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...I get this isn't a thing most guys in your time probably care about, but as the guy you're sharing a room with? It'd be great if you were some.

[ Not to make this awkward, but also, bro. Bro. Please. Think of him in the mornings. But he also doesn't want to keep this so awkward, so - ]

And they look great! You know... [ There was something about making this less awkward, but Tidus's gaze shifts embarrassingly as he admits: ] I think guys look good in trunks.

[ It's probably a good thing that Tidus is moving on here at the pace he does, because he 100% would have received a remark in return about how it's not even like Tidus has seen his dick only once or twice--

But thankfully it's shoved to the background. For now. Since Inigo's attention is taken up entirely by what Tidus says next. His eyes grow a little wider with surprise, before his eyebrows knit together into a thoughtful frown. ]

.. they do?

[ ???

He sounds so confused. Maybe it's since he's not used to underwear, but he's not sure how this works.. ]

Sure. If I had to look at an ad of a guy lounging in his underwear or with his dick out, I'd look at the one in underwear, you know? It's just more...

[ He's rolling his hands around one another, trying to find the words. ]

--Attractive! And a guy with his junk out's like, uh, no thanks.

[ They're talking about the same thing here, right. ]

[ Yes.

They're talking about attractive dicks. Attractive.. dickwear. Same thing.

But considering the cultural difference here, this is a wild, wild thought for Inigo to wrap his head around. On the other hand, it's nice to hear Tidus say something is attractive about guys. On the other hand.. really? Inigo is just used to dicks swinging around wildly, okay.

But if Tidus is saying he likes this more.. ]

.. I could wear more of these if you want.

[ I-Inigo? Desperate for that sweet, sweet feeling of being found attractive by Tidus? Surely you jest. ]

[ This is awkward, on a confusing level.

Because he's asking Inigo to wear underwear so he isn't showing his stuff off more? Or because the offer comes after he just shared about his like of certain kind of adverts? That he realises Inigo probably has no clue about. ]

If you're fine with it. [ But, that's about the most normal answer he can give. Inigo isn't offering to do it because of anything but the dick waving thing, surely!! J-just bromo in here, pals. ]

Okay - [ okay, change of subject! ] - try on the shorts already!

[ Tidus's one saving grace here is that Inigo is easily distracted again by that last remark the other makes. His eyes grow a little wider, as if he totally forgot about this in the five seconds or so he was distracted by what Tidus was saying before.

But now he remembers! Right! The shorts! The thing all of this was for in the first place!

Inigo grabs them before putting them on, giving a bit of a sceptical look as he glances down at himself once they're on. ]

By Naga, you can see so much of my legs..! [ SO MUCH.

It's not like he wasn't aware this would happen, since he's seen Tidus wear these kinds of pants often enough.. but still! Dude! ]

[ Okay, that's a funny reaction. ] Yeah?

[ What were you expecting, Inigo!! Tidus is grinning though, and he wiggles a bit on the bed as he says- ] Move your legs, see how it feels to move in them! ]

You can get a half-knee too. I like 'em! They're great for running and moving around in. Take a small walk 'round the room.

[ It can't be anything but small. ]

[ Apparently it's just one thing to know how much leg shorts are going to show, and it's another to see it! Just look at Inigo's pale legs. He looks like a ghost. These babies have never been exposed to bright sunlight, that's for sure. ]

I.. I mean, I suppose it feels different from wearing normal pants..!

[ BUT HE'S NOT SURE IF THAT'S.. IN A GOOD WAY...

Though he's trying to be a good sport here. Inigo starts moving, walking around a little while wearing them. He keeps occasionally glancing down, kind of oddly... ]

.. I think we might have to stick to this being your thing.

[ Yes, Inigo, because clearly no one else in the multiverse wears shorts. You're breaking Pokémon youngster's heart. ]

I feel much too exposed like this. [ I-It almost feels dirty.. ]

[ Inigo has his things. He has his thing about getting undressed, has his thing about not taking off his shirt in a pool. There's a part of this that isn't a surprise, but Tidus still can't help but be incredulous about the whole thing.

Especially when Inigo says that. ]

What, showing your legs? [ Inigo?? He's already got a quirk brow, but he's throwing it Inigo's way deliberately now, putting on a sly voice: ] You worried about someone checking them out? Wanting a piece of that calf?

[ And he thinks at the end of that to lean over, give the side of Inigo's leg a friendly slap. EYYY, LOOK AT THIS, FELLAS. ]

[ Apparently that's exactly what Inigo is worried about, considering he lets out a yelp and immediately hops away at that slap on his leg.

.. well, it's either that, or he's just being dumb and shy in general right now. ]

I-In my world we don't look at people's legs, alright?! We wear armour! [ He wasn't prepared for the latest Zanarkand ~~boob window~~ fashion! ] Of course it's strange to me! It has nothing to do with people c.. checking.. me..

[ He can't even finish the sentence.

Instead Inigo's face is just turning as red as a tomato. ]

[ Inigo's excuses would be more reasonable, if he hasn't spent his time around him wearing shorts all this time. As it is, Tidus is amused before believing.

He leans against the bed still from when he gave the slap. ]

Inigo, [ he gives in the same sly voice as before, face mischievous, ] I've got a good view here of the curve of your calf, you know... never knew I was a leg guy before now.

[ heh

heh

heh ]

[ Despite just how obvious it is that the other is just joking, Inigo is reacting all the same - as usually, really. There's just some part of his brain that shuts down and no longer recognizes anything at all as a joke when he gets flustered enough.

And he's definitely crossed that line at this point.

He grabs the blanket off the bed, not caring if that means pulling it away from under Tidus if the other is still up there, and starts to hold it in front of his legs, like he's trying to block Tidus's view.

Nevermind the fact the other guy has seen him entirely naked more than once. ]

C-Come on! Stop looking! I feel way too seen right now!

[ Can we even lie to ourselves that Tidus will learn to be better one day? Maybe this is the best we'll get, and Inigo will have to suffer for it - which Tidus is loving, given the reaction it provides.

He is still on the bed, and the yank of the blanket attempts to force him back, a war going between Inigo's need for modesty, and Tidus's body weight. Tidus just laughs, to that and Inigo's fluster. ]

Come ooooooon! [ But he's rolling back some, laying on his back with still a giggle in his throat. ] They're legs. No one's gonna look! You're fine!

[ bro why are you always like this ]

They're still my body!

[ There's a momentary tug-of-war going on here.. even if one participant isn't even active in the middle of all of it, since all Tidus has to do is lay down on the blanket like that, causing it to be so much harder for Inigo to have enough blanket here to cover his legs.

And yet he's still trying. Still tugging. It's the principle of it all that matters. ]

I can't believe this is normal where you come from. How do people even deal with this on a daily basis?!

You see me like this all the time! It never bothered you before!

[ Arrgh, it's the Inigo wyvern-weasels at work here! Which is still the most incredu-funny form of it Tidus thinks he's beared witness to, but. But, he knows this is an Inigo thing that also needs a level of kindness to it than Tidus just scoffing and making fun.

He rolls to slightly lean in Inigo's direction, making no attempt to get off the blanket. ]

It's not as bad as you think, [ he starts, with a consideration in his tone that might easily be mistaken for teasing. ] Try some of my pairs that come down to the knee, and take them for a test walk. Do training in them. Whatever. Then you can get used to them - okay?

[ Compromise, bro?? Baby steps of wearing shorts?? ]

[ Look at Inigo standing here, with the blanket still only half-tugged over his legs. Realising that he might never look at Tidus wearing shorts the same way ever again.

Or, well, not until his brain goes back out of panic mode, anyway. Which is not right now. There's still alarm sirens going off all over the place up there.

Even though his expression is being muted slightly, going from frantic to something more akin to pouty. Still not happy though. ]

Is it that important for me to get used to shorts?

[ Is this really some vital life skill. It doesn't seem necessary to him, bro.. ]

[ How to put this... ]

It's about more than the shorts. [ Way to be vague. But- ] What you got to lose? They're just shorts - like you said.

[ Just now. What's the harm, ever? Time for Inigo to truly accept, there isn't any.

Through the powers of shorts. Pokémon trainers all about will be so proud, Inigo. ]

.. my dignity..

[ You never had that in the first place, Inigo. No matter in how much of a kicked puppy way you say that, before slowly - finally - dropping the blanket and just sitting down on the bed. ]

It doesn't feel like I'm going to feel any more confident while walking around wearing these. [ Quite the opposite, considering how awkward they make him feel. ]

[ Tidus could get up and sit beside him- and maybe he will get up, at least cross-legged to begin with. ]

A lot feels that way to begin with. 'Til you get used to it, right? [ Now, he'll come to the edge of the bed next to Inigo - so he can spread out his legs, give them a wiggle. ] If I thought you just didn't like them, I'd be like, 'kay, that's fine. But it's weird, right? Different.

[ Just like if he went round in those Irivar clothes. Which is a comparison he thinks to make, but then leads to an idea. ]

Oh! How about if you go around wearing shorts... I'll wear my Irivar outfit more! That's different. It'll be like we swapped looks!

[ There's a part of him that wants to protest at that. After all, it's not like those clothes were particularly revealing, considering how close they were to the kind of clothes they wore back in Ylisse..

.. but then he slowly gets that's kind of the point. That's what Tidus isn't used to, in turn. Being as covered up as Inigo often is.

And can he really say no in the face of this and still call himself a friend? Or someone who's at least attempting to better himself? ]

.. if you're sure. Then we can try it. [ He offered Tidus a small smile, with a hint of shyness still in it. ] Just don't be surprised when you suddenly hear me screaming all the way over from the other side of the train.

[ good, thanks for not getting offended by thinking Tidus was calling your clothes weird!!!

He leans on Inigo's shoulder, an arm coming to rest over the top of it. ] If I do, I'll know it's the most doing-his-best kind of scream.

[ Heh! ] Just wait 'til I drag you into the training gym with them on. I swear, they're great when you're on a treadmill or running. You don't get so stuff in shorts!

One moment I agree to try out shorts, and the next moment you're already combining them with the next horror.

[ It isn't whining though. Inigo sounds kind of amused, even though it's in a half-I-have-resigned-myself-to-this-fate-now sort of way. ]

Are you trying to make me explode? [ D-Don't mind him leaning into that arm across the shoulders hold a little here, bro. ] Is that your end goal?

Maaybe. [ Feeling Inigo lean in, he does tilt his head to face Inigo better. ] You just figured that out?

But- [ but ] -it hasn't worked yet. Guess you're stronger than you look.

[ Maybe it's true. He has to be strong, to have survived the sheer amount of times Tidus has actively tried to fluster him.. and that's not even counting all the times he got him accidentally flustered. That's so much panic on his heart.

But rather than saying that, Inigo just hums, that slight smile still on his face. ]

I think it's since I've got a friend who keeps pushing me to try new things. [ Even when Inigo might whine about it.. sometimes. ] That must have toughened me up real good.

[ ''sometimes'' ]

See? [ Hah. ] Just think of everything you've tried, and what past you woulda thought about it. Pretty amazing, huh? And one day you're gonna think back about how you even went along with wearing clothes like this!

[ That he ever had a problem with it, whether he turns out not to like shorts after all, or does.

It's all about peeling away at the anxieties. ]

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