voidtreckerexpress

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Who: Inigo, Tidus (aka the two shared braincells duo) and you!
Where: The standard coach
When: Horseshoe 17
What: Inigo and Tidus are handing out free stuff because Tidus is the train's official sugar daddy.
Warnings: Probably nothing, will edit if necessary.

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Hey guys, forget about that public breakdown the other day. Today Inigo is on the ICP with a big smile, seeming as cheerful as ever. It's fine. It's cool.

"Good day, everyone! Tidus and I brought some things back with us from Irivar to share with everyone. So why not come over to the standard coach and see if there's anything you'd like to take with you, hm? We have quite the selection! Oh, and.. erm, Taiki, Roland, Bryn and Della.. If you could make sure to come see us, we'd appreciate it! Otherwise I might have to send Ti--"

Before Inigo can even finish the sentence, there's an offscreen obviously very Tidus-y voice calling out, "Inigo! Ask for Sakura too!"

Inigo huffs, turning his gaze to the off screen source. "I was getting to that!" (No he wasn't.) Apparently he accidentally pulled his ticket off the ICP as he starts moving away from it too, because the feed just cuts out. Just come get some sweet stuff.

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Their set-up in the standard car is a simple, if messy, one. They have a few of their offered freebies on the same table they occupy, each guy facing the other, sat by the wall. From the immediate front, fragrant bags sit no bigger than a palm, a variety of scents better to tell when held to the nose. Whetstones sit stacked mostly on top of one another, and then a cluster of hair ribbons and circular hair ties behind them. Behind the bags are a few scent oils--basically, perfumes, if not very big. There's a few to choose from, but...

...not as many as there are the soaps, which take up a half of the table in their choice. It's like a lush shop here of choice, different colours and sizes.

And Inigo and Tidus? Sit there, either playing cards or fiddling through the paper craft book available from the art supplies where the old library used to be.

A chalkboard sits balanced, with the words 'FREE 2 TAKE' written in big letters. In case you missed the public announcement.

1:
Come up, and have a look. Ask about what they've got.

2:
Or while you're here, maybe you can help Tidus, who pipes up to ask-

"Hey, quick question. How long 'til you're comfortable hugging someone?"

(ooc: as a note, all threads on this will be threeways! please enjoy trying to handle both teens at once. you can't seperate them.)

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"Just like the ribbons, but less fussy!" comes Tidus's reply, once he looks away from his cards to see what it is the guy's asking about. A pause following, as he takes a second look at the stranger, and just how much hair he seems to have.

"Well, probably. ...is long hair a thing where you're from?"

There's nothing really particularly surprised about Inigo's expression as he glances over to the guy who's taking some of the stuff right now. He's seen plenty of guys with long hair. There's not really a standard when it comes to hair in his world, after all, so just about anything is normal to him.

"Isn't it just a general thing?" Inigo says, moving some cards before also looking up, between Tidus and the stranger. "Nothing wrong with guys having nice hair, right?"

Now he definitely looks over at the newcomer, a smile on his face. "It looks good on you!"

But less fussy? Were ribbons really that problematic? He slips everything into the pocket of his hoodie except the hairtie, takes it between his fingers and gives it a little tug, surprise overtaking his features at the elasticity. “Oh,” he realizes, glancing between them both while rolling the item onto his wrist then off again. It really does seem more convenient, to tell the truth.

“You could say it is.” Sizhui gestures with one hand toward Inigo after his comment then glances toward Tidus. “Though he's right, yes, it's mostly a general thing where I come from. Almost everybody I know has long hair.” People can have short styles, it's just more uncommon than longer hair.

He sheepishly dips his head at the compliment, the tips of his ears tinging pink, fingers fidgeting with the hairtie once more. “Thank you,” comes his soft reply before he straightens somewhat. “Do either of you know how to use it?” Since focusing on that might help lessen the slight embarrassment he feels about someone thinking his hair is nice.

