adregem | 000 - voidtreckerexpress Universal Contact Post

[ Whoops, color Roland a tinge embarrassed. He clears his throat and retracts his utensil back to his plate, slathering on more honey. ]

Ah, no. That's not what I meant. I was asking you if it actually tasted delicious, the combination you picked on your plate. Not that I'm - [ Judging??? Please, he totally was. But his weakness to this green abomination aside, he'll take a bite of his toast to hide behind, can't talk if you're chewing you know. ]

[ He swallows not before long. ]

My apologies. You can enjoy avocados however you want.

[ His formality is a mask for his slipping distaste and it shows, you mister president you. Also, he's running out of toast so he's gonna have to get more or pick at this like a peckish bird. ]

No no no no. [ Please, Mister President, let's not hide behind formalities now. Tidus brings an elbow onto the table, leanings his jaw onto the fist now balled there to take it. Look at this very innocently interested face, the small curl of a smile. ]

It's fine. Why don't you tell me how you can't imagine anyone eating a mouthful of this and not choking on it? [ HEHEH. ] What's the part that makes you wanna gag? The taste? The texture?

[ He's using his singular free hand to pick up the toast through all this, giving up the pretence that are utensils. It looks like everything might fall off if he isn't careful, but he's getting it close to his mouth so far. ]

All the above?

[ Annnnd chomp. ]

[ UGH he's making a show of it, and Roland's stoicism fails utterly, like a slowly melting candlestick in the heat of a strong fire the closer the toast gets to Tidus's lips. Dear Lofty above, look at that green thing sitting on bread, as if it belongs there!!! If the utter disgust in Roland's face isn't going to convince Tidus that he's hit a gold mine here, it's what he accidentally says next that does him in. ]

How about we start with how it smells--

[ He realizes it too late, eyes widening before Roland shakes his head while turning away, back to the safety of his almost empty plate. Maybe he could do with some eggs...but how can he when he knows that the guy next to him is eating plain scrambled eggs with AVOCADOS.

And speaking of it, like some triggered thing despite how stiff he looks and sounds at this point in time. Were they talking about sparring? He'll get to it in a bit. This is so much more important because they're going to have to live with this horror show for a month. ]

Are you aware that back in my world, some snooty cafes down the street by my office actually sell avocado toasts? [ He emphasizes this by pointing his finger down on the table, fingertip pressed hard on the surface. ] Some of it with salmon? Fish? And avocado? [ Point. Point. ] And they're overpriced? Imagine paying...paying...[ How does he express himself in a conversation rate of Aremican dollars to Train points...? ] Paying 45 points for one piece of avocado toast!

[ This would be a good time to throw up your hands in exasperation, but he won't because he's still got a grasp of himself! Maybe! Instead he crosses his arms, letting the honey sink into the bread, softening it too much. ] What a highway robbery.

[ Excuse you. He's got some pepper on those eggs too, alright. Don't diss his eggs!!

But wow, listen to Roland go. And he can almost imagine it, the picture that Roland paints. Forgets that Roland is supposed to be some type of leader and more of a man in a business suit going to work in some high towering building in the sections of town that he rarely had to go in.

Except it didn't really matter where it was, and what it was joined to. Where the roads led and the express travel routes. ]

So your office was in a popular part of town. That's just a breakfast menu, isn't it? [ Avocado and fish... what did that taste like? Hmm. Tidus wonders. ] What's the big deal with avocado? It tastes like a food I know, [ which he clarifies which a small glance to the food, ] but I don't know what crime it committed back home.

Are they rare or somethin'?

[ Why else would it be so high-priced? They didn't look bigger than the lemons. ]

[ He finally has enough energy to bite into more toast, though its cloying sweetness now makes him down all of his coffee in one go. ]

No, they're fairly common in the east coast. Even moreso in the west, with all the beaches. [ Roland's finally done with his avocado war flashbacks, craning his head in conversation. What kind of world was Tidus's home like if he could hop on this train of thought so easily, without the gaps of knowledge, somehow knowing quite enough for it to be familiar? He wonders... ]

But it's a fad. That's why its expensive. Gah. Just eat regular toast, I say. Or bagels. [ Boy if there ever was a time to sound like a grumpy adult, now would be it. He digresses! ]

Maybe one month of this stuff will solve my problem with it? Heh. Only the void can tell. [ Is that a sigh? No, definitely not. He's just realistic, that's all! And won't complain about food when they're being rationed and supplied with it for free. Nope. ]

[ Talk more about coasts like Tidus gets it. Is that the same city? The west and east coasts? That's what it sounds like to Tidus anyway, alright. ]

You sound just like the old moms 'round the ports who complain 'bout the things the kids are into these back in Zanarkand. [ Which he says with absolutely affectionate, a grin on his face even as he bites into his toast mess. Chewing, swallowing just before he speaks. ]

It's charming. No, really! You got anything else you've been holding back in there? Oh, how about the way people dress?

