adregem | 000 - voidtreckerexpress Universal Contact Post

THIS IS TOO MUCH FAST THINKING.

'Let's do it at the same time,' Tidus said. 'Let me do the talking,' he said. Inigo should have known better than to trust Tidus wouldn't pull a stunt like this, just pulling the rug straight out from under his feet. How is Inigo supposed to improvise this fast?! Who do you think he is, Owain?!

But it's not like Inigo is going to ruin either the surprise for Roland or the roleplay, considering Roland seemed very much into it last time. So.. whatever! He can do this! He will do this! For his father!

"I don't know, partner." Inigo may be tipping an invisible hat before he steps up to the counter as well, leaning on it with his hands. He looked at Tidus when he said that initial part, but now his gaze turns towards Roland. "I guess it depends on how well this new potential sheriff of ours can serve a cowboy a decent cup o' coffee."

(Can you tell what movie they watched together last.)

Roland was in the middle of his next experiment with the coffee kit - coffee art - when they enter his periphery. Though from his focus, Roland hears their voices before he actually spots them approach. From his position slightly bent over in close study of the frothy coffee and the caramel drizzle he's trying to use to decorate the whipped milk, the last thing he expects is an introduction like this. His eyes dart between Tidus, then Inigo, and it catches on fast that they're drawling on like they just watched ten spaghetti westerns in a row. But why come to Roland with that fact?

He can't really quite care. He's not slow on the uptake either, standing up straight and putting on his best gritty cowboy expression, looking far ahead as if he was bartending at the saloon. Truth be told, the reason he went back up here was because he could feel the stirrings of the next mission, with other thoughts keeping him awake. He may have just found a good new hobby after all.

But for now, if the two of them wanted a bit of play, then who was Roland not to deliver? He mimics the same accent with some degree of success. Starts wiping down dry cups with his apron as if they had been used in a drink-off. They can get so silly sometimes.

"Well, if it ain't the troublesome two. What brings you 'round these parts?" He sighs. "Ain't cuz of no cup of the ol' brew, I reckon. Looks like you overheard some rumors. But what can I say?" And this is where he really lays it on thick, squinting and furrowing his brow, a decisive shake of his head as his fist comes up to clench where they can see the drama.

"There are some things a man just can't run away from." Wind effects would be great here. No budget! So he'll pause for a few seconds before moving to make them an actual drink.

What the heck is with this accent, why is Roland so good at it!!

Did they accidentally watch a movie of Roland's people, or is Roland just this good at picking up what they're going for? There's a shift to Tidus's brow, the only note of surprise he'll let come through where he leans on that counter, weight rested on one arm. A good thing Roland isn't sticking still, giving time for Tidus to feel out his reply.

"See? Told ya, pardnuh. He may jus' look like any ol' barista 'round these parts, but he's got somethin' stronger than coffee in that body of his. No matter what other rumours may say... 'bout a dark past yer running from?"

Oh, but it turns out this is easy. Man, this is Halloween night all over again. Look at this plot they're cookin' up! Tidus even thinks, a quick glance Inigo's way, to go on; nudging at Inigo out of sight, and make a slip of paper appear next to his hand.

"You heard it too, didn't ya, Inigo? Something 'bout heisting certain kindah goods..."

HINT HINT, INIGO.

Inigo is similarly surprised. Maybe that movie is just.. exactly what the place Roland comes from is like? It's not like he knows much about the details of that world. And while there sure wasn't a president in the movie, maybe one does exsit somewhere out there and they just never mentioned it! It would explain how Roland can fall into this sort of thing so naturally.

.. then again, it's like Tidus's own accent is getting thicker and thicker the more he listens to Roland as well. Any more and Inigo may start to need some subtitles to understand what's even still going on here.

He's drawn immediately out of those thoughts the moment his name is mentioned, glancing over at Tidus with a surprise in his eyes that's definitely him falling out of character. It's just-- he can sense the hint in those words, and he's not sure he's picking up what Tidus is putting down here! Metaphorically speaking.

Because literally speaking he does see the paper. Oh. Okay. He's pretty sure he got this one. Moment of panic avoided, whew.

