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[ The letter - torn out from the page of his notebook, a messy but legible handwriting; pauses told in the way the slant or read of the words change - reads as follows: ]

hey, inigo. i was thinking about what you said the other day about starting over. it's not something i think about for me, and i know it's different between us. if i could go back to spira, i could get into blitzball again. i didn't have a life of fighting like you did to get in the way. all my life i never had to worry about surviving. i didn't have to struggle.

it's the same back in spira. everyone was struggling to keep living, to keep going on. even if summoners only staved off sin for a while, the sacrifice was worth it to them. everyone wanted to believe it would be the last time. this time, they would take away sin.

i never lived like that. even with everything i saw, i'll never understand what coming out from the other side of that is like. but it made me think of you. what you told me about your world.

thank you for the sacrifices you made.

i guess though, if i had to start off in a world with no blitzball... well, i can just start it up anyway! it would suck being alone, but i don't think either of us would be alone for long in a new life. remember when you told me your hobby was to know people and be around them? you wouldn't be able to resist being around people. helping them, getting someone's eye. it is scary to think about, but then, i think about getting to know there's a world out there that's thriving and alive because you saved it.

i think about it a lot for spira.

even if i'll never see it, i'm happy the worse it's suffering from is people squabbling

i wanted to encourage you about the future. got kind of sidetracked there huh? but i think you'll be okay Inigo. life is tough but you're tougher. and then you'll find some nice guy to hug with you everywhere.

i believe in a happy ending for you.

i just wanted to tell you that.

[ There's a lot to think about as he reads the letter. But what especially stands out is that tiny line at the beginning - It's not something I think about for me. Why not? It's not like Inigo doesn't know that Tidus has been seperated from the world he knew again, that he's been seperated from Yuna.. Tidus told him that, and Inigo's been painfully aware of the fact ever since Yuna left the train. But why wouldn't he start again? Why would he try to encourage Inigo to do the exact same thing Tidus himself seems to have no intentions of doing?

Inigo can't think of a reason. And considering Tidus himself has never given him a reason either, maybe it's something he doesn't want to talk about, something Inigo shouldn't ask.

He shoves the thought aside for another day. There's plenty of others right now, anyway. Like the anxiety about starting over by himself that he can't quite shake off deep down. Like the fact that Tidus honestly ought to give himself more credit in Inigo's opion too - it can't have been easy either to stumble into fighting and worlds being on the line when he never had to deal with it before. At least Inigo had been training even before literal hell broke loose. Tidus didn't even have that much to fall back on.

But more than anything.. there's Tidus being so supportive of him. Believing in him so much, to an extent no one has ever since his mother died, maybe aside from Roland.

Inigo doesn't even realise he's crying until he sees splashes of water appear on the paper, and it quickly makes him fold up the letter and put it aside. Jumblie squeaks as if in alarm, hugging Inigo, but he shakes his head. They're not bad tears, it's just.. overwhelming.

Instead he leans down to silently communicate something to the higgledy. ]

[ And Tidus himself better still be awake too, because a few moments later there's a pat-pat-pattering at his door as well. Don't let it wake up the whale, dude!! If he does open up the door, he'll find Jumblie behind it, though she doesn't seem to be holding anything. ]

[ no he's asleep go away ]

[ That was the plan, but will any of these higgledies allow a fellow higgledy to be ignored? Absolutely not. Hibber-Gibbers is shuffling around in Tidus's heart, speaking delightfully at him about their company, and truth be told, a tiny bit of Tidus wants to ignore it! He knows what this is going to be about, and it's not going to be bad, right? --but it's not like he's used to this. writing nicey-nice letters and getting replies.

It's kinda fun though. Except. Oh, right -- Jumblie.

Tidus gets out of bed, quiet as he goes to the door -- and opening it to see the tiny Jumblie, who he squats down to meet. Arms resting on the ends of his knees. ]

Hey. Am I in trouble?

[ Although she doesn't say anything - not even intelligible higgle squeaks - Jumblie does at least shake her head. It's just important that he knows he's not in trouble! Of course he's not! There is nothing to fear here, friend!

After shaking her head for a bit and making sure he's seen it, she just waddles straight ahead into Tidus's room.

And then to his bunk, jumping up to stand there on his bed. Are you following, human? ]

[ Wow, what is this about? Tidus follows her curiously, wondering if she needs the whole space of his bed. But thinking that can't be it -- or really, he just doesn't want to be standing around in the middle of the cramped room, Tidus ducks his head and joins her.

Then, in typical Tidus goofing off, he tips down his head to her, offering an ear. ]

What you gotta tell me, huh? Wait-! Did Inigo throw himself off the train?

[ Is that what happened, Lassie?! ]

[ The higgledy lets out a.. gasp? Squeak? Really, it's hard to tell with the kind of sounds they make, but she sounds surprised all the same. Her stubby arms start flailing in Tidus's direction, and although Jumblie is trying to be mindful of the fact that all these humans seem to be asleep and she probably shouldn't be making much sound right about now, she still lets out a few soft 'hig!'s, as if to say he shouldn't say that, that's too sad!!

And it's hard to tell if it's part of the reason why she came here in the first place or her still scolding him, but a moment later she wanders over enough to be able to touch his chest with her tiny arms, pushing it. Lie down! ]

[ It still gets a chuckle out of Tidus anyway, even if he is teasing Inigo's heart mate. Does Inigo have a camera on what's going on now through Jublie? That's a thought for later, when he isn't getting tiny hands(??) pressed into his chest. ]

You want me to lay down? [ Okay, okay. He's lowering, trying to sit with an arm propped so he can continue to look at Jublie without knocking her off. ] Now what? Is this going to take long?

