voidtreckernet | Video - Grasshopper 2

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Video - Grasshopper 2

[ Broadcasting from the Dressing Carriage, a young man dressed in a purple shirt and coat comes onscreen. Though this might be his first time showing his face on the ICP for all to see, he carries himself with a practiced ease that can only come from years of ~~televised~~ experience. He may even come across as a little too stiff and serious, shoulders back and chin up, voice sure and certain. ]

[ From time to time, those watching this broadcast might even see a certain Spider dart in and out of the ICP's periphery, eyes shining in the dim light. ]

Hello and good day to my fellow Voidtrecker passengers. I have already met some of you, but for those I have yet to introduce myself to, my name is Roland Crane. I ask only for a few moments of your time as I read to you the following statement on behalf of a proactive citiz - ah, member of the train. [ His eyes dart down from time to time as he reads from a piece of paper. ]

Friends, a day ago we saw the exit of more of those who once travelled with us. Among them was Yuffie, the Black Team's designated team lead. [ A pause. ] While we are by no means taking over the Black Team, there was a thought inspired by their goals which we would now like to pitch to the train at large. [ Another pause. ]

Your friendly Spider Seamstress would like to take this chance to offer interested parties a special black wristband. These are no ordinary accessories, as they will all be imbued with magic. What they would allow her to do is locate the wearer so that during missions, she can open teleportation gates to their precise location. This means that those on-ground would not be confined to one team, but could go to where their skills and talents will most likely be needed. These people would then form the newly decided upon Black Squad. [ He's not pausing for dramatic effect, you are! ]

This arrangement would be voluntary, but has the power to greatly increase our collective response time, give bolstering to any team that needed it, and to better allocate our resources. [ Roland turns to the ICP, and goes off-script. ] Speaking for myself, I think it's a great initiative given that we need to spread backup and recon depending on the severity of our task. This sort of reminds me of something from home. When there's danger afoot, or you need immediate help, we would call the appropriate offices to respond first on the scene.

[ He turns back to the final part of the script. ] If you have any questions, please contact Misa or Roland in the Dressing Carriage.

[ Roland's eyes dart to the side, as if silently communicating with someone off-screen. He nods with a smile. ] Thank you for listening, and have a pleasant Grasshopper day ahead.

(OOC: kumoko / misa will most likely threadjack or respond to comments here as well!)

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[ Oh. Well.

That went places. Places Tidus didn't mean for them to go, and is anything safe to ask in regards to one's world in this place? Everything is leading to doubtful in Tidus's growing experience.

Though the guy answers seemingly composed enough, Tidus can't help but feel bad for possibly dredging up anything unsavoury. ]

Oh. [ Just. Oh. ] Sorry... there's a lot of worlds out there, so it helps to put a name down so you get what you're looking for, you know?

But don't worry about that! You'll get what you're looking for!

[ Optimism! ]

No, don't apologize. It's just...something I never really thought about before. [ He looks a little wistful. ] I know it as the second world.

But what I can tell you in confidence is the kingdom I hail from.

[ And confidence indeed. Roland's pride rolls off of him in waves, even from beyond the screen. He could have answered Earth. He could have said he was from the United States of Aremica. But no, no his new home is quite clear in his mind. He knows where he's from. He helped build it. ] I'm from Evermore.

[ Ah! ]

A kingdom's good! A kingdom might work! [ And he said something about a second world-- Tidus had been curious when he heard it, but he'll put aside asking about it for now to ask instead: ]

Does that place have sign language and morse code and all that? Wait--it should.

[ That last part is more to himself. Maybe the second world is just like home for him, and they're still the same planet. ]

[ He cocks his eyebrow at him again. ]

Wait, hold on a second. [ Roland puts his finger under his chin. ] 'A kingdom might work', for what?

You wanna go off the sign language you know, right? I talked to people a while back about where they're from, what their worlds are called. There's a lot of 'earths'.

So if you just put in for a sign language book, who knows if what you get is one for a eight-handed planet?

