imagination 6, video (around w/e you think lunchtime is)

[blitzcheer]

Hey, so, mission time soon. [ Tidus wears a flippant smile at that. Fun, huh? ]

Just wanted everyone to know if you need something to put your food in or drink bottle, there's spare lunchboxes and bottles going in the supplies me, Lightning, and Roland keep track over. We also got some food ready: a lot of it's bear-- real bear, not that other stuff we got last month-- but there's other meat and non-meat too. Plus, if you wanna come and help make more with some of the food we got this month, we can work on that. Make sure everyone's covered. Doesn't matter what team you are!

Speaking of, if any of the teams need any for their groups or food...masters or whatever, you take some too, alright? [ He grins and nods. ] Oh yeah- and you can talk to one of us if you need a weapon, like a sword or dagger, or just a pole to whack with. We have a couple to borrow out, but we'll want them back at the end.

Well, we'll want everything back, but you know. We don't have many, so it's best to see what the missions are first.

[ They don't have enough to lend out willy nilly. ]

Guess this is a good time to say too, [ since he's here already!, ] if you think you can make anything for supplies, like weapons or- whatever magic you have, let us know! Anyone who can help with food, healing, weapons or protection... it's all useful.

And if anyone's thinking about going hunting or collecting materials once we find out more, we have some Arms Bands that'll help for packing away. [ He raises a wrist, showing the one he's wearing now. ] We can show people how to use 'em. Then you won't be carrying anything on your back!

[ He pauses, thinking. Well.. ] That's about it... - oh!

[ His head was about to duck, but then he raises it again, looking into the camera! ]

If you wanna hop around with magic and help out on different teams when they need the extra hands, ask Spider 'bout joining Black Squad! She's cool, and she can send people wherever they're needed! And the more people helping, the easier it is she can move people around!

Okay -- see ya!

Comments

[blitzcheer]

Mark them, kinda, and - no clue?

[ A 'no clue' that comes with a shrug, a curious look that quickly turns into an uncomfortable frown.

But- ] The weapon space is limited for some reason. Three weapons a band, doesn't matter what else you've got in there. 'least, we haven't found any other limits yet. Uh, and you'd want to mark one, if you've got a bunch lying around. [ ... for some reason. like him. ] Since yeah, the designs are all the same.

If someone knows the answer to the third though, it'd be Roland Crane, on Purple. He's the guy who introduced them to the train.

[namethattune]

[Helpful, somewhat helpful, and research required. He can work with this.]

They are limited to three weapons, but will also carry any amount of non-weapon miscellany? [That sounds arbitrary, to say the least.] Is there anything that cannot be stored in one?

Thank you. I will have to speak with him.

[blitzcheer]

Nothin' I've tried storing in one! [ That is, he's had pretty good success. ] A mini-fridge, kettle, toaster, food, my sword...

Roland'll have more idea there too. [ Ah- ] Oh, but there's some other things about it too. It can store and bring out skills in weapons, or somethin'! That's good to ask Rol about too, but if you have anything like a gun or needs ammo, if you stick it in the arms, it'll refill it.

[ A beat. ] 'least, I think that one's true. You want me to get him on the line so you can ask him more?

[ Tidus has his ways...! ]

[namethattune]

[...a mini-fridge. It is creative, to say the least.]

[The ammunition refill is irrelevant to Siebren but still good to know.]

Yes, please.

[blitzcheer]

Noooo problem, [ said with a lilt. Tidus turns a step, looking away from the screen. ] Gibbs, you mind getting him? You know the places.

[ It's not completely on screen, but there is a warm white-ish-blue light that emanates from Tidus's chest, and for a brief second, a small blue creature can be seen popping out. Tidus looks at the unseen floor, a squeak like 'hiig!' being heard.

...

...

Tidus turns back to the screen. Okay so anyway, that very normal exchange aside- ] He's usually in the library. Shouldn't take long. [ A beat. ] What's your name anyway? Did you join this stop?