"'Course!" He nods, a glint in his eyes when he turns to look back at Roland instead. "We wouldn't be the troublesome two if we didn't dig up this.. stuff."

Look, maybe he isn't quite as good at this as these two, but he's trying.

He grabs the paper from Tidus's hand, as sneakily as he can, to then reveal it with a flourish. He waves his hand, making the paper unfold to its full size, only narrowly avoiding hitting Tidus in the face with it. (Sorry, bro.)

If Roland looks at the paper, he'll find it to be instructions to one of those model building sets. Inigo is holding them up like it's some sort of wanted poster.

"We figur'd you'd be interested in this. But 'course it's gonna come at a price.."

Does Inigo know what price? Of course not. But this is exactly the sort of dots Tidus would be incredibly eager to fill in, and Inigo knows it.

They absolutely watched a movie that Roland's 'people' put to the silver screen, but with the existence of parallel worlds, who even knows if he's thinking of the right movie genre? No, they were playing along with a bit, here! The important thing is they keep in character, and that Roland recognizes that this is something leading up to another one of the Twin Teens' antics.

Besides, he hasn't pretended to be a cowboy in a loooooooong time. What age was he when he decided he'd rather not pretend this hard, anymore? Yet here they come, bringing a fantasy he falls into as naturally as it was to breathe. Roland's aware how silly it sounds but it's fun and it reminds him of those times, so he'd rather not think about it as hard as he would everything else. The accent that grows thicker from all sides - starting with Tidus then Inigo eventually attempts it too - is met with Roland's own Aremican Southern drawl, warming up some.

"I knew there was more to you two cahootin' tenderfooter's walkin' in my saloon, lookin' for somethin' to wet your whistles. But I'll serve ya'll anyhow, on the house. I got a good feelin' bout you's." Did you guys get that? Look at the widening grin on Roland's face though, as he takes out two mugs for them both, more ready than ever to actually brew them palatable coffee that's more milk and honey than actual espresso. He's learned his lesson.

But that's where his complacency about this whole thing gets him, and it gets him good. When the paper is presented to him, reaching a hand out to take it from Inigo, his smile falters inch by inch. The character he's put up, a failed persona, melting away, revealing a much more vulnerable man. Innocent eyes sparkling in instant recognition of what the paper is showing him, describing to him. In perfect, numerical detail, sequenced and meticulous.

"..."

The southern accent fades and he is stunned into silence. He covers his mouth, rubs at his chin while he reads it over and over again. Roland might even try to look away, not out of embarrassment, but shock. This could be no other but...

What did who anything Roland say just what when.

That is -- it's like Roland became a completely different person. In all the Voidtreckers in all the voids, they walked into the wrong saloon, or something. That's what it's like when the guy slicks up his voice so far, that actual mud or some other thick substance must be counting Roland's throat. How does he do that? But Tidus decides, he's got to go just as hard when he talks. However he's doing that. You think Tidus is backing down from this challenge he set? Never.

First he has to lean back his head from the wafting of paper threatening to slap him in the face, a small noise of annoyance ready to become more. But luckily, Inigo stops, and Tidus watches, zoning in on Roland; and oh, maybe he doesn't need to worry about tarring his throat with some of the spare honey in the stores anyway, when that look--

Got him. Perfect. Tidus doesn't hurry to speak, wanting everything to occur: The realisation, the confirmation, emotions upon emotions rolling upon themselves. Directions that lead from piece to piece, arm socket connecting to a lower portion, a shield. Wordless, but precise; instructions that even a young Aremica boy could follow, but requiring patience that young boys rarely come equipped with.

Tidus waits for the most opportune time, hand gripped excitedly into the side of the steel counter.

"Yuuuup," he starts with a lazy drawl, would be a sigh, if not so made so heavy. "We sur' foun' a good 'un. A good fried fer a good man. We know yer no coffee boiler, ol' Rol. Thas why our price is a generrrous one. A hoog-killin' time once we'urrr done with this here comin' job."

He is doing. His best!!! And with a look over to Inigo, he gives the signal: Your turn!

