Video

[dredefulchilde]

[Several hours after his apparently miraculous resurrection, Joscelin Fitzthomas opens the video link. He looks shellshocked and confused. But he also looks different. Even as washed out as he is by the video feed, his face is not quite as pale as before, and there is actual color in his cheeks that make his freckles (which also suddenly seem more numerous than there had been) stand out even more.

When he speaks, his voice is quiet and subdued, with none of his usual sarcastic swagger.]

It would appear that I troubled many of you during the mission. For that, I am sorry.

Romeo and I caught a saboteur in the act, and that person reacted by shooting at us. I took the bullet—or bolt, I suppose; how does one classify science fiction weapons?—for Romeo. At any rate, I was under the impression that I had been wounded, but I have since been disabused of that notion and it now appears that I spent the last several days dead, somehow. Tony Stark had my ashes and personal effects in his room. I...

[He seems to realize he’s rambling and cuts himself off.]

Since then, Romeo has vanished.

[His voice breaks.]

I came to bundled away in a suitcase earlier today, so please—help me by checking the baggage car regularly. Maybe Romeo needs help extricating himself from a piece of luggage. Romeo is the very best of us and I beg you all to help me find him and keep him safe. Please.

Comments

audio

[hashtagparkerluck]

Yeah, of course.

[ Peter is volunteering because of course he is. ]

I spend a lot of time in the dressing car so uh... I'll keep an ear out for him.

Um.. if you wanna talk, you can always come by, okay? I know-uh... I know how much this sucks.

[dredefulchilde]

Thank you. For both offers.

[hashtagparkerluck]

Anytime.

[usernamesarecool]

Yes, of course.

[ The Doctor also misses the little ray of sunshine he's just much, much better at hiding his pain. ]

Anything you need, just ask.

[dredefulchilde]

You’re a doctor, correct?

[usernamesarecool]

Yes. Well, The Doctor-but I can also be a doctor-why, d'you need one?

[dredefulchilde]

Something happened to me, when I came back. Something has changed and I’m not sure what it is.

[usernamesarecool]

Well, in that case let's have a look. Would you prefer I come to you or meet me in the medical car?

[blue_ice]

What? How could that happen?

[ He doesn't know this person, but the whole ordeal is shaking him a little. ]

...anyway, I'm on it. Welcome back.

[dredefulchilde]

How could I be miraculously resurrected, or how could Romeo disappear? I haven't got an answer for either.

[blue_ice]

Mostly the first. I was aware of other cases of the second.

But for what it's worth...glad you made it.

[dredefulchilde]

Me too.

But I wish Romeo was here.

[Audio]

[deductiongeek]

[Conan hadn't spoken to Joss since their argument. But he wasn't enough of a jerk to bring up that he'd told him so. Not when someone was still missing.]

I'll look for him.

[dredefulchilde]

Thank you. And...sorry. It's been a rather confusing day.

[deductiongeek]

Now that's something I can agree with.

[A long pause.]

I am relieved to see that you're not dead.

[dredefulchilde]

I'm...happy to not be dead. This is all very strange.

[adropofsunlight]

I'll keep an eye the best that I can. Will keep you informed if I see anything.

[This whole thing was new for her, she honestly didn't know how to respond, but she at least tried.]

[dredefulchilde]

Thank you.

Video

[yep_stilldead]

Hello, Joscelin! I'm sorry if this is a rude question, but... well, are you alive again? Or are you a ghost now, like me?

Video

[dredefulchilde]

I’m alive again. I can’t explain it.

I...er...this train also did something. I’m human again. Somehow.

[yep_stilldead]

Oh. [That doesn't seem fair, somehow.]

...Well, glad to hear it, then. Even if you got to come back as a ghost, I wouldn't wish being dead on anyone.

[dredefulchilde]

Well, I was undead before, and I’ve known a lot of ghosts in my time. I understand what this must be like, and I’m sorry.

[What? Joscelin being sensitive to someone else’s feelings? Death has humbled him somewhat.]

This must seem terribly unfair.

video

[so_dark_a_road]

Welcome back, Joss! Cabin 2:A wouldn't be the same without you! Nor would Team Purple, I think. You gave your life to save your friend Romeo, and now he has been taken from you and from all of us. I'll keep checking the luggage coach, and so will others, and with luck, he'll be back to celebrate life with you.

[dredefulchilde]

Stark told me it’s been a few days since I...since I died. I’m sorry for leaving the way I did.

Thank you for your help. I—I mean, we, need to get him back.

[so_dark_a_road]

You couldn't help it. You didn't choose your circumstances, and choosing to die instead of Romeo was an act of selflessness. Nothing to apologize for.

We do need to get him back. He's a kind and generous person, a bright soul. We need him. I wonder if telling that to the train entity would help?