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[ 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!

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[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.

[ 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!

[ 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.

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.]

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. ]

[ ...

That's such a badly put joke. ]

Uhuh.

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?

[ 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. ]

...

[ 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?

[ 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.

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. ]

[ If Gen had been beside him, he'd have shared a look with him, but as it was they were apart but Gen would likely recognize the way he shifted his gaze slightly that it was meant for him. ]

You're talking about inventing a common language based on sounds or gestures, or some combination of both. It's doable of course, if you're organized, and you standardize it. You might want a combination of both in case some people can't see or can't hear.

[ He doesn't know of any offhand but it would be an oversight not to include it. ]

You could probably cut it down to something like fifty concepts in total, and if you got everyone on board to learn it, it could really take off in a pinch.

You'd want ways to ask what the situation is, and ways to answer it, as a baseline, ways to call for help, that sort of thing. You're basically looking at converting something like a shorthand, but turning it into its own expressive language.

Even if we know morse code. [ He will tap again now, quick and insistant enough. R C U G STATUS a message he might've used on the fly. ] If we don't want you to understand us, you wouldn't. We have our own shorthand.

[ He grins slowly though, and it's a grin for Gen. ] Of course, we can probably mix and match any of our codes if we really put some thought into it. [ That requires a certain level of fluency ]

[ He'd been letting them talk, more watching Roland's reactions and subtle expressions - but Gen still caught Senku's look. There's a knowing grin in reaction. ]

It'd be nice to have a way to send messages in the dark, or when there's no way to hear. But it needs to be very easy to memorize if people would use it under stress, wouldn't it? Since I'm going to guess, my friend, this would be used on a mission.

[ Cheerful - ] If the code is too obscure, no matter how few concepts the language has, it'll fly out of someone's brain when they're being threatened and have to warn others.

[ He wants to giggle when Senku tapped his message, but didn't. He did a quick second example in reply - S BK F KM ALL OK just to make a point. ]

Senku-chan, I don't put that much thought into much more than my performances - don't you think mixing codes sounds too complicated for me? [ Innocent eyelash flutter ]

[ The way Roland listens to Senku and Gen is with a practiced ear, sharp and without distraction. They play off of each other well, to a perfect pitch where one rises to the crescendo as the other dims their voice. It's easy to tell they have a bond that no one else can take away, even if Roland is pretending not to hear the code that comes in clear. He doesn't understand it anyway; their self-proclaimed cipher, mixed and matched in a language only they speak and know. But this is precisely the kind of dynamic that he knows he can learn from, the type that is willing to help him try to make things better for the people on this train just trying to get by.

A memory of another life flashes before open eyes. Roland, white in his hair and wrinkles on an otherwise smooth face, listening close to advisors from every sector. Drafting policies. Making bills. Universal healthcare close to completion.

Those were the days. And now, here he was, easily reminded of the past he's lost all because two geniuses decided to humor him for a moment. It draws a small smile to him, a quiet wave of gratitude sent their way. ]

All well-noted. Gentlemen, I have a proposition for you both. [ From the other end of the video, he stands up straight, giving him an illusion of being much taller than he actually is. Brows straight, serious. Determined. ] Would you be willing to help draft such an emergency protocol in the event of a breakdown of universal communication, similar to what happened before on the train? It doesn't have to be complicated. The only goal is to get people unified to either retreat or find each other if things go dark.

[ He grips his fist tight. ]

If we succeed...It would greatly benefit the train and its people. What say you, two?

[ Again Senku has the expression that if Gen was with him he'd be glancing at him from somewhere beside him since usually he was beside him, but certainly he'd been watching his expressions, that grin, and then he smiles. ]

Yeah, sure, we could manage to help with that.

[ He has no problem accepting for both of them, then again, it probably seemed like they were having some kind of silent, unknown communication the entire time.

It wouldn't be outside of some of their other schemes, after all, they already worked in codes and ciphers in their own world, this wouldn't be terribly different would it? It just wouldn't be language based.

It was almost a challenge]

[ Gen watched Senku's expressions too, but it seemed that they were reading each other very well. That's the answer he would hope Senku would give. It was a project! It was a puzzle! And it would help people! Win/win/win. ]

[ He would just object if Roland called Gen a genius aloud. ]

I'm sure Senku-chan is smart enough to figure out something! I'll do the best I can to offer suggestions.

[ That's enough for Roland, and even if he did voice out that Gen was a genius in his own right, he's not about to let the other deny him that truth he sees quite clearly with his own eyes. ]

Heh. Thank you. Seems I owe you two another favor, then.

[ Mostly said as a jest, but this time he might actually mean it. This was going to be real, actual, tough work. It's ambitious. It's something he needs help with, and he knows when to ask for that, at least for things like this. Work. The work that always came first. ]

[ Senku grins and holds up two fingers. ]

I won't forget. I'll be sure to cash it in for something good.

[ He was sounding suspect again. ]

[ Glances at Senku's face on the camera with the craftiest smile. ]

Your offer is very generous, Roland, we'll certainly remember that!

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