[open] i make a penny, the train makes a dime

[blitzcheer]

Who: Tidus & You! (Open!)
Where: Kitchen car, around, where pets can be petted (or bite him)
When: Grasshopper 16 onwards (can include a few days before)
What: Tidus has a 'bet' that's less of a bet now and more 'see what doing chores consistently does for your points', but also just generally around the train too!
Warnings: should be nothing!

1. aid // for purple team CR:

Tidus has an objective, first coming from a bet of 'who can get the most points!' to 'okay, but do you get anything out of doing chores than the sense of self-satisfaction of helping out the community (pffft, boriiing)'? That's what Tidus wants to do, and suuure, he really has no reason to think that chores gives you anything when he hasn't...been the best at them, but.

That's not stopping his little inner nag from wanting him to find out, and what better way to run experiments with a friendly face? Perhaps an unsuspecting one, when he comes to a Purple-clothed team and starts, with a bright and familiar face on him.

"Heyyy. You free?"

2. cleaning:

( a. kitchen ) Or maybe he's already recruited your character, they were already there to do chores, or they just happen to be in the kitchen at the time, which great! Tidus is easy with conversation, piping up with a "Hey!" to anyone that comes into the kitchen, and for those he's already with, ask, "You meet anyone interesting on the platform?", "You order anything in?", "So, what'd you think about that last mission?"

Despite this, he is trying to do as much he can think of to do: Put the plates and cutlery through the dishwashers, set them aside to be put away again; mopping the floor (and even saying to those he's partnered with beforehand, 'I'll do the floor', like it's his personal mission). And he's fine with clearing up some of the trays and bowls by hand in the sink, but he's...rather awkward about it. Minding how deep his left hand goes in, his SCA still strapped around his wrist, and doing what he can to make sure it doesn't hit the water. And maybe even looking around and seeing if there's anything he can put around it. Can he tuck kitchen roll around it...? ...he does try...

( b. bathrooms ) lol no he won't and YOU CAN'T MAKE HIM.

3. around

Otherwise, Tidus can be found around normally on the train. He's often trying out the sports in the gynasium, from badminton, tennis, to volleyball, and if your character happens to like to join there too, he won't be afraid to ask, "Hey, mind if I join in?"; he's on the lookout to see who's into sports, or who might be checking out the room with interest.

He also takes part in the training gym, whether in one of the group sessions or taking time in it setting up obstacles with the balancing beams, ropes, and so forth. The floor is lava and you need to run across the beams, jumping onto the climbing set and swing across the next lot! He's a monkey with too much energy. Or maybe your character is already up to something in there?

Tidus does know how to do chill however. Find him in the cinema car watching what's already playing or some dumb comedy, or even in the music car to see what tunes are available for his SCA. There's a also a chance of finding him on the upper quiet car floor, the doors closed and...he's sitting cross-legged on the floor between the couches, his eyes closed and head slightly hanging. What. Knock on the door, or leave him be?

Also, maybe he'll be checking out a random pet wandering around. Heyy there little guuuyy how friendly are you? Insert your pal [here].

( ooc: Tidus will easily approach others so if you want to set up a thread where he'd need to be the one to say hi, go for it! above is some areas where he'd be to do such or even for your character to do it first. o7 )

Comments

[longforgottenpromise]

The room is very neat and tidy, sleeping bags rolled up, blankets folded except the one that is currently wrapped around Taiki. The beds are folded up, giving the room a little more space.

"Thank you." He smiled, a genuine smile despite the tiredness lining his features. "I don't need anything." And he definitely doesn't want to send Tidus off to get things, even if he doesn't mind.

"Are you alright? Have you recovered from the mission?" He knows he had been mystically healed, but there are different ways of needing to recover, after all.

[blitzcheer]

"Me? I'm a hundred percent!" He brings up a fist in show to go with it, a face of confidence. "Some people needed extra healing and that took me out, but I'm fine. After Inigo decided to drag me around..."

There's playfulness to that, but then Tidus remembers why Inigo called on him the next day, for Taiki, and decides to shit gears. He gets the feeling Taiki might get all apologetic if he goes into that.

"But that's okay, I got him to help me with orders I made from the shop. I forgot how much I bought.. I got a headache trying to sort through it all!"

Hopefully, Taiki doesn't mind Tidus complaining about meaningless things instead, the groan as he speaks about his headache, letting said head hang tiredly. So hard...!

[longforgottenpromise]

"Was Inigo injured?" He sounded worried, Inigo hadn't mentioned it but then again Inigo wouldn't. He would never admit to being injured until it was too late. "What sorts of things did you buy? I am sorry that you got a headache from it."

He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry... I am asking a lot of questions."

He has been restless, being cooped up in his cabin, though he is being patient. He knows he will be of no use to anyone if he pushes himself too far too quickly.

[blitzcheer]

"You call that a lot? Ask me more!"

He won't win if he just tells Taiki not to apologise, so he'll go that way instead, encouraging what the guy feels the need to be sorry for. But instead of waiting for more right then, Tidus falls easily into giving his answers after a beat.

