voidtreckerexpress | [Closed] Time to talk

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[Closed] Time to talk

Who: Taiki and various people (Wen Qing, Sarai and Gyousou, Tidus and Inigo)
Where: Various carriages (see threads)
When: Fiddlesticks latter half, after Wester's ICP post
What: Taiki takes Wen Qing food in the med bay. Taiki speaks to Sarai about current events. Probably the next day Tidus decides to teach Taiki and Inigo to play badminton.
Warnings: Mentions of murder and torture though nothing will be graphic or detailed. Individual threads might have more warnings than that.

For Wen Qing (and anyone else in medbay)

He had spent a good few hours wandering the corridors, helping those he could and trying to do things to make anything better.

Of course he can't actually make anything actually better. It is beyond him. But he can try and help people through it. For a creature who so despises blood and violence he has seen far more than his fair share of it. He is not innocent in any sense of the word.

So he helps and listens until his heart feels like it has been cut into a hundred pieces and still he continues because sometimes there is very little that can be done except listen to a person's pain.

He had stayed out of the way of the medical bay, knowing that there at least he would be more a hinderance than a help. But as the hours ticked by he went to the kitchen and began preparing some simple food.

Nothing too difficult or time consuming to eat. Nothing too heavy. He made green tea to go with it and carefully carried it back to the medical carriage.

He looked through the door before knocking, not wanting to disturb her if she was in the middle of something delicate. But then gently knocked.

Standard: For Gyousou and Sarai

It had been a long day and finally Taiki had found his way to Gyousou's side where his king sat in the standard coach. They were sat at one of the table seats, the book Creatures of the Void open between them as they made notes in their notebooks.

They might just be myths and legends but it was more than the nothing of information they had about anything else.

Taiki was struggling to concentrate though often just staring blankly at the page, not reading at all.

The next day: Standard again!

Even with everything else going on Taiki hadn't forgotten about Inigo and his friend's own pain. He made an effort to seek him out and spend time with him.

Quite nervously he had asked if Ingio would mind if he painted him and was surprised when Inigo had agreed. Even more surprised when it seemed Ingio was good at modeling.

Then again he was a prince, it was perhaps not that surprising. He must have had to sit for paintings before.

They were sat either side of a table, Taiki's art case open in front of him, a piece of paper he had borrowed from the printer in front of him, the start of a portrait.

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"You can pick the time we're doing this, but I'm getting you two moving. Taiki owes me a game, and you can do with doin' something new!"

That had been Tidus's (friendly) demand and explanation when he happened to see the pair, his own interest in doing much of anything dithering from day to day. But with the way things have been as of late, it seemed like a good time to bully some friends into sports.

Light sports, anyway. And more important of all, offering a potential distraction from recent happenings.

So once he's gotten them into the gymnasium (now allowed to be more of a gym with the fighters claiming the training gym as their new home), he gets to work with the cupboard first before any further explanations, giving it a thump with a fist to pop it open. Grabbing out the racquets, he frees up his hands by turning and warning--

"Catch!"

--before chucking a racquet each to them, then pocketing the shuttlecocks before walking over to them.

"The game's badminton, and you're in luck! I'll let you both work together to try and beat me."

He's even batting the end of his racquet against his other hand as he says that, smirking like a totally cool guy.

Baking had only lasted so long. Sarai had gotten some exercise and done...a lot of walking through the cars. Tended her plants back in the greenhouse car. Tried to do a lot of...not thinking.

None of this was working. Not even Dread could calm her temper at the moment, which was...a really, really bad sign.

But she passed briefly by the duo, and gave Taiki a smile when he glanced her way. Sarai kept going--but returned quickly with a cup of steaming tea. Maybe chamomile would calm her.

"Might I bother you both?" she asked quietly, not willing to disturb either of them if they were busy. But Taiki had given her thoughtful questions, and she figured he might help her again. If she was busy thinking, she'd have less energy for seething quietly.

Or so she hoped...

They have transferred Xue Yang from the examination room to the recovery room, with Wen Qing currently sitting by the bedside watching over her patient.

She looks up from the notes she has been taking, tired face brightening at the sight of a ery familiar and welcome presence.

"Taiki," she says, smiling slightly. "You brought food. And tea. You have no idea how welcome that is."

Tidus is like a tidal wave, rushing in and sweeping everyone along with him into whatever plans he had thought up. Inigo was similar, a summer squall moving in ways that made it impossible to not know he had been there. Inigo had a gentle, softer side to him but at times his energy rivalled that if Tidus.

With both of them together Taiki could only hope that they would match each other, two forces pressing together, keeping each other occupied and allowing smaller, more timid creatures to just exist in their presence.

He's not sure that will be the case as he completely fails to catch the racket that is thrown at him. He goes to pick it up off the floor, looking at them both with a carefully blank expression.

He knows how to play badminton, or at least he knows the idea.

A few people came and went and he watched them all nervously. Emotions were high and though he had been trying to help those experiences sorrow and horror he knows that sometimes at moments like this people will lash out, seek revenge. It makes him uneasy, nervous.

Sarai gets a nervous smile when she approaches though and he nods, glancing at Lord Gyousou to check that it was indeed alright for her to join them. He can't imagine why not though.

He had been a little nervous that his presence would be unwanted. That he would be disturbing her at a crucial time. But she smiles and he relaxes, taking the tray over to her and placing it gently.

"I didn't think you would have time to find anything to eat, but it's important you do."

He inclined his head in permission. Taiki had obviously stopped paying attention to their self-assigned project some time ago, and he wasn't about to insist on him continuing when someone wanted to talk. Especially when, from the look she'd given them as she passed by, it was Taiki she was there to see.

Honestly, today might just be the only day where Taiki has a pretty good chance of not being stuck between two unstoppable forces. It's true that Inigo is usually pretty good at matching Tidus' levels of energy, but recent happenings have left him mostly sapped of it. Usually he would either have enthusiastically agreed with Tidus' plan or dramatically protested, but today he does neither. He just follows the other two over to the gym - not completely quiet, but certainly pitching in a lot less than he usually would. Like there's still some of the usual Inigo, but it's been hollowed out by pain and worry.

Thankfully he does at least manage to catch the racquet. Inigo may not have much emotional energy, but his reflexes still seem to be up to par. Although he gives the thing a glance like he has absolutely no idea what it is when it's in his hands...

There's a concerned stare in Taiki's direction, then back in Tidus'.

"I.. Does badminton involve hitting each other?"

Look, what else is he supposed to assume when racquets are shaped like this?!

Did you even try to catch that racquet, Taiki. Should Tidus be concerned.

He goes 'oops' mentally in his head, but whatever sense that he should've handed over the equipment than chuck it is fleeting, pointless to consider. What's more important is Inigo's question, that gets a light scoff leading into his answer.

"Sure! I brought the two of you here to beat me up."

Said with the about of amused level of seriousness it deserves before his grin widens with the tip of his head.

"Nah, you hit these!" And out comes one of the shuttlecocks, held by its 'feathers'. "You take a side of a court, those markings there--" Tidus points his racquet to the floor of the gym, just in case Inigo has never wondered what exactly those lines and half circles are all about, "--and you bounce it between you and the person you're playing with. You can play the game a few ways, but if you try and hit this upwards..."

Tidus has moved himself, facing away from the pair and readying his racquet, the shuttlecock in hand. And letting it go with and knocking it with the racquet, up it goes, rather high into the air, arching on its way down...

to the empty ground waiting it.

"You still have to think on your feet and be ready to move, but it slows the game some. Not completely, but it's a fun way to get into it! It's a good game for using up some energy and bein' distracted for a while."

He's turned back to them both, resting the curve end of the racquet against his hand. His voice bright, but a calming sort than anything overly energetic.

"And I think we can all do with something mindless while we're stuck here."

He looks a bit disquieted but luckily he knows already that badminton does not involve beating people up. He is silent as Tidus explains, as he is aware Inigo doesn't know how to play, he spends most the explanation staring at the racket.

It's weird having people who want to spend time with him, who want to play sports and seek out his company, just because.

It's terrifying in many ways and he definitely doesn't deserve people like this. But there is part of him that is very happy indeed to have such people in his life. Even if they are all trapped on a train far away from where they should be.

"I will try and be a good partner." He told Inigo softly.

"To be perfectly honest, finding food didn't even cross my mind yet," she admits, a little sheepish. If it were anyone else, she would be chiding them now for this oversight.

"Sit with me, if you'd like. I can get another chair from the exam room."

