3 (video)

[oncearanger]

[The displayed name reads 'Billy Cranston', but the face isn't his. Billy's trying to act as Lady Celebrían would, he really is! He sits up straight, his long hair awkwardly twisted into a loose and messy braid. He hopes that doesn't harm her hair. And he's especially grateful that the lady isn't the makeup type---he'd messed that up for one friend already. But his arms are crossed and there's an odd expression of disappointment on his face. Still, he waves, one hand making a graceful arc in the air.]

By my calculations, we've almost reached the estimated time that the personality displacement will be reversed. And...you know, it's funny. This isn't the first time I've been through this.

I asked one of my best friends to help me test a new invention that was supposed to allow thought-sharing once, but a missing wire resulted in this same effect. We were only switched for one day, and of course we wouldn't deliberately sabotage each other, but even then we made so many mistakes and tarnished each other's reputations so severely that we ended up nearly destroying our friendship. That was painful enough! I can't believe how many would do that intentionally.

Anyway, I've been doing my best to recreate my old device as a backup should the Initiative's efforts fail. If anyone has experience with something similar, can you help? I'll be in my garage on the west side.

Comments

[oncearanger]

I'm from Earth's 1996, so that's probably a yes.

((ooc: do you want to log anything or handwave?))

[gingerscoops]

Ah yes, that's definitely the future relative to my own. How fascinating.

((Sure! I'm really all right with anything, so if you'd like to log it out or just want to swap to action here I'm cool with either. c: ))

[oncearanger]

Well I'll be at the shop when you're ready! I'm sending you some directions now.

[And he is. Billy is waiting with a smile on his face. He's finally found pants that fit, tied his hair back in a bun, and donned an apron. His clothes are a little big, but they're all tied back for this kind of work. He greets Tintin at the door.]

You're Tintin, right?

[gingerscoops]

[Tintin may not be a scientist, but he can follow a set of coordinates on a map like no one's business so an hour from the time of his original message, he and Snowy find themselves at the garage.

Tintin offers his hand out as soon as he's within arm's length of, er, Billy. This body changing thing is awfully disorienting.]

That's right, and this is Snowy. I hope you don't mind that I brought him along; he won't get in the way.

[Probably.]

[rivendellranger]

[Billy shook Tintin's hand, then slipped on his gloves as he smiled at the dog.]

Hey Snowy! Don't worry, I think I can trust you to keep him under control. I don't think there's much that would be terribly enticing to a dog here. Just the wires, and we'll be handling those.

[He shows Tintin a cardboard-like wall with two cut-out slots tat were vaguely human sized. Each has a helmet attached that can be raised or lowered, and various wires run between the two. There's a switch in between the hand slots.]

Well, this is it. It's mostly just wiring it now.

[gingerscoops]

[Someone is clearly underestimating Snowy's proclivities for sticking his nose in things that he shouldn't be poking about in, but Tintin's confident that so long as there are no cats or sandwiches to be had in the workshop, that Snowy'll mind his own business.

The two of them follow Billy into the workshop, Tintin shrugging out of his great overcoat as he goes and folding it over his arm. The sleeves are too long and bulky and would only get in the way of this sort of manual work.]

My, would you look at that! Well point me in the right direction, doctor.

[rivendellranger]

Sure! Just this way.

[He crouches to the bottom of the structure, gesturing at the trails of wires on the ground.]

These need to be crossed into the right positions. Let's start with feeding the green one through.

[He points to the right holes, then picks up one end.]

[gingerscoops]

[Tintin follows along in Billy's wake, crouching down beside her-- uh, him-- so he can get a good look at the wiring. There's rather a lot of them, isn't there?]

The green one? All right. [He's careful enough as he picks up the other end and starts to work it through the indicated hole.] Did it take you very long to get the materials together to remake your old machine here? It doesn't seem like Exsilium's very rich with resources.

[rivendellranger]

[Billy ties a few complicated knots and moves on to a red one, moving over to show Tintin how to do it.]

It's taken most of the week. I've had to disassemble a lot of old devices in the junkyard and find compatible wire to extend. I stocked up on what I could while we were in the past, but I'm just one person---I can't carry as much as I'd like.

[gingerscoops]

Ah, so you can even bring anything back with you when you go on a mission? Not just what the Initiative sends you for? [Fascinating; all this seemed to fly in the face of what very little he knew (or could reason) about time travel.

Tintin follows instruction rather well, helping feed the red wire through too.]

[rivendellranger]

As long as it's not a living thing. We can bring cloth and tools and electronics without a problem, but we can't take plants or animals.

[This is going well! Now he just needs to screw in a few holes and starts on that.]

[gingerscoops]

I wonder why... I mean, the transporter was perfectly capable of bringing us here; seems a bit odd it wouldn't be able to do the same on missions. Has anyone tried to bring a living thing and it really didn't work, or is it just a rule?

[Tintin watches carefully, ready to jump in with a helping hand should it be needed.]

[rivendellranger]

We're not allowed---and we can't take important historical artifacts unless ordered to. We can't change time in ways the Initiative doesn't expect, and those things are too risky.

[He keeps adjusting screws, humming to himself.]/small>

[gingerscoops]

Hmm. I imagine it might have something to do with throwing off here. There's laws about importing fruit and animals so maybe it's like that...

[Not that there seems to be much of a natural balance to throw off here, but he never really saw much harm in a transporting a papaya across borders either so what does he know?]

[rivendellranger]

I wish we could bring those things back, especially now. Elves really love nature, and I'm feeling the pull now too.

[gingerscoops]

Huh. [He rocks back slightly on his heels. Sure, the ears are hard to miss but honestly Tintin's used to seeing things he doesn't quite understand and assuming that they're, well, to some extent natural. This place is making that tendency a bit shorter lived though.]

So it's a biological thing for them then. --You know it's a shame there don't seem to be any notable historians here. I imagine they'd have a field day categorizing everything and everyone here.

[rivendellranger]

There are people trying to record history. It's just a matter of getting the others to cooperate.

[gingerscoops]

[Tintin breathes out a low, heavy sigh. While he hasn't been in Exsilium very long--] I can certainly see how that might make for a bit of a problem here.

[rivendellranger]

[Billy just nods.]

There's a lot of interest in hoarding information, or misdirection. Or maybe worse. It's like herding cats, I believe the phrase goes.

[gingerscoops]

[Snowy growls a little to show his distaste over the dreaded 'C' word from where he hovers at a relatively safe distance.

Tintin just shakes his head over the whole mess.] Well it doesn't seem very productive whatever it is.

[rivendellranger]

[Billy props up the nearly-completed device, grinning over at Snowy.]

It's not. But there's definitely room for an open investigation.

[gingerscoops]

[See, that's what he's talking about. Tintin snaps his fingers and nods.] Exactly! It seems like the sort of situation just waiting for someone to do a bit of digging. If the Initiative really wants our help, you'd think there'd be a more open line of communication between them and us Transports. Though at the same time, there haven't been many shows of good faith from the Transports either -- not that I've seen mention of anyway. Regardless, a little more diplomacy wouldn't hurt anyone.

[rivendellranger]

Is that something you're good at?

[gingerscoops]

[Tintin makes a low noise, not quite a scoff.] Who, me? A diplomat? No, I shouldn't think so.

[rivendellranger]

It's hard work. But maybe there's someone around who can do it.