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

Entry tags:

[ 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

Some people might have just a few doubts about jumping into a swimming pool created by a chaos-loving higgledy. Especially when they're still pretty new at this whole swimming thing - and after this particular display.

But.. well, Inigo trusts Tidus. And Gibbers. He knows that if anything at all would go wrong here, they'd help him out. His life isn't at stake here, at least.. no, it's just his dignity that's on the line.

Which is just enough for Inigo to say:

"He's going to keep the shallow end here, right?!" Please don't accidentally drown him.

But it's not enough to stop him from actually entering the pool. Especially since he can still easily stand in this end now, the water only reaching up to his waist. This is mangeable. He's cool. He's doing it. Look at him over here in the pool, like a true cool dude.

"Of cooourse!" Of course! Nevermind the lilt in that word, that's just meant to be reassuring, as Tidus walks over to join Inigo in getting into that shallow end. Hibber-Gibber pops out his head from his all amassed pool, squeaking a 'higgle higgle!' in greeting to the pair. He's just as happy as Tidus is about this!!

"Gibbs, we gotta help Inigo learn how to swim again! I wonder what'd be the best way... just going for it?"

Tidus: The Helpful Swimming Teacher.

Inigo hasn't forgotten Tidus's attitude as a swimming teacher last time around, okay. Him being all giddy and perhaps a little bit too excited about it is only expected at this point - though Inigo feels a tad less nervous about it, knowing that he at least learned once before. He can probably remember most of it!

(Still nervous, though.)

"How about you hold my hands again? That worked well last time around.." And no, it isn't just so he has an excuse to hold hands with Tidus! .. Or with Gibbers, he isn't picky! "Just to start me out. I need to see if I remember the right movements!"

"Riiight... holding hands doesn't bring you comfort or anything." Is it okay to tease? It's always okay to tease, but with them talking about it, it is getting Tidus to think more, glancing at the water they're in, not really that high.

"Hey Gibbs, you can control the water, can you? So you get us off our feet just a lil', and you can make us swim in place?"

'Hiig higg! Young travellers, I can indeed! There is no need to worry of drowning when it's my waters you are in!'

The small head disappears into the pool, fading out of sight. And the water starts to slowly rise around their waist, Tidus taking Inigo's hands in preparation.

"It's okay. We've got a go slow rule for any changes we make with other people around."

"I've seen Gibbers explode a few too many water balls to not be a little worried about this," Inigo mumbles.

Granted, it's not a whole freakout like he has from time to time. It's not a huge fear, but there's still some nerves about this, settled well in his stomach. It really has been a long time since he was able to properly swim, after all, and the gap gets scarier with the very little experience he has.

But at least he does have hands to hold. To.. you know. Keep him up in the water. Clearly just that.

(N-Not like it's just comforting to hold Tidus's hands, especially when he's nervous! That's right!!)

But the water rises more around them, making Inigo have to abandon the hold his feet have on the ground, unless he wants to be underwater entirely. He pushes himself up by his feet to make sure his head stays above the water's surface, and starts muttering to himself, trying to remember.

"O-Okay, um.. kicking my legs.." He starts moving them a little, before speaking up a little louder, looking over at Tidus. "I-I just have to move my legs like this, right?"

Pah, talking about exploding water balls! No need to think about those in a time like this!

"Right, just remember - keep a pace, but not too fast! See? No need to worry! Gibbs is controlling all the water today. Today's swimming pool is on your side!"

Does that make Inigo feel any better? He's got a pair of hands to hold, so he should already be feeling good. Tidus kicks his own legs under the water, enjoying the gentle push of a flow of water that doesn't really exist at his back. Almost like being in the sea, without the smell of seasalt, the bobbing waves and basically everything like the sea.

"Nice and easy, nice and easy."

It does help, knowing that he's not out in the sea. Where anything can happens. Where some terrifying sea creature could come and have him as a snack all of a sudden.

But more than anything, it's really those hands he's holding that help. It just feels nice, having such a stark reminder that he's not alone in this. That if something were to happen, Tidus is right there to help him out. Those two things combined is what keeps Inigo from panicking, which means he isn't starting to move like crazy and only helping himself drown. Instead he does take it nice and easy - even mumbling those words to himself after Tidus says them - and manages to keep floating there.

"I think I'm doing it.." He finally speaks up again after a few moments.

Though he's apparently not that convinced of the fact, because he looks over at Tidus with a pleading expression. ".. I'm doing it, right?"

B-Bro, please, some affirmation? Holds up cup?

Tidus really can't help the smile that spreads broadly across his face, the chuckle that escapes him as he examines Inigo and the area around him. Because he had to doublecheck, as if he doesn't have his own eyes. But, to give him a penny of affirmation to his cup:

"Looks like it to me! You're staying up!" Good job, pal! "But you know what the next part of the test is, don't you? Where you have to do it without holding my hands..."

The scariest part! But for extra reassurance (is this a penny? have another penny, Inigo), Tidus tells him, "You can let go whenever you want. 'kay? And then you should try moving a lil' - you don't have to go very far."

