[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

[blitzcheer]

His plate of crepes sit on his lap, the half-eaten one still held, but mostly forgotten as Tidus listens.

"Let's ask him when he's better." It's a simple conclusion, but wasn't it as simple as that? Saku doesn't know, so they can just ask Taiki, and either he'd know or wouldn't know. Tidus looks down to his plate, the taste of the carrot surfacing in his mouth with the sight.

"It wouldn't have been easy to try last mission. It was like you said--we were ambushed. Some of the Terrans knew about the fiends coming out and attacking, but we didn't hear about it 'til the next day. There were orbs at the Orange facility too, but they had full lights. That's why I sent Taiki there. I figured out of anywhere, it'd be the safest."

He's freed his hand of the snack to turn his palm is a conversational matter, in explaining what happened. If he remembers, Saku asked him that yesterday. What happened on the mission. Tidus's mind wanders for it again, trying to think. What would keep Taiki safer? Was there really a way?

[eyeslikeblood]

"He may not know, himself." It's a warning, or perhaps a lament. After all, why would Taiki hide his capabilities from his king, unless it was something he felt ashamed of? "I have often debated with myself whether or not to confront him about it, but if his answer is any of those, what am I to do? A kirin who cannot transform... he is plagued by doubts, and it would only serve to highlight his supposed inadequacies."

He falls silent, thinking over the description of the mission. "We cannot prevent him being ill, short of my ordering him to remain on the train. No mission has been free of battle."

[blitzcheer]

Would it really be that troubling? Tidus can't imagine it--why not just talk about it? It's a strange thing to keep to himself, even if Saku explains it. Tidus's brow already lowered, mouth twisted.

"What if I asked?" Would it make a difference? What he does understand is the respect Taiki has for Saku, and while they're friends, he knows his relationship with his king is a whole lot different.

"Would if be different, instead of you? And maybe I can get him some help from someone else on board! I know it bothers him thinking he can't do much... I don't want him to feel like that."

[eyeslikeblood]

He opens his mouth to refute the idea, but pauses.

"... it might be different," he admits. There are, after all, far fewer consequences, imagined or otherwise, to admitting a secret to someone friendly with no relation to yourself. Wasn't that how he had found out Taiki's first great secret, in the end?

"It would be another favour to ask, in my growing debt to you, but if you would..."

[blitzcheer]

"Don't think about it like that," Tidus reassures, if also a dismissal of the sentiment. "It's for Taiki in the end, not us. We're just here to support him."

And they both might want to know, but for his benefit in the end. What debt or favour was that to ether of them? Tidus lifts the roll he still holds, but only some way; the weight of something else already in his gut.

"...do you think that's why...he never told me about his problem? I didn't know if maybe-- maybe he was embarrassed. He didn't know how to say it."

But still, I wish he'd told me--it continues to cling close to his tongue, a frustration without heat. Taiki will always get sick on missions since it can't be avoided. Battle can never be avoided. But if there were other ways he could have helped...

[eyeslikeblood]

"To help Taiki is to help the people of Tai." There's no sense of exaggeration in his tone; as far as he's concerned, it's the hard truth. "As their king..."

A gesture, what can you do? Naturally he must repay debts owed. But that's something to debate another time. "Taiki has always been a very strange kirin. I think of him as... one-of-a-kind, special. An embodiment of the determined, unbowed spirit of Tai kingdom. But his strangeness made him shy and uncertain. Always apologising for not being enough..! Ridiculous. His willpower is unmatched."

He leans forward, and reaches over, placing the mug in Tidus's hand. "That he hid it shows that he values your good opinion. Unfortunately for us!"

[blitzcheer]

There's a twitch of a smile to that end, a breath letting out amusement from his mouth. Tidus takes the mugs, dropping the food he's been slow at eating (despite the rush in) to hold it firmly. Drinking, when that desire to think more over the issue just leads him nowhere. He's too tired, his brain like a fog after using so much magic. It just reminds him of how tired his body feels.

"What about you?" he eventually asks, bringing the mug back down. "How are you after..." Being gone? Absent? Tidus doesn't even know what to call it. "Do you remember anything?"

[eyeslikeblood]

He settles back again when Tidus drinks, and lets him think at his own pace.

"It was unpleasant," he muses. "I was about to step off the train, when the ICP said... I was wanted in the control coach. My watch beeped, and the next thing I knew, it had been almost a week, and the train was empty-- almost empty. Several people had evacuated, but were in no state to talk... did you know that the watch communication doesn't work, if you're aboard?"

His tone is almost conversational, but he can't quite keep the tension from it. Being trapped and ignorant is, apparently, still a sore point. It's good to know.

[blitzcheer]

"Took you three, four months to even be allowed to talk planet-side, right?"

It's a wry remark, Tidus hardly surprised by the lack of onboard communication as a result. Why change too quickly, right?

But there was nothing funny in it, nothing funny about Saku's entire absence. It's just confusing, to even think about why.

"Did you feel anything before that happened? I mean, did you feel weird?" Was there something there before the call? Tidus pinches his mouth. "Taiki--you know, it was just like you were gone. He couldn't feel you, any of that. I spoke to Nita earlier too. She said it's just like...people disappear completely when they get called. It kinda has me worried..."

Kinda worries him a lot. Where's this control coach, and why do people just seemingly...vanished? He imagined there just had to be a closed off room before, but now he doesn't know what to think.

[eyeslikeblood]

"I believe so."

No need to cast his mind back; he'd run through the events obsessively enough. He shakes his head.

"I felt nothing. If we were within the twelve kingdoms, I would think I had been possessed by a Hinman... I wonder if anyone is able to look into my mind, to gain some kind of clue?" He tilts his head up, contemplative-- then huffs a mirthless laugh. "But surely such a thing has been attempted before."

[blitzcheer]

Maybe, maybe not. Tidus tips his own head at the idea.

"Worth trying," he says, somewhere between the 'why not?' category of it working. "Is there anyone who can even do it?"

Nita knows Speech, other people know, uh... Trying to rack his brain to figure if he knows anyone with that abilities is coming up with a blank, turning into the thought of what it would be like to experience. Would you feel someone poking around in your brain...? Would you see things too? Is it super clear?

...what would someone find in his head...

[eyeslikeblood]

"To my shame, I have no idea," he admits. But Tidus is losing focus, noticeably, and he was certainly napping when Gyousou interrupted him, so he shifts, and stands.

"Something for another day, I think. For now, I'll leave you to sleep. But I had not wanted you to feel that I or Taiki were angry with you, or felt anything but gratitude for your care towards us."

[blitzcheer]

It's the standing that makes Tidus refocus on the present than possibilities, lifting his chin and then, once Saku's spoken, giving a small shake of his head.

"No, I didn't think that," he says, then after a beat, "I'm glad he'll be okay."

That's about all he can hope for, and maybe in the future something can be done. For now... for now, there wasn't much else Tidus knew he could do.

"Lemme know if he needs anything. And when I can visit?"

[eyeslikeblood]

"I'm sure he'd welcome your company, whenever you feel up to it." He can say that much with absolute confidence. "He was worried, when you left. He'll be reassured to see you..."

He pauses, halfway to opening the door. "In fact, if you wish to resume your nap in our cabin, you may use my bed. Then you might reassure one another."

[blitzcheer]

...maybe he should go back into a proper bedroom, before another Inigo comes along and decides he really needs him to be awake for no reason (Saku doesn't count). Tidus settle his cup onto his place, not sure what else to do with them. About to stand, except-

"It fine if I take these? Uh-I'll take them out," he promises.

faaaaade to black?

[eyeslikeblood]

"I don't see why not," is his assurance. He holds the door open, glad at least that Tidus is well enough to move about.