voidtreckerexpress | A New Platform [Intro Post May]

A New Platform [Intro Post May]

PLATFORM STOP: MONTH 18
(RABBIT)

BEFORE ARRIVAL

"Good morning Voidtreckers, it is day one of the month of Rabbit. Points have been updated on the system."
The voice of the Voidtrecker Express welcomes passengers at the same time as always, sometime after breakfast. With points updated, everyone can spend the morning shopping. Most people will be expecting the second announcement that comes a few hours later, as the colours of the void outside the windows blur more and more.

"Shortly arriving into a designated void platform. The weather is hot and dry.. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."
A lurch and a jolt, and the windows fill with the fog that means they are at a platform.

ON THE PLATFORM

1. THE ARRIVAL

At first, all your character can see is steam billowing around them as they come to their senses. But as their eyes adjust, they find themselves on a platform. It is indeed hot and dry. The dirt packed ground of the platform was cracked and dusty. The air hazy and shimmery if they looked through the fog. The sun blazes down from above, not much shade to be found.

They stand in clothes not their own, in a style they might not even recognise. They're carrying a rucksack on their person, and for a moment it seems to just be them, alone on this platform. Before the fog starts to subside, and they'll see they're one of Eight figures: all facing the tracks, and all dressed in cargo trousers and hoodies, the latter in one of four colours. Purple, red, blue or orange.

But then there's a roaring sound to get their attention, and out from the fog arrives a train. A sleek black, it reads The Voidtrecker Express in gold lettering on the side. Every one of the doors hiss as they open automatically, and out pours a strange assortment of people, over a hundred at least. Some are human, some less so, with a majority wearing the same hoodie of four colours as they do, though some sport outfits in a variety of styles.

The train doors close behind them, and the vehicle is cloaked in the same fog that hides the world beyond the platform. A group of people head towards the gates of the platform, their expressions blank and unaffected by their surroundings. A-Qing, Joseph Kavinsky, Ken Amada, Kumoko, Mina Mongoose, Naoya, Peter Parker, Ronan Lynch, Senku Ishigami, The Iron Bull, Yosuke Otoha Zenos yae Galvus
They disappear through the barriers, but no one else can - all people can do is wait until the train re-emerges, finishing whatever changes it's making.

2. BOARDING THE TRAIN

After a short time, about ten minutes or so, the fog clears and the doors hiss open again. Everyone will feel a pull when they do, a need to board, and those from the train may encourage new arrivals to board. This feeling grows into one of apprehension and turns worse the longer they stay off-board.

For those that do board, they may find themselves in a few different carriages, but most likely the standard coach. A row of seats sit available, with a few tables between each. More likely than not, some cookies have been set out with jugs of drink, and cups available for pouring.

For those that don't, however, they're likely to attract attention if they're spotted. And if that fails... an unfortunate end will await them.

a. New arrivals will notice a screen and console in every carriage sharing the same message, and a stack of leaflets in holders by them offering further information to the curious (see 'Publications'). There are lavatories available on each carriage on one end, with another console with a deposit box under it at the other. This is the train shop.

b. It'll take some time for newbies to figure out the layout, even if there's only two directions to go in. Go one end, and you'll find the food stores and washing utilities. This month's key ingredient is mushrooms, and you're sure to bump into others curious about what's in the stock.

c. Go to the other end, and you'll find the sleeper cabins. Plaques sit on the wall by each door with the names of their occupants, and one of these will be yours - hopefully, they'll figure out that swiping their ticket against the doorpad will open it up to them. In most rooms, the occupied beds are obvious, leaving the spotless, empty spaces for the newcomers. Room is tight, but there are storage cubbies at the head of each bed, beds fold up and, the bottom bunks double as benches for the small table. There is storage under those benches full of spare blankets and pillows.

d. At the farthest end in this direction is the luggage carriage, where passengers who have bought items from the train shop will find their purchases. These are scattered around the luggage carriage in various suitcases and bags, but there's also a small fridge and kettle here with bottled water, for those who want a quiet drink.