"Inigo's fine, he didn't get hurt. Probably worked himself into an exhaustion," and there's a sigh!, "but there's no telling with him. Nah, we were just looking for someone. And I ordered... ugh, too much. But..."

He picks up a hand, ticking off each item finger by finger.

"Potions, ethers, energy drinks, jars--glass, I wanted 'em for food and drink, but I dunno if they're any good. Rations, a first aid kit... oh yeah, and I tried getting a trunk of clothes, and it just gave me train clothes in a sea of socks and underwear!"

Yep, his sulk voice is on at the end there. Ugh! Don't think he won't try again, train...!

[longforgottenpromise]

It gets a small smile from him though it faded as he listened. He was worried about Inigo. Tidus too actually. They had both worked so hard and even now they weren't stopping.

His eyes widened as Tidus began listing the things he had bought, it was so much! "You must have earned many points." He has no idea how points were earned, but he's not surprised Tidus had a lot, he was very helpful and worked very hard.

He can't help a smile at the sulking at the end there. "Are these clothes very different than those you wore on your own world?"

[blitzcheer]

The comment on his points makes Tidus grimace some, a little sheepish, but more feeling bad.

"I think it's 'cause I jumped over between different teams. There's no reason for the points I did get."

And it bugged him, but at least he was spending it on everyone than just himself. Other people still deserved more...but try telling that to the train or whoever was behind it!

But as for the clothes, Tidus tilts his head. "Not really... but I was hoping for different colours, materials! And something for everyone, you know? A pick 'n' mix."

[longforgottenpromise]

"You worked very hard so I'm not surprised." He had been everywhere, helping everyone. Taiki wouldn't have gotten through the mission so well without him and he knows that he is far from the only one.

"Isn't there... You can buy random outfits. I don't think they are uniform, if we bought some we could mix and match..."

Gyōkō had become interested in their visitor and wriggled his way out of Taiki's hands to investigate.

[blitzcheer]

"Yeeaaah, but I was trying to get more. More for less points, you know?" Cheat the system! "But we can do that... once I get more. I'm doing chores everyday to see if it helps!"

He's on a train mission, Taiki! But the little guy doesn't go unnoticed in all of Tidus's head flopping and nodding to himself, especially once he manages to wander over to his leg.

"Oh hey there! Remember me?"

Trying to be careful, he settles down a hand on the bed, palm facing up; seeing if he'll be curious, or not be too scared by the movement to leave him forever.

[longforgottenpromise]

"Oh." He nodded, he understands. A little like bulk buying, where things would be cheaper if you bought many.

It seems the little jerboa does remember, or is just getting used to friendly hands and it sniffs at Tidus before hopping into the palm. It makes Taiki smile.

"I think he likes you..." He tilts his head. "I can help... With chores I mean. Um... When I can leave here. But if there's anything... I can help from in here with, let me know."

[blitzcheer]

This little guy is smart, isn't he! Tidus doesn't have much experience with animals, so he lets out a small 'oh!' as the jerboa hops into his hand. Getting a smaller laugh out of Tidus, but no less bright.

He smiles as he swings his head to look at Taiki.

"Sure, yeah--that'd be great! If we could chat over the SCAs while I did chores, that would be fun too." Just until Taiki got back on his feet. Tidus sets both his hands together, widening the space of his palms for Taiki's pet.

"By the way. Can you cook?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"Yes... Um I don't think the SCAs work on the train but we can talk on the information points... If you don't mind others hearing us..."

Taiki doesn't mind, though he would worry about it being irritating.

He shook his head slightly. "Not really. I can make simple things... But..." He looks like he might say something else but shakes his head again. "I should learn though."

[blitzcheer]

Tidus laughs, shaking his head.

"Nah, I'll just wait 'til you join me." Even if it was funny, Taiki's quiet voice coming over the ICPs while he was washing the dishes. He wouldn't hear a thing!

But as for cooking... "I was just wondering- I know you get self-conscious about feeling you're not doing much as everyone else." Tidus minds how he talks about it, consideration in his tone, not about to just speak of Taiki's insecurities without that.

"--Other people do. And another passenger was telling me they'd welcome help making bread for the missions. They'll even show how."

[longforgottenpromise]

He looked down at that, because it is true. He isn't doing as much as everyone else. Not on missions, not even now they are back, his illness keeping him from participating as much as he should be when it came to chores.

"Oh." He nodded, "I'd be happy to help. And learn... I've never made bread before."

[blitzcheer]

"I've made bread," Tidus shares cheerily. "All kinds of bread! I'll come and join in too. We can make it a fun thing, drag Inigo along--I'm trying to show him new things," Tidus shares with a conspiratorial nod and grin, head leaning forward.

But he sits back straight, the smiling still playing on his face. Sparing a glance at the jerboa that's settled to sit in the centre of his palm.

"And... I want you to know! I get it, if you didn't want to tell me about-- you know. Your condition. Or maybe there wasn't a right time back on the mission, or before that. But...if there's anything that's wrong..."

