OTA Purple Team Meeting!

[blitzcheer]

Who: Anyone interested in Purple Team, being nosy, whatevs.
Where: Sports gymnasium
When: 2 Llama
What: So you’re in Purple Team. What now?
Warnings: TBA.

[ An ICP call is made out towards the end of breakfast, announcing that the meeting will be in half an hour for Purple Team, and they should use the SCA’s countdown timer to know what that is; this’ll be a particularly good meeting for any newbies. Half of the sports gymnasium has been reserved for this simple gathering, a collection of the double-chairs from the music carriage unbolted and borrowed, and a few people already stand waiting for the meeting to begin.

A table has been set out with some cups and a jug of water, and some sheets of the Purple census. Also, let's be real: someone brought snacks. Kitty is sitting on the table near the front of the room, her feet swinging lightly. Once things quiet down a bit, she hops off the table and faces out to address everyone with a friendly smile. ]

Hey, guys! My name’s Kitty. Welcome to the meeting for Purple Team. For those of you who are new, I know things might be a little confusing or overwhelming right now, but that’s what we’re here for! This meeting is just to give everyone a bit of information based on what we’ve learned from our time here on the train, and if you have any questions about anything, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone. I can’t promise we can give you answers for everything, but we’ll do what we can to help out.

And if you have something you’d like to share, feel free to speak up! These meetings also let us exchange information, so if there’s something you think should be discussed that we haven’t talked about, definitely let us know.

[ Roland stands in quiet contemplation beside Kitty for the most part, laying low and keeping his head tilted down as he reads something from his notebook settled on the table. The only time he brings attention to himself is when he feels the slight dip and pause in the flow of conversation after she speaks. A gentle pivot from one heel leads him to face the gathering crowd with practiced ease, arms crossed over his chest, and a determined expression he seems to wear rather well. ]

On that note, please do consider attending our Purple debriefings before we’re deployed off the train. This is where we assess the information sent over our SCA’s, figuring out who’s better off helping another team, and who will be staying with our group. Any showcase of powers that might be relevant to the task at hand will also be welcome information, so we can support you come game time. [ A beat. Then, a hand gesture. ] That is, if you’re comfortable enough to share it.

[ He glances briefly behind him. ]

Before I forget, there are a couple of things left to discuss...ah, but what am I saying? [ Roland’s lips crack a small, controlled smile, though not lacking in genuine mirth. ] We’ve got plenty of liaisons ready to assist you for any and all questions you might have. [ His memory is stoked, and before retreating behind the table again, he says one last thing in no particular rush. ] For those I have yet to make acquaintances with, my name is Roland Crane. Rest assured that I’ll be doing my utmost to assist this team to the best of my abilities.

[ He shows his back and nods confidently at the said point persons and Kitty herself before he takes his small gathering of notes in his arms. ]

Floor’s still yours, Kitty. Everyone. Please, mingle away.

( ooc: Welcome to the Purple Meeting! Kitty will speak about missions, Roland about Purple roles, Cassie about inventory and team supplies, and Tidus and Inigo about available equipment and training. Soldat will be mentioned as helping with food prep, along with Mami, and anyone willing to help them are asked to approach them one on one.

New or old, if your character wants to speak about anything, give their own advice, ask questions, do so! People will be encouraged to share their skills, and also to offer any training - combat or otherwise - they're willing to teach. )

Comments

[adregem]

Hm. That's right.

[ What a face to be greeted by, especially from someone Roland's never met before. But he isn't unkind about it, in fact matching the man's expression with a slightly stern and concerned one of his own. ]

I'm sorry to say, but there's no possible way to correct or hide given names on the train's automated roster. You could petition to have that feature fixed on the Feedback post, but...[ He shakes his head once. ] That's a fifty-fifty chance too. The train doesn't always listen.

[ A beat passes. ] Hey. Redact it on the form. Just write what you'd want us to call you by. This is something we can control, at the very least.

