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"Yeah? Then let's make it your wallpaper. So you can see it any time you want." Roland reaches one arm over Inigo and pulls him close again, a hug and a ruffle of hair. His fingers find the Set to Wallpaper option easily enough, and just like that, Inigo's new phone now houses a shiny new Home Screen.

Even after the photo op is all said and done, Roland takes his time and lingers. He's missed a lot. Between his adventures in another world and the time he should have spent keeping his family together in his first life, Roland barely had time to stop and smell the roses, always rushing from one place to the other like it meant something. In the end, even if the nuke was reversed and he was here at peace, he'll never forget the price to be paid. He won't forget that all of it was for naught, and that the worst part was never allowing himself to soak in every small moment granted to him. Inigo too, would often bring him to think about the future. How long would he stay in this world, with him? Would Naga take him somewhere far away when the time was right? Was this a world Inigo could make a name for himself, could stay in until he grew old?

Roland immediately pushes the thought back and thinks that it might be too soon for things like that. He was letting the moment pass him by again; Inigo just got settled. He needs to enjoy that for what it was. And so, in affection, Roland touches his nose against the crown of Inigo's head and plants a soft kiss there before pulling away, catching his eye. The Brand is still there, proof that magic was what brought them together for a new beginning.

"Inigo, always know that as long as you're here, you'll always have a home with me. Okay? With us."

It just had to be said. Before the day was done and he moved on to sillier things, playing with Inigo's phone and showing him the new features of the modern world.

Having already been softened up a moment ago, these little gestures of affection get to Inigo even more than they usually would. It's just all so sweet, and Inigo doesn't even know where to start expressing his gratitude about just how open Roland is with that affection. Pulling him close, planting little kisses in his hair. It's not any sort of affection Inigo ever had from his father back in his future, but it's familiar enough to what his mother always did.

And considering how every single memory he has of his mother, all the affection shared with her, is still so important to him, he treasures all of these tiny moments between him and Roland so much.

Especially since he never knew for sure if he'd be able to get here. There was the chance he'd fall in the battle with Grima, or that the Outrealm Gate somehow wouldn't be able to connect to Roland's world - the first world, his original world - but none of those bad possibilities came to pass.

He made it. He's here. And..

"I want my home to be here," he says. A little softly, but who needs to speak up loudly with how close the two of them are right now? "With you. And Will."

Sure, at first Inigo had been worried upon arriving here. That maybe he somehow wouldn't fit in. That he may interrupt something between Roland and his actual son. But both Roland and Will have been so consistently friendly and affectionate with him, more and more so with each day, that it's hard to feel like he wouldn't be welcome here at this point.

"Everything is still strange, and I'm still trying to get used to so much, but.. I've been so happy since I came here. I don't think I've worried about a single thing the past few days."

Which is super, super wild when you're Inigo and worry about everything, okay.

That alone could make anyone's heart grow ten times bigger, but in Roland's case, it only validates how glad he is that Inigo already feels like he can settle his roots in the modern world. At the time of Inigo's reappearance in this world, Roland was uncertain about how he would adapt. Though the 21st century was far more stable than Ylisse had been before Inigo and his friends saved the future, it wasn't one without its own fair share of horrors. Many of them even lay beyond Roland's control as president. And Inigo, sweet and lovely as he is; would he be alright dealing with such a cruel and harsh reality of a different nature? Where people could hurt you, manipulate you, control you?

He shakes his head. Overthinking would get him nowhere. Right now, he's heard what makes his soul soar, and that's Inigo's desire to stay where he is. With Roland, with his son. The acceptance that he's been wondering about, fearing for, finally realized. The only challenge now was to make sure Inigo wouldn't be making a huge mistake. To make him just as happy as he wants to make Will - both of them family now, both of them deserving of all the privileges he could offer.

He keeps close, lingers against Inigo with gentle strokes of his hair. "I want you to stay with us too, pup. We'll do everything we can so that you can live a good life here. Do what makes you happy, be with people who make you happy." Roland pulls away again, just to look him in the eye, sincerity rolling off of him in waves. In this world, he no longer retains his youthful visage. It made him apprehensive to think Inigo would not recognize him, or see him as he once did on the train. Crows feet slightly wrinkling the corners of his eyes, a more pronounced line against his mouth. Hair shorter, black luster losing some shine, but the grays streaking the sides of his hair. Would Inigo still treat him the same?

It's not a question that deserves the time of day. He knows the answer, now.

