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He's quiet for a moment, as if overthinking it. Though the only conclusion he seems to come to, judging by what he says after that moment of silence, is just: ".. Poor Elfnein."

Look, he'd say 'poor Orisa', but he's pretty sure she could instantly crush every single bone in Xue Yang's body, so. Good on her. And although Inigo can't help but feel a little selfish for it, since it means there are now other people who have to deal with rooming with a murderer, he still can't help but feel relief to know that it's at least no longer Tidus who's stuck with him.

Inigo shakes his head, turning back to look at Tidus.

"Sorry. It must seem strange that I can't stop thinking about it so easily, huh." Especially since Tidus seems to shrug it off much more easily. Maybe he's just being as much of a worrywart as ever, Inigo thinks. "I just can't help but keep thinking it's odd, especially if it only happened to that guy and me."

"You're overthinking it!" Tidus shakes his head, hands falling on Inigo's shoulders to make him focus his way. On him, not on any plaques or in his head - not while Tidus is asking for his attention. "If we head to breakfast, we can ask anyone else if they changed rooms or something's up. We can check the ICP too, see if Xue's still on the roster, right?"

At least as a gold name, or not.

"Standing here isn't gonna help us any." He at least speaks with a smile, brightening to try and encourage Inigo. Giving him a nod this time. "We'll even check up on your old room if you want. Your roommates."

But he looks up, over Inigo's shoulder, letting go of them as he moves around the guy.

"I can tell you if these other names look familiar. Let's see... Yup, Lea and Xion's always been next door... Glor should be at the end here too."

Tidus is walking to check the names, and indeed, the cabin leading to the last sleeper car has Glorfindel's name beside it- Xander too, and Alfredo.

UGH, but Tidus, overthinking is what he does! Would he still be Inigo without it? Besides, he just wants to make sure the train didn't do anything weird to him! What if that did happen and they don't find out until later, huh? It's going to be a disaster!

But - as easily influenced as Inigo is - he is rapidly starting to think he's just overthinking for no reason. And being dumb. He does turn to look at Tidus when the other releases him and heads off to look at the other name plates, but there's something definitely embarrassed about his gaze.

(Also, wouldn't it just be more concerning if he's somehow the only one who changed-- ugh, no, stop thinking!)

"I get it," he says, sounding somewhere between pouty and embarrassed. Or maybe just both at the same time.

Usually he'd say 'you don't have to rub it in', but he knows that's not what Tidus is doing here. He's just trying to reassure Inigo, but in turn it just makes him feel more awkward for needing that over what may just turn out to be nothing.

"Sorry that you have an idiot friend who worries about everything."

.. okay, no, now he's definitely pouty. Though at least he doesn't seem to be angry with Tidus, just with himself as he looks away, cheeks red.

But--! But isn't this what Inigo wanted him to do? Didn't he want him to be more considerate? Why's he getting pouty about it now? Tidus isn't sure if it's something he said, or was it the way he said it?; but when he hears that first note of pout, and then it turns into more of it, Tidus's expression morphs from simple confusion, to something more puzzled.

To- "Don't call my friend an idiot." He's folding his arms over here mister! ...but he also doesn't want to put too much emphasis on this, go on too much - that just usually makes it worse for Inigo. So he lets his arms free after a good moment of looking Very Serious, nodding and gesturing a hand over to where he is.

"Come on, let's go to breakfast and see what we can find out. And if we find out nothing..."

...

...

"...Want me to call you Xue Yang?"

At least it's that final comment that seems to snap Inigo out of it, if not just partially. Because the very idea of it is so ridiculous that it's hard to stay pouty at it, even if it's him being pouty at himself.

But as he walks over towards Tidus to join him in heading towards breakfast, he does grab a hold of the other's hand. He won't intertwine their fingers or anything that embarrassing, but.. just let him have this comfort for a moment, okay? Please? It's making him look a bit better right now.

"Please, I think it's much better for neither of us to ever be in touch with that guy."

