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[ '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! ]

[ psha-- ] I can't lock train cars!

[ IS THIS WHAT YOU'RE ASKING HIM INIGO, HE CAN'T DO IT. Okay, so that's just him reacting without thinking, but Tidus gestures to the book next. ]

Just read it and take it slow then! What do you have to do? Stick up your legs? Try sticking a leg up like that!

[ You know, like in the magazine!! ]

[ What do you mean you can't, Tidus?! Has that ever stopped you before!

Inigo's gaze nervously darts back and forth between the magazine and the door. Back to the magazine. Then over to the door. Back and forth. He looks like he may start to nervously sweat any moment now, trapped in this impossible situation. ]

Oh, I swear to Naga, if anyone walks in..!

[ Then he will.. do.. something!! Apparently, since Inigo doesn't finish that threat.

But he does move to raise up his leg.

It's even really high too, considering how flexible Inigo is. He manages to hold it up there for a moment, his gaze growing red. ]

Ugh, I look dumb. I-I look so dumb, don't I!

You can't just-- here, give me that. [ He's taking the magazine in this attempt to help Inigo in his time of need. ] You need to get in the zone, like you usually do! You can't just put up a leg - it's all about the mood too, isn't it? What does it say in here?

[ Tidus brings up the book, doing his best to skim the instructions. blah blah blah, technical mumbo jumbo. ]

You gotta do that thing you do. Get in the mind of a dancer.

[ The mind of a dancer. Listen to the wise voice he's even putting on half-sincerely. (Or just because he knows it sounds daft, but surely Inigo gets what he means, right?! Especially if he basically repeats himself!) ]

I'm doing what you told me to do!

[ You can tell that Inigo is starting to reach peak flustered mode, considering his voice just cracks in the middle of that statement. He's a desperate man over here, what else do you expect from him?!

And while he does understand what Tidus is saying now, Inigo knows it's not that easy.

He drops his leg again, but his face is still red. ] I can't just.. I can't just do that so easily! I need to be somewhere I'm comfortable!

[ Inigo gestures at the doors on both sides of the carriage. ]

A-- And that's not here! [ How does he get caught up in the dance when he's facing the Mortifying Ordeal Of Being Known? ]

But isn't that all the way on the other side of the train?

[ Like, the upstairs music car? Was that now the most comfortable spot on the train for Inigo? Tidus could groan (and make he does, a little), but more of the hassle of moving around than anything else. ]

What about the upstairs games room? No one ever plays with the big pieces up there. We can hide behind the blocks.

[ And not go all the way over to the music carriage!! ]

[ Excuse you, Tidus, what's your issue with using your young, healthy legs to walk around!

But this isn't too difficult of a compromise to Inigo. After all, it's not even the specific space that matters, as much as-- ]

As long as no one will come up there.. sure. [ At least Tidus is slightly more reliable of a guard than Jumblie. (Sorry, little sunshine princess.) Surely he'd see someone walking up before Inigo in the middle of a dance would.

And to prove he's alright with the idea, Inigo is already starting to move, leaving the other two magazines in Tidus's hands while he holds onto the dance one. ]

Come on, let's go then!

[ GUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH what if he doesn't want to be all the way down theeeereee!!

But oh, good, Inigo is down for the compromise. ...a compromise that once they actually get walking, Tidus is wondering if is really the best option. Will Inigo get was he's doing by that book alone? Which isn't a dig on Inigo's skills of reading, but anyone can hold a pose, and the poses in the book were ... well, why couldn't he even hold them, huh?

Was that the point of the dance? So Tidus wonders some as they walk to the games car, a not so short journey. But the rest soon become occupied by the magazines he's got a hold of, or at least the one with furry animal-looking things on front. Swearing it had to be a pet magazine for a good few seconds until he opens it up.

'Top Five Charitable Ferrets', 'Hottest New Singles and Albums!'... ]

Oh hey, Inigo, I think this is a lifestyle magazine! 'The new Spring fashion line-up....'

.. A lifestyle magazine?

[ For a moment he sounds confused, but then something about it rings a little familiar, despite Inigo not knowing the concept very well at all. Wait, didn't Tidus himself talk about that sort of thing.. Maybe..

Not that it means Inigo fully grasps it yet, especially with his mind half-occupied with the dance routine described in the magazine now. ]

What, the one with the ferrets on it? [ Since the one with the weird metal structures didn't look like anything that'd have something about fashion in it. ] Are ferrets.. lifestyle?

Can't they be? [ Tidus jokes, figuring Inigo doesn't know what he means by a lifestyle magazine, but it doesn't mean he can't have some fun! Surely, the ferret part isn't an issue here. ]

It's all about what they're into and who they're into. See? [ He holds the book, tilting it to show a full-body photoshop of a cool-looking ferret in a suit. ] This guy? They're an actor. Whoa, and look at his house!

[ Please take this, but make it ferret. ]

Doesn't it look...tiny?

[ Is tiny a good word? (maybe not) ]

[ Inigo stares at the page.

For a moment.

And then another.

And yes, he's still walking while staring! Although it means he's walking backwards now, which isn't the best idea. But at least he's not bumping into anything - yet. ]

So those kinds of magazines talk about people and their houses? [ Judging by Inigo's tone, he still doesn't seem to fully understand the appeal, as new as all of this is to him.

He pauses, like he's trying to figure out something nice to say here. So he can at least try to go along with Tidus's enthusiasm. ]

...

His suit looks nice.

[ Nailed it. ]

[ A snort. ] You think?

[ wellllll, if he takes a second look.... ]

I guess so. I've never been that into them - they're alright on other people, but they always look so stuffy. Anyway, [ anyway!!!, ] it's not just about houses. See? There's stuff about music here- [ said as he lets the pages flip through to a spread of solo ferrets and thumbnails taken from their music videos, wowie. Is that ferret Demi Lovato??

Nevertheless, Tidus lets out a small huff - a noise of astonishment. Taking glances to make sure he's not about to bump into anything, and reaching out to press the button for the door to the next carriage as it comes up. ]

I can't believe you got a magazine like this.

You can keep it if you like it so much.

[ There's no hesitation in the words. After all, if this is the kind of magazine Tidus is after, then who would Inigo be to keep it from him? He doesn't care that it was bought with his points - it's not even like the magazines are that expensive compared to other things you can get.

And hey, if there's little things that can make Tidus happy for a moment, Inigo will gladly grant him them. ]

But at least it's proof that the train does have the kind of magazines you were after! It's just too bad that it also gives us other odd random magazines. I have no idea what that other one was even about. [ The one that wasn't about ~~ferrets~~ lifestyle or dancing. ]

We can look later, [ Tidus suggests, not bothered to take a peak right now. He's about ready to close up the magazine he is invested in, the task of walking and reading not one he's going to keep up. But it doesn't stop him from asking- ]

What about the bal-let book? You see what that was about? There was a lot of...holding up your leg in some of those photos.

[ ballet more like leggey ]

[ inigo's about to give them the old razzle dazzle tbh

He's never seen ballet before, so his first response isn't much more than a tilt of his head. It's new to him too, but at least he's experienced enough with dancing in general that he can get a pretty good idea of how it's supposed to work in movement judging by the photos alone. ]

It seems pretty.. technical?

[ Is that the right word for it? Inigo has never associated it with dancing before, but it's all he can think of when he looks at these photos while walking..

(Still not bumping into a door.) ]

Like there are a lot of set steps to it. And a lot of leg stretching, yes. [ He hums. ] I wish there were more men in this..

[ And not just to oogle at, okay!! It's about feeling Seen! ]

Edited 2021-01-31 12:36 (UTC)

[ congrats on not bumping into a door, we're now inside the first floor of the games car!! magical. ]

We can take some pics of you doing ballet add them in. [ Not to be mischievous and break Inigo out into any hives, but. He holds out a hand. ] Let me take a quick read?

[ Inigo will have the book more than him in a second, once they've climbed the steps and seen if they're fortunate for the upstairs not to be used beyond the VR consoles over on the other side from where they want to be. And luckily, the carriages at long. ]

[ Oh, dude. Don't worry. You are getting that magazine.

Except rather than just normally handing it over, it's more like Inigo just straight up shoves it into Tidus's face. Not hard, and certainly not enough to hurt, but it is enough to show he's flustered.

And clearly the easiest way to get Tidus to shut up is by flinging a magazine straight into his face, right? ]

Oh, sure! Look at the pictures aaaaaaall you want! [ P-PAH. Not like he's embarrassed or anything!

Which is clearly why he's suddenly running ahead, rushing up the stairs to the upper level. Clearly because he's not flustered. Clearly because he's not trying to flee from this teaser. ]

[ Sure, the book to his face gets a small startled 'wha-!' as it bops Tidus on his delicate nose, one dropping from his hold as he catches it before that can tumble down. But even while he's picking back up magazines, Tidus laughs with arms filling, following after Inigo with total ease. Though, he's also finding it hard to focus on the these dance instructions like he wanted to...

But no, his attention is coming back. A quick eye searching the area that Inigo's picked, seeing if it's nice and crowded by the blocks before lifting up the book. ]

Still up for this?

[ Heh. ]

[ UGH.

Why can't he quit you, Tidus. Why.

Because it's quiet in the upper level of the car, thankfully no one happening to linger there just this once, as if they were out to specifically block their activities. And Inigo can't deny that he's curious enough about the routine to want to try it out, even though Tidus is just acting so heh about it.

He holds out a hand.

Looking so pouty. ]

Give me the magazine.

[ YES, HE'LL DO IT, YOU FOOL. Stop looking so smug about it! ]

You're cute when you pout.

[ Tidus can't help himself, passing over the magazine as he makes the jest, the victor in this moment. Studying the area to find a place that he can stand amongst the jumbo pieces and give Inigo room (and somewhere to sit that isn't the floor--no go).

But have fun, bro. Is it okay if he's standing, arms folding, waiting and watching in (gleeful) anticipation? Because he is. ]

[ It's so not okay.

But Inigo is slowly realising this is just the reality he has to accept. The one he has to live with. The one where Tidus is standing there and looking at him like that. It makes his heart pound inside of his chest, much too shy for this, as he fumbles with finding a good spot to put up the magazine, since he can't really dance and hold it at the same time.

With how much his hands shake with worry, it takes a few times before it's finally standing upright, leaning against something, but Inigo manages it. He takes a few steps backwards, testing to see if he can still see the schematic steps from that distance.

It's a little shakey, but then he starts moving. It's a pretty simple sequence, probably included for beginners - thankfully. Something that looks a little like this. And since the level isn't too high, it's not too hard for someone use to dancing like Inigo to follow the instructions off the bat to form a pretty fluid dance. ]

This is so odd.. It's nothing like anything I've ever done before. [ He mumbles.

Mostly to himself. Because apparently - for the best, in this case! - he's gotten so caught up in the dance that he hardly notices Tidus's presence anymore for a moment. ]

[ This dancing is so not for him.

It's so... delicate. Oddly so. There's no better way that Tidus can describe it to himself as he watches the motions that Inigo makes, from the way he holds his legs, points out his toes and waves out hands and arms. It's a little clumsy in some movements, but nobody is expecting perfection from a style neither of them knew about ten minutes ago.

The dance doesn't have to be for him. The better question is, is if it's for Inigo. ]

You wanna try again, see how it feels a second go? [ He offers the suggestion, no tease or other inflection in his voice. It seems the most reasonable route to go: get a better feel for it, judge it with a few more practices. ]

[ Inigo jumps a little bit, like the way Tidus speaks up suddenly reminds him that he isn't alone here in the room. His cheeks are a little pink because of it as he glances between Tidus and the magazine. ]

I.. um. I'll try it again sometime later.

[ When no one is watching. Because he sure feels ridiculous trying to adjust to this whole new way of dancing right in front of someone else's salad, and that feeling is so overwhelming that it keeps him from being able to even do as much as form an opinion on the dance.

Look, bro, just let him get off scott free this time. Especially since he's being honest - to a point where he has to grab the magazine and hold it in front of the lower half of his face to cover up the blush - when he speaks up. ]

It's a little much right now.

[ When you're trying to ~~drag screaming and yelling~~ nudge a guy out of his comfort zone, you can forget just how shy he can actually be. This is that moment, with half of Inigo's face guarded by a magazine showing a ballerina in the stages of the dance he just did.

Tidus submits this time, a tiny breath giving way to a smile. ]

Okay.

[ With that said, he walks over to Inigo, coming to a stop before him. And after a second, Tidus opens his arms - and makes a gesture with a hand for Inigo to come in. It's time for this, bro. Just less pointing, and more finger flapping.

One hug is your reward. Just don't let him crush the book against your face, and Tidus will wrap his arms around him, being sincere about the offer. Saying after- ]

You did good.

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that "life style" with that colours and font is cracking me up so bad

i saw it and had to

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