llama 16, video + action

[blitzcheer]

[ Hello, ICP video. There's a Tidus sitting on the computer chair in the standard coach when the image pops up, waving up a hand to the screen. ]

Hey, 'sup everyone! I got some stuff from the last mission with Inigo and Dennis that we wanna share with the rest of the train. Some computer tablets, VR glasses, goggles - hey Seto! You can do somethin' with those, right? - and some clothes and whatever else we could get our hands on.

Nothin' like books or music or food. Sorry! But if you like lamps or fans, we got those. [ Ahahaha. ] Oh yeah, and some first aid kits too, if any of the teams want 'em for supplies. And speaking of, Jane told me about these bacta bandages thingies they use where she's from. Like some kind of healing...gel you can sit over wounds? Uh, I got a book on it for an easier time understanding the stuff.

Annnyway, [ moving alooong, ] there's something I wanted to talk about with the last mission and those illusions. I know there's people who know how to work with tech or magic, usually one or the other... well, I don't know anything about making things, but I know there's a lot you can do with the right tools and know-how. And there was some magic and gear that could push back on the illusions. Like a bracer I have, and one of the spells on the manadrives!

I was talkin' with Q'uila - she's a blacksmith that works with enchanting. And I know there's this big chunky book on magic and magitek in the library. Uhh, I've never read it [ because NO THANKS ] but I didn't know if we could... do something? To help with these missions? Create some kinda...I don't know, big barriers when we turn them on, that don't need magic folk casting them! Put our heads and resources together and make somethin' cool!

[ Cool magitek science junk!! ]

A-anyway! [ Because he realises he's really reaching here-! ] If anyone's interested, I'm fine if you wanna check out the bracer that helped with the illusions - even if you need to take it apart. And I know Senku's been checking out the manadrives - that has a magic barrier spell too, and Light got manuals on the things. And I got some other gems and protection gear from my world too! If it'll help. Never know, right?

'kay, well - see you!

[ ACTION: standard coach ]

[ And for those of you who come into the standard coach, either because of the message or just because you were passing through, Tidus has taken up a table with a bunch of...everything on the table. Tablets, pens, folded clothes in different sizes, cute toys and ...cubes?.

And Tidus is sat taking up an entire booth couch, legs folded and playing a handheld game.

Let's play shop. ]

Comments

[flatteries]

[ YOU JUST MAKE SURE YOU TREAT THAT INIGO KNOCKOFF IN THE FIRE EMBLEM KNOCKOFF WELL, BRO. ]

Hey, I'm not an idiot. I know nothing can live off love alone! [ .. says the guy who's asking if a toy needs to be fed.

And who is currently poking its little mouth before getting his finger caught up in it, quickly drawing it back with a slight 'ouch!' ]

Do you just put these batteries in its mouth then?

[blitzcheer]

[ He's tempted to say yes and how they crunch them up and swallow them down.

... ... but it's not worth it. ]

I dunno? What about the back? You see anything there? They were already working when we got them... [ Soooo

/shrug emoji here bro? ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo turns it upside down. Then turns it more, looking at all the sides.

In the end he just shrugs a little, putting it back down on the table. Jumblie appears in a burst of light from his chest, starting to imitate the toy by moving her little arms along with the toy's.. wings? Arms? Whatever those are, Inigo doesn't know. ]

I just don't want them to stop working! Imagine if one of the kids cries because of it. You don't want Romeo to cry, right?

[blitzcheer]

Don't use Romeo's tears on me! I'll ask one of the smart guys about them! Okay?

[ Please, don't stoop so low!! ]

Anyway, everything recharges around here! Doesn't matter where you buy it from. One world, this world, that world... that stuff you never need to worry about! I bet just being in the train'll keep it chirpy.

[ You know. With its train energy. ]

[flatteries]

[ B-Bro, are you trying to say you're not one of the smart guys? ]

.. does it really work that way?

[ Inigo has no idea how recharging stuff works in the first place, let alone with.. magical train energy, or whatever Tidus is refering to here. ]

Other worlds are so.. odd. [ Especially their technology.

Inigo reaches over to gently pick Jumblie up, putting her on top of one of the cat roombas he's activated. So now she's riding it, like a brave little warrior. ]

Though I suppose their stuff isn't all that bad. [ Just weird!! And hard to understand!! ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Does it really work that way? Enjoy a shruuuug for that. Who knows? It could! He doesn't own a void-travelling train back home! ]

No one really cares about how they work, 'cept the people into that. Just that they do. I mean, I get the idea behind most of this stuff, but that world was still a different one from the one I come from. I'm about as clueless as you are.