"I don't have a problem," Tidus pipes up, more mild than defensive. "I've seen a few people with long hair walking around lately. I was wondering, you know- if you knew some of them?"

What an assumption to make, but with all the long-haired guys making an appearance after the last platform stop, what if the train just really liked some people from the same place? Nobody knows what goes through the train's.... whatever.

He'd caught, however, the guy messing with the simple circular band, mouth twitching slightly to see it. Saw as well the way he'd taken to Inigo's compliment (and definitely snuck a glance at Inigo after, thinking), and what a convenient time for him to be clueless about hair bands as he turns to Inigo expectantly.

"How about it? You had a sister. Help him out."

He tips his head to their new company. hint hint nudge nudge

Granted, Tidus's assumption is still a little weird to Inigo - bro, do you really think there's just some world out there where there's only dudes with long hair? - but he kind of gets it at the same time. There's been a surprising amount of guys with this kind of hairstyle out there on the train recently, haven't there..

But both Sizhui's slight fluster and Tidus's hint-hint-nudge-nudge go straight over Inigo's head. Sure, he can be attentive at times, but apparently today is just Not That Day. Instead he just glances at Tidus with surprise in his eyes.

"Me?" He says, pointing at himself. As if there could be some other people behind him that Tidus is talking about. "Luce always put her hair up by herself! .. I did help my mother sometimes, though.."

As his voice trails off, Inigo's gaze shifts towards Sizhui. "Do you want me to help? I don't mind. It's easier than doing it yourself, I imagine."

He muffles a giggle behind the sleeve of his hoodie, amused by Tidus's remark, nevertheless. When he mentions other people walking around with long hair like his, however, “Did any of them have a headband like this?” Sizhui gestures toward the white band around his forehead. “Or perhaps a similar sort of hairpiece?” Then motions toward that too, which offhandedly reminds him he'll need to undo the topknot if he wants any help.

So, while the two of them decide what the plan is, he carefully loosens the updo, plucks the ornament free then tucks both it and the ribbon into his pocket along with the rest of the items he's collected here. He cards his fingers through the strands, ruffling some as all the long dark hair falls loose around his shoulders now. Aw, did Inigo say he used to help his mother? How sweet of him!

And how sweet of Tidus to help a bro out, too.

He nods with enthusiasm, “If you don't mind, that is? Once it's up, I should be able to figure out how to do it again by myself afterward. But if not, that's okay, I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to figure out on my own, either.”

Aha, he knew he wasn't just thinking that all the black long-haired guys had to know each other for no reason, his eyes popping to the latter motion. "They had their hair like that, yeah! Where it gathers up here."

Here being Tidus motioning with his own hands (and head) where it collects together, up into the topknot. ... or it just looks like he's trying to smooth his hair back without touching it. Pick your favourite.

But with that done, the hair let free and Inigo being his usual polite self, Tidus will sit here and just be a casual observer. Or a third wheel. Hey, he don't mind, he can even help. Reassuring, "Inigo doesn't mind at all," so his pal doesn't have to, and then, after a moment or so-

"The one guy I got talking to with a hairdo like that said he came from a world without all the machines here. That the same for you? Inigo's world is like that too - right?"

Tidus sweeps his gaze from Sizhui to Inigo. Look at that beautiful opening to speak he gave you. About machine-less worlds! Wow, he's so good at this.

Inigo sure doesn't mind, and once he's gotten the approval of the longhaired guy, he's already moving to his backside to get started on this hair. There's so much of it! But then again, his mother had even more of it, so he's used to quite a bit.

.. though there is something weird here. Inigo can't put his finger on it, but even he's starting to feel like there's something up with the things Tidus is saying all of a sudden! It's a good thing that he's at Sizhui's back, because that gives him all the room to pantomime 'what are you doing, bro?!' at Tidus without the third person present having to notice. Bro. What is this. What are you setting up here.

But despite that brief reaction, Inigo does reply, like there's been nothing going on here behind Sizhui's back. Nope. Nothing. Just a guy innocently starting to work on another guy's hair!

