voidtreckerexpress | (open) my heart is about to jump out of my chest

Entry tags:

(open) my heart is about to jump out of my chest

Who: Inigo and you!
Where: The upper level of the music carriage
When: Imagination 19/20
What: Inigo thinks he's having a private dance practice moment. Thinks.
Warnings: Probably nothing, will edit if necessary.

---

(open to all)

If you happen to pass through the music carriage today - as people usually do when moving through the train - you may notice something. Either you can hear music coming from the upper floor, drawing your attention, or if you have a good heart, you may instead see an odd little creature sitting on the stairs, swaying from side to side along with the music.

If you decide to go upstairs, the creature certainly won't do anything to stop you, if you can see it. In fact, it seems to happily bounce right after you, following you up.

And upstairs the carriage is mostly empty - except for Inigo standing on the stage, dancing. The music is even more audible now. Inigo is dancing along to the beat, eyes closed, yet he doesn't seem to even come close to falling off the stage, as if he knows exactly where to place his feet. Which he probably does, considering his movements seem to be very fluid, practiced. It's a pretty captivating dance, honestly, and it's easy to just keep watching it without realising the time is passing until the song stops.

It's then that Inigo stops moving too, finally opening his eyes..

.. and therefore finally noticing that he's not alone. He lets out an absolute shriek, staring you straight in the eyes, before his foot slips and he finally ends up falling on the stage.

Temporary elegance gone. There is only a miserable little pile of Inigo on the stage now.

(closed to taiki)

Okay, okay. Maybe he just needs to get used to dancing in front of people. He danced in front of Tidus before, and that was only.. only mildly mortifying, so maybe that's what he should do. Make sure to dance in front of people he feels a bit more comfortable with.

Hence why Inigo gently dragged (read: made puppy eyes at until he gave in) Taiki along here. He said it was fine if Taiki would just sit there and paint or something, do whatever he feels like doing! It's just that Inigo has to get used to having an audience, okay! And Taiki is just about the most gentle person Inigo can think of for this sort of thing.

But thinking of that is one thing. The actual execution of this plan is another thing.

Which is why they're both here now, but rather than dancing, Inigo just sitting there on the stage, slumped over, groaning. His face is buried in his hands.

"Why is it so hard to get started when someone else is looking.." Is he whining to Taiki? To himself? Who knows.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Tidus says those last two words - 'behind me' - and then it's silent.

Because Tidus is still sitting there, staring at Inigo. Not turning around yet. And Inigo, in turn, is just standing there. Staring at Tidus as he's not turning around.

The awkward pause hangs in the air for a moment, gears turning somewhere in some brain, though who's to say which of the boys has seized hold of their single shared braincell right about now.

But whether it's braincell-powered or not, Inigo speaks up after a moment of the silence.

"I'll dance in front of you."

Whatever. WHATEVER. He'll just do it. If Tidus is here anyway, then Inigo might as well just dance without him being turned around. How big of a deal could it be, really? His head is probably just making it bigger than it really is!

Inigo walks over to restart the song, then walks back onto the stage.

He looks over at Tidus. Meeting the other's gaze, and immediately realises that he is making a capital M Mistake.

"J-- Just give me a second! No, ten! At least ten!"

puppy eyes puppy eyes

Look, can Tidus be blamed that he doesn't exactly want to be rushing to face a wall? That's mainly it - that for once, he isn't trying to trick or deceive Inigo into doing anything. It just happens!

But when Inigo does concede, Tidus lights up: a genuine surprise morping into delight. Because really, even if he knows zilch about dancing, any other alternative was both dull and weird.

No - watching Inigo was bound to be way more fun. Tidus is initially quiet in his seat -- though, that ready energy has its own volume, really -- beaming when their eyes meet.

"Okay!" No problem! Oh oh oh- "What if I do this?"

This being his hands going up on his face. Palm heels at the bottom, but then crossing over, so Tidus can easily peek an eye out by lifting a hand.

Hiiiiii.

"I can't believe you're somehow making it worse."

But it's a protest without any real energy behind it, let alone venom. It's mostly just said to try and channel all of his shy and nervous energy into something, even if it's just a weak form of their usual banter.