Murdering kids in cold blood just because you felt like it isn't exactly a good look on anyone.

"Maybe I'm just moody since I'm hungry." Probably not, since Inigo isn't even that hungry, but it's a convenient dumb and small thing to blame, rather than the mess that his brain can be at times. And he doesn't want to bother Tidus with it when them moving into the same room is actually a good thing, as far as he's considered! No matter the train's weird possible intentions behind it.

Edited 2020-12-13 20:07 (UTC)

If holding hands is what it takes to pacify Inigo's anxieties, then Tidus will accept it, wiggling his hand a little even to fit it snug into place. Probably what he should have thought to do than joking about anyone taking on Xue Yang's name.

"Are you worried?" That's what it seems to be, though Tidus doesn't well in quelling those fears. He dances around the idea if it's worth trying again now, turning around at least to get them physically moving, with every intention of leaving the carriage to start the walk to Webs's morning teleport routine to the dining carriage.

"It's not that I don't get it. But we won't learn anything just worrying, you know? And I can't think of anything bad happening... unless Saku and Taiki got separated. That'd suck. You think we should ask them when we see 'em?"

"Yeah," he admits when Tidus asks if he's worried. Maybe it's part of him trying to be open, but it's much more likely that Inigo knows he's being too obvious at this point to try and deny it anyway. And if Tidus is bothering to give him the comfort of held hands, just the smallest kind of physical affection that manages to soothe Inigo's heart a bit, then the least he can do is be honest in return. Even when he knows it's dumb overworrying.

"You just never know when something ends up being bad on this train!" Especially something like this. Because if it only happened to them and not a whole lot of people, then they may not find out until a long time later. "But I'll try to not think about it too much. Maybe it is better to think about everyone else." It's a distraction, at the very least.

A better distraction than walking is so far, but maybe food will also be a good one.

"Checking up on lord Gyousou and Taiki is a good idea.. And maybe we can see if Roland is still in the same spot too. Just to make sure."

"Roland's room is this way anyway." Since they're heading backwards towards the dressing car and not the other way round. "So, let's look out their names! Mm, you know though, I don't really check to see who sleeps where. It's never fun coming down here to find someone."

He knows about one person by heart (other than Roland and Inigo, vaguely--even if the last one doesn't matter now), and that's Lightning all the way at the back of the sleeper cars.

(And of course, Yuna's cabin used to be the first one at the front.)

"Rol might not be in his room though. You know if he's an early guy? Seems like it." But then, he doesn't seem like a cheater at first glances, so who knows!!! "But Purple's doing prep and he's cool with Webs... eh... wonder if he's cooking anything..."

Don't mind his concerned mumbling to himself.

...

Inigo is taking in the information quietly, but it's as if something about him perks up a little when Tidus mentions those last few words. It's dumb, almost instinctive, like a dog that hears something and is suddenly at full attention, wagging his tail.

"Do you think Roland is making breakfast?"

Guess who is suddenly much more enthusiastic for breakfast, if he may be able to have it together with Tidus and Roland. This guy over here. Goodbye, worry.

"We could eat together with all three of us!"

"Errhhhh--" It's a noise, somewhere between hesitation and an answer that isn't ready but also wants to say something. But, give him a second- "How about I cook? I can make pancakes. Leave the pancakes to me - I can make twenty in my sleep!"

Why did his mind go to pancakes? Who knows. But let's hope Inigo likes pancakes for breakfast!

The metaphorical tail wagging is now moving a little slower.. More hesitant, like Inigo isn't sure what Tidus is going to say. Is he really going to protest the idea of breakfast like that just because Roland is involved? Come on, man.

But then there's that suggestion, and it all instead turns into curiosity.

"Pancakes?" Why pancakes? Inigo is wondering it too. "Sure. I didn't know you were such a big fan of them though."

"Not really, but we've got all that honey, don't we? And you like candy - they're great for a sweet tooth like you." Aha, you can even say-! "I'm treating you!"