"No please rest, drink some tea. I can fetch a chair." She's been working so hard already he doesn't want her doing anything else. Especially if she hasn't eaten yet. She would be the first to tell him off if he had worked himself so hard.

She had in the past after all.

For a moment it seems like Tidus is very sincere about this being the strangest kind of fight club, and Inigo is about to nervously sweat at the implications of that.

But then thankfully he realises that the other is just teasing him. For better or worse, Inigo is still not quite back up to his regular energy levels enough to get all embarrassed over it though. He takes in the information strangely quietly instead.

Inigo knows Tidus is right though. He could do with something mindless. They all probably can, considering the weird atmosphere on the train lately..

"Right. This actually sounds like a good idea, Tidus, so th--"

.. hold on a second. It's as if what Taiki is adding to all of that is only hitting his brain in the middle of his thanks to Tidus, and Inigo's brain has opted to shut down all other processes for a moment in order to be able to properly reassure their sensitive friend.

"Wait! Taiki, you're great, okay?" He may be grabbing a hold of the hand Taiki isn't using to hold his racquet, gently glasping it with his own free hand. "You are always a good partner. You don't even have to try."

Was hand-holding like this common in their worlds? Was it something in particular about these two, or did one get it from the other? It's peculiar to Tidus to witness, reminding him of the way Taiki's held his hand; twice now, under different emotions. A gesture Tidus takes note of, but it's not enough to completely distract him from the far more important point as he lifts his racquet upright.

"Inigo's right, Taiki, don't worry about it! This is a game between friends. I'm gonna start us off easy too -- get us used to how to move and react. So you just think about having a good time, alright? Just enjoy yourself!"

If there's any deeper meaning to Inigo's insistence of Taiki's partnership skills, Tidus doesn't know. But then, he doesn't need to.

He smiles gratefully at Inigo as he seeks to reassure him and nodded at him and Tidus. Since Tidus had went to such lengths to try and help them find a distraction. He would try his best.

Inigo definitely needed cheering up and if playing a game with them would help, he is willing to try. He squeezed Inigo's hand reassuringly and nods again.

"Alright. We shall try our best to match you, Tidus."

Just seeing Taiki smile makes everything feel a bit better again. Not fully better, considering Inigo still feels like someone smashed a hole right through his chest, but at least he doesn't also have to worry about Taiki's wellbeing at the same time. For the moment, anyway.

So he lets go of the other's hands once he's fully sure that Taiki has been adequately reassured. And then takes in a deep breath, because.. well, he doesn't want to be the one to drag the mood down now. He's just going to try and find his usual levels of energy. Or at least fake it until he makes it.

First of all by making sure to put a smile on his face.

"Just don't go too easy or you'll make us feel bad!"

"The second you two wanna speed things up, all you gotta do is say!"

This wouldn't fix anything, and what anything it could give would be temporary--but a temporary distraction from an always lingering ache was still a distraction, and it was a change of pace, maybe an introduction to something new to those who'd never have thought to try.

Regardless of the results, Tidus doesn't show worry for if this will be a waste of time, an effort tested in the wrong mood. Once the pair are in place on the other side (no need to worry about a net--they can care about that if there's another time), Tidus stands a distance on his own, a shuttlecock in hand that for a moment he holds it, a few white lights curl around it for a second, disappearing in their dance towards the air.

"Ready...! You want to hit it back at me like I'm gonna hit it! Watch where it comes!"

And with those last directions spared, Tidus throws the shuttlecock some in the air and hits it, sending it in a curved flight towards the pair. It's not insultingly slow, but it's not too fast either, and the two will be able to follow where it's going--in an angle towards Taiki--and make a dash for it. Let's just hope they get a swing in to send it back!

She sure has, and she will do it again as she is always better at fussing about her loved ones than taking care of herself.

Yet in this instance, she feels weary enough that she nods and leans back, murmuring her assent. While Taiki fetches the chair from the room next door, she grabs the cup of tea and cradles it in her hands to warm them up.

She watches Taiki when he returns, pensive. "Did you watch the message?" she asks quietly. There doesn't seem to be any need to specify which one, it must be all the train is talking about today.

It takes him a moment but soon he has brought the chair from the next room and set it near her, glad to see that she has began drinking the tea.

He nods sadly. "Yes. I saw it." He looked at her with pained eyes. "How is he?"

Clearly not well. But he had every faith in Wen Qing's ability as a healer. If there were a way to save him she would put everything into doing so.

Taiki finds a smile as well. After all Tidus has gone to an effort to try and cheer both him and Inigo up and Taiki won't make him feel bad by not appreciating that effort.

He nods at Inigo and then stands in position, noting the lights as Tidus hits the shuttlecock towards him.

It's not too fast or too far for him to run towards and hit back. He has played badminton before, back when it was still possible for people to be convinced to pair with him in gym, back before his teachers had given up on forcing terrified school children to face him and let him sit on the sidelines and watch.

He tried his best to angle the shot so it would go back towards where Tidus was. It was two against one, he doesn't want to make it too difficult on him!

It's probably for the best that the first hit is aimed for Taiki. It gives Inigo - who is literally holding a racquet for the first time in his entire life - some time to watch and see how this is supposed to go. You know, as opposed to him trying it out by himself first and looking like a total idiot.

It's easy enough to tell it's coming for Taiki, and though he does stand at attention in case it's too hard for the other to hit it back and Inigo will have to heroically dash over, he instead just stands there and watches as Taiki hits it back to Tidus.

Well, thankfully this game seems easy enough to understand now he's seen it in action. But it's not like Inigo can ever keep his mouth shut even when he's attentively watching, so of course he has to let out a loud whoop (again, way overcompensating..) when Taiki hits it.

"Go Taiki!"

Sorry, Tidus, you can have cheers when you're not the enemy.

Taiki's got some moves! In that, he's moving at all, and Tidus couldn't be happier to watch the other guy participating. It's not that he had any doubts that the guy wouldn't try, but he also didn't really know how well this would go to start off with- but then, Taiki's pretty much the one who showed him and all that kids how to play soccer, even if Tidus had the one to match the kids better in energy.

But it's alright that some friends are TRAITOROUS and SHOWING FAVOURITISM on the other side, though Tidus doesn't see it as so. What he's seeing and focusing on is where the shuttlecock comes back, its journey over to him a visible and easy to analyse destination. He kicks his legs into a shot sprint to meet it, swings back his racquet and sends it flying back to the other side, to whoever-- who will be the one it's heading towards this time!?

He startles a little as Inigo calls out a cheer and can't help the tiny smile that flickers onto his face. It fades a moment later as he concentrates again, but it's good to hear enthusiasm from Inigo. It gives him hope that he might be feeling at all better. That Tidus' plan for distraction is working.

The shuttlecock is heading more towards Inigo's side this time so he stays still, and watches.

Despite being busy with his biased cheers, Inigo is still paying attention to what's going on here. And so when he notices the shuttlecock heading in his direction this time, he's watching it. He's ready. Both Tidus and Taiki could hit it, so that means he has to be able to do the same! So much pressure!

Thankfully it's not the hardest thing to do, even when you absolutely have no experience with it. And Inigo learns quickly by watching anyway, which means that he's able to swing his racquet and hit the shuttlecock back to Tidus..

.. although with a little less grace in not making it hard for Tidus. Not that Inigo is making it hard for the other on purpose, it's just that he's so relieved to be able to hit the thing back that he's just smacking it as hard as he can. Enjoy!

'In not making it less hard'. Fool. This fool. What an imbecile. Forgetting everything about Tidus's legwork and what makes him a star player in more than just blitzball. Because Tidus doesn't react in any other way than in fluid response, reading the direction and velocity forced into the shuttlecock, and having the sense to find exactly where he needs to be to meet it.

It's becoming a fighter that's allowed him to become so swift in his response to any little thing though, his style of fighting, that anything to do with his sports career (but it helps, since blitzball is 4 lyfe). So when he swings, he sends it right back the way it came, if intentionally--because he can tell that Inigo's the one who needs the practice, who needs that test. But he doesn't put his arm into it as hard as Inigo, though it doesn't lose that new speed as it comes back to him.

Still, it's a straightforward path back, curving only in its return to Inigo. And should Inigo get it, only needing to realise and prepare himself for its return, that's when he'll change its course for Taiki.

Look, maybe Tidus likes sports a lot.

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[Closed] Time to talk

for inigo and taiki

for gyousou and taiki!

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