[open / +a mingle activity for younger characters!] sports + food = good lyfe

[blitzcheer]

Who: Tidus & You!
Where: Kitchen carriage, dining, wherever he gets teleported to, and sports gym!
When: Quicksand 1 - 6 (before mission time)
What: Cooking, teleporting, and a kid-teen friendly exercise/obstacle course!
Warnings: Should be none!

1. cooking, morning and dinner ( p-p-p-pancakes and panfried meals)

You know what Tidus wants to do?

He wants to cook.

And what a good month to have that urge, with Purple on meal duties. He doesn't usually bother to take charge in the kitchen for chores, sticking with helping out if he's interested. But this time? Why not. They've got new foods, with enough of a selection that he goes for it: writing down his name for a breakfast and dinner shift after going through the ingredients, and making a call later over the ICPs:

"Hey, Tidus here! I'm cooking for breakfast tomorrow. If any newbies don't know how the kitchen works, or you just wanna cook some food, come 'n' help out - I'm thinking pancakes, smoothies, and pan frittata for breakfast."

For dinner, it's the same set-up, Tidus inviting others to join him for whatever reason, just with a different menu: fish and veggie skewer bites, pan-fried rice with vegetables and meat, and even squash and pineapple fried up with a few veggies.

a: cooking

Whichever time you'll meet him, he'll be found in the kitchen, readying the ingredients and the pans he'll need. He's got a bud in one ear playing music that he hums along to, so you might need to speak up to get his attention. But he's got a good view of the doorway, and will usually give someone he sees a 'Sup!' or 'Morning!' - depending on the time, of course.

Are you here to learn a few things? Do you just want to help out? Or maybe you're just here because you are = Tidus will accept any and all reasons, so long as it doesn't include intentional disasters.

b: it's eatin' time

There's a giddiness that comes with the apprehension of having enough, but surprisingly, it works out. Tidus is skilled at making more than he needs to, and it shows by the spread set out on the end of the dining table close to the kitchen. Oats have been set out, fresh sliced fruits (strawberries, banana, apple, and more), an oatmeal bake of pineapple and cinnamon, yoghurt, and bowls to pick and mix the selection from.

There's also the promised pancakes, and some slices of frittata - a meaty version with turkey bacon mixed in, but a veggie variety too. Tidus will come out to top up the heated food when it's getting low, or you can come into the kitchen to let him know - or even come in, and try out the smoothie maker they have set ready too.

(Don't worry, there's plenty of fruits and vegetables left for the month.)

Truthfully, he's nervous on the inside, both for breakfast and when dinner rolls around, and he hangs around the kitchen just in case. But you know he'll play it cool when and if anyone comes inside during eating times, smiling, and definitely not in a 'oh man I hope everything's okay' way.

2. your very own dreamboy (teleporting shenanigans)

There's more than just food to worry about, though. Since Praeus, some of Tidus's Diagad powers have started to show themselves, with somewhat positive results. The ability to show up around whoever wants him near, or who he asks - pretty handy, and it hasn't been messing up too much since he's started practising.

Life won't let him keep that up.

Because all it takes is a stray thought, either from Tidus or anyone else; not even anything deliberate, but just thinking about him gives him a feeling. Like someone is talking to him, and he thinks to answer them, turning his head to respond--

And he's gone from wherever he was - the sports gym, sitting in bed, sitting in a chair - and appears wherever that person was. And the feeling they receive from Tidus is much the same. Did they just hear Tidus? Feel him? -- now he's right there, usually toppling over something or walking straight into places that shouldn't be walked (and if there's something in the way - you bet you're hearing an 'ouch!' as he knocks unfortunate body parts.)

And it only gets worse, when Allen's bad luck power just makes him show up around random people without any stray thought.

(help)

3. a teen and younger obstacle course

Link leads to its own top-level available for younger characters to tag and do activities! Older folks allowed for teaching moves and w/e, if they're supporting the younger folks.

Toplevels:

Molly Hayes
Madoka Kaname - Bow and Arrow
Ken Amada - Spear fighting
Little One/Buttercup
Peter Parker - Chaperoning
Ple Two
Roland Crane - Swordfighting

Feel free to message me over journal or at blitzoff if you have questions or want to plot!

Comments

[blitzcheer]

Aww, listen to her! And Tidus is happy to be the expert here, glad to hear she's willing to give a non-grav route a go.

"Sure, if you're willing! It's good to see what you can do, then see how you can get better over time." He nods to the obstacle course set out - lovingly put together! - with a grin.

"It's not as scary as thinking I was going to send you running around the room, right?"

[happyends]

"Well, this sure does seem a lot less tiring.."

She will at least admit that. Just the thought of running a few laps through a carriage already fills Madoka with dread - and it's not even like these carriages are particularly big, so that's saying something. It's definitely the source behind the relieved expression on her face.

"But, you know.." Her voice trails off, and for a moment the girl grows silent. She gives the other a sheepish expression. "I know this is going to sound odd, since we face bigger danger all the time.. But I'm still a little scared of falling off one of the balancing beams."

She looks embarrassed as she says it, but Madoka is being strong and actually talking about this! A big step in the land of Madokas!