[ That makes sense. The spell that saved his life and sent him to an alternate version of his own world is proof of that. The Dimensional Doors, the labs that researched alternate planes of existence...Roland should have asked Leander more about this when he still had the chance. ]

...I see. Then in that case, it's the first world then. The world where I was born. Evermore is my new home, but if I'm going to refine the idea of non-verbal communication, I might as well start from where I learned it first.

[ A sad thought passes through his mind like a shooting star in the night sky. If the first world is still around, that is. Ah. Anyway. No time to think about that. ]

[ His new home. ...if Tidus had the chance to, he might've been able to see a new 'world' like that. But still, there's something oddly relatable to it, or some similar feeling. ]

Alright then. [ It makes his voice wistful for a moment, before he goes on- ] The name of the planet, or-- some place there. You know any names?

[ When he thinks about it- ] A friend got a book with pictures of her home, but she didn't know the name of the planet, so that isn't as important.

[ Maybe he's just being overly cautious. ...maybe he has a reason to be. ]

[ Roland too, follows suit with the change in tone. It almost seems like another lifetime ago, as if Evermore and his adventures there was the true reality and he had no home to return to. For a time, he believed he didn't. But after defeating Doloran, maybe...

And William, he was waiting wasn't he? Back home, where they needed him. Even though he failed them, they still needed their king. ]

Earth. I came from a planet called Earth, and I was from a country called the United States of Aremica. [ The words feel heavy on his tongue. He hasn't had to say that in so long. But there's something about Tidus that allows Roland to be a bit more open. He feels a kindred spirit in him, like he can understand what it's like to be pushed and pulled from one world to another. ] Heh. And now, here I am. On a void train, a million miles south of nowhere. It's been a journey for everyone, huh?

Sure, but it sounds like there's plenty of Earths to go around. [ He lets the amusement roll off his tongue easy, a joke to what he said earlier. One more Earth on the list. ]

Alright then, how about we see what comes up? You gimme a second. [ Any deeper or personal questions than that can wait. ] Be back!

[ Bwip--give him some minutes, someone is going shopping. ]

[ Roland...blinks and lets him off, arms crossed over his chest again. What in the world just happened? Where was he going? Though he does stay true to the silent agreement and stays put, waiting for Tidus to return. In the meantime, more respondents show up to the Black Squad sign-ups, and he's happy to jot down their names for the Spider Seamstress later on. ]

[ For reasons, and to see if it works, Tidus first takes a detour to the passenger list to get the spelling of Roland's name, and see what happens if he sticks it in when ordering a book.

So, of course he gets to whisper to himself when he squints and sees a particular piece of information: ]

He's old...?

[ Ugh. Why is everyone always older than they look? ]

[ Regardless, Tidus moves on and does his business at the shop until he's finally successful. And then he'll appear on the ICP, hearing delightful ~~ninja~~ Black Squad chatting still going on. ]

Roland, yo! Got a book coming next station: 'Sign Language of Earth United States'. Hope it's the right one!

[ He was in the middle of writing on the back of his pre-written speech when Tidus rolls back into the ICP. Roland...tilts his head to the side, as if trying to hear him better. ]

I'm sorry? [ No, he heard him. He's just trying to reconcile the fact that Tidus...got him a book for his possible sign language class he isn't even sure is going to work universally -- ]

Tidus, did you just - ?

What about it, uncle? [ The translator signifies he's using it in the way someone might say 'mister', but informally, though no rudely. Not by Tidus's delivery, fun and jesting. ]

Now you've got no excuse not to try. You're serious about trying, aren't you?

[ Mr. Serious Guy? ]

[ Uncle? Did he just call him...?! ]

[ Roland is oddly silent, but his eyes are dancing with a mix of mirth and disbelief. He tucks away his papers and things, stashes them in his coat's pockets before he briefly goes off-screen. The audio is muffled, but you can still make out that he's asking to be excused for a moment from the Dressing Carriage. When he returns, his expression remains stoic, but you can tell he's up to something, voice just shy of sounding playful and pleased. ]

Oh, I'm always dead serious. [ He crosses his arms. ] So, you wanna tell me where you are right now? [ Innocent question! Very innocent! ]

[ Tidus didn't do this for any particular reaction, but whatever he was expecting wasn't the fuss that comes as Roland leaves the screen and then comes back, no single idea crossing Tidus's mind by the time uncle comes again into view.

