video; horseshoe 28

[flatteries]

Good day, everyone! [ Inigo smiles widely. ] I was wondering if anyone either has or knows of something rare and they wouldn't mind it.. erm, losing it.. probably permanently.

[ He's saying that statement as if he's only now realising how weird that sounds out loud.

But it's too late to go back on that now. ]

In exchange for a favour?

And preferably edible? But maybe not necessarily? Hey-- [ He turns away from the screen, seeming to have some mumbled discussion.

This is a totally normal ICP message. ]

Comments

[flatteries]

That's what I was thinking of too!

[ He smiles in easy agreement. ]

Or just things from other worlds in general, really.. I'm actually not sure what she can or can't eat. [ It's not like she has a human body with a human digestive system! ] I thought I'd just offer things to her and see if she likes them or not. She's expressive enough for it.

[adropofsunlight]

Gosh, I just realized I've been rude. Who are you talking about? A friend of yours?

[She actually didn't know what they had been on about till just now.]

[flatteries]

[ Aww, Rapunzel. He knows why she's assuming it was rude - because she's just too nice! - but he truly doesn't seem bothered in the slightest. He just smiles, shaking his head. ]

Don't worry, I guess I really was kind of vague, huh? [ Are you only realising this now, Inigo.. ] Yes, I'm talking about my new friend, Jumblie! She's a higgledy, so she doesn't eat like humans do.

[adropofsunlight]

... I have no idea what a higaty...higlady? is.

[flatteries]

Hmm.. [ That's not too surprising. It's not like Roland goes around showing his higgledy off to people, Inigo thinks. Maybe Tidus would have a little? Who knows. Most people on the train probably still have no idea though. ]

How about you come over and meet her right now then? If you have some time.

[adropofsunlight]

I always have plenty of time. I mean I do my chores pretty early one in the morning, so I'm usually done within ten to thirty minutes.

[It really didn't take her long, so pretty much the rest of the day was always free for her.

So I'm free right now if that is okay?

[flatteries]

Of course!

[ He wouldn't have offered if he minded it at all, after all. It's not like he's doing much other than talking to people over the ICP right now, and surely they can wait for a bit. ]

I'm over in the standard coach. I'll wait for you there, alright?

[adropofsunlight]

[She nodded slightly before going to make her way. It doesn't take her all too long before she finally arrived.]

I'm here~

[flatteries]

Rapunzel! [ Inigo smiles as he turns to greet her.

And the reason she's here is also already present! Because Inigo isn't the only person - or well, only being - in the standard coach. Standing on top of the table is a tiny creature, which immediately turns to look at Rapunzel the moment she arrives. ]

This here is Jumblie! [ He gestures at the tiny thing. Which immediately prompts Jumblie to greet Rapunzel, making a polite bow before starting to dance a little on top of the table. ]

[adropofsunlight]

[Rapunzel was admittedly a little surprised for a moment before she gives a small bow back. She figured she might as well be polite at least. Though she still isn't sure to understand just what they are.]

It's very nice to meet you.

[flatteries]

[ Apparently the creature is happy to meet her! It lets out a very happy high-pitched: ]

Hig! Hiiiig!

[ Before turning towards Rapunzel and staring at her. ]

She's happy to meet you too. [ Inigo explains, smiling. ] Anyway, she's a higgledy! I hadn't heard of them before either until someone told me about them here on the train. Apparently they're beings made out of the elements.

[ It's not hard to tell what Jumblie's element is, considering her head literally looks like the sun, huh. ]

[adropofsunlight]

Gosh, I had no idea things could be made out of the elements... I'm not sure how that is possible. But it is impressive.

[Says the woman who hair once healed and was connected to a drop of sunlight that probably came from the actual sun. Not that she would know that much of course.]

[flatteries]

Me neither. This is the first time I've seen it.

[ Though Inigo, at the very least, isn't lying about that - not even without being aware of it. This is a pretty new thing to him, though he's easily accepted Jumblie with how cute she is.

Speaking of how cute she is, the tiny creature is already hopping over to Rapunzel, starting to lightly tug on her. ]

.. I think she wants a hug, if you're okay with it.

[adropofsunlight]

[She had gone to look at the little thing for a moment. If there was one thing Rapunzel is always happy with doing, it was hugging. She made sure she was on the same level and arms extended.]

I would be more than happy for hugs for those who want them.

[flatteries]

[ !!!

Look how excited Jumblie seems about that response. She's already moving over until she's able to latch her tiny arms onto Rapunzel to try and cling to her in a hug. It's like Jumblie even starts emitting a soft, happy glow. ]

You're so sweet, Rapunzel! [ And despite Inigo not being the one being hugged here, he seems happy about it all the same. He and Jumblie are connected in his heart, after all. ] Look how happy you're making her. You're a natural.

[adropofsunlight]

[Rapunzel is always happy to give out hugs when it's needed and she is sure there is one with Inigo's name on it whenever he wants it.]

I mean hugs are just nice and make people happy. So it's always a good thing to do. Plus I think of it as a bonding thing.

[flatteries]

Heh, so you're saying you're bonding with Jumblie already?

[ There's a bit of a joking edge to Inigo's tone, but only slightly.. Because he doesn't really doubt it. Rapunzel seems like exactly the type of person who could bond with anything quickly.

Besides, Jumblie seems to agree, judging by the happy 'hig hiiig' sounds she lets out. ]

At this rate I'm going to have to start being afraid of being replaced in both of you guys' list of friends!

[adropofsunlight]

Awwww, I could never replace you. You were one of my first real friends after all. In all honestly your more like family to me.

[She had never really said that out loud before and it was true. She had other found family but they had since left which was still pretty painful to say the least.]

[flatteries]

[ Oh, geez. Rapunzel is saying something that's definitely sweet enough to make Inigo's cheeks start to glow with a blush. Maybe he should have expected the sweetness in return to what he was saying, but apparently it still managed to catch him just off guard enough for him to get a bit shy.

But what follows after.. ]

.. huh? Like family..?

[ Apparently he didn't expect that. Though it doesn't seem to be bad surprise. He isn't shocked, at the very least. He just seems a bit dazed by the sudden idea. ]

[adropofsunlight]

Well yeah... In your case much like a big brother.

[She did have others she had considered like family, but at this point, they pretty much have gotten off the train. Rapunzel hated this and it made it hard for her to gain close friends again.]

I've never really had family beyond Mother, so it's nice to have those closest to me be as such.

[flatteries]

A-Ah, I see..

[ It's definitely said a little awkwardly. Mostly since all of this really is playing on his shyness. It feels so important to Rapunzel, especially with her saying that she's never had much of a family, so Inigo doesn't want to screw this up. ]

Well, I've never been a big brother before.. [ He's got more experience on the other side of the sibling age divide. ] But.. if you want to see me that way, of course you can. After all, I do want to protect you.

[ And that's what big brothers do, right? Make sure their siblings are alright? ]

[adropofsunlight]

Have you been a little brother then? Or an only child?

[There were still things that she didn't know about Inigo after all, she didn't know a lot about most people either way.]

[flatteries]

A little brother. [ At least that's a big easier to say without any flustering. It's just a fact, after all.

And if Rapunzel views him as someone that close, then he ought to at least tell her this much, huh. ]

I have a sister who's about two years older than me. I obviously haven't seen her though ever since I got stuck here on the train, and even before that, back home, we were seperated for a while.

[adropofsunlight]

Separate for a while? How come? Did they have to go out to do things like Mother would when she needed to get food?

[It was at least something she could understand at least.]

[flatteries]

Ah, well...

[ This is a little harder to talk about. Mostly since he's so used to keeping so much of his past hidden, tucked away just so no one would worry about him. And Inigo can't help but feel that if he tells the truth here, Rapunzel will start asking him about exactly the kind of things that'd make her worried in the end.

But then again, if she views him as someone that close, maybe he shouldn't hide it from her. It'd be unfair. ]

We traveled back to the past. My sister, me, and a few of our friends. But something went wrong along the way, and we all ended up in different places in the past. So it took us a while to find each other again.