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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It's alright Inigo. Give her an indication that you would want to try new styles and she will be very supportive in making new stylistic choices!

She blinks a little at the mention of the Octotroopers. Oh, right. They wouldn't know that, would they... er...

"Octotroopers are the frontline soldiers of the Octarian army. They are made by cutting our hair, which will begin seeing, thinking, and acting on their own." Her tentacles wiggle a little to show how lively they are.

...

That idea is so weird.

But Inigo feels like that'd be an impolite thing to voice out loud. Especially in front of someone he doesn't know well, and who he's already had a very awkward interaction with.. So thankfully - for once - he manages to swallow down any and all instinctive initial reactions, instead just staring for a moment before attempting to speak up.

"But it's still fine as long as it's still attached? I mean.. your hair isn't bothering you right now, is it?" At least that question seems to be born from genuine concern. Inigo would be pretty freaked out if he knew cutting his hair was going to cause soldiers to form! What even!

...

Bro her hair is alive?

Which is the point that is going through Tidus's brain, once the explanation is given, the tentacles wiggle, and thereafter. He is trying to understand this rather simple piece of information. Mainly because now he can't stop imagining her hair as now her babies. And that's a lot of babies all just existing on her head right now...

(Are they going to start having octo-children wiggling around the train? Does Tidus want to see that??)

"Do they stay tiny?"

Please tell him all about this baby army.

Eight gives a lighthearted giggle at Inigo's inquiry. "I'm fine. This is completely normal for us Ocatrians." Fortunately she is well aware that this is a property unique to her species, as the Inklings appeared to freely change their hairstyle without any worries of causing a small army to spring up. She was a little envious, really.

Also, funny you should think that, Tidus...

"Well, no, they won't. My hair is too small right now, but as I get older they'll get bigger." Oh, but maybe he meant after...? "Well, it depends more on the trooper. Sometimes they start thinking and getting smarter on their own and will grow more tentacles. Some of the really smart ones might even become an Octoling, like me."

Inigo isn't quite sure what's weirder about this. The whole idea of Eight's hair coming to life and turning into mini-soldiers, or the fact that Tidus is asking that of all things? Not to mention that look on his face?

Inigo throws such a sceptical look his way. Bro, are you planning something? You know you need to confess these things to him in advance, right!

But when he looks back at Eight, he completely shakes off the look, instead trying to look more friendly. Despite his confusion.

"So that sort of thing could happen here on the train too? That.." He seems to think, then speaks up - though slowly, hesitantly, like he isn't sure of the conclusion he's drawing here. "Then you could.. make your own friends, right?" If they can become just like her, that is! It's an odd thought, but maybe a good solution if Eight ever gets lonely, being the only.. Oct.. Oct-something here?

HER HAIR IS GOING TO TURN INTO A LIVING ARMY!!

Tidus doesn't understand the looks Inigo is giving him, wide-eyed back at him, absolutely mesmerised by what any of this means. Tiny octotroopers! Little octopus babies! Around the train! Should they prepare? Is it going to happen? Even Tidus isn't sure what he thinks about this. Her hair is going to turn into little babies!!!

But Tidus is pretty sure that Inigo's question into the one that should be asked. Shaking his head, the whole ink-thing totally forgotten about for now.

"Shouldn't we be asking what they need if you do make lil' octo-pals? You'll warn us, right? We totally need a pool car!" Ah! He looks at Eight directly, nodding.

"A vote'll come up later in the month. When it does, vote the pool car!"

We gotta prepare....!!

This was getting weird... and the reactions she was getting made her regret being so open about her species. Maybe she should be more conscientious of what she reveals to others.

"Maybe someday, but I don't think I would want to. I'm really too young to be taking care of Octotroppers, and I don't think I would want them to be on this train." She shook her head, looking over her surroundings. "I've only been here one day, and it is cramped, people aren't sure what we're here for, and there is no certainty that when we go back, if we go back."

Her uncomfortable gaze turned to Tidus. "Would you want to bring someone up in a place like this...?"

Look, Eight, do you really think two teenage boys of all people are going to be the ones who are able to perfectly understand the intricacies and difficulties of non-human reproduction.. Especially when they only have two shared braincells.

But Inigo at least grows quiet in a way that isn't just baffled after Eight speaks up. Instead he almost looks a little guilty, scratching the back of his head. He considers speaking, trying to do some damage control, but.. thinking about it, the chance is just bigger that he'll make things worse, huh.

So he doesn't speak up. Not yet, anyway. Instead letting the question in the air linger for Tidus, considering she seems to be looking at him here.

Oh.

Ohhhhhhh.

That might be making the hardware in Tidus's head crash and then go on boot-up again. Wait, they really are like kids?! Whoa now! And he was just trying to tell her to...!

"No! Nonononono." He shakes his head, hands up in submission. "I thought they were gonna be a thing that just...happened! You'd trim some hair, you'll have little guys going into war with you!" Ah- "Like all the people with the poke-and-dig-mons! I didn't think it was really like raising a kid or anything...!"

Just- sometimes! If you're bigger and older, apparently!

