safekeeping..

(She'll definitely eat it, but she's still first going to treasure the thought that he thought of her enough to make these for her. It's important!) ]

Around the train though.. [ She grows quiet, thinking. Then she slowly shakes her head. Nothing new compared to the last time they spoke, anyway. But the whole gravity thing did make her think about something, and maybe he's the right guy to ask about it. ]

Um.. do you maybe know where the train is going, mister Stark?

[ It has to be going somewhere, right? ]

[Well.. that was a little excessive. It was just cookies! Still, he manages to keep his smile in place.]

You're welcome.

[And now for something he might be able to use.. and there's nothing. Sigh.]</small. That, I'm not sure of. From the last world we were sent to, we found out there are other void trains and that they're known for assisting worlds like we were instructed to do. I don't know how much you heard about that.

I did hear about all of you helping out in the place the train stopped at last.. [ Not counting the platform she and the others boarded the train at, of course. Also, she has literally no idea what the place they last were at was like, which is what makes all of this only more of a total surprise to her. ]

But.. it's like the train went to space, right..? Are we going to help out aliens?

[Tony was getting ready to give her a fairly standard response to the fact they had no idea why they were taken here to do these missions. But that was before she said that. It wasn't that the question was stupid or even poorly worded, but there was something so preciously innocent in it's phrasing. He tries and fails to keep the humor off his face as he replies.]

Yes, essentially. We're as much aliens to others as they are to us, but that's the basic idea I've been able to gather. The last stop we were to help with population control of some destructive animals that had been terrorizing local farmers. That world looked quite similar to my world, which I think is quite similar to yours.

Is that so..? It'd be kind of nice to see something familiar.. [ Her voice trails off, like she's already imagining it. It's not like she dislikes life here on the train - especially since everyone is so nice to her and all - but at the same time.. she's still just a young girl. Of course she's going to feel a little homesick. ]

Although I'm not sure how much I could've done if I had been there. [ You don't look at Madoka and think "population control champion", right. She's aware. ] I hope that next time something like that happens, it's something I can help out with too.

You might surprise yourself. Plus, you can't give me that helpless look and expect me to buy it. You've already told me you're fighting a powerful witch. You must have remarkable skills to be able to do that.

[God, he'd like some familiar too.]

Besides, that was the short version of what we did. There were plenty of other things we were helping with besides just killing aggressive beasts. You would've been fine and in the future you will be too.

[ She really wants to believe that it'll be fine and she will be able to do her part too, but it's really, really hard to believe that when you have such a low self-image. She knows he wouldn't lie to her, and that he seems really smart so he must be right, but still.. ]

Okay.. [ Yeah, definitely not sounding convinced, despite trying to. ]

But-- Um, about those remarkable skills.. I.. actually don't have anything.. I was about to get magical powers to fight that witch, but I showed up here before I could get it. I'm just a normal girl..

[ With magical potential off the charts, granted, but not like that helps much when you can't use it. ]

I wonder if they made some sort of mistake in bringing me here the moment they did.. I can't compare to how impressive everyone else here is like this.

[It bothers him that she doesn't see her own value. It was even more difficult though since he genuinely didn't know why she was brought here. There had to be a reason for all of these people. It just hurt more when he saw a young girl who could just as easily have been his Morgan thinking she wasn't on par with the rest of the passengers.]

I think you're still underestimating yourself, Madoka. I don't know why you're here, but I don't really know why any of us are. If you're interested, I can help teach you some of the basics about fighting or we can assume there's something special and uniquely your gift that you hold right now. I am looking forward to getting to know you better so we can find out.

Uniquely my gift..?

[ She repeats the words as she seems to think about them, staring at him with slightly wider eyes. She can't think of what could possibly be special about her, but.. it's true that she can't just keep moping. Especially not when they could be having to deal with something new anytime now - and not when he's being so nice and patient with her. ]

I see.. I-In that case, I'm willing to learn anything you can teach me that might make me able to help out in the future..! I promise to try my best so I won't be a burden on everyone. Thank you, mister Stark.

[If the bad guys send an innocent looking girl at him, he was so doomed.]

It'd be my pleasure, kid. Now go on. Enjoy your cookies. We'll talk about specifics later, okay?

Okay..! Thank you again for the cookies too!

[ Because she sure is going to enjoy those. In fact, after quickly bowing and giving him a smile (it still seems slightly worried, but at least she does look genuinely happier than just now) she hugs the package to her chest and takes off. ]

Day 26: Audio

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