voidtreckernet | 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!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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. ]

Video - Grasshopper 2

no subject

no subject

no subject

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

1/2

no subject

no subject

damn another bonus AC, look at you

roland can pay off the sign language book via threads