voidtreckerexpress | (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.

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(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.

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"See it as a fun challenge!"

Besides, thankfully Inigo isn't super tall or anything, so it's not totally impossible. (He may be helping a bit as she does it anyway, considering he's light enough on his feet to be able to spin easily..)

And he smiles the moment he's back face to face with her.

"You're so sweet and smart, Nita. You ought to let nothing at all ever stop you!"

The help most certainly is appreciated!

The praise, though, leads her thoughts elsewhere. A hospital room, another dimension, the moon...

And a platform, a name in gold.

"Even if-?" Even if I should be stopped? Even if I'm doing the wrong thing, that isn't what someone else wants?

She cuts herself off, exhaling the thought out as if it were so much dust. Shaking her head, her eyes become clear again, her feet don't miss so much as a beat.

"Nevermind. But don't you let things stop you, either! Ever heard the saying, 'What's good for the goose is good for the gander'?"

".. Wait, are you calling me a goose?"

It's a kind of goofy reaction. Even Inigo's facial expression suits that kind of light mood - not looking truly offended, more just jokingly taken aback. (Although he really has never heard that expression before, but that just gives his performance even more credibility, right?)

But maybe the lightness is just to soften what comes next, just in case. Inigo can't be sure what Nita is thinking of, after all, but any reaction to that statement that would invoke an 'even if' can't be very happy or fun.

So he makes sure to keep his tone to nothing but a light inquiry as he asks, "Even if.. what, though?"

Like he's here to listen if she wants to share, but doesn't want to push the issue either.

"It's a saying," is all Inigo gets for explanation - it doesn't take much for her to realize she's not getting out of explaining the other thing.

"And, I just... I know I'm not in the right, all the time. Objectively, I get that. But recognizing when I'm not... I've failed at that before. Sometimes it turns out all right, and no one gets hurt, or it gets righted - but others..."

She's still moving, but it's clear she's slowing down now.

"I still worry I'm the one who's going to be too late to save people - or the one causing the danger in the first place."

It's hard to say whether he's surprised or not at the ease with which Nita opens up, considering it doesn't show on his face. But despite any relief or surprise, Inigo just keeps smiling, and nods a little, as if to wordlessly say 'I understand'.

After all, with how often life or death is on the table in this kind of place, both for themselves and the places they're helping, who wouldn't worry about that sort of thing?

"Then why don't you discuss your thoughts and plans with other people? You know, just ask others if they think something is a good plan too, or if it's too dangerous. You're not alone here, after all."

"I wish it were that easy."

The words slip out before she can stop them, and she cringes.

"I just... can't always find people to help with what I'm thinking of, when I need to."

In the moment, wherever she is.

For what it's worth, Inigo still manages to keep smiling, even in the face of her cringing. And he's still moving - although very slowly, more just rocking them from side to side a little. As if that may help to soothe Nita's nerves a little.

"Why not?" There are a lot of potential reasons for that, after all.

"Sometimes I'll go to them - or where I remember last seeing them - and they just... don't respond."

Flashes of something else behind their eyes - or perhaps those were her nightmares boiling over into the day.

"And some of the people, they - well. You know. At the platforms."

They've both lost people they were close to, not just at home but during their time on the train.

Sometimes they were the same people. Which - though it also made her feel guilty for self-centering - also meant it felt right telling him about it. Inigo could understand.

Of course he knows.

If there's anything this whole train experience has absolutely engraved into Inigo, it's the pain of losing people. A pain he already knew well back home, but it's like it's accelerated here, carving deeper and deeper cuts into his heart.

But that's exactly why he doesn't want to linger on that statement. It's too sad, and it's a feeling he doesn't want either of them to sink into right now.

"What about me, huh? I've always been here!" For better or worse. There's an obvious joking edge to his tone though, like he's trying to keep this as light as he can, trying to drag them both up to the surface. "Or are you trying to say I'm not reliable? Nita, you'll break my heart!"

Nita shakes her head.

"No - it's never happened with you. When I come to you, whether it's to hang out or check in or-"

Or whatever this is!

"I know something's going to happen. You're one of those I can count on."

But then, how to explain without making it sound so unfair?
Nita scrunches her face up before sighing.

"But we don't have all the same interests. And- that's normal, and that's okay."

But Inigo can, perhaps, read between the lines: and the people I talk to about other things aren't always there.

"I.. well.."

Inigo frowns, awkwardly glancing out of the window. He's trying to wrap his head around this, but it's hard without knowing the full context of what Nita is talking about. But it's something she obviously feels intensely about, and he doesn't want to just dismiss that feeling.

Even if he doesn't understand it.

"I'm.. um. I'm glad if you feel like you can rely on me then, at least.." His tone is still awkward though, like he's not entirely sure how to address any other part of it.

Regardless of what else Inigo's thinking, what he does say leaves Nita feeling relieved, and she shows it.

"... Let's get back to dancing, okay?"

Her voice is quiet, but there's no hidden emotion bundled up in it this time.

"Only thing I know I can really do for now is - is keep living, and talking to people, and spending time with people I like."

She pokes him in the chest - once, briefly - before returning her arm to his.

"Like you."

Inigo still feels a little worried. He can't help it. He's naturally inclined to worry, after all, and Nita is important to him. Of course he'd want to help figure out ways to help her more. To make sure she doesn't have to feel anything that heavy.

But he doesn't know what to do about it so quickly, and so he just tries to smile when she says they should return to dancing.

".. okay."

At least the smile isn't entirely fake. She is saying he's helping her too, after all.

"Y-You're right. Let's dance."

Without further adieu, Nita tries to start the dance this time.

"-Wait, do we turn the other way? Or does that matter?"

Whatever the case, she feels better that they're working on it together.

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

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sounds like a wrap, i think!

aye, I think so. o7