Roland Crane (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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voidtreckernet2021-03-03 12:36 am
adregem) wrote in voidtreckernet2021-03-03 12:36 am
Entry tags:
Video - Kazoo 1
[ On the day of platform, after all is said and done and passengers both new and old have filed into the Voidtrecker Express, a certain man restored to his usual youthful face is seen on screen, from the comfort of the Library car. Clad in clothes that are distinctly different from the train's usual uniform, eagle-eyed passengers may find a particular floral lapel pin attached to the turnover collar of his top as the only indicator of where he's been grouped. ]
To my fellow Voidtrecker passengers, a very fine Kazoo day to you all.
[ These month names will never stop sounding ridiculous to him, but with a face so serious, it sort of works in commanding attention anyway. ]
I've begun this broadcast with two express purposes: first, I would like to ask for your time as we launch an official census of the current Purple team roster. [ He crosses his arms over his chest. Though he is speaking in general, it seems he's adept at talking to cameras such that he could be addressing you in particular. ] Just now counting the passenger list from the ICP, we are once again seeing an incredible number of talented individuals who all have something unique to offer, not just for this team, but for everyone onboard.
[ His fist curls in a determined gesture. ] To this end, interested members can now fill out a quick survey such that we can determine who is good at, or comfortable doing, particular tasks on and off missions. Purple is populated by plenty of diverse folks, the most of the train's teams, and we should be putting everyone where they are most needed. It could be as simple as offering your favorite hobby as a service, or something more unexpected like your secret ability to bench-press three cows while jumping as high as the moon. Heh. [ Ah, so he has a sense of humor. However corny or dry. Back to business. ]
You may find these surveys in stacks by the Library car, with a tray for our collection later on. [ Said stack of paper is in his hands already to show, and it's definitely a tall one. ] Rest assured that you are protected by the team leads if you would like to keep certain things private, or known only to a select few. Share only what you deem important. Alternatively, you can find me anytime and hand it in yourself so we can talk face-to-face.
[ He drops the stack gently and faces the camera one more time. His smile widens by a fraction. ] As for the second purpose...[ His hand rests against his chest and he briefly closes his eyes. ] I would like to formally introduce myself. My name is Roland Crane, and Purple or not, I am happily at everyone's service.
[ Roland nods determined before he ends his announcement. ]
( ooc: ) open to [ action ] tags if characters happen to be in the library. check out the ooc community for the survey in question!
To my fellow Voidtrecker passengers, a very fine Kazoo day to you all.
[ These month names will never stop sounding ridiculous to him, but with a face so serious, it sort of works in commanding attention anyway. ]
I've begun this broadcast with two express purposes: first, I would like to ask for your time as we launch an official census of the current Purple team roster. [ He crosses his arms over his chest. Though he is speaking in general, it seems he's adept at talking to cameras such that he could be addressing you in particular. ] Just now counting the passenger list from the ICP, we are once again seeing an incredible number of talented individuals who all have something unique to offer, not just for this team, but for everyone onboard.
[ His fist curls in a determined gesture. ] To this end, interested members can now fill out a quick survey such that we can determine who is good at, or comfortable doing, particular tasks on and off missions. Purple is populated by plenty of diverse folks, the most of the train's teams, and we should be putting everyone where they are most needed. It could be as simple as offering your favorite hobby as a service, or something more unexpected like your secret ability to bench-press three cows while jumping as high as the moon. Heh. [ Ah, so he has a sense of humor. However corny or dry. Back to business. ]
You may find these surveys in stacks by the Library car, with a tray for our collection later on. [ Said stack of paper is in his hands already to show, and it's definitely a tall one. ] Rest assured that you are protected by the team leads if you would like to keep certain things private, or known only to a select few. Share only what you deem important. Alternatively, you can find me anytime and hand it in yourself so we can talk face-to-face.
[ He drops the stack gently and faces the camera one more time. His smile widens by a fraction. ] As for the second purpose...[ His hand rests against his chest and he briefly closes his eyes. ] I would like to formally introduce myself. My name is Roland Crane, and Purple or not, I am happily at everyone's service.
[ Roland nods determined before he ends his announcement. ]
( ooc: ) open to [ action ] tags if characters happen to be in the library. check out the ooc community for the survey in question!
no subject
And while he is the person with the answer to Roland's question, he's not the first to answer. Mostly since Inigo isn't sure if he should. As much as Inigo can go along with this mischief, he's definitely not the ringleader here.
Hence why, a moment after Tidus says that last part about having enough people, Inigo peers out from behind the bookcase again. ]
.. Wait, are we done now?
[ IS THE MISCHIEF OVER? Is this some new mischief level? Is Tidus playing 4D chess? Inigo has no clue.
Meanwhile the light higgledies are happily passing the surveys back and forth in front of Inigo, with Bambosh cheering them on from his seat on Inigo's head. ]
no subject
[ When will the higgledies ever take Roland's side, didn't he father them into train existence!!! At the very least this small army of sprites are brightening up the library car. Whoever could see them, or not, will feel a collection of positive emotions. A breath of fresh air in an otherwise dreary train.
But no, it's not what Tidus says but what he doesn't say. And Inigo's reaction to it makes the point even more pertinent. Roland quirks an eyebrow up at them both, growing slightly suspicious. ]
You're done now, with what exactly?
[ HMMMMMMMMMMMM? ]
All right. The jig is up. What are you two up to?
no subject
[ Doesn't matter where what Roland says fits into this, it can be right after. Is Tidus going to deny the thirst for more chaos? Gibbers's higgledies are making their way over to where Inigo and the bigger crowd of higgledies are gathered with Inigo, to join in the passing around of paper. They also want to just pass these things without any ultimate destination too!! ]
We can be up to whatever we want to! Buuuut, [ buuuuut, ] there is that one thing... right, Inigo? That? Do you think now's the time?
[ Is Tidus speaking discreetly on purpose? Ignoring Roland's presence, right in front of his salad?
why would you even ask ]
no subject
[ Of course this is on purpose. Even Inigo can tell that, and that's saying a lot, considering how sometimes he lags behind a little - or more than just a little - on catching these cues.
But this one? He's got it in the pocket. He even knows exactly what Tidus means when he says that, and Inigo smiles while watching the higgledies have a field day with something as simple as paper to play with.
.. though maybe letting Gibbs's mini-mes play with paper isn't the best idea. Don't want to get wet spots all over these surveys!
So instead Inigo summons something from his Arms Band - it's hard to tell what, from where he's sitting - and gives it to the higgledies, whispering instructions to the tiny water creatures. ]
Behold! Today we present to you.. a great gift!
[ And with that, the higgledies finish carrying over something, stopping at Roland's feet. It's.. a case? Except it's really hard to tell what may be in it while just looking at the outside.
But if the man takes it and opens it - he'll find an earpiercing gun inside.
Inigo justs sits and watches with a grin, so excited for Roland's reaction. ]
no subject
But this Twin Teen attack would be nothing without their typical grand reveal. A great gift. Not even the cutest of movements from the water higgledies will deter Roland's suspicious expression, his gaze unwavering as the case is offered to him with a bump against his calves.
He bends on his knees to take it before standing up again, opening it and...
...the gun is so small that it looks like a toy. What is it? It's...? Ah. This is where the true chaos begins. Roland realizes what it's for, then immediately, he shifts his stare between the two. Or at least, for Inigo's case, where he thinks he might be, partially obscured still. Back and forth he darts between them - Tidus, Inigo, Inigo, Tidus, Tidus, Inigo, Tidus, Inigo, Inigo Tidus -
He crosses his arms afterwards, understanding totally what this whole shenanigan was for. But there's something about his reaction that might tip one of them off; maybe in his nonchalance, or in that he's so unshocked about receiving an earpiercing gun that this can't be all it. ]
Hm. You two could have just said so, you know. Anyway, I can't promise I'll be any good but if it hurts, just raise your right hand I guess.
[ ?????????????? ]
Okay. Line up, then. Who's first? And which ear? Do you both have the same ear without a piercing...?
[ Roland readies the gun but it seems he's lost in translation. For he is utterly convinced the earpiercing gun is not a gift to himself, but something given to him to help the Twin Teens themselves get their other ear pierced.
Because that's only natural, right.
Right???? ]
no subject
But as for Tidus, he's observing. This is the treat he's been waiting for, the one highlight to his day that's otherwise been a great heaping of fuck you, train. But he's not here for that, but the reserved expression that Roland wears. Continues to wear even he opens the case.
Ah.
Aha. It clicks, and it tickles Tidus, the way Roland goes on. Oh, he thinks this is for them. He looks over to Inigo, hoping to catch his eye or that their silent communication (of one braincell link) will work here to let the other guy know: Don't tell him, man. Let him figure it out. He'll get it, just look and wait at him long enough!
He may be asking for a lot, but otherwise, Tidus isn't asking for anything -- verbally anyway, turning back to Roland in silence.
But only verbally. His smirk and eyes on the older man absolutely telling, as long as Roland can understand Tidus's language. ]
no subject
(Or so he likes to think, anyway, even when in practice it's not often that clear-cut.)
But in this case he knows Roland is 100% serious with what he's saying. That he doesn't even think of potential other uses for that ear piercing gun other than to use it on their youthful ears.
Inigo - with clear surprise in his eyes at how far this is sailing over Roland's head - is about to speak up and explain it, but then his gaze crosses Tidus's.
And in a rare, rare moment of teen solidarity, he seems to entirely understand what the other means.
So he doesn't speak up. Inigo just stays silent too. In fact, he even moves so he's actually within Roland's line of sight, just so the man can feel the gazes of two teenagers staring at him. Though compared to Tidus's smirk, Inigo's own look seems more like one of curiosity, of anticipation. ]
no subject
...
...
What?
[ You think he's going to back down from this staring match??? From this Twin Teen attack??? With their powers combined??? Roland looks back and forth at them again, the contrast of expressions too comedic for it to be serious. And yet it is! Tidus grinning like a cat, and Inigo staring at him with big puppy dog eyes, expecting him to catch up.
Yes, eventually Roland does gather the true meaning of this gift and his face drops. The perfect contrast to what's being sent his way. His voice comes in drier than the desert, a shake of his head that swivels his ponytail carefully from behind him. ]
Nu uh. No way. No.
[ See that? That's him laying down the law. ]
That was a one-time thing.
[ ...
...
...
They're still...?! ]
I-It's not my fault it healed over!
no subject
[ Since that day has long and gone, Tidus can admit without shame how absolutely ill-equipped he was in every sense of the word for piercing anybody's ears! But don't worry, he's delighted by Roland's reaction plenty too, standing up off from the ground, the few higgledies around him giving him room. ]
So? Pick a stud. And an ear! Get one on the same side as us!
[ 'Pick an ear but pick the right one', basically. ]
no subject
W-What do you mean, fall off?!
[ EXCUSE YOU, TIDUS? BRO? You can't just convince him that piercing his dad's ears is safe and then go back on it like this! Inigo looks like he's about to have an aneurysm over something that already happened! ]
no subject
[ The higgledies in his pocket squeak just as he exclaims out loud. Thanks for the comedy routine, you two. ]
Then there'd be no point in picking which side of an ear, and - hey!
[ He crosses his arms over his chest tighter this time, making a face at both of them, even at Inigo taking such a thing seriously, literally. ]
You can't be serious! [ What about his style?! His curated look?! His conviction!!! Roland is just going to slowly, very slowly
back up, one step at a time.... ]
Yeah, fall off. Tidus, my ear is going to fall completely off. Pup, pup you have to save me!
[ Time to act. For his life. But then again, with the combined power of these two on the same side, it's never anything Roland can predict. If both of them come at him, he knows his fate. He knows his destiny. ]
no subject
pounceapproach on Roland.Except-
'Pup, pup you have to save me!'
The expression drops as the realisation hits him quick, that Inigo's going to believe him. Roland can enjoy one desperate moment where Tidus realises that he might just have a second guy in the form of his bro betraying him. ]
Don't believe him, it was a joke! [ Before Tidus looks Inigo's way, to try and fix this mess. What else will help? Oh, he's got a feeling...! ]
Roland even knows it! Can you believe it? Your own pops lying to you! He's a jerk!
[ Listen to Tidus stand up for you, Inigo! He won't ever let you down!
...wait this won't make Inigo cry, will it... ]
no subject
And Inigo, as gullible as he is, and so very willing to believe both of the people in his presence right now, is rapidly being swung in two entirely different directions. He glances between Tidus and Roland, his eyes wide, as if he's not too sure who to believe in this Battle Of The Wills.
Until Tidus reaches the end of what he's saying, anyway.
Something that was perhaps said with slightly too little thought of it, considering its inevitable conclusion. Inigo completely stops moving, and all of a sudden he looks heartbroken. ]
R-Roland.. is lying to me..?
[ Look what that very idea does with him. There are some light higgledies desperately starting to climb up his legs, as if they're trying to keep this breakdown at bay, but it's already too late. The very thought of Roland lying to him has broken Inigo, and he looks like Roland just drove right over his favourite puppy. ]
1/3
[ He directs this to Tidus immediately after he retorts, a wry look in his face that doesn't come as something new whenever they get into shenanigans like this. But it's when Inigo believes Tidus -
- no, believes Roland's actual fib, that his facade falls, and his sarcastic expression drops, inch by inch. The arms he's crossed over his chest also fall with it, and he doesn't know if he should approach Inigo now and clarify the idea of having fun or if he should force Tidus to apologize instead for escalating it this far. ]
W-Wait, hold on now...!
2/3
[ What now, dearest President of the United States? Where is your charisma? Where is your nerve? The pup is ready to burst tears like a dam that's been dismantled. And this isn't his first run; he knows it's going to be difficult to stop this as soon as it begins. Roland tries to take a step forward, his hands attempting to reach out to mitigate the damage he unwillingly caused...but would that work too? When Inigo is so distraught?
Why can't he get away with these things!!! It was a harmless joke!!
He turns deftly towards Tidus with a changed look, a sharpness in his eye, a slight shake of his head.
This was unfair, the higgledies weren't even helping him. Weren't they supposed to be connected to his heart?! Why is Bambosh watching on top of Inigo's head again; why is Rannygazoo gone?! ]
Gah!
[ He does the only thing left for someone in his position, consequences be damned. ]
3/3
Just the top part, got it? I don't want the lobe itself!
[ The white flag has been waved. They have won. Please don't cry Inigo, please don't cry please don't cry -
- Although... ]
[ Roland turns sharply back at either of them, this time serious. ]
It wasn't a lie when I said it kind of felt funny when you pulled the needle and twisted it around though. [ A beat. Is Roland slightly flushed? ] And I want to see the stud first! I told you it has to be classy! Otherwise I'm letting this close on its own.
1/2
And even once the words came out, there was a nagging in Tidus's gut that this could go some place bad. Haven't they been in this situation before? Which, as Inigo's face twists into the one of anguish that it does--
oh.
Right. ]
no subject
Fooling! Fooling around! [ Guh! ] Did Roland sound serious at all?!
[ Come on bro!! But here comes Roland still on the go, as he parks his butt down on the chair after shoving the piercing kit back at him, Tidus guffawing and standing with it held to his stomach, not knowing what to do, what is he supposed to do with this?!
There's too much of an anxious air here, Tidus feels put on the spot!! ]
Buy your own studs if you don't like them! What are you expecting, they're all the same! [ The same simple bulb of silver or gold and different sizes, depending on preference. Tidus opens up the kit box, setting it on the table as he takes out the instructions to try and read through them. ]
Twisting them is what you do, once you pierce them! You need to twist them around once a while.
no subject
Instead he just gives the other two a kind of baffled look, like he isn't entirely sure why the scene in front of him is shifting so rapidly. As if he doesn't know that this is entirely his indirect doing.
He opens his mouth to say something, but Roland and Tidus are already firing off words at each other again, and so instead Inigo slowly steps over towards them in silence. All the way until he's at Roland's side, his hands pressing down on one of the man's hands. ]
You don't have to if you don't want to, you know, father..
[ Sorry, Tidus. Inigo's heart is weak. He even glances over at the other teen with a desperate 'right, right?' puppy-worthy look in his eyes. ]
We can always just keep it around in case my or Tidus's hole closes!
no subject
He looks at their joined hands before he turns his neck, catching Tidus fiddle with the instructions, the small plastic bag that came with the set containing the studs of silver and gold. Three pieces each, of varying sizes, one bigger than the other at all times. He supposes it's meant to be in one ear, like a cascading design.
He looks up at the ceiling last, thoughts come to life in their own way. Why was he hesitating? Was it his penchant for grooming? For his particular sense of style that he stays meticulous about regardless of time or place? Void be damned? Or was it because of something much simpler? A fear that in doing so, he's basically changing himself physically, reflecting his time in the void, on this train, with people he's come to care deeply about...
Ah, that was reason enough to make the change, wasn't it? So if all else fails, if worse comes to worst, would the piercing stay with him the way he hopes his higgledy friends will stay with them if he were ever to leave?
Roland closes his eyes for only a brief second before he turns to them both, Inigo first by proximity, then Tidus, holding the gun and case. The chief consul nods determinately. ]
No, I want to do it. You can keep the gun of course, but I'll do it today. Sorry for the hullaballoo. [ He lets go of one of his hands, frees it from Inigo's hold, and points softly at the pack with a small gold stud. ] That one's my pick. Goes best with my hair and skin, I think. Unless the experts have something to say about that? Heh.
[ Of which the two are sitting/standing close to him. Though he kids for the last part, none of his other words mean to joke about. He means it. ]
no subject
But the scene does distract Tidus, whether it can be called one. Inigo reassuring Roland, but most of the work comes from Roland himself, the way he eyes around and then back at the gear. He holds the small leaflet open in his hand, could glimpse the too-many-words to find even where the basic of instructions are, but what's the point until they have Roland more on their side?
Tidus could argue, would - if maybe on another day, though; maybe his heart would be soft. Ugh, it'd be a waste though, buying this for nothing...
But Roland relents. Eases even, by some inner peace he finds in himself. Better than the day they did this when he was older (well, outside), and Tidus can only be glad. Hey, the guy must be realising he's fussing over nothing, huh? ]
It's your pick! Buy yourself some nicer ones later. [ Yeah, see? Always time for some nicer earrings (or earring). ] Just think of it like another way of dressing up! You got any sports team with a good logo?
[ Because nothing says classy like wearing a sports earring. ]
no subject
Which makes Inigo, in turn, sure that the other is really up for it. So there's no more puppy looks, or any attempts to try and be absolutely sure that this is what Roland wants. Instead the puppy behaviour slows down a little, replaced by a smile that lingers around his lips. ]
No, father, you should get flower earrings! [ Look at these twin teens trying to both influence him with their own interests.. Be wise here, mister president! Think about what you're about to say! ] They'd match the other things we gave you!
no subject
Wow. What a coin toss. But Inigo brings a strong argument to the table. It would go with everything else. Heh. [ Roland's fingers reach for the lapel, a spot of color to draw the eye in despite his usual monochromatic garb. He might prefer florals a bit more too, if only for his penchant for keeping things in theme with his sense of fashion.
That, and he's never been so invested in sports that logos stood out to him. For some reason however, he doesn't have the heart to tell Tidus that. ]
[ His shoulder rises some, and with it comes a change of decision: silver might be better. Yes, he was not a man of gold. He never was. It's always been silver; like the moon, like the light that guides. He points to that instead, his finger now wagging at it with a sense of eagerness that was not there before. ]
Ah. That one, the smallest one. Yeah. Let's go with that. Final answer.
[ He clears his throat and adjusts himself on his seat. Higgledies around him pause as if reacting to his thrum in energy, the ones in his pockets looking up and giggling in tiny, rhythmic sounds. ]
So? Let's get this show on the road.