voidtreckernet | video | orchestra three, dimmed evening hours

[ At least someone has any thoughts about where they'll be sleeping, though Tidus himself doesn't has much care. An outer side though, once he does actually think about it - let the other guys have whatever they get out of sharing beds with others. So long as he doesn't roll off the bed.

(A Taiki and Jingyi sandwich it is.)

Instead, Tidus is immediately piqued by the nickname said, shuǐlóng - he wants to speak up, brows rising, though his chance getting lost. Still, his enthusiasm isn't, humming as interested as he thinks out loud: ] Maybe we should have another guy time sometime; y'know, hang out, chat, get to know each other - Jingyi didn't get to come along when we had it on the train.

[ But!! But! But! This is his time! ] Hey, Taiki! You share our nicknames too? Háishì.

[ Listen to him just say this word, and very proudly. Pointing a thumb at himself, eyes on Jingyi. ]

You two can't be the only ones getting fancy names! Oh yeah, and Inigo's is, uhh... ... Vmu... Vmemmyfan taykut.

[ Forget how to say 'flower dragon' in one language? Use a different one you don't really remember well instead!

(Incorrectly.) ]

...

( Jingyi snorts, pointing to Inigo: )

Xiao Igo.

( Then to Tidus: )

Lao Dus. I mean, names are names are given anyway, but I wonder if all ours would be different. We're not exactly granting titles, you know? Or else I'm lodging a complaint that my title is dragon.

( Looking a touch amused, but not actually arguing for or against it, he's claiming closer bonds with Taiki by calling him what he does. It's not a title at all. )

Anyway, how you wanna spend the train's points, who you wanna sleep with, no comment from me. I'm not going to be spending a whole lot of mysteriously earned things on big rooms all the time, that's just reality. Maybe once I'm here long enough I'll con someone into being a one roommate, that's still better.

( Said with a trailing yawn, because he's... he's going down... and he's down on his side, yes, but curling with his tailtip draping over an ankle and a pillow dragged under his head, his arm under the pillow.

(He's falling asleep. Right there, everyone else still lively, it's Too Late for Lan Jingyi.) )

Huā lóng [Quietly, with a smile towards Inigo. But he nodded at Jingyi, nicknames are indeed not titles. In fact that was why Jingyi had given him one in the first place, to call him a name and not his title.

He curled up next to him as he went down, though he was a little surprised, he went from so animated to almost asleep so quickly.]

It seems Shuǐlóng really is exhausted.

[ Apparently this is just how lively things get when you bring enough boys together in one place. Before Inigo can even complain at Tidus for making up some weird nonsense name - he doesn't realise it's the other incorrectly using another language, after all, it just sounds like blah blah blah to his ears - or say anything else, there's already so much else happening.

Inigo's brain seems to need a few moments to even catch up, and after processing everything, his brain mostly ends up latching onto the last thing Taiki says.

If not just because it's the last thing said altogether. ]

H-Hey, what's this?! [ Inigo immediately protests, sitting up. ] You can't just give us weird nicknames, not explain, and then go sleep! Jingyi!

[ And if Jingyi doesn't stir, Inigo will definitely add a whine of: ]

Jingyi is cheating..!

[ ...what's titles got to do with anything?? Tidus, who was just saying something carelessly as usual, gets a little lost in what Jingyi says, but nothing new there. He just ends up internally shrugging over it, particularly as Jingyi lays down, caring nothing for the future but entirely in the now, which is getting to sleep - now that he has the company he was looking for.

Someone should get him a giant plush.

Tidus could have forgotten or brushed aside his own name, nickname, a Lao Dus that got a pinched brow, but then forgotten in what came after. But Inigo never forgets ~~(he never forgives)~~, while Tidus is shifting himself up more on the bed, to let his head hit the pillow, facing up, kind of in the place of 'well then, guess we're doing this'. An arm scooting up behind his head before long. ]

He said it was too quiet too, he was waking himself up. Now Inigo can keep him up. Inigo's got a lot of midnight questions.

[ Don't get shy now, Inigo! ]

Mm, mmm.

( there's a lazy twitch off his tail in place of a wave of his hand, but his eyes are shut and his breathing goes regular enough to use as clockwork, the dragon souled young man slipping off to sleep surrounded by friends. fire the first time in nights, not sleeping like he does on night hunts, ready to bolt at a moments notice.

he doesn't snore, and he's not exhausted enough to drool, but feel free to poke him: all his noises by now will be grumbles and his tail will live up to his not really spoken warning of being fairly twitchy, curly aroundy, and should anyone idly pet it -- yeah. he's leaving his tail in access to that hand.

... but he's out, fam, have fun drawing on his face if any of you have a marker. )

Ah um. Xiao means little... and Lao means Elder... It's respectful. So Shuǐlóng
has taken the second part of your names 'igo' from Inigo and 'dus' from Tidus and added Xiao and Lao... It's the same to how he made Xiao Ki...

