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Suffice to say, Inigo was in a better mood.

Thanks to the return of Taiki and Roland. A return that lifted a weight that even Tidus hadn't wanted to acknowledge, heavier - foreboding, horrid - when they were stopped at the platform. Two backs he should want to see leave, but who said how you felt had to be reasonable?

So, he was happy too to see the other guys. And he wasn't in a rush to ruin the good mood, and to have them do...anything too strenuous (or maybe just new). That's why he waits for the next morning to inform Inigo, all cheers and smiles-

"Today, we're gonna do some dance exercises!"

Congratulations, Inigo! And when the time comes for their testing of the gear, Tidus leads them to the upper dance carriage with its performance stage - a stage rarely used, and so nice and private. Even if, really, there wasn't anything to be shy about exercising.

But Tidus is being nice and considerate to a bro.

Maybe Tidus is just lucky. Or maybe it's since Inigo is suddenly in a much better mood than a few days ago. Whatever the reason is, there's so much less whining than the usual as he's being lead along towards the stage where Inigo sometimes tries to secretly dance by himself.

Because usually he would have been way too flustered about this, complaining and whining all the while. But even though he's still shy, and definitely more than a little flustered at the idea that they'll be dancing there and anyone can just walk in on them, he at least has the courage to try today.

No, rather than Inigo whining, he just looks curious as they're entering the music carriage, moving up to the second floor where the stage is.

"Did you get the stuff for it..?"

Look, usually stuff from Tidus's world just confuses him. But when it's something related to dancing, he actually is genuinely curious.

"'Course I did!" Said, with the disbelief that Inigo's even asking, but more enthused - in that typical Tidus way - than really disapproving. Up the stairs they go, and Tidus doesn't mind hurrying on ahead, to hop up onto the platform and to examine the space.

"Wouldn't be dressed and taking us here if I didn't." And he isn't exactly dressed in his casual sit around clothes, but the usual ones he might wear while exercising, swapping out his trousers however for shorts. Because they'll be more comfortable for dancing moves, surely.

A thin box comes out from his arms band, both hands ready to grab it and to start peeling back the flap to what's inside: a round disk with a hole in the centre - not dissimilar to the transgate disks now around the train. Tidus sets it down and then backs away, taking out more from the box - and if Inigo's come beside him, dropping them into his hands. Some earpieces and four wrist-band looking pieces.

Also, a very thin tablet-like device the size of a mobile phone. That Tidus takes, as well as two of the wristbands, clicking a button to boot up the screen into Spiran text.

Inigo has absolutely no idea where at least half of this is going. But he's still going along with it - figuring out the pieces he does recognize, like the earpieces. Thanks for that, missions and everything following it, by now he knows where those go, as he puts them into his ears. The wrist-band looking pieces are a little more confusing, but they do look like the holes in them are kind of wrist-shaped, so he starts by putting one on his right wrist..? Is he doing this right.

He wants to ask Tidus if this is what he's supposed to do, but then he only gets more confused by the sight of the device the other guy is holding before he can even think to ask. Instead the words coming out of his throat are immediately replaced by: "Is that like that thing Roland has..?"

It kind of looks like it?! But who knows, Inigo is well aware he sucks at telling any of these things apart.

Wow bro, putting on the wristbands without Tidus doing or saying anything!

"This thing? Nah," Tidus replies, scrolling through the text, but otherwise looking uninterested. "It's the instructions. But we should be able to get this working without them!"

Yes, that's right. So Tidus slips it back into the packaging and makes both disappear, with all the other pieces in their possession. He kneels to start fussing with the disk, finding a button to press. The centre pools a blue-ish green tint that all Zanarkand products love, and the wristbands that Inigo wear gives off a glow from a symbol on a small rectangular box attached to it.

Tidus looks at his own, looks at Inigo already prepared, and for a moment pockets his to go to Inigo - "let me take a look?" - and to hold his wrist, seeing what's being indicated. There's a few symbols on the front that might be unintelligible as to what they mean to Inigo, but for Tidus...

He presses one, and the other band glows, and giving that one a press too brings a greenish-blue lighting scanning over Inigo's form. From the circular disk on the ground, a holographic figure appears, showing no details of their person except a human-shaped form.

