Orchestra 15; Night [Voice post]

[stonefvced]

( He's not really one to beat around the bush. Or introduce himself, apparently. But hey, at some point in the evening a voice rings out over the ICP. A few people may recognize it but its likely new to the majority. )

After some deliberation, I think it might be worthwhile to discuss amongst ourselves the previous day's occurrence. I've prepared some tea for anyone who wishes to discuss in person, but please feel free to discuss through this as well. Find me in the dining car if you wish the former.

(( ooc: Please feel free to action here cause I ain't gonna make another thing just for logs LOL -- ICP replies more than welcome, too. ))

Comments

[blitzcheer]

Asking if I trust it's not an easy answer. [ There's even amusement to the reply, a bitter scoff. ]

People'll tell you it's just doing what it can, it's a desperate situation. Even the train admitted that - if it could ask us first, it would. I believe that about it, but I don't think we should sit and just accept what it tells us and decide that's the best we're gonna get. It does listen - it started taking us to places we can get out and relax a few days, it brought up polls about new cars, people ask for stuff and it'll bring it in. Sometimes - but it's tries at those things, right? If it didn't care about making us happy, it wouldn't do any of that.

But none of that's pushing the way it works. Do I think we can get it to change? No - I have no idea. But I wanna try. I mean, either it'll budge or it won't. Shouldn't we all want that? Are we gonna let it decide everything?

[stonefvced]

( Because its in a desperate situation is exactly the reason to not trust it, but he'll keep that one to himself for now. He knows well what desperation does. Lived through too many wars to see how it changes people; knows the things he had done as well. Because the train is not human doesn't mean it can't possibly follow a similar pattern.

And Tobirama thinks of these claims, too. If he wanted to keep people working efficiently he'd give them just enough to do so. That doesn't persuade him, either. But he hasn't been here as long as Tidus so he keeps silent on this, too. )

I agree, if its situation is truly desperate it should give us information on that situation so we can best prepare for it but, as far as I can tell, it is elusive about answering. It chose us presumably for what we can do so why stop us from using those skills outside of missions it deems we should take?

( A pause. ) What would you ask of it?

[blitzcheer]

Let me tell you, this is a lot more than anything we've had before.

[ ...probably not comforting, but Tidus sounds amused in a tired, too-knowing way. ]

I already asked it a bunch. [ ... to put it mildly(?). ] Now's the time to see what it gives - to all of us. But I wanna know what we can do on the ground, on the planet - or spaceship, or whatever. The craft can't talk to people or access everything, right? There's got to be stuff we can do, even just a few of us. We have people who know how to gather info - why not let them give something a go? Do our own figuring out too.

We can't do anything stuck in here. But we have people from all over, with a bunch of talents. People good at knowing where to look.

[stonefvced]

( He sighs. This is not ideal to hear but its not as though he's never worked in situations like this before -- the problem was, they needed this train to survive and that was a new dynamic entirely. He agrees with what's being said, but first thing's first: )

Can you clarify for me what it's main mission and motive is? I assume to find its original crew, understand what happened, or something to this effect?

[blitzcheer]

Yeah. Some planet-eating stuff showed up around their home world or system or wherever, took out half the crew, and a bunch of them tried doing something to get them back.

[ So, that is a concern. But... ]

It's still a void train or Voidtrecker train, though. So it sees we're Voidtreckers, and Voidtreckers do missions - we've never had a mission or anything to do with its first crew. It's always been saving places that need help.

So... finding them, and going out and helping places? I'd say they're kind of both the main objective.

[stonefvced]

We are however not, and I believe you mentioned this if you'll pardon my listening in. As I recall the original crew had choice but this is all, I assume, speaking what's already known to you. It chose to bring us in. Surely it has a larger mission in mind than doing the service it was created to do.

But how to reason with it is the question. I'm also certain there's enough people willing to help it find its original people; why and who destroyed the planet and many of its occupants. Why does it refuse to give us this chance and choice?

( A sigh. ) And how to reason with something such as it. ( Given its answers are elusive or dismissive 99% of the time as far as he can tell. )

[blitzcheer]

[ Listened to? Tidus wonders what the guy means, and then ohh, that talk yesterday. He didn't speak up immediately, but when he does make sound, it's first a grumble. ]

Mmm, that's because I think it's dumb, you know? [ Ugh. ] Annoying as this thing is, it does listen, but it's running off its own ideas about how to do stuff. And its last crew, I don't know if they chose to be here. You heard those logs the train dug up recent?

It sounded like one of them got forced on here.

[stonefvced]

I phrased it wrong, though perhaps you're right. That one person did sound forced, but by another person and not the train itself is how it came across to me. ( Then again, he could be wrong. He's not been here that long. He doesn't know the train well enough if anyone does. Seemed almost as if it were punishment? ) But this aside, you really think the train is... 'dumb'?

( Maybe he's just too skeptical, too negative, but he thinks its manipulation. There's a lot to be said for people who play stupid. Too many red flags already though the motive for doing such a thing is incredibly unclear, so perhaps its not. Perhaps it is just... stupid. )

[blitzcheer]

Sure, [ there's a sigh, ] but it's hard to explain. I mean, it's more void-smart than me, but people smart? It just knows the basics. 'Cars make people happy, getting off the train makes people happy'.

But it doesn't see why people would feel bad about not going and helping people on missions. But then it's trying to talk to us and answer questions, right?

It's people dumb. [ Again. ] Big problem though is if we can get it to change its mind about anything.

[stonefvced]

( He understands now. It makes sense as it was created to navigate the void as much as he can tell. He nods, taking in some newer information and rearranging his thoughts. ) Presumably if enough of us make it clear our desires on the matter, it should register this as something that will make us happy. Should it not?

[blitzcheer]

Yeah! [ The guy gets it! ] And with the important stuff, we'll really see how willing to change it is, right?

[ But- that does bring a pause. ]

... well, depending what's important. That's different for everyone. I mean, uh- you heard yesterday, right? Lot of different stuff came up.

[ A lot more 'thanks' and 'you're trying' than more admissions of 'you're doing a bad job', but Tidus hasn't stopped being aware he's on speakerphone to everyone. ]

[stonefvced]

I suppose we will. True that a lot of things were brought up yesterday but there does seem to be an agreement on important matters. Most people want the same few things.

( He, too, wasn't so sure about whether the praise was worthy but how much of it was genuine and how much of it was spoken as a way to subdue what was essentially their captors is unknown. He's not been here long enough to have a firm opinion or understanding on the true thoughts of others. He does know, though, there are some people here just as suspicious of the train as he is. )

Seeing what comes next is likely the only option at this time. ( Aside from, you know, spying, listening in, juicing information from being subtly. )