voidtreckerexpress | Purple Party Power! | OTA (not just Purple)

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Purple Party Power! | OTA (not just Purple) | Grasshopper 27

When: Day 27rd of Grasshopper, starting in the afternoon, about halfway between lunch and dinner.
Where: Music car, 2nd level
What: The Purple Team Town Hall and Mixer
Who: Though this is primarily for the Purple Team to get together and discuss things, no Team exists in a vacuum. If someone wants to attend, please come.

The upper floor of the Music Carriage is decorated for a party (you can thank Kitty), and there will be music and entertainment after the Meeting portion (you can thank Kitty). Chairs are currently set up facing the small stage, and to the left and right of the stage are the two drink tables. One contains drinks suitable for all ages, the other is clearly labeled, "Alcoholic Beverages, please drink responsibly." To the sides, near the two entrances, are the snack tables (snacks made and donated by generous passengers, including Mami, and Glorfindel, so you know they are good!)

Two of the Purple Team Leads are at the two entrances as well, Glorfindel at one door and Roland at the other until the Meeting starts.

"Welcome to the Team Meeting and Mixer! Please grab some refreshments and a seat, we'll be saying a few words and taking some questions to start, then the party will get started."

[OOC: 1. Threadjacking is encouraged; 2. There will be Top levels for topics but if you're here to crash the party for bonus AC, go for it! No one will stop you!! 3. Glor and Rolo will probably just help keep discussions going if tags get stagnant so people can jump in again! 4. Have fun, don't let either of the team leads DJ LOL!]

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[ It happens so quickly. Inigo's mind is still much too busy contemplating how much Tidus means that, if he'd really, really would just much rather not have to hug him, if--

Every single coherent thought is immediately broken off after Roland is done with speaking and Tidus suddenly moves though. Inigo's jaw instantly drops.

He doesn't even look like he knows what to say at first. What does he even say first when there's about twenty panicked thoughts flying through his mind? ]

Tidus, you'll give him a concussion!!

[ PANIC. PANIC. HIS VOICE RIGHT NOW HAS ONE EMOTION AND IT'S PANIC.

And yet he still isn't letting go of Tidus, despite the obvious freaking out he's doing over here. ]

[ DON'T WORRY THIS HURTS TIDUS MORE THAN IT HURTS ROLAND, PROBABLY. Then again, he's taller than the walking sack of bones!!! ]

Great! Is it he out yet? I'll do it again! [ Except he isn't, 'cause owwww that did hurt.... And it was a warning shot! Roland will surely give in now! And then Inigo too!! ]

[ !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tidus hit him straight in the nose. How did he bump his head straight against his nose?! ]

GAH!

[ The urge to let go and rub at his nose is strong and it's a multi-hit, exactly like Inigo mentioned. His nose, his temple. Guess Tidus is more hard-headed than I thought...!

His face is that of total exasperation, side-eying him as best he can. Honestly. Juvenile. Completely and utterly juvenile. But if that's how he wants to play it, then fine. Roland isn't leaving this circle until he gets what he came here for. What Inigo came here for!!

You don't mess with the President, kid! ]

[ Hey, so isn't it great that Roland didn't let go? Because now he is in the perfect vantage point to check if maybe, just maybe, Tidus...has a ticklish spot. Maybe under the ribs? Closer to the arm pit? Or the waist perhaps...? Not full on tickles, of course. Just slight pokes with his fingers! Nothing too crazy!

Try and headbutt him again, punk! ]

We're waiting for that hug back, pro.

[ Holy Naga what kind of bloodsports are suddenly unfolding right in front of him?! All Inigo wanted was a hug, why is he instead getting war!

He doesn't even realise yet that Roland has started a counterattack. Inigo's eyes are so trained on both Roland and Tidus's faces that he doesn't bother to look down to where the older guy's hands are going. Instead he's much too busy giving both of them puppy eyes. Completely oblivious. ]

A-- Are both of you alright?

Edited 2020-10-02 08:05 (UTC)

[ weh weh weh completely juvenile weh weh weh

But you think Tidus is just going to stand here and take those fingers poking at him? Poor you, Roland, he isn't ticklish! But he is all about swatting at those pesky hands! ]

Stop feelin' me up! [ OLD PERVERT. But as for Inigo: ] What do you think?

[ LOOK AT HIM. HE'S BEING HARASSED BY TWO GUYS. HOW DO YOU THINK TIDUS IS. ]

Don't you two know when a joke's old and stale? I was tryin' to relax with my sip of beer.

[ No he didn't have a beer, he's just commenting on the remarkably low amount of alcoholic drinks. ]

[ FEELING HIM UP, honestly this boy!!! Roland relents though, finally snakes his arms off of Tidus and immediately folds them back up against his chest. ]

Beer? [ He quirks an eyebrow up. Look, he's not about to police Tidus. He doesn't interdimensional legal drinking ages. But he's the only one who got beer!!! Right? Glor got wine...? ] Who gave it to you?

[ Just. Making sure actual Earth!Minors aren't. Accidentally exposing themselves to this swill. ]

Please don't say I'm not old enough to drink, gramps.

[ Continuing to disrupt tag order for the driest of requests. Please don't be That Adult. ]

[ EXCUSE YOU. Inigo would be feeling great if he was getting sandwich hugged like Tidus is right now, mister I-don't-see-my-current-privilege! ]

.. It's not a problem, is it, Roland? [ See, he can defend Tidus too! Inigo isn't biased! ] I mean, Tidus and I are the same age, right? He's old enough to drink!

Hm.

[ REAL GOOD POINT THERE, Inigo. He just stares at the two of them for a moment before he shrugs slightly. ] I'm not policing it. Don't know what the legal age for drinking is on either of your worlds, anyway. Wouldn't even know what law to cite. [ He shakes his head. ] But I was thinking more for those who come from Earth - I just want to make sure they don't have easy access to alcohol.

[ Isn't he just the life of the party? Even though once upon a long time ago, Mr. President was just as bad, partaking of the same underage drinking he's denouncing now. Hypocrite! ]

...How's your tolerance? [ Maybe he's talking to Tidus, maybe Inigo. Maybe both of them!! Just. Making sure everyone is. Safe!! In his Adult Party!! ]

[ Should we not be talking about the bigger issue here of the fact Tidus is standing here being harassed by two other guys keeping their arms all over him? No?? well ok ]

We're on a train that kidnaps people. Who cares where we're from? Let them have a drink if the train lets you buy it.

[ A pause. ] You two are more trouble than a bottle of beer.

[ YEAH!! ]

And don't answer him, Inigo. You're a prince! You should be asking gramps here his alcohol tolerance! You're like top of the food chain in command, right? Who cares if he's a Team Lead?

[ No. That's not an issue. It's a blessing.

Inigo is still clinging to Tidus so casually too as he talks. Like this is just a part of a normal conversation, tightly clinging to your bro. Totally normal. (It's comfortable, okay!) ]

I'm--

[ He's so obviously right about to answer Roland's question when Tidus's remark hits him. Don't answer him, Inigo.

Inigo's gaze rapidly switches back and forth between the two other guys, and slowly - but very visibly - panic starts to form in his eyes. What does he do now?! He doesn't want to disappoint Roland by not answering, but he also doesn't want Tidus to feel like he isn't on his side! ]

I--I, well..

[ He's just stammering now. WHAT DO. He's like a panicked dog. ]

But Roland is a president though!

[ Clearly the answer is to just avoid having to answer Roland's question in the first place by diverting the conversation. ]

'Gramps!?'

[ Are you even kidding him with this behavior!!! ]

....

[ Have the worlds most silent, yet also most audible at the same time, don't ask how it just works that way, sigh. ]

...I'm not a grandpa. Stop that.

[ Roland is just throwing Tidus the driest of looks before Inigo begins to stammer, his mouth desperately trying to go as fast as his brain is thinking of what to say.

But gosh does he look just a bit smug when he hears Inigo say that. ]

Yeah. Good one, Inigo. I am president. That means in terms of experience, I could probably drink both of you under the table if I really wanted to. [ He chuckles, the facade breaking. He only has an above-average alcohol tolerance, let's be real here. The days of hard drinking at parties are long, long over for him. ] Thankfully, that's not going to happen. Heh.

[ Inigo is having a panic attack behind him and he knows he needs to tread carefully with that, but also, come on, man! Keep it together for once, can you!!

Tidus has the most unimpressed look for either of them, not deterred when Roland joins in feeling all proper and in charge (for a guy just standing around hugging him). Also, not regretting calling him a gramps. ]

The way I heard it, you got outranked by a prince-king when you showed up in another world! So sounds to me like your president title's only worth being one of the guys under a prince. Which Inigo is.

