adregem | 000 - voidtreckerexpress Universal Contact Post

Nah, it's not your fault. It's this stupid train! You've got nothing to be sorry for.

[ And technically, the clock does work, right? Just not for them. ]

But hey, you haven't voted spa yet, have ya?

[ He won't even guess for the other ones, since look at him. He is so a spa guy. ]

[ He shakes his head.

Also, what's that supposed to mean. Roland could pass off as a...plant guy. Maybe. ]

I'm not planning on voting, to be honest. I'm more intrigued about the poll's timing, and its choices. Or if our daily messages had anything to do about it.

[ OK perfectly towelled guy. But them influencing the results by their latest messages? ]

What's on the poll? Doubt it. They have one of these every month. [ ... ] What I remember anyway. I voted art first, didn't vote the last one... now this.

[ But- ] What's not voting gonna do?

I don't know. Something about it just...rubs me off the wrong way. Maybe it's just me. [ And his penchant for overthinking but what's new with Roland at this point.

And what a topic to discuss too; the guy who's president because of VOTES and now here he was denying the train his One. The irony isn't lost on him. ]

Anyway, my abstaining from the polls won't do a thing. So far, the only poll I voted for was clocks and that was because I thought the train was finally taking you seriously. Apart from that, I've never felt inclined to vote on the polls. There'll be a winning car, and we'll get new amenities either way.

...

...

...

... Sooooo, you mind if I take your ticket and vote for the pool then?

[ There's sticking it to the train!! And then there's young pal friend of yours, Roland!!! Look at this angelic face! ]

[ Roland stares at Tidus for only a brief moment before he sighs in some form of recognition. Angelic face! Still. Roland trusts him to the point where such a request no longer made him bat an eyelash. Roland has nothing to hide from Tidus anyway.

Never mind that by using his ticket, it's as if Roland himself voted anyway. Technicalities. ]

...Why am I not surprised you're voting for the pool? [ He says as he draws out his ticket from his pants back pocket. ] I'm doing this for Gibbs too. And I have to admit, the water slide was fun. [ As Roland hands his ticket over to Tidus, he immediately follows it up with a rather grave sounding comment, his brows suddenly furrowed and a frown on his face. Roland claps one of his own hands over Tidus's, the one holding the ticket. ]

You ran a good campaign, candidate. You've got my endorsement. [ A nod. He breaks character that and just stifles a chuckle, leaning back on his seat. ]

[ Pfft. What is this? Some fancy show and Tidus stares at Roland, amused, brow dipped at the sight. He scoffs as he shuffle out of the seat, the ticket waving out from his hand. ]

Is that what the losers say in a presidential race? [ Tidus has no clue. You think he knows politics? He only knows how to be a nag. At least the terminal isn't that far to boot up, the voting screen waiting for him once he slips in Roland's ticket. ]

[ He watches him use the ticket on the terminal before he remembers he had a drink - already lukewarm. ]

Maybe. I wouldn't know. I never lost.

[ Roland fights back a smirk, the understatement of his own inside joke not lost on him. Besides, if a candidate running lost the election, they'd only concede. No point in endorsing if someone already won. Ah, his sense of humor. ]

Ooooooooooohh.

[ Don't worry, Tidus hears the implication in that loud and clear, boasts Roland's achievements for him. He presses the pool option, hits submit, and the screen goes into the usual one. Which there's nothing really there for Tidus to care about, but- ]

Wow, one point? What have you been buying?

[ It's not like it takes an effort to see the amount of points with it right there on the screen. ]

[ He forgot about that. Or is in the process of trying to forget that. Roland tries to swallow down his tea faster. ]

Ah. Well, gifts. [ Roland offers quite bluntly, simply. ] Gibbs, Jumblie, an Arms Band for Inigo to use, two books from Evermore, and...[ A shake of his head. ] A failed purchase. I thought a cosmetic set would include something for hair. I just got makeup.

[ And he kept the bottle of foundation too! ]

[ Pfft. ] Oh yeah, I coulda told you that. Bought it one time for a guy on Orange who wanted the purple nail polish. [ Or blush? Whichever. ]

You need anything? I got some points left. [ He's idling on Roland's screen, but not for any real reason. ] Was wondering 'bout getting some vegan food after our cooking, or looking into more stuff for missions. But we still have a bunch of medical supplies.