Ah, how to say this? He ducks his head to think, mouth pulling as he puzzles the words for a moment. Looking back up at Taiki, trying to impress some reassurance on him.

"I don't think any less of you, you know? You're still Taiki to me. And you mean a lot. You're my friend."

[longforgottenpromise]

He nodded, he is always up for teaching Inigo new things. He gets the feeling Inigo doesn't have many hobbies. Not that he can really talk but... He's a kirin. He's not supposed to have hobbies.

But as the subject turned he stared at his hands, the guilt he has been feeling since Tidus stumbled out of this very cabin, returning to him in a rush.

"No." He shook his head. "I... I should apologise. I shouldn't have... I didn't think..."

He hadn't wanted to admit his weakness, but in doing so he had really made everything worse. "I should have told you."

He looked up at him at those last words though, tears in his eyes that he blinked away quickly. Tidus was his friend too and he was glad, so glad that he...

"You mean a lot to me too."

[blitzcheer]

If Gyōkō wasn't in the wrong hand, Tidus would be reaching over for Taiki's, giving it a squeeze. But all he can do is let the worried "Hey-" leave his mouth, remember the little guy and watch the emotion play across Taiki's face. Pulling his own in a softer, sympathetic look.

He tucks his hands together, his free one cupping the other--careful, slow--to better rest them over his lap.

"Well, I know now," he says with some finality, or aiming for that. "I was...scared, yeah. You seemed okay all that time 'til then. But I don't want you to sit here and feel bad, you know?"

It's the last thing he wants, even if he'd been doing that himself. Wondering too, why couldn't Taiki tell him?--but he never felt mad about it. He was just worried, that's all it was. Worry. And some amount of guilt.

"Hey, did you ever put music on your SCA?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"I know." He knew how scared he must have been. How scared he would have been if Tidus had fainted without him even knowing anything had been wrong. "I'm sorry."

He needed to make it up to him, but he was not sure how.

The question made him blink in surprise. "Oh..." He shook his head. "No."

[blitzcheer]

The answer makes Tidus brighten, since of course-

"I'll put music on for you!" And there he goes, nearly forgetting about the jerboa again when he lifts his cupped hands, but he remembers before they go too far. Gyōkō is getting so many fun slow rides. "Uh, later. You don't wanna be bored and stuck in your room all day. What kind of music do you like?"

Is this what they're talking about now? It sure is, at least for the moment!

[longforgottenpromise]

Gyōkō seems to be taking this new exciting hand ride life in his stride at least. Taiki was quiet for a moment, looking at his hands.

"I don't know. I didn't really listen to that much music... on earth I mean. I wouldn't know any really..."

He smiled, "I am sure I will like whatever you choose."

[blitzcheer]

"I'll let you listen to some of what I got and you can tell me if you like it! When my hands aren't occupied," he grins, a flit of a look down at his little friend. He could just free up his other hand but shhh.

"I'll get a mix of other stuff too. That's what I did when I was going through the library. I didn't find anything I knew...but there's some good tunes on there." And honestly, it was amazing anyway. He hasn't heard such a wide range of tunes since...Zanarkand.

"Oh yeah, and I'll tell Inigo to bring the books he got next time he visits you too. Did he show you yet? I made him get comics! Didn't even know what they were when I told him about them."

Told him as in said the word 'comic' and left it at that.

[longforgottenpromise]

"Oh I can take him... If he's a problem..." He doesn't want to cause Tidus problems, even inadvertently through his cute jerboa.

He hadn't really even gone through the music yet, he hadn't known where to start and it was too... Too close to earth things. A period of time he sort of would prefer to pretend didn't happen.

"I'm not surprised... He doesn't come from somewhere where there would be comics..."

[blitzcheer]

"This little guy, a problem?" Tidus turns him slowly, the playfulness in the question an answer. No way, the jerboa is cute. He's keeping him and Taiki won't have him back (for now).

"Mmm, I don't actually know what there is... the way Inigo talks about where he's from, there's nothing." Nothing fun, anyway. He gets there's fighting, a battle that takes him over to different worlds...

"I wanted to help get him something he knows, but I didn't know what that'd be. He's not into reading, and all he plays is cards."

What do you get an old-fashioned guy when you don't know what being old-fashioned means?

[longforgottenpromise]

Good, he is glad the small bounce mouse isn't annoying Tidus. He nodded though, he knew very little about Inigo's world as well, he got the feeling Inigo didn't want to talk about it and he didn't want to pry.

"Have you shown him the music you like? He might be interested in that..."

[blitzcheer]

Oh, that's not a bad idea. Tidus nods. "I can do that! I can show him other music too--we can go together even, when you're feeling better. The three of us. It's the closest car to the sleepers now."

So now far to walk. It could be the first trip out, even! ...or that should be left to meals. Well. A first meet-up between pals (excluding the dinner surprise!)

"What do you say?"

[longforgottenpromise]

"That would be fun... If you don't mind." He really doesn't want to force them to spend time doing slow and simple things with him, whilst he is too ill to do any of the more energetic things they both clearly enjoyed. Tidus especially. He never seemed to sit still.