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.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

'Congested...? Heh. That's new.' Roland doesn't take it to offense. In fact, that's when he manages to smile. A real one this time.

He'll never admit it out loud, but it's when they act this way that gets him to shed a bit of the defenses he naturally puts up. They're only there because of need, anyway. Always had to be the guy making the shots, thinking of the greater good. Making sure everyone was accounted for, especially in his own home...Though that came in varying degrees of success. No better feeling in the world to do it, too: to look out for them all. But the personal sacrifice it came with, well. A small price to pay.

Yet as always, Tidus and Inigo managed to pry it out of him. The idea that he could just be without the reservations. To know him genuinely, and for Roland to be allowed to do the same with them. He's been on the train for some time now, not as long as his previous adventure yet, but he's still unused to their openness. He likes the feeling that comes with it, though. He won't deny himself that.

Their sentiments breach far enough that Roland actually opens and closes his mouth like a gaping fish when Inigo says something about not caring about them, what they like. "No, wait. That's not true!" Quick to the defense, that's definitely not what he meant! "I like knowing about the things you enjoy. Both of you." Roland looks to the right, looks to the left, appeals with his eyes gleaming under low light.

"...Okay. We'll build the model figure. I'll let Inigo decide if he wants to keep doing it or not. Then maybe I can...help either of you out with your hobbies. Yeah, sounds fair. Right?" He sits back, and the braid in his hair loosens even more with the motions he's made. Flowers falling to his lap, but some remaining stuck against thicker strands. Roland Crane, the president weak to the influence of stubborn yet incredibly well-meaning teenagers, siting in his own defeat.

Woowwww look at Tidus ignore the mouthing going on over there. Can't stop him, Inigo! He's just telling the truth!!

And he's having fun, sure that Roland isn't going to take that remark personally when Tidus has probably said worse. Plus, they're all friends here. And it's telling when Roland smiles than add further to his emotional clog up.

Look, Tidus will even behave and not make any noticeable gestures or show of disagreement regarding his feelings towards the old man. That brief look up at the roof of the car doesn't count, he was just flexing his eyeballs.

"Sure, you can help me." What with? But it doesn't take Tidus long to think, watching those tiny flowers scatter on Roland's shirt. "How about being target practice? That's me covered! Inigo?"

See, if he passes the offer onto Inigo, he can't cry about making Roland his victim. Of something. (He can, but it's the effort that counts.)

STOP ROLLING YOUR EYES AND PRETENDING THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING, YOUNG MAN.

Truthfully, there's a lot to be exasperated about here. There's Inigo's hard work on Roland's hair going to waste on the one hand, and then there's Tidus making the absolute dumbest suggestion possible on how to spend time together involving his hobby.

But for once Inigo's impulsive instinct to react like a drama queen seems to just give up. Is it really worth it when the mood is so good, when Roland is finally smiling like that? It's not like he'll get anywhere by getting all pouty about it anyway. (Wow, if only that was a realisation he could have more often. Just imagine.)

"Well, I'm still not sure if I have any hobbies to begin with.." There's still a lot he's trying out! But that's exactly why he's not sure in the first place. And yes, there's dancing, but he's not going to bring up dancing. He's taking this one to his grave, thanks. "But you don't need to help me out with anything. Just spending time with either of you is enough for me, regardless of what we do."

Yes, look, Tidus! He's even throwing sap your way as well, despite you acting like a toddler!!

He has enough sense to start collecting the fallen flowers from his hair, making sure not a single petal touches the floor. They're cradled gently in one palm, and it's this and listening to both of them chat which immediately occupy his mind. Their banter making him realize that his initial thoughts on what it feels like to be in between them is still correct to this day. He's lived a solid life so far - a full, busy life - but how much of it was already on the job? How much of his actual passions was he able to pursue before the stark reality crashed in? Before he had to evolve as a young senator, a newly-wed husband, then without much preparation...a father to an infant son.

Tidus's words ring in his ears - you're not that guy, not here, not on this train. They're meant to be uplifting, freeing. Just like Tidus, who earns himself a pointed look when his hobby is to have Roland stand in as a training dummy; or Inigo who's trying his best to discover new facets of himself, one thing at a time. Can he do the same? Is he allowed to? Is this permission they're granting him, getting him gifts, listening to him, caring about the small things even when they don't seem to be too relevant to why they were even brought together?

The model figurine excites him. Is he allowed that feeling, too?

He stays quiet for the most part, until Inigo finishes speaking and the flowers that fell from his hair are all salvaged. Somehow. He'll offer it back to Inigo with a sheepish look - or as sheepish as Roland can be - with an apology under his breath. If he would still be willing to do it, he'd sit there and wait. Won't move this time!

"Whatever the case...I'll make sure to be available for when you want to do something new. Or find new avenues to have fun. I promise." He nods, but the motion is small. Soft Roland was weird, if only because it's so alien to see. But how could he repress this when the gifts in front of him, the gestures offered to him, are probably some of the nicest things he's ever received in kindness for as long as he can remember?

But Tidus loves that dumb pouty face, when will he get the chance to poke its cheeks again??

Except, look at Tidus instead be the aloof one here in not taking the offer seriously. Not that it bothers Tidus too much, rather willing to hear what Inigo has to say, to give himself more time to think of anything. But anything they could do for him, he's already dragged them into anyway. Though the sports games haven't been as often as before, he'll never shy away from asking for their participation there.

"You can always get him to help you with the paper decorations. Wasn't that Glor's idea anyway?" So therefore, it's partially Roland's idea-slash-responsibility too, right? "We'll think of something. Put you to work. Since you like people bossing you around."

not kinkshaming. Just trying to not be so serious about it to keep Roland all gooey and soft!

Geez, Roland. This moment feels very much like those times when Inigo had to drag him away from his work to get him to eat dinner or do something other than spend his entire day in the library. There's something about Roland that has the same emotion too. Something softer, maybe borderline sulky, unsure.

Though this time it's softer. Maybe even happier. And Inigo will take that - enough so that after a slight shake of his head he takes the flowers and starts redoing the parts of the braid that came undone, putting the flowers back in as well while he listens to Tidus.

"Do you think he doesn't work enough yet, Tidus?" There's some humor in Inigo's voice, since. Come on, bro. They both know how much of a workaholic Roland is, it's so obvious. It's practically a thetorical question. "I just want to see him have fun!"

Now he's practically talking like Roland isn't even here. Like it's just the teens having a discussion without the adult present. As if Roland isn't trapped by the fact that his hair is quite literally in Inigo's hands at the moment.

"Something to make him let loose a little. And I don't think paper flowers may be what does that."

He doesn't know what's come over him. But the words spilling out of his lips feels right, feels like he's supposed to answer this way even if in any other occasion, Roland would have kept his honesty to himself. He chooses not to fight it. With these two, it's hard to do so anyway; and it's not like he wants to either.

"Well, if it means spending that time together, I'd hardly count it as work." Roland says, feeling the comfort of Inigo's hands working through his hair again. This time for sure, he knows the braid will stick and he'll proudly wear it up for the rest of the train day. Besides, work is for Roland to enjoy, alone, on his lonesome. Isolated from the rest, where his persona shifts into an entirely different man. But putting up flowers, building models, ball games or anything else they might think of...He decides this is an invitation that's his for the taking. And in that spirit, he even adds, perhaps more for his benefit than either of them -

"Besides. I...I think it's nice that I can do this on the train." With people around him. With them, and not just co-workers. People who care. Who he has shared his story with, his pain. And vice versa, trusting him to understand. "So, let's do it." He smiles again. For a second there, it almost seems like he wasn't really old, not at all.

~~sounds sus, last line.~~

"Ohhhhhhh," comes the lilt of someone very mature. "Hear that, Inigo? Wouldn't dream of doing anything else than spending time with you, my boy."

His grin is mischievous, sly, but fun most of all; tone barely faking that of a middle-aged man before Tidus scoffs into a near-chuckle, brightening up all over again. He's not just here to tease, after all.

"You should listen to him! It's called having fun trying out new things with people you like. I'll give ol' Rol here a pass with paper flowers. But I think we need to get a new book," he adds in thought. "One with more complicated flowers. Most of what's in the book Webmind got's pretty basic stuff. I bet you could be making fancier."

So much faith in our dear Inigo.

Argh, this is too much. Somewhere between Tidus teasingly pointing out the fatherly implications in what Roland says - though he doesn't think that was aimed at just him here, bro, he's sure Roland would want to play sports with Tidus and do anything he enjoys as well - and Roland's actual words, so soft and happy, Inigo can feel his face start to colour slightly. It's just.. it feels precious. If this train is giving someone like Roland a second chance, someone so consistently hard-working, thrown around from one world to another, then at least that's one good thing about all this.

Inigo is still going to ignore Tidus's initial teasing for the good of his own heart though, instead working on putting the flowers back into the braid, leaving it looking very much like this.

Then he moves from behind Roland to instead sit next to him again. Close enough that he can lean a bit against the other. Inigo is trying to not get full on gooey with Tidus present, afraid of further teasing, but it's hard under the current circumstances.

"Well, if you think it'd be fun, then of course you can help me." He does give Roland a smile at that, though with a slightly shy edge to it - an edge that doesn't disappear as he turns his head towards Tidus. "And I.. I guess I wouldn't mind giving more complicated ones a try. I can't back down on a challenge when it's coming from you, can I?"

Look, he's just trying to find a less sappy way to say 'thanks for your faith in me, bro'!!

He feels the braid secured, and when Inigo joins him again by the chair, Roland can't help but itch to see how it turned out. It's a slow budding excitement that bubbles up from the pit of his stomach, even as both of them begin to speak. Not that Roland wasn't listening, but while his eyes land on one teen, then the other, following the conversation on finding the next hobby the three of them could indulge in for fun's sake, his fingers are already moving on their own accord.

It's not vanity, he argues. He just likes knowing how he looks at all times, and this was mixed with a tinge of fondness that makes it more compelling to carefully, subtly, reach behind him. Touches the pads of his fingertips against the smooth grooves and swirls of the braid, and it feels so much more complicated than the fishtail he expected.

Eventually, when Inigo finishes speaking, Roland finds that he can't ignore the feeling any longer. Pausing for a moment, a quick shift in subject just to put this one to rest - that's all he was doing really! - he clears his throat and turns to either of them in quick succession. The pause that follows this sound may have sounded awkward...because he realizes too late what he's about to ask. Gah. He's this far in!

"Say, uh. You wouldn't happen to have a mirror in your kit with the comb, would you?"

"Nope!" comes Tidus's pleased answer to Inigo, glad for the cooperation. And that's another project on the list -- which at this rate Tidus is going to have to make for them, so they can keep everything straight!

But it wasn't bad, this. Encouraging the both of them into hobbies, seeing what they liked, what they didn't. Learning more about Roland, and even Tidus having a place in getting to enjoy it all. Watching the 'subtle' way that Roland fusses with himself, likely not realising that way that his face looks right now. Makes Tidus wonder without having to think hard, what kind of man was Roland usually?

(How would his own father get about flowers in his hair, done up so intimately? His father so proud, but not one to care about what anyone thought--)

"We buy everything but a mirror," Tidus laughs, a tilted brow above one eye as he thinks. "What about one of the toilets? Their mirrors?"

Unless Inigo actually had one?

Nope, no mirrors here. Despite Inigo quite enjoying doing other people's hair, it's not like he really cares too much about the way he looks - if he looks into the mirror, it's often more coincidental rather than a purposeful act.

So he can't be helpful in this case. Instead his attention seems to be taken up more by watching Roland, all the subtle edges to his reactions. Does he like it? It seems like he does - or at the very least, he doesn't seem displeased. Is he worried about how it looks?

"Are you worried it might look bad?" The worry slips across his lips before Inigo even really thinks about it, before he can try to hold it back the way he usually might have.

Roland shakes his head gently, afraid to throw the braid and flowers off. Incredulous almost, but he remembers that Inigo is often worried about what he thinks, what his friends might think really, of the things he does for them no matter how intimate or thoughtful.

"Not at all." He answers, looking up at him with his arms uncrossed now, resting against his lap instead. "I just want to see it. I don't want your hard work to go to waste! Besides..." How does he say this without sounding too strange? He mulls over the words but decides that there's little point in hesitating about things. He's already allowed him - no, wanted him - to do up his hair like this, flowers strung across black strands, standing out like dots of color on a dark canvas.

"...I want to remember it. I always remember the things I see. That's why."

A simple enough explanation, but if all else fails, he'll pull up one of the cameras for work purposes. He can print it and delete it later.

Roland brings out the camera, and Tidus then remembers: the one of his own he has, forgotten in the bustle of everything the month has been so far.

"Wait, use this-"

Which, it doesn't look like much when it first appears; Tidus bringing up his Arms hand and in the dust of fading gold, out appears... a bar. A slip of plastic-like material, some kind of controller, for those aware of what they are. It was one of Tidus's orders, and from his side, it looks like he's tapping a thumb. But then, a 'screen' comes up: holographic and with a blue tint, making it closer to the size of a handheld-tablet, the edges becoming defined and opaque. Despite the transparent quality it gives off, they can't see whatever Tidus can, but-

"Camera-... record..."

He shuffles out from his seat, getting up and coming to where he can get the best view of Roland. "Rol, keep still- I'll go around." Pulling on the bottom bar that he's holding, and making the entire screen size wider, fuller; the 'camera' only needing a second or so to adjust.

