flatteries | ic ✗ inbox

[ This is a conversation where Tidus needs time to think about what's being said, what he thinks. Where it becomes wrong or difficult for the other guy if he mentions about girls, and how does Tidus feel about that? Should he just never? But why would it be a problem?

One's demons don't have to make sense. But he has to wonder how to approach it, when it's hard for him to figure out. His gaze flickering as before, feeling the need to speak sooner than he has any idea what to say. ]

But I'm not... when I said that, it was just a joke. I...

[ What? What? He pauses with his brow furrowing, and he looks at Inigo with a difficult expression, mouth pressed. Until he lets go, and with a small breath before he figures something of what he wants to say. ]

When we got into this, we told each other that this wasn't nothing - we promised each other that. I'm not really looking to get with, even a girl. I'm not looking at you and wishing, 'geez, if only he was a girl'!

You're Inigo, you'll always be Inigo. And we just have... different thoughts about things sometimes. But that's alright, right? I think putting my head in a girl's lap would be cute... but you'd like it from anyone -- friends, whoever you're close to. That's just how we are!

[ Is he going on a bit too much? He pulls his mouth, his arms still resting off Inigo's shoulders, until he drags them to bring his hands to settle on them instead. ]

You're still the only guy I'd trust to do this with.

I know..

[ That they promised. That he shouldn't fuss so much about this, and yet he can't help it, the feelings bubbling up within him before he even has a chance to stop them. But then again - it's not like his insecurities only play up when it comes to this particular thing, right?

And it doesn't help that he spent his life with so much rejection, including the one time he did actually get together with a guy ending up in a weird rejection. And said guy also being into girls doesn't help the feeling.

Still, Inigo knows that it can't be easy for Tidus to talk about this either. He knows the other is trying so hard, and Inigo needs to at least match him in that effort, even though it feels so hard when he actually does look over at Tidus. ]

.. sorry that I always worry so much. [ Look, he knows it isn't fun to deal with for himself, so he can only imagine it must be even less fun for others to deal with. ] The whole thing just spiralled out of control in my head, I guess. 'specially since I didn't think you'd ask for us to do anything..

I've wanted to. [ Which - he's already said once, he remembers, but it's still the truth! ] But you don't need to worry - I still like you plenty! That doesn't change! You know, I think it's like...

[ Hmm. What a time to sit back on a folded leg, taking back his hands to fold up his arms. ]

You know how you said you like guys more than girls? And every time I tried to talk about their looks, you just had nothing to say! But you'd still go with someone you loved, right?

It's like that. Except... well, the same the same, so you shouldn't start worrying too deep. [ He takes the second to wave his hands, like let's cut that worry session, here! ] Either way, this whole thing is about us, so none of that really matters! Soo...

[ oh gosh he started blabbering unnecessarily, right?! ]

[ Maybe not so unnecessarily.

Because Inigo starts to slowly nod. ]

I.. uh, I think I actually kind of get it, when you put it that way. [ Because it's so much easier to understand Tidus's feelings when he can compare it to his own feelings about girls.

If anything, it makes this mean a lot more. Because Inigo knows it's not something that comes so easy. He has - and had - a lot of good female friends here on the train and back home, but he doesn't think he's ever felt that way about any of them before. And so Tidus must not be that into the idea of doing this with just any of his male friends either.

.. and yet here they are. ]

Thanks. For.. thinking of me as a special guy, then. [ Though he'll leave that part at that, not wanting to embarrass Tidus any further.

Instead he reaches out, putting a hand on the other's knee. ]

And for reassuring me when I'm being dumb. Guess that means I have a lot to make up for now.

[ You know.

In the wink wink, nudge nudge sort of way. Since he hasn't forgotten that this is where this whole thing started a few moments ago. ]

[ His rambling on helped?!

Tidus is glad - that his impromptu thinking actually led to somewhere useful, and that it seems to ease Inigo, noticeable in the way he doesn't continue to wear that expression that seems to drag down his entire face. That's always a good sign, showing Inigo isn't just trying to shove this aside without being fully satisfy.

So Tidus chuckles, putting his hands on his legs, not bumping into the hand on one as he leans forward just an inch. ]

You do. [ Though Tidus isn't thinking wink wink, nudge nudge. ] Way you can start? Is by showing me a smile!

A reeaal big and good one! [ Like the one that's spreading on Tidus's face. ]

I'm waiting!

[ chop chop, bro!! Let's feel all good and cheerful, first!! ]

[ This definitely isn't as wink wink, nudge nudge as Inigo expected.

And that sheer fact does manage to catch him off guard, considering he was entirely anticipating a different angle. The unsureness on his face fades, but it's instead replaced by him blinking blankly at Tidus in surprise.

He then lets out a sound that'd almost sound offended, if it didn't sound kind of amused at the same time. ]

I know you don't want me to force one.

[ Please, if anyone can tell at this point when he's forcing smiles, it's Tidus of all people. ]

I want you to show me what your biggest smile can be right now! [ It's playful, nothing really heavy or expecting anything genuine. Tidus leaning back, giving a tilt of his head. ]

Want me to go first? C'mon, it doesn't have to be your best smile. I did it once. You go like thiiis...!

[ Here we go Inigo, Tidus is putting on his best smile. ]

Gooohhtttthh...ihhht...!

[ please stop trying to speak with your teeth clenched. ]

[ Inigo stares.

And then, one or two moments later, he instead bursts out into laughter. As if this is some sort of normal occasion, and Tidus isn't sitting here in just his underwear pulling the dumbest face imaginable. ]

What's that! [ Inigo is also having a hard time talking, but honestly, that's more just since he's having a hard time even breathing between all the laughs that escape him. ] You look like someone is threatening you with a sword to your throat!

[ Please, Tidus. You can't think that looks natural. ]

That's definitely not your best smile. And I like to think I'm an expert in that area. [ The area of Tidus smiles, yes. ]

[ Laugh get!

Tidus holds onto the smile for a while longer (more like a smiling cringe) before he lets go with his own goofy laugh, giving Inigo a playful punch to the shoulder. ]

Oh yeah? You the Prince of Smiles now? Show me how a real pro does it then! Come on!

[ This is it, you can't back out now, Inigo. You're in this dumb, silliest contest between two half or nearly naked guys in their room. The best remedy when recovering from the doldrums.

(tidus's underwear is red, jus fyi) ]

[ Please, Tidus. Know who you're challenging here while sitting there in your red underwear. Inigo truly is the master of this sort of thing after forcing smiles for years upon years upon years.

So he instantly smiles. Granted, it helps that he was laughing already, but he's got a smile stretching across his face in no time. It looks super genuine too, despite him summoning it on the spot. ]

You can't win from me when it comes to this!

[ But Tidus has won when it comes to distractions.

Both distracting from Inigo's own mood from a moment ago, and from Tidus's red underwear. ]

No waayy, you're cheatin'! How're you doing iiiit!

[ He's all volume and somewhere being acting aghast through a delightful tone, a far wider and more natural smile spread across his own face now. Even through the wild 'disbelieving' shake of his head he gives.

Tidus sits his hands on the sides of Inigo's face, gives the act of inspecting his face, but no more than a moment. A hum of a sound leaving his lips as he sits there like that, looking at Inigo. ]

Feeling better?

[ Heheh. ]

[ B-Bro, not too close while you're all gorgeous and near-naked like this--

Though thankfully the mood is just a little too goofy for Inigo to fully lose himself in the fluster of that thought. Instead he just keeps on smiling, though his perfectly manufactured smile melts into something a little bit softer when he stares into Tidus's eyes. ]

Yes, you goof.

[ How does Tidus even do it, changing the mood around so easily? It's almost like magic, though Inigo is infinitely grateful for it.

One of his hands lands on Tidus's thigh, resting there, though it doesn't seem to be deliberately sensual in any way. More just Inigo wanting more contact at a moment like this. ]

Don't think I don't know what you were doing. But it works.

That's the part that matters.

[ The working part. Tidus slides his hands from Inigo's cheeks to resting them on the curve of his shoulder by his neck, his smile goofy but genuine. This mood better than what it was before, to see Inigo smiling again too, comfortable. ]

So... this is the part where we can make out now, right? Man to man.

[ See, no women here! All guys! Men. (very stupid young men) ]

The most manly of makeouts.

[ Isn't that what you want, bro.

Let's be real though, it's just Inigo going along with the joke - in a tone that's light enough that it seems real, like the clouds really did lift away from his heart.

Enough so for him to lean a little closer, trying to not put too much pressure on that hand resting on Tidus's thigh as he's doing so, before he's fully leaning in to kiss the other. ]

[ Man to man. It's dumb enough that Tidus can't take the insinuation seriously - ...rather, less insinuating, and more outright blatant. His legs strong enough to do with any weight put to them when Inigo comes in, and he meets the lips there ready to greet him. Something soft, something sweet; not the most manliest of makeouts at all, but the right flavour that Tidus likes.

Lips pressing into each other, firm yet chaste. An inch that he can pull back from them, still feeling their breath between them as he looks at Inigo this close.

He wraps an arm around Inigo's side away from the bed... and then pulls at the both of them, dropping their weight towards the blankets.

suuurrppriiiiseeeee!!

(we can make out from here too, bro) ]

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

no subject

no subject