For those interested in what the reward for Purple team was, they will find boxes of cookies

DEPARTURE

Spend your time exploring, if you will. But people will have half an hour before a second horn sounds, encouraging any stragglers taking advantage of the fresh air to board. After five minutes from this, the doors slide shut. Veteran passengers know what will happen next, but they may wish to brief their new companions.

The train begins to rumble with activity, and the platform starts to disappear into a fog as the voidcraft moves. A female-coded artificial voice echoes throughout the train.

"Welcome aboard, passengers of the Voidtrecker Express. Please take the time to read the passenger information displayed on the Information and Communication points, and familiarise yourself with the layout and emergency exits."

The train begins to tilt, leaving the ground and rising up into the fog-filled sky.

"Entrance into Voidspace imminent. New passengers are advised to remain seated. Entry into Voidspace in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

A shudder, a jolt, a lurch to the left. A flash of light, colourful and blinding. As quick as it happens it is done. The train seems to steady itself. The fog from the windows is gone now, replaced with a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours.

Welcome to the Void.

NAVIGATION ~ GAMEPLAY ~ SETTING ~ CHARACTER INITIATIVES ~ QUESTIONS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

There's no way Inigo wouldn't be lured in by this smell. Sure, it'd be hard to smell anything coming from another carriage with the way the train is, but Inigo often enough steps into the kitchen just to see if someone made something nice and is willing to share--

Only to have exactly that happen. Before he even fully realises who's there or what they made, there's already a plate of something being shoved right into his face.

Definitely more than he even expected. It makes him smile a little.

"Wow, Esteban! New champion of the kitchen!" Clearly. Inigo is not above a little bit of flattery when he's getting something in return - and Esteban, being a friend, deserves it anyway. "Want to give me some high class chef description of what you're serving me here to round off the experience?"

He's just joking around, but still. Stuff is a little bit more fun when you make it all dramatic, right.

There's a familiar snicker that scrunches his nose again, the open happiness at seeing Inigo that pours from Esteban without a question.

"Champion's a bit 'f an 'xaggeration," he responds readily, brushing a large hand through the short strands at the back of his head. The tip of his ears get warm at the bit of empty praise, but Inigo's request makes him stumble as he tries to find what his friend means. Hmm.

A high class description of an apple pie, hun. He tilts his head to the side at first, trying to come up with proper words for it, but it's a bit slow for him to find a starting point. He remembers the fire dancers he'd traveled with, and the way they would introduce their troupe members, and it's maybe a bit off, but... but he can make it work! He does want to cheer Inigo on after all.

So he takes a deep breath, pushes any embarrassment aside, and places the plate down with a flourish.

"Marvel at this deliciousness;" he begins, his voice boisterous and-- oops!-- a bit loud, but then, that's not much of a surprise. His odd speech pattern vanishes as he carefully enunciates each syllable, for once. "Barely cooled, still warm from the oven, and a crust that crumbles into buttery flakes--"

Listen, he's worked hard to get that crust just right!

"--enjoy the delightful mixture of sweet apples mixed with the sharp tang of cinnamon and nutmeg, precious spices from rare ventures into worlds unknown, offered just for you!" There's a wink at the end of his tiny speech, his grin widening as he holds his arms outwards in a flaunting half-bow.

... That sort of thing? He's not sure that's actually what his companion meant, but, well. He tried his best to be entertaining at least, and if it makes Inigo smile, then it's worth it.

Inigo laughs. Oh, yes, that was completely on point. Inigo has spent a whole lot of time around fancy people back home, after all. Not necessarily his friends - they were just a bunch of rascals together - but the other people around the palace? Man, he's heard that kind of speech so often that it almost feels nostalgic in the weirdest way possible.

But more than anything.. it's just amusing. After all, it's so unlike Esteban, especially since it feels so strange to hear him speak without his usual accent.

"Wow!" Inigo manages to force out between bubbling laughter, shaking his head. "I think you've found an entirely new career option for yourself."

Not that dancing isn't the thing Esteban is best at, in Inigo's totally unbiased not-loving-dancing-at-all opinion.

But the other certainly has a theatrical flair for the dramatic, that's for sure.