It's Inigo's turn.

But he's not speaking up just yet. And there's a simple reason for that, really. His brain was still trying to process what the heck Roland just said by the time Tidus is already adding to it, and he no longer has any idea of what's going on here. Sure, they're giving the instructions to Roland, that part is more or less done now - and it seems to be a hit, judging from Roland's quiet, stunned reaction!

But that means he no longer has any idea of what to do now.

Especially since Tidus may as well be trying to speak Chinese to him here. He'd understand just as much of that.

He silently mouths at Tidus, quickly glancing over to Roland to make sure he's still distracted by the paper. 'I can't tell what you're saying!'

There's a momentary pause where Inigo figures maybe Tidus won't figure out what he's trying to say here, and so he starts, out loud, but quietly: "I can't--" He stops, a little exasperated at first, but then quickly taken over by his confusion and the exasperation as he looks at Tidus's expectant face, just enough for his voice to suddenly grow to a much louder volume: "I can't tell what you're saying!"

Sorry to ruin your tender moment here, Roland.

He's jolted back to reality when Inigo raises his voice, as if he's been nudged from falling asleep. A lot of it feels surreal. Roland's never quite sure how to react to these things anyway, small gestures that feel humongous as the thought of what's been done for him settles deep into his heart. It's enough to get him to break character totally, and perhaps he does so too for Inigo's sake. To which Roland actually just shakes his head at and says, "Sorry pup, I got caught up."

Roland turns his gaze back to the paper, and it's a foldable one too, an instruction booklet that expands like an accordion. The end result is printed in color at the final page: a picture that brings him all the way back to building the model by himself. Though now...now he's not so alone. The awe seeps into his voice, finally back to normal.

"You...you actually got it?" He says, quietly, incredulously. "The train let you have a MaDnuG Beta GBZ-99 Re-ZG model...?" He doesn't even notice that his memory has jogged to the point where vivid details turn to words, expressed in disbelief. Roland doesn't know who to look at first, Tidus or Inigo, so it just seems like he's shuffling between the two of them then.

But then, here it comes. Roland is unable to hold himself back now that he knows. Both his hands lean on the counter, and the mugs he set out for them become momentarily forgotten. "Where is it? Did you check if it came complete? Or if it's a knockoff? There are so many small parts to that, I don't know if you're aware..."

If anyone ever wanted to see an adult man rightfully (disproportionately) get excited over something as simple as a robot figure model set, this would be a fantastic time to walk in on the second floor of the Kitchen. Subdued from the outside, but Tidus and Inigo might glimpse the spark behind dark eyes, that subtle lilt in volume, or how he's silently glancing around for the box that the instructions came with. He completely misses the heavily accented cowboy response from Tidus, that much is obvious. This was for after the mission.

womp womp.

Tidus really thought they had it. He should have known better! But instead when the crash comes on crashing down, Tidus startled as all of Inigo's panic collects into that loud exclamation. Not realising just how far either of them went -- even if he was doing his best to match with Roland, he just figured they were on the same wavelength!

But then there's Roland. Roland in a completely different world separated from coffee blends and bars where the doors swing back and forth when you walk through them. An incredulous world of his own, more personal, quietly excited. Easy to catch, and Tidus's worries aren't so severe or flustered once he notices. And Tidus isn't so worry about the roleplaying being ruined, when in the end, the actual goal and point of it this - this exchange - is going exactly as hoped.

Tidus nudges Inigo, smile wide and pressing into his cheeks, nodding to Roland, as if he probably hasn't noticed already himself. Stress and fretting already forgotten to the true delight.

"You can have a look over it," Tidus says, voice smooth, but the accent gone; some part of an act there, but more accommodating to Inigo's complaint as he leans now fully on the counter with both his elbows on top. "--Later. After the mission. For a job well done. But we'll let you keep that," he nods to the instructions, simple yet elegant, intricate. "So you know what you're working towards."

The ends of his smile twitch.

"You'll just have to see if everything we need's there when there's more time. Your present. We won't forget."

A promise.

Roland's reaction.. sure is something.

