voidtreckernet | horseshoe 22, voice

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...? ]

[ He shakes his head. Focus! ]

It's just something to help you out. Mind you, it's not made for a fight, but if you need to make a quick getaway, or travel somewhere...deep? [ Well, it was learned in the Abyss. And in fact, the more Roland talks, the more Hibber-Gibber squeals in delight, knowing exactly where he was leading. ] This could be good to have in your arsenal. [ Another gesture with his hand. ] It's called Water Slide. It's why you need water higgledies for it to work. This isn't the best place to demonstrate it after you've learned it, but let's take it one step at a time, shall we?

Alrighty. [ He takes a breath. Faces them both fully, where the higgledy has taken his spot somewhere on Tidus. ] Here goes nothing.

[ Roland will close his eyes, and the spellbook floats for a moment in front of him. He extends his arm forward, palm facing Tidus, and the younger man will feel it in his bones; his body engulfed in prismatic, blue light. The moment passes fast. He opens his eyes, the book floating back down into his hands. ]

Can you ask, uh, Gibbs? If it worked? [ And of course it did, but Roland has to make sure. ]

[ This does not answer anything Tidus wants to know!

Confusion only etches deeper into his face, the explanation far from being that, although Tidus feels the joy from Gibbs in his chest louder than he hears it. But also, the spot he's taken on Tidus is absolutely his shoulder. That's where Little Bros ride.

And then there's the light, the sensation that sinks into him, breathes with energy unfamiliar, not unwelcome. Tidus too puzzled to be opposed, and Hibber-Gibbers at his side only blossoms more by the opportunities being gifted to them.

A gift Tidus still doesn't understand once the light dims away, and the high higgledy teleports from his shoulder to the ground in an animated dance, running on the spot. 'Can you ask Gibbs if it worked?' Already lost to anything, everything, Tidus looks down to his small pal, asks out loud- ]

Uh... did Roland get it right?

[ The higgledy squeaks in response, an answer just for Tidus- ]

'Young sojourner! Why don't we test it? Craft me some of your magic - the one that sprouts from the ground! Now, gather with your friend-!'

[ This isn't anything Tidus needs to warn Roland about? He switches between the pair, but then does as Gibbers tells him, stepping beside Roland with a 'like this?', nodding, then- ] Wait, under us?

... ... Are you sure? ... well-

[ Tidus's hand glows, Roland's singular warning for what's to come as the air rushes up around Tidus, his eyes closing, and- ] Here we go!

[ And it's a spell that'll be familiar to Roland: as from below, the water bubbles up from the carpeting around the trip and then shoots up under them, Hibber-Gibber merging and disappearing within the blue miniature geyser that appears. They're bumped up onto its ride, and that's exactly what it becomes: the mass made from Tidus's spell increasing and supporting them, a floating circular disk of water that knocks them onto their butts as it shoots them around the room, whizzing between ad dodging the jumbo-sized games, leading them down the sloping stairway.

With, of course, the appropriate acoustics from Tidus: ]

Whoooa-a-a-a-hahaha-haaaeeyy!

OOF.

[ And that would be the landing sound, as the diagonal force of their journey sends the water carrying them directly at floor, tumbling the pair of them into a giant puddle of their own (Tidus's) making.

But don't worry--Hibber-Gibbers pops out from the water before it splashes completely into the ground, hopping out with hands coming up, posed dramatically, in all his glory.

And Tidus... ]

That... was...

[ A laughter, that grows and grows-- ] Awesome!

[ And he laughs on, straight from the belly, no concern for his wet pants and the rest of him soaked from bubble of water that's drenched him, the mess in the games car.

He even picks up the high higgledy and starts throwing him in the air, catching him. Happy, delighted. ]

[ Roland watches with apprehension. There's something wrong here. Something he's missing. The way Tidus is communicating with the higgledy, and he's at a disadvantage because he can't hear them, can't understand the language of magic even as he begs for some semblance of it. His brows furrow, watching them interact. And as if his instincts are pushing him in the right direction, Roland knows that Something is Afoot...

...True enough. The worst part is there's no warning. From what was a simple transfer of spell, one Arms Band to the other, suddenly Tidus is next to him, isn't talking to him and continues to communicate silently. Then, glowing, and the trauma that follows - he remembers exactly what spell this is, his spine is already aching from phantom pain. ]

T-Tidus, what are you - ! Whoa!

[ It's too late. All of it is too late. Roland can only hope that his grace can see him through as Water Slide is activated the moment another source of water is found on the train. He didn't even know it could work this way, only riding puffer whelks down safely into the abyss and nothing else. But the relationship between Gibbs and Tidus seems to resonate strongly to the point where what used to be a simple geiser trick evolved into an actual slide. Like one in the amusement parks.

Like when he was a kid.

And so that's the memory he seems to remember immediately, top of mind, not even a reprimand as the slide carries them all over, making a mess of the entire car and back again. The words that would have been usual for Roland die on his tongue, instead his mouth growing into a smile - a toothy grin almost, until the end of the slide and they're deposited safely down. ]

Hah...Hah...

[ He's breathing heavily, palpitating. As Tidus celebrates a successful spell with Gibbs, Roland watches from the floor, robe and shirt and pants also soaked. Tidus is throwing his higgledy up and down the air now. All he can think about was how fun it was. Exactly like his first time down the slide back then.

So Roland's chuckle, turns into a laugh. Chesty, but genuine. Like he hasn't done that in a long, long time. ]

I-I can't believe it. I was going to demonstrate it in the kitchen with a sink! Did - whose idea was that? Yours? His? [ He's stopped laughing, stands up now. But when he speaks, the laughter colors his voice regardless. Like an amusement park. Way back then. ]

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