voidtreckernet | merriment 16 ; video (before platform stop)

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.

[ Pfft. Tidus squints narrow-eyed at Inigo for a moment before flipping back his head. Arms folding! ]

It wasn't like that. Sure! You ran off real fast the other day after he made that call out...

[ He'd started to look away, but with that observation, Tidus snaps his focus onto Inigo. Examining. ]

Was that an illusion too?

[ ...

Sweet Naga. For a blissful, blissful moment, Inigo had totally forgotten that the entire train had been able to hear that. His face starts to light up instantly, and his mouth opens and closes a few times like a goldfish while he tries to find out how to use words again. ]

I-- No, it's--

[ PLEASE, TIDUS, YOU'RE THE LAST PERSON HE'D WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS WITH. ]

I just-- you heard him, right?! He was hitting on me!

[ Tidus's eyes go wide at the revelation, and then.... they narrow, under the weight of his '--wait' brow, trying to remember anything that Jingyi said (which to Tidus comes first as 'I want to punch a guy because I'm nosy into my bro's affairs'), but, his brain is trying to slowly... ]

...Really?

[ ...work?? ]

Yeah.

[ With his face as red as a tomato, Inigo is trying to figure out how to distract Tidus from this thought. Or any thought related to that situation at all.

.. he glances at the whiteboard, desperately thinking-- ]

Do the kids want that pottery wheel? [ H-Haha, a random subject change? He doesn't know what you mean, bro! He's fine, it's cool, he's not sweating bullets here. ]

[ Oh.

ho.

ho.

ho.

Tidus is coming over to the table Inigo's sat in front of, leaning over with a grin on full view. ]

So? [ So? ] How'd it go, stud?

[ There is no distracting Tidus, fool. ]

[ UGGGH.

TIDUS, YOU IGNORANT HETEROSEXUAL.

Inigo glances up at the other from where he's sitting, that grin on Tidus's face only being met by a squint from Inigo.

.. well, a squint and a blush, but to be fair? That blush was already there. ]

Do I usually ask you about every detail of every embarrassing experience you have?

[ Embarrassing? But if Jingyi was the guy hitting on Inigo, then- ]

You turned him down? [ Don't mind Tidus's butt, 'cause it's slipping into this booth with his pal! Move up pal butt, this butt needs room. In payment, an arm will go around Inigo's shoulders. ]

Why? You not into horny tail guys? [ A beat. ] He is confusing talking about that cultivation stuff...

[ That's not a reason to turn down a guy. ]

Yeah.

[ At least he does admit to that, while he's busy scooting over to make some room for Tidus. Even if this is effectively trapping him in the spot, unable to literally escape the carriage to escape the questions..

.. but there's some touch involved.

And Inigo just can't say no to touch. This is a weakness. ]

I don't know, I just told him.. [ The one thing he can never tell Tidus. Not even on his deathbed. ] I just told him that we didn't even know each other all that well!

[ That's not a lie.. technically. ]

I'm well aware I seem desperate, but I'm not that desperate.

[ No matter how Tidus kept on this topic, that smile and the rest, he is here for a pal after a tricky love-situation. Granted, he didn't get turned down or dumped, so it's not that pressing or serious. But he doesn't want to go too hard on the teasing. He knows how Inigo can get!

(Or maybe Inigo's just lucky, and Tidus is going easy on him.) ]

Wellll, there's no harm getting to know the guy, right? Even just as friends. [ and maybe considering in the meantime if he'd be a potential catch!! ] He's...interesting. About as quirky as anyone else on the train.

[ Everyone's weird, after all. ]

But wait... [ Now that Tidus's brain is catching up a little... ] If he was talking about you... who was the guy he wanted to punch?

[ Thank Naga, and absolutely every single god out there, for blessing him on this holy day. For allowing him to totally skip over the true reason for his rejection of Jingyi's advances. Or, well, "advances."

Because they seem to be moving on to another question entirely..

.. and one that stumps Inigo too. Because he sits there without answering, but clearly considering this question. One he hadn't thought of yet himself.

It's almost as if something can be faintly heard in the distance as Inigo really tries to push that one braincell to function. ]

Ah.. Well..

[ ... ]

I don't.. know.. Why would he want to punch anyone because of me?

[ ...are you asking Tidus to remember a conversation he had just yesterday!? This is hard stuff! All he remembers is the punching part and all the stuff about cultivation-transforming-not-magic-but-it-is business!

But he's trying, sharing that music with Inigo as he tries recalling... ]

It's cause...some guy insulted you. By going out with you? But... I dunno - you and the guy hadn't spoken about it yet?

[ ...

...

...did Jingyi really confess to Inigo during that talk...????? ]

...

[ The 'no thoughts, head empty, yet thinking' music just continues on here, huh. ]

Maybe he thought we had something going on because of the poledancing classes..? And the guy he wanted to punch was.. himself..?

[ Does that make a whole lot of sense?

No.

But neither does any other explanation Inigo tries to think of, hence why he's saying this. ]

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