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.

---

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

How does this happen. Is this supposed to be making him more used to hugs or what, 'cause this is kinda scary...!

Not that Tidus is a big baby or anything, but he may be kneeling there all flustered like for a few seconds, embarrassed and not knowing what to do. But he does eventually put an hand on Della's back. Like a hug. Because he's a good boy.

"You really know how to get your way, Duck Mum..."

Is this the true definition of awe Tidus is feeling? Don't mind him, he's just mumbling about his lot in life.

Excuse him? Duck mum? Duck mum?

There's definitely something going on between Della and Tidus here, and Inigo can't help but feel a little nosy. Was Tidus really giving him flack for thinking of Roland as a dad while he's going around calling someone mum, huh?

Inigo is well aware this is not exactly the right moment to start whining about that though. Not with Della hugging them, and saying she's happy they're all cool.. Inigo is much too soft to not want to be good and keep Della that happy.

So he lingers in the hug, silent for a few moments, before he awkwardly and slightly softly speaks up.

"Um.. I'm glad too, but I-- I want to both apologize to you and thank you.. Sorry for how ridiculous I must have looked, even though we were meeting for the first time." Crying all over someone is not the way Inigo would prefer to meet people, thanks! "But.. more than that, I want to thank you for trying to help out Tidus while he was having such a hard time."

He says it so earnestly too. Like Tidus isn't right there next to him in the hug, able to hear it all.

"You don't have to apologize for having feelings, Inigo." Della moved a hand back to affectionately ruffle his hair. "And like I told you... I lead a pretty weird life. Compared to some other 'first meetings' I've had? That was nearly welcoming."

Since Tidus was so uncomfortable, she began to pull back, deciding she'd given them both what they needed. "Besides, Tidus has been there for me since I first wound up on the train. We're buds. I know he'd want to help me out too, if I was going through a rough patch."

Inigoooo, don't be embarrassing in front of Duck Mum!!

One day, Tidus won't keep overthinking hugs; one day, Duck Mum will go back to not being scary!! But today isn't that day, and while Inigo's words are lightly embarrassing, luckily, it's only that. Since, even so-

"Plus, D's a mum of three! She can handle a guy like you any day!" Said with all the belief and confidence it deserves. "But speaking of first meetings, or the things you get up to, D- oh!"

He stops himself, realising suddenly: "I nearly forgot 'bout your presents! Inigo?"

Tidus nudges the guy right beside him. You got the thing, right bro!?

There are just way too many nicknames popping up all at once here. Tidus's ability to be so informal with people will never cease to amaze Inigo - and that's coming from a person who'd hug someone on a second meeting without much reservation, so. That's saying something.

But any thoughts about that or what Della says are driven out of his mind the moment Tidus mentions his name. Inigo's eyes grow a little wider.

"A-- Ah, right!"

Granted, he doesn't immediately have it ready, he didn't know who would show up first! But he did put the specific presents they bought for some people off to the side, so he only has to move away for a moment to grab a small box that he hands over to Della a moment later.

"This is for you. We got it for you back in Irivar."

If Della opens up the box, she will find a brooch inside in the shape of two feathered wings.

Oh, the gift! She'd completely forgotten about that, and still found it super touching. She kept on a smile, eagerly taking the box and opening it within seconds.

"Awww, guys!" She cooed, taking the brooch into her hands and lightly touching the wings. "This is one of the best gifts I've ever gotten! It's so beautiful!" She held it close to her chest... then reached for the boys again.

"You HAD to know that was gunna earn another hug!"

"I think you just like us at this level," Tidus jokes, but he'll actually lean in this time, sticking a hand on her back. He can do hugs, ok!!

"But you deserve it. Thanks for everything, D."

Since Inigo was the sappy one last time, Tidus will do his part this time.

Thanks for taking up the sap duty this time around, Tidus, because Inigo sure is starting to get curious about something else as he is pulled into another hug. Giving no resistance at all, obviously. This is what Inigo is here for.

"Is it always this easy to earn hugs with you?" Because boy, oh boy, is Inigo ever willing to do anything to earn a hug! Just tell him what to do, Della, he's ready!

"Yep!" No shame about it on her end, but then, she didn't see hugs as anything shameful or embarrassing. The world could use more hugging in general.

"Anytime, anyplace, you want these arms, they're yours. Don't be shy about it, cause I sure won't be!"

... Well, that and she'd gone without physical affection - and just being around people in general - in over ten years, so one could argue she was rather touch-starved herself.

"You know you're not gonna get rid of him now, right. Do you want me to back off so he can just hug-carry you starting now?"

You two want some perma-hug time here, Tidus can move away, it's cool!

...

Is this reality. Could this well and truly be an offer of unlimited unconditional hugs? Without judgement? Even with Della telling him to not be shy about it? How is an affectionate needy boy supposed to deal with that?

It's like she just gave Inigo the best present possible. He suddenly goes really quiet, like his brain isn't sure how to process it, and his cheeks are starting to turn bright pink.

Thankfully Tidus just happens to make a joke dumb enough to snap Inigo out of his stupor.

"Wh-- Hey! Don't make it sound like I'd take advantage of her!"

He doesn't want to be Too Much, okay! But he never learned how not to be! Urgh, how come he's starting to feel weird all over again!

"I.. It's just--!! It's nice knowing someone doesn't mind that kind of thing!" He isn't even sure whether or not that's part of him trying to thank Della or part of him trying to explain himself to Tidus. It's emotionally overwhelming either way, and Inigo turns his gaze towards the ground, cheeks bright red.

Della couldn't help but laugh. These boys were too much, and too adorable. But really, what kind of place had Inigo come from were hugs were such a rare commodity? Poor kid. It only made her want to hug him all the more.

"Tidus, you keep that up, I'm gunna start surprise hugging you. You'll never see it coming. We'll be in the middle of a mission or a conversation, then, BAM! Hug-time."

She winked at Inigo, but it was difficult to tell if she was actually kidding or not.

What even is this relationship he's gotten himself involved in... if it wasn't so dumb, Tidus might take the time to question it. As it is, he's just going to think about how dumb this is, before the next dumb worry comes up-

"Hey hey hey." Hey. Slow down, Della. "I already need to watch out for that with him! He made me drop my food back on Terra. And then I had to trick him to stick around and eat with me!"

Is this really the time to share every dumb interaction the two have had. Sure, why not.

Yes, Della. Please surprise hug Tidus. Please scare him into never being quite sure when to expect a hug! Inigo's face is still a little red, but at least he's nodding along with this clearly amazing plan that surely Della doesn't mean jokingly--

Until he's totally distracted.

"Wait, you tricked me?!" Talk about things coming to light a stupidly long while later. Listen, he doesn't want to do this right in front of Della's salad either, but this has to be addressed!

Della laughed even harder, because even though she'd only known Inigo briefly, she could totally see it happening. "I don't know how much more sweetness I can take! I feel like I'm gunna have another cavity!" And this time, no gold to replace it, thanks Uncle Scrooge.

"For the record, both of you are free to eat with me anytime, no tricks or asking necessary."

"Ughhhhh." It's a tiny ugh, alright, 'cause he had to know this was going to happen when he said that. Whoops his big dumb mouth forgetting to calculate Inigo's big dumb everything!!

"You're being way too soft on him, Mama Duck." Please! "Inigo won't eat on a mission. He acts like everything is going to go wrong if he's not on alert 24/7. And you're my pal," he says turning to Inigo, as if to reassure the fact, he loves you, but also, "but when you did that in Terra, I just wanted to--shake you up and hit you with a sleep spell!"

To be noted: 'shake you up' did come with Tidus shaking an invisible Inigo by the shoulders. Because he has to be very clear!

Della is being nice, Inigo will at least agree on that. Nice enough that she manages to break through his surprise for a moment, just enough for him to blush a little. "Thank you for the offer. It's very kind of you.."

But then. There's Tidus. Opening his mouth again.

The blush is instantly gone.

"Don't hit me with spells?!" He feels like this should be one of the basic rules of brodom! Della! Della, look, do you see what's going on here? Tidus is threatening him! "And also, I do eat and sleep on missions!"

There's a pause, where he seems to feel too bad about pulling out such a bold lie in front of either Tidus or Della, and then he adds:

".. sometimes!"

Ah, so Inigo was one of those types? She clicked her tongue, amused but disapproving. "Is that right? Guess I'll have to keep my eye on you for future missions, Inigo... I'm not having anyone starving or sleep-deprived on my watch."

Still, the smile never went away. "Honestly, you two are reminding me of my little boys... you're like brothers from different mothers!"

"Sometimes," Tidus mimics, 'cause he's going to that calling out jerk who Inigo deserves. And in his defence, whatever Inigo's feeling right now doesn't cover any of what Tidus does with how dumb-headed Inigo is on missions!

But brothers, huh... he gives a look at Inigo, as if he's deciding on what he thinks. Quiet in his contemplating...

... ...

"Hey, Inigo, she just called you a kid. How do you feel about that?"

Yes that's absolutely what she just said.

Uggghh. Tidus, how dare you set Della on him this way? At least with Tidus he can still argue back about it, but how is he supposed to say no to her, huh?

He manages to keep all groaning internal though.

"No, she didn't." .. although he still sounds offended when he speaks up. Judging by the way Inigo looks right now, it could just entirely be dramatics though. He doesn't seem seriously hurt. "She's just saying we look close. Which we are!"

Even when Tidus is stupidly teasing him like this, apparently. Or outing his bad habits. Some things just don't change at their core.

Inigo looks over to Della. "Right? That's what you were saying, isn't it?"

"It can be both." Della answered with a smug little grin. "Besides, I'm in my late thirties. Almost everyone is a kid to me." Half-shrug, since it was the truth. A bunch of the train passengers had been given the nickname "kiddo" by Della herself.

"Honestly, all you need is a third guy who loves to scheme and pocket whatever money he can find, and it'd be like being with my triplets here and now."

Boo, overreact, Inigo! But Tidus doesn't mind either way (at least he didn't say that meant Della was calling him a kid too), giving some thought for that third option.

"Hmm... don't know. That sound like anyone on the train you know, Inigo? We might have to keep applications open for the third slot." A pause, and then he turns back to Della.

"But I'm the favourite son, right?" Whisper whisper (that's totally audible). "It's okay - Inigo doesn't have to know."

What is he, your little dancing monkey?!

"I mean, you scheme plenty. But you don't care much about money." And a moment later, as if to prove Inigo's very point, Tidus is already saying those other words.

And that overreaction Tidus wanted? It sure is coming now. The way he glances from Della to Tidus, even before the mom here can react, makes him look like a child who just watched someone else break their favourite new Christmas present toy.

"S-- See! This is what I mean! You're scheming!" To steal the position of favourite son, apparently. "You can't just say that with me here!"

A beat. It's like you can see the gears in Inigo's mind turning before he adds, "A.. And you can't say that without me around either!" Disaster prevented. "Della, you aren't going to encourage him, are you?"

"Now now, boys." Della resisted a little eyeroll. "Moms don't have favorites. Sure, I've known Tidus longer, but I like Inigo very much too. So don't go teasing him, he's sensitive." And he even earned a little cheek-pat for that. He's a good boy.

"In fact, he's already making a good impression on me by not picking on you." So watch out, Tidus. She may say she has no favorites, but if he keeps it up...

Nah, she'll love them both equally, of course.

"Please, I know you better than that, Della. You trying to start some chaos of you're own there?" You think threatening to give Inigo more affection will work on him!?

"But okay." Here he is, backing off. Arms folding across his chest. "No scheming," he lilts. The voice of innocence. "I'll just be the better son without trying!"

See - he's not even trying to hide what he's doing. Which is nothing, obviously!

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