[ Tidus turns his head to his companion. His teammate, his friend; taking that step by his side, giving him reason to still his ever constant energy. Stand still, and be by his side. Reaching for the hand that Tidus knows Inigo likes to be held, just as any part of his body.
Squeezing it tight, present, refusing to relinquish it to anyone. Tidus watches Inigo as he speaks, then faces the audience that can't be seen, but spoken to everyone. To even the void itself: ]
Even when it gets hard, I'll keep going! I'll get up, over and over! I'm not going to be stopped here! [ His hand twitches, a quick tighten of his hold. ] I won't give up!
[ It's daring, it's complex, even for him to say. Out into this open room, as if making a promise. Speaking out to the him of earlier that month, the person still wearing his skin, in there. Himself.
Does he have the strength for this to be genuine? It's not a question he'll ask or answer, let itself have a table in his mind. Only the confidence matters. Only that -- that they should be true.
[ It's the exact same feeling that resides in Inigo's chest at this very same moment.
Maybe even moreso since something about Tidus grabbing his hand and squeezing it that tightly makes him realise. That this isn't just for Inigo, isn't just because of his own dumb insecurities.
He's not the only one who's been hurt. Tidus has been burned just as badly. If anything, both of them are stuck right at the same spot - at having to face the line that divides them from everything they love, erasing their place in the world they've known. (Even though Inigo may not fully understand yet just how extremely so that applies to Tidus.)
Because Tidus has been sad too. And worried. And scared.
And because still, still, still they can't give up.
Inigo's hand squeezes back with just as much force, as if the hand Tidus has offered him is his lifesaver, the only thing keeping him rooted to the here and now. ]
First to give up gets dragged back by the other.
[ This, too, sounds like a promise. Maybe it's the one thing they can do for each other. Never allow the other to fully be immersed in the pit of despair that always feels like it is lurking around the corner. ]
Impassioned words spoken to an empty room are both powerful and meaningless, an exercise Tidus knows well. Speaking them to no one but himself. A younger him, promising to be better than his old man - to beat him, to no longer be that scared little boy who'd cry and cry and cry. Too emotional for it to mean anything, but a stubborn heart and perseverance getting him somewhere. The same anger and hurt that drove him, also driving him to remember why he claimed this goal in the first place.
Because - I'm worth something too!
Words ring both true and meaningless. But right then with Inigo beside him, the promise in them, the trepidation that threatens him like a ghost, he ignores the doubt. ]
-- Deal.
[ His younger self never had somebody to lean on. No one he would let in. And here is Inigo, letting him in, all the time. More and more and more.
Tidus steps to face the other man without breaking their linked hands. Smiling, quiet, nothing needed to be said at first; wanting to appreciate this moment between for what it is a little more. And then- ]
[ It's not said with the usual kind of exaggeration that might come along with those words. Acting dramatically shocked, or offended, or any emotion that's played out way over the top.
This moment feels a bit too special for dramatics like that. Because that promise they just made - it's one Inigo intends on keeping himself to. Not like he wouldn't already have dragged Tidus back out of whatever pit of despair he may find himself in. But this time it's a little more sure, more certain. He won't let another situation happen like after Yuna left the train, where he was bumbling, unsure of how far he could go to help Tidus.
The next time he won't hesitate as much. And he knows he can count on Tidus to do the same for him. ]
.. sure, I guess. [ He squeezes Tidus's hand a little, gaze meeting his. ] What is it?
Well, [ he says, starts with, a small tip of the head, like Inigo should already know where this is going, because- ]
You have to go and talk to Roland!
[ It's not loud, but it's a declaration -- where this all seemed to begin, led them to this room, though that isn't quite true. But it was Inigo's concern, and though Tidus has no worries about how it'll go, even now. It worried Inigo, and so: His first challenge. ]
I'll come with you, to find him. But the rest of it is up to you.
[ It's said a little like the realisation of what Tidus just said is still hitting him, and so a moment later he repeats: ]
Oh! [ Yeah, he probably should have seen that one coming. But they were so serious for a moment there, and Inigo was so caught up in the mood, that he thought Tidus would be refering to something else entirely. Inigo's shoulders sag a bit, though not in defeat as much as he's just breathing out. Coming down a bit from the mood of a moment ago. ]
That's not even really a challenge. Telling him I like guys is much less terrifying than showing you my dancing. [ And he already did that, so this feels like the lesser challenge. ] But if you want to head that way with me.. then sure, let's go.
[ Admit it, Inigo, you absolutely forgot all that. But it's good to see Inigo being more sure about speaking to Roland than he was before, getting sulky because Tidus didn't understand. He gives Inigo a pat on the back of his shoulder before he moves off the platform, ready to get going. Oh, he wants to see Inigo being all embarrassed about making such a fuss! ]
How about you tell him with a dance? If you want a challenge so much.
But as he starts moving to head off to find Roland too, he can't help but roll his eyes when Tidus makes that joke. ]
I swear to Naga, if you let even a bit of that slip to Roland, I'm going to-- I'm going to be really mad at you! [ Not that he thinks Tidus wouldn't keep it a secret, considering how he's seen how worked up Inigo gets about dancing in the first place, but.. he's worried, okay! At least help him keep this one thing under wraps. ]
He'll still want to see it! I'm not ready for that!
