Conclusion

[voidtreckermods]

Thank you.

For those inside the system the voices of the Great-Seasons ring out around them once the red mass has vanished and the blue plinth it was smothering is freed once more. They don't have all that much time to reflect on that before they find themselves waking up once more in their bodies around the tree trunks.

Or at least, around the tube that is the Great-Season they entered through. All illusions have vanished now, all that is left are pipes and metal.

The Great-Seasons allow them passage out from the centre, no sentries or pipes attack them this time. Everything seems to have been put to rights, the walls in the Autumn sector have stopped moving, there is no strange weather effects in the Summer Sector, no engineering problems in Winter and all the camaloid creatures in Spring are calm. Any Helpmates they come across are doing their jobs and no longer malfunctioning.

After a small amount of time, enough to check that all is well, their SCA's light up. All Passengers are to return to the Voidtrecker Express.

Considering the vast distances involved it is probably best that they use the evacuation function to return to the Luggage carriage.

Once all Voidtreckers have returned the train returns to the Void once more.

Comments

[bakegarasu]

"... Oh." He goes quiet for a few moments, closing his eyes. "If you want me to leave you alone, I can."

[worthallthis]

"Can't get drunk either," Soldat says wryly. "Not without a lot of really high content alcohol." They consider the cigarette a moment. "I guess if I smoked a whole pack in ten minutes, I could maybe get something. Doesn't feel like it's worth it, though."

[flatteries]

"You're not scary."

Inigo will definitely correct that correction! No matter whether it's a joke or not. He won't let them call themselves that even jokingly - the mere suggestion of it apparently isn't allowed anywhere near Soldat.

Especially since Inigo's cheeks get a bit more puffy as he says it, like a little kid throwing a huffy tantrum. All pouty.

"You couldn't scare me if you tried! I know there's a great person in there. And you're handsome enough on the outside too, you know!"

[happyends]

Listen to that lowered voice! Madoka is all caught up in the other's response. It really does feel like they're sharing a secret here, and for a moment Madoka's hands are pretty much just pressed to her mouth as she listens, entirely at attention. Just soaking up all this secret knowledge Persephone is giving her.

"I see.." It's odd, imagining a place where clothing is so simple that there's no matching to be done, but then again.. Madoka has heard of much weirder places on this train by now, hasn't she. "Your friend sounds really nice if he went out of his way to buy clothes for you. My friends never bought clothes for me!"

.. Madoka pauses, seeming to only now realise how that sounds. The girl gasps, and quickly continues.

"N-Not that it's a bad thing! They're really nice to me..! Um, it's just.. buying clothes can sometimes get a little expensive, right.." And Madoka, being a middle schooler, obviously only has middle school aged friends. Not exactly the types who have a lot of money for that.

[subcircuits]

"It grew?" The mercenary little hitek in his brain wishes he could have seen that, but he squashes that greedy little part of him back down again. Not the time.

Especially when Soldat continues, warning him about the Asset. He listens, intent and serious as he's ever been, and nods. "Thanks for telling me that, too," he says.

There are a number of threads here that he really wants to untangle and pursue, but he limits himself to only two, pressing and practical: "If anything happens to it, can it be repaired?" He nods at the lantern. "Or anything else we might need to know about it that would keep from making things worse, if something happens?"

He pauses before the next question, grappling uncertainly with how to... address it. "Same question about the Asset, really, if there's anything-- either of you?-- would be okay sharing. Anything to watch out for, or that might help if there's a... a crisis of some kind?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Raven blinked when he vanished again. And huffed. "Alright, one more try." Because she could sense the beginnings of fear and panic starting--but it was just adding to the 'noise' she was sensing from him. Loudly.

So once more she focused on that noise, and intoned her mantra quietly. As soon as she reappeared "I just want to talk..." was out quickly.

[knifewithnoname]

"Yes. I think you do be deserving a big cake right now."

Certainly, after such news as that. She sighed and tilted her head. "I will be helping you."

With the cake. But also with everything else.

[worthallthis]

"The lantern can heal. From some things." They clearly remember the malfunctions and how it literally repaired itself in moments... if only the stupid death change would repair itself, ugh. (I came from stupid humans remaking it, it can't fix that.) Soldat gives themselves a little shake. "And if I die or it's destroyed, pretty sure the train will bring it back with the rest of me. I don't... think there's anything to actually be done to fix it. Without the lab equipment. And I never saw that."

They never could make themselves actually go into the labs. Now they wish they'd tried a little harder-- but they never really did expect to survive past saving the world anyway, so it never seemed pressing.

The Asset bit is... even more difficult to come up with something to help. "I. Really don't know. Most people in Beacon didn't even know about them. The Asset doesn't come out much, usually only for threats or. Panic, I guess. You're more likely to see Sarge, who is. He's fine. Not more dangerous than I am. Not even that likely to see him."

icon keywords not applicable, just wanted the expression

[worthallthis]

Their brows go right up. "Handsome. That's what you're goin' with?" But there's a sleepy kind of smirk going, now. Inigo reminds them so much of Sora, right now. They're already thinking of origami frogs. Adorable.

[controlsthedie]

Thanatos barely reappears when he sees Raven appear before him. They're probably startling onlookers during their impromptu chase.

He doesn't even consciously mean to teleport this time. He simply panic shifts to the greenhouse. He's not even sure why he chose that location. All he knows is that he can't be caught if he doesn't stay still.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"It wasn't a hint," the priest protests, "I'm just not that deep."

[its_dad_sanzo]

"That sounds disgusting, to be perfectly honest. And like a whole lot of work."

Neither of which is great if you're looking for a little nicotine calm.

[bakegarasu]

"Of course you're not, this pool is pretty shallow." He grins a little bit again.

[its_dad_sanzo]

Oh, that gets Koumyou to crack right up. "Good one!"

[bakegarasu]

"I do have the occasional moment of brilliance."

[worthallthis]

"Exactly. Not worth it. It's okay, though, I don't really need it. This is good enough." It's all psychosomatic, all based in nostalgia for the time before they weren't a person, and that's plenty. After another puff, they ask, "How long have you been here? On the train?"

[azrthmtrnznthos]

Well....that had gone well. Raven sighed, and resigned herself to more headaches. Heading for the kitchen first and herbal tea, then to find some paper... She hadn't actually gotten a name besides Death Incarnate, but there were only so many death-gods of the underworld, right? Scanning the passenger roster wouldn't be too hard to find him, hopefully.

SO, Much later--there is a note placed on the table in Cabin 4a, folded and addressed to Thanatos.

To Death Incarnate,

I'm sorry I scared you badly enough to panic the other day. I truly just want to talk; as I said, I'm an Empath and you're one of a few who has done the equivalent of shouting in my ear for the past few weeks. I want to help you learn to shield a bit better, for your sake and mine. Please come talk with me, even if it's just by sending a response note.

Raven
(Cabin 3-B)

cw suicide mention

[firewalled]

Poor Alice, dealing with someone as touchstarved as Rich is. It only feels natural for him to support others with the physical affection he wants so badly, so he wants to give it to her. If she wanted him to back off, though, he certainly would.

Poor Alice's flustered look gets a raised eyebrow, but smartly, Rich doesn't comment on it, a bit more distracted by the mention of the train.

"Uh... have to say, I never tried anything like that. The only thing I thought of was burning the computer out of my head." They're so well-adjusted.

[happyends]

Of course she's ready for a Mami hug when it involves the girl letting out a sob like that. There's no way Madoka would ever reject the other in that state - which means her arms move around the other girl, sneaking around Mami's waist, pulling her even a little closer. Like the comfort of hug may finally tell Mami that perhaps the world isn't always so cruel after all.

"No, you do, Mami-san. You deserve everything."

That's what Madoka genuinely believes, and she'll never ever stop saying it. No matter what Mami herself thinks.

"And you know the people here on the train are so nice. If they know about it, I know they'll all offer to help you out too. A lot of people here had strange circumstances back home, after all." So Mami's soul not being directly in her body? It's awful for Mami, sure, but at least it's not like it'd make her stand out or make her a freak at all among the people here, Madoka thinks.

[controlsthedie]

By some stroke of fate, Thanatos find the letter before any of his roommates do. He reads it carefully multiple times and even talks with Mort about it. The letter goes through a few drafts before he's satisfied. The lettering is neat and crisp.

To Raven,

I had not realized I have been causing you pain. This place brings up memories better forgotten. If this shielding is something you are willing to teach, then I will attempt it.

Thanatos

It doesn't go into detail into why or what he's feeling, but he hopes secrecy can be allowed in this case.

[its_dad_sanzo]

"Uhhhh..."

Good question.

Give him a moment here. Koumyou even visibly seems to count on his fingers.

"A... month and a half...? Roughly. I think. I don't really keep track of time very well."

[luckydragonsfoot]

"Nope! Like I said, they were wanderin', I was lookin'. Not really a whole lot f'r me t' do on th' train most days 'f I'm honest. Or like, nothin' I HAVE t' be doin', mostly..."

[comefadeaway]

Yoite smiled a little bit. "I'm paying attention when you talk to me." He assured him, because he was, he was interested in what Ichigo was going to show him.

/happily shows off new icon!!!

[unfavorableinstigation]

"Guess they were happy enough to put that free time to use," Nita points out.

With more scritches, just because she can.

"It's not as if they shouldn't get pets or anything..."

[worthallthis]

"Doesn't sound like that much longer than me," Soldat muses, trying not to smile at the finger-counting. "Are there people who've been here for longer? For years?"