[ Please, carry on. Tidus will continue to eat away here, waiting like Roland's nitpicking is solid morning entertainment. ]

Old...moms? All right, I'll take it. Glad to know us old folk are complaining about the youth, universally. Heh.

[ That's certainly new. But it's a vivid picture he paints for Roland regardless. Besides, being called a mom is a compliment even when it's not! He chuckles under his breath, pushing the toast around with his fork for now, waiting for another chance to bite into its final vestiges.

And he just had to talk shop about dress. Roland clings on to such a thing far easier than most people might assume of him, of the way he carries himself and how he treats things. Though of course the undertone of jest is evident too. ]

Didn't you come here to invite me to spar? Not how I think we need a better stylist for uniforms? [ His hands fly to his own clothes, the purple of his top, though thick in material. ] We can't all pull off casual college hoodies anymore, y'know. It's unprofessional too! We need to keep mission uniforms in our wardrobes!

[ Someone's been wanting a full seasonal attire, it seems. Take that vanity for what it is, Tidus. ]

Why don't you be the one to complain to the train about it, huh? Get us some proper uniforms. Aren't you still keep up your exchange between you and the feedback post?

[ Heh. It's been forever since he's been able to make reference to that. And he was about to go back to this whole sparring point, which he hasn't forgot, except- ]

Hey, what if the train talked to everyone because you asked it to? Didn't you do that a few times?

[ Ask for it to communicate? Not that Tidus remembers most of what he's spoken to the train about, let alone other people... ]

[ His toast is halfway towards the bite when Roland pauses. The said food item is then, set back down on his plate. What a way to engage his thought process so immediately! ]

Hm. I haven't been doing it recently, actually. But I...doubt such an effort led to the train finally allowing us some questions.

[ Which is to say, who knows who else left comments on the terminal after his disappeared into the wind? But then something else occurs to him, something that draws a look of mild irritation on a face that begets none of the stress that should come with a twenty-year-old shell of a body. Roland comes in for the kill, eating his toast in one bite, swallowing just as fast while his hands dust off crumbs in claps. ]

Besides. If the train really was listening to me, then it'd reveal the metrics of its points system. Did you hear what it said about how we got points? Utterly useless. Of course you award people points for working for you, but to what extent will we receive a particular amount for the work done?

[ He tries for more coffee, but sees he's already emptied his mug...so he just shakes his head. ]

Maybe I will let this train hear it from me. Give it another piece of my mind. [ HMPH!!! Hoodies for work, please!!! ]

[ Whoa, look at Roland go! Tidus wasn't expecting to excite that kind of ire in the man with such a simple question. Maybe a little grumbling, but Roland looked - or sounded - ready to write a strongly-worded letter to the train's boss.

It's mildly impressive, but also a little funny too. The question session had been neither of those things, but this might be the first time he's been able to think about it less... annoyed. ]

I wonder if anyone asked it for another session? [ Would anyone want another session? Well... ] We didn't get a lot of time to think about our questions or know what everyone was saying. You hear about Nita's thing too?

[ There was quite a few things there to catch up on. Though, hopefully better heads than his were thinking about everything.

Oh man, what did he even know about what people asked, now that he's thinking about it? ]

That's true. We rarely get any warning for things happening on the train, really. It sure keeps us on our toes, but...I can't say I care much for it.

[ Since there's nothing else to nibble on his plate...he does the cheeky thing and casually pokes his fork at a tomato on Tidus's own idle pile and eats it promptly. This he does so smoothly, it might barely register that he's now eating off of someone else's plate. Nevermind that he made sure to take the tomato that's farthest away from the avocados as possible. ]

Remind me about it. I was a little preoccupied during the Q&A.

