voidtreckerexpress

Entry tags:

(open)

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.

---

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.

---

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.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A third for the difficult pile. Admittedly, Taiki was one of those he was the most hesitant to see. Not that he voiced it, or let it be known; it was a worry kept to himself, and he knew it was stupid, but- he couldn't help it. Everything about their last few meetings had him feeling on edge.

But he gives the other guy a smile when he approaches.

"Yeah, sit down!" No reason for him to stay standing. "You want any of this? Actually, we've got some bigger bottles of the body oils held back. You know. For friends. And some snacks!"

Shhhh.

He did as he was told, sitting in the seat with a smile that wasn't too nervous. These two are his friends after all.

"Did you buy all this in the town?"

How had Tidus earned this much money? Taiki knew he was... energetic but he must have worked non stop to earn enough for all of this.

Maybe, admittedly Taiki had not been paying too much attention to the price of things.

"We have. You wouldn't believe how much gold Tidus had. He was throwing it around as if it were nothing!"

Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration of the truth, but it's not like it's a total lie. Inigo had been pretty amazed back there by just how much Tidus could afford in the end!

"But while we wanted to take along things for everyone, we also wanted to make sure to take along some specific presents. Like for you! I mean, especially since.."

He almost wants to say we, since they bought all of this together, but no, this is more of a personal thing, right? No way Tidus had any awkward moments with Taiki during the mission!

(Imagine the sitcom laugh track playing here.)

".. you know. I have a lot to make up to you."

We think you mean, cue the music scratch right there!

"What do you mean, Inigo? Did something happen between you two?"

What even had the time to happen between the both of them? Tidus looks from the pair, baffled. Inigo wasn't even with Blue Team, so what happened, and when...?

He would have had his own remarks to make about his throwing around gold and the rest, but they can save that for later.

Well Tidus is very impressive at many things so Taiki isn't that surprised that he somehow managed to make so much gold. He is more surprised that they would wish to give him a gift. Especially with... everything. He hadn't been a good friend to either of them the last couple of weeks.

He looked down, at the two rolls of paper on his lap as Tidus asked about what Inigo had just said.

"Yes." He looked up at them, "I'm really sorry. Both of you. Um... I made you these." He handed over the rolled up paper, one to each of them.

Tidus' had a water colour painting of him and Yuna. It's a little strange, Tidus is bold and vivid on the page, whereas Yuna is less vivid, her head is tilted up as if to look at Tidus, obscuring any fine detail. Taiki had only really met her once and his memory of what exactly she looked like wasn't all that accurate. He hadn't wanted to paint her wrong and upset Tidus so he had tried to work around that.

Inigo's doesn't have the same problem. He had began working on it just after the mission and Gerome's picture had still been on the roster. They have their arms around each others shoulders and are both smiling.

"Sorry... I hope you like them..."

He's never painted for anyone else before, he hopes they don't find it weird.

There's so much going on so quickly. There's Tidus's question, which is expected but awkward, but then Taiki is already talking before Inigo can decide whether or not he wants to explain anything. And Taiki is saying sorry, when Inigo literally just said he's the one who has something to make up to Taiki, not the other way around!

But even the faintest idea of starting about any of it dies out in his throat the moment Inigo is handed the paper. He can't not look at Taiki's gift first, so he does, unrolling his paper to see what's on it. He's not quite sure what to expect.

But.. ah.

It comes so out of the blue, seeing Gerome like that, even just painted.. It hurts just a little bit, like a longing in Inigo's chest, a hole somewhere in him that he's tried to prop up temporarily, but that hasn't been filled yet. It hasn't even been long since he saw the other leave, after all, and the wound is still fresh, raw.

But despite him feeling the tears rushing up to his face already, Inigo does his best to stop them. What won't Taiki think if the first thing he does upon seeing it is cry, huh? He'd probably feel bad, and that's something Inigo has to avoid at all costs. Come on. Just smile. You can do it.

"Taiki.. It's so well made," he says, obvious - and genuine, despite everything else! - awe in his tone as he tears his gaze away from the paper to look at their companion. "I-- I didn't know you could do this."

Puzzled, Tidus looks at Taiki, turning briefly to see if Inigo might say anything before the parchments are handed to the both of them. He wonders what might be in there, even as Taiki remarks about 'making'; not thinking about any talents he knows Taiki has, until-

Until he's staring, doing nothing else. The imagery of himself sparking an embarrassment that isn't given any real time to lit. Not when he sees the figure beside himself: duller in colours, but captivating him, pausing all else. He doesn't think about the other two there, or hear as Inigo speaks. That faint image of Yuna her face undefined. More of a silhouette, dressed in her sphere outfit - the one she always wore with the Abes logo over her chest.

