[ 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

[longforgottenpromise]

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.

[blitzcheer]

"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.

[longforgottenpromise]

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.

[blitzcheer]

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."

[longforgottenpromise]

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."

[blitzcheer]

Is this the time to be turning Tidus into a shy, awkward lump of a person? Because it's strange to have Taiki suddenly touching his hair in an affectionate manner, but not the bad kind of way. But it's difficult, too; it's not close to what he really wants, but maybe a gesture that's the closest to anything soothing he's going to receive for these mixed up emotions in him.

Where he can be glad that Taiki will ask, but there's no hope in it either, nothing satisfying. Who knows if the train will give it, won't? But what if they can't even do anything with it; what if it's just another dead end like all the others.

But Tidus doesn't stop him, head bowed, expression shy but downcast. Not letting go of their held hands.

"There's so many people on the train with worlds that need help... people who were here, people gone. You, Inigo, Allen, Madoka, Noctis and Prompto... and those are just the ones off the top of my head."

Five different worlds. But there were other people, other planets, for sure. There always was.

[longforgottenpromise]

There's always time to soothe Tidus, to stroke his hair and comfort him. He knows Tidus is hurting and angry and he wants to help. But there's nothing practical he can do, his anger is at the train, at the reality of their lives and Taiki is as helpless to change that than anyone.

Inigo, Allen, Madoka, Noctis, Prompto. Probably more. More people who came from worlds that hung in the balance. It was painful to think of.

"I will ask, I know we will try our best. We don't abandon anyone." From any world. As hard as that would be.

[blitzcheer]

Tidus nods, quiet, even after the fact. They don't want to abandon anyone, just as they don't want to see people get hurt, but Tidus knows they won't get everything they want.

But if there's a possibility, if there's anything to grab... he doesn't want to move away from Taiki's comfort, selfish as it is. But he does pull away eventually, so he can look at Taiki better, not resting against his shoulder, Mouth tugging but not managing a smile.

"Sorry... I know...you have the carry worrying about Tai every day. And it sucks... how out of reach everything always is. But..."

He squeezes their hands; words rambling from a point that isn't clearly distinct even in his own mind.

"I hope Tai's okay. I hope it'll be okay... I really do."

[longforgottenpromise]

Even as Tidus pulls away another hand reaches out to hold his, keeping a connection as Tidus looks so sad, so worried.

He still feels that same feeling, as if he is completely full of feeling. That Tidus, someone who has never even seen Tai, someone from a place far away, would care. Would want to help.

"Thank you... I hope so too. The people are so strong, but still I worry."

After all there was only so much anyone could endure.