[ And more than anyone, Roland appreciates privacy. ]

[katzenpfote]

[He nods and quickly scratches out what looks like a significantly longer name, drawing a rectangle around it and coloring it in thoroughly. He hands the paper back to Roland.]

... It's... it's complicated. Just... just Caleb Widogast is fine.

[He hands the paper back to Roland, taking a deep breath to try to calm down.]

[adregem]

[ He waits patiently for Caleb to hand him the piece of paper before glancing quickly at the match of his preferred name to the way he stutters it out, shaking from the inside like a leaf in a storm. Roland nods once and tucks away the form before he addresses the elephant in the room.

Thankfully, he's not the type of react to panic with branded panic of his own. Both hands come up as if in gentle surrender, palms facing him. Such a youthful face is betrayed by the level in his voice. Like he's done this before. ]

Hey now. It's okay. You don't have to explain a thing. We've all got our stories, and sometimes they're not always the type to be shared around a campfire. [ His lip quirks into a small smile, comforting despite its humbleness. ] It's nice to meet you, Caleb. Thanks for answering this anyway. You wanna take a minute to breathe? I can count you off.

[katzenpfote]

I'm... I'm fine.

[It's just distressing, having his old name out there for everyone to see. It's not a past he runs away from with the Nein anymore - he's told them all what he did. They know that 'Caleb' was just an alias... but people have given it meaning. But people here don't know him, and they don't know what he did, and he can't shake the worry that someone who used to know him might find him.]

I am at a disadvantage here without my spell components. I have some... training, but I am not a strong physical fighter. I know how to use a dagger, but I do not have the muscles or speed to make it all that effective.

[adregem]

...All right.

[ He noted that down on his census, Roland's certain, but it helps that he's also one to remember things well. This reaction is completely warranted for whatever reason Caleb has, shared or not. ]

Are your spell components something we might be able to order in the shop? [ Pardon his ignorance at least; Roland's not very well-versed in things like this. He'll always do his best to provide, though. ] We've got plenty of strong fighters here. I'm not so bad at defense myself. You're not alone if you need the firepower to cover you. I promise.

[ Roland isn't quite so good at the warm and comforting bit but whatever determination he has to help others more than makes up for it. So using the magic of his hammerspace, a golden band wrapped around his bicep that shimmers with light, a water bottle half-full appears out of thin air in his right hand. He offers it to Caleb without another word. ]

[katzenpfote]

They may be, though there are some that are more rare than others. Clay is easier to come by than a lodestone or amber. If I can order my component pouch I will be all right for the most part. ... I will need to order extra incense and charcoal and herbs to summon my familiar again, however.

[He needs his cat, okay? He blinks in surprise at the shimmering band and takes the water bottle. It's mostly forgotten in the fascination of something new, though.]

Is that similar to a bag of holding? How did you retrieve it without physically touching it? Are those common in your world?

[adregem]

[ He's not sure about the lodestone, but clay and amber come familiar enough. Same goes for Caleb's other grocery list items, and Roland's had more insane things come through the shop so he's confident they can get those with enough points. If he has enough to spare for Caleb, chances are he'll get it without question and just let him know they've been bought.

Roland nods when the Arms Band is put into question. ]

That's right. They're common enough that nobody blinks at the sight or mention of them, back at the kingdom. I've been told numerous times that it's precious equipment, though.

[ He tilts his chin up, before the decision is made. The band wrapped around his bicep conforms to the shape of the rest of his limb as Roland gently slides it down. It becomes a wristband, a bracelet, then it shrinks to the size of a ring when the Arms Band rests on top of his palm.

He offers it to him. ]

Why don't we demonstrate? Easier than explaining. Give it a shot. Wear it anywhere you like. I'll tell you the rest when you're ready.

[katzenpfote]

[His eyes light up as he gently takes the ring, thinking about it. Well, if something goes wrong, fingers are easier to deal with missing than a whole hand or arm. He doesn't think something will go wrong, but the possibility is still accounted for as he slips the ring onto one finger.]