[ And they had weapons available now, but- 80 points for a weapon? Those weren't going to be easy to get for spares. ]

[ He sets his cup down and hesitates briefly, thinking quickly. Anything they needed...Tidus was quite right on the medical supplies, and now that more people seemed to have the idea to contribute on that end, they didn't have to add more to their already hefty stock. What else? What else... ]

You should get your different cheeses. [ Vegan cheese? For cooking! Remembering what they were lacking, or almost did. ] And hey, if you can throw in a pair of barber shears, I'd owe you big time. [ For emphasis, Roland throws back his ponytail, growing to the length of his mid-back. ]

Gonna chop it all off? You can do that with any scissors. [ Heheh! But he's tapping the side of the screen, thinking. ] What would those come in? Mens' grooming kit? Salon kit?

[ One or the other? ]

And waste all the hair oils you guys gave me? No way. [ He chuckles, watching Tidus work the ICP quickly. ] I think a salon kit might be more specific.

[ Suddenly, Roland's face falls into a dry expression, as he looks forward, not quite to the window out into the void, but somewhere in between the space of the wall. ]

Then again, don't take my word for it. Something tells me the train shop and I weren't meant to get along...

[ From points, to beers, to this! He's gotten rotten luck so far. ]

Don't sulk. You'll get wrinkles. [ Aha. He takes out Roland's ticket and swaps it with his own, slipping the older man's into his pocket for the meantime. Let's see... ]

Make some suggestions and see what the train does. I does! I asked for first aid, potions... and it's added a lunchbox since I've been here.

[ Yes, doesn't the future sound bright? ]

Hey, you know how big a pasta maker is? Like... flattening, slicing?

Tidus. [ He says, tone joking and light. ] Your concern for my youthfulness is touching.

[ Roland takes a sip from his mug, still engaged as Tidus makes his purchases, keeps his ticket too for safekeeping. Good. The question too, doesn't quite get him the reaction it might have before. Roland's already aware that one of Tidus's hobbies involved experimenting in the kitchen. So in demonstration, he models a mock-up of what he knows pasta makers to be; his hands making a shape with palms facing sideways and down, no bigger than a regular box. ]

Like this, usually. The machine itself does both, if I'm not mistaken. Decking out the kitchen with more tools, I see. [ And if he's getting something for pasta - ! ] I approve. If I had enough points, I'd offer to buy it myself.

[ He knows how to make One (1) Pasta Dish! Just the one!! The talent is overflowing. ]

[ Too late for that, Tidus thinks to say, but look at him be nice and not go for that easy shot while he fiddles around at the shop terminal. Attention turning to Roland and his visual demonstration when he starts to speak. ]

Hey, it's fine. Something to help with making the noodles easier, and sheets. I don't have anything else to spend these points on, so why not?

[ Except--

Except there was the conversation with Senku, their agreed upon experiment. What was he going to go for, in that? He has a few ideas, but as his mind lingers, wondering.. ]

Hey, Roland. You ever thought about buying something from your first world? [ That is- ] Family mementos?

Right. Thanks for always looking out for our amenities. It's appreciated, I can promise you that.

[ And Roland has no problems speaking on behalf of the train, even if sometimes it's a thankless job. Then again, he's more than used to being part of a job that will never give you the gratitude you crave or deserve; and that was what made it more humbling.

He's mid-sip again, tea turning cold after so many moments of forgetting he left a tea bag to seep, when Tidus asks him something completely unexpected. Roland's brows furrow slightly, repeating the question in his head. ]

The first world? Hm. [ He does eventually take that prophesized sip, but only to break his thoughts. ] Honestly, no. If it's something personal, I...

[ If everything's been vaporized, what point would there be? Could the train bypass that, get him items that he didn't think he'd ever own again? His silence only means he's never stopped to consider it; not an option, Roland afraid of breaking his own heart. ] No. Not even family mementos. The closest I've gotten to thinking about what to get from there was digital cameras, and now, a working charger for my phone.

[ Roland looks over at where Tidus stands by the terminal with a more curious gaze. ] Why do you ask? What are you doing at the shop?

I talked to Senku about buying something from home. [ He starts his explanation simple - the subject, the emotion connected it, not one to be underestimated, but he's at least been thinking about this to have some cool. ] He was pretty affected by that storm we had, and... we made a deal. To try and get something from our homes. 'Cause, you know, [ and this gets a small pause from it- ] --cause I couldn't give a good reason wouldn't work for me.

