middleofsomewhere | Event: Healing Waters

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Event: Healing Waters

"Good morning passengers, it is day twenty three of the month of Grasshopper. All passengers of the Voidtrecker Express require rest. Next stop Jema’grethy Island. All passengers prepare to disembark."

It is a very strange morning message that rings through the train on the morning of day twenty three but as the passengers of the Voidtrecker Express wake their screens glow with the colour of the void and a holographic screen pops up for them to read.

World #2554098133741: A world once inhabited by an ancient civilisation and now preserved as a historical site, nature reserve and well-being retreat. It is famous for its relaxing hot springs, calming atmosphere and beautiful beaches.

It is a popular void-traveller destination, particularly among void missionaries as a place to rest and recuperate after difficult missions.

The Voidtrecker Express will spend three days here, arriving today and leaving on day twenty six of the month of Grasshopper. The dressing carriage is open for your convenience.

It is time for a holiday it seems!

Preparation

For those who go to explore the dressing carriage they will find a variety of beachwear and wetsuits. One cupboard has a pile of tents and groundsheets in all four team colours.

One cabinet is exclusively filled with beach towels, in a kaleidoscope of colours, designs and patterns. Another is filled with different shapes and sizes of plain towel dressing gowns. There is even a cabinet with buckets, spades and small rock-pooling nets.

It seems they are in for quite an adventure.

Arrival

"Shortly arriving on World #2554098133741. Exit from void in ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one."

The train lurches and rattles as it leaves the void they will get a glimpse of silver-purple sky and a beautiful ocean below.

However some passengers might be a little more than distracted, one staring at that table for a second too long, another seeming lost in thought for a couple of seconds, a longer than normal pause in a sentence. They see a vision, a glimpse of a life that is not their own. Not all at once, but here and there as the train descends to the island.

But then it is gone and things are back to normal. Just in time, as they come to land.

Jema’grethy Island

The train has landed on a grassy ridge, overlooking a beautiful beach of white sand and the ocean beyond. It is warm, but not too hot, a cool ocean breeze cutting through the heat making it pleasant. Behind them is a grassy plain, changing to forest in the distance. There is the sound of birdsong in the purple sky. To the west the land is more craggy, the silhouette of a fortress in the distance. In a word, it is idylic. A sense of peace permeates the island.

A little more worrying is the volcano-like structure in the north. But even a quick glance will show it is not a typical volcano. There is no smoke and the liquid slowly running down it in rivulets is pink and blue.

Exploring the passengers will find beautiful beaches, ragged cliffs to walk and caves to explore. Where it is more craggy the beaches are made of pebbles- perfect for rock pooling.

The place has no people, but it is clearly maintained. The eastern beaches have racks of shallow boats, both canoes and one- or two-person sailing dinghies. There is also a small building in which scuba gear is stored, along with several waterproofed manuals and instructional literature.

Ruins of ancient houses are scattered across the island, but the main settlement is built into a rocky section in the north-west that has been secured with ropes and stairways cut into the cliffs, perfect for scrambles and hikes.

There are no living quarters, but there are sheltered sections with basic toilet facilities marked as camping grounds in five different sections of the island - by the hot springs, within the ruined fortress, beside the harbour, on the eastern beaches, and on the northern face of the mountain.

Hot Springs

To the west are the hot springs. They have both outdoor and indoor areas; the indoor areas being wooden loghouse saunas, changing rooms and storage sheds, whilst the outdoor areas are a tiered series of pools spilling down the side of the mountain and shaded by brightly flowering trees. The waters are hot, mineral-rich and soothing.

Perfect for overly stressed, world weary Void heroes...

(OOC: More setting information is here, please feel free to go wild with the setting and have a fun and relaxing time. You can use this post as a catch all for your holiday or make your own posts on

middleofsomewhere. More information about how the memory event is structured is here!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It's almost funny. Earlier Inigo was whining to Tidus about being his personal mule, but this time he just takes the jar as if he's accepted his holding duty. In fact, when Taiki offers to help, Inigo is quick to pipe up: "No, no, it's fine. I can hold them. I'm a strong guy!"

Taiki's job is clearly just to be here and be adorable. And be the soothing factor to prevent the usual chaos that happens whenever Inigo and Tidus interact one on one.

"How many jars did you put in there, Tidus?" How many is he going to pull out? It's like a magic trick. Unending jars. Inigo isn't so sure he can carry that many, okay.

"Uhhh, a few." And look, he's even got another out, holding it for Taiki to take despite Inigo's reassurance. "People kept asking for them! For the liquid on the mountain, so I thought why not? They're small."

All in all, he'd been carrying about ten, with four handed over to Saku and Roland, and now each of them carrying one as Tidus sparkles his own into existence. He holds it out as he uses a finger to point up the road.

"There's some of the fruits this way, but if we wanna ditch Saku and Roland, we should take a turn on the right. There's some sweet berries there too, and you can see a view of the sea off the cliffs ahead."

Do they need to see the sea?? always.

"Oh..." He looked down with a nod. He guesses... They think he is weak. And he doesn't blame them, after all they had seen him on the last mission, useless, ill and then he'd been sick in bed for over a week after that.

No wonder Inigo thought... But then Tidus is handing him a jar and Taiki's smile of thanks is as bright as a sunbeam, lighting up his face. He keeps hold of Inigo's hand as promised as he looks up the road.

"That will be nice." He says, both the berries and the view. He knows how much Tidus likes the sea and now they had a chance they should make sure he can see it at all times, as who knew when they might see an ocean again.

... Welp.

Inigo only realises that his insistence might not have been a very good thing the moment he sees Taiki's face fall like that. And just seeing the faintest hint of it on Taiki's face is enough to make him feel like he's been punched in the stomach by guilt, only accelerated by the weird antsy feeling he's been having since he had that odd vision yesterday, putting him on edge.

Swallow it down, he thinks to himself, don't make things worse by making it weird, you big idiot.

He forces a big smile on his face, squeezing Taiki's hand to get the other's attention. "Sorry. I should just have let you carry some."

He only leaves it at that though - he's not sure how much he can take talking about his dumb guilt when he's already so frayed - and instead glances over at their surroundings before looking at Tidus.

"Sounds good to me too. Though-- people have been putting that stuff in jars?" The liquid, he means. "What are they going to do with it?"

see your flirtation technique sucks, inigo.

"Make stuff with it." Obviously, but there's a few things they want to do it. "Ice cream, put it on pancakes... don't know what else they'll come up with! Have you two tried the stuff? It's really sweet. Like marshmallows."

Inigo knows what marshmallows are, right. Nevertheless, they come up to a few bushes, tangled like blackberries but without the thorns. He picks one easy, pops it in his mouth, then picks a couple more to hold out to the other two to try.

"We can make something too with these. You two ever had fruit tarts?"

He shook his head, he hasn't tried it, drinking strange liquid didn't seem safe, he hadn't even thought about drinking or eating it.

Unknown berries though, that's fine. He took one from Tidus with a smile and a quiet "Thanks."

He nodded, "I have, do you like them, Tidus?"

The bridge of Inigo's nose wrinkles at Tidus's very, very casual mention of people eating the mountain goo. That just.. doesn't sound like a good idea. Or very sanitary. And that's coming from a medieval person, so you can tell it's got to be Real Bad then.

Thankfully the fruit tarts definitely distract him though before he can comment on it.

"I've had several fruit-based dishes before.." A long time ago, though. Long ago enough that he was too young to ever ask about names for specific things. "Though I can't be sure if I've had those specifically. They can't be bad if Taiki likes them though."

Also yes, he'll also definitely try some of the berries. He immediately shoves one into his mouth - it's nice and sweet.

"It's the best way to eat fruits if you're gonna make them into anything!" Well, he actually really liked the salad and the blueberry soup they bought from the train shop... Regardless. "If we can find a recipe for the pastry, we can make them easy. I'll show you. It isn't any different from normal pastry--you just make it sweet. I think with...icing sugar."

Was it that? Tidus pauses in his picking to think, but it's for a second, and he continues to pull at the fruits, a few at a couple before dropping them into the jar.

"I made dinner meals more. Tarts aren't what a guy on a sports diet should be making, but baking's fun once you get into it. Oh yeah," speaking of baking and cooking, "Inigo, are you up to making some bread with us later? I told Taiki we can help Glor make some for the missions. He's got magic elf grain, or something."

"I am sure someone will know..." There were plenty of people who knew how to bake on the train, after all. "I wonder... If there's a way to make them without butter or eggs..."

After all they had managed to make a whole meal without using anything like that and it had been delicious, the blueberry soup and sorbet and salad.

He smiled at Inigo, "You should, it will be fun." Though magic elf grain? That was a thing?

All this food talk is a little beyond Inigo. His brain is having to make some huge leaps to try and keep up with it. Sure, he may slowly be getting used to the food on the train and has helped make some - as evidenced by their stunt at making dinner for Taiki recently -, but it's been so long since he had a proper diet beyond "just hunt whatever you can find and eat it" before that, that the speed at which they mention various things.

Still, he smiles at the other two as he moves his way over to grab some of the berries too.

"Of course. Especially if it'll be fun!" He trusts Taiki's judgement. And if Tidus says it could be useful for the missions, then it's double good. "You may have to bear with me having no idea what to do though. Although we might all be pretty clueless at first, I suppose, since I doubt either of you is familiar with whatever might be so magical about that elf grain."

Oh. Ohhh yeah, it's not enough for it to have fruits in it, right? It needs to be vegan, which totally went over Tidus's head, but still he goes- "Oh--sure, I bet there's something!"

Okay, so either he'll have to ask around on the train about vegan pastry or buy a book...

Nevertheless! "No worry, Inigo. Everyone's clueless trying something new--but you never learn if you don't try. That's the secret to anything -- and keeping it up even when you fail."

Not to sound like a motivational speaker or anything. "If it's like other bread, it's pretty easy. You stick flour, yeast, water, salt, mix it around-" he circles his hand a moment, a few berries held. "--turn it into dough and knead it! Which is just rolling and hitting it."

He nodded, though he had never made bread, he at least had a knowledge of how it was made and Tidus sounds knowledgeable enough.

"Tidus is right, it's not too difficult, I am sure you will be a baker in no time."

Plus magic elf grain. He had no idea how that would work at all.

He listens to them for a second, but then just lets out a 'pfft' kind of sound.

"Of course I'd be a baker in no time!" Ah, there is it, the usual dramatic fake overconfidence.. But Inigo figures out he might as well pull it out and lay it on a little thick in order to cover up everything that makes him feel weird right now. "Is there anything I can't do?"

He grins widely at Taiki, before turning to Tidus and squinting a bit-- "Don't answer that, it's a rethorical question!" Don't you even dare taking the opportunity to tease, bro! Not in front of Taiki!

He won't answer it, but he will give Inigo the kind of smug smile that says it for him. Before looking away, returning to the berries. Ah, these dumb jars really are too small...ugh.

"Big talk! Sounds like Inigo really wants to give it a go then, huh? We should get a bread book and really turn him into a baker! Some cinnamon rolls, and sweet breads? And we'll taste test for him, right Taiki?"

Look at this trap you have set for yourself, Inigo.

He shook his head, agreeing. There really wasn't anything Inigo couldn't do. He believed in him.

"That would be nice, I am sure anything Inigo makes will taste delicious."

"Taiki, I'll make you anything you want! Just say the word!"

How could he not instantly give that to the other when Taiki is giving him so much praise.. Inigo basks in it, totally not caring about the trap he is happily walking into with both legs. If Taiki wants baked goods, then he'll get them, no matter how long Inigo has to figure out how to make them.

Tidus, on the other hand.. he saw that smug smile, bro! Inigo squints at him. "You on the other hand are lucky if you get some leftovers!"

Wh--! What did he do, bro?! What did he do! Tidus stops in his fruit picking, looking between the pair before pointing a finger at Inigo, attention on Taiki. A hurtful expression on his face that isn't at all exagerrated.

"Hey! You hear that? He's picking on me! What did I do?"

Taiki, can you believe it..?! Give Inigo trouble for him!

"You can share with me." He said softly to Tidus, he's not sure what Tidus has done actually, but he thinks Inigo is maybe mostly joking. He still finds it hard to tell sometimes with these two.

He looks between them, "If we all bake together you can both eat the things we make."

Considering Inigo has seen the way Taiki has scolded Tidus for his sake before, he knows what Tidus is trying to do here. He can smell it in the air! He's trying to turn this table around on him, and Inigo's jaw already drops, ready to defend himself..

.. but then there's no scolding from Taiki.

He momentarily puts down his jar to wrap his arms around Taiki in a hug.

"Taikiii, why do you always have to be so sweet, huh? You really are too good for this world!" Even letting a scoundrel like Tidus have his share of the food!

...! Why! Why didn't Taiki tell Inigo like he hoped he would! Where's Inigo's glare of disapproval?

Now Tidus is really feeling a sulk coming, shooting off his own glare at Inigo if Taiki isn't going to do it. And even if the guy is too busy in embracing Taiki. Ugh!

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Huff. Whatever! He doesn't need any of this! He'll poof away his jar with its lid on top, focus and bring out the mixer bowl he put inside his Arms.

"I'm getting some of the tree fruits!" Announced, just so they don't get the wrong idea that he's sulking off or anything. He's busy doing what they came out here to do!

Being hugged by Inigo is nice, and Taiki returns it even if he can't quite agree with the words, he's not sweet.

A fact that is strongly highlighted moments later when Tidus speaks and despite his efforts... He is hurt. Taiki has hurt him, he can tell in his voice, the way he moves away, the glare that he barely hides when Taiki glances at him, twisting his head even as he remains in Inigo's arms.

"Tidus..."

He does pull away now, but only so he can grip Inigo's hand again and begin following Tidus, his voice quiet, guilty.

He doesn't really know what went wrong there. But he had said the wrong thing, hurt Tidus when he hadn't meant to.

"I didn't mean..."

He looked between them, had he misjudged it? Assumed they were being light hearted when there was a deeper rift? Had he made it worse?

"I'm sorry..." He looked down, "I don't..." He feels lost and there is an urge in him to just leave them both, return to his king. But...

"I've never really had friends my own age before. So I don't really know..." How to act, what was expected. "But I didn't mean to upset you, Tidus."

It all happens so quickly.

One moment he's happily hugging Taiki, pretty much just having his usual banter with Tidus - one of them getting all sulky is part of it, anyway, since Inigo sure has been on the other side of this coin before.

But then Taiki shifts in his hold. At first surprise sets in when Taiki slips out of the hug, instead grabbing his hand, but the moment Taiki speaks beyond Tidus's name, Inigo realises exactly what's going on here.

He immediately shoots into panic mode. No matter how Inigo and Tidus may treat each other for fun at times, it's like they had a silent agreement all this time to make sure to not do the same to Taiki - to protect his soft heart from it. But despite them only having a go at each other, it seems they misfired and did end up making Taiki feel bad.

Once Taiki's gaze is on Tidus, and then on the floor, Inigo can feel his face visibly paling. And once Taiki is looking down, Inigo looks at Tidus, trying to catch the other's gaze - while his own is wide-eyed, obviously panicked. He dramatically mouths hug him!! because he knows Tidus has to be the one to reach out and bridge this gap, Inigo is pretty sure he might just make it worse if he says something or tries to patch it up in Tidus's place.

In his exaggerated stroppy world, Tidus is happily going over to the nearby trees to where purple fruits hang more like vanilla pods. Clumped together and odd to see, but he's tasted them once already--kind of like crunchy apple-caramel, actually.

But he's stopped by the voice behind him, though not nearly catching it at first. A sour expression turning around with him when he doesn't realise who it is speaking, and when he catches Taiki's face--

uh oh. Uh oh.

"I-- I...!"

Inigo isn't the only one wearing panic. As Tidus attempts to get his big dumb stupid mouth to function, he catches the looks being sent at him, and the big dumb mouth movements provided by Inigo.

Hug him??

Tidus's brow comes in incredulously, head near about to look around, but instead he throws his arms out wildly in Taiki's direction and mouths back, But I can just talk to him?!--a plan that he isn't so sure if is good enough alone. S-should he hug him?! Taiki likes hand-holding like Inigo does, kinda, maybe...!

Usually it might be hard to catch what exactly someone is trying to say when it's a longer sentence, but Inigo instantly grasps what Tidus is trying to say. Mostly since he knows Tidus. He knows exactly what the other is trying to convey, even if he wouldn't have mouthed anything. This is so not the moment to no homo this situation up, bro!

Although it makes him doubt too. He really doesn't want to screw this up. Taiki is too important. To both of them, he knows. Which is why he definitely starts to look more unsure of himself, cheeks burning and his gaze darting away to their surroundings before it returns to Tidus. Ugh, what is the right thing to do here?

He shakes his head, looking even more frantic now as he mouths all over again. Just do it!!

ugggghhh FIIINE.

With that final command (demand?), Tidus barely stops himself throwing up his hands in resignation and makes his way over to Taiki. Throws out his arms instead to wrap Taiki into the equalvalient of a bear hug, face in the crook of his neck and all.

"You didn't upset me at all, Taiki! Not one bit! I was just messing around with Inigo because-- 'cause that's how we are! We say stupid stuff, but we don't mean anything. And we don't mean to upset you!"

He doesn't know which is worse: if his hugging is as awkward as it feels, or if he doesn't sound like a complete moron. Were they as equally dumb? Was Taiki going to think he was making fun of him? Uggghhh--what a stupid way to upset a friend!

"You don't need to apologise 'cause there's nothing to be sorry about. --Inigo!" He looks at Inigo, red-faced and flustered and all that good stuff. "Hug me and Taiki too!!"

Event: Healing Waters

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