[Taiki is at least awake enough to bridge this language and cultural divide here, he shifted so he was snuggled next to Tidus, petting Lan Jingyi's tail because it was right there...

He makes sure there is room for Inigo too though, Inigo needs to be part of this cuddle.]

.. he fell asleep already?!

[ Don't worry, there's no need to make Inigo part of the cuddle.

Because any cuddle desire right now is over. Instead it seems Inigo has shifted into dramatic mode, sitting up in bed. Sure, he knew that they were coming here to sleep, but.. he thought there would be at least a little sleep foreplay here! You know, talking about dumb stuff, then comfortably and fully settling in together..

.. and instead Jingyi invited them and then went right to sleep like that. ]

I can't believe he's abandoning us and forcing Taiki to explain instead.

[ Inigo huffs.

He drops back onto the bed, but he's just laying there on his back at his edge of the bed.

No cuddles. Only grumpy. ]

[ Well at least someone knew that dus was meant to mean his name, and not another word - though that isn't the part Tidus is focusing on so much as wondering if he should be offended about being an 'Elder' anything. Excuse you??

But he just huffs, mostly at the noise of Jingyi apparently already being lights out; not really taking it personally, but opening an eye himself to glance at Taiki, who's come closer now, but otherwise comfortable. ]

What's he been doing anyway? S'not that late.

[ What is late? Whenever Tidus is actually tired, which usually requires actually extending more energy than he usually does. ]

Guess a mission should be coming up soon... if the train isn't scared about taking one after last time.

If he struggled to sleep he must be very tired now. [Of course Taiki is defending him, he would defend anyone but he's also shifting to hug Inigo as well, to smooth away that grumpiness.]

We should be glad that we are helping him find rest.

[ Guess what.

A hug is not enough to fend off this grumpiness when Taiki is being a TRAITOR who is defending Jingyi right now.

Which means that sure, Inigo will let the other hug him without resistance, but he's also still looking like the absolute grumpiest Inigo bean possible while Taiki is clinging to him. ]

He should be glad for our company! Sheesh, what does a guy have to do to get some appreciation..

[ Grumble. GRUMBLE!!

Not that he's totally ignoring Tidus here, even though Inigo is very far gone into grunkfussland. ]

And I guess it depends on whether missions are more important to the train than running away from the ministry or not. [ Inigo could see that toss up heading either way, honestly, considering the train seems to feel pretty intense about both of those things. ]

[ Look at this grumpy time. Tidus on the other hand isn't really that bothered by the indefensible action of Jingyi sleeping - this bed is comfy.

But he also knows that sometimes you want to whine (personal experience?? never), so he's just relaxed right here. ]

Yeah, guess so. Hmm; can't say I'd be upset having a break from it. We're not the only people out here helping worlds. [ So, he doesn't feel bad about that. ]

But some of us won't stop training just in case. Jingyi's probably the same - he's got some skills with a sword.

I guess... It depends if it thinks we are safer... in the void or if a mission is more important...

[It's a hard thing to think about. He doesn't like missions but people rely on them. They save people. That is important.

But he doesn't like his friends fighting, he doesn't like thinking about their skills with swords.]

[ Inigo huffs, trying to get rid of his mood, though he can feel it settling kind of uneasily in his stomach instead. He thinks of a joke to try and lighten his own mood, but he figures it's probably better to not make a joke about his and Tidus's swordfighting practice when Taiki deliberately seems to not reply to that part of what Tidus is saying..

.. so that isn't an option either.

Instead Inigo just sighs with a force that almost makes it sound like his soul is leaving his body behind. ]

Hopefully we'll at least hear back from them soon.

[ The ministry, he means, figuring he doesn't have to specify. ]

At least then it'll all have been worth it. [ That weird fake mission, the interview, being stuck in a holding cell, worrying friends.. If it can at least get them a step closer towards going home and finding all the people who left the train, then Inigo feels like it'll have been more than worth it. ]

[ It's one of those inevitabilities, where Tidus recognises what Taiki likes and doesn't, but battle practice continues, it's a thing. He does angle his head anyway in their direction, shuffling his arm rested behind his head, watching them both. ]

Yeah.

[ ...but the subject now of the ministry, of waiting; nothing new for them, but what's to come - it creates a sigh out of Tidus too, echoing Inigo. ]

Time to see if it all goes downhill or what. [ Huff. ] I'm expecting a few 'I told you so's.

[ For giving the ministry a sliver of a chance; even if it's only one guy he's really thinking of, his argument with in the holding room not exactly private from Inigo, anyway.

He's cautious, way too cautious; hoping desperately for something better than the expected, just so they have more avenues to navigate. Not being left with the train to decide by as it continues its wishy-washy sharing of details.

... ]

We can always call 'em, if it takes too long.

[ Abuse of power? So what - it's nice to have any. ]

No one knows what the best course of action is. You did what you believed was right.

[Was it? Taiki doesn't know. But he judges no one. If he had been in that situation what would he have done?