[ Sssh, he was actually trying to drown things out with a movie but that's not for Roland to disclose. ]

[ Compare, the two things they have on their plates: Roland's mostly visibly empty, and Tidus's with the scraps of pepper, egg, and avocado. But also, Tidus has been forgoing his wonderful chopping technique of a fork to just using his hand to hold up the toasted bread, which obscures some of the view below, that -

not only does it blind Tidus from really seeing what's being popped into Roland's mouth until it's there, but also - Would Roland seriously nick food off his plate?

No, of course not. He never would, or so Tidus assumes, so for the second his brow dips and thinks about that flash of red he saw... ]

She wanted to try making a better line to talking to the train. [ Tidus explains, instead of realising the crime that's been committed. ] Kind of like strengthening a signal? Since the train doesn't have a lot of power, apparently. Don't know how it went though - been meaning to ask her, but I figured she'd say something today about it.

[ Live with the shame, Roland. Nicking food from a guy's plate! ]

[ Live with the shame??? What shame??? Watch - or not - as he casually goes in for the second kill, his fork piercing through another wayside tomato...! Will Roland get caught this time around, no matter how nonchalant he is about stealing from Tidus's plate?! Stay tuned for the next episode - ]

Hm. I guess the train's no powerhouse if it's kidnapping 'heroes' [ Forgive the slight disdain that colors his voice. ] and using them as battery packs without their permission. But if she wants to talk to this...thing, or its conductor, then by all means. I'm not feeling too optimistic, though.

[ He leans on his elbows, looking ahead, straight-faced. ] If the train wanted to talk to us, it would do so when it felt the need. That much was obvious.

[ Though he is curious about what Nita would ask. And if she might allow others to speak too, if it ever succeeded. Alas. ]

--Hey!

[ SCREW THE REST OF THE TAG, YOU BET ROLAND'S ASS IS GETTING CAUGHT. Tidus's toast coming down and a swift glance taken between their two plates - the one without a speck of red, the one losing all of its! Except there's bits of egg rolling off from his toast with its abrupt drop. ]

Who nicks another guy's food?! Aren't you sixty? Act like it!

[ What he means is, act like the fancy schmancy politician you are, you dweeb! ]

[ SCREW TAG ORDER TOO, look at him staring at Tidus with a lift in his brow, though his face remains as neutral as ever. The fork remains in mid-air for a second, before the poor remains of the tomatoes he tried to eat are licked clean off of the utensil. ]

[ Blink blink blink!!!! ]

You don't wanna share?

[ You think being called the wrong age is gonna poke at him? Wrong again, he's so used to it that that's not even the issue anymore! ]

Get your own! [ Pah! ] At least ask. And after you complained about my food!

[ Tidus is complaining a lot, but for those complaints, his toast is settled down and - with fork and knife used and in their proper place - cuts a dent into it, slides it over on his plate Roland's way. ]

There's the green stuff under the eggs. [ The dreaded avocado. Anyway. ]

I think what Nita's thinking, is it takes power for the train to talk? We didn't get a carriage or voting for it. [ Actually, they got a holiday instead... for a day. ] Taiki was saying the other day too how we get all our stuff on a platform stop. Maybe it charges up on platform days and that's why it can get all the new stuff in.

[ Or something. Was that what he was talking about? Roland's really distracted him by being a thief!! ]

Hey. [ Watch what he takes offense to, or mockingly does, the face he makes too familiar at this point. ] I didn't complain! I swear. I just wanted to ask if it was a combination that worked with avocados!

[ But apart from that, let him just slide his fork subtly closer to the offering, cutting into it and trying out the 'green stuff' and the eggs with a small bite, dainty for someone so stiff. There's another face to made but it's what he says that counts, really. ] Sorry. Can I have a tomato?

[ Asking!!! ]

Hm. That's an interesting conjecture, actually. That might be the reason why we're always returned to our beds every time we fall asleep in a place that isn't where we're assigned. It could be another way to keep its energy reserved.

[ They're really starting to sound like battery packs over here...Which is a thought Roland doesn't want to totally entertain or be convinced of. ]

Then again, I don't think it's a common occurrence for any void craft to speak at all. We just don't know how special the Voidtrecker Express is, compared to void crafts created elsewhere.

[ Unless the good Captain's Voidflash had a talkie box that liked to ask them what carriage she wanted next, and she just forgot to mention. But he highly doubts it.