Don't mind him now just slowly hovering this device behing Roland's head...catching some of Inigo's too, but only because he's by the guy. And then Tidus will come back around, leaning down on the table. "Replay that?"

--And the image captured starts playing, starting from when Tidus got up, only the lightest blue tint to the colouring. Otherwise, it's as real as any video captured. On the bottom of the bar, now visible the few buttons necessary, arrow keys and a small indent in the middle showing where it can be clicked back in and made smaller.

Suddenly everything is so weird. And maybe Inigo should be used to it. After having been here on the train for so long, after even having gone out into space with all the odd futuristic technology they had back there.

But he expected it there, stepping into that weird world. And cameras by themselves are something he expects on the train by now too, considering he's seen Prompto's own a lot back when that guy was still among them, but Tidus's own camera is so.. so weird! What is even going on with it! Why is it so weird and flat, and then there's that light coming out of it?!

Inigo doesn't say anything, for better or worse. (Maybe for the better, considering what could slip out of his mouth at this point would doubtlessly be very, very dumb.) No, he just stares at Tidus moves around Roland with that camera, only remembering at the last moment to try and duck out of the way a little so he won't be blocking the view of Roland's hair.

Even when Tidus is done and is replaying the video, Inigo is still stunned into silence. Although there's a tiny part of it that's more on purpose this time - he doesn't want to ruin the moment where Roland can see his hair (and therefore judge if Inigo didn't do an absolutely terrible job!!) by asking dumb questions. So he just stares at the blueish video, half-confused by it, even now.

Roland takes the instruction obediently, and doesn't move a muscle, not even a twitch of the mouth. But his eyes follow the device Tidus brings out, and his brows can't help but furrow in curiosity. What was it? Something from home? Spira? No, possibly Zanarkand. The process is quite quick though; it's not like Tidus was taking a long video, just capturing enough so Roland can see Inigo's handiwork. As it's revealed to them both, he looks closely at the moving holograph, the blue quite easy on the eyes actually. He hums, and reaches a finger to touch one of the buttons.

It zooms in closer to the braid, and eventually, he breaks out into a smile.

"...Can you print this? Inigo, you did such a good job. You're a natural at things like this. I'm always so impressed." And Roland isn't trying to talk him up just for the sake of it, either. He's keen on the attention to detail, even the way Inigo weaves flowers in and where they should go to make a pattern. He thinks about what to do before he commits to the act, and in his art, it shines most of all.

"Thank you. My only regret is that I'll eventually have to untie it. Which is why I'm wondering if it can be immortalized on print?" To this, he addresses it to Tidus, just a tinge hopeful it can be done. Magic technology, please help him never to forget memories like this, where one day his mind may fail him...

Print it? That gets Tidus making a face.

"You're...gonna need to ask someone else about that. I can save it, anyway- buy you a frame so you can keep it and whatever else you want!" So he offers, but then, considering what a hassle 'buying' is around here- "Orr... I'll let you borrow this when you want. How about taking a picture with your camera?"

However, Tidus does turn to Inigo now, leaning in a little to get his arms comfortable and where he can access the holographic screen. "See this, Inigo? If I do this-"

He puts his fingers on the solidified surface, spreads his fore- and middle finger, much like a tablet would allow to work; causing a flower they've pause the video on to be enlarged. The quality exact, as if a person were leaning into that exact flower right now, the strands of Roland's hair.

"You do this, and you can see closer!"

Inigo is so tense, waiting for Roland's reaction. But then it comes, and it's a compliment, and such a good compliment at that. He's always so impressed.

How does Inigo deal with that coming from a father figure? There's just no way he can. His cheeks grow entirely pink, no matter how much he ducks his head in an attempt to hide the colour.

"I.. I can just redo it whenever you want it.." He offers, his voice slightly quiet, shy. Doing Roland's hair was kind of fun, actually - more than he expected, so of course Inigo wouldn't mind doing it again sometime.

The only thing that pulls him out of his shy haze is Tidus calling his name, and Inigo glances over...

.. only for his eyes to grow wide when he sees what the other teen is doing.

"W-Wait, what did you do?" Inigo may be used to the ICPs, and the cinema screen, and even Prompto's photo camera.. But this is a whole new level of captured footage that Inigo had no idea about yet. "Is this some sort of magic?"

"I think this is what you call holographic technology? But the quality is astounding...It's as if we can reach out and touch it..." Which is something Roland tries to do, but of course nothing happens and the image just distorts as it would when interrupted. He glances up at Tidus gratefully.
"If I could borrow this, then sure. I'd love to put more pictures on it."

Roland isn't inherently a sentimental man, not typically as one might have it. He doesn't scrapbook, he doesn't keep things for a long time to reminisce. But he documents what he can for posterity's sake. He writes to make sure the details are not lost in the retelling. If this is the only way he can relish such a memory - of braided hair and flowers gently weaved through it - then he'll take it without question.

"Inigo, as long as you don't pull too hard," Because we're not about that hair fall life here! "You're welcome to practice more styles on me. I trust you, after your handiwork here." It's the closest admission that Roland actually enjoys the ministration, feels calmed over it, and wouldn't mind Inigo doing it again either. Maybe that's what they could take pictures of, using Tidus's device? He's not against such an idea.

There's some resistance, as if it might actually be a solid surface, allowing however for Roland's finger to slip through in the end, distorting like to be expected. It's good tech, ok.

"It's a camera from Zanarkand, or the-" 'real one' he's about to say but catches himself, continues on without addressing it. "You can take pictures with it, or video. You know, like the movies in the cinema car? You can grab a picture or video of anything. It records audio too -- sounds."

Here, how about--he slips into the seat with them, getting the next person to move up. "Move over, lemme in." Fiddling with the screen by moving out of the recorded video, a circular and triangular pin-point emerges in the centre, nothing else there, until with Tidus's button pushes...

The image flips, and reflects them instead.

Selfie mode.

"Wanna take a picture?"

Heheh!

"As long as you're sure that you don't mind! I think it's kind of fun, but--"

Inigo doesn't finish the sentence. He starts on it while Tidus is busy fiddling with the odd device, but of course the boy is distracted the moment the camera flips around to selfie mode. It's not even entirely new to him, considering Prompto did pull the same thing on him before, but it's still new enough for him to momentary jolt at suddenly seeing himself there. It's weird!

"Wait, right now?! Do I look good enough for it?!" Is this really the first concern on your mind, Inigo.

They all sort of scooch over, and it's not a space meant for three people but they make it work, as they do. Snug and close, and Roland doesn't mind it as much as he might have expected. The camera flipped to show their faces side by side, a selfie yes, that much he knows from his own world...His smile doesn't grow any wider, but he's clearly not opposed to the idea.

Another memory to keep, to hold close. The sparkle in his eye is what gives him away. That and his next little trick, slinging an arm around Inigo's shoulders, his hand ruffling his hair playfully.

"You always look good for the occasion, Inigo the handsome. Come on, let's find the right light."

And before Tidus has the chance to take that portrait, Roland makes sure the braid Inigo worked so hard on is featured as much as it can be, the tail of it resting nicely by his front.

"Too late for that, Inigo! Just look into the eye..."

There's really no reason to be pushing up close to Inigo in the middle of them, except just because. And that's all the reason Tidus need, his other arm going around the back of the seating to hold on. He gives them a few seconds before - "Alright, say blitz...

Blitz!"

He taps a button, and the picture gets taken, still and visible on the screen of the memoris camera. Tidus smiling with a row of teeth, a sly upturn in one corner of his mouth.

Maybe this is even more of a surprise than the device itself - but in a different way. A way that isn't too bad, really. Suddenly having Roland's arm around him, getting that hair ruffle, feeling Tidus moving close to him on his other side.. Just the realisation that he's really sitting here, surrounded by two of the people most important to him, taking a photo together.

It gets Inigo to smile on the picture - that's natural, after all! - but his cheeks definitely are pink on it as well. A blush from the surprise, from the sudden rush of comfort to his heart.

A rush that doesn't disappear, even as he's staring at the end result left on the screen.

".. it's nice. We look happy."

Don't mind him over here, okay, he's just being extremely soft for a moment. This is a moment that Inigo too wants to treasure forever, make sure to never forget. No matter what happens.

"Right, see? Don't we?"

He doesn't quite get to say the word "blitz" when prompted, but that just leaves for a nicer photograph with Roland's smile a half-opened mouth showing teeth, happy despite the slight of chaos which always seems to follow the three of them even in the most mundane of circumstances. A chaos he welcomes, because it's beautiful and he didn't think he'd have the chance to enjoy himself with friends like them. A son like Inigo. Someone to believe in like Tidus. People who see him and not anything or anyone else.

"We need this printed. Who do I ask again? Maybe we can tinker with that thing, make it print it out right now. Like a polaroid. Can it do that?"

He unwinds himself from Inigo for a moment to lean on the table, peering at the device Tidus holds in his hands. Eyes catching the light just right, fondness rolling off of him as he stares at the picture.

(open)

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