He tilted his head though.] You have contact with them?

[ There's an urge within Inigo to comfort Tidus a little when he says that part about the 'I told you so's - especially since he does know what the other is talking about. It was hard to have any private conversation in that holding cell, so he sure overheard one guy entirely disagreeing with Tidus.

.. but then again, that dude really just sounded like a sourpuss. Is it really that bad just to have a little hope in something for once? To have a good thing being thrown their way for once on this train ride?

Letting Tidus address Taiki's question, Inigo instead adds: ]

Don't get them annoyed at us by harassing them. [ His tone is a little lighter though, letting some of the grumpiness fade just so Tidus can understand that Inigo is lightly joking here, more than he's being serious. ]

[ He huffs at Inigo, a noise of 'maybe I will!', but it's more joking than anything sincere. Fiiiine, fiiine, he's behaving. But, to answer Taiki's question. ...with some actual thought for caution: ]

If there's an emergency, we can call for help. [ ...which, is only so useful, but. ] Doesn't help us figure anything out, but it's there. I'd tell everyone else, but - if we said that and told 'em how, people would break it. I know it! Everyone's more shady about the ministry than the train is.

[ And he doesn't care about it being reasonable, to a degree. It's annoying!!! ]

I guess people don't know how to trust. It makes an environment like this. It would be easier if we knew more about them.

[Taiki is very used to working with half of the information he needs.]

I wonder what emergencies they were thinking of... Did they say?

Maybe something like one of the situations the train pulled us away from before? [ Inigo is mostly thinking of the shadows here, really, since that's the first time he can vividly remember the train pulling them all back and shoving them into the luggage car.. ]

.. or maybe the train fully turning on us.

[ It's not an idea that's completely out of the question in Inigo's mind. What if the train decides that it just knows better than all of them - which it already seems to do at times - and tries to completely cut off any ability they have to ask for outside help?

It's just speculation on Inigo's part though, knowing Tidus probably knows better. He talked with the inspectors about the radio, after all. Inigo only provided them with the knowledge that Tidus had it. ]

What would that look like? [ The train turning on us. He's thinking out-loud, can't help but to take the phrasing like they're going to get in a fight with the train - which Tidus would be down with, if it came to that. But also, wouldn't be good for anyone, given their connection to it...

...also, an actual fight with the train was fairly unlikely, and not what Inigo meant at all.

He should get off this thought path. ]

A really bad mission makes sense. ...or if the train goes on the run, and they're having trouble finding us. That's what I took from it - if we're in trouble and need the help. [ If they're in a real pickle, by whatever means. ]

Big problem is, how quickly they'd be able to show up. But it's not like we have anyone else.

--Oh. [ And then he realises, rather abruptly. ] You know, it's going to help if we ever end up bumping into guys like the ones on that mission back on- what was that place called? With the animals and the planet nearly blowing up?

[ The oversized machinery robots and moon being pulled into orbit or something? ]

Nion. [He provided the name softly and nodded thoughtfully. As ever he didn't like the idea of fighting at all. The idea of fighting the train was terrifying and heartbreaking all at the same time.

He was very aware of his friends opinion's of the train but he couldn't fully share them. After all it was so hard for him to believe only ill will of anyone or anything.

The train had its reasons but he doesn't believe it means them harm, or that it would turn on them.]

Oh.. you're right.

[ Inigo hadn't even thought that yet. Maybe since it feels like it's already been such a time since that battle - considering all the mess with the memories and Chaos between then and now. It makes even intense things pretty easy to forget, if not just for a while.

But there's no doubt about it that the end of that mission got rough thanks to those people. ]

.. you know, I'm kind of surprised that hasn't happened to us more often yet. [ Sure, they often fought threats on planets, but it's not too often that it's actual people - especially people who pop up as a surprise while they're trying to fend off the threat they actually showed up for. ] Maybe we got lucky.

[ .. he glances over at Tidus. ]

And now doubly so, right? Since we got potential backup.

[ It's still potential until those guys prove themselves, but.. it's better than nothing, right? At least now there's a chance. ]

[ Aha, Nion! Tidus makes a sound to the name given, an agreement. Man, now even that was a long time ago - everything's starting to become a long time ago...

Or maybe it's just his brain, and the sleepiness that's starting to come over it, laying here comfortably. He closes his eyes, and it feels right, shuffling to get himself comfortable in place. ]

Let someone else worry about it for now, [ he says, whether or not it makes sense. It's laaate. Tidus's brain is dyiiing. ]

Let's sleep so I can check the TV out tomorrow. [ Mmm- ] All our rooms should have a TV.

Yes... We are lucky I think. [Or there weren't that many people like that around. But that seemed unlikely. Unfortunately.]

Yes... Let's sleep. Are you ready Inigo? [He can stay up later if Inigo needs more talking.]

Edited 2021-12-09 19:33 (UTC)

(no subject)

flatteries - 2021-12-09 22:44 (UTC) - Expand