"We have some machines! We have ballistas, you know!" Yes, clearly state of the art.. The newest technology.. Ballistas. "But nothing like we have here on the train, no. It took me a while to get used to. I'm sure the same goes for anyone coming from a place that isn't like this train."

While he's talking, he's already getting started on the hair. Sure, he could just do it up very simple, just show him how to make a ponytail or something.. But that feels a little lame, and Inigo wants to do something special for this new guy so he feels more welcomed on the train! So he seems to be doing something a bit more elaborate as he speaks and then listens to the other two, something that takes a bit more time.

Regardless of how it looks, Sizhui visibly brightens, almost nods his head in response until he remembers someone's doing his hair. “One easy way to tell is by how our hair is styled. We also have quite distinct hairpieces among all our clans! Do you happen to remember what theirs looked like?” Since if he knows, there's a likely chance he'll be able to put a name to a face and then hey, Tidus will kinda know them!

It's a good thing Sizhui's distracted or else he'd wonder exactly what's going on back there aside from his hair being played with. He is, thankfully, also oblivious to the whole hint hint, nudge nudge going on here because that might've been... awkward to comprehend then have to explain.

He realizes a bit late, he should've moved the long ends of his headband out of the way, but it doesn't stop him from reaching back now, catching the two ribbon pieces, moving them away from Inigo's hands, draping them over his own shoulders instead. That would be extremely awkward if he'd touched those, after all, taking into account how sacred it is. (Seriously, only family and significant others are allowed to and Inigo isn't either of those!)

“Oh, I know what ballistas are!” The same hand Sizhui already has lifted gestures toward nothing in particular, his other one lifting as well, both of them miming carefully. “Like an extremely large bow and arrow sort of mechanism, yes? Definitely nothing as, ah, advanced as this train or the things on it.”

The whole time Inigo works, he keeps as still as possible, hands eventually lowering again and clasping in front of himself while he speaks to them both (despite one standing behind him). “But even the things like the lights here are different to me. We use candles back home for light.” Actually, the single electric thing he knows of is Sect Leader Jiang's fantastical purple whip, Zidian, and he's seen it in action, finds it odd to consider how that power might be harnessed to illuminate a room.

Wow, expecting Tidus to know and remember hair pieces! Did he even actually take any proper look at whatever the guy he did the laundry with was wearing above? Tidus frowns as he tries thinking through the question, a small hum caught behind his lips.

"I know his name's Meng Yao...?" But since Sizhui mentions clan, "--And he said about being part of a Nie clan? Nii-something?"

It's fairly easy to remember when it's a single, uncomplicated word like that. Plus, it was only a day or so ago! But onto side business, with looks being thrown his way and quiet mouthing when their guest isn't watching, Tidus mouths back - as Sizhui happens to pipe up about the ballistas of all thigs - a simple 'FRIENDSHIP' and a very animated nod before he might be caught.

Dude take your medieval friendship!! You've got this, bro!! Look, he's not even going to butt into candle talk. Let's watch this friendship unfold.

Inigo is trying to carefully take in Tidus's response over here - he keeps watching until he sees the other mouth 'friendship'. Oh. Well. That's an easy enough message to receive, and it is one Inigo is okay enough with. It makes Tidus's oddly overeager behaviour make sense, though he's starting to worry that Tidus may somehow believe Inigo is incapable of making friends by himself..

Though it's probably just some friendly help. Right? Right.

"It does sound like the places we come from are at the same level of technology.." He muses as he's still working on Sizhui's hair. It's not totally surprising to him, since he has met people here before who seemed to be on his level - like lord Gyousou, in fact. But it's still nice whenever he gets to talk to someone who doesn't make him feel like a fish out of water. "We only have candles and torches too. And we lack many of the things here, really-- like fridges. Or showers. I had to learn all about those when I first showed up here."

And that was back when he had much less friends on the train as well. It had been pretty rough. But hey, that's exactly why they're here now to help out this guy, right? Especially since Tidus seems much more comfortable with all that modern stuff than Inigo, who still sometimes has to learn new things.

"It hasn't been too difficult for you so far, has it?"

In all fairness, a name is far better, but how unfortunate that it's a name he'd rather not have heard. Meng Yao? But he's de— wait, no, the train! Right, the weird ability it has to bring people back from the dead is still downright shell-shocking, particularly from a time before he had even become Lanling Jin's sect leader. “Qinghe Nie clan, that's correct.” And here's hoping his expression isn't even half as surprised as he feels at the moment.

Then his attention flickers over his shoulder, like he might be able to see Inigo this way, regardless of not turning his head. (He can't, he's just being polite, which has worked out in Tidus's favor a few times now.) “Ancient?” he attempts as a joke, doing his best to disregard the sudden apprehension. If it can bring him here, who else could show up? Sizhui perks slightly, almost turns his head again, yet stops himself before doing so. “A fridge is... the cold box with the food, yes? And the showers are certainly far more convenient for bathing.” Way easier than waiting for the water to heat up or worrying about possibly boiling oneself, though he has learned the hot water does eventually run out.

He may not know either of them all that well just yet, but he's determined to befriend as many people as possible here and Tidus and Inigo seem like the perfect individuals to start with.

“Huh? Oh, uhm...” Sizhui's gaze momentarily drifts back to Tidus, lips pursed thoughtfully, considering. While they might laugh at him, he isn't allowed to lie, so that's okay. “During my exploration, I accidentally turned the shower on and got myself wet.”

Tidus lightly clicks his fingers to the affirmation, a aha moment, the recognition he was hoping for. Not that it means anything else to Tidus beyond that short conversation, it's nice to be validated. Luckily for Sizhui, whatever expression he's making just comes across as one of those train things. Like oh, so-and-so from that clan is here?

The train works in mysterious ways.

But Sizhui's joke hits, a small huff -- heh, he got it! -- of amusement from him, another at the end for the shower adventure. "I can tell you now, you didn't have the worst experience with the shower than me."

And he has his mouth open, except -- he realises where that conversation leads ("so I started to disappeared just as I was drying off"), and that's actually not the kind of light conversation to make in front of the pair of them now. So for the second where he pauses awkwardly, Tidus is quick to continue after, tone as easy-going as he can make it. "But you know, the place I came from's like that too! All the tech got trashed, so you only get showers in a few places. You need to heat the water up by hand to get anything going. It's suuuch a long wait... but it was less time than the queues here in the morning!"

Saved it!

Inigo is currently all eyes for Sizhui's hair. Like, despite the things he's talking about, he's very much all focused on it, trying to make it actually look good, despite Sizhui having much finer hair than he's used to working with.

But there's something so odd about what Tidus says. That pause. It's not like him, Inigo thinks, and he finally looks up from his work at Tidus, trying to seek out the other's gaze to give him an 'everything okay?' kind of look. He won't push it in front of this new guy, since Tidus probably wouldn't stop like that unless he had a good reason, but.. what?

To make sure it doesn't turn awkward or that Sizhui notices, Inigo quickly resumes working on the hair, humming a bit as if nothing happened.

"Yes, we all have our dumb moments with the things here. So please don't worry about it." That's aimed more at Sizhui than at Tidus, considering he wants to make sure this new guy doesn't feel awkward or embarrassed about his totally normal experiences. "One time someone turned on the ice cream machine in the kitchen and the sudden loud sound just about scared me half to death."

Sizhui outright grins this time in response to Tidus snapping his fingers. Yes, he got it, and it's far better than him attempting to explain a hairpiece of all things! Blessedly, his partial surprise isn't acknowledged too much, meaning if there is anything actually showing, he can steel himself before it gets too obvious.

And mysterious or not, he honestly shouldn't be that shocked by someone who was dead once coming back to life. It's happened before in his homeworld, what makes this any different?

He softens somewhat, though his smile is still in place, taking into account Tidus seems genuine with his laughter and not so much at his expense, but because he's experienced something similar shower-wise. Or well, perhaps not as harmless as getting himself wet but an unfortunate moment, nevertheless. Having Inigo mostly focused on his hair means his attention hasn't strayed from Tidus much since he doesn't want to jostle anything this kind individual is doing, but he does feel a little bad for sort of gawking whenever Tidus pauses.

Thank goodness, Sizhui's perceptive enough to realize and not question it. He chuckles softly instead, raises a hand to cover his mouth with his sleeve, lowers it again to address Tidus's comment first. “That's how it is back in my homeworld, too. I have noticed, though, it can take some time to get a shower here as well.” Then, toward Inigo's comment about an ice-cream machine, “Ah, really? It seems like there are a lot of machines here on the train that might make loud noises.” Including the locomotive itself.

"A little noise is worth the time taken out of the work you want done though, huh? Cooking, washing, ice cream..." --oh, he didn't meant to say that last part, but it did end up stuck in his brain after Inigo's story shared. Too tiny a goof to care, Tidus carries on easily, relaxing into his seat. "Not that it's worth being stuck here, unless you and your friends like the vacation from home. Have you heard about the missions we have? They sound like anything that'd happen where you were?"

Because who knows what kind of life this guy came from? Other than a rather low-level world of technology, but that was only one point, and even Inigo's own world had gates that could transport people to other planets. What stood out in this person's world?

Other than the hairstyle.

Inigo stays quiet for a moment, still working on the other's hair - with quite some concentration, judging by the look on his face. Though he is still making sure to pay attention to the conversation at the same time. He can't help but agree with Tidus's assessment that these machines, while so, so weird, can be really convenient. It sure frees up time, at least.

But more than that, he is more curious as to Sizhui's answer to the other's question. Inigo may come from a world where combat is normal, where kids are taught to held swords, but if experience on the train has taught him anything, it's that not all worlds are like that. What is Sizui's like, despite at least being on a similar technological level as his?

Edited 2020-10-23 06:46 (UTC)

Whatever Inigo's doing, it must be somewhat intricate or else he'd imagine he would've finished by now. Not that Sizhui's complaining, he's used to taking plenty of time each morning when doing up his topknot and securing the hairpiece, but he never could have imagined someone else might want to spend so much time touching his hair. He, too, agrees that the noise is worth how much easier it makes some tasks. “Yes, it is quite convenient,” then he tacks on with a soft laugh, “Especially for sweet frozen treats.”

Is anything worth being stuck on an unknown contraption in the middle of a void nobody's ever experienced? Well, maybe a few things are, though none of those are what they're technically talking about. “I suppose a vacation isn't the worst thing? And sort of! Back in my homeworld, I am what's known as a ‘cultivator,’ which is someone who protects people from all kinds of things.” So, it's safe to assume Sizhui will do alright with the same thing here, even if he's never been on a mission yet and hasn't got a single clue how they might actually turn out.

"A cultivator?" Tidus repeats it, the word used in that fashion - familiar, and steadily coming back to him. A conversation back on the beaches of Gyueran. He raises a hand to give him a moment, as his brain works back that far.

"That's the... is that the same as the people who fight the dead? Uh... or use them? I don't remember that well..." Well, he'll concede somewhat sheepishly, "--That probably isn't the same job as the one I heard about."

And that isn't very descriptive, is it? And Tidus knows by now that none everyone deals with the dead rising again in their own worlds, fiends made by the leftover remorse of those deceased. He might've just walked into a weird and awkward situation here....

Cultivator. The word doesn't ring as familiar for Inigo. And usually thankfully Tidus's description would help, but in this case whether it's thankfully or otherwise is very much up in the air. Something about that very specific wording feels like it freezes Inigo's blood inside of his veins.

The people who fight the dead.

Inigo wills his mind to not travel back through memories, instead doing his best to force it to stay in the here and now. He's rather glad that Sizhui can't see him like this, but he can't quite hide the way his expression gets really awkward and uncomfortable for a moment from Tidus.

He tries to force it off his face though, instead working on the way his hands nimbly finish up Sizhui's hair - having finished putting it up. He gives Sizhui a small pat on the shoulder to indicate it's done before moving to instead sit down next to the other, though not quite joining the conversation just yet.

Sizhui waits patiently while Tidus takes whatever time he needs, his hands lacing together then disentangling some moments later. When the answer eventually comes... well, it isn't at all wrong, but it's understandable why Inigo might be uncomfortable; there's only so many ways one can explain cultivation without something coming up about the darker, demonic side of it.

“Yes... sort of. While we do fight the dead, we also fight other atrocities? Like demons, monsters, the undead, too. There are some who use demonic cultivation, which involves using them.” He won't go into a whole ton of detail since Tidus seems like he's set on believing it isn't the same thing and Sizhui's loath to argue the semantics.

Awkward for them, perhaps, though this is something he deals with all the time. It is good he can't see Inigo's face at the moment or else he'd feel terrible.

The touch on his shoulder catches his attention, has him lifting one hand to glide his fingertips over the braid across his crown, a soft gasp of astonishment following the gesture. “Oh! Wow, this is...” he lets the remark momentarily trail off, shifts to bring both his arms around and bows, a brilliant grin overtaking his features once he's straightened up. “Thank you, Inigo, it's amazing.” Even despite not being able to see the back all that well yet. Also: bless Tidus for already giving him one of their names, that way he just needs to ask him for his. “And you too, although I do not know your name.”

Tidus blinks, not comfortable in his explanation, but superficial in how he's actually feeling. Spira making him numb to the morbid detail that one battling some form of the undead - their memories, their loathing, whatever fiends really are - to how another may find discomfort in such talk. Until he happens to raise his gaze from Sizhui, sees as the guy speaks the look on Inigo that both puzzles and concerns him.

It's a flicker, before he returns to Sizhui, a small 'oh' escaping him as he explains. A whole world more than what he listened to, but that likely hadn't been relevant to the one discussing it.

Nevermind though. Sizhui raises, cheerful and pleased, and Tidus lets out a small pleased sound before turning a thumb on himself. "Tidus! Too bad we didn't think to buy some mirrors. Inigo went wild back there. You're gonna have a repeat customer."

He grins, adding to the positive mood, to bring Inigo's attentions back to hair than anything of the conversation.

Inigo will gladly latch onto this topic change, thank you very much. Even though it involves praise for him - which is always a difficult topic to navigate, especially since he doesn't want to look all dumb and flustered in front of a potential new friend - that still is so much better than any talk of the dead.

So he smiles, waving his hand a little.

"Not really, it's nothing that special! You can easily do it yourself with some practice." Inigo sure doesn't consider himself an expert, after all, yet he can do it. "Remind me to teach you someday. It looks really good on you. You're a good-looking guy!"

For the best, really, because while he'd be glad Tidus understands, he's far happier talking about a subject that's less uncomfortable for Inigo's sake. Even though it seems like another thing that's awkward, yet in a more embarrassing sort of manner rather than actual distress.

He chuckles softly at Tidus's enthusiasm, glad the mood can be lifted by something as simple as an amazing hairstyle. (And that's what it is: fantastic! Almost as fancy as Nie clan braids themselves, which is funny, considering their earlier discussion.) Sizhui obviously isn't too worried about not seeing the style right away, but is certainly excited to get his chance whenever it arises. “I'm sure I will find a mirror to properly examine it sometime later in the day.”

The compliment has his cheeks flushing, his own smile softening, but still very much present. “Thank you,” he acknowledges, doing everything within his power to not reach up and touch the braid a second time. “I'd like very much to learn it from you one day. And anything else you'd be willing to teach me, I would appreciate that, too! Until then, I'm afraid he's right, there is a likely chance I'll come to you again.” A moment's hesitation before he remembers, he ought to probably give his own name in return. “Tidus, Inigo. My name is Lan Sizhui, but you both may call me ‘Sizhui’ if you like.”

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