('Close to my heart,' she'd told him shyly.)

The colour rises to his face, near his eyes growing wet. Tidus quiet as he thinks about how faint she is, and he had no pictures of her to give, did he; and he never got to introduce her more to his friends, and he'd never get to...

A tear falls, and then another, down his face silently.

He's not really sure what kind of reaction he was expecting. He had just thought, people had spoken about remembering those who were gone and painting them... That was a way to have an image that no time or fading of memory could take away.

He froze at Tidus' tears. Inigo's awe is easier to accept, Inigo fighting tears, trying to look happy because that was what Inigo always did. Taiki could have coped with Inigo crying, because that was what Inigo did. Been relieved even because he would know it to be honest. Even his actual reaction, though Taiki can tell there is upset under the words, is understandably Inigo.

Tidus however... Tidus rarely cries. Tidus has never cried in front of Taiki. Even in that terrible conversation in the cinema, Tidus had not let the tears fall. Yet here he was, tears running down his face and Taiki, looking between both of them wondered if he had made a terrible mistake.

For a moment he sat still, a deer in headlights and then slowly he reached out, a hand towards each of them, to gently touch their hands, not saying anything. Not sure whether to apologise. Not knowing if this reaction was good, a cathartic reaction or bad. A hurt, wounds reopening that Taiki should know have touched. He looks between them both, pressing his hands gently upon theirs.

He's so caught up in making sure he doesn't show any sign of tears so Taiki won't get upset that Inigo doesn't even notice Tidus's reaction at first. He's too busy looking at Taiki, instead searching his expression for any worry.

But Inigo notices Taiki's gaze sliding over towards Tidus. And he knows what's happening with the latter the moment he sees that look in Taiki's eyes. He doesn't even have to look at Tidus to know he must be crying.

Okay. Fine. Whatever! Begone, heavy feeling in his gut, it's time for Inigo to be the strong one here and keep this situation from collapsing and guilting the hell out of Taiki.

He immediately accepts the hand Taiki gives him, moving his own so he's holding the other's hand rather than just letting Taiki's hand rest on his own. He gives him an encouraging smile, suddenly seeming much less like he's about to burst out into tears too, and gently puts the paper Taiki gave him down on the table.

Mostly so he can free his other arm up to fall over Tidus's shoulders, Inigo's hand falling on the shoulder furthest away from him. It's not a full on hug, just a reassuring side squeeze. Without looking at Tidus, like he's trying to give the other some privacy with his tears.

Instead Inigo keeps looking at Taiki, silently mouthing, 'you did well', before Taiki can get the idea that he's done anything bad.

It's the touch that brings Tidus back to his senses, away from the drawing and the maze of his thoughts. A step back from his yearning, how much he misses Yuna, how he always will - but one day, he'll manage to carry easier. The same as everyone does when they lose someone loved. But at least there's the thought of her returning home than being lost forever.

Maybe to him, but - better she have a life to live than none at all.

Tidus looks from Taiki to Inigo, realising as the arm comes around his shoulders the reason for the concern, the show of affection. He hides his face, brushing a thumb to wipe the tears, taking the time to take a breath. And as he does, he's happy: to know that he isn't alone, and how, right here, with his friends around him -- it shines through, clearer than any cloudless sky. Taking that hurt in him prominent just moments ago and redefining it into something more positive.

He looks back at them with a smile, bashful at the edges.

"Thanks," he says for the both of them, then, "Taiki,"; hesitant a step before it leaves Inigo's hold to hug Taiki, an arm around his shoulders to give him a squeeze. A short yet not hurried thing, and as he retreats out of it, Tidus looks to Inigo and nods, his smile widening more. Shares it after with the both of them, and then raises the drawing, chuckling fondly.

"I'll have to find the best place to keep it!"

He fights the urge to run, to dart away from the sight of both his friends looking so sad about what he had done. He had been trying to help and part of him knows that they didn't hate the pictures, but they had brought pain.

He doesn't believe Inigo's smile but he holds his hand tightly, watching Tidus. He wasn't expecting the hug, Inigo was the hugger, not so much Tidus. Taiki hugs him back, a strong hug and gave him a nervous smile as he drew back.