"I think you could sell food to absolutely anyone this way."

'Dians, Inigo, warn him next time!

The open laughter startles Esteban a bit, catches his eye and warms him like he'd somehow snagged a shard of sunshine without quite knowing how he'd managed it. His grin grows wider, brighter with their shared happiness, glad that he could do this much, even for just a moment. He's greedy for these tiny pieces of time, presses them close to mind and heart and soul, precious reminders that it's worth it.

But he shakes his head at his friend's suggestion, even if he's still smiling, because that would never be an option for him.

"I c'ldn't sell food," he mentions easily enough, sitting down across from Inigo and serving himself a portion as well. "It tastes better when shared, so I'd never make a single coin out 'f it," he snickers, nose scrunching lightly again.

Besides. Cooking is a bit of a hassle, if he's to be honest. He just likes it because he can share the end results now; he can offer this to friends, to his companions. The people that he cares for. And apple pies always makes meetings at least a little more tolerable, when there's technobabble that Esteban can't follow along with. But, shh. Not important.

"Romeo got me started on it. He likes churros, an' I wanted t' bake them with him, but I've got no idea what churros are," he snickers again. "So I started with apple pies 'cause he likes apples too, an' we have all the ingredients for it on the train-- and the recipe for it already." The cookbooks came in handy; and apple pies are surprisingly easy!

"Next is chocolate chip cookies; Kitty an' Gem both asked for them." He pauses, surprised as he notices a detail. He knows Allen likes mitarashi dango; he knows Tidus isn't particularly fond of sweets. Blue eyes rise back to Inigo as he tilts his head, smiling brightly as he offers. "Might take a bit 'f time, but if you've got any request, I'm all ears!"

"I don't know, it sounds like you've got quite the list already." Inigo sounds unbothered as he says it though. The laugh is gone, but the smile still lingers around his lips, unchanged from a moment ago as he's thinking about the words Esteban is saying here. He doesn't recognize every name Esteban is saying here, but.. well, he's just glad to know that the other seems to be making plenty of friends here on the train.

Not that it's surprising, since Esteban is so outgoing and naturally friendly, but it's still good to see that spirit being returned to him in turn.

"I can wait until you've progressed a little further into your baking adventures."

Because, please, at this rate Esteban is totally going to lose track of the list of stuff he has to make! Instead Inigo just lightly taps a finger against the piece of apple pie here.

"It's not like I'm not getting to taste test here already, anyway."

"Don't go an' make me try to guess it," the half-elf demands with an attempt at a pout that doesn't really work when the edges of his mouth keep curving upwards. "It's gonna take way too long 'f I'm stumblin' blind." He'd be nudging Inigo's sides if he hadn't sat across from him; he's being spared for now.

And Esteban promptly tries to figure out what might Inigo like best. It's for fun anyways, and he's curious if he can land a lucky hit.

"Hmmm. More th'n apples, I think pears might be better?" Something sweet but still a little delicate? "Glazed with honey?" Hmm. Come on, Inigo, throw him a hint or a distraction, he's not going to stop otherwise. Nosy as ever, in his kind of pushy, prodding way. Trying so very hard to make the people around him happy.

Inigo was in the middle of taking a bite here, but even as he's already chewing, he's laughing - though thankfully managing to not choke on that bite in his mouth at the same time! - and shaking his head.

He chews for another moment, but then swallows the bite so he can speak up and have it actually be audible, rather than half-muffled by the food.

"I can't believe you're asking anyway." Okay, no. Inigo actually can believe it, because that's just so much like Esteban. The other never gives anything a rest, does he? It's as if he's asking to have a miles long list of people to make stuff for! "Seriously, I just like anything sweet. I'm not even trying to hide anything," he adds, before the other might be quick to assume as much, "I'm just not picky."

Hard to be picky when you grow up in a world where there's hardly anything to eat, after all.

"I mean, I really like the candy clouds." .. cotton candy.

He means cotton candy.

"But you can just make that with the machine in the kitchen. Nothing to bake about it."

Oh. Is that the stuff he'd heard about? He's not sure. But if it's easy to make; even better!

Esteban makes a mental note to look that machine up-- and see what they might need to make it. He's never had any himself, so he hopes he'll manage something half-decent on a wing and a prayer.

He still pretends to squint, as if he wasn't believing his azure-haired friend, before his grin returns. "What sort of candy's a candy cloud?" He's never had it personally, at least that he knows of. He wonders what kind of sweet has that name; candy would make it super sweet, but cloud? If it was a cloud cake he'd get it, but cloud candy? Candy cloud? He'll have to find out later.

"It's like.. a cloud!"

.. yes.

This is clearly a very useful explanation. Thank you. He will be here all week.

Inigo does mean it though. He's not even joking around, or teasing the other. This is just the best way he has of explaining it, since it doesn't feel like there are any other words for it. Explaining this is apparently so serious to him that he's even putting down his fork to gesture with his hands as he tries to tell Esteban about this marvellous piece of food.

"It's all big, and round.. and super fluffy! It's like a cloud on a stick, but the cloud is made of candy!" Inigo feverishly nods along as he talks about it, apparently really into even just the idea of this candy. "Do you understand?"

Look at these fantasy kids trying to talk about modern foods.

Inigo's smile is infectious. Esteban doesn't really follow what his azure-haired companion is saying, but the sheer joy and energy that surrounds him is delightful, and the half-elf wouldn't mind lingering on the most mundane of subjects just like this. He tucks his ankle under his opposite knee, and he leans back a bit, just watching his companion gesticulate as if that would make more sense.

"... People really are ingenious," he mentions, rather than answering his companion's question. A candy cloud on a stick that is all fluffy. "Though I'm really curious now; d'you know who might know how t' make it? I'm gonna have t' see it with my own eyes~"

And to learn how to make it. Because Inigo might not want to burden Esteban with baking anything for him, but the half-elf definitely would do it if only to make his friend smile. Offer these little gifts and string along these little shards of light, until enough of them dapple their surroundings with a bit of joy. Like sunlight through the leaves of a tree.

People are ingenious, thanks for acknowledging that too, Esteban! Because Inigo might not always think that, even while surrounded by all these modern inventions he never knew before, but he most certainly thinks that when it comes to these kinds of candy. This is clearly what humanity has been striving for. Their biggest accomplishment.

Inigo's wild gesturing stops when Esteban asks him that question, seeming to settle back down again.

"I mean, I know how to make them." It's not that hard, after all, and he had been shown how to do so exactly so he can make them in the first place. "You just have to buy that stuff to make them from the train shop, and then all you have to do is pour it into the machine and turn it on. And then you hold a stick into it, and.. done! You got your very own candy cloud on a stick."

Apparently that's why the grand gestures aren't necessary this time - it's just that easy of a thing to make. And if even Inigo thinks that, it's saying a lot, since he's not exactly a cooking or baking genius.

No, Inigo, you can't do that.

The half-elf hesitates for a moment, fork spinning idly in his hand as he considers how to move around this, but backing out is not an option either. Hmm. Oh, but he didn't actually offer to teach him either, so it's not that bad!

"D'you have a list of ingredients? I c'n prob'bly bundle them up with the chocolate chips an' make it cheaper!" Sweets and baking stuff-- he can probably shove that under 'small item' or something, right? The points system still bites though, damn it; it's inconvenient at its best and downright hindering at its worse.

He perks up at the idea that he might make it work anyways; and if he can help Inigo get a treat for himself while also getting ingredients that he needs for the cookies he's promised both Kitty and Ruby, then all the better. And, well, if the list of ingredients happens to also have the measures for the recipe, all the better~ His grin grows wider as he leans forwards this time, leaning his chin onto his palm while he breaks another chunk of pie for himself.

"Hmm, I mean, it is just one thing.." But with the way Inigo's voice trails off, it's very obvious that he's thinking about it. He can't quite recall the name of the darn thing.. Even though he's used the bottle before himself, it's not like he knows what it's called! All he knows is that you just pour it into the candy floss machine, and then it works! Who reads labels!

(Smart people, Inigo. People with more than one braincell, maybe.)

".. Roland always bought it. He'd know."

Apparently that's Inigo's conclusion.

With a nod.

But it's the moment after said conclusion that his brain catches up with the rest of the implications in this conversation. It's visible, too. His eyes widen the moment the realisation hits him, and he momentarily stops eating just to sputter: "W-Wait, what are you saying? You don't have to buy me anything, Esteban!"

That sure was belated, but at least Inigo caught on.. Apparently that's why his answer earlier came so easily. He didn't realise there was anything to protest just yet.

(Hey, one is already more than Esteban has. His is on permanent loan to "whoever it may concern". It most certainly does not concern himself.)

Double busted.

Esteban now has another resource to both ask about the cloud candy and teach him how to make it! He was going to go blind at it if he had to, but this is much better, and he won't be presenting Inigo with a half-broken husk of fluffy candy at least. His grin widens, unapologetic as he makes a mental note to track down and find Roland before Inigo manages to himself.

"I don't have to, I want to!" And if he thinks Esteban is going to back down by the weak protests, then he has another thing coming for him.

Is it really a surprise that the redhead is running off with this information as soon as he got it? His smile is sunny enough to melt off glaciers at this point, and any protest is likely to fall onto deaf ears.

"It's to make me happy~" he pushes once more. Dragons are the most selfish of all creatures, after all, and Esteban can see it, clear as day within himself.

Inigo's cheeks start to glow a brighter and brighter shade of red over here. Help, we're slowly reaching Esteban's hair colour levels of blush! Mayday, mayday! Someone interrupt before this gets out of hand!

But he just can't help it. What else is he supposed to do in the face of Esteban saying something like that with such a smile?

"C-Come on!" He whines, apparently still trying to protest. Before his heart gets so overwhelmed that he has a heart attack and just straight up expires on the spot. "You can't just say stuff like that, Esteban! Implying that helping me makes you happy is too much..!"

Inigo's flustered heart can't handle that, thank you.

It doesn't help that his half-elf companion has to bite his lower lip to refrain from saying something too quick, too thoughtless. Inigo's stammering is not deterring him at all, and he both wants to flirt outrageously and just...

"It's the truth, though?" Because it is. He'd do anything to brighten his friends' day, most particularly Inigo of all people. But he's clumsy and awkward and he'd best move right along that before he shoves his foot down his mouth again, so he beams, barely holding back a snicker.

"So, lemme do this? Please?" His nose scrunches with a half-laughter, hiding in the corner of his gaze more than in his lungs. He's not above making pretty eyes at his companion if it means he'll give in after all.

Ugh.

Ugh.

Esteban's puppy-eyed look is too powerful. Or maybe Inigo is just too weak. Or.. well, let's be real here. It's most likely both of the options here that have Inigo look like he's been well and truly driven into a corner. How could he do anything here but give in? Even though he isn't very good at accepting other people doing stuff for him, preferring to be the one doing stuff for others, he knows that it'd break Esteban's heart and make him all sad if he said no here. If not just since it might make Esteban worry about their friendship, or something like that.

And Inigo can't have that.

"O-Okay, fine.." He says, a whine in his voice, and the blush still on his cheeks - but at least he's agreeing.

"If you really want to do that, then.. who am I to stop you, you know? You're like a force of nature anyway when it comes to taking care of your friends."

Not that it's a bad thing. Okay, maybe it's a bad thing since it's pushing Inigo into this flustered position, but he can live with that. Instead he means it more as a compliment. Esteban's sheer dedication to his friends is definitely admirable in Inigo's eyes, after all.

Yes! Pleased, Esteban leans back and slightly away from the table, a grin perched on his lips like a purring cat's. He's still not looking forwards to dealing with the ICP, but at the very least, he'll have something to look forwards to on the next platform! He can't help a bit of mischievous laughter that escapes him at Inigo's mention.

"As opposed to when I get an idea? Or a project? Or a new thing to learn?" He's not blind to his own enthusiasm, after all; but please, give him credit where credit is due. He is a force of nature, period. Even if sometimes, all he can do is toss himself at a problem, like a ball against a wall, to try and fix things. But he will always give it his best. He must always give it his best.