[ But Roland would know, out of anyone. If he remembered that the city, the people -- everything came from the same energy, the same required source. ]

I guess I just wondered... no reason, really. [ But then, there's no reason for him to hesitate. To be thinking about it, to have it stir about in his stomach, his heart. His head bobbing to the side, as if in indifference. ]

I should probably tell him I tried and it didn't work.

[ He listens in silence, but immediately recognizes the wavelength in which Tidus rides. A memento to remember what was once lost, what has been left behind and brought up to a reminder. If Roland thinks he might not have a chance, what more Tidus? Zanarkand, his home, or was it now Spira he's thinking of? A new home, but only because of the love he's gained there? The adventure of his young life - a dream come true, literally? What would the train take from there that could count? That could be brought into reality?

But it's not enough of a reason too, for Roland to just watch as Tidus doesn't even try. He feels like a hypocrite now, approaching that question way too wrong. Roland figures if he's in on that deal, he might as well make it easier for Tidus. Even in gaining, even in loss.

Roland clears his throat loudly, a signal for attention. Meets Tidus's eye, but keeps his face neutral. Though it's his eyes that always give him away; thinking, worrying. ]

Well, you don't know that yet. [ He smiles a little, voice kind. An upward smirk of his lips. ] I'll do it with you. I don't have the points, but pick something from home and I'll do the same. I can pay you back later when I'm replenished.

[ He stands now, pushes himself out of the seat and slides into the hallway where the terminal blinks. Doesn't look at the screen, but keeps to the proximity. ]

...I'd get my family photo album. How about you get a sphere? Or photos too? Something from Yuna, or the earrings to top of your Zanarkand Abes necklace?

[ No suggestion given is made with force; only patience, quiet and sure. One of them was bound to bite. The train moving as an unknown force, a mysterious entity that bypassed all sense. ]

It's worth a shot, at least. [ Roland offers, lightly shrugging, leaning his back against the adjacent wall. ]

[ Why did he invite himself into this position? Roland's offering surfacing a resistance to him, a reluctance at even that. Why not? Because Tidus can argue why not with real points; points that aren't about how tight the thought of anything from home makes his chest, how it cuts off his breath, makes him stop breathing. Real enough points that he can work with.

Which is stupid. He put Senku into the same position, didn't he? But people are different, so maybe it doesn't matter too much as he looks over at Roland's call for attention, turns back to the screen catching him in the light reflecting off it. Hesitating, taking the first out he finds in Roland's words.]

Well - how about I try yours then? You'll get that, I know for sure. I got that camera from the real Zanarkand! So your family album should be easy enough. [ Hmm- but, thinking about it... ] Y'think I'm gonna get it though? It didn't let me a lunchbox like Romeo owned.

Can't say that for certain either, you know? Not after what happened to me, back there. [ Can the train revive nuked countries just to grab a little memento from his house...? The mysteries are so out of their control or reach that Roland can't even guarantee a sliver of a chance. ] But like I said, it's worth trying. The train doesn't take points from you if it can't get what you need, anyway.

[ And if he got that camera - the memoris or the sphere - from the real version of his home, then by logic, it could stand that Tidus might still revive something sentimental from the Zanarkand he thought was real right? It's not something Roland is brave enough to bring up, or confident enough that he could reassure, so he keeps it to himself. For now, he'll follow this train of thought too, see if it leads there. ] What type of lunchbox was it?

A magically refilling bento that some god gave him for doing a good job cleaning! [ Bah. ] Where's a god around to do that for us when you need one?

[ But you know, he'll start typing it in anyway. Roland Crane's family photoalbum... ]

[ There's some silence that follows that answer. ]

I...can't imagine why the train would deny you of that.

[ Yes he can. But the typing does catch his eye, and he's not one to peer at it for privacy reasons but he does glance at the movement instead. ]

So. What did you end up trying to get?

Eh, I dunno. One of a kind? [ Like there isn't a magically refilling bento in some other part of existence??? Boo. But there comes a pause as the screen flashes with the text changing, and...

Tidus frowns, mouth bunching to the side before he sides. ]

Tried your album. Didn't work. [ Guh. ] Sorry. What about a charger for your cell-phone? [ Said like someone not used to the name. ] Didn't you need a dock for that?

000 - voidtreckerexpress Universal Contact Post

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