flatteries | ic ✗ inbox

[ It's like directly basking in the rays of the sun after having been suffering a downpour. Tidus's words are so, so bright in the face of the dark thoughts that haunt his own mind.

You're amazing.

Words he can't find himself agreeing with in any way, but he doesn't want to refute them. Not right now, with Tidus's arms around him, with his cheeks burning. The support overwhelming. ]

Well, that's thanks to you supporting me too.

[ It's not a total deflection of the compliment, but he just wants to give credit where it's due! Would he even have started to dance on the train if Tidus hadn't encouraged him to?

Inigo doesn't move out of the hug, but he does pull his head back enough so he can look at the other. His expression shy - but with a small smile slowly breaking through. ]

It's kind of hard to feel like I can't do it when you're telling me so much that I can.

Oh yeah? So my nagging's getting through.

[ He can joke back himself, his arms loosening to allow Inigo that room to move, but they're still hanging comfortably around his shoulders, allowing Tidus the space the grin a full face back at Inigo. ]

But I can't take all the credit, all of this is still you. And you listening to me! [ But, more importantly- ] One day, you're gonna dance as proud as you should.

[ Because he can dance well, Tidus will fight that - but even so, he still needs that extra nudge. That belief in himself, to make him shine all the more. ]

That day still feels kind of far off.

[ Since he can hardly dance in front of even one person without feeling all flustered about it. But Inigo knows that this kind of improvement doesn't come all at once. That it comes with small steps. And that it doesn't help that the very first hill is the hardest for him to get over, considering what exactly makes him nervous and shy about it in the first place. ]

But-- I won't give up. I'll keep trying. [ Even when it's hard.

Inigo lingers for a moment, but then finally fully steps back, letting Tidus's arms drop off him. ]

You can keep the ferret magazine with you for now if you want. [ If he wants to read lifestyle-y things! ] You know, as a reward for being my #1 supporter.

[ His arms fall back down to his sides, an empty feeling in the space of where Inigo just was, though Tidus takes a step back too to match his. Eyes glancing over to where he deposited the magazines, nearly forgotten completely that he doesn't remember for a second what Inigo's speaking about. But he sat them by one of the oversized chess pieces, when he realised he'd need his arms and hands to give one (1) bro a hug. As a treat.

But his thoughts might be elsewhere, that mind of his doing its own thing as he slips a look at Inigo, smile widening in a mischievous, unspoken secret. ] Hey, [ he says as if for attention, then he moves himself, as if getting in position.

And then he gets on his tippy toes, and starts to lift out his arms....wherever they feel the most comfortable and balanced, as he slowly raises his other leg back - his hold wavering for it, and a hop made as small careful noises leave him ('ahhh.... hah! mmmm-'), trying to do his best ballet pose.

Tidus looks at Inigo, small 'hm? hm?'s for his approval, while he wobbles, trying to get his limbs to stay in place.

look, inigo

look

he can be a ballerina too...!!!! ]

[ That little 'hey' does instantly get Inigo's full attention.

Not that it means he realises what Tidus is doing. Especially not at first. The initial look he throws his friend's way is more curious than anything, but then it slowly shifts into baffled when Tidus starts moving his arms and legs like that. What is this? Some sort of game of charades? Is he supposed to interpret this? Because that may take a while, just saying.

Maybe it's the wobbling that finally makes things click in Inigo's mind. Oh. Oh, that's what Tidus is doing here!

It finally makes a smile appear on Inigo's face, and he puts down the dance magazine to step over towards Tidus with empty hands. Intentionally so, since it means he can put his hands on Tidus's arms, gently guiding them to a slightly different position. ]

I think it looked more like this.

[ His hands linger, and he smiles from up close now. ]

Think you can manage to stay this way?

How long? My leg's already cryin' to come down.

[ He won't lie, he's not that prideful, this pose is hard to hold. He's an agile guy, but he's less about holding poses standing still than he is putting his weight on his hands.

But Tidus might try to hold it for a few more seconds if that's what Inigo's asking, face turned to meet his, waiting on his answer. ]

You make this look easier than it is!

[ Inigo sure wasn't trembling as much as he is right now...! ]

I could say the same about you when you're in the water, you know.

[ When Tidus is just swimming around like a fish, when Inigo has barely reached "can move by himself in the water without immediately drowning" levels so far.

