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Wait wait wait. [ Here, he's leaning his arm on Inigo's shoulder closest to him, a brow quirked. ] You're telling me that your name makes you huggable. Is that it?

[ 'You just wanna hug anything with a name like that'? ]

No! I'm--

[ This might be where Inigo is realising that what he said is utter ridiculous, even without the angle that Tidus is putting on it specifically.

It's exactly why he slows down, starting to blush a little, but refusing to give up to the extent that he'd just shut up entirely. ]

I'm.. saying.. that perhaps the hugs anything with my name gets transfer onto me!

[ Yes, because that's clearly how names work.

Right. ]

[ Oh. Inigo just made this way better, how Tidus's brain is parsing this. ]

So you're saying, [ he starts, pointing in one direction, then slowly dragging the finger along to another in the air, ] that if I get a cute doll and call it Inigo and hug it, you'd feel it?

[ Inigo, can you feel this grin radiating beside you, faced turned in your direction?

Because it's right there. ]

What--!

[ There's another sound after that word, but it's so sputtered that it's entirely incomprehensible. Inigo does look over at Tidus, but he looks wary. So wary in this very moment. ]

Where are you going with this? [ She moves a hand, pointing at Tidus's face so closely that he's practically poking the other's cheek. ] What's this face for?!

Thinking about a cute toy I could get. [ Very innocent. So, so very innocent. ] Name it Inigo. Poke it on its cute little nose.

What do you think? Ohhhh. [ A delayed ohhhh. ] And whenever you want a hug, I'll just hug that lil' guy! Perfect!

[ B-But Tidus!

What if he wants you to poke him on his cute little nose?! ]

You've got to be kidding me! [ That's definitely Inigo's whining tone coming out in full force. He doesn't even sound angry, nor offended at the idea. He just sounds like he's desperate to stop this plan.

This obvious joke of a plan. ]

Tidus, I was just kidding! You know I was just kidding! Also-- you would never voluntarily hug any plush so tenderly! [ HE KNOWS YOU, DUDE!! ]

Tenderly? [ Where did this tenderly word come from, are you calling his hugs tender, bro. But nevermind that, when there is a plush that he remembers having; a second or two needed to ask himself, should he?, and-

Why wouldn't he, ever. ]

Well, wouldn't you know! [ Down come his leaning arm, and bringing them both together, from his arms poofs a friend-shaped plus: an otter in an aquafir shirt.

Tidus raises 'him' up, held in both hands. ] I already had him with me the whole time! Hi there, lil' Inigo! You're pretty cute, aren'tcha?

[ Who's a cute little Inigo? ]

[ Inigo's jaw drops.

Not realising that this was some spur of the moment decision - mostly since he apparently didn't know about the plush until just now - it feels like Tidus somehow planned this entire prank. Even though it only came to be through a dumb conversation they had just now.

He has no idea how the other pulled it off, but it doesn't stop Inigo from looking any less flustered or confused when he speaks up. ]

S-Stop!

[ Inigo might be reaching out to try and grab his 'namesake' from the other's arms. ]

You have no idea how embarrassing it is when you actually do that! ]

It is? [ Oh nooo, Inigo hand, you can't have it! Moving the otter to safety! ] But I thought it's what you wanted! We can see how good it feels getting a proxy hug from Inigo Jr here!

[ Inigo Jr, how do you like the sound of that. ]

Let's get you here...! [ But here is goes, trying to give this guy a huuuug before Inigo can rip him out of his arms! ]

[ Behold: two grown guys, acting like they're toddlers. With Tidus trying to hug that plush otter he's holding, and Inigo still trying to make a grab for it, one way or another, even when Tidus is clearly holding it out of his reach.

They're very mature. ]

I can't believe you bought a plush animal just to torment me! [ Inigo whines.

(His hands are still reaching, still trying to grab.)

Also, that's clearly what happened, right. That's obviously why Tidus has this thing. Just to bully Inigo. ]

Torment? I thought you wanted this! --stop pulling on his head!

[ Does Tidus need to make a hand shield to keep Inigo's paws off of Inigo Jr?! He will! ]

He'll fit right in when we go to sleep at night. No need to hug each other anymore!

[ How could Inigo ever get the idea he's being tormented here. ]

No!

[ But despite the answer, Inigo does release his hold on the poor otter after another moment or two. Not necessarily because Tidus told him so, but mostly because he's worried about actually ripping the toy.. Even with as whiny and dramatic as he's being here, he doesn't actually want to go that far.

But at the same time as he lets go, he also scoots backwards on the bed, no longer being as close to Tidus. ]

Y.. you know, you can just tell me if you don't want to hug me! I will just sleep here [ - he's dramatically pointing to the very edge of the bed, this is very important information - ] if my presence bothers you that much!

[ DUDE.

BRO.

DOES HE NEED TO CRY?? ]

As if you'd stay there! You'd be making noises and sad eyes all night if I really left you there!

[ Tidus knows it - they'll be in bed and puppy eyes will just radiate from Inigo's entirely being. The utter sadness will be so palpable, and Inigo will be like death the next morning.

All because he didn't get any physical affection off Tidus at night.

But also, it's true that Tidus isn't much of a hugger here, so after defending his dear Inigo Junior, without Inigo Senior going after it, he sits it on his lap, then holds it out to the guy. ]

Wanna hug Inigo Junior?

[ Tidus truly just knows Inigo too well, doesn't he.

Enough so that he ought to recognize the expression on Inigo's face right now too. All pouty, like an oversized kid, slowly crossing his arms across his chest to complete the sulky look. ]

Why would I want to hug my replacement?

'Cause no one likes a jealous guy.

[ Tidus knows too, that there's only so far he should push this. And getting that whole huffy act is good and well. He takes the doll back, giving it a look, a slight tilt. ]

Was wondering what to do with this guy. I guess I should keep it. I'll put him up with...what's the name? Meenerva? Moinora?

[ He points up to their wyvern friend. It's not like they talk about her often, so he's doing his best to remember the name! ]

They can be pals.

.. Minerva.

[ It's still a little sulky, but there's zero offense at Tidus not remembering the name. It's true - Inigo doesn't mention it nearly enough for the other to actually be able to remember it in the first place.

And for what it's worth, Inigo does try to calm down. Letting out a breath. Trying to let the huffy energy fade, though it was only there because Tidus was teasing him in the first place. ]

How did you get that one, anyway?

[ Tidus, of all people, does not seem like the type to take back a plush animal from Aquafir.

.. not even if it's to tease Inigo with. ]

Minerva, [ Tidus repeats after Inigo, rather pleased it was close enough. See, Inigo! He listens! And his eyes go down to the otter as Inigo asks after it, deciding after a second to sit the little guy on Inigo's folded arms.

There we go. Now his face is near Inigo's! ]

Wei Wuxian gave me him. Don't know why - unless he feels bad 'cause I said I don't have any family around.

[ There's some humour in that, ridiculous, but Tidus doesn't care one way or another; at least, he's not going to take it seriously. ]

He doesn't know I already have you around if I want something to hug.

[ 'Cause that's what you get plush toys for, right. ]

[ PUTTING THIS LITTLE TEMPTING DEVIL SO CLOSE TO HIM, HUH. There's no way Inigo can fully resist that, especially when its little face is so cute. Not that he moves to hug it - not yet, perhaps? - but he does at least pick it up with both hands, giving it a glance over while Tidus is talking. ]

Yes, you've got that covered.

[ After all, Inigo is like an infinite hug machine. He never runs out. It'd be easier for Tidus if he did run out at some point!

But that's not the main point here, and he puts the little otter down on his lap so he can glance over at the other guy. ]

.. was he really that worried though about you not having family around? That just sounds like he's about to get the shock of his life at the rest of the train. [ After all, just how many of them do have family around from back home? ]

[ There's the laziest of shrugs. ] Who knows? He's an odd guy. [ But it's said lightly, with some fondness in it. He could add more, about how the subject even came around, but it doesn't really interest him to keep talking about.

So he leans shoulder to shoulder against Inigo, eyes on the otter, Inigo's hands in view. Sighs in a grumpy way, and wiggles his arm some for the incoming grumping: ]

It's gonna be mission time again soon. [ Siiiiiigh. Siiiigh, Inigo! ] What do we wanna bet it'll be? Another weird city?

Weird? I thought that word would be reserved for me when it comes to those places! [ Sure, it's not like Inigo doesn't know that neither of those places were exactly Zanarkand either, now he's actually seen the place in an illusion, but they still come so much closer to that place than they ever would have to Ylisse.

Still, Inigo doesn't quite sound grumpy as he says it. His voice is still light, a faint smile on his lips. ]

I think it'd be nice to go somewhere slightly more understandable again for once.

[ Oh Irivar, how he misses you. Not the awkwardness of losing people and having trouble with his friends, or the feeling of getting pummeled by Reno, sure.. But the place itself was pretty great. ]

That shouldn't be too tall of a request, should it?

Understandable, huh? [ If he were taking this more seriously, he might know what that is. But even as he looks back at every place in his mind...

He raises his hand between them, starts to give a finger as he goes back: ]

So we've got a mission with a giant sand fiend comes outta nowhere and crabs attack an island, a pile of orbs fall out from the sky from space and attack everyone; everyone catching a magical cold and also, there's a dragon on a mountain...

Tell me when I reach the one that makes sense?

[ Heh heh. ]

[ Inigo leans a little towards the side, towards the spot where there's no Tidus - though it's just so that he can noticably bump his shoulder into Tidus when he moves to lean back to that side, letting out a laugh. ]

You know what I'm hearing?

[ Especially considering that at least half of them aren't things that are as familiar with Inigo.. ]

I'm hearing, 'wow, Inigo, missions sure are much worse when you aren't around!' [ Granted, it's not like Inigo's presence or lack thereof has any bearing on the actual mission tasks, but.. ssh. It makes for good joke material here. ] Naga's punishing you for thinking other teams are more fun than being with your pal. By giving you.. space orbs.

[ Wow, bro, don't take his leaning post from him--! Oh, it's back. ]

You had the space orbs too! [ Excuse you! ] You guys just never saw them being orby. And, remember? First mission, we were both together! And I think when we were together on that second mission, someone -- [ He starts pointing a finger in Inigo's direction ] -- made me drop my food when I came over!

[ yeah, remember THAT, INIGO?? ]

I'm starting to see a pattern in all these missions.

[ A disturbing pattern! ]

[ HIS POINT STILL STANDS, BRO. If they were less orby, then they weren't orbs anymore! Doesn't count! But much more importantly, and hence why he actually voices that part out loud-- ]

Are you still going on about that? [ Dude.

Dude! It was just food! They still ate! ]

How much food have you had since that day? And how much of it was dropped just because you're a little startled by a hug from your pal, huh? [ It was definitely not just a hug. ]

More like a giant someone latching onto me from behind!

[ Look, look! He's opening his arms wide just to show a recreation of Inigo on that day, grabbing him behind!! ]

I'm gonna remember that! I still make sure to see you aren't sneaking up at me from behind. I know what you're like!

[ Nevermind the event of him grabbing Inigo from behind that probably started this. No siree. ]

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