It's not like Inigo didn't already have an idea of what'd happen, since Tidus thoroughly described to him what he imagined would happen - and this is pretty close to it, Inigo must admit. Roland recalling the full name of that thing, full of random letters and numbers. His waterfall of questions. The slight change in his eyes, in his voice..

Roland is definitely excited. It makes Inigo feel a little guilty for not giving the full thing to the other right away all over again, but Tidus said this would be for the better, and Inigo chose to believe in it! So he's got to stick to his guns now.

"Yeah!" He agrees with Tidus. The smile on his face a little less wide than his companion's, but still very visible all the same. "I'm sure everything is in there though, don't worry. We didn't break anything."

That's clearly a very reassuring statement, right.

"Now you can be excited for it the whole time! Isn't it great?"

...

...

...

...

He's never felt himself deflate so badly in his entire life. (Untrue; when he's all alone, he can think of a couple of instances. Just, right now!!) Roland's attempts to hide his complete and utter disappointment that he won't be able to build a model before the mission starts continue to weaken as he lowers his hands holding the instruction guide until it drops totally to the counter. The glance he offers Tidus and Inigo is paired with a slightly agape mouth and perhaps, a confusion he's not sure he's controlling very well either.

"You're..." He finds his voice eventually. Miraculously, perhaps partly due to just the grace of more experience with matters that required him to remain calm even when he felt the complete opposite. "...You're giving me the instruction booklet but not the toy."

Crickets could not sound louder, nor could Roland sound any more monotone.

"You're baiting me."

It's not even phrased as a question. It's a fact. This is a fact. This is -

- actually, very well-thought out.

They were taking him for a journey. And he's on-board.

Roland finds his gaze gravitating back to the paper, and as silly as it is, the disappointment slowly blossoms into a spark, flourishing bigger and bigger until the straight line of his lips and the dry expression of his poker face turn into a smile, a careful grin, then there's that quiet laugh under his breath. He's not going insane, he promises. But the idea of having to get excited for this; for the silly irony that to earn a hobby, he had to actually work harder on the mission day so he can get to it faster...

It's just so very them to do, something they probably spoke about and planned and it's that thought which makes him shake his head in fondness, the paper waved at them in mock warning. Suddenly, he returns to a Southern accent again, but the drawl isn't as thick. Just his regular voice that he changes up to make his point. And speaking of such, with two finger-guns on both hands, he mouths a 'pew pew' at them, and pretends to blow away the imaginary wisps of smoke afterwards.

"You two cowboyws are gonna get it from this old timer one of these days. Schemin' away like this. Heh."

Oh, Roland means it. He's really going to have to step it up for them both.

Oh, look at that face.

It's dawning realisation. It's the cogs of his brain a-turning, the sweet nectar as one opens their eyes and sees the truth. The whole picture. Tidus doesn't want to gloat in that reaction, but the moment Roland's face drops so evidently, there's a rush in him. Look. Look at him go!

And to be fair, it's not a misery Tidus wants to bask or soak in, no matter what others may think. ...okay, maybe he has expectations, but look. It's not about misery. It's about the expectation, and Tidus will argue 'til the fish swim off that it is.

Except--that expression picks back up. The instructions with it. And that. Thing. With Roland's hands. What?? Did he mimic guns?? It's a puzzling change from what just was, and is this a cover-up? Roland realising the truth, even if he isn't giving him any particular looks (because hey, knows out of the two who'd be thought to be the mastermind--and it's not everyday he gets to be one, y'know!). It doesn't make Tidus any less suspicious, but he's far more giddy, smirking. Watching this dork of a guy, cheerful threat.

He puts a hand on his waist, leans back on his own two feet.

"Like t'see ya try," he drawls challengingly.

If Roland's reaction had just been the first part, Inigo would have been a lot more worried. Really, he's just too weak. He could never endure Roland being discouraged or unhappy in any way, so he would have ran to grab the kit for him as quickly as possible, even if Tidus would bodily try to stop him.

But then Roland - kind of strangely, are you okay there, dad? - starts to smile instead, and Inigo hopes that means Tidus really was right about all this. That Roland's anticipation is slowly turning into the good kind, into excitement.