"Can you maybe walk alongside me on the ground so you can help me if I fall, Tidus..?"

Surely he can catch a tiny girl, right. Use those muscles, boy.

[blitzcheer]

Aw, that's cute - but he can understand the fear.

"Sure thing. But after a few turns, you have to do it by yourself, and then start moving faster. Get over your fear and worry, and learning how to balance yourself."

Hopefully, the easy way he goes through the plan helps Madoka to feel some confidence, or not as bad as she could be thinking about it. He'll even throw in, pointing a thumb at himself. "I had to do the same thing. Then, I was balancing on railings, doing jumps off them! You'll fall over, but so does everyone!"

It's just a normal part of learning fun tricks!!

[happyends]

But why do people have to fall in the first place, Tidus. Why can't we create a world where everyone is constantly surrounded by soft pillows to fall on? That's the kind of world Madoka would want to live in, thanks.

"O-Okay!"

She still doesn't like the idea of running around up there by herself a whole lot, but she doesn't think Tidus is going to relent on that one in the slightest.. So Madoka guesses she'll just have to do her best.

She's completely stuck in this trap at this point, after all.

"But.." She pauses, seeming to gather up all her courage for a moment. Just enough to say: "If I get hurt real bad, you're the one who has to explain that to the adults, Tidus!"

So cheeky! So wild!! Watch out, world, it's a new Madoka!

(Not really though. She still sounds as nervous as ever as she says it.)

[blitzcheer]

Wow, listen to this warning he's getting! Tidus wide-eyed (if confused at first), before crossing his arms in front of himself in an X motion.

"I padded the floors! It's serious injury proof! Promise!" And look, Madoka! He's come here to join your side, just like you asked - Tidus perhaps even shorter than the girl for once. (The only time; enjoy the height difference, Madoka!)

He holds up a hand, offering it.

"You can hold on for the start. How about that? But you'll see - it's safe for any Madoka to brave!"

[happyends]

Madoka doesn't hesitate in grabbing onto that hand, at the very least. There's no need to be shy around Tidus when they've spoken enough at this point, and it's not even the first time he's tried to help her.

And in the meantime she can enjoy the height difference, clearly. Who knew that all it would take was a balance beam for Madoka to finally be the taller one?

"I'm just not very good at this.."

But even as she's saying it, she's starting to move. Putting one foot onto the beam, then the next, and then slowly starting to walk over it, one step after another.

Definitely wobbly though, so it's not like Madoka was lying about what she just said.

"It's hard to keep your balance up here!" Even with a Tidus to hold your hand, apparently. But she isn't falling, so that's the good part!

[blitzcheer]

"You're not used to it! It's okay." Here is Tidus, the ever-reassuring voice - and hand of safety as she's walking. "You know? It's your ankles that help you balance. But you've also gotta train how you look at the practice, too."

He wants to say more, about how perception - if you think you're going to fall making you more anxious, making your decisions sloppier - is about that, but considering this is her first time, he stops himself there, and offers:

"I'll be quiet and let you concentrate. Just get to the end, pause if you need to. But keep going."

That was what mattered, not how long it took. We believe in you, Madoka!

[happyends]

Tidus is actually so close to hitting on something important there - on just how much the way Madoka looks at the world influences how she does things, but since he doesn't quite mention it in this moment, she herself doesn't realise it either.

No, instead she just tries to focus, especially when she realises that he's going quiet just for her. It makes her feel even more like she has to do this the right way. Tidus put so much effort into setting this up, into guiding her through it, even encouraging her along the way.

That means she can't fail.

So the girl momentarily holds her breath, trying to just focus on putting one foot in front of the other, trying to balance the best she can as she slowly moves all the way across the beam.

She doesn't dare to open her mouth to release that breath until her feet are on something more solid again. She's still high up, sure, but at least she isn't standing on a narrow beam anymore, and that's enough reassurance she won't fall that she dares to finally let go of the guy's hand.

"Oh, I made it.."

With the way she says it, you'd think that she walked over a pit of crocodiles or something, rather than a balance beam above padding.. It's that sort of relief.

"I really wasn't sure whether that was going to end up okay or not!" Even with Tidus's gentle help and care.

[blitzcheer]

Madoka did it!!

"See?" There's pride, even in that one word. "It's easy to think about how bad something will be 'til you try it! We get so worked about how it can go wrong, but you know? I bet if we went again - sure, you'd feel worried, but what about if you did it another time after that? Is it still daunting to think about?"

What do you think, Madoka?

[happyends]

".. maybe still a little bit."

This is Madoka, after all. Things are pretty easily daunting. And she doesn't want to lie to Tidus, as much as she'd also like to give the Ideal Answer at the same time here. Sometimes it's hard when you want to be a good person, but also please others at the same time..

"But.. less so than before." That's also honest, and it feels like a good compromise here. At least she can show him that helping her through it helped!

But that's not the only thing Madoka is thinking about here. After a momentary pause, she glances over at the guy to ask: "Do you really get worried before you do things too, Tidus..?"

Because he never seems that way. But then again, Madoka is very easily deceived when it comes to other people's confidence levels, since she always assumes them to be higher than her own.