voidtreckernet | horseshoe 22, voice

[ Oh-- ]

Heyhey, I'm not seriously suggesting anything. [ Time to clarify, to be clearer. ] I'm speaking hypothetically. Like, what if it did start doing that. How everyone would react, how they'd feel about the train then.

[ How the mood would shift. Maybe it had no place in their conversation to bring up, but... ]

I wouldn't want it to start doing that. But if people keep attacking the store car or doing stuff it wouldn't like - it makes you think, you know? If it would. Or wouldn't. It'd say a lot about how the train sees us.

[ Wanting them to stay in line, or allowing them their freedoms no matter what they do. Even if it's attempted assault on the train, or murder to another passenger. ]

...Yeah, hypothetical.

[ He's not disappointed, but Roland's a little more ready than him to perform risky things in search for answers. Whose idea was it to pretend to betray his king, after all? But he has a point; the consequence might extend to the rest of the community, and they can't have that now, can they?

Regardless, he hears Tidus's point. ]

Hm. But didn't the train punish Nita that time she used her magic on it? I tried to talk her out of it, but she said she was willing to accept the consequences. I think it blocked out her own power to hear it, for a time. Doesn't that say a lot, already?

Wasn't that her wizard-thingy? [ You know. Wizardy-powers. ]

She has some kinda... thing about them. I guess it's sorta like a uh- maybe a spirit, or something. Inside her, that lets her use her powers in the first place? Like that.

Or...her magic runs on rules. [ He remembers that. ] She broke her rule doing that.

Oh, you mean her peridexis?

[ That is, if he can recall it right. ]

I see. So it was the rules of her magic, not necessarily the train...But then again, if an actual murder wasn't enough to wake it up enough to talk to us, any other effort will fall short.

[ He makes a quiet confession. ]

I've actually asked the higgledies to try to reach the engine room. Bambosh just made a small sound, like he was sighing. I'm going to guess that's a no.

[ Peridexis! There we go. But, what's that about the higgledy? ]

Did you ask him to attack it?

[ Or-- something else? It doesn't quite sound like an attack, unless Roland left Bambosh to do it unsupervised. Would he? ]

No.

[ Bambosh attacking the train would spell a disaster for everyone, anyone. Fire tornado? On a train? No thanks. ]

But if you notice, they can disappear and reappear from one place to another if they wanted to. Magic works in strange ways. I just thought they might be able to get through, connect with the train the way they've done with you and Inigo. [ It won't be seen, but he shakes his head. ] Nothing.

[ Ah. He's quiet for a moment, thinking -- something he doubts Roland will agree with, unsure of if he agrees with himself. But it's there, and though he isn't sure if to say it- ]

...I could...you know. I don't fade as quickly on the train. If we wanted to see if it works. If anything happens.

[ Just as a test. ]

[ Roland is already speaking before Tidus finishes the last words of his sentence. Sounding exactly as he means. ]

No. That's not an option. You're not a higgledy, or a toy, or an experiment. We're not risking your safety for the train.

[ Knowing what he knows now, there's fire to that, adamant. If he even tries it, despite the good intention...No, not even. Not willing to see that again as much as Roland can help it. He doesn't need to be reminded of that every time as a solution. It's not. ]

We'll figure it out. [ Quick to the subject change. ] I got new books, though one is just for higgledy care. The other is a spellbook from home. I'll see what I can find. It's a thick tome.

[ He expected as much, really. And he'll acquiesce, despite the 'but' that he could give, but lacks any real heart or conviction. It's not an avenue he wants to argue--not after the last time he did it, put everyone through. ]

Okay. [ Affirmation sits in his tone. ] Hey- if this experiment works, we can always just ask it to let us in, right? We just need enough people to ask.

[ A joke, to help shift things away from that dire note, to go along with Roland. ]

[ He'll take that opening, if only to spare them both of a lingering pain that goes unspoken. Healing, but not quite there yet. ]

I'll write that on the feedback post every day. That's a good idea. 'Hi Voidtrecker. Can I enter the engine room? Can I meet you? Can I introduce myself to you?' Heh. What do you think? Convincing enough?

[ A stifled chuckle. ]

Hmmmmmmm.

[ Hmmmm. ]

I bet you won't really do it.

[ It's a call out, Rolo. ]

[ He makes an expression Tidus obviously won't be able to see through this channel. ]

Hey, what's that supposed to mean? Of course I'd do it. I keep my word!

[ Are you DARING him??? ]

Go on then! From now 'til the next platform stop. Time to get real chummy with the train.

[ And here Tidus is, sounding about as serious as he does about anything of this quality. ]

And you've got to show me some of the messages too. So I know you're doing it.

[ That is, he's expecting Roland to keep his word! ]

...

[ He can do it but... ]

How will I show you proof? Use the digital camera to take a picture of the ICP before I send it off?

[ The nerve to audit the auditor!! ]

[ Wow, Tidus just wanted to be present once or twice when he wrote it out, but- ]

Can you record on it? 'Cause anyone can write up a message and not submit it. [ ... ] Not that I'm saying you would, but...

[ But. You know. ]

A little extreme, but fine. I'll do it.

[ Not that he's trying to prove anything here, buster. But hey, posterity right? ]

Everyday till platform day. Be ready to get updates. If you want, I'll send you a quick message before I do.

[ Watch over him indeed! Go tell Roland how to woo this train to talking to them, giving them answers! A reaction! Anything. ]

You might as well do it after breakfast - I can hang around and watch you do it instead. I'll give you some feedback of my own!

[ Isn't this a lot better than offering to slowly fade oneself?? Submitting yourself to Tidus's whims? ]

Sounds like a plan. Let's hope we get the train to talk. And hey, speaking of sharing something. Remember the spellbook I mentioned?

[ The tell-tale sound of something being summoned out of the hammerspace is heard faintly in the background. ]

Let me know when you've got a quick minute. I'll teach you and Hibber-Gibber something. Or at least, I'll attempt it.

[ Oh? That wasn't a direction he was expecting Roland to go. ]

You can come over and bug us now. We're top floor of the games room- I was showing him the giant game you pull out the giant blocks from earlier.

[ Before Tidus decided to take a break and whine about the train, that is! ]

Is right now good though? I can't feed him 'til his food comes in. Isn't he gonna get hungry if we teach him anything?

[ He'll start to rearrange his things, getting ready to move. ]

Should be. [ And wow, he got him his food already? ] Like I said, they don't need to eat. The food is to help them get stronger.

Hold on, I'll meet you in five.

[ Channel turned off, spellbook tucked under his arm, Roland heads off to games room. A quick jog up the stairs and in five minutes as promised, Roland arrives watching Hibber-Gibber and Tidus go about their business with the toys and games. ]

Hey. [ A greeting for both of them, a nod to the high higgledy in respect, and a wave for Tidus. ] You'll have to forgive me if this doesn't work right away. I'm no spellcaster. But I should have enough to activate the spell for you at least. You've got your Arms Band on, right?

[ Look, Tidus respects the necessary of food when growing big and strong and healthy!! He doesn't want to make Gibbs work hard and miss out on food! Maybe he just feels bad about Gibbs not getting any food! It's good, 10/10 would eat any time!

But there's not really much of the 'pair' playing so much it is Gibbs, Tidus cross-legged on a giant plush cube and near the terminal upstairs. Gibbers messing with the oversized jenga puzzle, using smaller higgledies to get up to where he wants in his game. All turning in unison to Roland when he arrives, and each squeaking in unison too.

As for Tidus, he doesn't move from where he's sitting. Doesn't need to as Roland gets into it, and he quizzes him with a knitted brow. ]

I brought it. [ He lifts his wrist with it, wearing a polo shirt: SCA on one wrist, the band on the other. ] But why? Do I need something?

[ His sword, maybe? Something else inside? ]

[ He shakes his head and moves in closer, his book, thick as he had described earlier with golden engravings decorating its cover, already open on the page he's been reading over and over again. ]

No. I need you to wear it, is all. It'll remember the spell for you. And...[ Roland will glance around the smaller higgledies, before turning back to Tidus with a wave of a hand. ] They need to come join you for this. The spell won't work without them.

[ He'll let Tidus gather them up first while he reads again, his eyes going left to right in rapid succession. This should work. He already knows the spell, so activating it on someone else, someone who is clearly more magical than him, should be no trouble at all. Roland nods and walks a few steps back to give himself some space. ]

Let me know when you're ready.

Edited 2020-10-22 16:14 (UTC)

[ ...???

???????

'It'll' remember the spell? Tidus is lost, but he decides to get his butt off the cube, whistle to the higgledies to drop their came with that and a - ] Yo, Rolo wants us! That cool, Gibbs?

[ --don't mind the new nickname, Roland. That's a private one between friends.

But as Hibber-Gibbers makes his way over, rejoined into one large high higgledy, Tidus turns to the older man. ]

Uh, so, what's this about remembering a spell? What are you gonna teach him?

...Gibbs?

[ And the high higgledy is...okay with that?

Ah well. They're the partners now. God forbid Roland calls Bambosh, Bambs...? ]

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