[ Is Tidus talking out of his ass? ABSOLUTELY. And he's going to keep it up! ]

So it doesn't matter how much you can drink in experience - me and Inigo can drink more. And whatever we want!

Old timer.

Tidus, please don't call Roland an old timer...

[ It's just a whine at this point. A plea. Please, oh almighty Tidus, stop hurling these insults at his dad, okay. It'd be way easier to take Tidus's side in all of this if he wasn't constantly calling Roland old and therefore making Inigo sound like he's calling the other old too if he agrees with Tidus!

But he won't keep it to that whine, at least, although he's still definitely pouting as he's clinging to Tidus. ]

But of course we can drink. We don't need permission. We're adults! [ Look, that's not even Teen Rebellion, Inigo just genuinely believes this to be a fact. ]

How in the void's name am I considered an old timer when we're in the presence of thousand year old elves on this train?

[ WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING, TIDUS

THEY'RE TWO DIFFERENT RULING SYSTEMS THAT AREN'T MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE --

Roland listens, throws the Look. Inward sigh. And Inigo is jumping in on this nonsense too! ]

Look. [ His hand would very much like to massage the bridge of his nose right about now, but he's not about to give Tidus the absolute satisfaction! ] I trust that you're both responsible drinkers abiding by whatever rules your worlds have regarding drinking age and legality. [ Yeah that's right. JARGON ] I'm just saying, not everyone is as...responsible about it as you two are. And if they're from some version of my world where you can't drink until you're 18 - [ 21, in some states. ] - then I'm going to have to step in a little bit.

[ ... ]

Tidus, please don't drink whenever you want. Your poor liver.

[ blah blah different ruling system blaah blahh Tidus don't care. ]

Still old. [ He mumbles it, but it still gets out because of course Tidus won't drop it. A taste of petty satisfaction that's quickly soured by Roland's ensuing monologue. And what sounds like could be that, ugh, dumb adult soothing of one's ego about how I know you're responsible, it's all those other young adults!

But it's that remark about his liver - don't drink whenever you want - that sparks a twitch at Tidus's brow, that brings the salt on his mouth. ]

I don't need you telling me how to handle my drink. [ It doesn't come off any less sulky or bratty as he's been speaking so far, but he feels it. Some guy older than him acting like he knows any better? ] And who put you in charge to decide what someone wants to do with their points? You think a sixteen year old's any worse with their drink than someone your age? How about you deal with the people who actually have a problem than getting hung up on where they're from?

[ The bitterness on his face keeps, a look swung Inigo's way, but then turning off somewhere by his shoulder. ]

[ Inigo can.. kind of see Roland's point, he supposes, though the idea of a world where adults control how much people younger than him drink is absolutely wild to him, being very much a child of medieval times. But it seems to suit Roland, that need to care, to take responsibility.

But Tidus's point.. that's also something he can see. Especially since it seems to hit on something deeper now, judging by the way Tidus talks. And Inigo knows he's assuming a lot here, but with what Tidus told him about his dad-- Inigo can't help but worry if maybe that's why Tidus seems so personally offended. If it's what he saw back home, back when he was younger. If it was part of the reason why his father was so rude towards him.

This all feels too serious now, and Inigo finally, finally lets go of Tidus, even though there's a hint of kicked puppy about him now. ]

.. Tidus, it's okay. [ I get it, he means to say, but it feels a little like too much when he isn't sure if he's just assuming. When he isn't sure if Tidus would want Roland to know if Inigo isn't just assuming. ] I'm sorry for bringing it up.

[ HE'S LITERALLY NOT EVEN THE PERSON WHO BROUGHT IT UP. ]

I know you wouldn't do anything irresponsible.

[ He looks at Tidus as he says it, though his gaze shifts over to Roland once he's done talking. There's something pleading about his look. Please make this okay again, dad, he's pretty sure Tidus is hurting even though he's acting dumb and pouty about it!! ]

[ Ah.

There's something here, Roland knows it instinctively. But what, exactly? He just knows that the charged air, the tension that builds when Tidus lectures him for once - a point made that is recognized and acknowledged, not wrong but not the whole picture for either of them. It's a sore topic, that much is clear. Incredibly so, to the point where Tidus has to look away.

Evan's always, always been better at explaining without offense. Roland usually comes in abrasive, though he tries his best. Perhaps now, juggling between one teen to the other, he may need to borrow some wisdom from his king once again.

He remains quiet for a moment, just shuffling his look between Tidus and Inigo, before he answers. Steady, but not cold or distant; just, sharing a real story. ]

You've got a point there, Tidus. [ It's an honest acknowledgment. ] I'm sorry if I sounded crass about it. [ He'll tilt his head up now, arms still crossed, reminiscing. ] You're right. I can't say for certain that a fifty-year old adult won't treat alcohol differently than what my world considers to be a minor. In fact, a lot of cases like that do exist where I come from - in the first world.

But I guess that's what I'm trying to get at. Tidus, Inigo. [ There's a quiet plead behind their names. A call to see him. ] Where I come from, a lot of kids do crazy, irreversible things when they're under wrongful influence. Sometimes, they do things that hurt them and those around them, and they won't even know it was wrong until the deed is done.

[ Roland may joke, throw dry sarcasm from time to time, but this is one of the instances where he sounds exactly the man elected. He...sighs, a little softly. ]

My job means I have to look out for my people. To have their best interests at heart. But I...I want to protect the kids the most. They need someone to stand up for them. Or at least, to tell them, hey. Maybe this isn't a good idea, because you're not ready for what comes with the drinking. [ He doesn't know if he's communicating himself well, but he does want them both to understand not just the challenges of the job, or the intricacies of the issue, but that he never meant to make anyone sad or offended. It shows as he rubs the back of his neck, going through his hair from the nape to the crown of his head. ]

Not that you two are kids. [ Is he just shooting himself in the foot here? ] Anyway. I trust you both. I know it won't matter or make much of a difference, but I do. [ He attempts a smile.

Someone give him a manual :c ]

[ Inigo moves back, apologises in a way that makes Tidus feel bad. Wishing he hadn't been so obvious, that he didn't go and ruin the dumb mood they were enjoying (on top of his exasperation).

But then Roland has to go on. And on. And he knows that it comes from a well-meaning place, that this is Roland, who he is at his core--that government official that wants to do well by all--but as he continues to speak-

Not that you two are kids- ]

Look. [ He doesn't let him, interrupting, turning away and removing any arms that might still be on him, taking a step back from both Inigo and Roland to face them. His own arms up with his hands in an amicable gesture. Doing his best to be reasonable about this too, despite the annoyance knotted in him. ] There's a such a thing as talking too much. We get it. You're a good guy, we know that.

Just... [ He says, as friendly as he can: ] Learn when it drop it.

[ Because he doesn't want an argument, or debate. He doesn't want to go through any of what Roland just said when all he feels is that annoyance. He takes a small step back, head lowered, hands bobbing a bit in gesture- one more thing he has to say, just give him a second- before he brings his head back up. ]

I'm fine, we're cool. All of us. Just... let's continue enjoying the party, alright? I'm gonna get a drink and talk to some people. [ --of water, he thinks, but doesn't bother to clarify. ]

Talk to you later?

[ It's like he's watching a traffic accident happen right in front of his eyes. It's strange, but he can kind of already see it coming when Roland speaks. Not that Roland's speech is anything bad to Inigo, but considering the web behind this conversation that he's trying to figure out, he gets the feeling Tidus won't appreciate it as much even before the other already speaks up.

And then he does, confirming Inigo's suspicions. And somehow this feels even worse to listen to, despite Tidus's claim that he's fine. Because-- Because Inigo still knows that this can't have been fun for Tidus. Because Inigo can imagine that this must be hard to hear for Roland, knowing he messed up.

Because Inigo knows that in the end, this whole situation is his fault. Because he had to try and go meddle. If he just had made a different dare, none of this would have happened. He's so stupid.

There's the instinctive urge to get away from all this. Tell Tidus to enjoy the party, tell Roland he has to go check up on Gerome, run out, never look back.

But it wouldn't be fair. Even if Tidus doesn't want the company, Inigo should still be there for Roland, no matter how bad or guilty he feels. Doing anything else would be selfish. Suck it up, moron. ]

.. of course. [ He lets out a breath. Inigo makes sure to smile, though his hands tremble at his sides. ] Enjoy the party, Tidus! I'm really sorry for bothering you, okay?

[ His hands reach out, grabbing a hold of one of Roland's hands, tugging on it. ]

Come on, Roland, let's go!

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Purple Party Power! | OTA (not just Purple) | Grasshopper 27

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