There's definitely a small, but audible: "Do I really have to?" Please, can't he just hold people's hands forever. That sounds like the ideal life to him. Why swim if he can't hold someone's hands during it! This is a cruel and unusual form of torture.

But okay, okay. Inigo is a big boy who knows that yes indeed, he really does have to try and do it without holding on to someone. So after sucking in a deep breath to try and drive some swimming courage into himself, he does slowly let go of Tidus's hands, pushing himself back a little while he's at it, since Tidus said he did have to move..

.. except he pushes himself back a little too hard. It makes him miss the rhythm of kicking his legs, which means Inigo slowly ends up submerged under the water. There's no need for Gibbers to do anything though, since Inigo's feet were close enough to the bottom still to be able to tap the bottom of the makeshift pool, pushing himself back up until his head is above the water again, making him suck in a huge gulp of air, his hair hanging half in his face.

"Why--" - wheeze - "Why is water like this?!"

A cruel fiend. A true traitor to Inigo's way of life.

How does Inigo even manage it.

It's amazing what people will do. Tidus would have warned Inigo - or even suggested-! - that he didn't need to kick back, that it was fine to stay in place, so long as he turned himself in that place! But he didn't even think the guy would have done it, why would he? --Except he did. And for a second, he got dunked on. By himself.

And the water.

Inigo's reaction is more what holds Tidus's face in place: baffled, but also mixed in with a helping of Used To This. Yup, this is what being with Inigo is like...!

"Juuust let yourself float," he guides Inigo this time. "Move with the rest of your body - use your arms, move your waist! Your arms control your movement; your legs are more your, uh..."

Oh man he wants to say engine and he can't.

"--just move with your arms," he repeats instead.

Wow, look, he's just following instructions! Technically! Inigo can't help that he's the biggest klutz ever while doing it. That comes all naturally, baby.

But while Tidus is busy trying to find some sort of medieval metaphor for what he wants to say, and then just resorts to plain instruction, Inigo does try to move his arms. Even though he's not sure.. how to move them..? He's just kind of slamming them down on the water surface and then dragging them back up again to do the same thing over and over.

Which means he's just looking more like a toddler by the minute. At least he's not drowning this time..?

"Like this?"

Being a big baby is fine. Tidus doesn't care what Inigo looks like, as long as he gets the hang of it, a feel for what he's doing. And being able to move around, test how the water responds to him - it's a good thing. So he's watching Inigo, smiling in approval.

"Yeah, you've got it! But try it this way, here-"

What's a better way than by example? Tidus starts to paddle in place, brushing his arms and hands against the surface of the water, moving him in the direction he turns his body in. A small ballerina water in place, before he's facing Inigo again.

Tadaaa.

He supposes he can at least.. make an attempt over here.

So Inigo's arms slowly still, rather than continuing to slap against the water. He tries to move them a little while they practically rest on the surface of the water, in a way that's slow and methodical, almost like he's trying it out.

It feels kind of weird, but.. well, it is keeping him floating for now, so that's a thing. That's something.

"I can't believe you were able to play an entire sport in the water, while it's already this hard to just not drown in it!"

"You're learning a new skill! Don't worry, you're doing great!"

Is your cup ready for that encouragement, Inigo?? That love and support? And it even continues, reminding him: "Just think! Once upon a time, you couldn't even do this! Every time you practice is a splash forward!"

Get it, splash?? Cute humour for an easy time. And this really is a pretty easy setting for learning to swim, with Gibbs controlling the water. Maybe he could actually give swimming lessons to people this way...!

...

A filled cup.. is rather nice. Sure, it's still a little overwhelming for Inigo each and every single time he actually gets that praise and affirmation, but there's no denying that it's a nice kind of fluster. The kind that makes his chest feel all warm and light at the same time, and he feels like he might just be blushing a little over here while he's still floating.

"W-Well.. Let's go further then!" Apparently that was the one shove Inigo needed to reach this point. "I want to actually move all by myself! That's supposed to be the fun part of swimming, right?"

"That's right!" Listen to this guy, ready for the real basics of swimming: the swimming. Which Tidus is here to get into, giddy for it to even be brought up. He makes stroke movements with his arms.

"Do we wanna get into the real swimming? Or maybe take it easy, do some floating on your back so you can practice kicking your legs and seeing how you move? Oh, yeah!" Sudden memory! "You should put your head under, get used to holding your breath and having your face under. You've gotta get used to being wet!"

There's so much to be taught, Inigo. Are you ready.

There goes Inigo's filled cup, knocked straight out of his hand by Tidus's enthusiasm hitting him like a freight truck. It's just the kind of enthusiasm that's a little too much, that leaves Inigo unsure of what to even focus on - especially while he's still trying to keep himself up in the water, thank you very much!

But while his instinct is to go for the first option, just really wanting to get to the actual swimming part.. of course Inigo's lizard brain is first distracted by the last thing Tidus says.

Aka: the thing he freaks out the easiest at, sputtering right off the bat.

"W-Wait, why do I have to get used to holding my breath?! What's wrong with swimming up here?"

