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

[blitzcheer]

[ That's finally got Tidus laughing, wiggling some in Inigo's embrace, but not really trying to kick himself out of it. ]

Why? Is it worth more than what the train can give? Hey, Jumblie! What do you think? This sounding tasty to you? Why don't you take a nibble on Inigo's eternal devotion and friendship?

[ Hahaha-! ]

[flatteries]

Stop trying to give it away!

[ Even to Jumblie! That's still betrayal of their friendship, bro! (Jumblie herself seems curious enough though, waddling over to the other two as if she wants to check out this apparent rarity Tidus is talking about..) ]

Do I mean so little to you? [ SHAKING HIM NOW. SHAKE, SHAKE. DEAL WITH IT, TIDUS. ] Hey, hey, you better tell me just how much you appreciate our friendship now!

[blitzcheer]

Okaaaay--! Stop shaking meee!

[ Is it the shaking or Tidus's own laughter that's making it harder to speak? It may be a combination of the two, but come on bro, let him settle, twist himself back around so he can do anything! ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo stops shaking him.

Takes a step back. Crosses his arms. Narrows his eyes. ]

Well, I'm waiting.

[ Tell him how much you appreciate him, bro!

How did these pouty tell-me-what's-in-it-for-me tables get flipped this quickly? Who even knows with these two. It just happens.

Jumblie is just watching it, apparently having the time of her life since she can see into Inigo's heart enough to know this is just messing around in the end. So Tidus may spot her behind Inigo, trying to copy his huffy posture. (Except it just looks adorable instead.) ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Ah...! Can Jumblie be Tidus's best friend instead? Especially when he spots her out of the corner of his eye.

But no. He's turned around and is looking at Inigo for the most part, a smile you couldn't even peel off his face plastered on. Quiet. Contemplating!! ]

Didn't I do this a few days ago?

[ Is he going to get out of this. ]

[flatteries]

...

[ Inigo is quiet for a moment, but then his arms drop to hang off by his sides. ]

I get it. [ HE SEES NOW. ] I know when I'm unwanted.

[ And there it is, the dramatics are coming out. It's impossible to even take his words seriously when he says him with that tone. ]

I'll just go hang out with Taiki instead!

[blitzcheer]

Heyhey hey! [ Laughing, even through the faux shock. ] You're gonna pick Taiki over me? But I haven't even got started! I was just saying!

[ He's putting his hands on Inigo's arms, giving them a rattle. ]

You can't go and leave me alone yet! What about my eternal friendship and devotion to you?!

[flatteries]

[ There's an offended huff. (Though he doesn't try to shake off Tidus's touch at all.)

Then he narrows his eyes at Tidus. ]

How much do you think that's worth in points? Isn't that exactly what someone said to me just a few minutes ago?

[blitzcheer]

It's priceless. [ Said, with no hesitation, completely certain. ] Invaluable. Nothing the train could give me would make me trade in what we have.

[ Want to challenge him, Inigo?? Huh? Come on, he's looking right back! No flicker of doubt! ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo clearly didn't know what kind of fire he was playing with here. Falling back into a huffy mode was pretty much just instinctive, and even if it wasn't, it would have been the default thing to do, just to throw Tidus's fit from a moment ago back at him.

But that means Inigo didn't realise the potential consequences of his actions - namely hearing that straight out of Tidus's mouth. Without hesitation, even! And sounding so certain and serious about it!

Of course he can't stop his face from colouring at that. Nothing would make him-- It's too much to even think about. He's pretty sure his heart skipped a beat just now. ]

U-Uh..

[ A very intelligent reply, clearly. But Inigo's brain needs a second to come to terms with this. Or at least slightly process it. ]

O-Oh yeah?! W-Well, I.. to me, our friendship is bigger than the void itself!

[blitzcheer]

[ Oh, GOT YOU, has he? Don't worry, Tidus won't look any smug than he already does. But it feels good to be a winner. ]

What's a void next to us? If I were stranded on nothin' but a boring, no-blitzball planet with you, knowing everyone was out there having space adventures, I wouldn't care one bit. Long as it was me and you and everyone else!

[flatteries]

[ STOP GLOATING. Even internally! Don't think he doesn't know!

Though speaking of blitzball-- ]

What if you had a chance to play blitzball again, but I would die if you did? Huh? [ Would you choose him over ball, bro? Even when ball is life? ] Could you make that choice?

[blitzcheer]

[ Ow, that one hurt. Deep in his soul. His blitzball shaped soul. ]

What's a blitzball? [ But he can do this! You can't even tell how much that one cut deep! ] I'll just play... football! That one Roland likes! He says I've got the moves for it.

I'll make a career out of it!

[ See? He's planning his whole life out here! ]

[flatteries]

[ ...

Inigo just walked straight into landmine and it went off. Sure, he still looks flustered, but no longer in that pouty pushy way.

No, instead he's just staring at Tidus with big eyes. ]

Wait, you.. you mean that?

[ You would choose him over blitzball, bro? Over something that important to you?! ]

[blitzcheer]

Well, yeah, [ Tidus says, knowing Inigo means about the life or death exercise. Wondering just a second later if he meant the rugby football, but nevermind! It's just goofing off each way. ]

'Course I would! Or a different sport. But, what're you going to do? I've got a whole career planned here. What are you doing in this scenario?

[ Other than staying alive via Tidus never playing blitzball again? ]

[flatteries]

[ Okay, Tidus, hang in there for a second. Because you can't just expect Inigo to listen to that and then do nothing about it. Of course he's going to move in to hug Tidus when the other says that. It's just a lot, okay! Maybe it's just a dumb joke, and Inigo is definitely taking this way too seriously, but it means so much to him that he just Needs A Moment.

Tidus should probably be used to this at this point anyway, considering how often Inigo hugs him.

And buries his face against Tidus so his words are only half-audible. ]

.. I don't know. Become your.. [ Oh, geez. Inigo has listened on Sports Conversations and he's still pretty sure he doesn't have his head wrapped around it yet. The word he's looking for is 'coach' or even 'trainer', but what he ends up on is: ] .. personal assistant..?

[blitzcheer]

[ What, what is this. A tiny laugh escapes Tidus, surprised. But he won't take it to mean too much, even if getting Inigo overwhelmed wasn't the goal. Tidus puts his arms around him though, patting as he does on his back.

But it's nice too. He's never going to forget what it's like to embrace with someone often, is he... ]

Personal assistant, huh? So... [ What would that be? ] Oh, my PR guy? You handle my schedule and promotion. Tell me where I've got to be and when it's time to meet the fans!

As a rugby ace now. [ Not a blitzball ace! ]

[flatteries]

[ You think Inigo has any idea what the letters 'PR' mean?

Thankfully Tidus explains it a moment after, keeping this from devolving into a conversation several levels dumber than this hypothetical future scenario. ]

Yes. [ He sounds pretty decisive about that, despite Inigo not having had any idea of the existence of PR people until a few seconds ago.

He may be squeezing Tidus a bit now. ]

As long as that means I get to hang out a lot with you.

[blitzcheer]

[ Haha- ] Hey, you're making it sound like I was planning on going anywhere.

Don't think I can, if you're holding on like this.

[ He knows they were just talking about PRs and no-blitzball-lyfe, but it feels a little like more than that. Or maybe because it's always like that, really. Life on the train. ]

[flatteries]

Good! Because I don't want you to go anywhere!

[ At least this sounds pouty enough that it's easier to take it a lot more lightly. Despite the fact that the sentiment underlying it is very true. Not that he wouldn't let go - metaphorically - of Tidus if the other wanted him to, but.. As long as he doesn't have to.. ]

[blitzcheer]

But what about Jumblie's special food? You gonna hug me like this all day 'stead of chatting with other people?

[ Inigo please is this your new plan, think about if anyone came down and caught them like this!! (it probably happens regularly, these days) ]

[flatteries]

[ As if there probably aren't already people assuming they're dating...

Also this plan is PERFECT, THANK YOU. What more does Inigo need than hugging Tidus? Nothing, clearly.

Though that remark does make him hesitate for a moment. Mostly to eye Tidus suspiciously. ]

You know, if you don't want to be near me, you can just say so! [ Is this your attempt at sneaking out of this, mister!! ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Wow, Inigo, you're just like a pouting puppy...! Look at this guy! At the slightest thought that Tidus is trying to have any space to himself! ]

You'd sulk if I said that. [ Said more of a challenge than actually what Tidus wants. Because it's true. Try and deny it!! ] And then you'd tell everyone what a bad guy I am!

[flatteries]

I would no--

[ He stops before he can finish that sentence. As if he started speaking it instinctively, but is only now actually using his brain midway through the sentence.

And realising he can't finish that sentence without lying, since that's exactly what he did when they had the whole hugging misunderstanding, huh. ]

.. okay, maybe I would. Since I'd feel bad. But I promise that if I really made you uncomfortable and you told me it like that, I'd realise I'm the bad guy instead.

[blitzcheer]

[ Tidus just laughs, gives Inigo a friendly pat on the top of his shoulder and does start pulling away, since- ]

You're fine. But you know, I think people are gonna start getting ideas if you're cuddling up to me all day. [ Really, Inigo! ] You ever thought about getting a...plush toy? Those really soft big ones?