[ As hard as it is for Inigo to believe!! ]

But that's why I didn't get a memoris for Taiki. [ He looks back at Inigo, a smile pulled on his face. ] I think I'll just let him borrow mine, but... there's no way he'd be able to charge it back on Tai. But, I still got him a present!

[ No worries there! And no worries for little Miss Sunshine as she is driven slooowly down the coach car...

*bump*
*meow* ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo opens his mouth, looking like he's about to speak up.

But then he's definitely distracted by Jumblie's little adventure, and that little meow, and he laughs instead. He looks ready to pick her up from the roomba, but it manages to just drive back, turn around, and start moving again. Seems like she can do this forever. ]

It's kind of an odd thought to me. You being as clueless about this as me. [ He smiles, still watching Jumblie. ] To me it always seems like you understand these sort of things way better than I do.. but I suppose it's just since it's all the same to me.

[ The technology from Tidus's world, the technology from the world they visited during the mission.. It's all equally weird and not understandable. ]

[blitzcheer]

Well... [ Maybe it's a bit of an exaggeration to compare their situations, but- ] I know about some if it involves tech, sure, and if something stopped working, I might have an idea what did it. But if it was a real problem, we'd both be stumped is what I think.

[ He taps a finger on the table, idly than for any particular reason. ]

But I bet it'd be the same on a world like where you're from. You'd recognise how things work there, but if it broke, you wouldn't know how to fix it either! There's just things that are someone else's problem.

[ he reaches over, just to poke the doll on the back of its head. Its wings flap up, beak going :O ]

A doll looks the same to you as it does to me. Even if I don't know what it's a doll of. You just accept the differences and go along with it. Don't think about it too hard.

[flatteries]

That's a big ask.

[ Inigo? Not overthinking something? Surely you jest, that never actually happens.

Thankfully he seems to be selfaware enough to say that, even if it's with a smile. ]

But.. sure. I'll erase the image of you as some sort of technological genius out of my mind. But now you'll have to do something else cool to make up for it, or you're going to lose points.

[blitzcheer]

[ Pah?? Pah!! ]

I'm a star blitzball player! I'm already cool! You just don't know it 'cause you've never seen me in a game! And that's not my fault - blame the train!

[ He points a thumb at himself. ] There's a world out there that needs me to play the game of my life to save it, and it's not rushing to find it! I'm being wasted here!

[flatteries]

[ Please, Tidus, as if Inigo would ever think you aren't cool.

But watching the other pah and brag isn't so bad, even though it just makes the teasing smile on Inigo's face spread into a full on grin. ]

I don't knooow. Maybe you've been lying to me all this time about the whole sports star thing! [ It's not something Inigo would genuinely think even for a moment, but as a joke? Well.. ] Maybe it was all one big ploy to fool a guy from a world without any of that!

[ Don't mind the constant meowing in the background as the roomba keeps bumping into things.

It's part of the atmosphere. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ And just as incredulous as it sounds - though Tidus can figure Inigo isn't being honest - Tidus scoffs. ]

Why would I do that? Ohhhh, [ here's the slow sound of realisation, ] maybe you're saying that 'cause that's what you've done about that mark in your eye. It's really just a random birthmark!

[ Yeah!! ]

So much for Prince Inigo!

[ *bump*


meow ]

1/2

[flatteries]

What? Who has a random birthmark in their--

[ Inigo falls for it.

Almost. Almost. It's right before he finishes that sentence that he seems to realise Tidus is just flipping the very table he was using back around on him, his mouth forming a small 'o' of realisation. ]

[flatteries]

[ His expression shifts from surprise to something a little more playfully cocky. ]

Hey! Who's ever heard of someone who wasn't a prince, yet looked this good? [ He puts a hand on his hip, proudly. ] My very looks are a symbol of my lineage!

[blitzcheer]

[ DWEEB HE HEARD YOU LOOK AT THIS GIANT GRIN IN HIS FACE!! HAH!

But he'll be kind and not interrupt. Because does he need to with this knowing look? ]

First I've heard of that. [ Mister guy from a world with no princes. ] So where do I fit on the royal scale? I've gotta be prince material too!

[flatteries]

[ Clearly this is the reason why Tidus didn't realise Inigo's amazing charm right away. He's just not used to seeing princes at work! ]

I don't know about that.. [ Inigo hums, like he's seriously considering it. A hand moves up to his chin.

(He is not seriously considering it, because the thought of Tidus as some handsome foreign prince might just kill him, and he can't do that when someone could walk in any moment now.) ]

I'd have to see your princely charm first. You don't even know how to act like a prince!

[blitzcheer]

I don't? That's what you think! My lord.

[ He drops his legs under the table and turns to face Inigo properly on the other side. Elbow on the surface, his hand resting under his chin as it was Inigo's. ]

I am a proud prince of my people, sworn to protect them with this very life they depend on! As a prince yourself, Iniiigoo, [ Inigoooo- ] You should know how serious I am about being a prince!

[ Is he trying to be Inigo, is he trying to be something else, who knows. ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo stares for a moment.

But then he releases a burst of laughter. ]

What's that supposed to be? [ Because that last question? That's exactly what he's wondering. Did Tidus see this in some movie? ] Is that what you think I act like?

[blitzcheer]

This is how I act! [ A hand goes up, and the other to his chest! ] I'm the prince of Zanarkand! A prince of the sea! A prince from far away! Are you questioning my princeliness? 'Cause I'm the real deal!

[ His voice grows more excited, and at the end of his performance declaration, Tidus raises his chin, folds his arms, a smile wide on his face. ]

You should be more respectful to a fellow prince! Or so a real prince would know that!

[ potential FAKE PRINCE INIGO. ]

[flatteries]

I don't know, I can't give you the full prince treatment until I'm absolutely sure you are one.

[ Even if Tidus is getting ten points for sheer enthusiasm. He's acting like his career depends on it over here, and Inigo gives Tidus another analysing look.

("meow") ]

I mean, if you're a prince of the sea.. Shouldn't you look more like one? What kind of "prince of the sea" wears a shirt?

[blitzcheer]

Whoa! [ Excuse you? Is Inigo trying to get him to take his shirt off in public, or is he misreading here? Wait, he can't break character with his shock, downplaying the raise of his eyes by throwing a half-tilted brow and smirk, leaning forward on the table. ]

I don't see a sea around here, do you? You shouldn't believe everything people say about your otherseas princely brethren, you know! I mean-

[ He leans back, spreading out his hands. ]

I heard Ylisse men like to dance, wearing tiny shirts and showing their own bellies and other goods... unless you're hiding something from me?

[flatteries]

[ Hah, he heard that 'woah'! What's wrong, Tidus, afraid to show a little skin? Huh? Letting Inigo win here?

Though, as always, it's of course not that easy, since Tidus strikes back right away. ]

I certainly haven't heard of that rumor before! [ H-Haha... At least he's not really lying, since Inigo is pretty sure he's the only Ylissean man who loves to do that.. Even though he's shy about it.. ] Are you sure that's not just a fantasy you're having?

[ Look in the mirror, mister "don't sea princes not wear shirts." ]

[blitzcheer]

Is that so? It's just that I happen to have a picture...

[ And his hands come up, propped ready to hold Tidus's memoris when it appears to be taken in his grasp. Tidus is slow to go about this, in case Inigo knows what's about to occur before it does. But if he needs a mind jog... he quietly goes through the photo album, the back of the device - despite it's holographic state - reveals nothing, just the usual blue-ish tint of the entire camera.

Until, Tidus finds a certain picture he got to take when Inigo got his dancing outfit... and...

with a press, he makes the picture 'flip' - and Inigo will see himself shy in his outfit, staring out at him. ]

This isn't you?

[ perish ]

[flatteries]

[ When Inigo had let Tidus take that photo, he assumed it was entirely because Tidus was being Tidus - endlessly supportive, to a point where it's almost too much.

Never did he consider that it would be used against him. Even if it's just in the middle of a dumb joking bickering session. Even as he knows where this is going the moment Tidus takes out the memoris, Inigo still can't believe it's actually happening until he sees that picture.

Sweet Naga, he looks dumber than he remembers in that picture, and it's just--

It's so embarrassing that Inigo only knows one thing he could possibly do here.

With a near-primal embarrassed screech, he jumps up and bodily pounces onto Tidus, throwing his entire body's weight against the other guy.

What is he hoping to accomplish here? It's a mystery, even to Inigo. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Really, at this point, Tidus should have seen this reaction coming. This very Inigo reaction, and upon reflection - later, after everything is said and done - he'll realise just how much of an Inigo reaction this was.

But Tidus had a foolish moment, didn't go for the extreme. The screech, that was expected, the ends of his mouth widening with the smug look on his face - and it doesn't have time to properly fall when there's then a shadow cast over him as Inigo pounces at him, the memoris knocked out of his hands, his face covered by Inigo chest.

There's the muffled sounds of a confused Tidus, before he gets to his senses enough to start whacking at the other guy, trying to pull him off with a handily silenced- ] G'offffff!!!