"M-my bad?"

She shakes her head again. "They only appear if I choose to cut my hair. Most octolings don't do so unless they have sufficient reason." Her eyes lower. "Or if somebody forces us to do so."

Her fingers fumble across the various things that she was gifted, wondering how the conversation went this so far afield. "I sometimes wonder if its okay to even make them, too. We rejoice in their life, but also force them to fight for us, too. They are of us and would one day be the inheritors of what we are able to achieve. Were it not so necessary." She clutches the objects near her, not wanting to go further into this.

"I am sorry for making you worry for a possible invasion by my presence on the train. Know that I have no aspirations to do anything like that. You can rest assured that were I to ever create an Octotrooper, I will inform everyone so that they will not be alarmed by its presence. I can only offer my assurance that I have no intention to do so in the immediate future." Her frown deepens as she turns slightly to go back to her room and reflect on what revelations were being made, and how even the people that like her also find her threatening.

This is escalating rapidly. And not in a good way. To a point where Inigo knows he can't just leave Tidus to do this all by himself - not that his explanation just now was bad, but it seems that Eight is severely misunderstanding something here.

He doesn't move up to her to touch her shoulder and stop her from going, it feels like a bit much under the current circumstances, but Inigo does stand up from his seat, speaking up so quickly that Eight has barely even finished speaking before he already starts.

"Wait! We're not-- We're not worried about that at all!" Inigo does shoot Tidus a quick 'right??' look, but he's already sure the other is on the same page as him about this before doing so. If anything, Tidus just seemed kind of excited about having sea creatures around..

"Really! I swear to Naga! We were just interested since we haven't heard of anything like it before, you know? So we were kind of.. uh.. trying to figure it out?" Look, Inigo isn't the best at this kind of thing, with how clumsy he can be in social interactions at times, but he's trying. "We don't find you or your Octotroopers scary at all! I'm sorry if we somehow made it sound that way."

There's a small 'uh?' that leaves Tidus's throat the moment 'possible invasion' comes up, and he's confused the more Eight goes on. Did he say that? Imply it? And in no way is he about to let her go silently either, only interrupted by Inigo speaking up first. But he's up from the table himself, taking half a step out just so he isn't stuck with his back bending and relying on the table to hold his weight. But once Inigo is done-

"That's right! I just wanted your pals to have somewhere to be! I thought they were like- partners! Not invaders! You their general, but... on the good guy side!" oh no is he helping this any, please don't feel bad Eight!! "I'm just a dumb guy who thought your hair was your backup! Promise!"

Eight was equally confused, her gaze turning to the hand on her shoulder to Tidus back to Inigo. She still wasn't sure what they were thinking, but was starting to believe they didn't see her as a threat.

Perhaps she was too used to being seen as a dangerous outsider. Perhaps they really did see her as a friend.

...and perhaps she should be a little cautious of what she reveals. These two seem kinda dumb.

"Okay." She gives a full nod. "I still likely won't, though. They required upkeep and if I'm their general I won't be a very good one without being able to provide them with food and accommodations."

Her fingers begin to knit, the awkwardness becoming palpable. "Can we change the subject from my hair?" Ideally forever.

Inigo is almost about to reply to the first thing Eight says, but then comes the question it's followed up with. And of course that makes him immediately get rid of any and all things he wanted to say in his head.

.. though it leaves the matter of what they should talk about.

"Of course! We can talk about anything else, like.."

His voice trails off as he frantically tries to search his mind for a new topic. Oh sweet Naga, he needs to find something, he doesn't want to make Eight feel even more awkward after all of this!

Inigo shoots a puppy-eyed look Tidus's way. Help him out here, man, they need to make her feel better!

They saved the relationship!! They got her to stop!! Tidus himself is nodding animatedly at all her points, like yes yes, that's right, absolutely not a good environment for squid soldiers! And on changing the subject, though what to change it to gets a small, "Uh..." out of him.

But oh, look! Inigo to the rescue!

...

...

Nevermind, all eyes are on him.

"Uhh-!" QUICK ONE BRAINCELL, THINK! "--You played any of the VR games with anyone? We should play space racing! The three of us!"

He gestures at them with it, as if he needs the help to get across, yes, he's talking about them! A multi-player game is absolutely the best way to secure and strengthen friendships!

Eight was grateful for any change in the subject, yes even the silly ones hatched by Tidus's one braincell.

"There's VR games we all could play?" That was news to her. Though simulation technology certainly was advanced from what Eight was shown from that Holo-disc.

Phew.

Tidus's suggestion, and the way Eight seems to take it relatively well, get Inigo to let out a sigh of relief. By Naga, he sure owes Tidus right now. He's saving their life here. Or, well, their social life, at the very least.

And even Inigo is willing to jump into something new and vaguely terrifying for that. Like the VR games.

"Oh, you know about those?" He asks Eight, a hint of surprise in his eyes. Not all people on the train are familiar with the concept, after all. Like Inigo here. "Do you like them? Of course we can play them if you think it would be fun!" Anything to make her happy after they nearly just terribly offended her!

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