[namethattune]

[Siebren has been on the train long enough that minor odd occurrences no longer floor him. There is often an explanation - magic, a genetic condition, a normal occurrence on someone's home world - if he only waits to ask. The arms band had been a surprise - conservation of matter be damned, evidently - but he had stopped being surprised by abnormal animal companions once he had gotten to know Wormmon.]

Siebren de Kuiper. And no, I joined the stop before last, just in time to weather the void storm. [Impeccable timing, really.] This will be my first mission here.

[blitzcheer]

Great timing. [ For sure, dry off Tidus's lips. ] How you feeling about the mission? This your first time doing anything like them?

[ He's asking casually enough, curious, but more in the same tone that brought him to talk about the supplies in the first place: seeing that the guy's as prepared as anyone can be on these things, when there's only so much preparing anyone can do.

Especially anyone new. ]

[namethattune]

It is not, though I am accustomed to a much smaller team and a clear objective. I believe I will better understand my role in all of this once we have our parameters.

[Participating in a mission that may well value his intellect over his sheer stopping power is a novel concept, to say the least. For the first time before a mission, he has hope that Sigma may not be necessary.]

[blitzcheer]

Well, [ hah, ] if you're going Orange - [ going off by what he sees the guy wearing, ] that's usually... investigate, collect... and repair?

[ Tidus looks up as he figures those things. Regards the screen again, tapping fingers to fingers like ticking through his recollection. ]

Two of the missions I've been on were that. Investigate a lab that a bunch of scientists disappeared from, figure out what happened to an underwater city -- they fell asleep, [ Tidus adds as a quick aside, ] -- and then they had to collect the crystal from flowers from the last mission. But I heard about repairing barriers and space ships happened too, in the past.

[ And he didn't want to say 'investigate' twice, so- he'll throw in other missions he read about! Still, he shrugs. ]

It's guesswork what's coming next, but at least it's something than just nothing.

voice; squeezing in here real quick - !

[adregem]

[ Who is he kidding, of course Roland was going to be at the Library. Reading, looking through sheets of paper...but the blue higgledy catches his attention without much effort as it appears in bright light right in front of him. He blinks, not that alarmed, but recognizes when he's being called?

...Does he need another ruler? Sure would be useful if Roland could understand the higgledy's high-pitched hiigs. For now, he'll take the hint as Gibbs reappears to the terminal designated on this floor of the Library. Tunes in at just the right channel, aha. There. Can't be anyone but Tidus if this sprite is the one calling him. ]

Hey. Is everything okay? I'm tuned in, you can send Hibber-Gibber back. [ A beat. ] If you need the office supplies, just see me up here.

video

[blitzcheer]

[ --oh. A voice! ... wait. ]

Why're you voice for? Whatever, [ doesn't matter! ] Siebren here wants to know about arms bands. Say hi!

[ Either Roland or Siebren can, Tidus doesn't care. He doesn't run their lives. ]

voice -> video;

[adregem]

Arms Bands? Sure.

[ Roland switches the feed to video, since a demonstration might be required. He appears after some staticky noise on the ICP, with the higgledy sitting on his shoulder making waves...not literally, but the bubbles on his head are a-brewing! ]

Hi there. Good to meet you. I'm Roland. What did you want to know about it?

[namethattune]

Siebren. A pleasure.

[More complex introductions can wait until there are not questions - and a mission - at hand.]

I have been briefed on arms bands, but I have further questions and was informed you are the person to ask. Is there a limit to storage of non-weapon items? Are there any items that cannot be stored? And what would happen if an arms band were to break?

[adregem]

[ Roland nods. ]

Likewise. Let's see...[ He hums briefly. ] There's no limit to storage of non-weapon items, but you have to be conscious of the size of the item in question. The largest thing I've had to store in my arms band is probably the troll clubs we got during the last mission over at Irivar. [ So if you can't hold it comfortably in both your hands, it's most likely not going to fit! Thank goodness for foldable things, then. ]

As for items that can't be stored at all, anything alive, though plants seem to be an exception. If you keep any sort of edible item in your arms band, they'll stay preserved indefinitely until you take it out. [ Roland rests a finger under his chin. ] And I'm sorry, that's something I can't answer. I've never had it break on me before. I don't want it to happen to anyone, either. I'm not equipped to repair magitek, and I was warned to keep arms bands safe since they're considered precious.