"So you gotta tell me if there's something we can do for you that we might not think of, all right? Promise me, Inigo." He touches his shoulder, an ask for affirmation. No hiding here; Roland's plea is simply to let him help his adopted son be the best person he can be in this brand new dimension.

He laughs a little.

"Well, my standards aren't too high, you know.."

Which is true. Despite having grown up as a prince, Inigo sure isn't too picky. Maybe it's since his parents were relatively down to earth, or maybe since it's not like he was very old and used to it already before it all fell away. Spending years and years sleeping on the cold ground and eating whatever you can find doesn't exactly make you someone who only requires the best of the best.

And really, Inigo already has all he does require. Just simply being here with Roland like this, with Will.. that's enough. It has taken away his one fear that kept lingering with him on the train - the fear that one day the train adventure would end and he'd be alone.

But he's not. He's got a place where he can stay. Somewhere where he's welcome, even. Roland probably has no idea of the sheer impact of those simple words. I want you to stay with us too. The idea of belonging somewhere, of being wanted.. It's so much. Almost too much. It's all Inigo ever wanted.

As he contemplates it for a moment, he ducks his head, trying to deal with the wave of emotion it makes wash over him before looking back at Roland.

"I think I'm already really happy as-is. I know I'm still trying to get used to everything, but that makes everything kind of new and exciting at the same time." He sucks in a breath. "I mean, if there's one thing I could ask for.."

He glances at the phone's screen, seeing the photo now set as its wallpaper.

"Since you have the weekend off, um.. could I maybe sleep with you in your bed so we can cuddle again before sleeping?" His pinks are slightly pink as Inigo brings it up. They did it on the train before, so it's not like it's new or odd to them, but.. Inigo can't help but worry. Maybe it was something Roland was only okay with because they were on the train. That, now Roland has returned to looking his proper age and they're both in his world, he might feel like Inigo should be acting more appropriately for his age - not a teenager who still likes to cuddle with its parent for warmth and comfort.

But Roland doesn't want to give Inigo the barest minimum. He doesn't want to set that standard - of his old life just trying to survive, happy not because they won but because he got to sleep soundly for a night without the Risen coming for them. That chapter of Inigo's life in an apocalyptic halidom is over. Roland wants him to start again; in the prophesized future Inigo's always been afraid to envision.

And it stands true to form that despite the promise of the world by Inigo's feet, the only thing he wishes from Roland is to sleep by his side like he used to ask of him a long time ago. The thought in itself is heartwarming, but the sincerity of the request just makes him feel like no matter where Inigo is, no matter how much he'll grow up, he'll remain the same boy he once saw on that platform once upon a time: kind, generous, strong in every way that counts. A heart that beats gentle and true.

Roland's eyes crinkle in delight. He doesn't laugh often, but when he does, it's soft and breathy, like he's unused to the sound. But it's endearing all the same. "That's all you want? Heh. Not a problem, pup. That bed's way too big for just me anyway." Could even fit Will in there, if he wanted! The more the merrier, right? He also remembers something else; something that might just be the cherry on top. Roland pretends to dust off Inigo's shoulders before he nudges his chin carefully with his fingers. For a second, he's forgotten what he actually wanted to show Inigo on his brand new phone, but this is something he does want Inigo to hear.

"Wanna know the best part?" Roland says. "This time, we won't fall asleep together then wake up alone." No cabin magic to whisk you away as soon as the train decides its morning. None of that to hold them apart. "You'll still be there at dawn. I'll still be there at dawn." This, Roland means in more ways than one.

It's a thought that's crossing Inigo's mind as well, even without Roland mentioning that part about Will out loud. Surely it'd be nice to do together with him too - especially since Will seems to love their company so much. Especially since Will had to sleep all by himself, so far away from his father, so often before. There's the tiniest worry in Inigo's mind that the kid may find it odd, since Inigo is quite a bit older than him, but.. he knows Will is so kind. So softhearted. He wouldn't judge Inigo that easily, right?

They'll have to try it out sometime. Once Will is back from summer camp. They'll find some time to squeeze in for it, even with how busy Roland is. Inigo will make sure of it. As much as he adores Roland, as much as he can't even express in words how glad he is that the other is willing to view himself as his father even now, filling in the gap of the father Inigo lost so long ago - he would never want to keep Roland all to himself. If anything, Will deserves it even more than him, so Inigo will forever keep trying to find ways for all of them to share in this happiness.

It's a thought for later though. Right now he just smiles at Roland's easy agreement.

And at the older man knowing exactly what to say to soothe Inigo's heart. To iron out all the wrinkles of fear in it.

This time, the good things won't end so fast.

"And you won't have to go anywhere either." Because if it isn't a train calling them away, then it could just as easily be one of Roland's presidential duties. "So that means plenty of time for after-sleep-snuggles in the morning."

His cheeks are a little rosy. Not out of embarrassment this time, though. It's just sheer happiness. His hold on the phone tightens a little bit.

"I never thought things would turn out like this."

Could he have imagined it, during any of those times when he was lying on the ground wide awake in the future, trying to sleep but failing with the constant threat of the Risen looming over him? That one day, instead, he would have a spot where he would belong, just the way he is, without any mask. Accepted for his soft and somewhat childish self.

Roland lets loose a chuckle and ruffles his hair again, affection that comes easily when they're in the privacy of a shared home - Inigo's home now, too. He wants to be here. "After sleep snuggles, huh? That's new for me. All right. Just know I wake up pretty early, okay?" And that admission is only to warn Inigo that if he gets up at the crack of dawn, Roland will do his best not to wake him too.

He settles back down and sits comfortably again, legs crossed and his own phone out of his pocket out of habit. A slight frown on his face as his notifications show 17 missed calls and texts already, which he ignored out of respect for the vacation he asked for. Though his fingers itch to check what work was waiting for him, it's Inigo's words that jolt him to reality. Roland glances to his side, the earnestness in Inigo's voice making him feel even more guilty for absentmindedly checking his phone as if he wasn't interested in what he wanted to show Inigo in the first place. Roland felt the same, too. What did either of them expect after that adventure on the train, anyway? To never see one another again? What good was the promise of holding each other's hands through the dimensions if the void itself controlled where they went, where they go?

More than that; there was the uncertainty of his nation. Would he have doomed Inigo by taking him to a world that was fraught with the same peril, the same ruin, as Ylisse? If his luck had turned out any differently, Roland wouldn't have forgiven himself for dragging him into another version of the end of days. But look at them now, here, a roof under their heads, Inigo's exploration of a new reality lending them both a second chance to start anew. It's a sentiment that moves Roland to take one of Inigo's hands to hold, the one that wasn't holding his own phone, fingers interlocked as his other hand cancels all the notifications that he missed. Swiped to the right, as if they were never there. He won't doom his new family like this. Won't make the same mistakes that drove them away the first time.

"It's like a dream, isn't it? Too good to be true." He grips Inigo's hand. "But I won't accept anything but this, now. Thank you for finding us again, Inigo. For finding me." He then shows him the screen of his phone, instructional almost. Presses the menu button, and out comes a plethora of other icons lined up nicely, by alphabetical order. More apps.

"Speaking of finding...Can you go to this page on your phone too? I've got something here that you'll enjoy. I'm sure of it." He's patient, watching closely in case he presses something else. Just the menu button - with the complete lineup of pre-installed programs! Shouldn't be too difficult, since he's already gotten a grasp of the basic functions, calling and texting.

Honestly, Inigo still isn't the best at handling phones with one hand. It'll come in due time, surely, but he's still a little too new to this level of technology to be entirely comfortable with operating it yet. Sure, he can press the menu button fine with one hand, but scrolling through the list of programs that appear with one finger, immediately curious, is harder.

But he's still attempting to do so one handed anyway. Because he refuses to let go of the hand Roland is holding right now, especially after what the other said. It feels like it ties him to reality, reminds him that this truly is real. That it's not a dream. Roland is right here by his side, living and breathing. Older than before in appearance, but so very recognizably Roland all the same.

"This page?" He asks, glancing from Roland's phone over to his own to see if it's the same. It looks similar enough. "What should I be looking for?"

"That's right." He won't mind the pace in which they discover this together, won't mind that the sun slowly sets on the living room, bathing the room in an almost orange haze. It feels intimate, like he finally belongs in this space. Will the only piece missing, but just the fact that he's healthy enough to go out without Roland by his side is a celebration in of itself. Maybe Inigo did wish everything back for his sake, Will's health included? Was this Naga's doing too?

He won't wonder too hard on it. Roland would rather not look a gift horse in the mouth.

"So you can swipe left and right like this," He demonstrates with his thumb, moving across home screens, back and forth for Inigo to study. "To navigate around the phone. You don't have to use your thumb either, any finger will do." Just in case he has to point that out too! Pun intended. "Then try finding this, it should be pre-installed." Or at least, that's what his interns told him. The app in question looks like a red square with a shape in the middle. The name: UTube. ~~We stan off-brand!~~

He had to get a whole crash course on all the trending apps and innovations, you know! His goal is to make sure Will and Inigo had the most to do in this second chance, this second life. Make them happy, in every which way, even if it's just to keep up with technology Roland's never been too keen on immersing himself in.

"Hmm.."

He hums in concentration as he tries to do what Roland is telling him. Thankfully Inigo does have the advantage of still being young and capable of taking in new information more easily - or this whole 'catching up with the modern world' thing would have been doomed from the start. But he manages to at least follow what Roland is saying. Trying to swipe the screen, looking for the icon..

"This one?" He glances over to Roland's phone. It looks like the same one!

(Of course Inigo has absolutely no idea how much effort Roland has had to put in to get caught up to today's newest and most populair apps - he figures that of course, with Roland being Roland and therefore amazing, he would know! By default!)

He's already clicking it, his eyes growing wider with surprise and amazement as the front page of the app appears on his screen.

"There's so many.. pictures? No, wait, they are moving! Those are videos!" See, he's at least got some knowledge about these things stored away in his brain already! Thanks to the train for teaching him what a video is... Although this device sure is a lot smaller than the ICPs back on the train.

Inigo's got it right on the nose, so Roland will let him explore on his own before he pipes up with another explanation. He will, however, let them get more settled in, letting go of Inigo for a moment so he can stand and adjust the living room as nightfall comes creeping slowly in. More lights are switched on, revealing a clean space, almost unused. Straight lines, shelves and china cabinets with pristine plates and cutlery...but also walls adorned with countless picture frames spanning decades of memories. And now there are more to come, more moments to snap, like the selfie with the newest member of his family.

He returns to Inigo's side after the light he switched on for their photo is switched off again. Remind him to get rid of that thing and change it to a more flattering lamp. Roland sits in his spot and drapes an arm around the back of the sofa, peering in whatever it is Inigo has discovered on the wonders of the internet.

"So, found anything interesting yet? This app - short for application - is about showcasing all sorts of videos to its users. You can watch people record themselves singing, cooking, even eating!" Roland's forgotten what it's called, but some of his interns described it as an eating show where people pay the person on camera to eat for them and he didn't want to jump into that strange, strange rabbit hole. So he'll keep going to what might actually interest Inigo -

"...Even dancing. Dance videos, where groups or solo artists rehearse in front of a mirror. I've seen a couple, myself." He isn't sure how to breach the topic, but he's already at the precipice. Aware that he's no longer physically close to Inigo's age now, so it may come across as awkward. But Roland desperately wants to try for both his sons, to connect with them in this second half of his life.

He clears his throat nonchalantly, and continues onward. "Maybe in time, you can set up an account and upload your own. People would watch and learn from you."

It's a sign that Inigo is starting to get a bit more used to being here that he doesn't move when Roland does - just letting the older guy stand up and take care of the lights. His initial first few days here had been rather nerve-inducing, worried that maybe he somehow couldn't stay, constantly trying to stick by Roland's side as much as he could, like he would disappear from this world the moment he'd lose sight of Roland.

But while it hasn't exactly been long since he first came to this world, it's been at least long enough that Inigo knows he won't suddenly find himself back in Ylise. Or nowhere at all. Roland leaving his side isn't enough of a reason to panic anymore, at least, and as expected, the other is back at his side only a few moments later.

While Inigo has just been scrolling through this app, finding more and more videos appearing as he scrolls down, like an infinite supply of them. Just how many of them are there on this..?

When Roland mentions dancing, Inigo is already - slowly - typing it into the search bar once he's found it, planning on seeing what he can pull up, but the motions of his fingers stop entirely when he hears what Roland says as he continues.

".. my own?" Inigo, being both incredibly shy about his dancing and completely technologically illiterate, had never even thought about the idea of videos of him dancing.. Though as he's slowly considering it now, his cheeks turn pink as he looks up from the phone and over to Roland. "B-But how many people would see those then?"

"Well, you're pretty good at it. So I'm sure you'd get to a thousand, ten thousand, even a million views eventually." Way to induce his panic, Roland? But how could he lie to him when he's been nothing but confident about Inigo's abilities from the get-go? Especially after discovering his hidden talent, one he developed from watching his mother. It's so endearing to Roland that he can't help but support it, even if Inigo's never once thought about doing it in the new world.

To help his cause, Roland leans over his shoulder again to check what he's scrolling through. Finds a nice thumbnail and clicks it with his pointer finger. It's a tutorial of a dance that was just released, and he watches it with him with the occasional commentary. "See, you could do this easy. I'd record you. It doesn't have to be now, but watch more videos like this and you'll find your dancing feet in no time, pup."

It may be that Roland thinks too innocently of finding a community on the internet, but he'll warn Inigo about the dangers of the world wide web some other time. For now, he's content to open up this new avenue to him, something to make him happier as he settles down with their family.

"Well.."

Inigo's voice trails off, attention taken up by the video Roland starts. To a certain extent the other is right. It is something Inigo could do easily, and he recognizes as much when he watches the dance. The moves may be new to him, but he knows he'd be able to copy them with a bit of practice. It might even be fun - it's a little wilder and more poppy than he's used to back home, but he's always liked picking up new things, dance-wise.

But the idea of him being filmed is something else entirely. The idea of a regular crowd watching him was already always too much for his heart. And while he's let Roland watch him dance before, even that still flusters him at this point. He's just so shy about this.

But.. a million views? A million people watching him? Him? He doesn't even know how only a few people would have interest in him, let alone that many.

"T-That's so many people though, father. I.. can I really show it off to that many people? And what if they find it by randomly looking like this and don't like it?" Inigo may be anticipating the bad side of the internet before even learning it actually exists. Thanks, anxiety.

He makes an expression that isn't quite dismissive, but unbelieving. So confident is Roland in Inigo's overall ability, it didn't matter if it was something as intense as sky diving with a blindfold on. Roland knows Inigo can do it if he put his mind to it, driven by the thought of how much the boy has overcome in his life that nothing else could compare. Certainly not a dance that was beneath Inigo's skills! Roland's seen it for himself too; the complexity, the way his muscles knew exactly how to dance in a manner that betrayed such a lithe and toned form. The gracefulness he could have only developed through constant training, and inherited intuition from his mother...oh yes, Roland won't relent.

But he also knows how Inigo works, having spent so much time with him now. He can't push him too much; has to nurture the desire to do it for himself. Besides, new world or not, Inigo isn't a kid anymore. If he didn't want to do it, then that was his decision. Roland would only hope that he takes whatever avenues his modern nation can offer such a talented young man.

"Why don't we start with something more...bite-sized then? There's that, ah, app...Hold on." Maybe it wasn't the idea of posting a dance online that was intimidating, but the channel where he gets to do it on? He quickly excuses himself from Inigo's side again, if only to return to his own phone. He crosses his legs, one over the other, and ~~ignores the notifications from the office, he's not going to do this again~~ dials a number from the phone book. Puts the phone up to his ear as it rings four times before someone picks up.

His voice is very clearly different when he's talking to someone from work versus how he speaks to Inigo when they're in private. But the nature of this phone call is far from what Inigo might assume...And this is revealed immediately when the conversation keeps on.

"Hi, Sadie? Yes, yes this is the president. No, don't worry about it. I'm sorry to disturb your afternoon!" He hums, nods, laughs. Pleasantries, but this isn't what he called her for. "Fantastic, tell him I'm letting you off the hook tonight. It's Friday, go out to a bar! Heh. Anyway, let me make this quick. I just wanted to ask you something about the uh, smartphone app? The one you told me about." Roland's brows furrow. He makes affirmative sounds under his breath, before he starts wrapping it up. "Okay, so it should be pre-installed too? Yes, the smartphone is new. Alright, I can take it from here." There's audible laughter, loud enough for Inigo to hear, from the other end of the phone. Roland looks dryly on.

"Very funny. Thanks, Sadie. Good night." He presses something on the button and turns back to Inigo. Whatever bravado he had to offer his intern on the phone...is completely gone, now. Roland rubs the back ofh is head and makes to gesture for the phone Inigo has. Oh boy.

"So uh, pup. We could try looking at something called, Tik Rok? Can you check on your screen if you have it there? It should be labeled."

Edited 2020-11-13 12:50 (UTC)

.. hold on?

It's those two simple words that get Inigo's head to stop spinning with thoughts for a moment, gaze instead turning to curiosity as he glances over at Roland. At first he assumes Roland is making a work call - especially since Inigo doesn't even have any idea of how many the other is ignoring right now, he just thinks this happens to be the first one that had to be done this afternoon! - but his eyebrows raise further as he starts hearing just what Roland is talking about on the phone.

And in true kid fashion - despite the fact that Inigo is already late in his teens - he can't help but lean over and try to listen in. One hand resting on Roland's thigh to support him as he leans over, practically cheek to cheek with the older guy as he tries to hear what's going on on the other side of the line without even bothering to hide what he's doing.

Inigo can't really hear it, mostly just hears Roland speak, but he isn't giving up just yet! He lingers there all the way until the call ends, although he's at least good enough to stay quiet.

(Even though he almost asked Roland to say hi from him. Look, Inigo had to be careful at first when he showed up here without any real identity in this world - but now one has been forged for him, he sure wants to catch up on the socializing he's missed. Or rather, he just wants to get to know the people important to Roland, the ones he spends time with when he's away from their little family. But-- look! He's being good and not interrupting things!)

He does move back to sit on the couch properly again though when there's no more listening in to do. And scrolls down all the way until he sees the name of the app under the icon.

"This one?"

He's even already pressing it, since it looks right! Little does Inigo know what kind of Pandora's Box he's opening here...

"W--Woah, Roland! Something's playing already!" INSTA-PLAY IS TOO MUCH FOR THIS MEDIEVAL BOY, SLOW DOWN.

Roland is so comfortable with Inigo's presence that even when he tries to overhear the conversation, he doesn't flinch or move around. In fact, he might be happy to know Inigo didn't catch a single lick of that conversation, especially when all Sadie did at the end of it was to laugh at Roland claiming 'he can take over from here.' "No offense, Mr. President, but you're not exactly very good at these things." RUDE. He is a fast learner! He has a tablet for emails! A phone for calls and video chats with his cabinet!

But that bravado, that confidence, it all melts away the moment Inigo finds the TikRok app - it was spelled in one word apparently, such are the gimmicks of the modern world - and the phone speakers blast with a video that does indeed, insta-play.

"What in the - !?"

Guess who is also caught totally off-guard. First of all, Inigo did not press a single thing, so why was a video playing? Second of all, why in the world was this new smartphone so loud? Where's the volume control on this thing? The side buttons, right...?! And lastly as Roland and Inigo watch the short clip that plays for around ten to twelve seconds, he looks completely dumbfounded, resting a hand on his knee and leaning forward till it finishes rolling out. INIGO, PLEASE DON'T SCROLL DOWN LEST THEY GET ANOTHER INSTA-PLAY VIDEO --

"Why would you do that to your poor pet dog and post it on this thing...?"

Wow this is going to be the blind leading the blind, Roland that's a Time Warp Filter, but no one is going to tell him that today. He refuses to give his interns power by admitting he actually really did need their help!

Excuse me, what is that you just said? Don't scroll down?

Because that's exactly what Inigo is doing. Can you blame him? It's practically instinct! He's trying to get this sudden moving video of this odd, odd dog face away from him, so he's scrolling down in an attempt to make it disappear!

But of course that doesn't work. Instead of giving them blissful silence, it just goes right over to the next video, which happens to be this one.

.. which just makes Inigo's jaw drop as he stares at it. Unsure of what he's watching.

"Father.. What is that man doing?"

Please explain this modern custom to him?

"I don't....know!"

Why was this man making such weird arm gestures? Why is he making sounds? Who is he trying to be? Who is he trying to make fun of? Why was this worth turning on a camera for and posting on the internet???? Roland is not going to panic. This was an app. Made by humans. The humans of the modern earth. This was not going to defeat him. Goodness, he just wanted Inigo to have an app to use to post his dancing that didn't have to last a whole song!

Roland's frown is deep as he tries to scroll down further, attempting to at least lower the volume. Why do they keep playing without him having to press the play button? How much has he actually missed and what part of this is basic technological incompetence?? The answer lies in the next video that plays --

-- and he doesn't understand, he doesn't get it!! He makes a sound of frustration as his hands reach for his phone by his lap again, though his eyes are focused on what they're watching.

"Sadie, if you're pranking me..." He's already dialing her number. "Don't worry, pup. We'll get to the bottom of this." This is a NATIONAL EMERGENCY. Intern Units, please pick up, you punk teenagers showing him and his new medieval son an app that parades around as an agent of chaos! In the meantime, Inigo should get the hint to stop scrolling around, right? Roland leaves one hand on his wrist to try and signal him to pause, but since when could this guy control teens anyway?

It's all up to Inigo and the TikRok now.

Ironically enough Roland's reaction feels more reassuring to Inigo than it would have felt if Roland had just known what was going on. All of this is so weird, and Roland looking so confused and then frustrated is a good sign that this isn't just something Inigo doesn't understand because he's medieval. No, this is just a weird confusing universal constant.

And he's sure Roland will get to the bottom of this with this call, but Inigo just.. he can't help it. He's so morbidly curious now. He knows he shouldn't scroll and make more videos be displayed, but he wants to see what else this confusing, weird app is hiding from him!

So he does scroll while Roland waits for someone to pick up and help, and the first thing that pops up is this.

Which just.. makes Inigo stare.

He doesn't even scroll further, it just loops a few times. And unfortunately that means the algoritm has got him figured out by now. By the time Inigo does scroll on from it, the whole scroll only feeds him more and more clips of handsome shirtless guys posing for the camera, and Inigo can feel himself starting to sweat more and more.

Oh no. Why now. Why while he's right next to Roland, this is the WORST POSSIBLE CIRCUMSTANCE TO WATCH THESE VERY HOT CLIPS UNDER, HE FEELS LIKE HE'S DOING SOMETHING ILLEGAL-- Inigo starts scrolling faster and faster to try and prevent Roland from seeing those videos, hoping something else will come up, but nope. It's just hot guys all the way down.

"D-Don't look!"

Yeah, Inigo, clearly he's not going to look while you're acting so suspicious. Sure helping your own case here.

It's to no one's advantage that Sadie has decided to do the Intern thing and take Roland's advice to clock out for the night, which means her phone rings and drops the call immediately after. He's not about to give up though, especially when its her and her team that introduced such a strange app to him. Once upon a time, he was aware of another similar app, though the name escapes him now...Something to do with plants? But had the same concept of chunks of video with overlayed music and text. When you see one, you've seen them all!

"I'm not going to leave you a voicemail, kid. Come on, pick up..." God forbid she answers his message in public; it wouldn't be a good image to have the president of the country waiting on your voice messages. But as he rings his phone again, raising it to his ear in a second attempt, Roland's eyes drift back to Inigo's phone, spurred by his son's sudden spike of nerves and a clearly red face. It worries Roland of course, the reaction immediate as he puts his phone down, his thumb on the speaker button. Did he upset him? Was this too much modern for his teen?!

"Inigo, what's - "

The TikRok that plays on blast is...an interesting one. Enough to pull him to the orbit of such a strange, almost erotic display. 'Wait a minute?! Erotic?!' Roland's eyes are transfixed until the entire video plays out, but he isn't able to react appropriately until Sadie, god bless her soul, answers the call and her voice is clear as day as it blasts out through the speaker. 'Mr. President, is there something wrong?'

Roland awakens to it, almost as flustered as Inigo now that more of this challenge TikRok starts playing on the instant that he scrolls down. More men slamming their palms and hands against the wall, trapping other men against them and - !

He almost fumbles with his phone as he responds rather heatedly, voice pitched high and in a state of near panic:

"H-Hey, what kind of app is this?! Is this one of those dirty programs?!"

Well.

These videos.. are.. something, alright. Of course Inigo has absolutely zero idea of what's going on, but does that really matter? Even if he doesn't understand context whatsoever here, all he can do is stare all the same, because the concept of this is just so.. so hot. Oh Naga, what he wouldn't give to be pressed to the wall like that by one of these handsome, muscled guys. Naga, he's seen what you've done for others, can you now do this for him...

Except the problem is still that Inigo is hyper-aware of Roland's presence. Especially when the other speaks up like that, panicked and loud enough to almost make Inigo's ears ring at impact. And there's absolutely nothing worse than fantasizing about being pressed to a wall by a hot guy right in front of your father, biological or adoptive or otherwise.

It's especially the use of the word 'dirty' that has Inigo choking on his own spot, breaking out into a coughing fit. The phone slides off his lap, lying abandoned on the couch between his and Roland's legs as more and more of the videos keep playing. Not that Inigo can even see them, he's definitely doubled over into his coughing fit, his face still bright red.

Roland's in a tizzy.

Between the laughter howling from the other end of the phone line, to Inigo suddenly hacking up a lung all of a sudden, he's not quite sure what to address first. So in typical Roland fashion, he goes for Inigo first, patting his back with a firm hand to try and placate his coughs, though it may only have just made it worse since half his mind returns to the other phone between them. Good Lord, people were bored on the internet if all they had to do to get a following was to take their shirts off and dance to some overlaid, generic pop music...Maybe he'll just never understand it?

He's forgetting the point of this whole exercise though, and it's for Inigo to discover the new home he's made for himself. Roland doesn't even want to think about what it might mean if Inigo is too overwhelmed with all this and won't want anything to do with this new and improved Earth anymore! He takes a deep, calming breath before he multitasks, finally speaking into the phone where his group of interns finish cackling at the President. The absolute nerve of the youth.