Besides, something about the way Tidus's gaze lights up.. It's a little cute, and also touching that just the idea of watching him dance is enough to do that. Though Inigo is pretty sure he'd be able to appreciate it much more if he didn't have that cloud of shyness hanging over his mind like right now.

But he isn't going to go back on his word now.

So after saying that, he closes his eyes. Breathes in, breathes out. Tries to clear his head as well as he can - which isn't very well at all - and then, when he opens his eyes again, he starts moving.

At first the movement is awkward, maybe even a bit clumsy. Especially when compared to the other time he danced in front of Tidus. But it's the nerves he's still trying to shake off, and after a few moments, once the music starts leading him more than his thoughts, the movements start becoming more fluent again. More carefree. His eyes fall closed again, as if it's easier for him that way, when he at least doesn't have to look, doesn't have to see Tidus right there.

And it's only then that a bit more sneaks into it. Because Tidus was right about the song having a sexy edge to it - and that much is visible in Inigo's movements too. It's an odd contrast with Inigo's usual shyness, especially since there's a weird kind of confidence about the moves. Like he's much less disturbed about the idea of displaying that when he's so caught up in the dance. When he's moving, rather than thinking.

Tidus knows he's being goofy, or must look goofy, though there's more sincerity in his movements than a ploy to get Inigo to laugh. Some way of coming to a compromise, even if there's no way of getting Inigo out of that fright. No matter how they might try to meet in the middle.

Except, it can't be that bad. This isn't the first time Tidus has watched him, so why should this be any different? So he thinks, and life hasn't changed that much between the last time and now. As Inigo lives in his resignation and the music starts to play and reveal its beat, Tidus's hands slip from his face; whether they would have being able to stay there anyway, a mystery. He doesn't judge the slippery beginning, or anything else particular to come. He's open eyes, open ears.

--though, that's some pretty raunchy looking dance moves, bud.

Is it? Tidus wonders; if Inigo thinks about it in the moment, that fingers barely trailing from chest to belly pushed out in display, a head tipped back, hold the same meaning as a person looking from his life and someone from Ylisse. Inigo never seems to falter, to think however, once he begins; if the world does truly melt away for him, or if in the midst of a dance, he can find his conviction. Do and be who he wants to be.

Whatever it is- whoever it is- that Inigo becomes, Tidus makes sure that once the music seems to be coming to some kind of end, to be looking away. Or eyes darting off to the side, but then still taking peeks, wondering if Inigo might finally remember he's there. Does he want him looking once he comes down from his dance high? No?? Should Tidus speak first?? He can speak first!!

It really is like snapping out of something, the moment the music stops. It's not like it comes sudden, since the progression of the music makes it very obvious that the song is about to end, but it's still like being dragged down to a different level. Suddenly much more aware of his surroundings again, other background noises slipping back in that were lost to the music before.

Inigo opens his eyes again, and that's the moment he catches Tidus mostly looking away.. but sneaking some really, really obvious glances his way. Absolutely anyone would notice what he's doing.

And it's a little embarrassing, sure, but.. dancing feels so nice, and that's the feeling Inigo tries to focus on here, as it still lingers in his chest. Trying to not let it get overtaken by the mortifying ordeal of being known.

He slumps to the ground, sitting down on the stage, drawing his knees up to his chest.

"What are you doing?" Inigo probably intended that to sound a certain way. Maybe grumbly, maybe even scolding in some sort of sense.

But instead it almost sounds amused, his cheeks vaguely pink as he stares over his knees at where Tidus is sitting.

Tidus is caught in the act -- a hard to miss act. But there's no scolding, no terrified demand, so he gives up the pretence of wanting to do anything but look at his friend. And to see that expression, so delightful, so warm. It creeps a goofy smile up on his own lips, and while he could answer, he doesn't.

He rests an elbow on his legs instead, leaning forward. Propping his head, fingers a line along the side of his jaw, his cheek.

"That's a nice face," he comments, a praise and compliment in a tease. Features scrunching together as he brightens that smile, the tickle of a chuckle coming up his throat. "Want another song?"

Inigo doesn't avert his gaze, despite his shyness. Despite it only growing stronger the longer he looks at Tidus - when he sees the other smiling back at him like that, and then saying those words. Despite the teasing edge to them, Inigo feels butterflies twirling around inside of his stomach all the same, and it's taking pretty much everything he's got to not hide his face by burying it against his legs.

One day he might learn how to deal with praise, especially coming from the people who mean the most to him. But today is not that day.

"A-Already?" He instead stammers out in response to the question that follows it. Something that's a tad easier to focus on, everything considered. "Are you sure you're not getting bored just watching me?"

"When you sit like that after? Y'know," he says with a sly slip, "I'd almost say you're looking cute over there, Inigo."

His goofy smile turns into a grin, the flash of teeth as he gets up onto his feet. Heading to where the music controls are, so Inigo doesn't have to get up and do anything himself. After all-

"How about I find you something? You tried listening to more music by those two? I can bring up their names."

It might be part a music session as well as dance session, but this gives Tidus something to do too. And maybe he's got a song or two he thinks Inigo might like...!

He is so, so very glad that Tidus gets up and starts heading over to the music controls. Mostly since it turns his back towards Inigo, which gives the guy just a few seconds, just enough to bury his face into his hands for a moment as he feels it growing increasingly hotter. Sweet Naga, what is this? A personal torture session? If he didn't know better, he'd say it's almost as if Tidus knows and is doing it on purpose.

But no, Inigo is well aware. This is all born from total obliviousness, which somehow makes it even worse. I'd almost say you're looking cute over there. Gah. GAH!!

He sucks in a breath, trying to will down at least part of the blush by the time he's looking up and over at where Tidus is standing.

"Uh, not really.." His own voice almost sounds foreign to his ears as he says it, but he manages to keep it stable. Somehow. "I just came across this song when I let it randomly play things and it sounded nice."

Which is the easiest way to discover things when you have absolutely zero clue what you like, really.

"If you think you can find a good one though, I'm all ears."

Inigo has all the privacy he likes as Tidus gives him his back, tapping at the screen and options. Wondering if to check out more for the artists that Inigo found, but nonono, he wants to go for the one he did! Anticipation tickling the sweep of his shoulders, the ends of his mouth keeping them upright.

It takes a moment or so, before a low beat starts to play.

"I think this was it- I checked some songs out the other day. Remembered you liked the pop songs last time." Or, well, one? Whatever. Tidus turns back around, finally looking back over at Inigo with a smile before he walks back to his seat. Rocks his shoulders some in a mock-groove to the beat.

"Even I could get into this." Heh.

"What's 'even I' supposed to mean?" He whines, practically instantly. Like a default reflex of a response to Tidus's words.

At least he's refraining from saying anything more about that one awful, awful song Tidus made him listen to. More than one, if you count that terrible trip during the voidstorm!

But this one? This one actually does sound like something Inigo can get into. He goes quiet for a moment, obviously trying to listen to it, trying to get a feeling for the beat. Already starting to move a little, trying out some movements.

This time a lot less shy about doing this in front of Tidus - or maybe he's just surpressing the outward reaction better this time.

"Why are the instruments all so odd though on these songs?"

"Even me and my danceless feet," Tidus clarifies near-flatly, if not for the tickling humour under the reply. That of course Inigo is ready to take offence when Tidus is calling himself out!

But otherwise, he doesn't go on. There's no point in putting on a song for someone to get a feel for if you're just going to chat all the way through it. Speaking only when Inigo does, though the question is rhetorical enough to leave alone.

"Everything's odd the first few times."

Time to get used to the future, Inigo. Tidus watches him quietly, wondering if he can guess his movements by the beat, what will he do? But they're small games in the larger curiosity of dance in the first place, how a person wants or finds themselves moving.

The future is way too wild and big of a place to get used to that easily!

It's why - even while still moving - Inigo lets out a half-amused, half-sceptical sound. "Only the first few times?"

He's not sure he'll ever get used to some future music. Although he feels like maybe songs like these should be manageable. Ones that still have some unfamiliar elements, but there's something about it that feels familiar enough, that he can cling onto while he's getting used to the rest.

His movements start getting more concrete the more he dances on, like he's slowly finding the movement and groove in the song. It does come with some quiet on his end too, needing his concentration for it to fully get focused on the music rather than his thoughts. That's the best way he dances, after all - by leaving his anxieties behind.

But maybe there is one more thing he should do here.

It takes a bit of a steeling of his heart on his part, since it is pretty nerve-inducing.. but Inigo turns towards Tidus, stretching out one of his arms, holding out a hand.

"Come on."

He's not sure if he needs to say more, if this isn't obvious enough - just him asking the other to join him in the dance now he feels like he's got enough of a handle on the song himself.

After all, wouldn't Tidus most likely much rather be doing that? He's always seemed so much more like a guy who wants to constantly be on his feet, rather than sitting off to the side and watching.

'Come on.'

Is it the last thing Tidus expects? There's a raise of his brow, surprise in his eyes - and if anything, it wasn't anything Tidus was expecting so soon. He hesitates on the outstretched hand, eyes clearly seeing it, a hand of his own lifting up. "Uh-"

But what should he do? What's right? To take it regardless of what happens, to dance despite a tune that never reaches his feet? This isn't the same as last time, with their silly dipping and Tidus just grooving in one place. At least, it doesn't feel like it to him.

Still, the fact it happened - the fact that it's them, that Tidus doesn't want to turn Inigo own - might be why he laughs awkwardly, warns sheepishly:

"You're gonna have to lead, you know?"

Are you prepared, Inigo?? Are you ready for that?? Whatever it is you're planning, or want to happen here!

"Yes, I know." There's almost a little bit of amusement in that statement, though it's mostly diminished by how shy he still feels. But even though he's hesitant, even though he's a little scared.. Inigo knows that this is the right thing to do. And hasn't he overcome much scarier things before? "I thought it was pretty obvious just how nervous I was about dancing in front of you. At least this way we can be nervous together."

Him and you, with your danceless feet, Tidus!

His cheeks colour, but Inigo forces himself to speak on all the same, taking a gentle hold of Tidus's hand. Tugging on it a little, like encouraging him to stand up.

"And m.. maybe, just maybe, I could teach you a few moves.. If you want to!" It's surprisingly hesitant and cautious by Inigo standards, especially given how much they fool around on a regular basis, but of course this is one of the things he's the most shy about offering up.

Is this Inigo trying to level the playing field? The playing field consisting of one Prince of Ylisse, but if he adds a Tidus into it- well, Tidus can't deny his pal attempting to make this easier on himself. And wasn't this the exact plan that Tidus was selling to him in the first place?

So he stands, if with his own insecurities about how well this'll go. But they're easy to swallow down in the face of his friend's, to put on a sure face and nod.

"I wanna learn from the best."

And who else could he mean than the guy in front of him?

"Here-" he doesn't let their hands slip from each other, but Tidus taps at the terminal, just a few jabs and he's done, facing Inigo again. "That'll keep the song playing. But you can turn it over to another one if you want."

This was his dancefloor, after all. His lesson.

Why the compliment, huh. Why the compliment. The last thing Inigo needs while he's trying to gather himself together enough to dance in front of someone and actually teach them is to have his heart start to flutter this way in his chest!

But he's still trying his best. Especially since Tidus is helping keeping the song on a loop - something that would have taken Inigo ages to figure out how to do. So he just shakes his head at the last thing the other says.

"No, this should be fine. I think I have this song figured out enough now." And it sure beats having it on random shuffle and having some terrifying song play out of the blue, like the ones Tidus made him listen to before..

Using their joint hands, he gently tugs the other over until they're at the middle of the podium. Truthfully, he's really banking on no one else walking in while they're doing it, since he may just die if that happens, but they seem to have been lucky enough so far.

"Alright. The first and most important thing about dancing.. well, it's just clearing your head." Which he knows is rich, coming from him, but stick with him!! "It's so much easier when you're not overthinking it. It's better to get a move slightly wrong because you're not thinking hard enough than to not be moving at all since you're doing too much thinking and worrying."

STOP DISSING TIDUS'S MUSICAL PREFERENCE WHERE HE CAN'T FIGHT YOU ABOUT IT, BRO.

Tidus, at least, isn't worried or thinking about anyone or anything else. Before or after the whole overthinking thing comes up. Curious about what exactly Inigo's going to try and teach him, how are they going to move their legs? He stands in place - or thinks he is - with about as much patience as... well, he usually has. Which, he's got some. For now!

"Right. Just like with training, huh? Blitzball's like that too." Sword practice, ball practice - that was pretty much the basic of basics. "Alright, I got that down. Then what?"

HE'LL SAY IT TO YOUR FACE TOO, BRO, NO PROBLEM. BRING IT!!

"Well, the second most important thing is moving. But you've sure got that mastered." Yes, that is being said with a hint of a tease, despite how flustered Inigo feels right now. Teasing Tidus is one way to get this jittery energy out, after all. And it's also just true - the guy is like an idle animation come to life.

But maybe that might actually help him here.

"And the rest comes fairly naturally to me. It's hard to explain, since it's so ingrained for me.." His voice trails off, thinking for a moment. Trying to find the right words. "But you just.. have to feel the music. Not just hear it, but feel it in your body, if that makes sense..?"

He tilts his head, wondering how much that explains it.

"I kind of feel it around the base of my stomach. And then I let that feeling guide the rest of my body into the moves I make. But it all starts right there."

"...

...Um..."

Feel in around the base of my stomach. Okay. Tidus can...somewhat understand. He knows what dancing is, knows the way a rhythm can get to the bones and make you want to move, but that doesn't mean Tidus can comprehend the how. It's the missing element, even as he listens to the beat coming from the speakers of the train, tries to think and... feel it?

Tidus even looks down at his feet, waiting for them to do something, some magic spark and understand to appear. Looks back up to meet Inigo's face, his own blank. Lost.

"Maybe... you can show me?"

Is that an alright idea?

This is so hard. Inigo understands what he means to explain entirely, but there's some sort of missing link for him too - the missing link between how he knows it's supposed to happen and how he could put that into words. It feels like something intangible.

"W.. Well, if I'd show you, I'd just be dancing!" Which is what Tidus already witnessed a moment ago, and clearly that didn't help!

So Inigo frowns, closing his eyes for a moment, thinking. Thinking really hard.

"Alright. Here."

He's still holding the one (1) Tidus hand, but now Inigo is moving his other arm too so it's on Tidus's shoulder.

"I'm going to dance. Well, as much as I can like this, anyway. And you just.. try. You don't have to make any special movements, just.. try to move along on the rhythm." That's basic, right? Anyone could do that! "Don't think too much about it. Just move along with me."

"Okay..."

The uncertainty continues to linger in Tidus's responses, in the way he regards the pair of them, the plan. But it's not deep-rooted, an acceptance, willingness that straights Tidus's back and makes him put on the air of being ready.

Except- A thought, and now he's lifting up that hand of his that has nothing to do.

"Should I-" showing it "-put this somewhere?"

Like - the back of Inigo's shoulder? No, Tidus quickly takes it back, and... settles it on his collar bone!

...

His side? No, wait, that's way too feminine! Where should it go, where should it go...!

Inigo really shouldn't tease Tidus at a moment where the other is unsure.

Inigo really shouldn't tease Tidus at a moment where the other is unsure.

Inigo really shouldn't tease Tidus at a moment where the other is unsure.

But it's so tempting. Especially when it's about this of all things. Inigo can feel it, like a tickle inside of his chest, and he wonders if this is exactly what Tidus feels whenever he's being cheeky.

It ends up being too strong to resist. It's light, not wanting to fully break the mood - and though it's obviously teasing, there's something close to that Inigo brand of reassuring in it too, like he does mean it as well.

"You can touch me wherever you want, you know."

"But where!?" It's not particularly loud, defensive or shy; and though it colours close to embarrassment, it's more along the lines of baffled and bewildered. Like there's a great puzzle before him but he's the only one who sees it.

Because Inigo is the dancing guy, Tidus isn't, so where is this hand supposed to go?! He doesn't know! He doesn't see the very obvious answer that's very obviously there!

He pats the hand twice on Inigo's shoulder. Here?!

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