And though Inigo does move his hand from Tidus's arms to the leg to help hold it up, it's easy to feel here just how much Tidus is shaking from trying to hold the pose. So Inigo's hand doesn't linger long there before he drops it. ]

But it's fine, just let it go! You have nothing to prove here, do you? [ Famous last words when said to someone who is notoriously easily challenged, Inigo. ]

[ For once, he's not going all out on competitive mode. Is it something about the void? Are the colours aligned? They wouldn't be able to see from upstairs, but Tidus lowers his leg, giving it a shake and then following it with the other, having a bit of a hop in place as he lets loose his limbs.

Still- ]

Hold on! I gotta pull off one of the moves you did, right? Before we go!

[ Why? Because Tidus said so, and that's how his mind works. ]

You did this...-- [ he floats up both his hands and arms delicately on one side, brushing the air, and then repeats it on the opposite. ] And over here... And then...!

[ And then he picks his foot back up, but this time bends it inward, and does a twirl, even remembering to hug the air in front of him. Though he does spin a little too fast, torso leaning forward - but he catches himself, foot coming down. Fists resting on his hips. ]

Impressed?

[ And have a cocky grin. ]

[ Inigo stares at it, letting Tidus just do his thing. And while Inigo definitely seems amused as he watches his friend with his typical boundless energy, there's something about his stare that's almost surprised too. Or maybe unsure.

It shows more in his reaction afterwards. The way his head dips, a brief laugh escaping from his lips before he looks back up again at Tidus. ]

What, are you saying you want to start trying to dance ballet too?

[ By some small miracle - it's not like he knew it either before now, after all - it seems Inigo has stumbled into the right pronounciation of the word instantly. Maybe it's that natural dancing talent. ]

Or are you trying to cheer me up? [ There it is, the source of the slight bafflement. It's Inigo trying to figure out what Tidus's intentions behind this are, if there are any. But at least he's honestly admitting to it here. ] I can't tell.

[ --He maybe got carried away there, didn't he? His limbs coming back down into place, a finger scratching at his cheek ~~like a proper true anime protagonist~~. Tidus laughs lightly, sheepishly, a guy caught in a silly act. ]

Well...! I wanted to make you laugh at first, [ he admits, ] but then I thought I'd do some moves and support you, show you you can dance wherever you want! But er... I guess it looks goofy when I do it.

[ Or like he might be making fun of Inigo...

He picks up the two books from where he dropped them, ignoring the light warmth of his cheeks. A grin replacing any silly feelings. ]

Alright, dance over! Where should we go next?

...

[ Inigo looks like he still wants to say something. And for a moment it seems like he might not, like he'll just go along and suggest for them to move on.

But then he takes a step closer towards Tidus, putting a hand on his shoulder and squeezing it a little. ]

It doesn't look goofy. [ Or, rather-- ] You know, the most important thing about dancing.. It's not technical skill, or anything like that. It's about the feelings you instill in other people when they see you dance.

[ Inigo's voice sounds more even as he says it, less flustered. Like he really means it. Like he's always believed as much, even though his idol - his mother, of course - is an incredibly skilled dancer on every level. ]

So in that sense, you're a true pro.

[ Because Tidus makes him happy. With his silliness, with his willingness to join in when Inigo feels shy and insecure. ]

[ Geez, now he feels goofy for sure. In a not-so-bad way? But here Inigo is calling him a pro over dancing, being so sincere, and how can't he feel both touched but undeserving of that?

So he sets it aside with a wide smile that bursts into a small laugh, knocks a friendly fist to Inigo's shoulder, the grin returning. ]

I'll tell that to my friend sometime! He's the best dancer I know - he just needs that extra nudge to show it to the world.

[ He slings the arm of that same friendly hand around Inigo's shoulders, before he can think to get awkward or shy. Allowing him the chance to not have to respond to Tidus's praises. ]

C'mon! You wanna try a VR game? Sneak off with Jumblie for a few private dance sessions? What you up for?

[ ?? ]

You have a friend back home who's--?

[ Oh.

Apparently Tidus seized hold of their collective braincell right there and then, because Inigo sure let the obvious fact that Tidus was talking about him go right over his head, didn't he.

Inigo's cheeks do get a bit pink, but he gladly accepts the opportunity to be able to think of something other than dancing and the way that flusters him for a moment or so. ]

L--Let's go play a VR game. [ Which is still kind of confusing to him, but still less embarrassing than dancing. ] Your pick.

ic ✗ inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject