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[ Inigo's delight is infectious, as if it needed to be. The reaction getting a fun laugh out of Tidus as he sits close to Inigo, just wanting to get comfortable with the company he has. A fork and knife passed over, since they might as well use a ghostly house's cutlery for this, and he leaves the lid on the small coffee table so he doesn't have to fuss over that. ]

We should be buying in meals to make too if this is what we're gonna get! [ But oh, have a nudge from an elbow. ] Trade your steak for a potato?

[ heh heh ]

[ As if he really suspects Tidus may just nab his steak - or is just jokingly going along with it - Inigo is definitely lifting the lunchbox a little again, just to shift it out of Tidus's reach. ]

Hey, I worked hard for this steak! Do you know how many people I protected last night?

[ SO MANY. He's been kicking some illusion creature butt, dude!

.. he does want to eat though, so Inigo quickly moves the lunchbox back onto his lap, his side practically leaning against Tidus now. ]

I ought to be named a local hero.

[ Wow bro, denying him your steak?! So cruel! But Tidus only laughs, lifting his chin up at Inigo before returning to his own lunchbox, forking out a potato. ]

Wanting some credit for your hard work? That sounds like an improvement to me! Working yourself to the bone but never acting like it? Confidence suits you.

[ Yes, Tidus knows that Inigo might've not been all serious, but he's taking this opportunity to make his bro own it. He should be proud of his efforts. ]

[ Tidus is not even poking at one of his buttons.

And yet. And yet he still somehow manages to hit one by total accident. It's not like Tidus giving him compliments is new or even all that rare, but-- maybe it's since Inigo is thinking back on a certain day and the way he felt back then when Tidus complimented him, and it happens to hit him the exact same way in this moment.

Confidence suits you. The words echo in his head, over and over, and Inigo can feel his cheeks grow a little red.

He quickly tries to hide it by shoving a potato in his mouth. Without blowing on it.

And while it's still too hot.

Hence why Inigo lets out a shriek, starting to huff with the hot potato in his mouth.

Look at all this confidence. Amazing. ]

[ It's lucky for Inigo's mouth that the two of them have arms bands, though just a bag nearby with the bottle of water that Tidus produces would work too. But out it comes as his friend starts choking abruptly, like the mere suggestion of this guy being complimented is a red alert MAY DAY, MAY DAY, MUST PROTEST.

Because that's clearly what happened here. Take the drink, bro. ]

Ugh, come on! You said it! You can't take it back by choking to death.

[ The journey of teaching his pals self-love is a long, arduous one. ]

[ SORRY, BRO, CAN'T REALLY HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, TOO BUSY LITERALLY DYING.

Thankfully Inigo still seems to be aware enough of reality in general to realise the drink that is being held out to him, and so he quickly takes it, taking a gulp from it, and..

.. well, now he's choking on liquid and a potato at the same time, but at least it's not quite as hot. Problem.. half-solved..?

Though it's fully solved with some heavy pats on Inigo's chest, leaving him breathing heavily, but very much alive. RIP Inigo, almost done in by a potato. ]

I wasn't going to take it back! [ You FOOL. ] I just-- didn't see it coming!

[ Didn't see what coming? The potato? Who knows, Inigo doesn't seem to elaborate. Maybe he's too embarrassed to explain that Tidus's statement really hit him right in the disaster gay. ]

[ What is this even, this circus. And what's this complaint even?! Is it a complaint? Wait, what does he mean he didn't see it? Tidus stares at him, and literally: ]

But you ate it.

[ Yes.

Clearly.

This is about the potato. The braincell is hard at work and coming up with genius results. This is the guy you wanna jerk dicks to, Inigo. ]

[ So hot. ]

What?! How could I eat--

[ Inigo stops. Maybe since the roof of his mouth still feels a little hot, and he needs to breathe. Or perhaps because he's having a realisation.

Or maybe it's a little bit of both at the same time. ]

.. Oh, you mean the potato..

[ ... ]

H-- Hah! Of course I saw that one coming! [ NOTHING ELSE TO SEE HERE. What did he mean if he didn't mean the potato? Oh, who cares! Let's move on, bro! H-Haha, sure is a nice meal they're having, right? Let's try another one of these potatoes! ]

Edited 2021-05-21 21:45 (UTC)

[ ...

...

... ??????????

Tidus isn't stupid (debatable). He witnesses Inigo's confusion, going along with what he said, trying to act like that's what he meant all along. But even with the other option - 'I didn't see it coming' about, what, him agreeing with Inigo deserving credit? - Tidus doesn't know to make any sense out of it.

The potato makes the most sense here. What do you mean the potato wasn't the answer? What just happened. ]

You feeling okay? [ Giving up, that's all Tidus has to say, knowing it's better than calling out Inigo on being weird. Lifting up his lunchbox and cutting into a pota...no he's going to stab his fork into this steak so he can prepare to take a bite out of that instead. ]

I can call you a healer. For the potato you didn't see.

[ Nom. ]

[ Is Inigo ever okay?

The answer is no, he's never okay. But at least when it comes to the potato right now-- ]

I'm fine. [ It's not the potato that's killing him.

It's his gay disaster self.

For a moment - because let's face it, it's never more than a moment with these two - they're quiet, just the sound of their cutlery filling the air as they eat for a moment. Until Inigo speaks up again. ]

.. I think confidence suits you ever more.

Oh no. [ Is this an actual compliment? Trying to hand him over a compliment like he more deserves it? Don't mind if Tidus is wary at times - it comes from a place of concern, suspicious of Inigo selling himself short, or putting praise towards those he thinks deserve it more than him.

Because that's the problem: he certainly can't have it. So get a nudge, bro- ] You're wearing the confidence today. You've earned it, right? And now you get to enjoy good food-- the steak's good, [ you know, just an FYI from the guy who's finished swallowing up his bite. ]

Even more reason to get to enjoy your not-birthday hangout with Taiki when we get back. Anything you want for it?

[ Asked with a lilt, a tease, Tidus leaning into Inigo, if just for a few seconds. What do you want, biiirthday boooy? ]

I am enjoying good food! [ In fact, Inigo will even demonstrate that, quickly lifting the steak a little with his fork, and then attempting to just bite a piece off it, because Inigo is the most uncultured person to have ever existed, apparently.

(It doesn't go so well, given that it's a steak, but he has a moment anyway while Tidus is busy teasing him about being the upcoming birthday boy.)

He manages to swallow right after Tidus voices the question, giving him the ideal opportunity to answer. ]

And I actually have an idea for that, you know! [ This, too, he actually manages to say confidently! He has an idea for a present! For something he actually wants and is capable of asking for, for once in his life!

Though the confidence quickly starts to fade when he realises that he's unsure whether saying this out loud is a good idea or not.

Hence why there's a bit of an awkward pause with Inigo idly poking at his steak before he continues. ]

I.. um, I was just thinking.. We could probably get some.. stuff here.. [ Is he being incredibly vague enough yet? Maybe the way he's starting to blush is a hint. ] O-Only if you want to, though!

[ To be fair to Inigo, Tidus chewed a bite out of his steak that way first. It's cool bro, we're both animals here.

But unfortunately for Inigo, him being vague isn't anything unusual. Especially when he wants to prove himself - prove that he is a confident boy, that has ideas and that they're good, ....without actually having to put a name of a thing or idea forward.

But it's okay, this time. Because for once, Tidus is here to be a 100% encouraging, not about to point out what he's doing. ] 'Course I want to! What're you thinking though? Some...extra activities? Games we can play?

[ Aha. ] I saw this one earlier: Dungeon Master. Cheesy title, [ he knows, ] but it looked intense, and the session can go on for hours. And we can get other people in on the action too!

[ Bro. Wouldn't it be fun!? Look at how eager Tidus looks!! ]

[ The miscommunication is almost tragic here. Though Inigo, after a moment of thought, seems to realise what Tidus is doing here. That the other is trying to subtly meet him in the middle, but it's a middle where Tidus is imagining Inigo's other end to be looking dramatically different from what it actually is. ]

Ah-- No, I...

[ His voice trails off. Would it be weird to say it now, after Tidus assumed he just wanted some fun stuff to do with the guys for the 'birthday' party?

But as he thinks, he keeps coming across what Tidus told him earlier. Confidence suits him. Confidence suits him. Confidence suits him, so--

Inigo puts his fork down, shoving it into the lunchbox, and leans a little closer towards Tidus. Trying so hard to swallow his nervous, flustered feelings and instead look more confident about what he's saying. ]

No, I meant stuff for something we can do with just the two of us afterwards. Like earlier this month.

[ NAGA, GOD, HE'S SO NERVOUS. If this ends up backfiring on him he's just going to run outside and let one of the monsters eviscerate him, he swears to Naga-- ]

You know what I mean, right? Wouldn't you like that?

[ There is the downside of this plan that Tidus remembers; or rather, going with something as intense as a game called Dungeon Master when this hang-out also involved Taiki. Would he like a spooky game like that? No way. But he was looking at the lighter themed ones too, and he isn't sure where Inigo is going when he doesn't finish. Saying, too- ]

Well, there was one...

[ Time to join in the half-finished thought session. Wasn't there a game where you got to see animals? Take care of them? He wants to add it to the suggest, at least for Taiki's benefit, nevermind the apprehensions that Inigo might be having here about technology when it could be a good thing.

Tidus doesn't even notice how Inigo's moved to sit until he starts to speak, blinking at the sight once biting off his potato from his fork. And--

oh.

Oh.

That's a second thing not to realise: to comprehend what exactly Inigo is talking about so casually. But fortunate for the other guy and not getting a repeat of what just happened, there's only one place where the two of us, like earlier this month takes Tidus. The shift in his expression subtle, but quiet, modest; a crease at the ends of his lips that makes him look almost shy. Not helped by the lower note he speaks with. ]

Ofhh, uh... [ --wait, let him swallow this potato he forgot he had in this mouth. ] --If you wanna look for one of those kind of shops...

[ Going into a sex shop......even on a different world, it's embarrassing! But if Inigo's okay with it, can he be so dumb about it?! So he tries to swallow down his own apprehensions, before: ]

When do you wanna go? Tomorrow?

Yeah! Let's go there together tomorrow.

[ No one has any idea just how much effort is being used here to not outwardly die as much as he's inwardly dying when he's saying that. Instead Inigo just smiles. Casual, confident, like this is absolutely nothing to him. He can talk about this easily. He's a confident guy! He can be the confident guy Tidus wants!! If all of his acting back home paid off for anything, it's for this single moment right here. ]

We have to use this chance while we've got it, right? Who's to say if there will even be anything like that in the next world we visit. [ And Inigo kind of feels like screaming at the idea of trying to buy it from the train shop. The last thing he needs is for the train to be aware of what they're doing, okay.

He reaches out with one hand, putting it on Tidus's thigh. ]

And I can't imagine any birthday present I'd rather get than us being able to actually do it together back on the train. [ H-HAHAAAA...

IT'S COOL. THIS IS FINE. BREATHE, INIGO, BREATHE!! ]

[ oh shit oh fuck this is far too sexy

And even that's simplifying the array of emotions Inigo is slamming him with right now. Where is this Inigo coming from, speaking so casually about these things, when Tidus wants to start making screaming-adjacent sounds and never stop? But they're having a discussion here, being serious about it, and so Tidus is doing his best to swallow down his nerves that are growing by the dozen, filling up the space that he might've had left for food.

Especially when Inigo puts a hand on his thigh like that, saying what it does. The birthday present that he wants...

Thoughts should be here, but his mind is blank. Some agreement, approval; but there's no words his mouth knows to speak, only that knowledge that Inigo wants to be with him, sexually. And so the better first response that comes to Tidus is when he leans into their already small distance, pressing his lips onto Inigo's and letting them sit there, losing his fork inside its container so he can put a hand to the side of his face.

He lingers, giving himself those few seconds before he pulls away, finally- ]

Okay. [ Okay. ] If that's what you want, then...we can buy whatever you like. [ Whatever....t-toys...

But: ] We're still having a party, [ he reminds as a warning, light, before giving Inigo another quick peck. ]

[ There's only so long Inigo can pull off the confident guy act.

Especially in the face of this. This totally unexpected kiss, initiated by Tidus. And not even just one small kiss, no. The other lingers, and then there's fingers against the skin of Inigo's cheek, and even after the other pulls away, there's yet another kiss.

Briefly Inigo feels like he's going to pass out. And while he's hoping it's not visible on his face, it very much is visible. His eyes wide, staring, mouth hanging open after Tidus pulls away.

Tidus kissed him first. Tidus kissed him first. Tidus kissed him first and is also totally agreeing to Inigo's idea about what they should do later--

Inigo moves to cling to Tidus, arms around the other's shoulders, almost managing to knock both of their meals off their laps with the sheer force of his movement. But he's not thinking about the food.

That's impossible when his heart feels entirely filled by the other. ]

I'm so happy you came along with us on the mission.

[ Since even though Tidus being with purple - or near purple - has been more common lately, it's still not something that happens each time. And this time-- ]

You've made it so much better so far.

