Mid-event, evening; audio only

[mustknow]

These.. crystals we're collecting.

How vital will having all four be, really? And if this train stops every two weeks to pick up more passengers.. what of all those yet to arrive?



[And then, a little bit later:]



Do any of you have a dog onboard the train?

Comments

[mustknow]

I've met ... perhaps a dozen or so.

[Which is apparently extremely unreflective of the true nature of what's going on on the train, and a mental note is made to find out more about the people he's dealing with.

Was Murphy one of them?]

Hopefully with all their potential ... ah, 'bling', they do indeed share with others. I have my one, and it will have to do. ... But you sound as if you've actually encountered this being. Tell me; was it really a rainbow.

[zombiemessiah]

Then I would guess at least six of those twelve are down there getting multiple stones. Of course it ranges from the safe end of genuine friendly support to the shit end of moral superiority. Containing that nice middle ground of 'needing to prove thyself'.

They were... colorful, yes. But then again, someone could say the same of me. [Since it's audio, he might not know he's red. Unless he's seen him around.]

So, have you heard of the Wizard of Oz? Old classic story where I'm from. If you haven't, though, the 'wizard' used a bunch of lights and special effects to make himself look bigger and more impressive than he actually was. And to hide his true location. I think it's a Wizard of Oz scenario, personally.

[mustknow]

[Xehanort has no idea whatsoever that he is speaking to someone of very unusual skin color. The train is vast, and he hasn't even spotted the giant spider yet.]

Not a story I've heard, no. Although I'm sure you're just using it as a comparison, if this being is using illusions, then lights and special effects might not actually be far off the mark, for illusions are only a step away from the common hologram. How was this wizard defeated in your tale?

[zombiemessiah]

The hero's dog found him and then they dragged his ass out from behind the curtain he was using to hide.

So we need to find a dog more perceptive than the whole bunch of us, I guess.

He wasn't so much defeated as he was called out and agreed to help them to the best of his ability once they pointed out what a dick he was being. Turns out some assholes can be cooperative if you appeal to them in the right way.

[That asshole is Murphy. He is an asshole that can be cooperative.]

[mustknow]

.....Dogs do have senses beyond human norms. Whether or not it's a serious suggestion, it might not be a bad idea to see if someone has one. Illusions tuned to a humanoid mind aren't going to be designed to affect an animal.

This story, is it based on true events or merely a lark written for entertainment?

[zombiemessiah]

A lark, sadly enough. With moral allegories of the Tin Man needing a heart, the Cowardly Lion needing some courage, or the Scarecrow needing a brain. [Hey, if you drag Handsome Jack in here, and take brain literally, all you need is a Cowardly Lion! And Dorothy, he guesses.]

But the idea stands. A lot of flash as a distraction for the real, much more tangible thing.

If you want a dog there are people around her that can be dogs. There was also an armored up elf that had a big ass dog but she bailed off the train at the last platform. Good for her, I guess.

[mustknow]

Stories without a true basis are still good to know. I'm going to have to see if the library or 'movie' car has this one. If this rainbow being is a repeat threat then we'll find out sooner or later just how much smoke and mirrors it truly is.

...When you say dog, do you mean wolf? Are there werewolves onboard?

[He sounds suddenly very, very interested.]

[zombiemessiah]

Not that I know of. The guy that turns to a dog has a werewolf boyfriend, apparently, and I did ask him if the dog thing was related to that but no, it's its own thing.

And as for cats, there are cats on board that are people, people that have cats, and people that turn to cats, and cat-people, but there are no werecats that I know of.

One of the people that turns into a cat is also the embodiment of a city.

[mustknow]

I'm less interested in cats, their senses are not quite tuned to what I'm hoping for. A werewolf would have been nice though.. you could skip the entire training phase. Which one turns into a dog?

[zombiemessiah]

His name's Casper.

Could be some two-legged conversation friendly people with enhanced senses. Mine are only above normal when I have a craving and no one likes me when I'm hangry.

[And he can't really bloodhound it. Just smell out brains.]

No one had senses enhanced enough to pinpoint this guy, though.

[mustknow]

Possibly because the senses were attached to an intelligent, human-level or greater mind. I'd like to find out how a more instinctive creature fares, and to hear stories, werewolves are very animalistic indeed.

[His sigh is very forlorn. Dreams, punctured!]

...I do hope you carry snacks, if there's trouble when you're hungry. Should we all bring snacks?

[zombiemessiah]

I have kind of a specialized diet, but don't worry. Train takes care of that.

I don't have a mildly alarmed icon

[mustknow]

Now I'm going to be worrying. You know that don't you. That's one of those things that always comes back to haunt you when you least expect it, any time someone says 'don't worry'. If it would help that we carry some around for you, if the train supplies it.. maybe it'll prevent 'hangries'?

[zombiemessiah]

Heeyy I can control it even if the train didn't help out.

I just develop an attitude problem.

[Well, technically a bigger one.]