He's already curious, and as for that very innocent question- ]

Cinema car. Why?

[ There's been a makeshift table set-up at the back of the car, a cloth over it and a popcorn machine by that, though no popcorn currently inside it or kernels to sneak a tasty snack. It's the day that he and Romeo are putting on a movie night, so he's been making sure to get things ready. ]

Great.

[ The connection is terminated before he has any chance to wonder what's up. Roland isn't angry at all. He's just shocked someone used up their points for something he wasn't even sure was going to work. Acts of kindness like that leave a lasting impression on him. ~~Call it going soft in his old age.~~ So Roland does something he also didn't expect. He grabs something quickly from his sleeper cabin before walking briskly to the Cinema car.

There, he easily finds Tidus fixing his things, his back to Roland's approaching form. As soon as he's within proximity, Roland hopes to surprise him by tapping him on his shoulder. He greets him with a smirk. ]

Well now. Where'd you get permission to start calling me uncle, huh? Kids these days. [ It's a playful jab. So someone finally noticed... ]

Did you really use up your points? For that book?

[ He has no reason to think Tidus was lying. In fact, he just knows it to be true. The guy probably really did do it and by the next platform stop, he'll have a resource to study to help more people out. It honestly warms the heart, but Roland is neither a sentimental guy nor is he too expressive about these things. Instead, as his expression falls a little bit more serious, he approaches Tidus up close. Before he could have a chance to do anything else, Roland gently shoves something into his nearest hand. ]

Thank you. You didn't have to, but here's a little something as a kindness in return.

[ And no, buddy. He's not going to take it back. In fact, he's going to walk away from you now, waving once as he does so. ]

Use it wisely. You're serious about helping people too, right? So use that to help. It'll save you and anyone else around you in a pinch. [ AKA it's a complete healing elixir, which can extend to 3 people once used. HP/SP at 100% man. You deserve it. ]

[ Who does this guy think he is coolly disconnecting from their conversation?! ]

What's he up to...? [ But it gets curious amusement out of Tidus, who instead of lingering around that terminal takes to the screen for the movies--an easy way to surprise a guy from behind, when he's got his nose through a menu list and reading between that and what appears on the bigger screen.

Honestly, he should have expected this, Roland getting a small 'huh?' and Tidus turning around to meet him. Nevertheless, Tidus's surprise breaks into a heavy smirk, a flick of his head. ]

It's not like I haven't got plenty. [ And whatever case could be made--that Roland has no reason to think that his idea will work, that getting a train full of independent individuals to even take the time of day to learn a few wordless signs in the case of emergency is like finding finding a blitzball in a sea of flans. But whatever, right? They can stick the book in the library, let whoever's interested take off the boredom.

There's no reason to try. And that's all Tidus wanted for the guy: to try.

Not an odd little clip?? in his hand. Which gets Tidus blinking, looking at the guy, but then--he's already off.

Look at him!! He's just like an old man! And Tidus knocks an arm in the air, meaningless show of disrespect that doesn't match anything else about him. ]

No one thinks walking off without explaining anything is cool, you know! 'Least tell me what it does!

[ Just say it before you walk off entirely, Roland!! ]

[ He'll glance back just this once for you, kid. Roland doesn't always have fun but when he does, it's at the expense of the youth! ]

It's a potion called The Wizard King's Secret. If you've got nothing else to heal with, use that to get back up on your feet and walk it off.

[ He is Totally Cool. Look at him saunter away. ] I'll see you around, Tidus. I won't forget this.

[ Tidus could call out a thanks, but he knows it's not necessary. He looks back at the gift, shaking his head at just what took place; but it's a good kind of reflection, Roland long gone before he lifts his chin again. But Tidus wasn't expecting to see him still hovering around. ]

Old men, [ he mutters fondly, and pocks Roland's gift away before returning back to the screen. ]

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Video - Grasshopper 2

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he'd tell you to get off his lawn but he likes you too much. darn youths >( also video -> action?

video to action! don't murder him roland

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damn another bonus AC, look at you

roland can pay off the sign language book via threads