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.

---

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.)

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Roland sure won't be able to notice, with Inigo sitting behind him and all, but Tidus will clearly see Inigo mouth fifties? in confusion. Wasn't Roland 67?

Not that his mind lingers on it long. Not with this immediate 'to flower or not to flower' conundrum in front of him. Roland really seems to want it, but something about that Tidus says nicks a little at the corners of his resolve, insecurities sneaking in. What if he makes Roland look dumb? Or eccentric? What if his reputation suffers because of Inigo?

But there's the realisation that Roland is probably just going to fuss over him if he backs out now, and Inigo sure doesn't want to cause the other worries either, so.. ugh! Fine, whatever! He'll just do it and make sure Roland realises what he looks like at the end!

So Inigo finally takes the flower necklace and starts braiding Roland's long hair, having an idea of what to do with it, even though he's not sure how the final result may turn out. He looks half-pouty, half-focused about it - apparently focused enough that he doesn't even say anything for now, letting Roland instead reply to Tidus's words.

Roland's unaware of the internal struggle behind him, only knows that his hair is being braided and he's happy that he's getting the experience regardless. And when Inigo begins in earnest, it lends a calm edge to his retort back to the other teen watching from the other end of the table.

If someone were to walk in on all three of them right now, it might make for a hilarious picture. Not that Roland would care, his heart still full from the gifts presented to him a few moments ago.

"Kindly old grandpa...?" Roland repeats, making a dry expression. "Please. Flattery will get you nowhere." He quips back, slightly sarcastic though bemused. "You know, some people say fifty is the new thirty back home. And that's without flowers in their hair. I'd say I'm a trendsetter. You should try it sometime. Grow out your hair, see what it looks like."

Oh look, he's being signalled in morse bro. Signalled a question that brings in his brow, makes him re-think the number. Eighty-seven? he mouths back, but just as questioning as what Inigo gave him. He doesn't know, all these ages confuse him? You think he's been paying attention to the roster lately??

Anyway, back to his own work on this old geezer while Inigo fixes up his hair. Tidus will fix up....his everything else. Or something.

Except, Roland planted his foot on the edge of something there, gets Tidus to open his mouth to speak, but nothing but an awkward sputter comes out. He touches the side of his hair, the strands that've been losing their blond shine to them. The roots showing the darker colour underneath.

"If I let my hair grow out," he aims to say affably, "it wouldn't be because you told me to. …maybe I wanna let it go back to normal."

He drops his hand into his lap, then beside him on the seating. You know... not that he's been thinking about it... not that he's been wondering about how it'd look! It even makes him forget about correcting Roland on his actual age.

Now Inigo is busy with this whole braiding thing, he's actually getting kind of into it. It's been so long since he's done this - before today, anyway - but it's fun! It's starting to get along pretty well too, he'd say, even though he isn't quite done yet.

Especially with these distractions. First he sees Tidus's reply, wisely nodding along - yes, that sounds about right, doesn't it? - like this is what they're agreeing on today for Roland's age.

But that's not the biggest distraction here. It's the latter part that actually makes him look up from Roland's hair, though his hands are still holding onto the ends of the braid to not let it come undone.

"That's not your real hair?!"

He's so surprised. Like Tidus is revealing a much more shocking birth secret than 'I dyed my hair'. Then again, dyeing your hair isn't really a thing in Inigo's world, these anime hair colours are all natural, baby.

If it wasn't Inigo letting go of the braid, it might have been Roland's almost whiplash-like movement to stare at Tidus in utter surprise, mouth slightly open as the realization also hits him hard. But then, upon closer inspection, that made sense, right? The blondeness has begun to fade by the roots, dark hair peeking through gold. Also, ouch that hurt his eardrum pup but that's okay, he would have done that same thing if he were not!Roland.

And so now, Roland is left to stare, imagining it behind closed eyes. A finger under his chin, the calm to the panicked energy Inigo is setting behind him. Hopefully that braid hasn't totally come undone because of Roland's prior movement.

"...No, it'd look good." A rather strange thing to say given Roland didn't even hear Tidus deny the statement of growing his hair out a bit more, but he hears the implied and went there immediately. The smile on his face genuine and warm when he flashes it at Tidus, encouraging. "Even as a brunette. That's honestly a surprise. Did you order hair dye on the train?" Since the crawl of brown isn't that far into the tips of his hair, but he may be putting too much thought to that. "It'd be a change to see, but we'd get used to it. Right, Inigo?"

Edited 2020-10-18 17:39 (UTC)

Puh. Puh. What is with that loudmouthed reaction!? And with every way he can say it, why that? Tidus stares at Inigo like he's crazy, too shocked to say anything until he finally manages to choke it out-

"It's not a wig!"

Inigo better not think it's a wig over there! He honestly can't tell, but then he has Roland being mister cool and collected right there, so he gives up on looking at either of them, dropping himself - slowly - into the actual seat of the chair below.

"It's just good hair dye, that's all. I got it done professionally." He knew he'd be stuck with it for a while - and he was banking on that, to not have the brown show through and have it get it done over and over, especially not with how often he's submerged underwater. Zanarkand may have better products than Aremica than some places, but that's still bleaching your hair.

...but alright, he has to look back at Inigo with a bit of a squint and ask: "What did you think my hair was?"

It's not like this blond goes into the roots, bro...! That was a style choice!

No, through the power of what could only be a sheer miracle the braid is still in existence. Inigo is still holding onto its ends - just about the only thing he can do right now, really, other than still stare at Tidus in surprise.

He's still so startled into silence by this whole reveal that he isn't even sure what to first answer - Tidus's question or Roland's. He just starts stammering and trusts his brain to lead him somewhere.

"Ah, w-well! I just.. thought your hair was like that!" Sure, it's not like Inigo hasn't noticed the roots at all with how often he spends time around Tidus, but he figured maybe that was just a Thing in Tidus's world? "We don't have hair dye where I come from." He even says it in that kind of tone Inigo always uses when he talks about stuff he has no clue about.

He's quiet for another moment, his cheeks growing slightly pink with shame over his dumb outburst.

"R-- Roland's right though! You're a handsome guy, so it'd look good on you either way, you know?"

He's almost tempted to bait Inigo with a sly, Why don't we double-check that it's not a wig? but Roland is a man who respects someone's looks. ESPECIALLY when it comes to someone's hair! He won't do that to the pro, already locked on to the idea of changing up his style when his hair grows at a certain length. He wants to be supportive of the shift. Roland nods in agreement, lets that joke idle out in his mind.

Would have been funny though. But if it were him on the other end of it, pulling on someone's hair would not have made his day!

"Guess this means I should be sharing these hair oils with you soon, huh? Did you know that you have to stimulate your scalp with a good hair brush and oil to get it to grow faster? We could try that." He says to Tidus with all seriousness, and he can take it for what it is regardless of how it might sound. Roland knows the tricks of the trade when it comes to this! Might even wonder if there was an accessory he could buy for him, to help with his style as soon as he turns back to brunette...

Edited 2020-10-18 19:49 (UTC)

He'd groan at Roland usually, if this were about anything else. Sorta kinda maybe still wants to, but instead he thinks about what he says. Kicking up a foot against the edge of the table, his knee squeezed in close to his face.

"I...don't know if I want it long." It comes out difficult, unsure of how sincerely to answer the suggestion. Quiet for a pause before he goes on. "I just want it to go to its original colour, is all. See what it looks like. It's been a while."

And he doesn't know what he'd look with long hair anyway. It makes him think of his dad, and that's a reference he's keeping deliberately out of this conversation: Why he wanted the change in the first place, why his feelings have changed.

(Also, it's not that deep. It's just hair! There's no bigger deal to it.)

"Why don't we ask if Inigo wants to try a different colour?" For also a different subject for this topic. "The good stuff lasts for a year or two. All you have to do is apply it. You can get any colour that you want."

Easy!

Inigo is half waiting for the groaning coming from Tidus. He's at least grown used enough to the dynamic between the three of them that Inigo knows that what Roland is saying right now is exactly the sort of thing that would get Tidus to roll his eyes, or huff, or call Roland an old man - or all three at the same time, sometimes.

Instead Tidus's reaction is a bit more difficult to read. Inigo glances over, trying to figure it out, but then realises he can't quite think of what would make Tidus feel so awkward about having long hair. So he instead focuses his attention back on Roland's hair while he speaks, braiding it further.

"Then you should definitely try it out! If you don't like it, you can always.. dye it again? Right? Is that how it works?" Don't look at him, he's rapidly trying to process this information over here.

Inigo's starting to finish up the braid, wrapping it up at the end with the ribbon. Next up are the flowers-- though he's momentarily distracted when Tidus continues.

"Wait, me?" Judging by his tone, he didn't see that suggestion coming. It makes Inigo go quiet for a moment too, surprisingly finding himself running into the same, yet opposite daddy issues. The colour of his hair is just about the only thing that he resembles his father in - never managing to match the man in anything other than looks. And then there's his sister. "I.. No, it would be slightly strange to change it now, wouldn't it? I've always looked this way."

Roland follows the conversation too, not wanting to linger where it's unneeded. Not that he catches the nuances perfectly, but if Tidus is pushing past, then so will they follow. And it might just be the fact that he can feel the braid coming together, which pleases him in strange yet jovial ways.

On the topic of dyeing Inigo's hair in particular though, he does pipe up from where he's seated, trying to imagine him in another hair color though it's a difficult task without the visual aid. Was Inigo's hair dark blue, or dark indigo, even...? Roland supposes it depends on the light.

"The best part about hair dye is that you can get ones that are temporary first. You can wash them off when the day's over." He used to buy them for Will, before he was confined. He still remembers it, though the quality is left for wanting of course. Roland hums, adding something else to that train of thought. "Hm. Though I kind of get where Inigo is coming from. Back home, I never dyed my hair either. And I was already showing grays."

"Already showing? That's modest." Heh! What's modest is the amount of restraint that easy jab has, if still accompanied by a smile to share with Roland before he gets back to the actual point of their conversation.

"Yeah, you don't need to keep it if you don't like it. You can get stuff that comes out after a few washes. I needed the good stuff because I was in water all day - but we could get you something that's in for a day, or a week."

He's explaining for Inigo's benefit, whether or not he's doing a good job to be decided by someone else. But now he's thinking, looking at Inigo's hair.

"You wouldn't look bad... with a lighter colour. Right? I bet you could pull off a brown too. A brown-brown?" You know. Brown-brown! Oh, wait- "Rich."

That's what he thinks he means.

".. Does your hair get gray when you turn eighty-seven?"

Don't blame Inigo, okay, this is just the number he and Tidus agreed on sounding right for Roland's age today! And Inigo sure has never met an eighty-seven year old, so he'd believe just about anything you'd say about them at this point. Now he's trying to imagine Roland with gray hair..

.. or himself with brown-brown hair. As soon as he can figure out what brown-brown is supposed to mean, anyway.

"And what colour is brown-brown? Are there kinds of brown that aren't brown?" There is so much confusion going on here right now. Inigo is just idly playing a little with the flower necklace he's holding in his hands as he thinks..

Roland sighs deeply. A song and dance that he's surprised he hasn't gotten used to yet. Or maybe he has, and this is part of the routine. "I'm not eighty-seven, Inigo." He quips, but lacking actual irritation. Sounding more like a correction, a memo to remember. Please remember!

Since Inigo's hands are no longer tugging or fixing his hair, Roland attempts to at least look at the knot that's been created so far - and his hair has grown long enough that he can see it with a quick swish of the tail to his shoulder. "Hm. That's nice." Which he honestly means, at least seen from the way his gaze softens. He turns back to the conversation, afterwards.

"Well there are different shades of brown. Tidus is referring to the brightness of each brown shade." He places a finger under his chin. "For example, there are browns that have more red in them than yellow, so it can look auburn." Roland turns around somewhat in his seat, giving Inigo another once-over thoughtfully. Hums, before he adds, "What about a very bright, youthful color? Or highlights? I think you're trendy enough to pull it off."

"He's eighty-six," Tidus slips into the space allowed, sounding almost respectable in his correction. Since it's not always about how you say it, after all.

He keeps quiet however on matters of the braid, though he does look at the length. Wondering to himself if Roland does have hair that long in his more age-appropriate body. A small curiosity before the conversation returns to where it was, and at the mention of highlights, Tidus nods.

"Oh yeah, you'd look good with highlights. Getting your hair done professionally? You'd be getting some second and third looks," he grins, mischievously adding on top: "Maybe even a room number?"

Winkwink nudgenudge. And hopefully it's the kind of teasing compliment that doesn't get too uncomfortable for the once-engaged guy.

Inigo would mention something about Roland's age, but he's very much distracted by Roland trying to sneak a peak in at the braid. The way he bats - no, almost drums on - Roland's shoulders makes him seem like he's trying to punish a particularly naughty cat or something. "Don't look, it's not done yet!"

Especially since he still needs to put in these flowers! Which he's going to get started on now, slowly undoing the necklace so he can instead start to arrange its flowers into the hair. As long as Roland doesn't move.

And it's also much easier to fall into an act he hasn't practiced much around them in ages now when he doesn't have to look into either set of eyes.

"Hah, like I need to change my hair to get that sort of thing though! I am plenty attractive as is! I'm an incredibly handsome guy too, right?"

...He promptly ignores the wrong correction. It's probably not going to do much at this point. They've never once gotten his age right, and it's almost strange when Roland knows its on the roster!

"A-Ah, sorry." He gently returns the braid even faster then, makes sure he isn't looking lest Inigo reprimands again. Stays still, arms crossed back against his chest.

And listening to Inigo now as he works on the flowers in his hair, Roland has to stifle making an expression of amusement. He's always played a dual role when the situation calls for it, but more often than not, ready to show bravado and smiles for everyone's enjoyment. He knows now why that is, and Roland is aware too, that some parts of it may just be for show. He chuckles under his breath, a light shrug of his shoulders hopefully a small enough movement that he can continue to braid without distraction.

"Very handsome, Inigo." He answers truthfully, catching Tidus's eye too. "But you never know. Changing up your style can sometimes get new kinds of attention." He'll speak from what he knows, but he does realize an implication there, so he dials back, almost humorous in his protective seriousness. "Erm. Be careful with new kinds of attention, though. Make sure they're good people." Nods sagely. Can't help it!

Edited 2020-10-21 11:49 (UTC)

These guys would never get a 98 year old's age wrong on purpose, either. It's a mystery for the void ages.

Actually, a bigger baffling mystery: "Did you just dad him? Wait, no. Don't answer that."

Because Tidus can't believe Roland had to remind them how old he is again, and how calling him out as dad-like doesn't have the same effect when it comes to these two. And Tidus isn't sure how he feels about that still. Not to the point where he's going to call anything out - he's already done that, after all -, but...!

"Inigo, I'm sure you can get all the kind of attention you want." Tidus drops his foot from where he's been leaning it against the edge of the table, gives a slow nod at Inigo. "--but just remember to get back to your room by nine o'clock. And don't give your ticket on a first date."

--But whatever his feelings on their relationship, he might as well take a joke where he can throw it. A joke he's pretty sure will go over Inigo's head--but it'll land on Roland's, so that works fine for him.

For a moment Inigo seems very pleased while he's still working on Roland's hair. Sure, his whole overinflated ego thing may just be a huge act, but it's not like he doesn't love to hear the compliments reflected right back to him like that. That he really is very handsome. That he could get any attention he wants. While he may not be super sure of that himself, even just hearing it is enough to put a smile on his face as he weaves flower after flower into the braid.

"Hm?"

While Roland's initial remarks don't stand out as much, it's what Tidus says that gets the boy to look up from the hair and over at Tidus, giving him a pretty confused look.

"Why would I give anyone my ticket?" Yes, this joke is indeed going way over his head.. "I learned from the last time I let you borrow it, you know!"

Don't worry, Inigo. Roland's here to the rescue, because he's pretty sure that jokes really aimed for him here. So while Inigo reacts as expected, he'll throw another dry look over at Tidus's way.

"Hey! I will have you know," he starts off, perhaps with a tone that is not at all helping his case out here. "That regardless of what world you're in, that is sensible advice. Ever heard of stranger danger? That's real!"

"Follow that instinct, Inigo. Don't give just anyone your ticket." He'll look back, maybe forgetting that some delicate flower braiding process is happening right now, just to emphasize his Very Good Points.

"He's not talking about your train ticket, Inigo," Tidus is quick to quipped in, sly and meaningful--if only you understand the language they're speaking of an up to date modern age. Or maybe Inigo will get some idea through context.

"--but I am," he goes on, since--! "And what are you saying? You won't give me your ticket anymore? You're kidding, right?"

Come on bro, don't hold out!! Put out when your buddy needs it!

There is way too much going on here.

Inigo's mouth opens and closes a few times without saying anything, like he's been turned into a human-shaped goldfish all of a sudden. And he's looking between Roland's half-look back and Tidus's face like he's not sure what to even start on. His brain is overloading here.

"R.. Roland, if you're not talking about my ticket, then what are you talking about?" Of course Inigo isn't going to understand through context. Not while his brain is already being fried. But he kind of looks panicked, like he's worrying this might be about something bad. Did he do something bad, dad, oh Naga, he's so sorry-- "And Tidus, what's stranger danger?!" Despite Roland saying it, Inigo is so used to asking Tidus to translate these modern terms to medieval understanding for him that his panicked brain defaults to asking him.

But of course.

That's not all.

Inigo's panicked expression almost turns pained as he turns towards the last point. Despite how determined he seemed to never let Tidus have it again a moment ago. But what if this is a test of the strength of their friendship?!

"A.. And I-- that's.. I mean, if you.. if you really needed it? If you'd die otherwise, then of course I'd let you have it!"

Tidus leans forward on the table, one hand gripping his chest, the other outstretched in the pair's direction.

"Inigo, I will die without your ticket--"

Please interrupt him, Roland.

...

What does he even address first? What even needs to be addressed first, with this kind of craziness going about him all of a sudden? But then again, he should have seen this coming; walked right into his own trap. It's the over the top dramatics that get him to finally pipe up from where he's seated. Just another day!

"Thank you, Actor of the Year." He says quickly to Tidus. Then, "Inigo, if he needs your ticket that badly, then he can ask you nicely. Or, you know. Make him work for it." He quips, holding back a smirk. It's a remark that doesn't come as dryly as he once would have delivered, but chalk it up to the mood.

Edited 2020-10-24 04:26 (UTC)

Inigo's gaze moves from Tidus's desperate, pleading face, over at Roland's.

Somehow he's looking more like a kicked puppy than ever right now.

"B.. But, Roland.. He'll die without it.."

Does Inigo genuinely believe Tidus's terrible act? Sure, he could just be dramatic, but somehow the way he's wibbling looks just a little too real. You can't make him abandon his bro like this, dad!

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