voidtreckerexpress

Entry tags:

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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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The more he hears Kitty and Tidus talk, the more he just wishes the ground could swallow him whole. Inigo wants to be just about anywhere but here right now. The sounds of the thoughts in his brain swell, making him feel more and more like he's the dumb one here, making things awkward. Like none of this would be happening if only he just wasn't here.

It's dumb. It's so dumb, but it hurts. And he's not sure if smearing out their dumb problem here in front of Kitty of all people isn't just making things worse.

On the other hand, Kitty doesn't sound like she's about to let this go unless he says something.

It feels like this is going to go bad no matter what he does, but Inigo does speak, his gaze seemingly glued to the table in front of him.

"But you were calling me weird all this time, right?" It doesn't sound accusatory - at least, not in an angry way. It's not like even the wrong implication that Inigo was reading into Tidus's words isn't anything his insecurities tell him on the daily. "Isn't that why you're asking Kitty about the hug thing? Because you think I'm too clingy, that I'm strange for it?"

She glances between the two of them in concern as the tone of the conversation seems to shift. But she doesn't say anything, wanting to let the two of them work it out.

"No-!" Maybe it isn't vocalised as accusatory, but it reaches Tidus's ears as such. Another sputter, baffled how Inigo even came to any of that. "I was asking 'cause you make a big deal out of how bad I am with hugs! Like... I dunno-" he struggles, awkward. "I thought I was normal about them. But then I don't know if I am? I told you I hug fans that one time and you got upset with me!"

He dances between who to look at, but doesn't know what he's looking for, confused, his hands still raised in front of him, but Tidus about as sure as what to do with them as he is the rest of himself.

"My life wasn't like that," he goes on, feeling like he should or needs to, or something. "I was always training or...the other guys and girls on the teams weren't like that. 'Cept with who they were dating."

As far as he ever noticed.

"My friends back home weren't like that either," he mumbles. "Or they sure didn't like it when I tried."

Well, most of them, anyway. It's why it's so easy to feel like the strange one for actually liking to hug everyone. Inigo even casts a glance at Kitty, like he's silently wondering or asking if her world is like that too. She did say she didn't mind hugging friends, but then again, that's still a big gap from Inigo's weird touchy-feely levels.

"So it feels bad when hugging fans seems to be so easy for you, but hugging me isn't. It makes me feel like I'm.. repulsive, or something."

"You're not!" There's not as much conviction as the last time he jumped to speak, but it's not from any doubt. But he has to deny that- "I'd never find you repulsive. It's nothing like that."

But then, what is it, right? How to explain it to a guy that doesn't know anything about sports? A life the total opposite of his? Tidus struggles, trying to think.

"When fans wanna hug me, they... it's like hugging a persona, you know? Tidus, the blitzball star! It's nice, but it's not personal, you know? And I'm not really standing around and hanging out with them. It's like a quick thing, sign something, you're done."

There wasn't any comparison. Not to hugging someone closer, 'off the job' so to speak. Compared to them...

"The only other person I've hugged as much as you is Yuna. That's it." A half-hearted scoff. "Maybe my mom when she was alive?"

It's true. Inigo knows nothing of sports, and honestly, he knows very little about celebrity either. Despite being a prince, he was much too young when everything started to fall apart to really know how fame works, how famous people get treated. (And even then, there's still a huge gap between medieval royalty and modern sports stars.)

So Tidus's explanation is completely new to him. Even though he still looks a bit sad while he listens, but it's just his mood dragging on, really. He's trying to understand.

So he slowly nods.

"So you don't mind me hugging you..?" He first looks at Tidus, but then, nervous to hold his gaze while asking such a vulnerable question, he can't help but glance at Kitty too. It feels so awkward to do this in front of her, but.. "Or should I do it less? Or do something different? I want to do what's most comfortable for you. I-- I won't complain about it anymore either. Or try to, anyway."

"I'm okay with you hugging me," he confirms. Speaking calmer now, slowed down compared to when he was trying to get through his point; sensing they were getting somewhere with this after all. Maybe even finally on the page.

But he wants to be firm, or reassuring as he reiterates, "I said before you can, and I'm fine with it. You're my pal, and it doesn't bug me. I even try to do it more for you." He looks at Inigo in the eye, if Inigo will look back. "Just as long as you know - it's nothing personal. It was never like that. We're all different about how we act with people. And I know you didn't mean to make me feel like the odd one out either."

Because even if Inigo's preference for such physical affection was new for him personally, and sure, odd for that reason, he's never felt anything like disgust for the other guy. He's Inigo - Inigo who works hard, who wouldn't do anything to offend another living soul intentionally. He respects him wholeheartedly.

"I.. I know now."

Because Tidus's explanation is really clear. Maybe that's just what they needed, rather than stupidly going around in circles, rehashing the same pouty arguments. But Inigo gets it. That Tidus doesn't mind it. That he just has to do some getting used to it too. That he's trying his best as well.

The part that he's trying to do it more for Inigo even gets him to blush slightly. He desperately tries to shove down the worry about whether he deserves that.

"Sorry for having been so dumb about it," he offers Tidus. He won't throw another pouty fit about it now, okay. He doesn't want to do that to them. "I really appreciate you being so nice about it. And. Um. I appreciate you." In general.

And of course that's not the only person he should apologize to. He looks over at Kitty, suddenly feeling real awkward about having done all this ~~right in front of her salad~~.

".. And sorry to you too, Kitty. For all the dumbness. We're okay now though." And this time for real.

Kitty smiled and shook her head. "It's okay," she reassured them. "I'm glad you two were able to work things out. Sorry for uh...getting involved, though."

She did feel a bit awkward having been witnessed to something that probably should have been resolved in private between them. And it was really her involvement that led to all of it in the first place.

"No-" Tidus regards Kitty, giving a small shake of his head. "Thank you - but uh, sorry you had to get involved. I didn't mean to make it turn out like this."

His intentions had been well-meaning, despite what it turned into. He's sheepish that it had to come out this way, but thankful.

"I appreciate you both! And I think if you ever need help," he says, turning to Kitty, "you really gotta let me know at this rate."

With how often she's been helping him out!

"Please make sure to abuse that offer, Kitty."

It sounds much lighter again. Maybe a bit too light, considering Inigo's tone from a moment ago, but he really wants to move on from his own awkwardness, from misunderstandings and hurt. And with things having been pretty much resolved, it's a lot easier to put on his usual lighter tone again.

Even if it involves some gentle teasing towards Tidus, even in tone.

She giggles softly, and is more than happy to move on now. "I'll keep that in mind," she teased as well. "But honestly, I think I kinda deserve that hug now."

"After all that?"

There's an exasperation to Tidus as he says that, a weariness to go with it, the full shebang. He sighs, slowly shaking his head, and starts to drag himself out from the booth. "Inigo, you're up too."

And he'll give his mate a moment, still looking like he's being asked for his life savings, before declaring: "Inigo - time to sandwich her."

SANDWICH HUG BRO YOU GET HER FROM ONE SIDE HE'LL GO IN AT THE OTHER, FULL ARMS, FULL HUGS, FINAL DESTINATION.

Honestly, despite being the lover of hugs here, Inigo would have been more than content to just sit here and watch this unfold. It's just funny - the look on Tidus's face! Though he's at least tactful at this point to absolutely not poke fun at the other for it.

But his popcorn moment is interrupted by Tidus's sudden suggestion.

"Huh?" There's surprise, initially, but it fades away after a moment into a slight smile. "Hey, who's to say she didn't want an exclusive Tidus hug? You need to first make sure the lady approves!" Bro.

Which is why he turns to look at Kitty instead.

"You mind?" A sandwich hug from your two dumb friends?

"Oh, sorry." And fine, Tidus is cutting in here and giving a tiny bow.

"Milady?"

May they have this sandwich hug?

She giggles softly, then opens her arms out to both of them. "Both of you get in here."

Okay, Inigo sure can't surpress a laugh either at the way Tidus turns towards Kitty and say that. It feels like a miracle that everything somehow turned out fine in the end with how it all came crashing down, but.. it's a good thing. A great thing.

And so Inigo easily joins in on the hug, standing on one side of Kitty and wrapping his arms around her without hesitation, leaning his head forward so it's gently resting against hers.

"Do you think I'm teaching him manners well enough, Kitty?"

Sure, that's definitely some teasing, but most of Inigo's tone is just really warm. He loves hugs, and hugs with more than one friend involved? It only makes the joy they bring twice as powerful.

It's a Kitty sandwich time!

Which is a mess of limbs around Kitty, her own included, Tidus and Inigo nearly bumping heads together, but Tidus keeping his own back to stop that. He scoffs audibly at the credit taken, but squeezes his arms around the pair of them.

"Him teach me manners. He's never called me his lord! He's always sweeter on the girls than me."

Does he sound like he's complaining? Of course! Does he also like he isn't at all serious? When does he.

She squeaks a little when they both finally hug her, and she does her best to hug both of them at the same time.

"Hey, no arguing in the group hug," she said in a playfully scolding tone.

Beyond the hurt of a dumb misunderstanding from moments ago, it's so much easier now to tell Tidus is just teasing. There's no offense taken at it whatsoever, instead Inigo just ducks his lead slightly as he lets out a light laugh - both at Tidus's words, and then at Kitty's fake scolding. (And also just at the sandwich-group-hug. It's nice. This is exactly the kind of thing Inigo loves.)

"Ahh, let's be careful! Kitty is going to kick our butts when she gets mad!"

"I'm not arguuuing." He's definitely making fun of himself though, teasing as he says it, like a sulking kid.

"But you know what? This is pretty comfy. I think we could stay like this all day. What do you say, Inigo?"

She giggles. "You bet I'd kick your butts."

Then she gives a mock-offended sound. "You'd keep me trapped in here like this?"

"You're not trapped if it's a hug."

He pouts.

But this is not the teasing form of sulking kid that Tidus is employing, oh no. This is 100% genuine sulking kid over this Insult To Hugs. Because Inigo could definitely spend a day just hugging someone..

"See it as spending the rest of your day with the warmth of friendship!"

"Uh oh, Kitty, I think Inigo's taking this threat of staying in a hug all day seriously..."

Do you hear the faux-concern in Tidus's voice? Mayday, mayday, and Tidus lowers his voice-

"Think we should run?"

Whispering does not work when Inigo is right there.

She pretends to consider that for a moment. "Let's give it a few more minutes, then we'll see," she stage-whispers back.

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