[Video] Egret Day 24, Afternoon

[wizard_redfive]

Hey, fellow passengers.

So I've got a look inside these ICP monitors. [She taps the screen.] Remotely, of course.

Its parts are about what you'd expect from similar technology. Not quite Earth tech, but close enough to make comparisons. What's really unique are the materials making up those parts. I've seen some off world metals in my day, but these are new. Some of their compounds aren't even on the periodic table! ...Yet.

[Dairine grins smugly.]

Has anyone looked into the metal that makes up other parts of the train? Maybe we could compare notes.

[She doesn't bring up the system or programming discoveries. Those Dairine wants to save for people she trusts.]

Comments

[emerald_mirror]

Yeah, I'm not a chemistry genius, but they didn't even chain like a normal metal--like anything from Earth, anyway. I'm vaguely aware of most of that stuff--and it didn't even look like an alloy, orichalcum or mithril or anything like that, which you can find in some corners of my world. I've seen some weird stuff...and this was weirder than that.

I'd like to take another look at some point, maybe ask if it'll let me take a sample, but I think it'll have to be after more sweet-talking, honestly.

[Though he grins there.]

[wizard_redfive]

Wait, seriously?! Do you mean the metal's molecules themselves don't bond like normal matter?

[That is wild! And also exciting]

I imagine it'll take more than just sweet-talking to get the train to agree to that.

[emerald_mirror]

I'm not that much of a scientist, but from everything I've seen...no?

[She may be right, but Xander will do his best, anyway...]

Worst I can do is try and then the train says no, but if it's something that's been broken or torn apart anyway, and I take it from that? It should be less upsetting...

I hope, anyway.

[wizard_redfive]

I'm not a scientist either, but I know enough to tell it's weird. You seem pretty knowledgeable about metals. Is it a specialty?

...So whenever someone ends up throwing a tantrum and trashing the place. Got it.

[Dairine makes a face.]

Actually, would the train just repair itself in that case? [Cair Paradisa would, though it wasn't instantaneous.]

[emerald_mirror]

[Xander grins at that, and nods.]

I'm an Earth mage, so you could say that. I'm a bit better with plants, but I did pick up a few things from my twin, too, so that helps.

[But he shakes his head when Dairine talks about the train repairing itself.]

I don't think so. Someone took apart part of one of the standard cars, and it hasn't fixed itself, or even tried, from what I can tell. Made my life easier, though, since I used that to get as close as I could to try to talk to it. Though maybe it has other systems that take priority?

[He scrunches his face up a little, then.] Though as an empath, it wasn't really talking I was doing. More like projecting emotions and trying to get some response from the train. It didn't get very far, even with Nita helping.

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine grins as well.]

Sounds like my sis with her partner. I'm more of a space and tech wizard myself. [Literally.]

[Dairine looks thoughtful for a moment.]

Huh. I wonder... If the train hasn't fixed itself, maybe it would be more inclined to talk if we helped with repairs? Build some trust and all.

[Then the second part of that story hits her.]

Oh! So you've met Neets already?

I mean, projecting emotions happens more often than not with mental communication. Part of the risks.

[emerald_mirror]

Yeah, he's marginally better with metals and stone, I'm better with plants and healing. It's all really aspects of the same power, though, and most Elemental mages learn to be very versatile within the confines of their element.

[Not that that wasn't kind of necessary, but really, Xander realizes that he'd probably bore most people if he nerded out about it too hard. Unlike his twin, who goes Brainy Smurf about such things...

But regarding Nita, he grins.]

Yeah, she's one of the first people I met when I came on! She's nice. And yeah...there is that, but I can't project words. I've got empathy, not telepathy. The one's enough of a pain in the butt as it is. And it weirds people out easily.

[But Xander shrugs. He is who he is, he's done with apologizing for it.]

[wizard_redfive]

Very similar then.

[Nita was big with plants, and she's got more experience with healing spells than Dair. She wonders how her big sister feels about another rock expert around, what with her not-quite boyfriend still at home.]

Seems she's been making the rounds as train greeter.

[Dairine isn't surprised. Nita is personable and keen to help others. If school wasn't such a minefield of bullies, she probably would have made loads of friends. (Not that she needed them—the few they already had were a thousand times better than those cliques.)]

Yeah, Nita's nice... even if she is a complete nerd. [Little sister gotta tease.]

Empathy, huh? I guess it could get annoying. Admittedly, I rarely use my brand of telepathy with folks who aren't accustomed to it? But I've met other telepaths who've had a rougher time with the public.

[emerald_mirror]

Yeah, kinda, Nita has! Not that it's a bad thing. She's nice. And it's nice to meet you, too! Must be nice, if a bit annoying, to have your sibling on the train. If my brother were here it might be cool, but definitely annoying, too...for both of us!

[He snorts at that a little, especially since he knows they're both pains to each other, he and Alex.]

Some people don't like psychics, since some of the less ethical ones think it's cool to go rifling through people's brains. [Xander pauses, there.] Though most of the time I've got issues enough without unearthing other people's problems, if you ask me.

[wizard_redfive]

It has it's ups and downs. Definitely better than when I was stuck alone.

[Dairine had gotten by, as usual, but those years had worn on her more than she'd let on.]

For sure. [Wizardry might be about fixing problems, but as a result it gave Dair plenty of her own.] That's the kind of behavior that'd get a wizard in trouble with the Seniors. And the Powers that Be. Folks take infractions on the mind very seriously.