[ PLEASE. He might just die at the very idea, especially when Roland is going to bring it up in such a.. such a Roland way! Inigo can already imagine it in his head, and just that idea makes him want to open a window and hop out into the void. ]
Now, are you coming already? Let's do it while I'm still pumped up for it!
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blitzcheer) wrote2020-04-28 11:07 am
no subject
Squeezing it tight, present, refusing to relinquish it to anyone. Tidus watches Inigo as he speaks, then faces the audience that can't be seen, but spoken to everyone. To even the void itself: ]
Even when it gets hard, I'll keep going! I'll get up, over and over! I'm not going to be stopped here! [ His hand twitches, a quick tighten of his hold. ] I won't give up!
[ It's daring, it's complex, even for him to say. Out into this open room, as if making a promise. Speaking out to the him of earlier that month, the person still wearing his skin, in there. Himself.
Does he have the strength for this to be genuine? It's not a question he'll ask or answer, let itself have a table in his mind. Only the confidence matters. Only that -- that they should be true.
They can be. They can be. ]
no subject
Maybe even moreso since something about Tidus grabbing his hand and squeezing it that tightly makes him realise. That this isn't just for Inigo, isn't just because of his own dumb insecurities.
He's not the only one who's been hurt. Tidus has been burned just as badly. If anything, both of them are stuck right at the same spot - at having to face the line that divides them from everything they love, erasing their place in the world they've known. (Even though Inigo may not fully understand yet just how extremely so that applies to Tidus.)
Because Tidus has been sad too. And worried. And scared.
And because still, still, still they can't give up.
Inigo's hand squeezes back with just as much force, as if the hand Tidus has offered him is his lifesaver, the only thing keeping him rooted to the here and now. ]
First to give up gets dragged back by the other.
[ This, too, sounds like a promise. Maybe it's the one thing they can do for each other. Never allow the other to fully be immersed in the pit of despair that always feels like it is lurking around the corner. ]
no subject
Impassioned words spoken to an empty room are both powerful and meaningless, an exercise Tidus knows well. Speaking them to no one but himself. A younger him, promising to be better than his old man - to beat him, to no longer be that scared little boy who'd cry and cry and cry. Too emotional for it to mean anything, but a stubborn heart and perseverance getting him somewhere. The same anger and hurt that drove him, also driving him to remember why he claimed this goal in the first place.
Because - I'm worth something too!
Words ring both true and meaningless. But right then with Inigo beside him, the promise in them, the trepidation that threatens him like a ghost, he ignores the doubt. ]
-- Deal.
[ His younger self never had somebody to lean on. No one he would let in. And here is Inigo, letting him in, all the time. More and more and more.
Tidus steps to face the other man without breaking their linked hands. Smiling, quiet, nothing needed to be said at first; wanting to appreciate this moment between for what it is a little more. And then- ]
Ready for your first challenge?
no subject
[ It's not said with the usual kind of exaggeration that might come along with those words. Acting dramatically shocked, or offended, or any emotion that's played out way over the top.
This moment feels a bit too special for dramatics like that. Because that promise they just made - it's one Inigo intends on keeping himself to. Not like he wouldn't already have dragged Tidus back out of whatever pit of despair he may find himself in. But this time it's a little more sure, more certain. He won't let another situation happen like after Yuna left the train, where he was bumbling, unsure of how far he could go to help Tidus.
The next time he won't hesitate as much. And he knows he can count on Tidus to do the same for him. ]
.. sure, I guess. [ He squeezes Tidus's hand a little, gaze meeting his. ] What is it?
no subject
You have to go and talk to Roland!
[ It's not loud, but it's a declaration -- where this all seemed to begin, led them to this room, though that isn't quite true. But it was Inigo's concern, and though Tidus has no worries about how it'll go, even now. It worried Inigo, and so: His first challenge. ]
I'll come with you, to find him. But the rest of it is up to you.
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[ It's said a little like the realisation of what Tidus just said is still hitting him, and so a moment later he repeats: ]
Oh! [ Yeah, he probably should have seen that one coming. But they were so serious for a moment there, and Inigo was so caught up in the mood, that he thought Tidus would be refering to something else entirely. Inigo's shoulders sag a bit, though not in defeat as much as he's just breathing out. Coming down a bit from the mood of a moment ago. ]
That's not even really a challenge. Telling him I like guys is much less terrifying than showing you my dancing. [ And he already did that, so this feels like the lesser challenge. ] But if you want to head that way with me.. then sure, let's go.
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How about you tell him with a dance? If you want a challenge so much.
[ Heheh! ]
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But as he starts moving to head off to find Roland too, he can't help but roll his eyes when Tidus makes that joke. ]
I swear to Naga, if you let even a bit of that slip to Roland, I'm going to-- I'm going to be really mad at you! [ Not that he thinks Tidus wouldn't keep it a secret, considering how he's seen how worked up Inigo gets about dancing in the first place, but.. he's worried, okay! At least help him keep this one thing under wraps. ]
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But he won't think anything less of you. Being gay or wanting to dance!
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[ PLEASE. He might just die at the very idea, especially when Roland is going to bring it up in such a.. such a Roland way! Inigo can already imagine it in his head, and just that idea makes him want to open a window and hop out into the void. ]
Now, are you coming already? Let's do it while I'm still pumped up for it!