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

At least recognition dawns, pushing aside some of the embarrassment. Yes, okay, the backrub. Sure, he remembers that much. But before Inigo can even reply, there's that sentence coming from Roland's mouth, making Inigo's facial expression a bit more comical again.

No, no, that's definitely not why he started saying those things about Tidus's body. But who would Inigo be to protest when it's such a perfect excuse compared to having to come out of the closet in the most awkward situation possible?

So sure, whatever. Yeah, that's it. Let's just move on to the question instead and hope Tidus also decides to ignore that reference to the awkward situation Roland caught them in real hard.

".. You want it?" He seems a little surprised by that fact too. "I mean.. Right now?"

Inigo doesn't sound opposed to it! The water is nice, whatever, he may as well linger and provide backrubs.

"I can give you one again too if you want it, Tidus." If he isn't too weirded out after how much Inigo talked about his body, anyway.

...he sounds like such a sleepy grandpa.

That's it difficult to ever remember he's supposed to - technically - be younger in body, but everything else about Roland overrides that. He's mumbling over there something or other about bodies and backrubs, and now Tidus is sure the old man is going to fall asleep.

Especially since Inigo agrees. Tidus waves his hands out at the offer given his way, a dismissal before he speaks it.

"You two have fun, I'm fine relaxing over here. Just don't let pops there get so comfy he falls asleep in the bath."

"...I'm not going to fall asleep here!"

He'd have thrown Tidus a grimace, another one of Roland's little Looks, but it's brief because he's more interested in something else! Whatever calm settles in his bones before is reinvigorated as he blinks at Inigo, perhaps dispelling the idea that he's older than he really is. The irony is, the possibility of a back rub is what makes Roland look like a kid; sitting up even straighter, the towel on his head finally plopping down in the water. A hand drifts to grab it before it sinks or gets too wet, but he's still looking at Inigo despite this.

"If you don't mind, that is." He's smile grows wider. "But if Tidus wore you out during his turn, that's okay too. As long as you save a backrub for me one of these days. Heh."

Tidus's reaction is.. well, maybe not ideal, but very expected. Although maybe in this case it's better if Inigo doesn't end up touching him, considering there have just been way too many Tidus Body Incidents already so far. The last thing Inigo wants to do is give either himself, fate, or either of the other two any reason to cause yet another Tidus Body Incident. No TBIs for Inigo anymore today, thanks.

But Roland's reaction is - in contrast - entirely unexpected. The other guy looks.. weirdly eager about this? Does he just really like backrubs? Inigo was already surprised enough that Tidus seemed so into the idea back during that mission where he ended up giving him backrubs, but the look in Roland's eyes is something else entirely.

Then again, that's also a look Inigo definitely can't say no to. If his dad demands backrubs with his overexcitedness, then Inigo will provide. He's already moving through the water in Roland's direction.

"Of course it's fine! Just move over a bit so I can properly reach."

Give him those shoulders, dad!! He'll show you!

"Besides, if there's anything Tidus is going to wear me out with, it's his constant complaining about not wanting to be touched." Is Inigo teasing? Is he being pouty? Maybe it's a little bit of both, though he doesn't seem angry or upset.

(Also, touching is okay enough territory, right. That's still far enough away from a TBI, isn't it?)

Ugh, is Inigo starting about this hugging again? Way to blow it out of proportion -- which it has to be, 'cause he's never had anyone talk about it so much 'til he came onto the train. And only Inigo! Tidus throws a look at the other guy, sinking lower into the water, just to get the tops of his shoulders wet.

"I've never had anyone complain about how little a guy hugs 'til I met you. Alright, Rolo," now it's time to bring gramps into this, "You're from a world with tech and sports. Are people as into hugs where you're from as Inigo is?"

His hands come out, splashing up the water. "I don't even know who I'd hug back home! 'Cept fans!"

Roland's eyes crinkle in delight as he meets Inigo halfway, wading with his arms making side sweeps in an almost uncharacteristic show of graceful haste. He's not going to say no to that! "Thank you, Inigo. I owe you one." So now that's he positioned in such a manner that Inigo had full access to his shoulders, he can face Tidus fully now, more ~~awake~~ alert than earlier.

He cocks an eyebrow up, though his tension immediately melts away the moment Inigo's hands begin any sort of ministration. The young boy may find that his shoulders and neck are as coiled and tense as a rock, knots in every which way under smooth skin. Don't go gentle on him now, son!

'R-Rolo....!' His expression drops by a fraction just because he's never going to get used to these little nicknames, but Roland doesn't dwell, hoping Tidus doesn't catch on to his...discomfort. Instead, he jumps immediately to the meat of the matter, arms folded and an eyebrow quirked up at him.

"Wait," Roland remarks, a note of clarification. "Tidus, you let your fans touch you? Hug you?" The president blinks, looking mildly impressed. "Wow. Back home, star athletes have a very strict no-touching-fans policy. They'll get mobbed."

Inigo's reactions to what Tidus is saying aren't quite as over the top as usually. It's probably since he's so focused on giving Roland this backrub now - especially since he's getting a lot more work on his plate here than he thought he'd get. Sure, it wasn't like he didn't feel any knots when he gave Tidus one last time around, but.. geez, is it even possible for anyone to be as tense as Roland feels under his hands? It's like the guy hasn't relaxed in 90 years!

But Inigo is diligent enough to get to work on it all the same, trying to move his hands to just the right places on Roland's shoulders and back to try and smooth away some of that tension. He grumbles a little bit, barely audible, about how he isn't the weird one here, you know. Geez, Tidus!!

Until that last part, that is. He doesn't stop his hands, but he's definitely moving his head to peek over at Tidus from behind Roland.

"Wait, you'd hug fans, but not me?!"

FORGET ROLAND'S QUESTION TO TIDUS, THIS IS THE MORE IMPORTANT ONE. Does he need to become your fan to get hugs, Tidus?! Is this how you're going to play it, bro?!

This is a question with an easy answer. Does he let his fans get around him? Sure! Does everyone do that? Probably not. But why wouldn't he let the people who came and watched his games the chance to get up and close to him? Because Tidus enjoyed that admiration, their excitement to see him. It was a lot, admittedly, for a guy who never got that; made him so flustered on the inside, never knowing at first how to deal with it.

But finally, for once in his life, everyone wanted to see him. They were happy to see him, and it wasn't about being the son of the Great Jecht to everyone (well, fifty-fifty), it wasn't about who he was related to. He loved it. He adored it. For the hassle it gave him and the struggles it became sometimes to even get to the stadium, would he ever regret it? Would he ever be embarrassed over how shameless and craving he was for their attention?

...maybe. Sure, maybe even a little now if he were to think about it. But Tidus doesn't even get to do more than open his mouth before Inigo interrupts so unabashedly.

"Uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhh."

Nope. He's not even gonna. Screw it.

"I'm seeing how long I can stay under."

And with that announcement, Tidus disappears from head to toe into the pool.

If he was already shocked a moment ago, now he's outright offended. Did Tidus really just ugh away his question?! What, does he think he's too good for Inigo hugs just because he's some superstar?! Well, tough luck, mister!

At first Inigo sure still is working on that backrub, but then his finally full on still. Inigo outright pouts, though it may be hard to see for Roland, considering Inigo is behind him.

Not that he's there for long. Suddenly Inigo moves past Roland, making his way through the hot spring towards Tidus - except he starts slow, and then starts moving faster and faster, until he just shouts, "Hey, don't you dare ignore me!"

And a moment later he's just straight up throwing himself onto Tidus, trying his best to cling to the other guy and still get that hug, even if he has to do it underwater.

Except the problem - obviously - is that Inigo does not have any special abilities when it comes to holding in his breath underwater.

And yet he doesn't look like he's about to let go. You think he isn't willing to drown for this, bro?! Bring it on, bro!!

It's near impossible to unpack just how many layers often occurs and piles on top of each other whenever the Teen Twins come together. Either they're a flustering mess around each other, trying to decipher one over the other with relative success, or they're trying to outdo the other in some elaborate attempt to be the last word in. It's usually endearing for Roland, if not a little exasperating if only for the fact that he has little to no experience with teen energy to begin with. All the youths surrounding him thus far have been ten and under.

Then again, when I was their age, I wasn't exactly Mr. Responsible either, he thinks to himself as Tidus groans loader than Inigo screamed earlier; his entire body submerged underwater now. The motion is so quick and disorienting that he tries to blink himself into understanding what exactly the problem was, only to find that Inigo too, submerges under the water, arms wrapped around Tidus and bubbles the only indicator that he was still breathing.

Meanwhile, Roland is stuck standing there, a delayed reaction as both boys have escaped his gaze, dazed and staring at the bodies making lumps and distorted colors from the steamy water.

He takes his right hand and palms his face, fingers massaging temples.

'Lofty, help me.'

Roland rubs his face one more time before he decides to end this before Inigo drowns or Tidus actually makes good on his promise to stay underwater for more than thirty minutes. He's stubborn enough to do it. He will absolutely do it.

With a dry expression and a heave in his shoulders, the fire higgledies bonded to his heart appear, six at a time now, and begin floating in the water as if they're swimming themselves. Cute, tiny things that won't harm anyone, really. But by virtue of what they are, what elementals they represent...Roland thinks hard, then nods his head at the two teens under the water.

"Let's put the hot in hot spring, shall we?"

Tidus and Inigo may find that the six fire higgledies are now encircling them, going round and round. The water which surrounds them is the only part of the hot spring that begins to grow increasingly warmer. Warmer, and warmer, and even warmer still - but not at all to the point where it's painful - just hot enough that anyone suffering under water will begin to feel sweat from the inside, like they're in a sauna. And the temperature stays there, consistent. At first, it could feel like it's comfortable, almost. Lulling you to sleep...But no, it's evident soon after that it's like staying under a hot shower's stream for far too long. Time to get up, boys!

Roland waits for them to pop back up by opting to float on his back against the surface of the water, hands and arms splayed out like a starfish.

It really was a shame they couldn't fully enjoy the hot springs, given the strange nature of their visions...

Edited 2020-10-05 17:43 (UTC)

Tidus wants nothing to do with any of this. Inigo, even Roland - just let him be in his own world where no one can fuss him about ohhhhh, Tiduuuuuss, why're you so weird about hugging? Tiduuuus, why are you so bad at huuuugs? Why aren't you like meeee, why don't you want to hug all the tiiiiime.

Specifically, Inigo. Because Inigo is the sole issue of this problem and won't ever! give him! a break about it! And, at the very least, the water is safe. Water is his friend, and being under it iis a haven from those who barely know how to swiWHAT IS INIGO TRYING TO DO TO HIM UP THERE

So apparently, no: No escape is allowed. And how doesn't a guy not lose a few air bubbles when he's getting flopped on from above? Especially when Tidus doesn't expect the danger, the fool that he is! It doesn't get Tidus shooting up for air, but he does slap Inigo's sides with his hands, trying to know what this guy thinks he's doing!! Which is apparently, be a leech, and Tidus doesn't know if the other guy can breathe or not where he is.

And is it the water getting warmer, or the energy expended in attempting to deal with Inigo, and having the other guy crowd him?

It may be surprising, but Tidus doesn't stay below for long. He's coming up to take this lump of a guy with him out of the spring before he does something stupid like faint, and so he can say, once gasping, breathing for air--

"You, ha- ha-- what're you doing here?!"

WHY ARE THE HIGGLE-PUFFS OUT AROUND THEM WHAT THE HECK IS ROLAND TRYING TO KILL THEM?

No matter Inigo's current state, Tidus is shaking him by the shoulders, getting his attention on what's shot up on the priority ladder.

"Inigo, Roland's trying to kill us! JUMP HIM!"

It's a good thing Tidus drags Inigo right up with him. Because Inigo is exactly the kind of idiot who would let himself pass out - either from the water getting too hot around them or from a total lack of oxygen - out of sheer stubbornness. He never would have let go of Tidus underwater.

But it's exactly the fact that he doesn't let go that ends up dragging him right along to the surface, fresh air suddenly filling his lungs again. He looks so confused, like he hardly knows what's going on anymore at this point - he was already starting to run out of air down there, after all, which doesn't really help your ability to think clearly - and can only act on Tidus's words.

Granted, jumping Roland isn't exactly something on his mind. Roland wouldn't try to kill them, right? No matter what's going on here -- Inigo still has no idea, his brain much too shaken up to pay any real attention to the tiny fire creatures.

Instead he manages to drag himself up on the edge of the hot springs, sitting on there with only his legs still in the water. Next thing he does is grab Tidus under the arms and dragging him up to be right next to him, also outside of the water.

There. Murder(?) attempt(??) averted.

Though Inigo just has to catch his breath now. His scars sure are on full display like this, but that's just about the furthest thing from his mind right now. He seems to choke for a second, and a moment later there's definitely some hot springs water coming out of his mouth that must have near-swallowed during these shenanigans.

"By Naga, what's happening.."

Aaaaaand, they're back.

His ears are have submerged in the water, so he only hears everything through a muffled, almost deluged filter. He continues to float peacefully, even as Inigo pulls Tidus back against the edge of the pool. The six higgledies make cute sounds in the air before they jump up from the water and disappear, traces of light returning to Roland's exposed chest.

He resists a deep, releasing sigh. A side-glance thrown their way when the gentle waves of the water rotate him to their direction, both boys panicked and catching their breath. It was kind of funny. Kind of.

"Well, you can ask pro there for a hug now, Inigo. Safer to do it when you're above water. You can't hold your breath for thirty minutes like he can, okay?" He jokingly chides, dry in its delivery but lacking any sort of malice or sharpness to it. Don't mind Roland, now. Looks like the pool is all his for the taking, floating nicely like he's a sponge, black inky hair spread underneath...

No! No! No! This is the opposite of getting revenge! Listen to that, Roland being a know-it-all 'cause Inigo didn't listen to him for once!

Which, sure, Tidus has to listen due to needing to wait for his temperature to lift from his body, showing red through the bronze of his skin. He's also heaving in air well, and it's this necessary pause that's all that delays Tidus. From the inevitable. From the deserved.

Roland is dead.

There's no warning for what Tidus does or as he does it, beyond the whirr of noise that may be familiar to their ears -- too bad Roland's are half-submerged. Only Inigo is close enough to feel the small burst of air around Tidus as faint bobs of light follow, and Tidus, with both of his hands clenched, bends back his elbows and then thrusts them forward, in the direction of Roland.

For not even half a second, maybe he'll start to notice something odd beneath him. Maybe he'll be able to have the grace of a thought before it's too late. But it was already too late the second the spell was cast: from underneath, the water gurgles and the shoots up, expired presidents included, a geyser shooting up just a small height from the hot spring's level, but no less forceful in taking occupants along with it.

And to drop them right back down when it then dissipates after launch.

There's no way Inigo is going to ask Tidus for a hug now. Not after this whole circus. It's a mental decision he's already made even when he's just listening to Roland's words still. Before he even notices just how ready for wrath and revenge Tidus is, next to him.

It's definitely something he notices at least a moment too late. It's only when Tidus starts firing up the spell that Inigo realises what's going on, and even then it's only faint, having no idea what Tidus is going to do, and to who--

Though that becomes very evident when the water is shooting up. It's so sudden that Inigo lets out a high-pitched shriek, instinctively latching onto Tidus's arm for a moment, only to awkwardly let go a moment later when Inigo realises what he's doing.

Inigo's jaw drops. And he just.. stares.

"R.. Roland? Are you okay?" That geyser couldn't have killed him. Right. Right. Inigo's gaze turns towards the boy next to him, though still as panicked. "A-Are you okay, Tidus?" Please don't hurt him too, bro.. He's just checking in on you, dude...

There's no way Roland would have been able to predict what could have happened in that moment. No way for him to swim to safety, no time left. In retrospect, maybe asking to gently warm up the water like a sauna was a terrible idea. But he wasn't about to force them up by their neck or hair!! All things have a price, it seems. This is the cost and he's being asked to pay up.

Though whether or not he survives this encounter is an entirely different narrative altogether. The spell is quick to react to the hot springs, the water gurgling underneath his back and bottom to the point where he does cringe at the feeling. At some point, it almost feels like a jet stream in one of those fancy hot tubs back home...But that is a feeling that does not last. Without warning, the force propels him straight into the sky, the pressure of the water keeping him suspended like some ragdoll that fell into a geiser. He's trying his best not to flail, but how could he not?! Roland is trying his best not to die!!

"G-GAH! URGH! WHOA!"

What feels like an eternity is objectively not, but Roland is none the wiser. The drop back into the water is just as comedic and slapstick as the launch; the young-looking President feels his heart launch right into his throat when gravity does the rest. And it's not a terribly long fall back down into the water, but it's enough to cast some waves, some splash as his body returns back to its rightful space. THANKFULLY it's a deep enough hot spring that there's some give in the deep, his back barely hitting the bottom of the assumedly man-made pool.

Roland sputters back into life, reemerging as a wet cat would after it's been drenched from head to toe. Hair so meticulously taken care of earlier, now a slopping mess against his face that he may resemble more hair monster than human. He coughs, one hand to his mouth, but his eyes find Tidus's immediately and he's in so much shock he isn't even sure what his tongue is trying to do or say. Incredulous, a finger accusingly pointed back and forth between the two boys - !!

"W-What...You...! I could've...!"

Edited 2020-10-11 15:59 (UTC)

Tidus looks upon the results of his work, the sloshing water not yet calm and the flapping antics one ex-president putting on the performance of a drowning rat. He doesn't flinch, nor regret, arms firmly crossed - not even as Inigo speaks up beside him and asks after him, and Tidus knows what he's really asking.

"He deserved it," is his response, flat yet decisive. A future final boss in the making.

But then comes the accusing finger not sure which of them to land on, and Tidus is eager to take the glory for the action. His arms unravel, as if he needs a hand to sit on the edge of the hot spring with him, like his ensuing barrage will threaten to drop him back in.

"You could've WHAT?! DROWNED? Maybe ROASTED ALIVE? You're gonna SWIM there and tell ME off?! Don't dish what you can't HANDLE, old man!"

It's a valid precaution, actually.

Inigo just looks between Tidus and Roland as the two of them go at it, his questions pretty much ignored - because that sure is not a direct answer to his question, me-mister Tidus!!

Instead Roland is just pointing at both of them, as if Inigo is somehow involved in this. As if he would blame his own son for getting blown up into the air by water, when Inigo doesn't even have a sprinkle of magic in his body. And instead Tidus is just yelling at Roland over.. what! Nothing, practically! Sure, Roland did something to them, but Tidus did something back to him, so now everything should be even and okay, right!

But it's not. So Inigo just keeps staring.

Getting a bit wibbly.

And a moment later, after Tidus's outburst, Inigo also bursts. Into tears, that is. There's only a warning sniff, but then the tears already start pouring down his cheeks. It's not even a little bit, it's a true waterfall going on over here. It's even audible crying.

Is it genuine? Is it faked for dramatics? The tears are very real, but who knows, they could have been forced by Inigo. Maybe he's just trying to distract their attention away from each other and instead towards him so they won't fight, or maybe he is just genuinely upset to see them going at each other like this.

Who ever knows with Inigo. Welcome to the newest quiz show, What Is Up With This Boy's Tears.

"..." Roland is dumbfoundedly silent. His hand pushes back wet bangs out of his eyes so he can see both better, expression dry and incredulous all at once.

This whole thing is...typical, almost. But Roland can't seem to find the logic, rhyme, or reason behind anything when Tidus comes at him with that kind of barrage and now all he can hear is Inigo wailing - both of them representing the two types of children he is neither equipped to handle nor is he confident about calming down. Two tantrums, two teenagers, Twin Teens strike again. He couldn't have asked for a more relaxing soak in the water, huh...?

As if the higgledies were going to actually hurt the two; NEVER! Not on his watch, and what was the alternative anyway? Let Tidus figure out he could last two hours under the water and Inigo flailing about because his best friend wouldn't come up for air...?!

So, what is a fully-grown adult man stuck in a younger body to do? The only sane thing expected of such loud-mouthed, perhaps fully warranted yet still loud accusations thrown his way.

He actually responds faster than his body can predict, because as he replies, quieter than Tidus though no less stern - "Hey, did you actually think I was going to let anything happen to you two? Of course not, but you can't keep hiding under water every time...And besides, the fall you gave me could have broken my spine!" - he's wading through the water to get to Inigo even if Roland's eyes are locked on to Tidus. Roland's arms move on their own accord, trying to comfort Inigo with a strange sort of half-embrace half-scoop hybrid, and honestly the chaos is mostly due to the fact that they're all talking and crying at the same time.

"What! What did I do!?" is Tidus's immediate response as he hears the onslaught of Inigo's crying right beside him. Incredulous but worked up, unable to get down from this I'M RIGHT THE OLD MAN IS WRONG ride he's now securely on. He's buckled up and ready to go somewhere!

And clearly, that same old man is the problem - Inigo wouldn't even be crying if he didn't start this off in the first place! because yes, Roland started this. And his stupid way of thinking, which he's throwing out now, like he's any more reasonable than the rest of them. His higgledy passes health and safety, but nooo, not Tidus's magic!

"It wasn't gonna break your spine!" Tidus drones dismissively, pahing, throw out a hand while the other goes to wrap around Inigo's shoulders. Before Roland can get to him!! "You always boil people for a thrill, huh? You into a little torture when things don't go your way?"

Is he sassing just to sass and make Roland out like an evil ruler at this point? Sure, why not! Roland isn't going to listen to him anyway!

The downside to this whole crying thing is that it makes it a lot harder to tell what's going on. Eyes half-shut, vision blurred with tears, even the voices of the other two mostly inaudible over the sound of his own sobbing filling his ears. So Inigo has no idea of what kind of words the other two are exchanging right now.

But he can suddenly feel touch on his skin. Inigo is pretty sure the hand over his shoulders belongs to Tidus, and then the sudden arm that sneaks its way around him next is Roland's. It's kind of strange to be in the middle of this for once, to have people tugging him in both directions rather than Inigo clinging onto someone. But it's hard to bask in the attention he's getting when it does seem like the two of them haven't made up yet.

Maybe he needs to move on to Phase Two. Which means he's turning to bury his face into the most nearby shoulder he can find. With the arm around his shoulders, that means it's Tidus's, so that's the next place he decides to cry on.

Though this time he at least manages to squeeze out some words too between sobs. "Stop fighting..!"

"T-Torture?! I did not boil you...! Gah, how is this my...?" Which is what Roland says despite the chaos, the wailing from Inigo hitting him hard from one side while the other is bombarded with Tidus's mudslinging against his character. Though he will admit to the higgledies maybe, going just a tad bit too far...But how could Tidus know for sure that fall wouldn't have broken his spine anyway? Roland's heard of accidents like that before, and at a certain height, water becomes tougher than concrete - !

When Inigo pleads for them to stop, Roland counts to ten very slowly, inwardly. There was no winning on this, and perhaps might not even be the point. Ten, nine, eight, seven...He takes in a deep, calming breath, puts both his hands on his hips. Six, five, four, three...It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter. ~~Even if this all started because Tidus decided that throwing a tantrum under the WATER was a good idea!!~~ At the three, two, one count; Roland relents, makes a gesture signaling he's waving the white flag, and moves instead to rub the back of his neck.

"Alright, I'm sorry I asked Bambosh to warm up the water. But I promise you, I just wanted you both up on the surface." That is his meet me in the middle tone, and he will wait for maybe an apology from Tidus...? If it...ever comes....

Any day now...?

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