(semi-open) you're such a delicate boy

[flatteries]

Who: Inigo and anyone who has CR with him (basically, as long as you've talked to him before, it's cool!)
When: The day after the party
Where: Everywhere on the train. Nowhere is safe. Hide.
What:
Warnings: There should be nothing to warn about other than terrible, terrible secondhand embarrassment. (Now there's also some slight mentions of alcohol.)

Really, the party was pretty fun. Inigo had fun, at least! Except for one weird thing that happened that he still can't quite place, no matter how much he thinks about it. So clearly he just has to ask someone else about it, right? What's the worst thing that could happen?

So people who know Inigo most definitely aren't safe the day after the party. It doesn't matter if you're in the middle of something, Inigo is going to approach you anyway as if you look like you have all the time in the world for him.

"Hey! I need your help for a moment. It's really important." He pauses, seems to realise something, and makes a vague hand gesture. "Or at the very least mildly important! I'm not dying though, don't worry!"

(No one would assume that's what you were going to talk about, Inigo..)

"So c'mooon, hear me out?"

Comments

Dining Car

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita isn't that hard to find, post-party; in the Dining Car, huddled over a cup of tea and some eggs, wincing at bright lights and sudden movements.

The only reason she wasn't in worse shape was because the peridexis accepted that being drunk hadn't been her fault.

"Uhhh, shoot? I'm not going anywhere."

Inigo could have the floor.

Library car

[les_magique]

Samata looked up from her book. Well, he had helped her with her arm the other day, and this sounded pretty urgent. Or at least mildly important.

"...Alright. What's on your mind?"

[stealsyourheart]

"Inigo-san?" He blinks.

"Sure? What's the matter?"

[longforgottenpromise]

Taiki was in the garden, on one of the benches. He quite liked this carriage. It was peaceful despite the strange lighting and it reminded him of Tai. Tai was more gem stone and crystal than rock but the idea was the same. A garden but with no plants.

He liked plants too and he hoped the greenhouse would soon be full of flowers, but this was nice in it's own way.

He looked up at Inigo's voice and nodded straight away. He had promised to help Ingio whenever he needed it and part of him was overwhelmed by the fact that Inigo actually thought he could be helpful, so much that he was asking for help.

The rest of him was concerned for his friend, even being told he wasn't dying, whilst very relieving, just served to make him more anxious.

"What's wrong, Inigo?"

[luckybucky]

Bucky is taking the whole assigned to cooking duty pretty seriously. So seriously, in fact, that it's kind of hard to find him anywhere that isn't the kitchen or pantry. When Inigo finds him, he's in the middle of chopping up vegetables for the next meal, and looks up when his young friend enters, lifting a single brow.

"Sure," he wipes his knife off with a towel, setting it aside and drying his hands as he turns his full attention the young man's way. "What's got you all riled up?" Does he look worried? He's a little worried -- telling him that you're not dying is one of the fastest ways to get a trip to the medical car, in fact. He looks Inigo over, but doesn't see any obvious signs of injury...

[adropofsunlight]

Rapunzel was enjoying what books there were in the library. She even currently was holding one in her hand when she clocked onto the other. Waving frantically with her free hand but soon lowered it when the other spoke.

"You need my help? I can try and help, so fire away~!"

[flatteries]

"Thank you! I knew I could count on you!"

It's probably tough to be hungover around Inigo, huh. Bright lights and sudden movements is practically his entire personality summed up in two concepts.

At least he doesn't seem totally unaware as to Nita's current state. Before he starts on his own issue, he does let his smile fade into a curious blink.

"Ah, but.. Nita, sun of my life, flower of my heart, friend of my.. friendship!" Yes, that's excessive flattery to cover up his fussing, ssh.. Don't mind it.. "Are you feeling alright enough to listen? You look like you faced down at least three bears at the same time."

[flatteries]

Inigo smiles at the easy agreement. Samata seemed nice enough the last time they spoke, and he now realises his assessment must have been right if she's willing to help him out so easily. Maybe it's even better to talk to someone who doesn't know him too well, then he can get an objective opinion!

"Thanks!" The smile momentarily grows brighter as he says that before fading into a slightly more normal one again. "It's about.. ah, I guess I should say a social situation, perhaps? Have you ever danced with someone?"

[flatteries]

The 'san' part makes him stop momentarily to blink in confusion.. But then he dismisses it. It's probably just something they attach to people's names in a different world? It's not worth throwing a fuss over when he really needs some advice.

"Thank you, you're much too kind to be willing to listen." Especially when he doesn't even know Inigo all that well yet. "Surely you must be very experienced when it comes to social matters, right?"

[flatteries]

It was no surprise to find Taiki in the garden, really. Taiki practically is a flower in human form as far as Inigo is concerned, so it's like the other belongs right there on that bench he's sitting on. It makes Inigo smile already as he approaches him, and perhaps even a tad wider at how easily he agrees. Taiki really is such a good friend, how did Inigo ever deserve this friendship?

(Especially when he's just making Taiki anxious, but thankfully - for Inigo - he doesn't seem to realise as much yet..)

"Well.. Something happened at the party." He moves to sit down on the bench next to Taiki. "Nothing too big! It's just.. I think I may have understood something. Or just missed something. Maybe if I tell you about what happened, you could see if you can figure out what went wrong? As long as you don't mind, of course!"

[flatteries]

"I'm not riled up.."

It's not quite a fiery protest, but it's a protest all the same. Mostly because he is kind of riled up, as evidenced by the babbling, but that's definitely not the way he wants to come across. He doesn't want to make Bucky worried about him, after all. He doesn't want anyone to worry about him, but with how much he cares about Bucky, he's pretty high up on the list of people Inigo doesn't want to bother with worries.

"I just.." He pauses. It's hard to know where to start on this. Or how to even explain, considering Inigo understands absolutely nothing about this situation himself. ".. Do you know Yuki, Yuki Sohma? He's also on our team. Maybe you've seen him here in the kitchen? Beautiful silver hair, a face sculpted by some divine being, has an adorable blush that could make flowers grow out of nowhere?"

[flatteries]

Honestly, she almost looks like she needs help more than he does with the way she's reaching for those books! And yet Rapunzel is still offering to help him so sweetly.. He can't help but smile in the face of how adorable she is.

"Thank you! It's about the party. I.. Well, I tried to dance with one of my friends who was rather shy about it."

.. Inigo, don't pretend you weren't shy as well. You totally were! You were shy about it right in front of the girl you're talking to right now!

"But something strange happened while we were dancing, and I'm not quite sure how to place it."

[unfavorableinstigation]

Nita pulls one hand down her face, then looks up at Inigo again despite the effort.

"There weren't any bears, Inigo... just drank something I shouldn't have. Maybe more than once."

She taps her tea cup.

"I'm hydrating myself now, though, so I should be fine. You were about to explain...?"

[les_magique]

“I remember dancing with someone at the party just the other night. But yes I have done my share of dancing with others over the years.”

She closed her book and leaned forwards a bit, listening. She had a hunch where this conversation might be going, and had to stop herself from snickering. Inigo was about the right age for this. Or maybe she was reading too much into it and he had a totally innocent question.

[longforgottenpromise]

Something had happened? Outside of him almost choking on crisps? It seemed Inigo had bad luck if something else had happened as well.

But at least it wasn't big. He nodded, "Of course you can tell me. I don't mind."

He's still a little worried, but he tries to keep that worry to himself, until he can at least hear from Inigo what had happened. He's not sure how much help he will be, but two heads are often better than one when there were worries to sort.

It was a lesson Taiki had to keep in mind himself.

[stealsyourheart]

"Eh... I guess?" He says doubtfully. "As much as the next guy, I suppose? What's up?"

[flatteries]

Well, once more it's demonstrated that Nita can take care of herself, at least. With Inigo being Inigo, he still can't help but fuss a little, but he won't push it when she seems to be doing alright with nursing whatever headache she may have.

He even tries to get his tone back to a slightly more even level so it won't be as bothersome to listen to. Inigo can be considerate when he tries..

"Ah.. right. My matter actually involves the party as well." Assuming that's where she has been drinking a little too much.. "You remember Yuki, right? The guy I mentioned before? We actually danced together at the party, and it was so much fun, but then everything got a little.. strange, I suppose?"

[unfavorableinstigation]

One hand slides over Nita's face as he's speaking, though that's more because she's still tired than because of what he's saying.

"Yeah. I'm glad you two got to dance!"

She's smiling behind that hand, though even her own voice picking up makes her wince.

"... Lemme guess, now both of you are worried about what to do next?"

She can, in fact, speak from experience here. Nita and Kit have shared so. many. awkward moments as girlfriend-and-boyfriend.

"Or if you're ready for it?"

[flatteries]

"Right, then you must understand!"

He doesn't seem to realise that she already has a feeling of where this might be going. To him this is some totally unexpected and new matter, rather than just the sort of thing any regular teenager may be going through when they're not busy surviving the apocalypse.

"I understand dancing very well too.. or at least, I thought I did. But as I was dancing with someone at the party yesterday, he backed off just as it was getting really good and asked me if dancing was all we were doing." Just recalling that memory makes the look on Inigo's face turn puzzled. "Isn't that an odd thing to ask? What else would anyone be doing while dancing? I'm not quite sure what he was expecting."

[adropofsunlight]

She listened to what he had to say before clapping her hand against the book instead of together since it was still firmly in her hand.

"That's very sweet of you to dance with a shy friend." She had been aware the other had been somewhat shy about it at the time she is assuming he had gotten better as the part went on.

"Something strange? Like something physical?"

[les_magique]

Yup, there it was. Samata had the advantage here of having had a normal childhood. She didn't have to deal with a single war at all!

"It sounds to me like your dancing partner thought you were courting him." She said, with a small laugh. "Or perhaps that he wanted you to."

[flatteries]

"Thanks. You're so sweet, but you know that." If not just by the way Inigo always overloads Taiki with praise every single time they talk by now..

He does mean it though. Just being able to talk about this should help. Especially since it's something that is confusing, yet light. Inigo likes to keep actual serious worries close to his chest, just so no one will worry about him, but this feels safe enough to actually share and figure out together for once.

"I ended up dancing at the party with Yuki.. Yuki Sohma, do you know him? Either way, I was dancing with him, and.." Inigo lets out a sigh. It's not a bothered one though. No, this is a very, very happy sigh that instinctively leaves his mouth at the memory. "I don't even know how to describe it, it felt so nice. Really special. So I told him as much while we were dancing, but suddenly he pulled back and asked me if dancing was really all we were doing."

[flatteries]

"Alright then!" Inigo's bright answer makes it sound like he didn't even notice how doubtful Kaito's voice sounded just now..

"Suppose you are dancing with a friend and having a great time with it. Then suddenly said friend pulls away mid-dance and asks you if dancing is all the two of you are doing together."

He shoots the other a confused look. "What are you supposed to say to that? What could possibly be going on other than dancing?"

[flatteries]

".. Next? Ready?"

He repeats those words with a tone that makes it so very obvious he has no idea what she's talking about. But this is Nita he's talking about, and Nita always seems to have a good reason to say what she says, compared to his own total-lack-of-brain-to-mouth-filter blabbering. So then what could she mean?

"Ready.. for what? I wasn't quite aware there was some second step to dancing.."

[flatteries]

"Physical.. Hmm. I'm not quite sure how to describe it."

He frowns as he seems to think about it, but tries to not stay quiet for too long. He'd feel bad if he asked her for help and then just left her hanging, after all. So Inigo just tries to explain the best he can.

"We were dancing, and something about it felt.. special. Almost magical? It felt different than when I danced with you, although I also enjoyed that. But when I tried to tell him what it felt like to me, he suddenly stopped dancing and asked me what we were doing."