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]

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?

[flatteries]

It's not as if you're the only one I do it to! And people aren't getting ideas about that! [ Except that Tidus literally said he thought Inigo had a thing for Taiki because of it BUT LET'S IGNORE THAT, OKAY. ]

Besides, would you mind it if people got ideas? It's not like we don't know the truth. [ The bridge of his nose wrinkles as he half-pouts. ] Let them think whatever dumb ideas they want.

[blitzcheer]

Sure, [ he says in that way like yeah I agree with you BUTTT ]

Let's think about other food we can give Jumblie. There's gotta be more than just elixirs she'll like.

[ Let's not talk about how maybe Tidus doesn't want to be cuddling with a guy all day, ok!! It's not you Inigo, it's him. And society. ]

1/2

[flatteries]

[ Wow, talk about dodging the subject there, Tidus. Even Inigo can notice that he's doing that purposefully.

But it's not like he wants to be too pushy either - and honestly, the fact that Tidus is completely dodging what him says definitely makes him feel kind of bad and more than just kind of embarrassed, so he just goes along with it the moment he feels that feeling churning away in his stomach. ]

.. okay.

[flatteries]

[ It shows in the way he says that word, just one second too late with pulling up a more spirited act. It does kick in by now though. ]

Don't you have anything else that might be rare in your Arms Band? You've got so much stuff in there!

[blitzcheer]

[ Oh, don't think Tidus doesn't notice that pause.

But -- it's true, too. That he dodged it on purpose, didn't want to say what he was actually feeling, since he wasn't sure how to without possibly making Inigo feel bad. And he's sure he's made it a little awkward for him anyway; or the thought of doing so sticks with Tidus, even as Inigo moves them on. Goes along with him moving the subject on, anyway. ]

I can take a look. I'll check my notebook.

[ He brings that out in all its gold glamour, opens it to one of the first few pages. .... but that earlier awkward pause still on his mind. ]

... I don't mind what people think. It's just... you know. [ A pause. ] There's nothing wrong with it.

[ Nothing wrong with you, is what he means. Inigo and his hugging, cuddling up close... but if he words it like that, that'd be even weirder! ]

[flatteries]

[ Honestly, Inigo expects the subject to just keep pushing on, leaving the moment behind them. So when Tidus suddenly starts about it, it obviously catches Inigo off guard - visible in his gaze as he looks at the other.

It leaves him speechless for a moment, feeling his cheeks heating up but not quite getting to colouring. ]

No, I-- get it. [ Maybe. ] I know there's nothing wrong with it, and that you don't mind hugs either.

[ They sure went over that one, after all. ]

But that.. that doesn't mean the offer doesn't still stand, you know? If it's ever too much, or if you are ever worried about people getting the wrong idea, just let me know.

[ Because Inigo may not mind that much, like he said a moment ago, but if Tidus does, then he wants to know! He'd never want to get his hugs at the expense of Tidus's comfort. ]

I can always dial it back, even if it's just in one specific situation.

[blitzcheer]

[ It's difficult, knowing what to say. Not wanting to turn anything into a bigger deal than it needs to be, even if it ends up into one anyway. Tidus thinks, putting thought in before he speaks (a concept), and nudges their arms close, side by side. ]

Sitting like this is fine too, right? ... But, I'm just all hugged out right now. That's really it- [ this feels dumb to say, but. ] It's just me.

If there was a hugging competition, you'd have me beat! I can't stay hugging as long as you!

[flatteries]

Well, at least then there's one thing I'd win at.

[ It's more than a little putting himself down, as Inigo always does, but at the very least he does manage to make it sound light, like it's just a joke.

He quickly shakes his head though. ]

You know you're fine the way you are too, right?