Thankfully, it's still on speaker, for Inigo's delicious benefit.

'Sir, TikRok is just a video hosting app! It's not dirty or anything, but you can't control what people post on it, y'know?' She sounds like she's trying to hold herself back from laughing again. Before Roland can even interject though, Sadie the Intern very obviously directs her voice to Inigo, who she knows is on the other end with Roland by sheer context.

'Heeeeey, 'Nigo! I'm glad you got to see those, you have fun okay? You know you can message your favorite content creators any time on your phone, if you wanna...talk to them and stuff! Heehee! I'll teach you how, get my number from your dad!'

Whatever Inigo's reaction is to this blatant disregard for his father literally sitting right next to him as they attempt to set him up with hot strangers, Roland puts the phone up to his ear after removing it from speaker in a slight reprimand. Something about how he needs further instruction on how to use this part of the internet, for Inigo's well-being and safety being the son of the head of state, and that if any man was to attempt to even court him, it would have to go through Roland first and foremost.

"...Is that understood? And to begin with, I have connections to sons of diplomats! Inigo could have a much better chance with the son of the Espanyan ambassador than these...these...ridiculous looking internet stars!"

The phone call does eventually end, but Roland is still going to try to catch his breath. And his nerves. What just happened?!

This afternoon sure turned a lot wilder than Inigo could ever have expected from Roland coming back home early. Though maybe not in a bad way necessarily - especially since the coughing fit doesn't kill Inigo, thankfully. His face is still very red, sure, but he's finally sucking in some oxygen again now, the coughing stopping enough for him to be able to actually hear Sadie's voice over the phone.

.. though Inigo has no idea what to say back to that. His mind is still processing the fact that he could actually.. talk to these people. These hot guys. He could talk to them. And they may talk back to him. To him!

Thankfully - or maybe not? - Roland takes back control over the phone before Inigo can even say a thing, and then just has to add even more hot guys into the game here. The son of an ambassador? That sounds so fancy! What would they be like? Exotic? Handsome? Ugh, when he decided to come over to Roland's world, he didn't quite expect it to be filled with handsome guys! Not that his father isn't handsome for a guy his age too, but--!! Maybe Roland was just an outlier and shouldn't be counted!

It's Inigo who finally breaks the silence after the phone call is over.

"F-Father, I.. I don't think you have to worry about any guy courting me.." Why would they want to! He's just some weird otherworldly guy! Please, he doesn't even know how a blender works. Inigo is pretty sure blender-challenged guys aren't attractive to handsome guys!

He shakes his head, trying to get rid of the redness on his cheeks when he properly faces Roland again.

".. though I don't think these men are ridiculous looking, if anything they are quite handsome..." Yes, that's Inigo's voice slowly descending into a whisper, not wanting to lie, yet not wanting to offend his father's - apparent - delicate sensibilities either.

Before he even has chance to correct him - of course they would want to court you!, and if they had Words to say, then they would face the full wrath of the President of the United States! - Inigo already mutters something he didn't expect. Sat this close together on the couch, it's impossible not to hear him trail off, even if he mumbles his voice so that the words obscure under his breath. Roland looks at Inigo with wonder, eyes slightly wide. The phone in his hand is given a tertiary glance, before he blinks.

Roland might be back to his normal age and self, but he's by no means a complete and total prude! In fact, he would be the first to encourage Inigo to widen his social circle as soon as he's comfortable with the modern world. And if that meant going on a date or two with a guy he meets along the way...so be it! That's how you learn what you like and what you don't in life partners!

Inigo's into commitment, right?

Gah. Roland is thinking too far ahead in this parenting thing. (Was Will going to grow up this way too?! Did he want a girlfriend or - ?!) He shakes his head, then holds the phone up to Inigo so he can see its screen. The TikRok home page is there, but thankfully, has stopped playing videos for them to screech at. Or drool over, depending on who's watching and asking.

Roland points to it.

"You mean you like guys that come up in videos like this?" Just confirming. Just making sure. He wants to get to know Inigo in this new space! This new territory! Can't make mistakes! He asks again. "This is your type?" The dancing, macho, super muscled guys who seem to always know their angles even in selfie mode?

Huh. Maybe the son of the ambassador of Espanyan was the wrong pool to fish from. He can take Inigo with him to state dinners instead, the West Coast probably had his kind of guy...This is what Roland is thinking about now, okay. Don't stop him!

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