'Welcome, I'm your exercise coach!' speaks a female-coded voice. 'Go into Options if you want to switch me with another trainer, or go into Profile to make a personalized profile. Press Go to get straight into the exercises! We'll be waiting.'

"Haha. See!?" Tidus has moved away some steps to see the small introduction, proud for his guessing around!! "This'll be easy. Told you! They wouldn't make it hard to use."

This is the stuff old women use!

He can do some things, okay! Sometimes! But apparently he's incapable of figuring out those were the instructions. What happened to good old parchment, huh? Got to have everything all fancy?

Speaking of fancy things, Inigo still has no idea what's going on. And he's sure not too comfortable with all these lights suddenly going on, and it moving over him. If it wasn't for the fact that Tidus was sharing this with him, he'd be mighty suspicious of it. Tidus might pull jokes on him sometimes, but surely even he would know to not joke when it comes to a topic as important to Inigo as dancing.

But his antsiness over the lights and the scanning accumulates in the obvious - meaning that the moment that voice speaks up, Inigo lets out a shriek that could wake the dead, moving to latch onto Tidus's arm with all he's got. Moving steps away? Oh no, bro, that's not happening.

"What's going on?!"

DUDE, YOU CAN'T JUST DO THIS AND THEN NOT EXPLAIN?!

Wow, what's wrong with a holographic helpmate? You having flashbacks to boringsville, bro?

It's an overreaction from where Tidus is standing, but he laughs, understands it at the same time. Maybe he should've guessed Inigo would react this way, but he doesn't feel sheepish over it, lightly shaking his head.

"It's fine, it's fine!" he reassures, and points to the wristbands. "'kay, so I think I remember seeing how these work. You put those on, right? And they sync to that." Pointing to the device on the floor. "Those are the controls and they track your movement, so it can tell if you're doing a good job!"

Maybe? Probably? Tidus is guessing at that point. But he'll also need to use his arms now so he can take out the wristbands and put them somewhere on his own wrists, close to what he's already wearing.

"So I think if I press one... aha! Here!"

He clicks on one to glow, and the other glows in response. Tidus hums, a 'watch me?' type signal as - if Inigo will allow - he'll take a step back, so Inigo can watch as, when he clicks on the side button, the same scanning hue goes across his body, starting from his wrists and moving inward.

'Connection made,' speaks up a female voice again.

Fine, fine. Inigo will put on his big boy pants and actually release his hold on Tidus so the other can put on his wristbands and take a step back and all.

And it's a little less worrying seeing that light moving over someone else than it was to see it moving over himself, but it still seems.. odd. Everything about this is so odd.

"Are you sure this is about dancing?"

Even as Tidus is explaining stuff about tracking movements, Inigo still isn't so sure. Nothing about this seems like dancing to him so far! Just odd Zanarkand technology stuff that he doesn't understand!

"It doesn't seem like dancing to me."

"I'm setting it up still!" Please, some patience, Inigo! Tidus knows what the seems mean at least, simple and to the point. He takes out the earbuds next, slots them into his ears and start to click through the menu options, figuring which leads to where.

And by the sounds of things, he should get right to selecting the exercise routines than anything else. So he taps them into that. Small screens appear in front of the holographic figure, made with the same blue-ish tint, but bolder; options such as Casual and Intense showing. Tidus goes for Casual, Beginner, Warm Up...

"Alright. Ready?" Possibly impatient from all the technology fussing? Two screens appear for User 1 and User 2, and Tidus taps one by patting the air near it to confirm. Cocks his head for Inigo to do the same to the other.

And when he should, a countdown from 3 will begin, as well as some music beginning to play with a light rhythmic beat. Get ready, guys.

Definitely getting impatient from all the technological fiddling going on here. Usually Tidus is the one with the idle animations, but right now that's all Inigo. Not that he's full on dancing yet or anything, but he's definitely tapping his feet on the ground with the kind of nervous energy that fills him up due to the combination of having no idea what exactly is about to happen and the idea that he'll have to actually dance in a moment or so.

But then the time is there. All of a sudden. Inigo innocently copies Tidus's gesture when prompted, but then.. there's music.

Music. Music?! Is music the cue?!

Maybe it's since he's so on edge, but Inigo's first instinct is to look over at Tidus, and panic-hiss: "What do we do?! Just dance?!"

Inigo, please slow down and just wait for the instructions, boy.

"We follow the hologram!" Duhh!! Though Inigo probably isn't following anything currently. Tidus gestures over, and with that done, the holo-figure is rocking on the spot. Just a gentle rock, as if waiting for the music to get going.

And finally - the figure starts stepping side to side as the music properly kicks in, waving up their hands in a clapping motion, bringing them in. Get going, guys!!

Which--which Tidus is doing! Awkwardly!! Woe, this is a beginner mode?! It's a lot for these guys, Tidus not used to such weird moves as these. He feels like a dork throwing up his arms and doing the steps.

"Keep following!!" Tidus calls out, as if he can even tell what Inigo is doing, or the fact he's barely doing that. P-please don't look at him over here!!

Sorry, bro.

But Inigo is definitely looking over at Tidus. He got the message of following the hologram, sure, but now he's actually seeing the figure move, he's a little confused. Do they just have to.. clap.. above their heads...?

It does look a little ridiculous, especially as he's looking over and seeing Tidus do it with the most awkward possible expression on the other guy's face, but Inigo decides that fine, fine, he'll do it!

It sure doesn't look like dancing to him, but he starts following the moves. They're still rather easy, of course, and it does feel a little ridiculous, but he just keeps going.

Even as the figure starts stepping from side to side. Okay. Step, step. Step, step.

The only problem with said stepping being that Inigo and Tidus were just standing a bit too close together, which means Inigo ends up stepping right on Tidus's foot.

Whoops.

"GAH!"

Inigo steps on Tidus's foot, and in turn, Tidus whacks out his arm straight into Inigo's face, as if in direct response to the assault. And then he's hopping away after that, giving his foot a shake, not considering how own attack when he whines-

"Don't dance on me!"

At least the dancing hologram lady is continuing to have fun.

"GUK!"

Slowly a true circus is starting to take shape here, isn't it. Inigo starts furiously rubbing at his face, hoping to prevent it going all red in response to the slap.

"We're dancing, not fighting!" He retorts.

His cheeks kind of tintle.

"Let's just-- Let's take some more space!" And then they can look again at whatever the hologram lady has to tell them about what they ought to be doing.

Like he wasn't already going to do that, STUPID!! Nevermind that he starts moving (read: dancing) away from Inigo as the holo-lady then - along with the beat - switches their dance move with a cheerful 'Switch!'

LADS IT'S TIME TO PUNCH THE AIR SIDE TO SIDE WITH THE RISE OF THE BEAT. Tidus is ready to throw out a complaint about the change ('don't!'), but he catches it in his throat and tries--tries following the dance!!

Feeling like an absolute buffoon. And Gibbers, sensing Tidus's need of encouragement, poofs! out in a small glow of light that doesn't help the guy, landing on the ground and starting to dance too!

...not the same dance, but you know. A higgledy dance.

A higgledy dance, you say?!

Something - or rather, someone - in Inigo's heart senses this course of action and thinks it's a great thing. But now Inigo actually has the space to move and realises what's going on, he's managing to keep up with the movement without looking ridiculous. Sure, it may not be like the kind of dancing he's used to, but his body can adapt to this kind of movement, since it's not too far off.

Which is why Jumblie knows Inigo doesn't need this encouragement. No, he's actually already moving up on the stage, she's already proud of him!

So she must help her higglepal encourage Tidus. The little sunshine creature hops right out of Inigo's chest until she's standing right next to Gibbers, joining in on the higgledy dance.

Which means Tidus has now got two little sources of distraction right in front of him. And potential obstacles, considering the lady suddenly announces they have to step forward.

Get a dance coach, he said! I'll dance with you, he said! It'll be fine, he said!!!

Tidus knows what Gibbers is doing (well, he thinks he's there to have fun, really...), but it's still an embarrassing set of moves to be doing. A glance taken at the other guy, and ugh, is he actually getting into the rhythm of this?! Which isn't as comfortable or as helpful as it probably should be.

...but as a secondary higgledy now joins the fray, the pair of them dancing away, and then finally actually joining into the dance exercise - with tiny hiiigle! piigle!s and fists pumping up from side to side - the ridiculousness of it...actually makes Tidus accept how goofy he feels doing any of this.

Which is a good time to accept that the moves might not be as 'masculine' as he's into, 'Switch!' coming into their ears, and the holo-coach starts doing leg stretches: hands resting on their hips and one leg stretching out as they bend the knee of the other, and then swapping sides after a few bends of the knee.

There might be a bit of salvation here for Tidus.

Mostly in the fact that while Inigo can follow the moves well enough, and that especially following the rhythm is very easy for him.. Inigo is not very much of a stretcher. Especially not compared to mister workout himself over here.

Which means that once they get started on these moves, it goes pretty well for Inigo at first.

Doing it one side a few times, sure. Doing it on the other side, okay. Returning to the first side, and.. ow. Inigo doesn't stop moving, but he's definitely wincing as he speaks up with: "Uh.. is it supposed to hurt?"

He thought they were going to dance! That they were going to have fun!!

"Eh?" Tidus was getting into the moves, though once the stretches started, Hibber-Gibbers - try as he might! - doesn't have the long limbs of a human, and as he wiggles with tiny stub fists stretching out one way, turns to do it in the other, he falls over with a tiny 'hiiig!', the other casualty in the car.

But also, the higgledies do that all the time, so Tidus gives him one look and then takes his gaze over to Inigo.

"Hurt? Where does it hurt?" The exercise coach is ignored as she continues on, the music also continuing, though one of the earbuds coming out so he can hear Inigo better.

"Well, it's just.."

His voice trails off. It's hard to explain, okay. It just hurts. Not dramatically so, but definitely in a way that he usually never feels when he's just dancing by himself. But then again, the movements he uses at times like those are much different than these, and also less repetitive.

He's also ignoring the higgledy antics, but they sure keep on going. Gibbers has dramatically fallen over, causing Jumblie to stop what she's doing as well, running up to her fellow higgledy's side as she starts nudging him with her stubby little arms. Hang in there, friend..!!

In the meantime, Inigo continues his explanation. Or tries to, anyway.

"It kind of feels like I'm straining myself..? Maybe?"

Higgledies are gonna higgledo. Gibbers scrambles back onto his feet, head wobbling back in the motion. But he stands upright, stretching out both his stubby little arms! And then starts to dance again with all the ease and animation of a child.

Meanwhile, Tidus checks his wristbands, finds the option to pause the routine, the voice saying 'Session paused' in their ears. Looks Inigo over, lips tugged aside.

"Where? In your legs? Did you move too fast?" Did he wake up stiff? Which is hard to imagine for a guy like Inigo - he's active; the last thing he should be is stiff!

"Is it a stiff pain, or sharp? In your legs?"

Since that's when Inigo began complaining, and Tidus makes the motion they were before: stretching out one leg while leaning his weight on the knee pointed to the other. Use him to signal where the pain came up, bro!!

(Don't mind Inigo over here as he can't help but wince for a moment at the woman suddenly speaking up in his ear again with something other than 'switch'. He's fine. It's cool. This is totally normal.)

"No, it's just-- I think it's because I'm not used to moving like this. This way of dancing is.. very odd." Then again, you'd wonder what he expected out of a dance workout..

Though the truth of that is that Inigo had absolutely no idea what a dance workout is, and he holds his thigh for a moment.

"It's like my body is telling me to stop making those same moves over and over."

Huh, his body telling him not to? Tidus gets out of the position he's put himself into and gives the guy a look over, humming quietly to himself. Really, from what he's hearing...

"Maybe you just need to get used to it? What kind of stretches do you do before dancing usually?"

Inigo does some kind, surely?

There's just silence on Inigo's end as he stands there, staring at Tidus. His gaze shifts to the higgledies for a moment before it slides right back to Tidus's face - though not looking any less confused.

"Before dancing?"

Dude.

People stretch before they dance?

...bro???

"Yeah?" Bro. Bro why are you looking at him like that, have the same look back. "To stretch your muscles? Like you do before practice. So you don't hurt them? It loosens them up, that's why we're repeating the motions."

Right? Right? Even guys back in the past for war did that, right?

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