[ Though he does find it ironic now that they can freely order it so long as they can afford it. Roland pauses here, waits if Siebren has more questions. ]

[namethattune]

[He listens and takes mental notes. It seems common sense is rule of law when it comes to arms band usage. The fact that there seems to be no known means of repair is worrying, to say the least.]

I suppose we have been some combination of conscientious and fortunate, that none of them have broken before now.

Did you bring them all with you when you arrived on the platform?

[That there are multiples, and that personal items from home seem to be on the rarer side, means that something does not add up.]

[adregem]

That's one way of putting it. [ But he's also not well-versed in said magitek to understand its inner workings either. He regrets not asking his friends from the second world more details about items he's just taken as is.

Roland nods again, arms crossed over his chest. Blue higgledy on his shoulder mimicking the movement. ]

Yes. I came onboard with my Arms Band fully equipped with what I last remember placing inside of it. [ He raises his hand to the screen, palm facing, and suddenly there is a flurry of golden glimmers that accompany quick manifestations of three swords held by their grip, the succession seamless. Then, a pistol makes an appearance in the same hand, though it looks like it belongs to a book on fairy tales than anything realistic. After this, his hand is emptied again, placed down to his side. ] Three melee weapons, and one ranged one, among other items. I assume Tidus told you about this too?

[ Since Siebren did start off with the category of 'non-weapon' items. Roland's just making sure he's got the basics covered! ]

[namethattune]

He did, yes, though I had understood it to be three weapons total. Is three melee and one ranged the upper limits of weapons storage?

[He realizes, as the answer he was looking for doesn't seem to be forthcoming, that he may not have phrased his question clearly enough.]

You mentioned that arms bands are considered precious, yet there are several on the train - enough to be loaned out as needed, from the sound of it. Did they all arrive with you, or were they obtained in some other fashion?

[blitzcheer]

My bad. [ He pipes up, tone apologetic- since, he's still actually listening. ] I don't have as many weapons as Roland.

But if you're wondering about rarity, [ you know, since he's here, being nosy, ] the train doesn't care about that. Like the elixirs, right Roland?

[ He'll leave it for Roland to explain and talk on, as he could have without Tidus. ]

[adregem]

[ He dovetails soon after Tidus pipes up, a natural transition. He's aware the teen is still on the other line too. ]

Right, on all accounts. [ First - ] Yes, that's the weapons limit - three melee and one ranged weapon of any kind, with infinite ammunition. There might be a cooldown period where you need to wait for a moment, but you'll never run out of ammo, whatever it might be. [ Bows and arrows included. ]

As for the rarity, Tidus is also correct. In my world where the arms bands have to be forged by master smiths and spellcrafters, here, you just...order it at the shop for forty-five points. [ Roland's voice slips to a slightly drier tone as he mentions this. ] So I guess you could say it's lost a bit of its market value on the train.

[namethattune]

[Ah. Limitations of the presenter, not the object itself.]

It is alright.

[No need for apologies.]

[Both eyebrows raise as Roland explains how to obtain one. If he can obtain his own, perhaps he can obtain a spare as well for experiments. There are plans to be made here, but not until after the mission at hand.]

I wish I had known earlier - I would have ordered one at our previous stop. Something to look forward to, I suppose.

Thank you for the information.

[adregem]

Of course. Just type down 'arms band' and it should give you what you need, no problem. [ Thanks for turning something so special from his other home into a commodity trinket, train! But Roland won't complain or think about it too much anymore. It's helping a lot of people and that's always worth it. ]

If you need help on how to use it once you receive it, I'd be happy to assist.