Do I have to attune to it? Or is it something one can use right away?

[adregem]

Give it a second.

[ The Arms Band is typically personal, but attuning to it is not exclusive to its first user. Caleb will feel a gentle warmth surge throughout his body, starting from the focal point where he wears the ring. It is not unpleasant by any means, and would remind him of sitting by a hearth in the wintertime. ]

Right. We should be good to go. [ Roland of course, doesn't see or feel this process occur, but he reads Caleb's expression well. Estimating the attunement had already finished, he steps forward to cross some distance, making it easier to demonstrate what he means. ]

So, I've got a simple slice of bread in there. Same one you probably saw in the dining car, set out for breakfast. Imagine it clearly in your head. Then when you're ready, imagine taking that slice out of a nice, safe place only you can reach. It can be anything. A hole in the wall, a house you live in.

[ Roland extends an open hand, fingers curled against his palm. He opens it slowly, unfurls them until Caleb can see the lines and callouses on his hand. ] Then, do this.

[ If it's successful, a burst of gold glimmer will signal the magical reappearance of bread where once there was nothing but space. And so Roland watches with arms folded against his chest. ]

[katzenpfote]

[The warmth is a little distressing when he's not prepared for it, but he's familiar enough with magical effects to suspect that it's not sinister at least and settles down quickly.]

[But what he's describing is similar enough to a bag of holding that he can figure out the general process. A safe place... well, the safest place for them right now is his tower, so he imagines one of his spectral fey cats giving it to him. The burst of gold is new - it feels like an effect that Jester would put on her haversack if she could, though the sparkles would definitely be pink and dick-shaped - and examines the bread in his hand.]

So it's spitting it out rather than you simply reaching in and knowing what you're looking for. The general concepts seems similar, though. I've never made one, myself... though I'm no artificer. ... In any case, ah. Here.

[He pulls the ring off of his finger and holds it out to Roland again.]

... Did you want your bread back?

[He'll definitely eat it if Roland doesn't, if only to test to see if it tastes any different.]

[adregem]

I guess that's one way looking at it.

[ Short of saying, Roland doesn't really know anything about the details of making and maintaining Arms Bands...just that he knows how to use it when it comes down the wire. ]

That's why it's important that you have a complete audit of what you put inside. If you don't know or if you forget what's in your Arms Band, you usually won't be able to pull it out until you can get a clear picture in your head again. It's the same principle when you put things in. Like storing something special in a place only you can find, and you're the only person who knows what it is.

[ He watches him hold the slice of bread with a smile, anticipating the need for proof. But with this, Roland remains confident. ] Nope. Go ahead. Take a bite.

[ The bread will be just as fresh as it was when it was straight out of the oven. ]

[katzenpfote]

[He shrugs and takes a bite of the bread. ... That's good. Different from the bread he's used to, but still good. He swallows before speaking again.]

Well, I have a good memory. I tend to remember what's in our bag at home. ... Except when the others put things in it that I do not know about, which tends to happen a lot when we end up in a new town.

[adregem]

[ Out of his pocket comes a small notebook, well-worn and used. He looks pleased as he waves it twice for Caleb. ] Auditing helps. But then again, my memory isn't as good as yours. Heh.

[ Anyway. He returns the book to his pocket. ] What's your magic bag called again? Maybe that's something we can use to store extra supplies. Label each bag to know what's in it, who was the last to handle it.

[ Storage in an increasingly cramped train was extra important after all! But then he catches himself mid-sentence, and retracts with some hint of apology. ] Ah. Well, we can talk about that later. Sorry. You must be tired of all the questions about your world. This get-together is about fun things too. Making friends and whatnot.

[ ""fun things"" he says!! ]

[katzenpfote]

A Bag of Holding. Jester also has an item called a Fantastic Haversack. Smaller main space than the former, but it's got pockets that also hold a good deal.

... She had hers dyed pink.

[It's a very Jester item. But he shakes his head.]

It's all right. I do not mind... educating other people.