"You want to learn to swim, don't you? Even if you swim up the top, here-" Here being where he splashes the upper layer of water. "--Your face is gonna end up in the water. You want to get used to it, how it feels - switching your face from side to side when you do strokes."

And in case Inigo doesn't know what strokes are, Tidus does the motions he's speaking about: head tilted one side as an arm goes forward and in, and then his head turning as the other hand and arm do the same motion.

"You need to learn how to act in water, too. Don't worry," he reassures, 'cause he knows he's going to need to! "--It sounds like a lot more than it is. But you'll be able to do everything if you learn it!"

Everything, Inigo!!

Learning that actual swimming involves having your face underwater a whole bunch is not.. exactly the greatest news Inigo has heard today. The thought of it just feels weird to think about, okay! He thought having your face in the water was a bad thing, and now it's suddenly a required thing?

Not that he's going to give up at just that, but he does look a tad more awkwardly, his gaze shifting from side to side as he seems to consider this.

"Then what should I do? Just.. go under? And then come up again? But I can't even stay under very long."

"That's fine! Just stay under five seconds!" Do you need a hand to show five seconds, 'cause one is coming up. Ta-da! Five fingers! "Go under, hold your breath, and then come back up! Then after that, we'll try floating-"

And Tidus's need to show everything isn't about to stop there, especially not when this means, he can float. Lifting up his legs, and letting his body hang out on the surface. It would be nicer if it was for more than two or three seconds, but alas-

He's got to be good and come back into proper position, and be ready to help Inigo not drown.

Thanks for making sure he still knows how to count, Tidus.

And for making sure to watch him as he - hopefully - doesn't accidentally drown himself. That'd be a lot to suddenly have to explain to the other people on the train. Inigo's head isn't at floating at all yet though, despite the example. Mostly since he's still a little worried about how he's going to survive all of this, but if Tidus really seems convinced that it'll be okay..

.. well, then hopefully it will be.

"Okay. I trust you, you know!" It feels important to say that. He's only doing this because he trusts Tidus, and because the other wouldn't lead him into something that'd kill him.

"I'll try going under for five seconds. And if I don't come up again.."

Inigo pauses. ... Seems to consider this.

".. then you better come pull me up, alright?"

"Suuure, suure." Inigo is the toddler and Tidus must reassure him that the water isn't going to swallow him whole if he's under it for five seconds. It's amazing what can get Inigo wound up, but Tidus figures it's genuine - this is just Inigo, and all they can expect from him is for him to do his best.

And it's only for Inigo that he offers, as he reminds Inigo:

"Remember, count to five, in your head. You don't need to open your mouth. And if you really want..." Out comes his hand. "...You can hold my hand while you're doing it."

A beat. "Just don't yank me under too."

He knows what you're like, dude.

"I know I don't have to open my mouth!" Inigo whines.

But let's be real here - these are definitely the kind of simple instructions Inigo needs in most situations, so who could blame Tidus for mentioning that right now?

Besides, it's not like he's ignoring everything that Tidus is saying here, or needs none of it, because he is most definitely moving slightly over to the other to latch onto that hand like it's the only thing keeping him from drowning here. (Does Inigo really need it? Is he just here for any excuse he can get to hold Tidus's hand? Who knows, people.

Who knows.)

"O-Okay!" That wasn't a shake of his voice, okay. You're clearly imagining it. "I am.. doing it now! I am going under! Right now! For five seconds!"

He is lowering himself a little, but still not enough for his face to be fully submerged. "Heeere I go. Now. Right now. I'm not going to drown. Here I go."

Just by the time one might imagine Inigo needs to be shoved under or he'll never go, he finally manages to fully get into the water. Head under it and all. He's squeezing Tidus's hand so hard.

.. and he's definitely still underwater, even after the five seconds have passed. Did he forget..?

If Inigo ever ignores an opportunity to hold one's hand, that's when you know something is wrong. A room could be filled with noise, and he'd sense the permission granted to latch on.

(Or because it's busy and busy settings filled with people scare him.)

So Tidus doesn't blink when the hand is taken, no matter what's coming out of the other's mouth. Not judging him for the build-up he needs to go through, amping himself up. Even saying himself, "Here you go!" to encourage the guy to make the dip. Definitely weighing the decision of if he should help to push the other guy under (gently), but there he goes, and Tidus starts to count to five under his breath.

Both for Inigo, and for the sake of his hand.

...except, that's longer than five, isn't it? And he gives Inigo a few more seconds before he wiggles his hand (he knows you're not drowning under there, bro! You're murdering his hand!!).

"Heeyy! Five seconds are up! Come back up, you've gotta do it again!"

You can't try and do all the sessions at once, bro, that's not how this works!!

The tug on his hand seems to do the trick. Inigo emerges from the water again, sucking in the deepest breath he's ever had, like his lungs were completely deprived of oxygen down there.

"T-- Tidus.."

Give him a moment, he's speaking between heavy breaths here, his eyes wild.

"I-- I did it! I held my breath down there! I have become a new person!" See here: the solution to the mystery of why Inigo didn't get back up after the five seconds. He forgot to count in his head because he was busy having a dumb dramatic revelation down there.

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