And the fact that the older guy may be a bit more serious than Inigo would imagine about getting them back for this goes completely over the boy's head.

Because he's not exchanging words like the two of them are. No, he's determined to make up for his roleplay failure due to a lack of being able to understand cowboy accents by instead mimicking out the most dramatic death scene possible when Roland pretends to shoot at them. He just lets himself drop on the ground, clutching at his chest, gasping before going limp.

Don't mind him down here, you two. I can't believe Inigo is dead.

The over-the-top reaction from Inigo should have incited a different reaction from Roland. Instead, it encourages him, secretly giddy as he is that he's gotten a chance at rebuilding a famous model from his youth now, when he's wiser, when his hands are more nimble and used to the work. As soon as Inigo falls to the ground, the cartoon villain in Roland revs to life, his expression missing only the long, thin mustache that he could twirl around his fingers.

"Looks like I got 'yer partner well and good, cowboy." He drawls at Tidus slowly this time, not laying it on so thick, but just enough to keep the facade for a time. In fact, he'll walk over like a true cowboy, pretending his regular Voidtrecker shoes were instead crafted in heavy leather as Roland crosses the counter and approaches Inigo's body on the floor. Not quite crouching, but a lean from the hip, looking over him.

"You tell 'em ranchers north of this here Kitchen car that you've got a rootin' tootin' gunslinger like me runnin' the joint. I'll do you one just like this here youngin' if you ever come back with a crazy snake in a boot again." Said snake in the boot - the instruction guide folded up the way it's given to him - disappears in his arms band, rather dramatic golden flourish of light and sparkle, before Roland leans further down and whispers in Inigo's ear.

"This is the part where you wake up and you shoot me back."

Tidus turns, thinks for half a second to go down and do...anything. But no. He instead opts for staring at the lump of a body his friend has decided to become, but sure -- there's no topping that. That should be the end of it right there, shouldn't it?

But Roland is still going, Tidus wearing an exasperated expression as he looks back at him, all the impromptu energy he came into this evaporated. He doesn't even know what this storyline is anymore! What part is he supposed to play? Ughhhhhh-

"This is stupid..." he mutters, flushed, stuck without a part to know what to play. A good thing father and son are being conspirators below.

.. Inigo is starting to feel like it was a good idea to pretend to be a corpse at this point, since he has absolutely no idea what Roland is talking about as the older guy hovers over him. Even with his eyes closed, Inigo can hear the words, but that doesn't mean that any of them make sense to him.

A rooting.. toothing.. gunslinger..? Other worlds are so weird.

But then there are two branching paths. He can hear Roland whisper those instructions to him - and at least those are clear, thank Naga! - but then it's quickly followed up by the sound of Tidus's mutter, quiet, but still audible to Inigo.

Usually he would have followed Roland's instructions a bit more directly, ever the obedient son when it comes down to it, but he cna't let that disheartening statement from Tidus just stand. He can't leave his friend out of this!

Except, of course, that Inigo decides to choose the absolute dumbest way to try and involve Tidus in this again.

"Ugh.. I-- I don't think I'll make it.. Maybe I might if I'm helped up by some amazing guy whose name starts with a T and ends in idus.."

He opens an eye. Just so he can wink at Roland. Dad, look, isn't he great and subtle with this whole roleplaying thing? He's even improvising now! He's got it nailed down to a T!

(Somehow they're the exact same brand of dork when it comes down to it, huh. Like adoptive genetics.)

Inigo...

He holds back his chuckle at the last second, making sure neither of them could see or sense the smile threatening to break loose. What in the world was this, now? This crazy little improvisation, this masterful tactic and shift of script? Roland loves it, deep down. The play-acting, the pretend that transports him into another kind of world; one of his choosing, this time. One he wants to be in, even if his experiences thus far have been rewarding in their own way.

It strikes even fonder still when they play along so well, despite the occasional lapses in character. Tidus, obviously no longer in the running to get with it, but look at how Inigo catches the fall. They could be in his theatre group back in high school at this level of dedication! So how could he possibly break himself? He needs only to see this, and to remember that both of them gave him a gift no one else would have thought to spend on him.

