[ Video ]

[fun_thementalist]

[ Gen is lounging in the library, looking a little wistful, putting some book down before the camera can see the title ]

So! I have a hypothetical question, everyone! If anyone could indulge me a little.

Let's play a game.

[ He leaned into the camera's frame with a bright smile ]

Pick three fellow passengers on this train - and tell me, who would you Hug, who would you Marry, and who would you Yeet into the void, if given the ability?


[ Claps his hands together ]

Please, it's all in good fun, of course! Share with me your thoughts!

Comments

[fun_thementalist]

[ Gives Roland a wry look ]

Don't underestimate me, my friend.

I always act in my best interests, and to get out ahead, I will do whatever needed to make certain to beat your offer.

[10billionpercent]

Okay let's hear your best offers then. Winner take all.

[He's trying not to snicker too much. ]

[adregem]

[ Well, well, well. Wasn't that quite a look! Roland matches it like he's right back on the other end of the negotiating table. FUN. ]

Winner takes all, huh? What high stakes.

[ Roland's shooting himself in the foot. He can feel it. Hope everybody's just taking this as a joke!!! SERIOUSLY ]

Okay then. I offer my body. [ SPECIFICALLY-- ] In service of any physical task that requires defense or general labor. [ Playing to his strengths, boys!! ]

1/??

[fun_thementalist]

2 - cont

[fun_thementalist]

3

[fun_thementalist]

4

[fun_thementalist]

5

[fun_thementalist]

DONE

[fun_thementalist]

But Senku-chan, I know you prefer how skilled and experienced I am at accomplishing your tasks ...

[ Biggest smile ]

So you'll always want to call on me instead, for those tasks!

[10billionpercent]

Compelling arguments, both of you. While I would like to take advantage of your body Roland, I will have to pick Gen.

[Sorry, it was an unfair contest.]

1/2

[adregem]

[ ...........................okay maybe let's not word it out like that Senku. ]

[adregem]

[ But he knows when he's beat! He shakes his head, smile clearly amused. ]

Alas. I'm devastated. [ He quips dryly. Now he can't yeet Senku out into the void. Sad! ] I suppose the better man won. Congratulations, Gen. Heh.

[fun_thementalist]

You were up against a superior negotiator ... the odds were a bit stacked against you, my friend.

[adregem]

[ Oh no you don't. He's just as competitive as anyone else, and he knows what he's good at. So for a brief moment, Roland cocks an eyebrow up at Gen and throws him a Look.

A very distinct, sharp Look. A man who has done business and won. Then, he slowly smiles. ]

Superior? You'll find that you may want to reconsider that at some point in the future, my dear.

[ And just like that, he returns to his usual Roland stance, arms folded, eyes closed with a small smile. Knowing. This was fun. ]

[10billionpercent]

[He is chuckling, pleased with the outcome and that Roland rose to that bait? Excellent.

He tapped against the wall near the ICP subtly enough. KEEP, for Gen's benefit. ]

Oh my dear, [he teases] I do believe he wants to challenge you.

[fun_thementalist]

[ Of course he hears that message loud and clear. Since Roland showed his devious streak and cheated during the pillow fight, Gen thought he needed to keep him. ]

[ He almost rose to Roland's bait, but then he heard Senku's message and saw his look. ]

[ Oh. He knows where he wants to go with this. ]

Maybe, Senku-chan, we should give him half a chance? It's unfair that he competes against me, my dear, given all my advantages.

But if you have a few projects where he can prove himself ... perhaps I might be bested after all!

[adregem]

[ There's a lot going on here, but the one thing that catches his attention - or rather, his ear - is that sound. The tapping. It's not random. It's deliberate. Familiar. He sits up straighter from where he is in the standard car, a look of recognition; pleasant surprise with his mouth in an 'o.' ]

Wait. What did you just say? [ And no he was not referring to proving himself in projects because he will and they know he will! It's the other thing. Roland shakes his head and repeats the tapping against the wall with his own finger tapping the table, beat for beat. ]

...Keep? [ Keep what?

No, that's not important. He stares at this strange duo as if he just found an answer. ]

You know morse code. You both do.

[10billionpercent]

Morse code? Whatever do you mean? How could we, two humble teenagers from Japan have any idea about that?

[He smirks, trying to look innocent. Honestly he wants to see if Roland will call him on it.]

[fun_thementalist]

I think that's something they do in the movies, Senku-chan. Like for submarines?

The closest thing I've been to that in my life, my dear, was a yacht. And it was very nice! I only got a teeny bit sea-sick.

[ Innocent look! He sells it more convincingly than Senku. But. ]

1/2

[adregem]

[ ...

That's such a badly put joke. ]

Uhuh.

[adregem]

Hm. Nice try.

[ He answers wryly. Who do these two think he is? After all of Senku's regalling of the accomplishments he's had in his world! Or Gen talking him up!

But that's not what Roland is trying to get at right now. He shakes his head, the borderline playful expression that was present moments before, falls back into a more usual serious face. ]

What other alternative methods of communication are you fluent in? [ Roland's finger drifts under his chin, thinking as he speaks. ] Anything non-auditory?

[10billionpercent]

[ It seems like Ryusui, he isn't buying what Senku is going on about, and that's fine, he appreciates Roland calling him on it, which is entirely the point. ]

A few. They come in handy when you need to talk and you can't.

[ Although going into combat is not their goal, it has happened, albeit with mostly decent results, and they do have battle strategy which is where this comes from. But, everyone can hear them and he's not willing to tip his hand beyond that for everyone to know. He shakes his head.]

Nothing standard that we haven't come up with. [ They might have certain gestures for certain things, but it's far from a language. ]

[adregem]

...

[ The gears are turning in his head. ]

If you were to apply it on the train, how would you bypass the universality issue? We come from Earth, but not everyone will. What if our SCA's are off, and we can't understand each other's langauges anymore? Do you think those methods would still have merit in an emergency?

[10billionpercent]

[ He hums at the question, like that's more of a serious question and something he's actually given thought to since Aziraphale brought it up. ]

I heard about that.

[ He's doing serious thinking now, because he's raised two fingers as though he's going through some tough calculations, because he kind of is. ]

The thing...about those codes...

[ He's speaking slower, a lot more like he's not really entirely focused on what he's saying. ]

Is that they're meant to share a common language. Morse code is great, but if you don't know English, it's somewhat useless.

[ Meaning then, that both Gen and Senku speak English to some level. ]

Another cipher we use, requires fluency in Japanese, along with the modifications from the base cipher to modern language.

[ It can get complicated fast, if they don't understand that much. ]

We'd have to have a common language, or at least a common alphabet to make some kind of code feasible. If you wanted to go without an auditory cue, it's still the same thing. Things like sign languages changed based on the language you know.

[adregem]

Exactly. That's the challenge, right?

[ He's been reading up on sign languages from his version of Earth extensively, since Tidus gifted it to him from a time so long ago now. He realized the folly of it early on, but decided to try mastering it anyway in the event someone could come along to help him refine. Lo and behold. ]

But what if we remove the idea of using 'language,' and focus on adapting the vehicle of the message based on concepts instead? Concepts that are universal by nature - 'danger,' 'emergency,' 'escape,' 'lost,' 'found,' 'rescue,' 'safe?' And assign to those certain sounds, or gestures? Take what we know, modify it so it suits the purpose of being adaptable to multiple dimensions and worlds?

[ While earlier, Roland was more calm and playful about things, this kind of talk is what keeps him going. Characteristically serious; invested in the work of doing the job and doing it well. He's invested in this. ]