[ Not to sound like he's complaining, but...!! ]

[ There may even be the faintest huff coming from her at that last question. Apparently she really is Inigo's heart mate, to be reacting to Tidus's teasing that way...

But there's no further protest. After all, Tidus is doing what she asked, so Jumblie is more than content. She waddles up a bit higher so rather than standing on his lap, she's instead standing on his chest, and then the higgledy settles down there. Jumblie lies down, almost curling up like a cat - as much as higgledies can do that, anyway, considering their tiny stumpy limbs.

And then she starts glowing. Even brighter than usually.

But that's not the only thing that happens. Despite the fact that Jumblie is very much linked up with Inigo's heart rather than Tidus's, it's like some sort of warmth about her seems to seep straight into Tidus's body, into his very bones. Like a light traveling through him, turning everything it touches into warmth, joy, happiness - the effect strengthened through the fact that she's riding on Inigo's connection to Naga, fainter but still present even in the void.

The warmth seeks out every happy memory within Tidus, trying to bring it to the forefront again. Moments of laughter. Swimming. Companionship. The joy of a sports victory. If he closes his eyes, it'll be like he can see it all again, even if some were memories he had nearly forgotten at this point.

Although there may be unfamiliar flashes too, brief but noticable. Scenes Tidus won't quite recognize. Seemingly endlessly sprawling flower fields, the laughter of children playfighting with wooden swords--

The feeling finally settles on Yuna's warm embrace, cuddles in bed, but it's like somehow all the sad parts of it are being held back. The missing, the longing, like all those painful edges have momentarily been cut off, leaving behind only the love, the warmth, the joy.

The feeling lingers even as Jumblie's glow dims again. ]

[ What an overwhelming feeling joy is.

Not that Tidus can comprehend that in the moment - a moment made out of many, seconds brought out that last with someone for a lifetime. That make a person who they are, to experience such happiness. Without realisation or thought, Tidus's arms embrace the small creature, though his reality is elsewhere.

In the past. In her gift. Hers, and Inigo's.

The small cramped cabin of their entrapment is forgotten for it, a strange thing to come back to once the effects of Jublie's power begin to ebb. Why he's there and not somewhere lighter, more joyous; and to lose it is... it's a pang, a stab, but not one that comes out sharp despite going in deep. Understanding the gesture, if lost for words for the longest time. As his arms around Jublie loosen, allowing her to be her cat-shape without his limbs in the way.

--well, briefly. Before he hugs her again, and then wraps his arms around her to bring her to settle onto the bed next to him; turning them both on their sides, leg kicking the blanket at his feet.

He brings his arm around his face, covering his nose and mouth; tucking the hand under his head. Because he can feel the tears starting to come, the words continuing to fail him. A joke on his lips, as hard as it is to come out. ]

Too much of a good thing can be a lot. [ Aha- and softer, more quiet: ] Okay. You and Inigo win.

You're better at letters.

[ Maybe it's easier to cry in front of a higgledy, huh. Their faces can't emote as well as humans, so with those shifting very little, it's hard to feel like you're being made fun of or judged. She even easily lets Tidus move her around, providing no resistance, until she's lying next to him and staring at him while he jokes through the tears.

But then she does speak up. A little more quietly than usual higgle-volume, but audible all the same. ]

Hig! Don't worry, dear friend. Joy will always return.

[ Maybe not as intense as in that moment just now, so much of it bundled together, but-- It'll be there, even if not always in the same shape as before.

Her tiny arm reaches out, gently patting the arm he's holding in front of his face in a 'there, there' kind of gesture. ]

The young traveller worries about you a lot. I can feel it in him, hig. But.. [ Her arm moves down to poke at Tidus's chest instead - at his heart, where she knows her higgledy counterpart resides. ] You have hope in your heart. You'll be alright.

[ There is some embarrassment to be crying, but in front of a higgledy, it's true Tidus feel quite as bashful as he would in front of another guy. And the tears are few, easy to wipe away with the back of his hand. Still threatening that more might fall, but- they're good tears. Really. ]

I know. [ That he'll be alright. They'll both--or all--be okay. Somehow, someday. He pokes at her chest back, lightly. ]

But I need you to watch out for Inigo too. Stay with him. Make sure he's never alone. It's a big job, [ he chuckles, ] but - there's a big reward in it too. Knowing Inigo.

[ So, it'll be worth it. ]

[ At that Jumblie jumps up, now standing on the bed. One of her tiny arms raised, like she's trying to salute, despite said arm being much too short to reach the top of her big head like that. It's easy to agree to - she knows very well what the inside of Inigo's heart is exactly like, after all.

So she'll keep herself to that by hopping off the bed. ]

Sleep well, young traveler.

[ Though.. you know. She may need some help getting that door open. Too tiny. ]

[ git gud ghibli reject

But no, Tidus gets up to follow her, once she isn't immediately under his feet. ]

Sleep well, [ he tells her, and opens up the door for her to leave, closing it quietly behind her. Though he won't be alone as she goes - with those memories of good times still dancing around in his heart, and not so painful to be reminded of. To drift into sleep with... ]

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