voidtreckernet | merriment 16 ; video (before platform stop)

[ Inigo looks towards Tidus, though at least it's not with a 'ready to fight' sort of expression on his face. It's more just curious, especially when he hears what the other has got to say. ]

Of course it's supposed to look like that. [ Is it not. Is cursive not the norm. ] It just makes it look more neat!

[ But Inigo is quickly realising that they're just going to go back and forth about this, not seeing the other's point.. but there's a quick and easy solution to that. ]

Here, we should just ask someone else to read it, and then to tell us whose handwriting looks better!

[ This is starting to feel dumb, even for him, and at the suggestion he shrugs. ]

If you want- but I'm not trying to make my handwriting look fancy. As long as my signature looks good, who cares about my handwriting? You can still read it!

[ ... unless your name is Inigo! ]

[ .. It's that shrug.

It's that shrug that makes Inigo seem to deflate entirely. He puts down the pen - somewhere, he doesn't care, as long as it's not on the ground - and just flops down on any nearby seat, letting out a sigh. ]

I was taught it's important.

[ Oh no, did he pop an Inigo balloon.

And he might be able to understand why, if he wasn't so tech-involved in life. Instead he looks confused, or some, head tilting slightly. ]

Why? Who's going to see your handwriting?

[ Who even looks at written words anyway?? Except Roland. ]

[ There's a bit of confusion on Inigo's end at that answer, but then he figures that maybe Tidus is looking at this from a train point of view. Where - it's true - Inigo doesn't really write, let alone for everyone to see. ]

When I was younger, I mean. [ He clarifies, if that might help a little bit. Inigo still looks a little fussy - because his mood never clears that easily - but at least there's no part of him that looks really upset with Tidus as he looks over at the other guy. ]

A lot of stuff changed, sure, but.. I was raised as a prince, you know? Everyone was going to see my handwriting. Tons of important people from other countries too!

Ohhhhh. [ Ohhhhhh. ] I never thought about it like that.

[ He leans against the back of a chair, at the edge, facing Inigo with a curiosity. ]

What...kind of things did a prince have to write?

[ It might be a dumb question, but Tidus doesn't think Inigo would throw his ignorance in his face. ]

Mostly diplomacy stuff. Letters to rulers of other countries or other important people we keep in touch with. Or invitations for important occasions at the palace..

[ It's true - Inigo doesn't seem offended by Tidus's question, nor does he make fun of the other for asking. After all, Tidus knows just as little about his prince life as Inigo does about the other's sports celebrity life. ]

Not that I've ever actually done any of that. [ By the time he was old enough for it, there was absolutely not a single kingdom left to correspond with in the first place, let alone room for celebrations. ] So I mostly just practiced a lot.

[ He gestures at the board. ]

If I'd write any differently than this, Frederick would have gotten on my case for sure!

[ Princes have to do things like that? He's seen princes some in the movies, but it was rarely about them writing to anywhere - all of those stories were about wars and riding out to them, or standing around in rooms and getting angry. Usually the kings more often.

Tidus is examining the handwriting from a new angle now, however. A cock of the head, taking in the flow of it. ]

So I guess this would be fancy writing where you come from. [ And, to not sound mean- ] It's hard to tell when it's not my language. Back home... you could write stuff, sure, but all the lessons I had were on machines. Typing, like on the feedback post.

[ Why waste paper when you had endless gadgetry? ]

So if we ever need a really nice letter written, [ he goes on, tone turning teasing with his smile, ] we should get you to do it?

[ Tidus's remark about the typing isn't too surprising. After all, Inigo has seen enough people use that function on the terminal for the feedback post by now to know that apparently it's a skill people have like it's a natural thing in quite a few worlds - of course they must have learned it back home.

But he's snapped out of thinking about that by Tidus's question. Inigo's eyes trail up to Tidus's face, seeing that teasing smile, and he gives a small, half-defeated smile in return. ]

I think Roland would prefer doing it.

[ After all, they know how much that guy gets carried away. Way too far away. ]

I think I will defer to the handwriting master and the typing master, and instead find some different speciality.

Why don't you write a guide?

[ Do things ever spontaneously come out of your mouth. It does for Tidus. ]

A leaflet. A letter. [ Yes, a letter! ] For people who come from worlds without technology, and letting them know - well, what you know? What it's been like for you. That it's okay if things are confusing, and what they are.

Wha--

[ Please, Tidus. Watch what comes out of that mouth!

Because the idea of writing a guide, or anything in general that other people could read, is fine in theory. But in practice? Please, it might get him Perceived, which is the last thing Inigo would ever want. ]

I already catch pretty much everyone who's unused to technology on their first day here! [ Listen, he knows The Look, okay. The sheer amount of people he's seen staring at the washing machine.. It's a true mood for Inigo. ] I explain it to all of them already using my mouth words!

What about your fancy writing words too? [ Hah, see! He can say 'words' too!! ] Microwaves, the ICPs, whatever else is weird and different to you- [ Because Tidus can only guess those two on the fly. ] You'd be a pal in spirit!

It doesn't have to be like those paper guides that get handed out - just a small handy booklet in the library. [ He tips his head to a side. ]

I think it'd be neat.

You think everything I do would be neat, apparently.

[ Especially when it involves putting a spotlight on him. Please, Tidus, can't the shy people just forever keep living in their own little corner? It's comfortable there!

.. there's a slight pause, and then Inigo adds: ] Other than eating your fat gummy worms, anyway.