[ Tidus can't read that face. That initial face, stunned, but why? Unsure what caused it, and was it him? Have they never kissed like this? Did he imagine it? Led by the kind of kisses he likes and he's taken some step too far.

But then there's arms going around him, and Tidus might be the one more baffled here, the one left stunned by the emotion that seems to pour out. The lunchboxes clatter onto the floor, but Tidus doesn't even look at them as he sits there, unsure what to do about the guy with him, on him. A hand uselessly hanging out until he rests it at the space between Inigo's side and back.

'Are you okay?' is the question he wants to ask, but he doesn't want to give off the wrong impression - if it would be wrong. So Tidus decides for something safer, a soft laugh as he pats Inigo's side. ]

You that happy about getting a birthday party? [ Or about the afterparty sex? --ughhh no we're not joking or thinking about that!! ] No getting cold feet on the day! You hear?

[ Because surely, this can't be about the mission really. ]

[ Inigo lets out a sound that sounds half-amused and half-exasperated, because.. really? Inigo says that, and Tidus just thinks it's about the party? Surely he's got party on the brain.

He slowly pulls back again. ]

Yes, I am excited for the party.

[ His tone carries the same note. Kind of exasperated, but in a fond sort of way. ]

But what I was trying to say just now is that I'm just happy you're here with me. I don't know what I would've done when that Risen showed up if you hadn't been there. Or back on the platform. Or just.. having nice little moments like this now.

[ Even if they involve sex talk. ]

It's just.. weirdly nice. It gives me a bit less pressure about this whole mission.

[ bro, are you making fun of him!! like an exasperated parent!! please, his feelings are very sensitive!! ]

Well - maybe you should come with me more on missions! [ He says it like it's the obvious solution, though too delightfully cheerful to be entirely sincere, or like it might be followed. Has Inigo ever team hopped except the time they met? And only because Inigo couldn't swim.

But that's not really what Tidus wants to say, letting his head tilt towards the couch, though it doesn't quite get to rest on it. But he's comfortable anyway. (Food?? What food) ]

I don't think it's that different from when we hang out though, you know? You have my back, I have yours. Always. And even if we can't do much investigating like the train wanted us to, we can get stuff for people. See if they can mess around do something with it. Free clothes, and all that?

[ Eheh. ] We deserve an easy mission!

[ Filled with criminal activity. ]

[ Filled with criminal activity and total nonsense.

And sex shops. ]

Well, it's true that things usually feel a bit more high stakes than this. [ Like the constant fighting in Erda, or the meteorite they were immediately confronted with on Nion. Not that there isn't some bad stuff going on here, but it's not like it seems like it's threatening to kill the entire city.

So it does feel a bit more like hanging out than it usually does during these missions. ]

.. and, you know..

[ He looks away for a moment, but then glances back at Tidus, a small smile on his face. He leans his head over onto Tidus's shoulder, in that sort of way where it's hard to tell if he's teasing or if this is just one of those dumb affectionate Inigo things. ]

Maybe I will come with you on a mission next time. Be careful what you wish for.

[ The position might mean that Tidus can't really properly look at Inigo, but with a challenge like that, does he need to? Tidus scoffing in a way that says said challenge is accepted, playfully bold. ]

Is that meant to scare me? You should be thinking if you can handle it! [ ohhh yeahhh, Inigo!!! ] Hanging out with everyone in Red? Or getting to be with all the kids on Blue Team?

[ As kids make up a majority of Blue Team.

but shut up he likes the kids ]

Are you trying to tell me the kids are that intimidating?

[ Please! He may not know them very well, but he's seen them. He hung around with Romeo that time they were putting together the Madnug. Inigo knows that they're a bunch of the cutest softest kids around. ]

I'm pretty sure I can handle how sweet and adorable they are. [ Just wait until Inigo proceeds to get pushed around by a bunch of kids. ] I almost have to wonder if you like going with them so much since you can handle them, but can't handle me.

[ Because he's just THAT COOL. You know it's true, Tidus! Inigo is too hot to handle!! ]

[ Spoken like a fool who has not had kids look at them with beady big eyes. F o o l.

But for all the terrifying truths that Tidus could be spilling about the younger ones of Blue Team, those last words sure are a Tidus bait if he ever heard any. He angles his head to try and get as best a view of the guy on his shoulder, speaking bold. ]

Oh yeah? How so? I'd say I handle you pretty well.

[ You think he can't handle you buddy?? ]

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