[open] i make a penny, the train makes a dime

[blitzcheer]

Who: Tidus & You! (Open!)
Where: Kitchen car, around, where pets can be petted (or bite him)
When: Grasshopper 16 onwards (can include a few days before)
What: Tidus has a 'bet' that's less of a bet now and more 'see what doing chores consistently does for your points', but also just generally around the train too!
Warnings: should be nothing!

1. aid // for purple team CR:

Tidus has an objective, first coming from a bet of 'who can get the most points!' to 'okay, but do you get anything out of doing chores than the sense of self-satisfaction of helping out the community (pffft, boriiing)'? That's what Tidus wants to do, and suuure, he really has no reason to think that chores gives you anything when he hasn't...been the best at them, but.

That's not stopping his little inner nag from wanting him to find out, and what better way to run experiments with a friendly face? Perhaps an unsuspecting one, when he comes to a Purple-clothed team and starts, with a bright and familiar face on him.

"Heyyy. You free?"

2. cleaning:

( a. kitchen ) Or maybe he's already recruited your character, they were already there to do chores, or they just happen to be in the kitchen at the time, which great! Tidus is easy with conversation, piping up with a "Hey!" to anyone that comes into the kitchen, and for those he's already with, ask, "You meet anyone interesting on the platform?", "You order anything in?", "So, what'd you think about that last mission?"

Despite this, he is trying to do as much he can think of to do: Put the plates and cutlery through the dishwashers, set them aside to be put away again; mopping the floor (and even saying to those he's partnered with beforehand, 'I'll do the floor', like it's his personal mission). And he's fine with clearing up some of the trays and bowls by hand in the sink, but he's...rather awkward about it. Minding how deep his left hand goes in, his SCA still strapped around his wrist, and doing what he can to make sure it doesn't hit the water. And maybe even looking around and seeing if there's anything he can put around it. Can he tuck kitchen roll around it...? ...he does try...

( b. bathrooms ) lol no he won't and YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM.

3. around

Otherwise, Tidus can be found around normally on the train. He's often trying out the sports in the gynasium, from badminton, tennis, to volleyball, and if your character happens to like to join there too, he won't be afraid to ask, "Hey, mind if I join in?"; he's on the lookout to see who's into sports, or who might be checking out the room with interest.

He also takes part in the training gym, whether in one of the group sessions or taking time in it setting up obstacles with the balancing beams, ropes, and so forth. The floor is lava and you need to run across the beams, jumping onto the climbing set and swing across the next lot! He's a monkey with too much energy. Or maybe your character is already up to something in there?

Tidus does know how to do chill however. Find him in the cinema car watching what's already playing or some dumb comedy, or even in the music car to see what tunes are available for his SCA. There's a also a chance of finding him on the upper quiet car floor, the doors closed and...he's sitting cross-legged on the floor between the couches, his eyes closed and head slightly hanging. What. Knock on the door, or leave him be?

Also, maybe he'll be checking out a random pet wandering around. Heyy there little guuuyy how friendly are you? Insert your pal [here].

( ooc: Tidus will easily approach others so if you want to set up a thread where he'd need to be the one to say hi, go for it! above is some areas where he'd be to do such or even for your character to do it first. o7 )

Comments

[aluciner]

Dreaming an entire city made of memories is a little like a forest, Ronan thinks, if you consider that a single person could carve out something like Cabeswater. What would happen with an entire city of Dreamers, all with the nearly limitless ability that dreaming provided? That's unthinkable for Ronan, who has only ever known a handful of Dreamers. When they're together, with a ley line, they can accomplish anything. He still remembers that: the rush of knowing that anything was within their grasp as he worked with Hennessy and Bryde.

"The things I bring back," Ronan says after a moment, hesitation running through the words, "keep me alive. If I don't dream, I'll get sick and die. There are people who think Dreamers need to die, though, and I -"

Chainsaw makes a mournful noise and Ronan's attention immediately refocuses on her. He quiets her, holding Chainsaw close to his chest the way he did when she was much younger and he was terrified of having brought a living thing into the world. There are so many living things that are his responsibility now. So many lives that depend on him and him alone. He can't let what happened to his mother happen to Matthew.

".... They go to sleep when I die," Ronan says finally, "and they won't wake up. I can't let that happen."

[blitzcheer]

It's a step that Tidus can't take back. A gate that he opened, leading down a path he knew would cross into becoming personal. Not just for him, but the both of them; similar, but different at the same time. Seeing in from a perspective he never really got to before; even if it's not the same craftsmen, not the same world or predicaments taking place. But he'd never have the chance for that now. He's not even sure if he felt this surreal emotion before, the times he got close.

Did humans get to experience this?

But the thought that strikes deeper than Tidus could have comprehended is when Ronan finishes speaking, Chainsaw to his chest as a creature comfort, the finality of his--not creations, his lives. They go to sleep. They won't wake up.

He's never had to guard himself from a discussion quite like this, and it leaves him speechless. Knowing, for all that Ronan's said, that he still doesn't know anything, and yet-

"...They disappear, when the Fayth stop dreaming," he says once he finds the words. "When they go too. Their dreams." Not looking at Ronan, a tension heavy in his brow. Gaze down on his folded legs, but somewhere else entirely; the note of his voice dropped to. "Their city...it had to disappear. But I know...they really appreciated being alive. Everyone in it."

And it stings, it hurts, in a way he's refused himself to think about: the lives in Zanarkand. They were a dream, but--they were all alive. All of them. They lived, they dreamed, they had hopes. They didn't know what was going on, they...

"If anyone knows you or bother you--" Tidus interrupts that descending spiral, voice steeled and forcing himself to look at Ronan, "let me--let someone know, okay? Light, the woman you spoke to about your powers, or a guy--Roland Crane. You don't have to tell them everything, but--No one's doing anything to you here."

Not for that. He might not know the full story, but he doesn't care, even as his gaze on Ronan may falter and he takes it away before long.

[aluciner]

Intellectually, Ronan is aware that sometimes people from the same world show up. It's been a few platform stops now, though, and nobody he knows has arrived. He doesn't know whether that's a good thing or a bad thing, because the parts of him that love his friends don't want them here. The rest of him, the parts of himself that dream things to fill the gaps, desperately want something familiar. Something safe.

"Semper tutum est Greywaren," Ronan says instead, almost to himself. Cabeswater meant it differently, when it expressed the same sentiment. Then, it was a reassurance: the Greywaren is always safe. Now, it's a prayer. "Sorry. Yeah, I'll - I'll do that."

"Kerah?" Slowly, Ronan releases his hold on Chainsaw. She makes a slightly disgruntled noise but stays in Ronan's arms all the same. "Kerah, snack."

"Later." Ronan shifts Chainsaw in his arms, putting her back on his shoulder. "We can't all be you and eat whenever we want because people think we're cute when we beg for snacks."

[blitzcheer]

There's a shift, a puzzlement at what Ronan first says, not understanding. But then he moves on, and Tidus accepts it; realising quick that he wouldn't mind moving on, this growth of emotion in his gut he now doesn't know what to do with uncomfortable.

Realised as he watches the pair, the smile on his face small and stiff.

"How about," Tidus starts, a flicker to the clock but then down at his hands he moves in a needless gesture as he speaks, "me or Light tells you the kind of things that'd be useful, and if you get an idea that'd work with your dre--powers," he quickly corrects, a sheepish face lifted to Ronan before he continues, "you can give it a go? The lunchboxes, or--a way of giving us some extra bandages, first aid. Just small things. Light'd be good to talk to; she's more, uh...experienced than me on missions."

There's a pause, and he adds, pointing a finger to the floor, "But if you make anything on a mission and need someone to watch your back, I can."