[ OPEN ] "would you calm down a little bit"

[blitzcheer]

Who: Tidus and You!
Where: All over! Armoury, standard coach, training gym, sports gym, and games car
When: Merriment 16 - 20
What: Supplies moving, setting up games and exercise equipment, watching that sports game Tidus is really into and also catching a case of home lifesickness!!
Warnings: Last prompt has connections to death/disappearing, but nothing to do with suicide or negative thoughts.

[ DAY 16 ; armoury car ]

"Heyyyy. Uh, so it looks like the train added the lockers I was hoping for. Since Light left, and Tobes's been gone for a while...," Tidus adds with a mutter, already not sounding that pleased, "--I'm puttin' everything from the supplies into them, 'kay? The healing, shields and weapons. There's a tablet with a list of what everything does and how to use 'em. It's voice-automated too.

So...yeah. That's it. See ya."

It's far from confident, the usual casual-sounding that's Tidus been heard over the ICP, but it's on par to whenever he talks about supplies. Lightning's leave already has his mood down, which is an evident sight to anyone who comes to the armoury, where he made the call (and then switched off, not interested in holding a conversation over the thing). There's nothing exciting going on: just suitcases on the ground with their lids open, the array of healing and weaponry waiting revealed inside that's to be stuffed away.

Maybe you come because of the announcement; maybe you're just passing by. You might hear a "shit!" hissed when one of the finger-sized bottles go rolling towards the other side of the carriage from where Tidus is. His movements are sluggish, and he wears an unguarded, doleful look, uncharacteristically quiet. Unless he notices anyone lingering, or just catches someone's eye -- then he'll pull on a smile, and give a simple "Hey."

Or, he's just taking a second to look at locker and its supplies once it's filled, his back to another locker, sitting on the floor. And you might hear him say-

"Hope you kick that god's ass, Light."

[ DAY 17 ; training gym - standard coach ]

( a: treadmills cw cw inigo don't look )

But he's being better by the next day, or seems to be. In the early morning he's in the training gym, pulling odd square containers out by a wall, with what appear to be bars curled around the sides. To anyone whose attention he gets, he offers cheerily: "Hey, how about a go on one of these?"

It takes some pressing in the right places, and then, the 'box' stars to unfold, turning rectangular while the bars raise - and it turns into what's essentially a treadmill.

"Ever seen one of these?"

Or, he could already be running on one, while the second sits there, a spare waiting to be used. Hop on! Tidus won't stop you.

( b: standard coach - blitzball )

There's a few close CR he might push to join him, but if you're friendly with Tidus and you happen to passing through, he might usher a hand, stop you from where you were going.

"Hey, hey! Wanna see me in a blitzball match?"

He's at a table, a device rolled out and a picture taking up the entire 'screen' and an energy drink open. There's footage similar to this to behold (note: without city destruction), with Tidus perhaps present an outfit like this, and his hair blond. Or, you might even get a chance to see him a year younger, in an outfit the same the rest of his team -- and with his hair a brown.

"Oh man!" He says through a laugh. "I can't believe it got video of me like this! This was when I was starting off!"

[ DAY 18 ; sports gym/games car ]

( attempt a: whomp whomp )

Tidus has got a plan. He's had a plan for a while, thanks to Roland, but now is the time to achieve it. It starts somewhere around morning to noon, after breakfast. There's notices slapped on the outside of the sports gym doors, written in fat felt.

'USING THE SPACE 2 MAKE A POOL'

'SWIMMING POOL INSIDE'
One on one side, one on the other. You might get to read them, before the troubles, or after. What are the troubles? That would happen to be when a sound like the equivalent of a bomb going off sounds from inside the gym, and before the doors can be opened from outside, they slam open from within - and water floods out into the hallway, possibly knocking anyone out there off their feet.

The good of the situation: the water is only knee-high deep on an adult. The bad of the situation: ...the car is flooded, welcoming any unsuspecting person who welcomes through the sports car (and thank goodness someone moved the transgate back out). Tidus can be found inside the car - that's impressive flooded from one end to another, in swimming shorts and coughing up water, while a blue pal is floating on the water the opposite end, wiggling and squeaking 'hiiigle!! piggle!!' desperately. ( But, they're only visible to those with a good heart/of good intentions. )

A plan may have not gone off right here.

( attempt a: dingdingdingding! )

"I've got a pool going in the gym for an hour or two! Come join me if you want!"

But by some miracle, they finally get it right. This pool doesn't take up the full length of the gym but one half of one side, away from the walls and about half the size going up from the ceiling. Tidus might be seen inside the water, or just enjoying floating above it; his blue pal nowhere but to seen, but for those who sense energy, may be able to discern there being entities with the water, that is otherwise nothing more than fresh, natural water.

Grab some shorts from the spa car, come and gawk, complain about the room being used up or whatever you like. Tidus dives into the water and reaches out of the 'wall' of the water, to a large trunk homing pieces of coral, breaking it off and bringing it into the bizarre pool - where it shatters into pieces, and the water wobbles...in delight??

[ DAY 19 ; sports gym - standard coach ]

( a: dance dance dance!! or shoot shoot shoot!! )

Oh no, he's in the sports gym again.

But don't worry, there's no water. This time, there's a holographic figure being projected from a round disk on the floor. About as defined as a wii fit trainer, they stand idle as Tidus - dressed appropriately - flicks through a screen of settings.

"Wanna give it a go with me?" Tidus offers, always happy for company. The dance difficulties he goes for are simple to follow, and there's the option of finding him with Inigo for company, if you want to up the potential for dumery. Two guys just doing repetitive dance moves, and if Tidus happens to catch you staring (though, he really needs to keep his eyes on the coach!), he'll grin and challenge, "Think you can keep up!?", in all his usual daring nature.

( Warning: if Inigo notices a girl/woman looking at him them, the possibility of him shrieking is 90%. )

But when isn't Tidus like that? Always up to something, and willing to include another. There's a new addition in the games carriage that Tidus has been having goes on, aiming to raise his highscore. Look at this wonderful gameplay.

( attempt b: 3am thoughts )

But there's more than only his usual buzzing energy going on with Tidus. He can be found in the standard coach on some of the later nights; another energy drink opened, indulging in a fizziness a guy like him shouldn't be so late. The tablet device sits on a simple stand, while his head rests in his folded arms, watching the blitzball footage.

To some, he just looks focused on whatever he's watching - intensely so. But if he happens to notice anyone come in (a 50/50 chance), he pauses the video, or just brings the device down -- like a guy trying to hide his shame, head turned towards the window, his face a warm pink. He might look back with a not-trying-to-appear-awkward "Hey" if he recognises the person - but otherwise, just, you know. Acting like he didn't do that!

Nothing weird about him, bro.

[ DAY 20 ; sports gym (late) ]

( note: prompt has some allusions to death, may involve talk related to it; nothing negative/suicidal! )

It's late again, and Tidus has something he wants to find out.

Why? There's a few reasons in his head. A few thoughts have been in his head, leading him into the sports gym, out of the way. He could go somewhere more private like the quiet car, but Tidus likes the sports car, spends most of his time in it. He likes the space and silence, as empty as it is right now.

He has a device on him, and he's counting down the time; his SCA on the floor next to him, in easy reach.

Counting how long it takes for his skin and the rest of him to start to discolour, shimmering into greens and blues; until it becomes see-through, until it gets to a point that it scares him, and he can't countdown any more and needs to grab his SCA again, all he can grab at that point.

But as late a time as Tidus picks to do his experiment, maybe he ends up not the only one there, caught with his eyes on the tablet device, ears not picking up on the doors farther away from him when they open.

Unless the person is particularly loud - then he'll reach for his SCA, and scramble to get it on quickly, the colours across his body fading as a more solid form returns.

[ OTHER DETAILS ]

[ Want to do any of the above but on different days? Treadmills, dance exercise, and gaming are available on any of them! Inigo can also be a 3rd person for dancing. Feel free to message me for any questions/plotting!! ]

Comments

for rui, ryo, and seto ( knight quest )

[blitzcheer]

Welcome, heroes, to the story that'll be your legend! We ready to start? No last-second trips to the bathroom? We have a plot item to grab and a world to save!

And if we're gonna have fake names, now's the time to think of one!

[ Welcome indeed, to the dramatics Tidus is icing on top of this roleplay adventure he's dragged Rui, Ryo, and Seto Kaiba into. Why? 'Cause two of them-- nah, all three of them need friends and fun, and what better way than via VR, where you're forced to engage with each other and obstacles? They stand with their headsets and the game booted into them, ready to accept them as soon as they put them on.

That's why Tidus is calling for any last second decisions to be made now. ...granted, they can decide if they're going to actually roleplay once they get into the zone, but!! Do you think Tidus is a planner? Think on your feet! ]

[blue_ice]

Critias. I'll be the shield tank.

[ Seto is not...entirely sure about the camaraderie aspect of this game, but he has a responsibility as a tester here. He slides the visor on, taking a sharp breath as the world materializes around him.

Not bad at all. ]

[fivemilesdeep]

[Ryo has absolutely no idea what he's doing.]

[Sure, he's familiar with the idea of video games by this point - he's seen miss Spider playing them, and he has some idea of what they are - but there's a huge difference between having a vague idea and getting thrown straight into the deep end. It reminds him a bit of his first mission - of being pulled into a virtual world and stripped of his magic - and honestly, he'd have refused if Tidus hadn't roped him into it, along with Seto and Rui. He trusts them all, and for now, he'll follow their lead.]

[...or try, at least. The idea of fake names has thrown him.]

Why...?

[He's barely been able to think for the past few days; why is Tidus expecting him to think on his feet]

[partofthecrowd]

I'll take an attack role! [ Rui declared because she had enough healing and support in her life with the last mission. Unlike Ryo, she did know what she was doing, but she wasn't competing against them of course, they were going to be a party as she understood it.

She considered, her usual name wasn't really appropriate here was it? She hemmed and hawed a moment, but decided it would work fine. ]

I go by Load GALAX. [ Why? She just does, and she's too proud a hacker to just let the name fall away. ]

[ Now she just had to look at the class options and decide what kinds of dps she wanted to be. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Look at the rest of them easily falling into names and roles! Why Ryo watches on dumbly (and maybe he should have shuffled in someone who was also old-timey-wimey as him. ....but Tidus should be able to count, right?! He's like, a middle-man when it comes to this! An expert!), but that's alright. Tidus smiles to the guy, bright as ever. ]

It's just for fun! [ He gives easily. ] You can be Ryo - or you can pretend to be someone else for a while! Smither...smitheroos, the wielding swordsman! Or Tonbart the Berry, the classy archer!

[ Tidus is also very good thinking on his feet. But he does have one thing decided, point to himself. ]

I'm gonna be the team healer. Healing and magic! And my name can be... Mamyo!

[ Extremely good at names. ]

[blue_ice]

We can work with it. Tanking, healing, attacking...your main decision is if you want to get in the middle of the melee or fight long range.

[ Seto steps close, gesturing at the class selection. ]

It's not some monumental decision. We die, we try again. And no one's actually getting hurt.

[fivemilesdeep]

[The explanation helps. The reassurance helps. And honestly, the absolutely terrible names help. It's...it's a game - it's just different from what he's used to. It's a story they're all telling together, and there are no consequences for failing, or pretending to be something he's not.]

Okay.

[He sounds a lot more certain than he had a minute ago. He follows the line of Seto's gesture and looks at the class selection, and something catches his eye: an attack class with light armor and a pair of short blades. They look familiar enough - he's seen them in use - and why not? He reaches out and selects it.]

Call me Kethry, then.

[Hopefully he can live up to it, if he's going to use their name and their weapons.]

[partofthecrowd]

Alright if you're going to take something that requires close combat, I'll do something ranged.

[ She selects the class with the bow and arrow in that case, that seemed good. ]

That should make us a balanced party.

[blitzcheer]

[ Hello they're actually brilliant names, please admired his creativity. ]

Welcome to the team, Kethry! [ Tidus has his class selected of a healer, which gives him mostly access to team buffs and the wonderful case of little to no attack powerful, since healers can never be actually buff. With them each selecting their class and being ready, the game moves into a short opening: they stand before a king and queen on a throne in court, advisors in wait. The king speaks to them, a voice controlled and full of authority.

'Thank you, heroes, for accepting this task. The world's future rests on your shoulders, for without the Jewel of Destiny returned to us, it shall surely be a short future indeed.

'It will be dangerous, and we will pray for your safety, and your swift return. Until then, go now, heroes! Say not just your country, but this entire world from ruin!'

The 'camera' lifts to the view of a magnificent ceiling before fading to black, the orchestral music building with the mood, and then fading out as well. Their view comes back to outside the castle, a great field ahead of them, with monsters seen in the distance.

Now is the time for the chirpy field music. ]

Woohoo, alright! Time to beat up everything for gold! Ryo-- uh, Kethie, [ Tidus fixes, ] if you see a monster, you've gotta whack it! You'll get experience and get stronger!

[blue_ice]

Must it always be a jewel of destiny?

[ That music is far too cheery. Critias...er, Seto, scowls at it, plodding along---as much as he'd love to bring up the rear, it's a tank's job to be a shield. So he's sticking beside Ryo, their short-range fighter. ]

And I'm the last person who should say this, but it's a team effort. We'll likely split experience for every monster killed.

[ Speaking of, he thinks he sees a fluffy shape in the grass. ]

Also, the cuter they are, the more beginner-friendly the battle tends to be. It could be to ease you into the adventure...or maybe you have to harden your heart by proving you can slay rabbits. Hard to say.

[fivemilesdeep]

[Okay. They have a goal - find a jewel, evidently? - and they're traveling to reach it. There are monsters around, and they need to be careful. Somehow, the weirder things get, the more they feel like home.]

Okay.

[And then Seto continues the explanation, and Ryo just stares at him.]

Wait, has no one here had rabbit?

[Rabbits are food. Why is it such a bad thing to kill them if you're going to eat them?]

[Which is about when the creature Seto had spotted approaches - it turns out it's a trio of rabbits, with long ears, wide eyes, and way too many big, sharp teeth. The foremost one squeaks and launches itself at Ryo, and he-]

[Ducks.]

[Old habits die hard, it seems.]

[partofthecrowd]

[ Ryo ducked and that is...less than helpful. Rui rolled her eyes a little bit and readied her arrow. ]

Haven't had it. I haven't killed any animals in real life. But these aren't animals, they're game animals.

[ They're meant for killing and getting experience. She released the arrow into the first bunny which lodged into its leg. ]

[blitzcheer]

Wait, those white things? You eat them? [ That the people have on the train?!

Please, some of us have less than normal animals around here, welcome to Tidus ???ing at half of the animals around. But as these rabbits appear - and watch out! one even has an axe!! - Tidus isn't going to hesitate when their cute appearances are disrupted by the endless rows of teeth they show. Kethry ducks, Load GALAX shoots, and their magic healer forgets he's a magic healer and goes straight for one of the rabbits, striking it with his mighty sword!

... wait. No. It's a rod that goes bonk when it makes contact, showing 1 hp that doesn't even make the animal flinch. ]

Huh? [ Tidus sounds, confused, forgetting his role momentary... just as the axe rabbit is jumping for him, flashing its weapon! ]

[blue_ice]

[ Way too many teeth. This is a job for the shield tank.

Critias...er, Seto, jumps in front of the axe. It stings, and takes a chunk out of his life, but less than it would have taken from Tidus. He grunts and swings a heavy sword at it---only a glancing blow. The cursed things have high evasion. ]

Ryo, you're the best-equipped for this one!