My favourite sweet, okay! [ Get the stink-eye for that, Inigo! Don't you start a fight right in the middle of the standard coach! ...again! ]

So what if I think it couldn't hurt? You get to stretch your talents, it's thinking outside the box! If you can't write it while you're writing, then throw the idea out, you know?

But you always get bummed out and feel like you're the only one who doesn't get things - but that's not true. So? It's like helping yourself. You're helping people in the future, and you're giving that side of you a voice.

[ ...apparently, Tidus's random thoughts have a lot of consideration behind them sometimes. ]

[ Apparently Tidus just randomly turns into an aspirational coach.

Thankfully Inigo knows to not make jokes about the whole fixer thing, since it seems to hit some sensitive side of Tidus - so he holds back on those. Instead he just releases a breath, and despite there seeming to be some shyness still about him, he does say: ]

Fine, fine, I'll try it sometime.

[ And probably give up halfway. BUT.. TRYING. OKAY.

.. he pauses, almost awkwardly, but then asks: ]

Did you decide on what big thing you wanted to buy yet? [ Let's go back to that. It's great. It's not Inigo-centered. He loves it. ]

[ TRYING!!!

But oh, right, there was more to this pause in shopping, wasn't there. Tidus looks back at the board, narrow-eyed and mouth lopsided. ]

...I dunno. An arcade machine sounds cool. [ Even if it comes with mom jokes. ] I didn't get a lot of ideas, but... hey, everyone's busy. [ So, can't complain.

But, looking at Inigo: ]

You got any?

Well, I don't think a ballista would actually be useful enough for anything to buy one..

[ And that's the only big thing he can think of. Please, what big things did they even have back home in Ylisse? He can't think of anything that would be even remotely useful on a train..

...

wait.

Inigo is in the middle of that thought when he seems to realise something. When he looks at Tidus again, his eyes are wide. ]

They had-- they had an arcade machine back in Diagad! [ Duh, of course they had. But it seems like Inigo isn't trying to make that obvious of a statement. It sounds more like this is the leadup for something else he's trying to think of, but is having a hard time fully reaching so easily. ] You know, that one! The one! The one with-- with the dancing!

[ Inigo suddenly looks so excited as he recalls that. ]

[ ...oh right, he brought up about a ballista. ...what's a ballista again? He's about to ask Inigo then, when the sudden grand idea that comes to the other guy in that moment.

Arcade machine? Diagad? --dancing?

--ohhhhhh! ]

Dance Dance Resolve! [ Riiiight! Tidus remembers that one! And seeing how excited Inigo is remembering it too: ] Hey! Buy it!

[ Great idea! ]

Yes! [ Inigo immediately exclaims the moment Tidus mentions the name. That had been it! With how wild the mission had gotten, Inigo almost forgot about the better parts of its first half - and that arcade machine had been an absolute highlight.

Thinking that they could actually have that with them on the train is making him so much more giddy than a moment ago, any fussiness about the handwriting deal totally gone. ]

I'll definitely get that one! Which one did you want to get?

Uhh- [ Oh man, should he get one of those from Diagad too? ] You know, one of those Cassie mentioned sounded like one with guns. 'Lethal Enforcer'? Those are a lot of fun. Maybe I'll try buying that!

[ And then whine if it doesn't have guns, and then play it. Perfect! He's a genius. ]

But hey, there's nothing you could buy either? Like... something dance-y!

[ Inigo isn't sure if he played that one back there. But really, the dance one was so much fun, so hopefully all of these arcade machines are just fun to play.

He's momentarily pulled out of his dance arcade machine-induced joy though, instead giving Tidus a look that seems at least half-confused. ]

What kind of big thing would you need for dancing? [ Isn't the whole point of dancing that you can do it virtually anywhere, without anything?

.. He's thinking though, just because Tidus is mentioning it. And maybe it's since they were talking about Diagad, but Inigo does remember using something to dance there.. ]

...

What, you want to see me poledance?

[ What's missing here? Inigo's total lack of awareness of any suggestive themes around poledancing. ]

[ ....Jingyi brought up poledancing, didn't he...

But it's very different when Inigo does it, a baffled scoff coming out of him first, and then- ]

You wouldn't poledance. You wouldn't dare!

[ Please! You can't joke about poledancing, you coward!! Tidus knows your truth! ]

I did it with Jingyi! Back in Diagad! [ The reaction flies out of his mouth so quickly, like an instinctive defensive reflex.

Maybe it's since this is Tidus - and this sort of thing just comes naturally between the two of them - or because it's about dancing of all things, but Inigo can't help but feel like he has to defend himself here.

Hence why he's quickly shaking his head. ]

We took classes together. It was actually kind of fun?

[ What.

What?

This is Tidus, staring at Inigo. Gawking, gobsmacked. This truth that has been unveiled? He doesn't know what to say, and when he says it was fun- ]

...You danced [ danced ] with another guy?

[ With that guy...!?

Wait a minute. There's a pause. ]

This is the same guy who wants to punch someone in the face, right?

[ Got to double-check he's for sure he knows who Jingyi is. ]

[ Inigo sputters, like Tidus caught him redhanded in the middle of some sort of crime.

Or maybe that's just because Tidus is so good at making it sound that way. ]

It was in the illusion! [ It sounds like he's making excuses, but he's not! He wasn't as shy about it in the illusion, probably since there were less ways to hide it there?! He sure doesn't know what his illusion self was thinking! ] It wasn't like that!

[ But after a few more moments of sputtering, Inigo seems to give up.

For the moment, anyway.

He lets out a sigh and then finally, finally nods, pulling a hand through his hair. ]

And yes. Yes, that's the one.

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