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

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

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!! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Taiki had been aware of Tidus' pool antics but he is still not really well enough for crazy swimming in a gym made pool. He was glad that Tidus had managed to do find a way to swim and beyond glad that he had not caused a major disaster and flooded the entire train in the process.

Taiki had woken up in the middle of the night, uncomfortable, feeling slightly ill and despite his attempts sleep had not returned. It was nights like this that he missed the feeling of slightly ghostly arms around her. But even thinking of that was enough to almost break his heart and so, as usual, he pushes every memory aside.

He wanders, his plan is to get some water from the kitchen. There's water nearer but he wants the walk, wants the quiet that the train at night brings. Even if there were always some people awake.

Like Tidus here. He is surprised to see his friend but his face twists in worry when he saw the energy drink, not something to be drinking in the middle of the night.

"What are you watching?"

Sorry to Tidus if this very light footed kirin startled him.

But Taiki, swimming would have made you feel so much better.

The voice makes him jump, startle; the screen that showed the blitzball game - with him in his second year, blond hair over brown - brought down onto the table. Swinging his head around, he sees who it is - "Taiki?" and then turns back around, rubbing his palm over his eyes before he tilts his head back.

"What are you doing up? Your sleep schedule all messed up?"

Not that it would last - both of them would be whizzed off to sleep - but until then...

"I'm sorry." Taiki apologised straight away as Tidus jumped, he hadn't meant to startle him. He looked at the screen, seeing Tidus on there. Blitzball.

It was strange to see him on the screen, he looked just like Tidus. Which... Was normal except it felt strange, that Tidus had not changed physically from world to world.

"A little. I guess. Are you watching your Blitzball games?"

Tidus hums in the negative to the apology, but knows not to bother any more than that. Looking back to the screen as Taiki down, before lowering it down, flat-faced. A grimace pulling over his mouth as he leans back, stretching forward his arms.

"Yeah." He is, was, but there's a hesitance to the reply. Admitting after a pause, "...I don't know if I should be."

It's complicated. But he sees Taiki standing there, probably unable to get any sleep, and offers to move when he puts a hand on the seat beside him.

"Want some company?"

He sits the moment it is offered and looks towards Tidus.

"You shouldn't be?" Was it making him homesick? Was it a bad thing for him to watch them. But he leaves his question there, not wanting to push Tidus, just giving him space to talk, if he wished.

"Mmmhh..." He struggles to start, just humming, leaning himself against Taiki some, just with their arms close together. To feel him with him, with his gaze on the table.

"I watch it, and it's... I guess... that's not me anymore. It feels like forever ago, and - that world doesn't exist now. I can't go back to it, right? My life is really just...being here, you know? Whatever I do on the train. And there's no room for being a blitzer on the train."

He pauses, drumming his fingers on the side.

"It's weird...I guess."

"Yes." He nodded, "I understand." A life he can't go back to. Feeling like a different person before. Finding who he was here. "It looks like you... But you're different on the inside now."

He pressed close to him, to give him comfort. "Does it hurt? To watch them?"

"...not really." He wonders if that's weird, but for the second he considers that, it's easy to dismiss. "I miss them in my own way, but it's like seeing photos of you as a kid, right? ...Okay," he says after a pause, "Not that embarrassing, but- it's too long ago to get like that."

Regretful, longing. Or is he just older? Already saying goodbye once, that there's no room for going through it again.

"But maybe I'm jealous." If without all the icky feelings involved. Instead of continuing with that thought however, he glances in Taiki's direction.

"Do you ever think about what you'll do? When you get back?"

Jellous of a life he once had? Taiki can understand that. He doesn't feel it, but he can understand how it could be felt. Looking at photos from long ago.

"All the time. I worry... What we will find..."

Would things somehow be even more dire? Was there any way they could save Tai? It caused him more than one sleepless night.

"Isn't there anything you can do from here?" Small as it might be, Tidus frowns, remembering the circumstances around Tai. "You have the arms band. If you could take things back with you... would there be anything that'd help?"

It's the one hope he has for people who end up here, that they can get anything they can to take back to their worlds to help. And though there was something involving...some kind of coup back in Tai...

Wasn't there anything?

"I just have to hope... That if I get back so does Lord Gyousou."

He sighed, "If we can restore him to the throne, things will get better. More so than anything else I could return from this place. Without the rightful king on the throne nothing will save Tai."

It couldn't. Youma would destroy, crops would fail. He is certain that there would be a way for any supplies he brought from here to ruin. The heavenly laws were clear and a kingdom without a king was one of suffering.

How can he be wallowing in his own self-pity party when there were people with bigger worries than him? Bigger than about what aren't or can't be; it sinks Tidus's heart to listen to Taiki, and he wants to help him. He wants there to be a way they could help.

It's always like this. They're taken away from homes and planets, from worlds that need them, taken to save others while theirs are left to fall to ruin.

"Let's tell the train to take us there!" Tidus says. "To Tai, to help! We can help you and Gyousou out! Isn't it the least we could do with how long you've been away?"

Taiki looked at him with sad eyes as he thought about that. The train. All these people, going to Tai. To help out, to put Gyousou on the throne, to rid Tai of Asen.

Except it's a thought that is pretty terrible. His eyes fill with tears. "No. If we went there, all of us, there would be fighting. Asen... He doesn't care. He doesn't even want to be king he doesn't care about the people. About their suffering. He doesn't want to rule. He doesn't even want power. He just hates that Lord Gyousou was chosen."

It's perhaps the closest to angry Tidus would ever hear Taiki. "But if we went... Asen's army. They are people of Tai too." His people. "I don't want one citizen to suffer. There's already been so much, so many deaths."

And now he's crying. He can normally keep this pain locked inside him but the truth of it is, his people are dying. A kirin's first love is to the people of it's kingdom and he needs not have much imagination to know how they starve and freeze. But if there were fighting, more would die. So much suffering.

"But with Lord Gyousou... We wouldn't need to fight. If I bow to Lord Gyousou and the people see. No one will believe Asen anymore. That's all it will take."

And yet. Eight years. Eight years and counting.

It's a spiteful story, one that Tidus knows Taiki wouldn't accuse another of so easily. Not with truly believing it, without having reason to doubt. He's too much of a nice guy for that, and - and Taiki's put in a position, of wanting freedom for his people, the land he calls his kingdom, his home, but also being who he is. A guy who doesn't want bloodshed, someone who'd do anything to prevent that before concede to it.

Tidus can sympathise, and all the more, it breaks his heart. Just as much as the tears do. It kills the what ifs that could emerge from his throat, and he quietly murmurs, "Come here" as he opens his arms, drawing Taiki into him, but allowing him some room to move into him too. Holding him against him, burying his head next to Taiki's.

"I'm sorry." There's nothing more than he can be, but to be sorry. For Taiki, for his home. For the nothing they can do to help, and why? Why was it they were always unable to help each other, when they deserved saving as much any other world did? Their people, their homes.

He rubs Taiki's back, not wanting to speak; but to let the other guy grieve. When he's the one to ask, to draw his pain out.

For a moment he pauses. Because accepting comfort for this, for the failure of everything he is supposed to be, is not easy. But Tidus is his friend and those arms will never hurt him and he has gotten used to having this. Friends and people who cared about him. He curls into them, letting Tidus wrap them around him and rub his back as he weeps.

Weeps for Tai, for his people. It is so often stifled this sorrow, put aside. Left to wound him inside because he's not the only one. So many people come from worlds that need them and making a scene about it will help no one.

But some nights it becomes too much. "I can't even... If I died, the next Taika would grow. They could find the new king and it might be faster... Than hoping I get back... That Lord Gyousou somehow finds his way back." From wherever in the void he had ended up.

"But I can't... The train just brings us back." Even that, terrifying but simplest solution was beyond him now.

No, no no... This is a story he's been involved in before. Sacrificing yourself to save the rest of the world, putting everyone else before yourself. Why? Why does this story have to be a constant? Even if Taiki can't do it - can't because the train won't let him - Tidus is shaking his head against Taiki's hair, against him, the words muttering already.

"No, no, no no no... Taiki, we can think of something else, anything else. If Asen's really doing this just to get back at Gyousou, just to be this way - what would he care about getting in the way of whoever comes after you? Isn't there another way? Couldn't we tell them about Gyousou? Couldn't you denounce Asen in front of everyone?"

If Asen's the problem, he's the one they need to deal with. He's the problem, whoever this asshole is.

He just bows his head, letting the tears fall and not arguing with Tidus. He knows it wouldn't be something Tidus would like, if their roles had been reversed Taiki would be saying no as well.

"I..." The tears were still falling and he tries to stifle them. There's a lot. Why it would be easier for the next Taiki or Tairin. The things that would happen, how it would make it absolutely certain that Asen was an impostor. But would that be enough?

"I already called Asen the king..." His voice was quiet, painfully so, a whisper. He hasn't really told anyone about this at all. "I... I was trying to buy time. For Risai to find Lord Gyousou. But I did it and I... I bowed to him.... People witnessed that. To denounce that... without Lord Gyousou there..."

There was more, but he is struggling already, to talk about any of this. "A lot of Asen's people are brainwashed... by Youma... They are like puppets and if he says... I'm a kokki, so people don't always realise I'm the kirin at first." He reaches to touch a strand of Tidus' hair. "You look more like a kirin than I do... If he says I'm a fake..."

Blond-haired? So Tidus figures he must mean, but there's solution in bringing on anyone blond-haired. They need Taiki to be kirin - the Tairin, to save his people.

"What's this Youma?" Tidus asks, insisting; if it's not a strategy to denounce Asen without Gyousou, then there's the implication - what can they do about the Youma controlling people?

"You have friends on the outside... Risai's searching for Lord Gyousou, but people know you! They know you're Tai's kirin! Isn't there anything we could do? A way to stop the spell.. a way to reveal the truth!"

"I don't know. Youma... They are demons. There are lots of them. They are... They aren't like the demons in Erda for example but creatures. Fiends you would call them." Tidus called everything fiends right? "But exactly how they control people... I hadn't heard of anything like that so I don't really know. But if someone is against Asan, but he still needs them... They just lose all free will."

He wished he knew how, and how to stop it from happening. "People don't... Tai doesn't really have any pictures or anything and the people who have seen me before... it was when I was ten. And..." He took a breath, his eyes welling as well.

"All our allies... They were in the courtyard, when they brought Lord Gyousou. When they were going to... I was trying to get to him. But then we ended up here."

He doesn't like thinking about it, admitting it. But the likelihood of Risai or any of their friends getting out of that courtyard alive when Taiki and Gyousou had somehow being snatched right from under Asen's nose was incredibly unlikely.

Why? Why was it like this - being stuck on this train, never having answers, never being able to help one another. Reaching people in the brink of them suffering disaster, but their own, they couldn't do anything about it. Trapped to do the work this craft wanted to do, but for them-

There's nothing. Nothing they can do, nothing -- nothing. Tidus wraps his arms tighter around Taiki and pulls him in, an embrace as much for himself as it is for Taiki. He wants to say he's sorry over and over, he wants to scream. Because why? Why? Why? This isn't fair, why can't they help each other, why is it just what this damn train wants, why won't it help them!

"I want there to be a chance." It's low, but it can't be soft, it can't be quiet; not with how desperately, desperately Tidus wants it. "I wish there was, Taiki... I wish we could reason with this stupid thing." And there's heat in those words, his dislike never one that's well-covered, but it's venomous now.

"I know we could help you, Taiki. Your kingdom, Tai - if we were just given a chance. We could help you guys!"

But what even is Tai now, since he's been away? And he knows about Gyousou's memories that Inigo witnessed, that dreaded fate.

He hates it. He hates it so badly.

He hugs back, knowing Tidus is sad, helpless. Of course, how could he feel anything else? Taiki felt helpless to help Tidus as well. It was such a thing, to not be able to help each other whilst knowing the pain that was happening back on their own worlds. Trapped on this train. Helping people, saving worlds when their own hung in the balance.

"I want there to be a chance too. I wish... I hoped so hard. Everything is so... I would want nothing more than for you to be able to help, to come with me but. Asen. He would hurt you. He's so.... He burns whole villages if he even thinks there are rebels hiding inside. He doesn't care. He is cruel but he has no... There's no reason. How do you fight that? He was Lord Gyousou's friend. His right hand man and yet he attacked him, injured and trapped him. He cut off my horn. There's nothing he won't do. If you came, even if we could persuade the train. He would hurt you all and I couldn't stand that."

He hated feeling so helpless but he has ran through a thousand scenario's in his mind and none of them end well for Tai. Not one.

"It would hurt, I know it'd hurt; I know everything we go through, it hurts you the most. It hurts you more. You get sick, you don't even like us fighting what goes for us first. But-"

He slips his head forward, just to be by Taiki's. Taking a hold of one of his hands, gripping it tightly.

"We could do it, and you could handle it - because you're strong. Because you handle it all the time to help people. And because we have to suffer too, each of us. We can't stop someone like that without it, but we can do our best to stop it from getting worse. Think about it-" And he knows, how it must be to hear all this for his friend; who falls ill from fighting, with a heart that becomes so unsteady because of it.

"If he set fires, we have Gibbs who'd put them out. If he used fiends, then- we'd have people who can go against them. We have people with all kinds of power! But what about Tai's people? If they're suffering - we'd gladly hurt, just for a while, so they stopped hurting. We'd recover, Taiki, we always do. And I'd fight for Tai in a heartbeat." His eyes are on him, pained but sure, his hold on Taiki's hand unrelenting.

"Tai deserves to be saved too. And if we just had a chance - with what you know, and - we could even sneak in! We could see what's going on where Asen is, put together a plan, stop him. Him and his youma - we just need the chance."

The chance to prove it, to help one of their own for once, the slow suffering of a people who were in pain.

He gripped Tidus hand in return, even more tears spilling down his face as Tidus speaks. Speaks of helping, of suffering together and saving Tai. It might be an impossible dream but Tidus speaks and makes it sound real.

I'd fight for Tai in a hearbeat he says, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if he weren't the most brave and kindest person. As if what he was saying was normal, everyday rather than the enormity that it was.

Taiki can almost believe it is possible, that those on the train could help, that Asen could be stopped. His heart wants to burst just at the thought that he had friends who would help him, that would travel to his world, to a place so dangerous, to help his people.

He can't even speak, he is too overwhelmed. He is just one, probably cursed, kirin. To have people who cared this much, not because he was their kirin or because custom dictated but just because they were his friends... He wasn't sure what he had done to deserve such a gift.

And he wasn't even sure where to start with showing how much he appreciated it.

He's been here before. Hoping for the impossible, desperate to make it happen. How? With a train that never listens to the parts that matter; that only has empty apologies to give, its own missions to care for, the problems that come through the proper channels.

Tidus sits there clutching onto Taiki, clutching to his hand. If he has to be a hero, then why can't they be heroes for the people around them? Give them the support, take the time to fix their problems? Even just a little, just for a week. We have to try stuck in his head, his throat, along with the obvious. But how?

"Let's ask again," he speaks low, knowing how pathetic, fruitless he must sound, but, "When you're ready, tell it. Try asking for the world number you come from, maybe - maybe we can ask Anan, maybe they can make a fake report and the train will find it and we can go!"

He speaks lower for that plan, fuelled by nothing but desperation. But he's heard this over and over, and he just wants -- he wants them to be acknowledged, their troubles and problems, of their worlds, their homes.

"I don't want to give up, Taiki... what kind of sick joke is this, that we have to beg? I'm tired of the excuses... I just want us to have a chance."

He keeps holding Tidus, reaches up to smooth his hair, knowing how that calmed him back in the sleepover. Now he knows Tidus likes having his hair petted it is something he will do whenever he thinks Tidus needs it. Which is a lot. Tidus has a lot of feelings about a lot of things.

"We won't give up... I won't give up." He shook his head. "Not with Tai. I exist for the people of Tai... Saving them... It's all that fills my mind."

Even when other things also fill his mind it's always there, in the back. "And I'm not the only one... Inigo has a lot to do in his world too... Others as well... But I'll ask... I can ask for the world number."

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

Day 19 b

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cw: talk of self sacrifice/killing self to save the world

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