voidtreckerexpress | Excuse the mess but we live here.

Entry tags:

Excuse the mess but we live here.

Who: Gladio and... anyone! If someone from Blue Team wants to come assist, they can!
What: Gladio has a mission. And is bored. So bored.
When: Egret 19, dawn. Or as dawn as you can get. And will be going on almost all day till he gets to the cabins.
Where: Currently the dining car. But he will be everywhere!
Warnings: Just a bunch of silliness, really! ^^ Gladio has only one working arm currently so this should be highly amusing. Come help him, chat to him, judge him as you pass by, whatever floats your goat.

Gladio was no stranger to getting down and dirty with the troops. His father had taught him well. Just because he was the Kings Shield didn't put him above others, he needed to do his part to the cause, so to speak.

Which was why, when the Shield discovered that his 'Team' had chores to do, he found himself in the store carriage picking through the cleaning supplies to get a start on doing just that. What else did he have to do, exactly?

After picking through the cleaning products that he would need, Gladio headed for the next carriage. For now he was only going to clean the common areas, without having permission from the other passengers he wasn't about to go barging into bedrooms demanding they get the hell out so he can tidy up their mess. No, he would start from one end and work his way through. The dining carriage was his first port of call. He had polish and cloths for tables and chairs and anything else he could find that undoubtedly had layers of dust. The kitchen he bypassed and up he went, armed and ready to do battle with dust bunnies and coffee rings.

The fact he only had one usable arm did not deter him. He didn't really need two to clean, right?

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"Bwhat?!"

The surprise almost seem to make him choke mid-bite - or maybe it's the fact that he's still talking with his mouth full. Inigo seems to realise that's not really helping the communication here along though, so he quickly chews in order to have his mouth free enough to be easier to understand.

"But-- what about all those other people?!" He gestures with an arm at all the empty seats that also clearly still have trash and other kinds of dirt left behind. He knows this is a very childish argument, but granted, Inigo doesn't really look like he's an adult. Especially as he starts pouting like he's doing right now. "Why am I the only one who has to suffer?!"

It's as if Gladio asked him to walk into an arena of bloodthirsty wolves rather than asked him to clean up something..

Gladio was good enough to wait for the kid to finish chewing what was in his mouth before he laid into him.

"And if those other people were here they'd be getting told the same thing. You're here. Making a mess for no damn reason. Are you three years old, kid?" Gladio gestured with his one good arm to the guys mess, stunned one person could do that and actually think it was okay to complain about the mess of others.

"If you don't wanna suffer, don't make the damn mess and make me suffer having to clean up after you when you have two working arms!"

Holy Naga! It's not as if other people on the train can't be stern as well, but Inigo still didn't quite see something of this level coming. It's so very obvious that it catches him off guard too, since the poutiness about him instantly fades, only to be replaced by his jaw dropping in the face of this.

It's not even that he's scared. Inigo rarely gets genuinely scared. He's more just baffled. It renders him unable to do anything but just stare at the man for a moment before he seems to regain his mind and grabs the cloth to start cleaning up. He's not even half-assing it!

But in the face of the fact that he has no idea how to respond to any of that, Inigo just quickly plasters a smile on his face as soon as he can while working. "So.. do you usually scold people that intensely or should I savour the special occasion?"

Maybe making a joke is the dumbest thing to do in this situation, but Inigo has no other default to fall back on.

Gladio would have folded his arms if he could, but since he couldn't he just stepped back and watched, making sure the kid actually did what he was supposed to. The kid was actually doing as he was told, which satisfied Gladio enough that he was considering going back to his own work when the guy opened his mouth again.

Despite himself, Gladio snorted a laugh. "Special occasion. Don't usually find a people making such a damn mess of themselves and actually argue about it." He flashed the kid a smile then. "Don't make me more work to do and I won't have to scold you again. Deal?"

"You've clearly never been to Ylisse.." It's mumbled under his breath, but it's probably still audible enough, since it's not like Inigo really minds Gladio hearing it. His friends so would have argued about who would have to clean up for ages. He really isn't the odd one out here, don't make him look like it!

But yes, yes, he is actually cleaning up the breadcrumb mess he's made. Even though he still seems kind of sulky as he's doing it. At least he is doing it.

"Besides, it's not as if I intended to make a mess! I was just eating, and it just happe--" He's mid-swing of his arm to make some dramatic gesture to accompany his story, only to realise that said swing managed to swoop all the breadcrumbs off the table.. and right onto the floor. For a moment Inigo just stares at it, clearly baffled and frozen up, but then he dives to the ground to gather them back up with a yelp. "That one wasn't intentional! You can't yell at me for that..!"

"Clearly not." Gladio had no idea what that place was but he was sure it wasn't on Eos.

And then he lifted his one good hand to cover his face. The guy, who he still didn't know the name of, but was starting to think of as Idiot, had moved all of his mess onto the floor. Gladio didn't know if he should laugh or sit down because he was getting a headache.

"... Not going to yell. Just clean the damn mess up." He said with a sigh as he dropped his hand. "And get some spacial awareness. Always know what's around you and your impact on it. Even breadcrumbs."

He's cleaning them up, he's cleaning them up! This time without spreading them everywhere, we can only hope...

But by Naga, if this guy isn't giving him some serious Frederick vibes. Especially when he adds that last part. No wonder this lecture was feeling so familiar.

"Even in a dining car?" See, he gets that advice in battle. And he's good about it in battle! But outside of that.. yeah, he's an idiot. "I'm cleaning it up now, after all! No real harm done. Breadcrumbs don't have feelings."

"Everywhere." Gladio insisted and went to grab polish and a cloth so that he could polish the table that the kid had left in favour of cleaning up his mess on the floor.

"If you don't know what's going on around you, what good are you?" He asked, shooting the guy a sidelong look. "How do you know what's going on? How do you know you're not hurting yourself or others, or missing things that are right there in front of you? No. The breadcrumbs don't have feelings. But until I pointed them out you didn't care and would have walked away leaving the mess for someone else who does have feelings." He polished the top of the table as he spoke. There was no anger in his voice. Maybe he was lecturing, he didn't really mean to, he just saw it as a teachable lesson the kid sorely needed. Though something told Gladio he wouldn't pay it a blind bit of notice.

"Geez, you really are making me sound like some terrible guy here." He keeps his tone light on purpose, making it sound like he's just being casual or even making a slight joke.

But that's just Inigo's way of dealing with things. Making jokes about them. Pretending to brush everything off. Because there's no way he can show even the slightest hint of genuinely and non-sulkily feeling bad over being lectured - or feeling bad that maybe Gladio is right about him. Whoo, boy, suddenly it's really hard to not let himself spiral down the internal slide of self-doubt over a bunch of breadcrumbs of all things. But he's trying. Inigo's a pretty good pretender when he actually tries.

"I'm actually quite a fun person once you get to know me, you know."

Gladio chuckled and gave the guy an almost apologetic smile. "You just remind me of someone... I don't mean to go on at you. Or make you sound like you're a 'terrible guy'." The kid reminded him somewhat of Noctis, just a little more quick to emote.

"I'm sure you are." Gladio straightened up after having finished cleaning the table. "Thanks for cleaning your mess up, kid." He moved away to go and finish cleaning up the other tables and the messed other people had caused. Already considering having words with people about cleaning up after themselves.

There's really something to be said about the power of words. Because at first Inigo just quietly listens to Gladio. But then - even though he still thinks the other is pretty intimidating, if not just for the fact he looks like he could crush Inigo with a single arm the next time he makes a mess - a slightly more genuine look appears on his face. It's the kind of look a puppy has when it knows you're praising it. Just for a moment Inigo's insecure thoughts fade in the light of receiving some thanks, and the next moment he's suddenly over at the next table Gladio is working on too, helping pile the mess in one place so it's easier to get rid of.

"Well.. I guess I could help out a little more, then." There's something faintly awkward about him still, like part of him regrets having been such a drama queen about it when just plainly cooperating clearly would have gone over easier, but his mood mostly seems to be tail-wagging-puppy at this point.

".. I don't think I've seen you much around the train before."

If not just because he's pretty sure he would have gotten yelled at with all of his constant dumbassery a lot earlier otherwise.

Gladio was honestly surprised when the kid came up to his side to help him. He actually paused in what he was doing just to look at him for a second, and then he laughed. It was surprising that someone would do something nice for him. Had he really been brought so low that something so simple could stun him into stillness?

He gave himself a little mental shake and returned to wiping down the table, but he was smiling more now. "Depends on where you go. I spend my mornings in the gym and the rest of my days in the greenhouse reading." There wasn't much else he could do. Sometimes Noct would show up and sit with him for a minute before falling asleep. Sometimes Prompto. Sometimes Madoka would come and talk to him about flowers. All in all it was a bit of a lonely existence but he'd done it to himself he supposed. "And then I sleep. Rinse and repeat. I thought today I'd make an effort and clean before I go stir crazy." A random bout of honesty toward a complete stranger...

Inigo takes a quick peek over at the guy before turning his gaze back to what he's doing - lest he mess up again. He's determined not to now. But he was just curious enough about the sudden change in tone to actually take a quick look. Inigo sure prefers this over the scolding, but something about this feels so weirdly genuine to him. Like there's a little more hidden in it than just small talk. Sure, maybe he's just reading too much into it, but still..

"Not very used to staying in one place like this?" He says, trying to keep his tone as casual. It's not like he wants to force anyone to pour their heart out unless they feel like it, after all, and with the way Gladio seems so tough, Inigo figures maybe he has a bit of manly pride keeping him from doing so anyway. So he's just trying to seem as nonchalant and focused on the cleaning he's doing as possible.

"I'm used to open spaces..." He shot the kid at his side a glance and offered a small smile. "This is a slow torture for me. Sitting around doing nothing, can't imagine anything worse." Not for someone like him. He needed to be able to move. He was always on the go. Always doing something. Those stolen moments of peace and quiet where he could sit and read were precious and rare and all the more special for it. But now? It was all he seemed to do. It was starting to lose some of that specialness.

"What about you? Are you okay with all this sitting around on your hands waiting for something to happen?" He had stopped cleaning now and had actually turned to give the kid his attention.

"Ah.."

Gladio picked exactly the wrong moment to give Inigo his full attention, because Inigo sure wishes he didn't have it right now. After all, that question makes him think about his situation back home. Thinking of days where he had to fight until it felt like his arms were about to fall off, of nights where he couldn't sleep with worries over the people he cares about being in danger or the guilt of killing.

Compared to that, this feels like paradise sometimes. A vacation. But he can't exactly say that, considering how little he wants to talk about his situation back home. But it's still impossible to hide the awkward pause when all of that shoots through his head as he just stares at Gladio.

His head dips a little, and something sad flashes across his face before it's quickly hidden behind a slight smile as he quickly returns to cleaning.

"You know. It could be worse? The people here are pretty nice. And the food's good too." Not that that's a real direct answer to that question, huh.

Gladio frowned, not understanding what he'd just seen there. But since he didn't know the kid he didn't want to pry too much.

"It could... And part of me is almost happy to be here. Back home it wasn't the best. Least from what I'm told my future didn't look the brightest." Gladio had missed out on what the others had seen. Luna's passing, Ignis' losing his eyesight...himself being an ass during such a time. "I just don't like enclosed spaces." Gladio continued with a low chuckle. "Do you like camping?"

Geez. That's something Inigo hadn't even considered yet - that people in this place could be told by others what might happen in their future. This may just be the first time he's felt glad to be the only one from his world in this place. It's probably better not to know.

He gratefully latches onto the last question though, happy to have something to talk about that doesn't make him think too much.

"It's alright. But I've done it so much in the past few years before I ended up here that it was pretty much the regular way of existing to me." Thankfully it's easy to play it off as just a lifestyle choice or something.. "It was so strange to get used to actual beds again here."

He laughs.

"If you don't like enclosed spaces, then I'm guessing you love camping. You sure look like you could wrestle a bear."

Edited 2020-04-25 17:44 (UTC)

"You did?" Gladio couldn't help but grin. "That was the same for me and my friends. We travelled before we came here. Camping almost every night." And he'd loved it. It had been his element and he'd enjoyed every second of it.

He laughed right along with the kid and had to nod.

"If you ask my friends they'd say yeah, I love camping. I like being close to nature." Another laugh. "Not to wrestle bears though."

"I can imagine why being on this train would suck for you then. Not much nature here, other than those few plant boxes they put up and the greenhouse car." And even the greenhouse isn't really nature, now is it.. Sure, Inigo likes it there, but half of the things are still growing and it's not quite any wild piece of nature.

He shakes his head though, prefering to focus on the positive rather than the negative. Especially since he finds himself quickly prefering the way Gladio laughs over the way he can scold people... Please, let him stick on the good side of this guy. He's even working hard on cleaning up here for it!

"You're seriously going to tell me though you're never wrestled a bear before? Not even once?"

"Not a bear, no..." Gladio laughed again. No he'd never wrestled a bear, but the list of creatures he had was a mile long and he didn't think this guy would know many, if any of them.

"Tried my hand at a behemoth once, does that count?" That was the biggest and baddest creature he could think to name.

See, he was onto something here after all! There's no way that a guy who looks the way Gladio does hadn't at least done something similar. Hell, even Inigo has fought bears before, and he sure feels his near average amount of muscle paling in comparison to Gladio.

"A behemoth?" He repeats the name, like he's searching his memory. "Can't say I've ever heard of those before. Are they bigger than a bear? Probably, right? Even just the name alone already sounds kind of intimidating."

"They're... damn big." Gladio chuckled. "They'd use this train for a chew toy." Which wasn't much of an exaggeration. They were massive things, terrifyingly large and dangerous as hell.

"What about you?" Gladio have the kid a searching look and smiled. "Where do you fall on this train? Fighter or not?"

Inigo's jaw just drops open as he hears that. Sure, he expected something big, but.. that's beyond anything he could have imagined! That's bigger than any animal he's ever seen! Geez, apparently this guy just really is as impressive as he looks. (Now Inigo is pretty glad he didn't piss him off any further..)

His mind slowly starts processing the fact he was asked a question though, and so Inigo shakes his head to snap himself out of the thought of behemoths to answer it.

"I'm a fighter." He can answer that much confidently. It'd be doing himself a disservice to not call himself that after all he's done back home. "Believe it or not, but I was actually a mercenary back home."

"A merc, huh?" Gladio cocked his head to the side and looked the guy up and down. He was a little on the clownish side, acting the fool and borderline childish. It had reminded him just a bit of Prompto. But he knew how capable a fighter he was and now he was looking at this other guy, really looking at him... he was seeing hints. It was in the shoulders, the arms. There was strength there. And then the eyes. There was something...

"I believe it." Gladio replied with a low chuckle. "Personally I'm military trained. My job was to protect my Prince, now my King. But I've met a few mercs in my time. Most were good. Are you a good..." He gave a little gesture of his hand for the guy to fill in the blanks, because so far he had no idea what the guys name was.

Of course out of all of the possible people to run into, it just had to be someone who protected a prince. Of course. This is his kind of luck. No wonder the way he was getting scolded earlier felt so familiar! He sure hopes that whichever prince Gladio is protecting doesn't have to be on the receiving end of that, sheesh...

Before he can get too lost in that thought though, he realised he's practically being asked a question here. "Oh-- I'm a swordfighter, mostly. There's some other weapons I can use if I try, but swords always felt the most comfortable to me."

There's the tiniest moment of hesitation before he holds out his hand to Gladio, hoping a handshake from the other might just not crush every single bone in his hand. "My name's Inigo, by the way. And.." Any hint of hesitation is quickly replaced by a slightly too hopeful smile, as if this part only seems to have been fully processed by now. "You really believe it?"

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