"W-What?!" He exclaims convincingly, dramatically. Taking a step back, eyes wide and his brows up high. "You're still breathin', and you've got reinforcements?" That's the cue. Roland looks at Tidus sitting pretty there and points at him as if he's the enemy of the century. Nudges a little at Inigo on the floor with a strategic yet gentle movement of his closest foot to shoulder, a sign to let him know it's working. It's working!

"You about to pull a trick, cowboy? You the one he's callin' amazing?"

It's now Tidus the one who drags in this play-acting indeed. What did Inigo think Tidus was going to do or say in being called out as amazing here, so sudden, so out of the blue? He's baffled, not shy, cheeks not warming to the compliment, but he is a fish out of water what how his mouth opens and closes, nothing but stutters coming out.

Inigo what are you doing to him!!

This is it, he's gone. No hootin' 'n' hollerin' voices or western movies in his brain, even as Roland goes on, keeps up the game. Tidus stares at him incredulously, the repeat of him being amazing just frazzling with his mind more. He's stuck, not knowing what to do, when he has no idea how to jump into any character, even half-heartedly. Not having it in him to just storm off or even to tell them to stop. But then what?! What?!

Clearly, the answer is to grab Inigo by the elbows.

And to start pulling.

"Inigo get up and shoot him dead already!!"

Has Tidus ever sound so desperately pleading about anything in his life???

Inigo can't tell everything that's going on here with his eyes practically closed here, but just hearing everything is enough for him. The way Roland rolls with it so easily (thanks, dad, he knew he could count on you!), the slight sign he gives Inigo. And then Tidus's voice-- the pleading that absolutely puts a smile on Inigo's face. Maybe that means he's falling out of his half-corpse role here, but he can't help it, something about Tidus's sudden panicked reaction is so funny.

At least he won't make the other guy have to plead forever. He takes just a moment, maybe two, to stay with his eyes closed, just enough to make Tidus sweat a little and wonder if Inigo really is going to open his eyes.. but then he does, letting himself be pulled up like that by Tidus.

He winks at him too once he's upright enough again. "Got it, partner!"

Putting his hands together to form a gun with his fingers, he points it at Roland. "You can't beat us so easily!" And with a movement of said hands, accompanied by a sound effect he's making with his mouth, he dramatically 'shoots' Roland.

There you go, Tidus.

Dramatics, indeed.

Roland, who is always so serious about things, decides that of all people on this train, these two can afford to see a side of him that's long been buried under a more official mantle. So he performs for them, one last time, before he goes back to pretending he can own a coffee shop and definitely not ~~gushing~~ fixating on the instruction booklet that reminds him of his youth. Something to look forward to after the mission, indeed.

First, he makes it convincing by acting slow. His eyes widening, his mouth open and his hand slowly coming over to his chest. Or wherever it is that Inigo seems to have 'shot' him at. He'll make a choking sound next, sputtering like he can't breathe, his knees giving out on him. Lastly, he'll lean on the nearest wall, feeling himself fall totally on the floor, the light at the end of the tunnel is there...! So close yet so far!

It's a good play-act, by all accounts, with the lack of blood the only thing breaking the illusion. But he seems like he's in actual pain, as his body hits the floor, upright and his head lolling to the side.

Did Inigo actually do something to him!? Stay tuned.

Or not really. Because after all this has been said and done, Roland mutters something, the words of a dying man! Reaches out for them, blinded by his coming doom...!

"Take care...of my MaDnuG..."

And he's gone. End scene. The crowd goes wild. Applause. Tears down women's faces as they fawn over the president retired and turned superstar. His mouth twitches. So silly. But he remembers the robot waiting for him and the two friends who got it for him trying to get him to smile more, so what other reaction would be appropriate but this?

Roland is a changed man, indeed.

...................

tidus is just going over to the end of the counter and turning his back on the pair of them. he gives up. he's out of this thread. he doesn't care anymore. he doesn't know either of them.

he's surrounded by dorks.

000 - voidtreckerexpress Universal Contact Post

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject