flatteries | ic ✗ inbox

Don't worry about it! Just, lemme get this up...!

[ He's not kneeling on one knee for this, that's for sure, shimmying up in front of Inigo on both knees znc trying to work out the logistics of getting the belt in place. There's Inigo's hands holding up the pants, but this belt that needs to go around the top too. ]

Can you-- tell me when you've grabbed it. Hold it in place. [ Hold this belt on top of the pants, bro! ] You might want to put this on sitting down next time. Or see if anyone can sew the belt onto the pants?

[ Would that be a big problem? Tidus can't see a problem right now - would be easier to deal with, anyway. ]

Sew it on? I don't want to ruin anything!

[ But Tidus is right that Inigo needs to find a more practical solution for this. If he's planning on putting this on more often, anyway, which he isn't too sure of.. yet. It all still feels a little awkward, though he's trying to do his best.

And even though there's a bit of hesitation - what if he drops his pants in his attempt to hold onto the belt too?! - Inigo manages to grab onto the golden ring, holding it up there. ]

I think you can tighten it in the middle. [ Since there does seem to be some sort of loop that runs around it that can be pulled on.

And, you know, Inigo has his hands more full than ever right about now.

H-Hey bro, hope you don't mind getting up and close, bro. ]

Just a suggestion!

[ Just saying bro, just saying! But they're getting there with this fiddling, slow way of doing thing - and he can see the cord there, BUT PLEASE LOOK AT THIS PICTURE AS LONG AS I HAVE, and there's no way to tighten it from the front. Which means- ]

Turn around? Just don't give me a face full of butt.

[ Heheh, bro jokes, bro!! He's kidding! But also don't, he's already getting plenty of near face-fulls here. ]

[ There's a squeak.

It kind of sounds like 'please don't look at my butt', but let's be real. With Inigo's current startled and flustered state of being? It's definitely more like a few squeaks in a row more than anything else.

Not that he isn't turning around all the same. He even grabs the bottom of his shirt and lifts it a little so Tidus won't have anything hanging in the way while working on getting this thing tightened up. ]

It's not too hard, is it? [ Since Inigo can't exactly see what it looks like in the back.. ]

[ Surely that's just whines of fluster, which same difference in the end, right? It still earns a 'don't worrry' drawled out, the hint of fun that Inigo might not appreciate, but at least Tidus isn't being overly serious. (is that better, or worse?) ]

Nah, just gotta undo this knot- [ A small knot to gather up the string, more of a rope - it's made of tougher stuff than it looks. But once he's got that done, Inigo should feel the whole thing start to pull in. ]

Too tight? Tight enough? [ Heheh- ] Isn't this fun.

Ah-- [ There's a moment where it's definitely a bit too tight, judging by that instinctive sound that escapes Inigo's lips, but. Thankfully it loosens up again a bit soon enough. ]

T-There. It's fine like this.

[ Though that's only the more practical question being answered here, huh. There's still that other one - Tidus asking, or maybe just saying, that this is fun.

And while Inigo isn't too sure if he'd stick the 'fun' label on it, this is.. something, alright. He's never had anyone help him put clothes on like this, despite being a prince. It feels weirdly intimate.

But considering his feelings, he doesn't dislike it. Instead he can just feel his heart beating so hard that it's like it's trying to pound its way out of his chest. ]

.. you sure sound like you're enjoying yourself.

It's like I'm helping you dress for a big day! [ Which might not really help with whatever's going through Inigo's brain, but to Tidus's credit, he does go on: ]

It reminds me of blitzball, and the outfits. I missed it.

[ That feeling - of caring how one looks for their passion. It's hitting some level of nostalgia for him, and with Inigo and dancing - it's started to for a while. Maybe always has. A guy with a hobby he adores, and the voice in his head that tells him he's no good.

Voices from different sources, and one that doesn't haunt Tidus like it used to. But his feelings aren't that deep right now; they're just there, happy and pleased. Fond, but more for Inigo than anything to do with himself. ]

There! [ Tidus stands, and on his way up does what any other guy would do for his bro -- gives him a good slap on the ass. ] All done down here! Now's the time for up top!

[ Any remark Inigo can make about blitzball or passions is immediately silenced by that slap on his ass.

If his face wasn't red already, then it sure would have been now. Especially since Inigo is absolutely missing the context of that being a bro thing. It happens more often in the world of sports, after all, and sports weren't too much of a thing in Ylisse even before there started being very little time for fun stuff.