And showing off to Roland at the same time!!! Gonna get that guy!!

".. this seems suspicious."

MIGHTY SUSPICIOUS. Look, Inigo isn't going to question why Tidus wants breakfast. Tidus is in his mind still a food fiend, with his own portable fridge mini-dimension. But Tidus saying, out of absolutely nowhere, without any good reason, that he'll treat him?

Suspicious. Miiiighty suspicious. There's something lurking under this offer, Inigo just isn't quite sure what it is yet!

"Why are you treating me, huh? What special thing did I do to deserve that?"

Ah- Tidus needs a second to think, looking around with his head doing that thing where it tips this way and that for a bit-

"Maybe I wanna see you smile?" as he turns to give Inigo one of his own, a playful lilt to the suggestion. Don't you think so? Hmmm? Hmm? Make his pal smile? There's nothing suspicious about this, pal!

Inigo's cheeks instantly turn pink. No, it's like they don't even turn pink - it's just as if they have been pink all this time, as if it appears out of absolutely nowhere at those words. Inigo is a weak guy when it comes to this, after all, and any and all suspicions are momentarily forgotten in the light of those words.

"Y-You do?"

Look at him falling for it so easily, looking genuinely touched despite the playfulness that accompanies Tidus's words.

"Sure I do!" What's holding hands compared to throwing your whole arm around a guy's shoulders? Incomparable, and so that's why Tidus does it - nevermind how well this works out once they have to go through the passage between carriages.

"And don't tell Rol, but I'll make you extra pancakes. 'Cause you're my favourite! And, well, Roland's not allowed near the pancake batter. So he'll have to deal."

The pink hue on Inigo's cheeks is spreading. So weak. He knows Tidus is just joking, that they're just jossing around, but still. The other seriously can't just call Inigo his favourite, even jokingly, without Inigo's heart feeling like it's about to explode out of his chest.

Okay, hold on, hold on, time out. Not time out in the sense that he tries to shrug Tidus's arm off his shoulder, that can very much stay there. No, instead Inigo just needs to free some brain processing power for anything that doesn't involve the effect of Tidus's words on him.

"Wait, uh.. What do you mean, Roland isn't allowed near the pancake batter? Did something happen? Or is just because he's.. old?"

Look, it's hard to spend as much time around Tidus and Roland as Inigo does and not notice that being a theme.

"Nnn--"

For half a second, or even less, Tidus is about to answer honestly. No, it's not that -- because what does Roland's age have to do with pancake batter or anything? What can he even make it about that? ...

"--He's got performance issues. In the kitchen," he explains, playing off noise as nothing more than that. A sympathetic tone in place, his hand hanging off Inigo's shoulder flapping some as he speaks. "It's not his fault - he just gets flustered when the heats on!"

A deliberate pause. "What, you didn't know?"

".. Performance issues?"

Apparently there's a lot going right over his head here, because Inigo looks so confused by every single word that comes out of his friend's mouth right now.

"Wait, Roland? I mean, I don't think I've seen him cook.." Usually he'd question this sort of thing more, but Inigo is willing to admit that he has no idea about any of this. And Tidus does seem like he knows what he's talking about - though that may just be the other's natural confidence playing up.

Inigo tilts his head a little, seeming to consider it.

"So he gets nervous in the kitchen?" Is that what he's supposed to take away from this? He thinks for another moment, but then seems to realise something, gaze snapping towards Tidus. "Hey-- When did you find out?!"

"He wanted me to show him how to cook rice. He was having a problem with it sticking and gooping up." That's easy enough to answer, since it's the truth. Not that any of this isn't the truth, but-!

"He puts on a strong face in front of you-" since Tidus does know he's been in the kitchen with Roland before; at least with the bread making and that surprise dinner, right? "-but he can't hide it from me. I've got experience. You see the signs- that a guy's having issues... trying to rush," he dips his vice, "so his cooking comes out premature."

Man is Roland going to kill him, but Tidus is going there and he's loving it. (Actually, Inigo will probably kill him. But hey--same death either way.)

"You can't fumble around in a kitchen." But it's not enough to just sigh about it, is it? He needs to make this into more than just a conversation between them. "Maybe you can ask him about it? If he's having any trouble, you know- if he's maybe trying too hard."

Maybe he needs to soften up? Stop himself from making a mess? What else can he throw in here-

"Tell him it's alright to slow down, take it easy. All guys go through it - in the kitchen. S'got nothing to do with how old he is."

...

This is so weird. Is it really - like he thought - because he's never seen Roland cooking by himself? Baking with Senku was just about following Senku's instructions, and them cooking together also involved them having instructions.. and he doesn't remember Roland seeming to particularly struggle with them...

Tidus is just flipping Inigo's world upside down over here. And that's making Inigo consider all of this so seriously that he doesn't consider even for a moment that Tidus may be jossing him or trying to set something up here. It just sounds like he's being presented with a serious problem his father is having.

"Should I?"

Inigo sounds so serious too. Like all of this is going at least five miles directly over his head, no matter how much effort Tidus is putting into his innuendo.

"B-But.. I mean, what if he was trying to hide it from me? I wouldn't want to make him feel bad by pointing it out. Don't you think your help with it may be enough?"

"What's the harm having more than one guy letting him know everything's cool?" Tidus shakes Inigo's shoulders in reassurance with that arm around them. It's a good idea, bro! "Plus, he thinks I'm teasing him half the time. But he's really got nothin' to worry about!"

Please let this go somewhere. Who knows if it will? And it wouldn't be the end of the world if it didn't... but it'd be sure a shame to waste this golden opportunity of getting Roland back. All because he couldn't flip a pancake out a frying pan first go. He can do actual flips all day compared to that guy!

He starts to walk, to get them moving again, hopefully. Look, they're not much farther from the dressing car now!

"Plus you and him have a thing, don't you? You've got a different relationship. You're nicer." ... "Well, you know. In a you way. I'm not mean. You just have a way with words that's different from me."

"I am nicer."

Did you think he was going to pass up on that opportunity, Tidus? He may be gullible, judging by how far he's going along with this plan already, considering it rather than just ignoring it from the start.. but Inigo is not just going to ignore the ball when Tidus is putting it right in front of the goal. To put it in Tidus terms.

Besides, look, he isn't calling the other guy old or a fossil every five minutes, so it's just objective reality!

"But I guess that does mean it's more likely that he'd think you're teasing him, even when you'd try to help him.." Inigo scratches his cheek with the arm that isn't on Tidus's side while they're walking side by side like this, thinking. "You're really sure he wouldn't feel embarrassed by it though? That's what I'm worried about! You know Roland has his own sort of pride."

Wow. Just call him a jackass straight on next time, bro?? Stabbing him in the gut here with this cruelty.

Not that Tidus can't disagree, but he can chew on his half-hearted grumpy protest not strong enough to be given words. He isn't really sulking over it though, just, come on! Come on!!

Regardless, he's got a plan to put into play here, so he can't get distracted in this unfair, unfair portrayal that his best train buddy's put on him here.

"Sure, at first - but everyone's embarrassed when they're called out. But it's not that bad - it's embarrassing 'cause you're worried what people will think. And then it turns out it wasn't a big deal in the first place." A beat, and he teases, "Just like you get."

Heheh.

Inigo squints. Giving Tidus a bit of A Look here.

"And you wonder why I'm the nicer one." Not that Inigo sounds genuinely upset. This is pretty light teasing, and it's a habit that Inigo himself is very, very much aware of, so he can deal with it, aside from this slight grumbled protest.

His face goes back to normal a moment later though. It is true that Roland tends to overthink things too..

"I'm just trying to think if there's a more subtle way to go about it! So he doesn't even have to get embarrassed in the first place. Maybe if I'd ask him to make some food for me sometime, and then see how he reacts.."

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