Day 26 - After Poll Appears (Audio Only)

[wewillwewill]

I would like to ask after the nature of this poll.

Is it a regular occurrence? Is the inquiry intended to be abstract or does it have an specific origin and purpose unknown to those who might have become passengers since the last platform?

Comments

[cepicorpus]

Now and again the train asks us what we want, generally for our own comfort and morale. It seems to be picking things it believes will make us happiest. Relaxation, games, toys. It's happened a few times in my experience, and usually what it says on the label is what it is. Think of it as ... say, one of the examples is 'art'.

If everyone were to select art, there would be a new train car dedicated to art. Whether this would be art WE make or merely an intergalactic art gallery would be seen when it appeared, but it would indeed, be 'art'.

[wewillwewill]

I see. So it is thus far a poll meant to provide additional diversions or living space, though what it defines this space to be may well be open for interpretation.

This may explain an option of plants, though there is already a garden.

I am also aware some success has been made in... remodeling a carriage to suit a secondary function. Should the new poll result in a carriage, I trust it can be similarly repurposed?

[cepicorpus]

A new carriage; we the passengers do the repurposing. Such as the rock garden, which will, in time, become a car suitable for crocodiles.

[wewillwewill]

...For training?

[Look Dio, crocdiles are pretty impressive monsters that sometimes need subjugation where he's from.]

[cepicorpus]

For companionship! Not everyone can handle a dog or cat and their fur without suffering terribly, after all, and I, Dio, have never heard of ANYONE being allergic to crocodiles.

[wewillwewill]

How interesting.

[It is a little bit! There's not much of that type of perspective where he comes from. ...Come to think of it, cats and dogs are sometimes a bit Complicated as well.]

Are crocodiles commonly seen as possessed of the same qualities for companionship as dogs and cats where you are from?

[miseris_socios]

Someone already explained exactly what's going on - but please vote for lab so that the scientists have their explosions contained.

[mustknow]

Such optimism.

[miseris_socios]

Not really my style, but also I keep bugging the train for it so Dad will stop it. Also so I don't have to chase him down to feed him.

[mustknow]

There's that optimism again! It's really quite charming, you know. But there is no stopping science, or containing it.

[miseris_socios]

Yeah, yeah, I know. You get what I mean.

[Buddy, you're starting to edge towards the 'mad scientist' category by a few points...]

[mustknow]

[Xehanort is a perfectly sane, stable scientist!]

I don't, really. You're the second person to voice the adorably foolish notion that providing a lab will .. one, be outfitted for the interests of very specific scientists, such as your father, and two, that if it IS tailored to specific interests, it will in any way lead to containment and not merely making it easier to get the science all over everything else due to having more to work with.

Honestly, it could be a weapons lab and then only Entrapta gets to make use of it.

[wewillwewill]

So is your argument for this lab, should it be a laboratory as you expect, to give the scientists a means to conduct their research, the intent to mandate they be confined to one location or your personal convenience with regards to your father?

[There doesn't appear to be malice behind the words. Elidibus seems to want to know.]

[miseris_socios]

He's one of the local scientists - so his work would be more contained. He also forgets to eat, which means I have to run the entire damn train looking for him so he makes sure to eat something.

And no, nutrient paste is not food, I know he's going to argue this.

Booping in here

[dyingpro]

... I mean, it technically is, I healed myself eating the stuff on our second-to-last mission. That means it must be food.

[Duh, Ken.]

Can you not just call him on your SCA and remind him to eat?

[wewillwewill]

Yes, I had inferred your father's profession from your statements. Yet it does not answer what you personally seek.

Since you have brought up your needs to travel in search of him, shall I presume your argument is largely to save you time in this search, regardless of other benefits it may or may not provide for the sake of others?

[Sorry Ken. You are talking to the guy whose LITERAL JOB is to sort out opinions and find the best one to recommend go forward with. He tends to be obsessive thorough about this.]

[blitzcheer]

Soo, now that you know what they're about - you interested in any?

[ He's feeling nosy, why not. ]

[wewillwewill]

There are several which seem to have merit at face value. Though the abstract manner of presentation is of concern.

The 'Lab', if it is a laboratory in the conventional sense would provide a consolidated place of research and study for experimental pursuits.

I was under the impression there is already a carriage for games purpose. Would this then be further material or a stop the train provides for recreation? Similarly so for 'Art', 'Pool', 'Plants' and 'Dance'.

A kennels carriage would be another priority. I have noticed a number of beast companions which may need to be provided their own arrangements, given the nature of our personal quarters. Providing such habitat and the space for the wherewithal of their keep would alleviate space constraints.

I am not certain what is meant by clocks and what purpose they would hold. I am curious as to its meaning, yet that alone is not enough reason.

I will need to weigh the options.

[Did we mention this guy really thinks about the whole picture and the best choice for the whole?]

What of you? Have you a preference?

[blitzcheer]

[ ...that was a lot more words than Tidus was expecting to hear, but well, he asked! And since the guy asked back- ]

Eh, I dunno. Kennels wouldn't be bad with all the animals around; I don't know what people do with them that have them now. Leave them in their room for a week with food and water? [ ...which probably isn't the case, but also, what is? ]

Games probably means more games. Like...maybe not even a carriage? Like the clocks. ...or, I hope. [ Said a notch lower. Ahem. ] I kinda wanted those ages ago so we could put together meetings easier, training and clubs, that sort of thing. But there's no way anyone's gonna want clocks over a carriage.

[ At least, he can't imagine that ever happening. ]

But, maybe I'll vote art? Some friends've wanted it for a long time. Or, another would like the dance car... and plants are good for more planting space.

[ ehhhh, so many choices. ]

I'll probably think about it later.

[ There's always time. ]

[wewillwewill]

Hm. If the beasts are currently occupying the cabins, it seems a kennel may well benefit the community better than a laboratory. For all the inconvenience of its current location there is at least a space dedicated to the pursuits of science and alchemy. Perhaps further space may be organized.

Listening to the conversations around us, I am also beginning to wonder if a vote in hopes of a laboratory carriage will actually prove beneficial. There seem to be more fields of study than one carriage can contain.

Then too should the other choices and their meaning be weighed upon. It is good you feel the need to think carefully upon it.

[blitzcheer]

It's less thinking carefully about it, more just seeing this happen every month, you know? The people actually with pets would be good to ask what they do with their animals, but at least there's a few of them I always see around.

[ So, it seems like...a concern. ]

I'd rather we have a way we could work towards these things, but, train doesn't agree with me! [ Pah. ] Anyway, if the science-y people want space... well, sure, we can figure something out? But people've been making stuff even like this. Entrapta made her big robo-pal. And apparently they made some drones people can use?

[ Soo... they're doing something. ]

Plus, you don't know what you're gonna get. It's probably gonna be a room with some cupboards and sinks and that's it.

[wewillwewill]

This vote occurs once a month? Are the elements different each time or is there a chance for repetition?

[Goodness there's a lot involved in just this polling system alone.]

The current system may be somewhat better than an open communal effort, given the transitory nature of the passengers and their changing needs and desires. Yet without full context of what will be provided, the benefits of anonymity are lost.

Hm. It may also be insightful to speak to those who share a room with those currently in possession of companion beasts, should you pursue similar inquiry.

[Consider it a suggestion offered in thanks for Tidus's about talking to animal owners!]

[sciencegirl]

Apparently they happen sometimes. Not terribly often.

They've happened twice in my time here, and I've participated in three missions.

[wewillwewill]

Thank you. It seems I must look more carefully into this matter, if it happens repeatedly.

[sciencegirl]

I believe it's related to requests that the train receives to its suggestion box. So if you want something, I'd ask for it in particular and repeatedly.