Did Roland get his tomato slice from Tidus, the food master? He hopes so, because he'd rather nibble on that, the eggs, and the toast, carefully leaving green behind on his plate...Sssssh. ]

[ Tidus is close to rolling his eyes, but he doesn't quite make it as he sighs, knocks off the slice of tomato from his toast left. ]

There you go, since you asked.

[ It would sound more mocking if Tidus didn't sound whiny about it still. Now take the tomatoes and let him eat in peace! ]

Speaking just means it's some kind of program, don't it? Like a... you know, like Webmind was. But not as cool or with all the stuff he knows. A really basic Webmind. [ He's picked up his toast again, getting ready to take a bite. ]

You got those AI thingies that ask you what you want and help you through questions and orders in shops where you're from? Like that.

[ Annnd chomp. ]

Hey, thanks.

[ He sounds way too cheerful for someone who just got scolded (?) for stealing food, not even minding the edge of sarcasm that comes through late. The food is deposited into his mouth quickly, chewing done promptly so he can speak again. ]

Yeah, AI's a big thing back home. They even had names to them, like they were actual people. The one on my phone's called Miri. [ Gotta avoid those law suits, ya know! Off-brand baybee. Roland wipes the corner of his mouth while shaking his head. ] But the train...doesn't quite sound like that either. I don't know how to explain it. It's more...hm. It has a sense of personality but it has no way of expressing it. It can only function as a void craft. Does that make sense?

[ If only he's more eloquent about the technicalities of his conjectures. But he'll field the question to Tidus anyway, glancing to the side with an empty plate. He ate way too fast, but thankfully, he's not one to eat until he's to the bursting so he stops begging for Tidus's scraps. For now! ]

I don't know, [ Tidus says warily, but mostly stumped. Sucking off from his thumb a piece of sauce that caught it. ] Now you're getting too technological for me. I never played any attention.

[ It was there, it functioned, and that was Tidus's relationship with that level of technology. There's bits and pieces left on his plate, but he otherwise takes a hold of his tray with a 'I'm done!' and stands up. ]

You want anything else out of the kitchen?

[ A small pause from the subject of their conversation, but it can easily be picked back up. ]

No. That's it for me. We shouldn't be too full anyway, if we're training.

[ But he follows suit and takes his own plate and mug. Purple's chores aside, it seems Roland's taken to cleaning up as he goes no matter what the train assigns. So his direction is straight to the sinks; a familiar sight to both of them. ]

I can wash these while you warm up first, if you want. I don't mind. [ A small smile as he reaches for his plate. ] Let's call it even for stealing from your breakfast. Heh.

Do you like washing up that much?

[ Really, Tidus was about to stick his plate with the stack that's been left for cleaning up later, along with the utensils and trays. But the fact Roland seems keen to take his plate for him stops that, but not the raised brow Tidus gives him. ]

Leave it to the team with the chore! ... ...

...

... That isn't us, is it?

[ The plate is in limbo, but he retracts his hand and rests it against the side of his hip. Regardless of the hesitation from Tidus, Roland is all smiles anyway. ]

Nope. It's not us. Kitchen duties are on Blue this month. But - [ He reaches for the plate again, palms up. ] It's still good practice to clean as you go, regardless of whose job it is. I'm sure they won't miss two dirty plates in their audit, heh.

[ Siiiiigh, handing it over! And he does sigh too. ]

You're way too serious. Doesn't it make sense to leave it to the people cleaning the other plates? They'll get them done all at once.

Well, it's your life.

[ Which is to say, he thinks it's fussy, but he isn't arguing that hard about it. Roland going to Roland, and all. He's only a rebel if it's going against him! ]

Me? Serious? Wow. Haven't heard that in a while.

[ The wryness of his statement is colored by amusement. The plates are gathered in one sturdy grip and gently set aside on the sink, the sound of running water already following. He's efficient despite it all, okay! Already getting to work, suds in his hands, scrubbing on the way. Eggs on plates, honestly! ]

I just want to make things a little easier for whoever's in charge today. Heh. Two dishes off their...plate. If you would. [ Relax Roland, Tidus might bust a gut from laughter. ] Besides, I'm almost done. See?

[ One plate done, second plate to go. Thanks for attending Roland's TED talk on shared responsibility! ]

000 - voidtreckerexpress Universal Contact Post

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