"All I wanna do is bring a bit of happiness to ev'ryone around me." It's the only thing he can do. "So apple pies an' chocolate chip cookies, an' cloud candy! Bit by bit, I'll get somewhere!" He grins. He doesn't have a goal for this-- not really. Just... just a hope. Just something to give.

Oof. Maybe he shouldn't have framed it like that though-- but the words are already out of his mouth, and he has to hide a wince. He's not... pressuring Inigo again, is he? He's careful to watch his companion from the corner of his eye, taking another bite out of the pie he'd semi-abandoned since.

Still looking half-flustered, Inigo's raises his hands, almost like in a gesture of surrender.

"Alright, mister constant force of nature."

There you go, pal. Getting credit where it's due - because Inigo sure isn't going to deny the fact that Esteban truly is always enthusiastic on a level that normal human beings can't reach. He's a little like Owain in that regard, Inigo thinks, or maybe Cynthia. Those two were always too much for him to keep up with either, dragging everyone around them in with their energy.

"Just.. know you're great either way, alright?" Inigo lowers his hands, smiling at the other. Awkwardly tucking a stray strand of hair behind his ear, perhaps so his hand can momentarily hide the flustered blush that won't quite disappear just yet. It's always hard to get rid of, in Inigo's experience. "I know you just do stuff for others since it's how you are, but.. even if you weren't constantly doing stuff for others, you'd still be great."

There's a slight pause, and then he shrugs.

"Not--.." He lingers on the word, but continues: "--that I think you're worried about that. Just wanted to make sure someone told you anyway."

Because everyone should always hear compliments from other people. That's Inigo's belief. So why not give Esteban right now, while the other is force-of-naturing all over him here?

The gesture catches his attention, something about it that makes him think too much or too little and Esteban has to glance away before he says or does something stupid. (A rather impossible goal, but one that he will only admit to himself.) He's too conscious of his friend, and he has to stop looking, so he turns back to the apple pie he's slowly chipping at when what Inigo is saying even registers.

Um. What?

"Where did that come from?" He's not upset per say, it's just-- he hadn't expected, well, anything like that, and he's caught flat-footed, blue eyes wide in his confusion.

He must have skipped a step or something, because he really doesn't see what's so great about... any of this? And Inigo telling him it's not because he's willing to do things for others-- an utterly selfish act on his part, not selfless-- but that he's still be great even without it is, um. He's not catching on.

He leans backwards again, trying to piece things together, but it's like fitting a triangle out of square tiles. He gives up on this, shaking his head from side to side, but it's not that he didn't hear.

"It's just 'cause I have you guys 'round me." If he's great, if he's anything at all right now, other than lost and sinking, it's because of them. "You an' Tidus an' Romeo an' Amaya an' Allen--" Each one of them. Every single one of them. They give so much more to him than he could tell.

"You've helped me out a lot." He smiles this time, relaxed and happy, and he is just a tad upset that Inigo isn't within immediate range so that he could lean on him again, and share the comfort that he's being given. He'd missed having others to care for.

Inigo laughs, shaking his head. "I was just saying!"

He can't help but add as much in the face of what he's staring at right now. Esteban looking completely baffled by what he was just saying, like Inigo suddenly started speaking a different language altogether. What Esteban says though shows that the other definitely did hear what Inigo just said - it's just that he's surprised by it.

Which he shouldn't have to be, Inigo thinks. Esteban's kindness is as clear as day to anyone. It shows even in what the other says after the confusion fades a little. Acting like this is all natural, even though there are plenty of people with friends who still opt to be cruel to others.

His smile turns into something faintly more teasing. Maybe he's just glad to have turned these tables around a little for once, since usually Inigo is the one getting teased and flustered..

"Or are you saying I'm not allowed to give you compliments?" The teasing tone is even audible in his voice.

Oh no.

Oh no, Inigo don't do this to him.

He's trying to behave; trying to stop looking and paying too much attention and-- and--

The laughter is enough to shatter all of his good intentions away, always pleased to hear the sound, just because for a moment-- a tiny shard of time-- his friend is happy. Or happier at least. Esteban's managed to share something bright, he's managed to give a tiny gift, no matter how small, and he can't just not pay attention when Inigo smiles.

But he was not prepared.

There's something about the way his eyes are slanted just ever so, and the corners of his lips are so delicately lifted, that absolutely wrecks any chance he's had at trying to form a thought. He's silent for a beat, feels the rush of blood splay colours high against his neck, the tip of his ears and-- 'Dians, it might even be noticeable across his cheeks this time around.

"Oh!" His hand comes to ruffle his hair at the back of his head, trying his hardest to dissipate the warmth that is plaguing across his skin, but Esteban smiles, wide as he can, before leaning his elbow onto the table, casual as can be. His chin is gently dropped into his palm, eyes narrowed and the curve to his lips confident and crooked.

"I never refuse compliments from handsome guys~" There's an easy wink with his flirt, something he didn't even give a single thought to just as long as he managed something.

...

No! Anything but that! Oh, Dead Guardians in a Ditch, that's it, he's ready to get flung out the train, thanks. Those windows that don't open are really inconvenient, aren't they?

Edited 2022-06-01 02:32 (UTC)

It is - apparently - Esteban's lucky day. Because Inigo was just joking and teasing only a moment ago, which means that absolutely any edge of something else that there might be to the other's tone is flying about fifteen miles right over Inigo's head. Instead the other just seems amused more than anything by the back and forth.

As illustrated by the fact that he laughs again, shaking his head before returning to taking another bite of the apple pie into his mouth. He didn't fully forget about the food! It's important!

"Alright, I think there's been enough joking around when we go all the way to the handsome department."

At least his tone doesn't seem self-deprecating, though his words might be. Instead Inigo still seems pretty happy and amused.

"Just didn't expect you to have an entire reaction like that to me saying something nice! You say nice stuff to me all the time."

No that's not-- yes, he likes flirting with Inigo, but this was-- he hadn't thought about it, and it had not been sincere!

Not that he doesn't find Inigo handsome (quite the opposite), but his companion had been so honest with him, and just, simply, stating things the way he saw them that Esteban's flirt feels misplaced and awkward. He said something out of line again, and though his friend is only laughing about it, it doesn't mean that he's satisfied with himself for butchering it so bad.

'Dians, Inigo, give him time to wrap his thoughts about this, just a bit, please.

"Uh--" Nice stuff? Excuse him, he doesn't recall. An occasional flirt, yes. A blundered conversation where he tries to be uplifting and somehow manages to be an absolute moron, also. But nice?

Eventually, he'll find his footing again, but it is absolutely not now, and Esteban has to lift an eyebrow as he cautiously responds.

"You're welcome?" He's not trying to be nice; he just tries his best at being as honest as he can. Sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes he says things that hurt rather than heal. Sometimes he says things simply as he sees them...

The same way Inigo just has, really.

His ease is returning, if a little slower, but it lifts the corners of his mouth in a delicate smile while he leans away, flirtiness forgotten. He stays quiet for a bit, pondering how to approach this but he suspects that being direct is just simply the best step to take. Just the same way that his companion had done.

The communication lines are all tangled up here, that's clearly the problem.

Because to Inigo the other's answer - that awkward, half-confused 'you're welcome?' just reads as Esteban being confused to him, but not for the right reasons. He just thinks that it's got to mean that the other is so naturally nice that he can't even see it for something as special as it is.

It's not like he'd be the first type Inigo has met like that by now though. He's used to it, and so it doesn't seem to take away from his amusement in the slightest while he's just enjoying his food here.

"I think it's easier if you just eat," he says, still smiling. "You look like you might just shut down entirely if you get more confused than you already are now."

And we don't want any steam coming out of Esteban's ears from how overworked his poor brain is. Just accept the compliment, Esteban! Don't think about it too hard!

A New Platform [Intro Post May]

kitchen

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I- your icon is Perfect for this, II- I desperately wish I had a cute Esteban panic icon rn

it's okay, all esteban icons are already cute ones!!

slowly but surely commissioning more~

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