So when he turns around to face Tidus, he looks momentarily like he's about to question the other's sanity..

.. but there's no way that won't end up embarrassing him in the end. He knows it. So Inigo instead quickly tugs off his hoodie, pulling it over his head and tossing it onto the bunk. The lack of hoodie hanging over the top of his pants also shows off better how they rest on his hips with the belt, while Inigo in the meantime grabs the black croptop, starting to put it on. ]

Did you also have to put on this much for every game? [ May as well ask to prevent any awkward silence.. ]

What?

[ That's the question that meets Inigo's incredulity, challenging him in the smile and the humoured look Tidus wears. Maybe it is about sports - or it's more to do with their earlier conversation, this guy who can't see his own good qualities (and good looks).

How about all of the above. Tidus isn't deterred anyway, giving Inigo room to finish the dressing for himself, leaning against the side of the bunk bed. ]

Didn't have anything to tie at the back, but... just about. [ He reckons, watching Inigo, arms resting comfortably at his chest. ] The team outfit has some sleeves, a top and pants, but my star uniform had about as many parts. Swim pants, overalls, the jacket. Less dangly parts than you, but they'd get all over the place in a pool.

[ By the looks of it, Inigo's outfit had more going on with all the trimmings included. But it was about the same, taking on and off. ]

Star uniform?

[ He repeats the words, as if trying them out may magically explain to him what they mean. Sure, there's an obvious meaning to the usage of the word 'star', but for all Inigo knows, it could have some sort of special meaning within the world of blitzball. He only knows what Tidus has ever told him before it, after all. ]

Is that a special uniform? Since you were extra important? [ He tugs the black top all the way down, running his hands across his stomach somewhat awkwardly, brushing up against the now visible scars that run along it. Thankfully the top does cover up most of his biggest one, but still..

Thankfully he manages to talk on all the same as he turns to grab the jacket. ]

So it was extra fancy?

Sure was! [ Leaning like this with his weight on his arm, Tidus lets his feet cross over too, one over the other. ] Everything's judged in blitzball - the whole team, the players. How well you play and don't. It's usually fielders like me who get the most attention, but you hear about goalkeepers getting a special outfit for the year if they did real well. They don't see as much in the game as the rest of the players.

[ Since he might need to remind Inigo about that. Please remember all the blitzball positions, bro. ]

My first year went great, so I got to be front man of the team! Everyone's outfits had somethin' a lil' different to them, but it was the same idea, you know? Mine, all I needed was the team colours and logo, but the design was up to me!

...and the designer. [ Heh. ] But I got to decide from a few sketches. We went for a look based on the old outfits the team used to wear years ago.

[ Back when his old man played -- but no reason to specify that. ]

[ A lot of these concepts are absolutely wild to a sports newbie like Inigo. But some others he can imagine. Like Tidus being the front man of his team. That suits him. Inigo couldn't ever imagine the other just being someone in the background, especially with something he loves so much. Tidus just is the type who stands out.

(Especially compared to Inigo, but look, he is trying to not make this a self-depreciating thing. It's just about how great Tidus is.)

He's putting on the jacket now, though he seems to realise it's held together with the golden decorative clasp in front - and trying to get that to close is rather difficult. Give him a few moments here to fiddle while he talks. ]

So were there-- [ Portraits, Inigo almost says, but then remembers that other worlds don't work that way, so.. ] --images of you all over the place in that outfit?

[ His smile lifts. ]

You wanna ask the train to grab you one? [ Heheh. He shifts enough from where he's leaning, just enough to grab one of the sleeves that Inigo still has to put on, to tell which side is which. Do these rows of coins go on the outside or in...? ]

Teams get their pictures taken all the time. You get promo jobs and then pictures by the press - kinda like a...people who spread news. [ That was a fair and easy description, right? ] But you have people who take photos of celebrities too, who don't do the talking or writing.

You remember the magazine with the ferrets? Like that.

[ Oh--! His eyes light up. ]

You should let me take pictures of you too! With you dressed up! For memories of your first time in it.

[ It's that question, no matter how heheh-ingly asked, that gets Inigo to raise his gaze from the clasp he's still fiddling with, instead smiling over at Tidus for a moment. ]

Yes, I want to see you in it! I bet you're positively radiating!