He has tears in his eyes, but they aren't sad. Just relieved, glad that this hasn't backfired as much as he thought it had. "I'm glad... that you like them."

Inigo is carefully watching Tidus’s reaction, even as the other slips out of his hold to hug Taiki. Yuna is such a sensitive subject that he can’t be sure of what will happen, after all. But something about the way Tidus smiles, the way he talks.. it all seems to be very much genuine. Inigo likes to think he’d be able to tell if the other’s reaction was just 100% about trying to make sure Taiki didn’t feel bad, after all.

It is a relief, and though the tears in Taiki’s eyes make Inigo’s heart feel like it’s getting squeezed a bit, it doesn’t seem like they’re bad. Like Taiki is majorly getting upset.

Honestly, at this point he’s so wrapped up in thoughts about the other two’s feelings that Inigo is hardly even thinking about his own anymore, for better or worse. The paper is off to the side, forgotten for a moment. He can look at it later, properly try to deal with the hurt later.

For now he smiles.

“Hey, how could we not like anything you made for us? You’re selling yourself short!”

"It's great, Taiki," Tidus supplies, a hand returning to his shoulder to give it a squeeze. "I just wasn't expecting it. I- I wish you both coulda known her better."

His voice skips to say it, but he swallows against the emotion it skipped against, keeps himself steady. Though the tears in Taiki's eyes make that hard -- but he can't blame the guy for that. He hasn't been doing any better at the moment.

But he perks up, looks between them both, decides to keep with the positives. "I wish she got to see you as a kirin too! Inigo, have you seen how he looks? He looks just like one of Yuna's aeons did! With the four legs-" he waves his empty hand towards the ground "-and a horn!"

And that one goes near his forehead.

He wishes he could have known her better too. Gerome too. People who were so important to the both of them. He wished he could have known them, but that was how life went. People, even the most important people, could be taken away in an instance. It was even more true here than it was back in his own world, or indeed on earth.

He bowed his head, shaking it slightly. Inigo hadn't seen him as a kirin. He had been planning on showing him after the mission but then he had been so upset and Taiki had learned about Reno and... So much.

Too much. It's been a very hard two weeks.

It's probably better to not delve into the topic of Yuna too much, huh. Because Inigo agrees - he did get to talk to her a bit every now and then, but for someone who was that important to Tidus, he really wishes he could've gotten to know her more. But if he talks about that out loud, he's too worried he'll hit upon something painful. Something that might drag bad feelings back up for Tidus, and that's the last thing he wants to do right now.

So he just quietly listens instead, and when Tidus drags in a new - and seemingly less dangerous - topic, Inigo smiles at their friend.

"You managed to change into that form?" Inigo does know about Taiki's other form, after all, but he's pretty sure that back then he told him he couldn't shift into it. It kind of makes him wonder what happened on the mission, but maybe it's better to not ask. To instead just give Taiki an encouraging look.

"That's great! You must have been so glad." He even manages to push all hurt in his heart aside enough to laugh warmly. "I knew you could do it though, of course!"

The smile is even aimed at Tidus a little, like gratitude for him bringing it up. It seems like a good topic to make Taiki feel better with. "You really hadn't seen a horse before?" Judging by that description...

"Nope!" Tidus is a hundred percent sure now. "Unless Ixion's a horse... actually, it turns out one of Yuna's aeons is a dragon too. But they're just... aeons to me, you know? I never thought about what they are beyond that. Maybe we used to have them long ago!"

Look, a creature for each of them. But he doesn't want to really stick to his unfamiliarity with the creatures the two of them knew, and more what brought up horses in the first place. Since there's a lot more to say about Taiki, even if it might embarrass him as first.

"But Taiki's more impressive here. He changed shape to save Saku's life after he fell off the bridge we were walking! The both of them nearly gave me a heart attack," he laughs, more of a joke than a real possibility. Then again...!

"Have you tried shifting to and back since?" A question and look to Taiki, since Tidus is sure the guy won't know what to say about the praise.

He nodded at Inigo. He really had meant to tell him but then so much had happened and there had been no time to tell him. It would have been wrong to tell him something so... amazing when he had been in such pain.

He looked down when Tidus continued talking, he still felt bad about scaring him so and the praise was... awkward.

"Not yet... I'm sure I can though. I guess... I'm healed now so it shouldn't be hard for me to change forms."

His eyes flickered at Inigo, looking even more embarrassed. "Do you want to see?"

Oh, geez. Tidus may be bringing it up pretty casually, almost joking, but Inigo can only imagine how that situation must have played out in reality. Gyousou in danger, Taiki desperate to save him, Tidus startled about the whole thing..

And Inigo had no idea that any of it had even been going on. It makes him feel a little guilty, though he thoroughly pushes the feeling down. This is about Taiki right now - don't think he doesn't notice Tidus making sure to shift the topic back to Taiki as well.

"If you want to show us," is the natural answer to that question. Of course he'll look at Taiki giving a form shifting demonstration. It's only the other's embarrassed reaction that makes him be a little gentle about it, rather than going full out enthusiastic right now. "But if it's too much, then don't worry about it! Really, Tidus has already seen it, and I can wait."

"Taiki wouldn't offer if he didn't mean it." At least, Tidus is sure of that, confident of the offer - wanting to back Taiki up. But he looks along the aisle they're in, rather....well, maybe big enough just for a transformation, but...

"How about we go in the gym for it? You'll have more room that way." And the his expression brightens, as if it wasn't already clear: "He flies, you know! Taiki should stretch his wings once in a while!"

A look from Inigo to Taiki. "Don't you think so?"

He has wings. Ergo, they need to exercised! Even if he's in his human body more often than not, that's got to be a consideration!

"It's not too much... I want to show you."

It is true that he feels more himself in his human form. He has been this shape for most of his life, even if he looked very different than the taika shell he wore on earth.

"The gym might be a good idea..."

The aisle was probably big enough, but he doesn't want to block it off, if anyone tries to get through.

"Sure, let's head over there then."

They were giving away all of this stuff in the first place, so it's not like it matters if they leave it unattended for a few moments. People can just grab something themselves if they want it! Besides, Taiki is much more important than a few silly bars of soap.

Perhaps encouraged by Tidus's enthusiasm - it's so nice to see it again, despite all the hard times they've had recently - Inigo quickly gets up, smiling at the other two.

"Come on, no time to waste, right?"

"Yeah!"

Standing on his own two feet, Tidus doesn't delay in starting for the gym, taking whatever place in their line out to the connecting doors. His shoes squeak on the floor solution that coats the inner court, and he's already making sure not to step too far in. Like they need to give Taiki absolutely all the room possible.

But he'll be over by Inigo, knocking elbows.

"Check this out!" Heheh.

Taiki followed them both quietly, entering the gym behind Tidus and Inigo but stepping past them to step into the gym properly. Despite Tidus' worry he doesn't need that much room.

He turned to them and looked around at them with a shy smile, before closing his eyes. His body twisted, hands and feet morphing into hooves, body and neck elongating. Clothes fell to the ground and before them was a black horse, steel mane looking almost too short, a horn pointed from his forehead.

He moved his head slightly, watching them both carefully.

Hey, Inigo will gladly follow Tidus's lead here, especially with how eager the other is for this little demonstration. And Inigo can't deny that he's kind of excited either. Even if he already knows what to expect due to talking about kirin transformations with Taiki before, this is still special! It's Taiki's big moment.

So of course he smiles right back when Tidus speaks up, shaking his head with that smile and turning it to look in Taiki's direction.

The animal transformation is definitely nothing new to Inigo. He's seen Yarne and Nah do it so often that he's used to it. But that form at the end.. wow! Slightly different from the pegasus he imagined, but not in a bad way.

"Taiki, you're looking great!" He immediately says, his smile growing into a grin that stretches from ear to ear. "You've got to be the most majestic kirin around!"

Oh, Taiki's clothes.

...

ohhhhh yeah. There's a realisation, slow as it is as Taiki switches forms, the clothes beneath his hooves; the flicker up and down that's discreet next to how Inigo animated is beside him. And Tidus isn't without a smile, pleased for the other guy, proud of him too. Is that why he stayed a kirin that entire team on Blue Team... he did transform over the top of that icy lake...

...he'll bring up about the clothes later! For now-

"Hey Taiki! You feeling good? 'Cause you're looking it!"

He raises a fist. It's a bro fist, of confidence. Yeah buddy!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

wow i can't believe taiki is like "yeah it's fine if inigo cries" THANKS PAL

he isn't wrong dude

wow he didn't mean it like that ;;

it’s okay now we all know who’s the favorite friend </3

it's taiki

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject