voidtreckernet | video | poi one, afternoon

( now this is a word not said in his own language, so congrats, it may or may not register that it is in fact not in fantasy Mandarin: )

Rice.

[ At first it doesn't register.

Honestly, for a moment? Inigo isn't even sure why Jingyi is saying rice, of all things. It takes a good 30 seconds of the mental Jeopardy thinking music before things finally click into place within Inigo's head.

Even though it somehow manages to provoke the exact same reaction from him as a moment ago, despite the pause. ]

You remembered that word?! Of all things?!

( it takes long enough that Jingyi's tail is pulling an excellent pleased, amused cat impression behind him, curling slowly one way then curling back the other way. then he laughs, and pointedly, exaggeratedly, rolls his eyes. )

Hello, Inigo, rice. If you want me knowing more, how about teaching me, huh?

How did you even remember--

[ 'All of that', he wants to say, but instead Inigo grows silent in embarrassment. He can't believe Jingyi actually paid enough attention to remember all of that, when he barely remembers what the other guy told him back then.

Inigo knows it's mostly since he was so upset back then, but it still feels shameful. Like he doesn't appreciate the other as much as Jingyi appreciates him.

So he really tries. He feels like he's wringing out his brain here to try and remember, but.. ]

Rice. [ He finally manages. And yes, in fantasy Mandarin! It's accented, sure, but it's accurate. ]

.. right?

[ He definitely sounds kind of bashful. ]

( jingyi's tail shivers as his grin, when inigo starts saying the one word in jingyi's language in return, grows wide. accents being something like dialects in his mind, it doesn't matter when he can understand. he laughs, and it's simple, good natured: so much easier than the headaches of technology or cultural divides. )

Yeah, that's right! Now you can always tell people you're hungry in at least one more language.

( which is ideal to a guy who appreciates food, this bias of his. )

I am serious, though. If you want to endure trying to teach me your tongue, I know different dialects back home. I'm not the worst at it.

( that just depends on personal motivation, and knowing gusu dialect as well as the more commonly shared one was a point of pride as a lan. you know, from gusu. )

.. or they'll just assume some odd rice fanatic is approaching them. [ Inigo lightly can't help but add.

After all, that sure would be a thing. Just a guy wandering the streets repeating nothing but the word 'rice'.. Like some sort of rice zombie. Terrifying.

Inigo shakes his head though. He knows this isn't the main point here, so he won't dwell on it. Instead he's thinking more about the other thing Jingyi is saying here - the more important thing. It renders Inigo quiet for a few moments. Kind of touched, really.

But in an awkward way. A way he doesn't know how to deal with. People going this far out of their way for him isn't entirely common, after all, hence his hesitation before he speaks on. ]

But.. are you really sure you'd learn? I mean, it's not as if they speak Ylissean all across the multiverse. [ In fact, if this train ride has taught him one thing, it's that it's very much localized to just his world. ] It's not like you'd get many chances to use it.

Who needs a multiverse of people when I've got you?

( Quirking his brow, and canting his head a touch to the side. He doesn't see the point in not learning simply because it wasn't common. He doesn't need it except with Inigo. )

[ W.. Wait, what?

That came so out of left field that Inigo instantly feels his face turn the exact same shade as a tomato. ]

[ He tries to process the words, but only feels himself getting more and more flustered, starting to sputter something that doesn't quite form a word by itself. His hands move, and he accidentally slams the button to end the connection-- ]

[ Only to reappear a moment later, his eyes wide.. and watery.

Look, maybe he's just a little emotionally volatile these days, and his heart can't handle suddenly hearing that without flustering and tearing up. He's been having a rough while, okay. ]

Y-You mean that? [ Inigo squeaks. ]

... Did you just blank screen me?

( he blinks, not sure if that's what the ICP did or if it was trying to flick to another face, the whole interface is still mildly confusing when people are talking. it's momentary confusion, less at inigo's reaction and more the technology, but even through video, sound and the look in inigo's eyes eventually seen, jingyi holding up his hands and making little waving gestures. )

Anyway, you know I do.

I pressed the button by accident!

[ Please, Jingyi, this is so not the time. Just look at Inigo. Look at that water in his eyes.

He's in a glass case of emotion. Even just those words by themselves sounds like he could burst out into actual tears at any moment now... ]

Maybe you should sit on your hands when using the ICP...

( his lips are twitching. he's sorry, Inigo, but come on, bro, this is kind of funny. )

[ Dude, he sees that twitch near your mouth.

He sees it! ]

Jingyi, are you about to laugh at me?!

[ DUDE!!!!!!!!

Just because a bro gets a little flustered when a bro says something so touching to him?! ]

Yeah, this is kind of ridiculous, right?

( g r i n s )

No!

[ It is, but Inigo is never going to admit that. Not when he experiences every single emotion ever so intensely. ]

Don't make fun of my heartfelt feelings!

Over turning me off?

( ... by turning the screen off, okay )

No, that-- that was just because I was so touched by what you told me! [ Listen to that whine in his voice. Jingyi, you idiot! Stop ruining the moment by forcing him to spell things out like this..! ]

.. now the moment of being touched is seriously gone.

[ Bye, bye, single moment of actually feeling happy and loved on the train..

Inigo only wants cuddles, and yet all he gets are struggles. ]

( he does snort at that, lips curled into a partial sort of smile. )

Might work better to be touched in person. Fewer screens to mess with that way.

( which is a little teasing, in that it was Inigo who had the whole screen thing happen, but also Jingyi isn't oblivious to emotional states. How careful he is with them depends, and right now... )

I don't bother with what I don't mean, Inigo. If you're going to need reminders, let me know. I haven't had years to learn your tells.

[ Inigo grows quiet.

It's a good thing, since it means he's being a little less dramatic and whiny, if not just for the moment. But it's also dangerous at the same time, since it can mean that Inigo is truly sinking into his own feelings for a moment here - and when Inigo's head is such a mess, that's not always a good place to be. ]

Why would I ask someone to remind me.. [ He finally says, mumbling, almost near grumbling, really. Mostly because he's being pouty.

Because he's meant to be the strong one, so he can't just ask for reminders. It wouldn't be right.

But at the same time - he definitely needs them. Like a traveler in the desert might need water. That desperately. ]

Because friends help meet each other's needs, within what they can. This is one I can meet, Inigo.

( his tail's since dropped out of the frame, since he's not in the more cat-like teasing mood he'd been in, and he's got incoming answers for his printing issues. )

Tell me what you need.

( on a public network but to be fair, most people seem to ignore what's chattered on over ICP )

...

[ He's quiet again. But it's only natural, isn't it? When it's so hard for Inigo to talk about his needs - his actual needs, not just superficial whining about sweets or anything of the sort. Of course everything comes out slowly. Just it coming out at all is a small miracle. But he knows that Jingyi is absolutely the type to never let this go if he doesn't answer now, and..

Well. Maybe he owes one of his important friends.. some honesty.

The only upside is that Inigo did remember to keep the feed private when he connected it again. Inigo's sole blessing, before he starts saying very embarrassing things in front of everyone. Now only anyone who's in the carriage with Jingyi can hear the embarrassing stuff. ]

I just.. need to know I'm not alone.

[ He says it so softly, like he really is worried about other people hearing it. Inigo sounds so absolutely embarrassed at this point.

It makes him feel whiny. Needy. And definitely not in a good way. Who is he, to ask anyone for anything? ]

( Bless Inigo for being tech savvy enough to manage private connections to carriages, and for Jingyi being in standard, where at present, no one's particularly concerned with wandering through. The transgates make that even more convenient, and it's a boring carriage, who wants access to nothing more than a printer and some seats if it's not platform day?

He waits, studying Inigo through the ICP. Not for the first time he finds it a bit strange, this window into viewing people not here with you, and not bad, per say, but no less strange the more he's used to it. There's still some sense of distance, some boundaries, something he doesn't know how to explain, but it means he looks, and waits, and listens to the soft words.

Everyone has their own difficult things to admit. To face? To handle, one way or another. For Inigo, this is not a difficult one to understand in ways, once he hears it. )

Okay.

( In a sense, straightforward, but it follows in the same way that Jingyi thinks of when it comes to handling Sizhui when he's feeling vulnerable, or sick from boat travel, or sick because boats are about to be traveled. It's knowing what way to approach, what distraction to offer, what defense to make. What shoulder to offer, and when to hold one's hair back because the sickness wins sometimes, and nothing stays down.

He still is straightforward, but he moderates his tone too, brings it down to something softer so it doesn't carry, no sense of coddling, no sense of derision. He's obvious when those are the things he feels, just like he is for most anything he feels. Rarely does he see the need to curtail the transparency of his emotions. )

How would you like me to do that? What ways mean the most to you?

( Even more so an issue because what would make sense to him, what would be his choices made from his perspective and culture, have been blatantly poor matches for most everyone on this train. Most the time. Not always, but often enough. )

Oh. [ It's like he's almost a little surprised that Jingyi is asking it like that at all. Which is followed up with just an: ] Um.

[ It's not even like Inigo doesn't know, just instinctively, but putting it into words and saying it out loud is a new thing entirely.

It makes him swallow thickly. His throat feels dry, and he can feel his eyes instead starting to water. Inigo rapidly blinks a few times, hoping to cast aside the water before it can form into actual tears. He doesn't want to be crying dumb, emotional tears at a moment like this. ]

Just.. like.. what you did just now. I like those small reminders that I'm important to people. [ Because, by Naga, is it ever hard for Inigo personally to remember that when he doesn't have a shred of self-worth. ] And I like physical contact. Even if it's just-- holding hands. Or hugs. Or..

[ He sniffs, then lets out a groan, and rubs with one hand at his eyes. ]

Hold on. This is so dumb.

[ Him getting so emotional over this, that is. ]

I also like.. sleeping next to someone, so I know I'm not alone. Cuddling. That's why I got a room with Tidus.. [ So he didn't have to roomhop to a different friend each night for cuddles!! ]

I don't find anything dumb about crying.

( said softer, but factual. it's part of being a person of all emotions, not anything to be ashamed of; only in some circumstances would it be out of place. this isn't one of them, albeit jingyi is mistakenly wondering if this is broadcast to all carriages. (it's not, but he's not looking for the indicator that would tell him, this isn't full broadcast. he also throws the thought out; it's not really important.) )

Okay. Well... Taiki wanted a roommate for the same reason, so you're welcome to sleep where we are, anytime you feel like it. Not because you need to, but because you're welcome. I can work on the other stuff.

( a pause, and he rubs at the back of his neck. )

Does that include tail stuff?

( tail hugs, contact by tail, tails in laps—things which are admittedly more normal for him among his generation sect mates, but that he plays down around all humans in their tailless sad state of natural affairs. )

video | poi one, afternoon

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1/3

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cw: narrative mention of emesis

literally made me google emesis

alksdfj hahaahasdf i'm so sorry

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