[ The moment he's done saying it, he goes right back to trying to figure out this jacket while Tidus is explaining. An explanation that's thankfully adjusted to Inigo's level, so he more or less gets it. It's not like images of his dad back home were all that uncommon.. (Thanks, Frederick.)

But then Tidus keeps going, and the moment it looks like Inigo is about to hook his jacket closed, he lets out a yelp at the sudden suggestion, completely missing and letting go of the jacket. It just hangs open now. ]

W-Wait! No! You can't just take pictures of me! That's.. That's evidence! [ Just the thought along seems to make Inigo grow a little pale in the face. ]

[ ...that's sweet. An honest reply that would ease the cheeky curve of his smile into something more sincere, touched.

('Positively radiating'. What a thing to say!)

Tidus takes the few steps over to Inigo, with the yelp and -- well, mainly to help with that jacket still not done up. Stopping in front of the other guy and taking the hook in his hand, the sleeve settled back onto the bed while he figures out how this clasp is supposed to work. ]

Evidence just for me. And maybe Rol, if you feel nice?

[ Ah, this is how it goes. He clicks the bond into place, but he doesn't hurry to move his hands away, or the rest of him. ]

You want to see how you look in this too, don't you? See how you move in it? I can help! Just between us - you and me.

[ A beat, and he tips his head. ]

Well, the higgledies too.

[ There's no escaping them. ]

[ There's never escaping the higgledies.

They're not the main problem here though, thankfully. The main problem is actual other people seeing it. Or maybe even Inigo himself seeing it. What if he sees himself from another person's perspective and realises he looks ridiculous? The fear bubbles up in his heart before he even considers the potential upsides. ]

I.. I don't know..

[ It's less fiery of a protest than a moment ago, but Inigo still doesn't exactly look enthusiastic about the idea.

Instead it makes his cheeks glow pink. And Tidus being so close to him right now, with those hands still on him, so close to the bare skin of his stomach? It sure doesn't help. It's like Inigo is heating up on the inside, bit by bit. ]

It feels so.. permanent. [ And it's something Inigo isn't used to, being able to capture moments like that. Painting portraits sure takes a much longer time, after all. ] What if me wearing the full thing looks weird, and then it's captured forever like that?

If it's a bad photo, we'll delete it. [ The hand on Inigo turns into a fist, playfully knocking the side of his arm.

Isn't that an undramatic a solution, Inigo. ]

You can do that. We'll take a few, then keep the ones we like! And we will like some, [ he adds with a confident emphasis, face inching in closer to Inigo's for just a second before he pulls back - a few steps, even. ]

You're looking good right now, Inigo. And I bet you'd be surprised about how you look in motion, y'know? You never get to see yourself dancing.

[ And wouldn't Inigo want to see that? Wouldn't it be more important than seeing yourself playing blitzball? As long as you score, it doesn't matter how good you do or don't look in the moment. ]

[ That almost sounds more like a threat than encouragement.

But Inigo knows Tidus well enough to know he means it in an encouraging way. That Tidus has always been encouraging about this, even when Inigo doesn't know how to be. When he doesn't know how to find the slightest shred of confidence in his dancing. ]

Well, let's just.. let's finish putting it on first.

[ It's a decision they can always make later. Because Inigo knows he has to finish putting this all on now, or he's going to get colder and colder feet with all these other thoughts to contemplate. ]

Here, um.. [ He bends down to pick up the shoes, starting to put them on one by one. ] I just need to figure out how I'm supposed to put on those sleeves.

[ Is it time to back off and let Inigo think about it/build himself up to it? Tidus can take the hint, and as Inigo works at the shoes, he picks up one of the sleeves himself. Turning it to make the coins face a certain way, holding it so it all hangs by gravity. ]

I'll help you out. I think I know how.

[ But he'll wait to say any more until Inigo's done with the shoes, since he wants his full attention when he leans, gesturing to an arm. ] Give me that one- and hold it out-

[ And he can help to slide it into place, until Inigo's fingers bump into the fabric and ring. Fiddling with that...! ]

Your middle finger-?

[ It looks like it?? Try it out, bro. ]

[ At Tidus's suggestion, Inigo immediately acts. Moving his fingers a little, trying to stick his middle finger through the ring..

.. and it works. Inigo pulls back his arm, moves it up a little to look at the way the odd sleeve-glove-thing fits on his arm. And it's perfect, like it was made for him. It sticks in place, even when he moves his arm up and down. The only thing moving is the decorative fabric hanging near his elbow.

He holds out his other arm, figuring Tidus will help him with that one too. ]

.. It's kind of strange that the train knows all our sizes, right? [ Because while Inigo is not exactly muscled, he's also not entirely built like your average girl. Not to mention that this outfit is different from his mother's. Like it's custom made. ]

It's not the worse thing about it. [ Weird? Probably. Does Tidus care? Not if it doesn't mean he's getting clothes he can't wear because they're too big or small. He picks up the last sleeve to help Inigo into it, sliding it up until the end of it needs to be straightened, the finger fitted into the ring. ]

Hmm... how's that feel? It doesn't look twisted.

[ Does it?? It's pretty hard to tell when pulling it up, but it doesn't look off where Tidus is standing. How do they feel to move in, bro?? ]

[ He pulls his arm back once the thing is fully on it. Staring down at it - from where it sits on his finger, trailing all the way up to his upper arm. The sensation isn't totally foreign, since Inigo did wear fingerless gloves back home as part of his usual outfit while he was out there fighting, but this feels.. different. He wonders if it's the fabric, or the design..

Is it the totally bare shoulders? ]

Um, well, I.. I think it's on right..

[ That's the easier question to answer here. Just a factual answer.

His hand travels up, feeling his shoulders, then the fabric of his top. Looking down at himself, even though it's hard to get a full feel for how the outfit looks while he's the one wearing it.

And so his gaze travels back to Tidus, his eyes nervously seeking out the other's. ]

This-- This is the complete thing, right? How.. [ That pregnant pause. He's absolutely terrified of the answer, even though he knows there's no way Tidus would actively dunk on him, let alone at a moment like this. ] How does it look..?

[ 'This is the complete thing, right?'

There's a quick check, spotting if there wasn't something small that he missed in the corners or sides of the suitcase. But no, nothing; so Tidus can look back to Inigo, in all his dressed up glory, taking a retreating a step or two as he's asked about appearances.

Fists rests on his sides, eyes starting from Inigo's face and trailing down; taking in the entire ensemble, how it rests over the skin over the guy who's probably about to start fidgeting in it. A smile spreads across Tidus's lips breaking out wide, no matter what look Inigo might have him meet with as he looks back up. ]

You look amazing. You do, man! [ He throws open his arms, fingers spreading too. ] This is a total outfit! You need to see yourself, move in it!

[ Is Inigo going to complain if he brings out his camera? Does he even remember what it looks like? Tidus thinks he has it, turning to face the bathtub as if this somehow is better as his hands come together, and poof comes the fancy slip of technology, popping open with the press of a button.

Don't mind hiiiiim.... ]

[ Tidus is lucky today. Because Inigo is definitely nervously fidgeting while Tidus is looking at him, and that nervousness stays with him even as Tidus is turning around to summon forth his equipment to make photos with.

And that means Inigo isn't busy with paying attention to what Tidus is doing at all. No siree. He's too focused on himself right now, awkwardly moving and fidgeting as he's trying to get used to the outfit, plucking at the sleeves and trying to pull the bottom of his jacket down as if it may cover him a bit more.

(Of course it doesn't budge an inch.)

And while Tidus's suspicious movements are completely unnoticed and forgotten, Inigo apparently hasn't fully forgotten his presence in general. Mostly since he can't help but at least still ask.. ]

Really? Y.. You're not just being nice, right?

[ Go ahead, bro.

This is the moment to sneak that picture in. ]

[ Please, as if Tidus is going to go and be too sneaky about this. There just isn't the room for that, and it doesn't enter Tidus's mind. But Inigo really can't see himself, and where could he in this train but the dressing car? A dressing car Inigo would rather die than walk to, when people are going to be actively passing through for the luggage car. ]

You look ready to take the stage. [ Seriously, with all those droopy parts hanging on him. Tidus manages to get the screen out and put onto camera mode, and with a tap, he turns back to face Inigo, the device flipped in his hands. ]

Okay? Have a look- can you? I can't get you all in there, but there's most of you!

[ Acting like a mirror the size of a folder, the future-tech camera reflects Inigo in the flesh, to as down as above his knees. But everything else is in view: his reactions, his figure, the camera kept in place where Tidus holds it from one corner on top and at the bottom.

look bro, it's you! ]

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

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject