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Evermore, right?

[ Inigo seems willing to entertain the idea, though he does go quiet for a moment. He's mostly just trying to figure out what Roland told them about that place.. Not too much, right? But the higgledies come from there, and it's where Roland learned magic, so it's got to be a place where they can at least do some special things.. ]

I wonder.. Though if that was possible, you'd think Roland would have brought it up already, right? [ Inigo hums, frowning slightly. ] When I talked with him about it, it was as if he really didn't think there was some way to help his own world. Even though he must know pretty well about what is or isn't possible in that second world.

Hmm... I don't know.

[ There's an easy doubt as he thinks about it, and Tidus tips a hand on the table, palm facing upward. ] Roland doesn't know a lot about how that world works, I think. He doesn't know how he got there - he just was. He needs to figure out if there's any way to get back to his world. Or, that's what he told me.

[ As far as he can recall. And he doesn't think Roland would mind him sharing that much. ]

I was the same in Spira. It was totally different. And I couldn't get back the same way I got there... I mean, I had no clue how anything worked. Roland doesn't even say magic works in his world, and I didn't know a lot about it either 'til Spira.

[ Or was he mixing some of his own experience and putting it onto Roland? Then again, it always seemed like an area they had a similar history in. ]

[ That makes him hum again, though longer this time. Right, it makes sense. All of them had experience with traveling to different places - but all Inigo has been to is the past, and maybe a few alternate versions of his own world. He hasn't had the kind of culture shock to endure the way Tidus and Roland must have.

So Roland not understanding the full capabilities of Evermore.. well, that could be true. ]

You'd think he would at least have asked around tho--

[ Inigo cuts himself off, mid-sentence.

Because it's like a fact about Roland suddenly hits him like a freight train in the middle of that statement. It makes him bury his face into his hands with a groan. ]

Oh, of course he would have kept that to himself! [ Even though asking for help over there would have been!! so easy!! ]

[ It's a reaction that gets a small laugh out of Tidus, 'cause sure, wouldn't he think that too? That Roland would put himself second. But... ]

Is that it? Roland went and became an advisor to a king over in the second world, but he always talks about if he can get back to his world. [ Doesn't he...? ] Other people going to other worlds isn't that normal. Not everywhere. Maybe they really don't know, so it's taking a while.

[ So is it really a lack of trying? Not knowing your resources, other things coming up... Tidus knows that feeling well. His tone cooling as he adds, too: ]

...I think Roland wants to get back to his son. Or know that he's okay. [ ... ] Make sure that he's okay. Roland wouldn't abandon getting home.

[ His gaze drifts aside. ]

...not if he thought there was something to go back to.

[ At least, Tidus is sure of that much. ]

Well, it's either Roland being Roland, or they really don't know how to do it.

[ But the middle road between that - someone in Evermore having an idea of what they could do to restore Roland's world, but Roland not having asked around for any other reason.. That's the one that doesn't make sense to Inigo. Because it's exactly like Tidus says. Roland wouldn't abandon his kid.

Inigo exhales. ]

And I bet it's probably the latter. [ Even Roland wouldn't act so much like himself and keep everything to himself with those stakes on the line, right? ] I don't think he would have let me help him instead if there was any alternative.

[ There's a moment of quiet, like Inigo is thinking about something. Maybe thinking back on the conversation he had about it with Roland. Then he just shakes his head. ]

But you don't have to worry about it. I'm going to set things right for his world, no matter what I have to do for it. So it's going to be okay.

[ It's a reassurance that Tidus likes - a certainty that reminds him of when they faced the impossible back in Spira, knowing the path they wanted to follow. The only answer they would accept, no matter if they couldn't see the way forward. ]

Good, [ he says just as confidently. ] We're all counting on you. You and Naga. You don't give up no matter what, you hear?

[ In its own way, they're more words of confidence than a simple demand. ]

[ Inigo huffs, as if Tidus is telling him something very obvious. It's light though, obviously not truly bothered in any way. ]

Of course I'm not going to give up. I have too many things to set right first. [ Living for that is easy. It's always been easy. As long as he had even just one person to save, Inigo could always pick himself back up off the ground, no matter how miserable things got.

It's when he runs out of that and has to worry about saving himself instead - that's where the problem lies. ]

I'm not.. [ He starts, then stops, seeming to deflate a little. But despite that, he does continue on. ] I'm not saying this in any pushy way. But if you need me to try and help anything for you, or anything for back home-- if there's anything I can do, or you want me to do, I'll do it.

[ But as if he's already half made up his mind on what Tidus will most likely say, Inigo preemptively adds: ] Just know the option's there, alright? I'd feel awful if I offered it to Roland, but not to you. Don't want you to feel I'm biased here.

[ Please, Inigo is not above begging his spiritbound magical dragon god to save multiple worlds, okay. ]

[ He laughs lightly, on purpose. Knowing what Inigo is doing when it's right there, but Tidus still needs the time to figure what to say, how to dismiss it in a way that feel right. Fiddling with one of the pieces of Inigo's material idly. ]

You saw what the train said. Spira's fine! Yuna told me too, so I know it is. [ He glances at Inigo, giving him a smile. ]

Just focus on Roland, and your own world!

[ But he looks back easily to the table, fingers tapping against its surface once. ]

[ If this isn't avoidance behaviour, then Inigo doesn't know what is from his point of view.

But after other conversations they've had? He sure isn't going to push it right now. Maybe it's easier to just remind Tidus from time to time. Leave the idea somewhere in the back of his head to simmer. ]

I can't believe it. This might just be the one time I've seen you trust the train.

[ At least those words are clearly meant to be a joke - Inigo purposefully gives them a teasing twist, if not just since he's also trying to keep the conversation light on his end now. ]

Well I trust Yuna! [ Does he sound a tad huffy at being called out on that? Yes!! ]

I didn't need the train to tell me! I'm just saying! All that's happening there is some weird stuff with a guy... and a bunch of people bickering about who's causing trouble and why they can't get along.

[ He turns his head to Inigo, mouth quirking. ]

Sending a giant dragon god to tell everyone to knock it off might be overkill.

[ There's only the slightest beat, but then Inigo shrugs a little and adds: ]

I don't know, I sure would shut up very quickly if a big dragon god would tell me to do so. [ There's just some beings you don't argue with, and Naga is right at the top of that list for Inigo for very obvious reasons.

.. He stops, though, and pulls a bit of a more sour face as he adds: ]

Except if it was Grima.

[ Because SCREW THAT ONE IN PARTICULAR.

And then, inserted very quickly, like it's just part of this dumb hypothetical talk rather than something serious and potentially painful: ] You think she'll be alright with that back home?

[ Not in a 'should I fix it' kind of way, obviously, but more an 'are you worried about her at all' kind of way. ]

[ Tidus would very much like to point out how the people of Spira might not appreciate an oversized force of nature terrorising them (again) anytime soon, but Inigo puts a stop on that before Tidus can formulate the words. He blinks, and- ]

Well... sure! What's the worse that'll happen? She's not involved in any of it, kinda. She's off being a sphere hunter, and...

[ He waves a hand, as if that's a good enough finisher instead of actually doing it properly. She's doing her thing, she's fine, nothing to worry about. ]

[ And???

Not that Inigo needs to be all nosy about Yuna's business. Especially when he only briefly talked to her here, won't ever see her again, most likely. But Yuna matters to Tidus, which means her fate matters to Inigo too. If not just for how it may influence his friend here. ]

Hey, haven't you learned to never say 'what's the worse that'll happen'? It's a jinx!

[ But it's just a light joke, not wanting to push the way that voice trailed off.

Instead Inigo moves to drape his arm over Tidus's shoulders. ]

So, how about your favourite friend buying you some random magazines to see if we get anything fun? [ Tidus turned it down before, but WHATEVER. Maybe Inigo wants to do this! It's a better, more fun activity for them than whining. Or thinking about potentially difficult things. ]

[ And searching for some guy that looks like him.

Or--that Yuna thought that was him. But that's a weird conversation, a reminder that Yuna was searching for him back in Spira, and now... was she still looking for him? What did everyone think about her being gone for nearly two months? Did she give up...?

But that's not a conversation he wants to go down, a thought he doesn't want to think, so he chuckles behind his mouth at the joke; tries to remove himself from that path and grab the distraction offered, a smile forced onto his face. ]

Sure - I bought the last ones. [ So clearly, it's Inigo's turn now. ] But don't blame me if they're no good.

More like you shouldn't blame me if they're no good! I want to read them together, after all!

[ So if he gets some horrible random selection, Tidus will have to suffer through them too. That's clearly how this works. And it seems like a good enough distraction for now.

So he's starting to guide the other along so they can go get some. ]

No abandoning me if they're all about.. about.. [ He makes a bit of A Face. ] About math or something.

[ What, you mean Tidus can't just stay sitting in this booth while Inigo goes and buys some books? Baah, okay okay, he's following a bro along. But he's going to sit on the edge of the last table before they come to the shop terminal. ]

Mags on math? Thaaat's not what magazines are about. [ So he says so confidently!

... ]

... uh, 'cept, you can get science books, I guess. Dunno what's in 'em.

[ So maybe they won't be safe... ]

[ Please, you can't leave Inigo alone. He may cry if he has to survive for a minute by himself. :(

But once they're at the shop terminal, he's buying them all by himself. Look at this boy, all grown up enough to use modern technology. ]

Are you trying to tell me there are rules about magazines? [ They can't be about math? For some reason?

Inigo is half-joking, but definitely also a little serious about this question. After all, what does he know? ]

There should be! Rule is, you only get the kind of magazine you want. Or you get to pick from a genre! Or buy a multiple of magazines at once!

[ Is this the kind of ruling Inigo was speaking about? No, but Tidus doesn't care. Let the nerdy types have their science and/or math magazines, but let Tidus opt out of them!!

But also, clearly, there aren't any rules. ]

Speaking of, why don't you get some more dance magazines? Or buy some books? There's gotta be books.

I don't know if I could get through a whole dance book.. [ At least magazines have pictures! He likes looking at those. And their topics also vary enough from page to page that you never have to focus on anything for too long.

But just as he's saying it, there's already some magazines coming out of the shop machine, and Inigo quickly grabs them out of there to hold them up to Tidus one by one.

.. The electricity pylon and ferret ones make him look kind of puzzled, but then he goes-- ]

Oh, there's another dance one too! [ So much better. ]

[ ??? What the heck is that first one? And that second one? Actually, that second one is looking funnier the longer it's in view, but it's the last one that has Tidus puzzled again, until- ]

Oh yeah? [ --A dance book! Tidus walks over to take a better look, but considering the covers of the other two magazines, it's the Shoes of Ribbon book that has Tidus's attention. ]

Is this different than the one you got?

[ Inigo nods, at least realising that much. He hands the other two over to Tidus at the moment, but keeps the dance magazine in his own hands, starting to browse through it. Sorry, Tidus. At least he's browsing it in such a way that Tidus can look right along! ]

It's definitely different. [ Inigo is not magazine-savvy enough yet to realise it may be a different issue of a magazine he already has, okay. All he knows is that the content isn't the same! ]

Wow, these people look so pretty as they dance..

[ It may even be making him blush just a tiny bit. In admiration. ]

[ Tidus will take them, but he's absorbed by the content more related to Inigo than he is by whatever these two magazines are. He slides up next to Inigo to get a better look as the pages are flipped over, taking in the imagery. ]

I wonder what it looks like in motion? [ There's a similarity between everyone, bodies poised yet elegant. Even Tidus can make out that much. ]

'Bal-let'... we could put that in the cinema car later and see what comes up.

[ Look, it's a good source for seeing activities in motion, ok!! ]

[ He doesn't even bat an eyelash anymore at the movie suggestion. If not just because Tidus has suggested it often enough - but it's also turned out to be a tried and true method! It's so much easier to see dance in motion than just on these photos.

Although Inigo does get to the part that describes the dance somewhere on the last pages. ]

Oh, wait. I think it describes how you do it here.

[ There's a pause.

A pregnant pause, and the implication hanging in the air is probably a little thick, especially as Inigo starts glancing around them. ]

.. do you think anyone is coming our way right now? [ Because he is so not letting anyone walk in on this. He'll cry. ]

[ 'Do you think anyone is coming our way right now', Inigo asks, like either Tidus is a psychic or ignoring the fact they're in one of the more popular cars for people to pass through. ]

Not if you're quick. [ --but it's not as if people are in a constant flow up and down the carriage, so come on bro! Does Tidus need to move? He's searching around, but more how to give Inigo room than for any other person. ]

C'mon, what do you need to do?

[ They can totally do something quick! And by 'they', that means Inigo and solely Inigo. ]

I don't--

[ Inigo starts, as if he has five different protests at the ready. And can't even pick which one to say first, because this just seems like an awful idea from absolutely every conceivable angle. ]

I can't! Tidus, not while people can walk in! You don't understand!

[ YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, BRO, HE WILL DIE. HIS SOUL WILL LEAVE HIS BODY. Why do you think he asked! ]

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